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
Please join us in celebrating our grade-level winners and top three readers for October. We are proud of their dedication to reading!
Tolbert Elementary students have logged 138,626 reading minutes this school year as we work toward our goal of 500,000 minutes.
Families, you can support this goal by logging your child’s reading at home in Beanstack. Each time you log, your child is entered for a chance to win one of our monthly prizes!
Thank you for helping us build a community of readers!
#GrowConnectSucceed #BESTAtTES
Please join us in celebrating our fourth- and fifth-grade spelling bee finalists and alternates! Our finalists will compete in the Tolbert Elementary School Spelling Bee on Thursday, December 3, 2026.
Fourth Grade:
Finalists: Penelopy Payne, Charlotte Daniels, Asher Knight, Molly Smith, and Blaine Timms
Alternates: Greenlee Kinsey and Kristian Hutchins
Fifth Grade:
Finalists: Lily Wiley, Daphne Lara, Nevaeh Evans, Preston Arnold, and Aaron Helmly
Alternate: Alexa Kirkland and Ryleigh Davis
We are proud of these students for their hard work and dedication. Join us in wishing our spellers success as they prepare for the school spelling bee!
#TolbertElementary #GrowConnectSucceed #BESTAtTES
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
Students will learn from home while teachers and staff participate in professional learning.
Please review messages from your child’s teacher for assignments and learning expectations. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s teacher.
Thank you for your continued partnership and support of our students’ learning!
#GrowConnectSucceed #BESTAtTES
Many families have a Thanksgiving tradition of going around the table and sharing something they’re thankful for. Let’s begin that tradition now! Each day, share words of gratitude with your friends, teachers, and family. Tell someone how they’ve helped you or made your day brighter.
Gratitude is letting others know you see how they’ve helped you.
#GrowConnectSucceed #BESTAtTES #Gratitude
Week 2 of our "We Did It!" Family Challenge begins Monday, November 2nd! 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!
Next 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
Tolbert Elementary School is honored to welcome veterans and their families to our annual Veterans Day Breakfast on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, from 7:45–8:30 a.m.
Please join our students and staff as we recognize the service, courage, and sacrifices of those who have served our country.
Breakfast will be provided for the student, their veteran guest, and one additional adult guest. Additional adult guests may purchase breakfast.
To RSVP, please complete the form on the attached flyer, including the student’s name and homeroom, the veteran’s name and branch of service, and the total number of adults attending.
Students attending with a veteran or guest should wait to eat breakfast at the event instead of eating upon arrival at school.
We look forward to sharing this special morning with our veterans and expressing our heartfelt appreciation for their service.
Admission is $5 per child. Drinks and popcorn are $1 each, and cotton candy is $3. Cash only is accepted at the door. We look forward to welcoming our students and families for an evening of fun together! Go Warriors!
#TolbertElementary #TolbertFallFestival #FallFamilyFun #SupportingOurSchool
Join us tomorrow, Thursday, October 29, from 4:00–6:00 p.m. for Tolbert Elementary School’s Fall Festival Fundraiser! Enjoy games, food, and fall fun while supporting our school!
Admission is $5 per child. Drinks and popcorn are $1 each, and cotton candy is $3. We accept cash only. We look forward to welcoming our students and families for an evening of fun together!
#TolbertElementary #TolbertFallFestival #FallFamilyFun #SupportingOurSchool
Students volunteered to share what they noticed about patterns when multiplying by 10 and explained their thinking to the class. They then created multiplication flash cards to help reinforce their facts and continue practicing.
It was a great math lesson filled with discussion, pattern recognition, and active learning at TES!
#GrowConnectSucceed #GordonCountySchools #TolbertElementary
From October 26 through November 1, families are encouraged to read together for at least 20 minutes. Spending time reading as a family helps build literacy skills, strengthens relationships, and creates meaningful learning experiences at home.
Families can also enter for a chance to win a Family Engagement Prize Basket in one of two ways:
1. Send a selfie with a homemade “We Did It!” sign to Kerri Chatman at kchatman@gcbe.org. Include the student’s name and school.
2. Email a short description of what and how your family read together to kchatman@gcbe.org. Include the student’s name and school.
We hope families across Gordon County Schools will join in this week and make reading together part of their family time!
Gordon County Schools is excited to celebrate Family Engagement Month with our “We Did It!” Family Challenge, taking place October 26 through November 20!
Strong families help build strong schools, and we know that even small moments spent together can make a big difference. Throughout these four weeks, we are encouraging families across our district to participate in simple, meaningful activities that help them grow, connect, and succeed together.
Each week features a different family challenge:
Week 1: Read Together
Spend 20 minutes reading together as a family. Whether it is a favorite book, a bedtime story, or something new, take time to enjoy reading with one another.
Week 2: Get Moving!
Get active as a family! Take a walk, play outside, or complete a family exercise challenge. Find a fun way to enjoy physical activity together.
Week 3: Talk Together
Make time for a family conversation using conversation starters that will be provided. This challenge encourages families to communicate, share experiences, and strengthen their connections.
Week 4: Give Together
Do something kind for another person. Whether it is helping a neighbor, supporting someone in need, or finding another way to show kindness, families are encouraged to make a positive difference together.
Participate for a Chance to Win a Family Prize Pack! Families who complete a challenge can enter for a chance to win a Family Prize Pack! Each school will select a winner through a random drawing from the entries received.
