Gordon County Schools -

GCHS 2023 YOUTH LEADERSHIP GRADUATES: Congratulations to these Gordon Central Seniors who graduated Tuesday night as part of the 2023 Calhoun-Gordon County Youth Leadership Program: Brooklyne Zufelt Madison Snow Lynna Nguyen Tyler Waits Kayla Silvers Briana Najarro Catherine Hughes Jude Clance Ashley West Vanessa Macias-Sanchez. At the beginning of the school year, these 10 students were selected to participate in this program sponsored by the Gordon County Chamber of Commerce. Throughout the year the students have met with state and local leaders, toured our local industries, and interacted with many people who serve our community. Way to go Warriors! #GoCoSchools #GETGCS #OneBIGFamily

CAREER DAY: Today, students at Tolbert Elementary School participated in a career day event. Thanks to local community partners, students were able to learn about different careers, workplaces, opportunities and the education/skills that are required by each to be successful. Thank you to our community partners for making this day a great success! Tolbert Elementary students had a fantastic time! Mohawk Industries Gordon County Emergency Management Agency Gordon County Fire & Rescue Gordon County Sheriffs Office North Georgia EMC AdventHealth Gordon Prater Ford Air Adventures LLC/Ron Dobbs #GoCoSchools #GETGCS #OneBIGFamily

FUTURE PHOENIX TOUR: Students from Fairmount Elementary School visited Sonoraville High School for a fun-filled day of educational activities with the students in the Early Childhood Education classes at SHS. The Kindergartners gathered in the Black Box Theatre to watch a performance of "The Three Little Pigs," ran relays, read stories with their high school buddy, watched a musical performance by the Sonoraville High School Phoenix Band, visited the greenhouse, and participated in first aid stations in the healthcare classroom. The future looks bright for these future Phoenix!😎 #GoCoSchools #GETGCS #OneBIGFamily

Gordon County Schools (GCS) is pleased to announce the 2023-24 School Teachers of the Year Winners. In the spring semester each school year, each GCS school is asked to select its own Teacher of the Year using nominations received from fellow staff members and community stakeholders. All school-level winners then become eligible to compete for the honor of being named the Gordon County Schools System Teacher of the Year. The annual system-wide competition is judged by a panel of community partners, retired educators, and system leadership based on applications submitted by school-level winners and classroom observations. Three system finalists will be announced the week of March 27th and the 2023-24 Gordon County Schools System Teacher of the Year will be announced at the annual banquet tentatively scheduled for May 2nd. The winner of the system-wide honor will represent Gordon County Schools on the state level for the Georgia Teacher of the Year competition. Gordon County Schools 2022-23 School-Level Teachers of the Year: Ashworth Middle: Judson Peacock Belwood Elementary: Brenda Gilmor Fairmount Elementary: Christy Smith Gordon Central High: Neal Crawford Red Bud Elementary: Brooke Cigainero Red Bud Middle: Jacqueline Cascio Sonoraville Elementary: Heidi Murphy Sonoraville High: Carmelita Everett Tolbert Elementary: Cathy Musacchio W.L. Swain Elementary: India Bennett Learn more about the 2023-24 School-Level Teachers of the Year by visiting www.gcbe.org/2023-24teacheroftheyear #GoCoSchools #GETGCS #OneBIGFamily

Fourth and fifth grade REACH students from each of the elementary schools in Gordon County gathered at the Gordon County College and Career Academy on Thursday, March 23rd to compete in the Brainstorm Stem Challenge. During the challenge students competed in the areas of math computation, math problem solving, sphero robotics, Scratch Jr. coding, snap circuits, lego engineering, and barge building. Winners of the competition were: • Overall team winner: Belwood Elementary • Top fifth grade team: Sonoraville Elementary • Top fourth grade team: Belwood Elementary • Top fifth grade individual Math Computation winner: Rylan Benton from Sonoraville Elementary • Top fourth grade individual Math Computation winner: Avery Wiley from Tolbert Elementary

ICYMI: The Ashworth Middle School boys soccer team recently won the FCAA soccer championships! Back-to-back champs 😎 Way to go Warriors!

