W.L. Swain Elementary 2nd grade students in Mrs. Crider’s class were building their understanding of fictional narratives through reading and discussion.
Students explored the important parts of this type of storytelling, including characters, setting, and plot, while learning how these elements work together to create an imaginary story. By identifying each part in the text, students strengthened their reading comprehension and their understanding of how stories are organized.
It was a great day of literacy learning at WLS!
#GrowConnectSucceed #GordonCountySchools #WLSwainElementary
Students explored the important parts of this type of storytelling, including characters, setting, and plot, while learning how these elements work together to create an imaginary story. By identifying each part in the text, students strengthened their reading comprehension and their understanding of how stories are organized.
It was a great day of literacy learning at WLS!
#GrowConnectSucceed #GordonCountySchools #WLSwainElementary
❤️🦸 WLS Red Ribbon Week! 🦸❤️
📅 October 26–30
🌟 Make a Difference. Be a Hero. Stay Drug Free! 🌟
Get ready for a fun-filled week as we celebrate making healthy choices and living drug free! Each day has a special dress-up theme, and we hope everyone will join in the fun!
💤 Monday, 10/26 – Pajama Day!
Follow your dreams, not drugs! Wear your favorite pajamas.
🦸 Tuesday, 10/27 – Hero Day!
Heroes say NO to drugs! Dress as your favorite hero or wear blue.
❤️ Wednesday, 10/28 – Red & Crazy Day!
I’m “RED-dy” to be drug free! Wear red with crazy socks and crazy hair.
🏈 Thursday, 10/29 – Team Day!
Team up against drugs! Wear your favorite team gear.
🎃 Friday, 10/30 – Costume Day!
Scare away drugs! Wear a costume.
We can’t wait to see our WLS students show their school spirit while making a difference and choosing to stay drug free! ❤️💙
#RedRibbonWeek #SwainNation #SaddleUpForSuccess
🎃 Fall Festival is NEXT WEEK! 🎃
Mark your calendars for Friday, October 23, from 5:30–7:30 p.m. at W. L. Swain Elementary!
We have a fun-filled evening planned for the whole family! 🍂 Come out and enjoy:
🍕 Pizza and water
🍬 Trunk-or-Treat
🏰 Inflatables
🎶 Music
🎂 Cake Walk
🎯 Games
🎨 Face Painting
🍭 Jiffy Jars
💵 Don’t forget to bring cash! Cash will be needed for the Cake Walk and Jiffy Jars.
We can’t wait to see our WLS families come together for an evening of fun, laughter, and fall memories! 🧡
#SwainNation #SaddleUpForSuccess #WLSFallFestival
🎃Fall Festival is NEXT WEEK! 🎃
Don’t forget! Our Fall Festival is coming up on Friday, October 23, and we still need YOUR help!
While you’re enjoying a little time off, grab a jar and get creative! We need JIFFY JARS! 🍬✨ Fill a quart-size jar (or something similar) with candy, treats, or fun goodies, and decorate it however you’d like!
It’s the perfect little Fall Break project for the whole family! 🍁 We can’t wait to see all of your creative Jiffy Jars when we return!
#JiffyJarsWLSTradition #SwainNation #SaddleUpForSuccess
October is National Principals Month, and Gordon County Schools is proud to recognize the dedicated leaders who serve our schools each day.
Tara Green is in her 21st year as an educator and her 5th year as principal of W.L. Swain Elementary School. For Mrs. Green, the students are at the center of what makes the role so rewarding. She enjoys the daily interactions that allow her to encourage students, help them feel valued, and remind them that they are an important part of the school community.
Mrs. Green believes Swain Elementary is special because of the strong sense of community shared by students, families, and staff. She is proud of the welcoming environment they have created together and of the way everyone works toward giving students opportunities to learn, lead, and succeed.
