It's time to talk together, Gordon County Schools families!
Week 3 of our "We Did It!" Family Challenge begins Monday. As part of Family Engagement Month, we are encouraging families to slow down, spend time together, and strengthen their connections through meaningful conversations.
November 9–15: Talk Together!
Next week's challenge is all about making time to listen, share, and learn more about one another. Whether you're sitting around the dinner table, riding in the car, or spending time together at home, a simple conversation can create meaningful connections.
Not sure where to start? Try asking your family some of these conversation starter questions:
- What was the best part of your day?
- What made you laugh today?
- What are you proud of?
- What was something hard today? How did you handle it?
- What is one thing you would like to learn more about?
- What is something you are looking forward to?
Take turns answering, listen to one another, and enjoy learning something new about your family members!
Enter for a Chance to Win a Family Engagement Prize Basket!
Once your family completes the challenge, take a selfie with a homemade "We Did It!" sign and submit your entry through our website or email Kerri Chatman at [kchatman@gcbe.org](mailto:kchatman@gcbe.org).
Be sure to include the following information with your entry:
- Student's name
- School
- A short description of your family's conversation activity
Each Gordon County Schools school will select a winner through a random drawing from the entries received.
Family engagement doesn't have to involve a special event or a big activity. Sometimes, the most meaningful connections happen through everyday conversations. Taking a few minutes to ask questions, listen, and show interest in one another can help children feel supported, valued, and connected.
Small conversations can make a BIG difference!
#GrowConnectSucceed #GordonCountySchools
Students and staff gathered for a special pep rally featuring the Gordon Central High School football team, cheerleaders, and band. Head Coach Billy Blizzard and the Warrior football players spoke words of encouragement to the students for their hard work, while the cheerleaders and band had students fired up and excited throughout the program. Thank you to Cheerleading Coach Liza Allen and Band Director Cameron Born for helping make the event so special.
The celebration also recognized the Sonoraville High School video production students who created a video highlighting W.L. Swain’s work. Those students were Nic Dutton, Easton Fletcher, Lukas Holmes, Emily Roberts, and graduates Jayden Johnson and Joey Mayes.
Joining the celebration were Superintendent Alice Mashburn, Assistant Superintendent Sket Angland, Board of Education Chairperson Charlie Walraven, and central office leaders. The pep rally was hosted by Instructional Technology Coordinator Whitney Prather, who worked closely with W.L. Swain throughout the application process. Principal Tara Green gave Mrs. Prather a special shoutout for her collaboration and support in helping Swain renew its Apple Distinguished School recognition.
Apple Distinguished Schools are recognized for their commitment to innovation, leadership, and educational excellence. These schools demonstrate a clear vision for how technology-rich learning environments can support instructional goals and help students learn in creative, meaningful ways. W.L. Swain’s continued recognition reflects the work of its teachers, students, staff, and leaders to use technology to strengthen teaching and learning.
Congratulations to the entire W.L. Swain Elementary family on this outstanding achievement!
#GrowConnectSucceed #GordonCountySchools #WLSwainElementary
Our band, cheerleaders, and fall/winter student-athletes were honored to be part of such a special occasion and to help recognize the hard work, innovation, and dedication that make Swain a model of excellence. Congratulations on this well-deserved achievement, and thank you for letting our "big" Warriors join in the celebration!
Final AP Exam balances are due by Thursday, November 5.
These AP exam fees apply to:
✅ Fall Semester AP classes
✅ Year-Long AP classes (Biology & Calculus)
✅ AP Exam Only sections
Payments can be made with Mrs. Pruitt in the GCHS Media Center or through the online store.
Questions? Contact Mrs. Pruitt at spruitt@gcbe.org or (706) 629-7391 ext. 4739.
Gordon Central High School is proud to honor the veterans in our students' families! Family members who are veterans are invited to join their student for lunch on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, in Room 301. As a small token of our appreciation, lunch will be provided at no cost by the school.
Please join your student during their assigned lunch period:
🕚 1st Lunch: 11:37 AM - 12:07 PM
🕛 2nd Lunch: 12:12 PM - 12:39 PM
🕧 3rd Lunch: 12:44 PM - 1:11 PM
🕐 4th Lunch: 1:16 PM - 1:43 PM
We look forward to welcoming our veterans and celebrating their service to our country. Thank you for your sacrifice, dedication, and commitment to protecting our freedoms. ❤️🤍💙
Once a Warrior, Always a Warrior!