Gordon County Schools is currently seeking parental input for the adoption of high school textbooks for Advanced Placement Spanish. Below are links to an overview of each of the textbooks the World Languages departments have chosen for this adoption, following the Instructional Materials Review and Adoption Process. https://learn.vistahigherlearning.com/temas2024/index.html Should you wish to review the textbook in its entirety, please contact Dr. Amy Parker at ajparker@gcbe.org or 706-629-7366 ext 8143 for more information or to make an appointment to view the material. The window for providing input will expire on March 27, 2023. Please visit https://www.gcbe.org/page/textbook-adoption for more information! #GoCoSchools #GETGCS #OneBIGFamily

GCS CELEBRATES BOARD OF EDUCATION WEEK – Gordon County Schools is joining in a statewide celebration to recognize the work and commitment of our local school board members. Governor Brian Kemp has proclaimed the week of March 13-17, 2023 as School Board Appreciation Week in Georgia. The week-long celebration serves to recognize the positive impact local boards of education make in their community. At the Gordon County Schools Board of Education Meeting on Monday, March 13th, each member of the GCS Board of Education was recognized for their outstanding contributions to the school system, students, and community they serve. During the meeting, board members were shown a tribute video, created by students at Ashworth Middle School, and had desks that were covered with "thank you" posters created by local students from each school. Superintendent Dr. Kimberly Fraker also presented each board member with a certificate to recognize their service. Board of Education members currently serving the Gordon County Schools system: Post 1 – Mr. Charlie Walraven (Chair) Post 2 – Mr. Jason Hendrix Post 3 – Mrs. Dana Stewart Post 4 – Mr. Bobby Hall (Vice-Chair) Post 5 – Mr. Kacee Smith Post 6 – Mrs. Christie Fox Post at Large – Mr. Eddie Hall School board members, elected by local communities, are responsible for making informed decisions representing the overall values, vision, and goals for the public school system they serve. The Gordon County Schools Board of Education has been recognized by the Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA) as an Exemplary School Board for their exemplary leadership and school governance. Exemplary status is the highest level of distinction achievable, requiring school boards to meet a strict set of criteria including demonstrating accreditation compliance and exceeding training requirements. Learn more about the Gordon County Schools Board of Education by visiting www.gcbe.org/boardofeducation #GoCoSchools #GETGCS #OneBIGFamily

CHECK IT OUT: We are loving the new sign at the Gordon County College and Career Academy, Inc.! Did you know that the purpose of our Career Academy is to train high school students for high skill, high wage, and high demand occupations in an effort to create a viable 21st century workforce for Gordon County and surrounding communities? We are so proud to offer these fantastic programs to our Gordon County Schools students: welding, graphic design, fluid power and piping systems, electrical motor control, mechatronics, industrial maintenance, engineering, drafting and design, cloud computing, and computer science. Visit www.gcbe.org to learn more today! #GoCoSchools #GETGCS #OneBIGFamily

TOMORROW is the last day to enroll your student in the Pre-K program in Gordon County Schools! More information, forms, and step-by-step instructions can be found by visiting www.gcbe.org/prek & www.gcbe.org/enrollment #GoCoSchools #OneBIGFamily #GETGCS

Everyone in Gordon County Schools is digging National School Breakfast Week! Dig in to School Breakfast every morning for some special new menu items and lots of fun!