She is especially proud of the dedication shown by both students and staff. Mrs. Green sees firsthand the time teachers devote to planning, collaboration, professional learning, and meaningful instruction. She also values the effort students put into their learning each day and the way teachers make purposeful use of every minute in the classroom.
One message Mrs. Green wants every student to carry with them is that they are loved, valued, and believed in. She wants students to know that they are capable of growth and success and that there are people at Swain who believe in what they can become.
For Mrs. Green, being a principal means having the opportunity to make a positive difference each day by supporting teachers, encouraging students, building relationships with families, and creating a school where people feel supported.
Outside of school, Mrs. Green enjoys reading and spending time with her family. Her husband, Billy, is a Battalion Chief with the Calhoun Fire Department. Their daughters are Katy, who is in her final year at the University of Tennessee Winston College of Law, and Sophie, a freshman at Gordon Central High School. Their family also includes Rowdy, their Golden Retriever.
During National Principals Month, Gordon County Schools is proud to recognize Tara Green for her leadership, care, and commitment to the students, staff, and families of W.L. Swain Elementary School.
Tara Green is in her 21st year as an educator and her 5th year as principal of W.L. Swain Elementary School. For Mrs. Green, the students are at the center of what makes the role so rewarding. She enjoys the daily interactions that allow her to encourage students, help them feel valued, and remind them that they are an important part of the school community.
Mrs. Green believes Swain Elementary is special because of the strong sense of community shared by students, families, and staff. She is proud of the welcoming environment they have created together and of the way everyone works toward giving students opportunities to learn, lead, and succeed.
She is especially proud of the dedication shown by both students and staff. Mrs. Green sees firsthand the time teachers devote to planning, collaboration, professional learning, and meaningful instruction. She also values the effort students put into their learning each day and the way teachers make purposeful use of every minute in the classroom.
One message Mrs. Green wants every student to carry with them is that they are loved, valued, and believed in. She wants students to know that they are capable of growth and success and that there are people at Swain who believe in what they can become.
For Mrs. Green, being a principal means having the opportunity to make a positive difference each day by supporting teachers, encouraging students, building relationships with families, and creating a school where people feel supported.
Outside of school, Mrs. Green enjoys reading and spending time with her family. Her husband, Billy, is a Battalion Chief with the Calhoun Fire Department. Their daughters are Katy, who is in her final year at the University of Tennessee Winston College of Law, and Sophie, a freshman at Gordon Central High School. Their family also includes Rowdy, their Golden Retriever.
During National Principals Month, Gordon County Schools is proud to recognize Tara Green for her leadership, care, and commitment to the students, staff, and families of W.L. Swain Elementary School.
Today, Gordon County Schools proudly celebrates National Coaches Day and National Instructional Coaches Day!
Our coaches play an important role in helping students and staff grow, whether they are leading on the field, court, track, or supporting teaching and learning throughout our schools. Their leadership, encouragement, knowledge, and commitment help others build confidence, develop skills, and reach their goals.
Thank you to all of our athletic coaches and instructional coaches for the time, energy, and heart you invest in Gordon County Schools each day!
#GrowConnectSucceed #GordonCountySchools
Our coaches play an important role in helping students and staff grow, whether they are leading on the field, court, track, or supporting teaching and learning throughout our schools. Their leadership, encouragement, knowledge, and commitment help others build confidence, develop skills, and reach their goals.
Thank you to all of our athletic coaches and instructional coaches for the time, energy, and heart you invest in Gordon County Schools each day!
#GrowConnectSucceed #GordonCountySchools
W.L. Swain Elementary is celebrating Georgia Pre-K Week and the educators who help make the first school experiences of our youngest learners meaningful and memorable. Students were working in stations and understanding how to compare and contrast using a Venn Diagram!
We are proud to recognize our WLS Pre-K teams: Mrs. Greer and Ms. Silvers, Mrs. Byrd and Mrs. Christy, and Mrs. West and Mrs. Traylor.