#VeteransDay #ThankYouVeterans #WarriorPride #GordonCentral #OnceAWarriorAlwaysAWarrior #HonoringOurHeroes 🇺🇸💙❤️
Through Shop with the Warriors, teams of four students will help a local elementary student shop for Christmas gifts while building memories, spreading kindness, and giving back to our community. For just $25 per student, you'll help provide a $100 shopping budget for a child. Sign up with Kelly Franklin in Room 319 by November 20, 2026.
Together, we can make this season brighter for a child and their family. 🎄
#ShopWithTheWarriors #WarriorsGiveBack #GCHS #ServeLeadInspire
Interested in virtual learning through Gateway at Gordon Central High School?
The 2027 Spring Application window opens October 26 and closes December 4, 2026. Students interested in participating should complete the application using the link below or you can use the QR code on the graphic:
🔗 https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/bg4bYjB6TZ?origin=lprLink
✅ Acceptance decisions will be announced by December 11, 2026.
✅ Student and parent orientation is required and will be held January 4, 2027.
For questions, contact Mr. Shattuck at jshattuck@gcbe.org.
#GatewayToSuccess #GordonCentralHighSchool #VirtualLearning
GCHS students are encouraged to participate in this year's Young Georgia Authors Writing Competition! Whether you enjoy writing poetry, short stories, essays, or personal narratives, we want to see your creativity shine.
📅 Submission Deadline: December 11, 2026
📌 Up to 3 entries per student
📌 Original, unpublished work only
📌 No AI assistance allowed
Don't miss this opportunity to share your talent and represent Gordon Central's community of writers.
🔗 Submit your work: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/5PewbbXz43
Note: Rules and submission requirements are included in the form.
#GCHS #YoungGeorgiaAuthors #WarriorWriters #CreativeWriting #OneTribeOneGoal
Mrs. Rusciano’s Biology students stepped into the role of Charles Darwin as they explored the connection between natural selection, adaptations, and survival through a hands-on simulation inspired by Darwin’s finches!
Each student was assigned a different type of “beak” to represent variations found among finch populations: a spoon, tweezers, chopsticks, a toothpick, or a clothespin. Students then competed to collect food using only their assigned beak type, simulating how different beak structures can make certain food sources easier or more difficult to obtain.
As they collected and analyzed their results, students discovered that not all beak types were equally effective at gathering food. These differences helped demonstrate how an organism’s physical adaptations can influence its ability to survive and reproduce in a particular environment.
To wrap up the investigation, students used Claim-Evidence-Reasoning (CER) to analyze their data, support their conclusions with evidence from the lab, and explain how natural selection can cause certain traits to become more common in a population over generations.
Through this activity, students got to see firsthand how variations within a population, environmental pressures, and competition for limited resources all play a role in evolution.
Tammy began her career in November 1990 at Tolbert as a member of the School Nutrition Program and later joined Gordon Central High School, where she faithfully served as a Nutrition Assistant, Assistant Manager, and Manager. Throughout her career, Tammy has made a lasting impact on countless students, staff, and families through her commitment, hard work, and caring service.
Please join us as we celebrate Tammy's remarkable career and thank her for her many years of dedication to Gordon County Schools. We invite you to stop by, share your congratulations, and wish Tammy all the best in her well-earned retirement.
Light desserts will be served.
📅 Wednesday, December 16, 2026
⏰ 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM
📍 Gordon Central High School, Room 301
We hope you can join us in honoring Tammy and celebrating the incredible legacy she leaves behind.
Apply to College Week is coming to GCHS! Your counselors and local colleges will be in Room 301 to help you apply for college for FREE. Bring your iPads. Seniors, scan the QR or follow the link to register for your time slot.
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/KSTDNz0Qac
Reminder: Week 2 of our "We Did It!" Family Challenge is here! As part of Family Engagement Month, we are encouraging families to spend time together, stay active, and have fun with our Week 2 Challenge: Get Moving!
This week's challenge is all about being active together as a family. Take a family walk, play outside, ride bikes, visit a park, or come up with your own family exercise challenge. It doesn't have to be complicated! The goal is to spend quality time together while building healthy habits and making memories.
Enter for a Chance to Win a Family Engagement Prize Basket!
Once your family completes the challenge, take a selfie with a homemade "We Did It!" sign and submit your entry through our website or email Kerri Chatman at kchatman@gcbe.org.
Be sure to include the following information with your entry:
- Student's name
- School
- A short description of what your family did and how you got moving together
Each Gordon County Schools school will select a winner through a random drawing from the entries received.
Family engagement doesn't always mean attending an event or participating in a school activity. Sometimes, it's as simple as spending time together, encouraging one another, and having fun. We hope our families will use this week's challenge as an opportunity to connect and enjoy being active together.
Healthy families build stronger communities!