NEW STUDENT REGISTRATION: Gordon County Schools is still accepting enrollment applications for the 2023-24 Preschool Play & Learn (PALs) Program, Pre-K classes & Kindergarten classes! Enrollment for Pre-K closes on Friday, March 10th! More information about these programs can be found at the following websites: Preschool Play & Learn (PALs): www.gcbe.org/pals Pre-K: www.gcbe.org/prek Kindergarten: www.gcbe.org/enrollment Learn more about student enrollment at Gordon County Schools by visiting www.gcbe.org/enrollment #GoCoSchools #OneBIGFamily #GETGCS

Given the latest timing of the impending storms and its impact on today’s dismissal, Gordon County Schools will be dismissing elementary schools today at 12:30 p.m. and middle and high schools at 1:30 p.m. Aftercare will operate as normal. Schools will communicate individually about the status of any other after-school activities that are scheduled for this afternoon and evening.

Gordon County Schools, in collaboration with local safety officials, is closely monitoring weather conditions expected for this afternoon. We stand ready to alter today’s dismissal in the interest of student and staff safety. Should an official change of schedule (delay, early dismissal, etc.) be warranted, we will notify staff and families via our website, all social media handles, mass notification system, and share information with local media outlets.

Early this morning, reports of what sounded like two gunshots in the vicinity of Sonoraville Elementary and Sonoraville High School campuses prompted the schools to go into the lockdown phase of their safety plans and to hold buses off-site. The Gordon County Sheriff's Office responded promptly and have found no threat on campus. We appreciate our continued partnership with law enforcement and their prompt response to this situation. We remain vigilant regarding the safety and security of our schools, and we appreciate everyone's cooperation this morning.

CALHOUN, GA, February 22, 2023- ​Twelve Gordon County students were chosen to participate in the 2023 Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA) All-State Chorus in Athens over the weekend. These students are part of an elite group who were chosen following the successful completion of two rounds of auditions. Approximately 10,000 students audition across the state, and around 1,800 are selected to perform during the annual event. Dr. Kim Watters, choral director at Gordon Central High School praised these students for their hard work and dedication, "This weekend is about celebrating their success and singing as part of the BEST IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA!" she shared, "They deserve to be recognized by one and all as the best in their field." Vicky Latimer, choral director at Ashworth Middle School, recognized these students for rising to the challenge of being named to this prestigious group, "We set the bar high for our students because it’s what they deserve of us, and they have once again proven that they can meet (and exceed) our expectations." ​Students selected as members of the 2023 All-State Chorus were: Jude Clance, Gordon Central High School Emily Demain, Ashworth Middle School Eddy Garcia, Ashworth Middle School Bobby Hicks, Gordon Central High School Sadie Holmes, Gordon Central High School Catherine Hughes, Gordon Central High School Cecilia Kolterman, Ashworth Middle School Seth Kolterman, Gordon Central High School Toccoa Long, Gordon Central High School Anna Caroline Parker, Gordon Central High School Tyler Waits, Gordon Central High School Peyton Yarbrough, Gordon Central High School ### About Gordon County Schools Gordon County Schools system serves approximately 6,500 students in schools across the county including six elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools. The mission of the Gordon County School system is to build a collaborative culture that engages all students and staff in learning experiences leading to growth, empowerment, and transformation. Contact at Gordon County Schools Kendra Pannell Communications Coordinator Email: kpannell@gcbe.org Phone: (706) 629-7366 ext. 8151

February 27-March 3 is Read Across America Week and Dr. Seuss's Birthday, and we will have special treats in our elementary lunchrooms to celebrate! Be sure to come enjoy lunch and our special Celebration Menu. P.S. middle and high schoolers: on Thursday, March 1, you also get a "Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss" treat with your lunch!

Gordon County Schools would like to congratulate the system-level Young Georgia Authors winners. These students' works will go on to represent Gordon County Schools in the RESA-level competition.