Families can submit their participation in one of two ways:
1. Take a selfie of your family completing the activity while holding a homemade “We Did It!” sign.
OR
2. Send a brief written description of the activity your family completed together.
Be sure to include your student's name and school with your submission. Email your entries to Kerri Chatman at kchatman@gcbe.org.
We encourage all Gordon County Schools families to take part in this special month of activities. You do not need elaborate plans or expensive experiences to make meaningful memories. Reading a book, sharing a conversation, getting outside, or showing kindness can help strengthen family relationships and support student success.
We look forward to seeing how our families participate throughout Family Engagement Month!
#GrowConnectSucceed #GordonCountySchools
Good afternoon, Tolbert families! PTO fundraiser item pick-up will continue tomorrow, Thursday, October 22, from 2:45-5:00 PM. Please park at the front of the school and pick up your items inside the building. Go Warriors!
Alerts Recipients
Heather Aycock and Theresa Spence helped make the celebration special as TES teachers, staff, and administrators took time to recognize one another. Moments like these help build a positive school culture and strengthen the relationships that make Tolbert such a special place.
We love seeing our staff celebrate, support, and encourage one another throughout the year!
#GrowConnectSucceed #GordonCountySchools #TolbertElementary
Sonoraville Elementary School and Tolbert Elementary School were recognized as 2026 Georgia Title I Reward Schools. This prestigious recognition identifies schools among the top 5% of Title I schools in Georgia that have demonstrated the greatest progress in improving academic performance. Schools are selected based on growth in content mastery scores over the two most recent years of statewide assessment data.
Sonoraville Elementary School was represented by Principal Kelly Rampy and Assistant Principal Nicole Burgess. This recognition adds to the school's recent accomplishments, including being named a 2024 Georgia Title I Distinguished School and earning Apple Distinguished School recognition in 2025.
Tolbert Elementary School was represented by Principal Dr. Rebecca Owen and Assistant Principal Melissa Vincent. Tolbert has also celebrated several recent academic achievements, including being named a Georgia Literacy Leader school and receiving Beating the Odds recognition for outstanding achievement and exceptional growth.
The Board also recognized the Gordon County Schools School Nutrition Department for earning the USDA's 2025 Turnip the Beet! Gold Award. This national recognition celebrates summer meal programs that go above and beyond to provide nutritious, appealing, and high-quality meals to children when school is not in session. Gordon County Schools was among 170 summer meal program sponsors nationwide to receive a Turnip the Beet! award and among just 47 programs to earn Gold recognition.
School Nutrition Director Nicole Head shared the importance of the district's summer meal program and recognized several team members whose hard work contributed to this achievement. Those honored included Kim Franks, Summer Meal Coordinator and School Nutrition Operations Specialist; Kristin Cronk and Stacey Lemmermann, Site Managers; and Maria Bruno and Tina Benfield, Site Assistant Managers. Their dedication helps ensure that children throughout our community have access to nutritious meals during the summer months, while maintaining the same quality and care provided throughout the school year.
Gordon County Schools congratulates all of these outstanding schools, leaders, and staff members on their well-deserved recognitions. We appreciate their continued commitment to academic excellence, student growth, and meeting the needs of our students and families!
#GrowConnectSucceed #GordonCountySchools #SonoravilleElementary #TolbertElementary
Admission is $5 per child. Drinks and popcorn are $1 each, and cotton candy is $3. We look forward to welcoming our students and families for an evening of fun together!
#TolbertElementary #TolbertFallFestival #FallFamilyFun #SupportingOurSchool
La entrada cuesta $5 por niño. Las bebidas y las palomitas de maíz cuestan $1 cada una, y el algodón de azúcar cuesta $3. ¡Esperamos recibir a nuestros estudiantes y sus familias para compartir una tarde llena de diversión!
#TolbertElementary #FestivalDeOtoñoTolbert #DiversiónFamiliarDeOtoño #ApoyandoANuestraEscuela
Dr. Rebecca Owen is in her 19th year as an educator and her 2nd full year as principal of Tolbert Elementary School. This is her first principalship, following previous roles as a teacher, coach, instructional specialist, and assistant principal.
One of the things Dr. Owen enjoys most about being a principal is working with the people who make up the Tolbert community. She appreciates the commitment of the staff, the support of families, and the energy students bring each day. She also enjoys that each day is different, bringing new opportunities to solve problems, encourage others, and help students be their best.
This year is especially meaningful as Tolbert Elementary celebrates its 50th anniversary. Dr. Owen believes the school’s long connection to the Resaca and Sugar Valley communities is a major part of what makes Tolbert special. Generations of families have attended the school, and local churches and community members continue to support students and staff.
Dr. Owen is especially proud of the way students and staff continue working through challenges and supporting one another. Their efforts have also been reflected in recent recognitions, including Tolbert being named a 2026 Georgia Title I Reward School and a 2025 Georgia Grade 3 Literacy Leader.
One message Dr. Owen wants every student to know is that they are seen, valued, and capable of accomplishing great things. She wants students to understand that growth comes from continuing to work toward being their best each day.
Outside of school, Dr. Owen enjoys spending time with her husband, Eric, and their daughters, Maddie and Abigail. Maddie is a 1st grade Warrior at Tolbert, and Abigail will join the school as a Pre-K student next year. As a family, they enjoy cruising, board games, pets, and cheering on the Georgia Bulldogs. Dr. Owen also enjoys cooking, trying new recipes, and a good cup of coffee.
During National Principals Month, Gordon County Schools is proud to recognize Dr. Rebecca Owen for her leadership, dedication, and commitment to the students, staff, families, and community of Tolbert Elementary School.