#GrowConnectSucceed #GordonCountySchools
The teams took the Warrior bus to Darlington for its maiden voyage. Both teams will run Saturday morning in Carrollton for the State Meet.
A huge thank you to our friends at Jack's Restaurant for sponsoring our October Students of the Month! These outstanding Warriors have been recognized by their teachers for their hard work, leadership, character, and commitment to excellence.
⭐ October Students of the Month ⭐
Brianna Palacios-Ventura (Nominated by Lori Todd)
"Brianna is a great student who is always willing to help both her classmates and me. I appreciate her positive attitude and her willingness to assist others whenever needed. She is a pleasure to have in class."
Jose Fraire (Nominated by Cynthia Scoggins)
"Jose is a hard worker in class and he helps others when they don't understand. He is always in a good mood and a joy to teach!"
Ricky Galvan (Nominated by Rochelle Bautista and Kelly Franklin)
"He takes his job of helping another student in his wheelchair very seriously... Ricky does not play about getting his friend to where he needs to be any time in the morning or afternoon."
and
"Ricky has gone above and beyond not only in the math classroom but also showing compassion and being helpful to those around him... I am extremely proud of how far Ricky has come during his time at Gordon Central."
MacKenzie Cargal (Nominated by Shannon Rainwater)
"MacKenzie is an awesome student, but also a great person. She is helpful and kind but also can speak her mind and defend her opinion. She participates well in class and always wants to know more about the topics we are covering."
Hailey Soeun (Nominated by Lena Freeman)
"Since transferring to our school as a senior this fall, Hailey has had perfect attendance and shown a strong commitment to her education... We are proud to have her as a part of our school community."
Allison Salazar (Nominated by John Albright)
"Allison is a great student to have in class. Always prepared and goes the extra mile to help out some of the students that may be struggling with assignments."
Yanilen Morales (Nominated by Holly Watts)
"Yanilen is an exceptional student in our biology class. She is always smiling and has a positive attitude... She is such a joy to have in class!"
Finn McDavid (Nominated by Skip Matherly)
"Finn is the prototype of what any coach would want in a program: a talented kid who works to self-actuate on a daily basis. The more he improves, the more he works to improve."
Justus Fife (Nominated by Tony Plott)
"Justus is a very polite and respectful young man. He comes to school every day. He stays focused and works hard in the weight room."
Madison (Maddy) Mecum (Nominated by Kodi Albright)
"Maddy is an outstanding role model for her peers. She consistently encourages and supports her classmates and treats everyone with kindness and respect... She is truly deserving of this recognition!"
Dylan Holbert (Nominated by Alma Cuna)
"Dylan is a very polite student. He is a hard worker and does not let others distract him. He is a model student."
Juliette Dickerson (Nominated by Will Skiffen)
"Juliette is a quiet student but is an incredibly hard worker and is doing fantastic in my World History class... She has been an exceptional student to have!"
Kiersten Rawls (Nominated by Amber Lee)
"Kiersten is a very bright young lady! She is always ready and willing to complete her work. She is always polite and respectful and is very talented with her artwork."
🏆 October Faculty & Staff Members of the Month 🏆
Jonathan Sanderson
Jonathan dedicates himself to serving our exceptional students both in the classroom and through community-based work activities. At the same time, he continues to invest countless hours into growing and strengthening the Gordon Central girls basketball program. His commitment to students extends far beyond the school day, and his impact is felt across our campus.
Valerie Allen
Valerie is a driving force behind our Exceptional Student Services as Department Head. Somehow, she finds more hours in the day than the average person, balancing countless responsibilities while supporting both students and teachers. Her fierce love for our school community makes her an invaluable member of the Warrior family.
Sheri Pruitt
As the heart of our Media Center, Sheri is a guru of books, technology, social media, and problem-solving. Whether you need help with an iPad, a lesson resource, a social media post, or just an answer to a question, she's a one-stop shop who always serves others with patience and a smile.
Congratulations to all of our October Students, Faculty, and Staff Members of the Month! Thank you for making Gordon Central High School a better place every day. 💙 #WarriorPride #StudentOfTheMonth #FacultyOfTheMonth #StaffOfTheMonth #GCHSWarriors #JacksRestaurant
Final AP Exam balances are due by Thursday, November 5.
These AP exam fees apply to:
✅ Fall Semester AP classes
✅ Year-Long AP classes (Biology & Calculus)
✅ AP Exam Only sections
Payments can be made with Mrs. Pruitt in the GCHS Media Center or through the online store.
Questions? Contact Mrs. Pruitt at spruitt@gcbe.org or (706) 629-7391 ext. 4739.
