Picture Day is this Thursday, Sept. 29. Once pics come in, proofs will be sent home with students so families can order.

We are so excited to be partnering with the Calhoun-Gordon County public library. They attend our school monthly to work with kindergarten and third grade students to encourage early literacy and promote a love of reading! kindergarten is currently working on changes of day and night by looking at the sun, moon, and starts. Third grade is studying habitats!




PARENT & FAMILY ENGAGEMENT TIP OF THE WEEK: Encourage creative problem-solving with your children. Problem-solving is the basis of good mathematical thinking, and the problems don't have to involve numbers. Ask questions like, "How many different ways are there to walk to school?" or "How many different ways can I measure flour to get half a cup?" Try to come up with more than one solution for everyday problems.
Visit www.gcbe.org/pfe to learn more about GCS Parent & Family Engagement today.
#GoCoSchools #GETGCS #OneBIGFamily

Gordon County Schools is seeking volunteers for our Lunch Buddies, Mentor, and GET Reading! programs. Those wanting to volunteer can attend any of the scheduled trainings (listed in the pic). Volunteers can choose which school(s) they would like to volunteer with.

Belwood is sending out a big Thank You to the Amanda Jo Brown Realty Team powered by Maximum One and the Kacee Smith Agency of Brightway Insurance for providing lunch for all faculty and staff today. Dubs was delicious!

A few reminders for the last 2 weeks of September:
9/23: Fundraiser order forms and money due
9/23: Cookies & Conversations with the Principal at 7:15 am (a chance for caregivers to speak with Mrs. Holt)
9/29: Fall picture day
9/30: SHS Homecoming, wear Phoenix gear or Red/Black/White




Don't forget that tomorrow (Thursday, Sept. 15) is the last day of classes this week. Students will work from home on Friday, Sept. 16. All students will bring home a learning packet on Thursday.

Update: The BES Fundraiser will end on September 23. All paper order forms and money is also due on September 23rd.

The BES Fundraiser will end on September 23. All paper order forms and money is due on Monday, Sept. 19th. Online ordering ends on Sept. 23.

ATTENDANCE AWARENESS MONTH: We all play a role in promoting good attendance! Help your child develop good attendance habits by:
·Setting a bedtime and morning routine
·Laying out clothes and packing backpacks the night before
·Know your school start time and/or bus schedule
#GoCoSchools #GETGCS #OneBIGFamily


PARENT & FAMILY ENGAGEMENT TIP OF THE WEEK: Our Parent Resource Rooms are filled with a variety of books, flash cards, and educational games that are available for elementary and middle school families to check-out and use at home. If you are interested in checking-out resources, contact your school’s Parent & Family Engagement Specialist.
Visit www.gcbe.org/pfe to learn more about GCS Parent & Family Engagement today.
#GoCoSchools #GETGCS #OneBIGFamily

STATEWIDE LEADERSHIP AWARD: Gordon County Schools Special Education Director, Alecia Segursky, was announced as the winner of the prestigious 2022 Phil Pickens Leadership Award by the Georgia Department of Education’s Parent Mentor Partnership!
The Phil Pickens Leadership Award is a statewide honor recognizing outstanding leadership in the collaborative work between home, school, and community to improve outcomes for students with disabilities, outstanding contributions to the Georgia Parent Mentor Partnership program, and consistent outstanding leadership accomplishments in special education.
“I am honored to receive this award,” said Ms. Segursky. “It is a blessing to work in Gordon County Schools and have the opportunity serve our students with disabilities and their families.”
Segursky won the award during a virtual conference held yesterday in front of the Special Education Services team, her family, Superintendent Dr. Kimberly Fraker, Assistant Superintendent Alice Mashburn, Director of Early Learning and Elementary Education Beth Herod, and Director of Federal Programs and Professional Learning Patricia Boswell.
Please join us in congratulating Ms. Segursky in the comments below!
To learn more about the award, visit www.gcbe.org/news
#GoCoSchools #GETGCS #OneBIGFamily




Did you know that completing the Free & Reduced Lunch application helps beyond just receiving a free or reduced lunch price? It helps with school funding, possible scholarship eligibility, discount fees for home internet, and possible discounts on test fees.
You can apply online at www.schoolcafe.com, through the SchoolCafé mobile app, or you can get a paper application at your child's school or at www.gcbe.org/mealapplication.
The deadline to submit an application is September 15th!
#GoCoSchools #MoreThanJustAMeal #GCSN #FuelingGA

ATTENDANCE AWARENESS MONTH: Did you know? Missing 10% of school (more than 2 days a month) can make it harder to:
· Gain early reading and math skills
· Build relationships
· Develop good attendance habits
Help your child by ensuring he/she is at school every day and on time, sending notes when they must be absent due to illness, and supporting your child to develop good attendance habits!
#GoCoSchools #GETGCS #OneBIGFamily

September is Attendance Awareness Month!
To celebrate school attendance, we will have a friendly competition among our schools. The school with the highest attendance percentage during the month of September will win an ice cream party. The school with highest attendance percentage on September 30th will receive an attendance trophy!
Help your child by ensuring he/she is at school every day and on time, sending notes when they must be absent due to illness, and supporting your child to develop good attendance habits!
#GoCoSchools #GETGCS #OneBIGFamily

Our theme for the 2022-2023 school year is #OneBIGFamily.
We asked Christina Cote, third grade teacher at W.L. Swain Elementary and the 2022-2023 Swain Teacher of the Year, what it means to be part of our One BIG Family:
“I am thankful that I am a part of Gordon County One Big Family because we are very supportive of one another. We encourage and support one another as teachers and in our classrooms. When there are needs in our classroom, whether it be curriculum or students, we can count on our coworkers and administrators to help. We want the best for each and every student and teacher. That is something that is very valuable in this field.
As an example, one year I had larger class sizes and needed to complete an assessment for every student. I asked for help in assisting in getting the assessments completed and administration asked other teachers to come help. The specials teachers and ELL teacher gave up time from their planning to come help me so I could the assessments. They had a great attitude too as I was very appreciative of their time and help. It was so great knowing that others would help when we needed it.”
#GoCoSchools #GETGCS

PARENT & FAMILY ENGAGEMENT TIP OF THE WEEK: Family Engagement plays an important role in helping kids to feel connected to their families, caregivers and the community.
Try these tips to help both you and your child connect with your school:
-Get to know your child’s teacher at the beginning of the year;
-Attend school events and teacher conferences;
-Volunteer;
-Encourage reading at home;
-Ask your child about their day.
Visit www.gcbe.org/pfe to learn more about GCS Parent & Family Engagement today.
#GoCoSchools #GETGCS #OneBIGFamily
Join us at Belwood for our Annual Title I meeting and Come Learn with Me Event on September 8th at 5:30 pm.

Don't forget that will be no school on Monday, Sept. 5th in observance of Labor Day!

September is Attendance Awareness Month!
To celebrate school attendance, we will have a friendly competition among our schools. The class with the highest attendance percentage during the month of September will win an ice cream party. The school with highest attendance percentage on September 30th will receive an attendance trophy!
Help your child by ensuring he/she is at school every day and on time, sending notes when they must be absent due to illness, and supporting your child to develop good attendance habits!
#GoCoSchools #GETGCS #OneBIGFamily