GORDON COUNTY SCHOOLS ANNOUNCES 2023 STAR STUDENTS & TEACHERS CALHOUN, GA – Two Gordon County Schools students have been named as 2023 PAGE STAR Students. Congratulations to Catherine Hughes from Gordon Central High and Stephen Kellogg from Sonoraville High. These students and their STAR Teachers were recognized by the Gordon County Board of Education during its February meeting. Catherine Hughes is the daughter of Alan and Renee Hughes. Catherine has maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout her high school career and was recently named valedictorian of her graduating class. Catherine is actively involved in the Gordon Central Performing Arts Program, earning a GHSA Championship last year for International Extemporaneous Speech, as well as a Schuler Award for Featured Performance her sophomore year. Catherine was chosen to participate in the Governor’s Honors Program in Social Studies her sophomore year and participated in Georgia Girls’ State as a junior, serving as president of the Senate. Catherine has selected Connie Worley, Spanish teacher at Gordon Central High School, as her STAR teacher. Stephen Kellogg is the son of Erin Collins and Brian Kellogg. He has maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout high school, has been named the valedictorian of the 2023 graduating class of Sonoraville High School, and is the district STAR student for Gordon County Schools. Stephen is planning to enter the medical field after high school. He is currently enrolled in CNA certification courses through Chattahoochee Technical College and volunteers his time at the Helping Hands Clinic of Gordon County. Stephen has selected Ashley Brookshire from Sonoraville High School as his STAR teacher. The PAGE Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) program, now in its 65th year, is sponsored, administered, and promoted by the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE) and the PAGE Foundation. Since its creation, the STAR program has honored nearly 29,000 students and the teachers they have selected as having had the most influence on their academic achievement. To obtain the 2023 STAR nomination, graduating high school seniors must have the highest score on a single test date on the SAT and be in the top 10 percent or top 10 students of their class based on grade point average. STAR begins each year in participating high schools throughout Georgia when the STAR Student is named and chooses a STAR Teacher to share in this recognition. The students and their teachers are honored by their schools and receive special recognition in their communities from one of the more than 170 statewide civic organizations and businesses that serve as local sponsors of the STAR program. Students then compete for school system titles, and those winners compete for region honors. Region Winners compete for the honor of being named State PAGE STAR Student. STAR Teachers continue with their STAR Students at every level of the program. ### About Gordon County Schools Gordon County Schools system serves approximately 6,500 students in schools across the county including six elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools. The mission of the Gordon County School system is to build a collaborative culture that engages all students and staff in learning experiences leading to growth, empowerment, and transformation. Contact at Gordon County Schools Kendra Pannell Communications Coordinator Email: kpannell@gcbe.org Phone: (706) 629-7366 ext. 8151 Website: www.gcbe.org

CALHOUN, GA, February 13, 2023- The Gordon County Board of Education has approved the hiring of Nicole Burgess as the new assistant principal at Sonoraville Elementary for the 2023-2024 school year. Burgess will replace Kelly Rampy who was recently promoted to fill the principalship next year. Burgess currently serves as the Instructional Lead Teacher at Belwood Elementary School, where she has worked since 2018. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education, a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, and is currently pursuing an Education Specialist degree. Additionally, she holds a Reading Endorsement, English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Endorsement, and an Instructional Coaching Endorsement. A native of Gordon County and a Gordon County Schools alumnus, Burgess is active in the Gordon County Schools community. She is a member of the Gordon County Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Committee, worked on the Gordon County Schools Rebranding Team, and is currently a member of the Gordon County Schools Aspiring Leaders Program. Taking over as principal this summer, Rampy looks forward to welcoming Burgess to her administrative team, "I am excited for Mrs. Burgess to join the Phoenix Nation! She is a strong instructional leader who understands the needs of students and staff. Mrs. Burgess will be a great asset to our school and community." ### About Gordon County Schools Gordon County Schools system serves approximately 6,500 students in schools across the county including six elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools. The mission of the Gordon County School system is to build a collaborative culture that engages all students and staff in learning experiences leading to growth, empowerment, and transformation. Contact at Gordon County Schools Kendra Pannell Communications Coordinator Email: kpannell@gcbe.org Phone: (706) 629-7366 ext. 8151 Website: www.gcbe.org