Thank you for creating classrooms filled with learning, play, encouragement, and care. Your work helps build the strong foundation our students will carry with them throughout their school years.
Happy Georgia Pre-K Week, WLS!
#GrowConnectSucceed #GordonCountySchools #WLSwainElementary
We are proud to recognize our WLS Pre-K teams: Mrs. Greer and Ms. Silvers, Mrs. Byrd and Mrs. Christy, and Mrs. West and Mrs. Traylor.
Thank you for creating classrooms filled with learning, play, encouragement, and care. Your work helps build the strong foundation our students will carry with them throughout their school years.
Happy Georgia Pre-K Week, WLS!
#GrowConnectSucceed #GordonCountySchools #WLSwainElementary
W.L. Swain Elementary kindergarten students had a special visit to Gordon Central High School today, where they worked alongside high school students in Mrs. Albright’s Teaching as a Profession classes.
Our future Warriors visited several classrooms, including those of Ms. Mills, Mrs. Hice, and Mrs. Lee, and participated in fun, hands on activities throughout the day. Pictured here, students were having a great time learning in Mrs. Lee’s Healthcare class.
We always love seeing our older students connect with younger learners and share their knowledge, encouragement, and school spirit. Experiences like this bring our schools together as one community and give students of all ages opportunities to learn from one another.
#GrowConnectSucceed #GordonCountySchools #WLSwainElementary #GordonCentralHigh #GCCCA
Today is National Custodian Day, and we couldn’t let the day get away without giving a HUGE shoutout to our amazing custodians! 💙
These three work incredibly hard each and every day to keep WLS clean, safe, and looking its very best. So much of what they do happens behind the scenes, but their hard work definitely doesn’t go unnoticed!
We are so thankful for all they do to take care of our school, our students, and our staff. Help us show them some love today! 💙
#NationalCustodianDay #SwainNation
October is National Principals Month, and we are so thankful for Mrs. Green! 💙
Mrs. Green leads WLS with a big heart and always puts our students and staff first. She is supportive, encouraging, hardworking, and always willing to jump in wherever she is needed. Her love for our school shows in everything she does, and we are so lucky to have her leading our Swain family!
Help us celebrate Mrs. Green this month and let her know how much she is appreciated! 🤠🐺💙
#NationalPrincipalsMonth #SwainNation #SaddleUpForSuccess
Our fabulous WLS Cafeteria Staff earned a PERFECT 100 on their lunchroom inspection! 💯👏
These amazing ladies work hard every single day to serve our students with smiles while keeping our cafeteria safe, clean, and running smoothly. Their hard work and dedication definitely deserve some recognition!
Help us give our lunchroom ladies a HUGE congratulations on this outstanding accomplishment! 💙🤠
#SwainNation
#SaddleUpForSuccess
#Perfect100
‼️ IMPORTANT MESSAGE‼️
Parents:
As we welcome grandparents and other special visitors to our school this week, we need your help to make sure everyone is prepared for their visit.
1️⃣ Please make sure grandparents or other visitors are listed in Infinite Campus as someone who is authorized to pick up your child. They will also need to bring a valid photo ID when they visit.
2️⃣ If a grandparent or visitor is NOT listed in Infinite Campus, you must send a handwritten note to your child’s teacher giving that person permission to visit and eat lunch with your child.
For the safety and security of all our students, we will not be able to allow a grandparent or other visitor to eat lunch with a student unless one of these two requirements has been met.
Thank you for helping us keep our students safe while we enjoy a wonderful week with our special visitors!
W.L. Swain Elementary kindergarten students in Mrs. Proctor’s class were learning how pictures can help tell a story.
Mrs. Proctor modeled narrative writing by sharing a story about her dad watching as she practiced her golf swing, then drawing what happened. Students used her example to create their own stories and illustrate an important part of their narrative.
This activity helped students connect ideas, sequence events, and begin building strong storytelling skills through both writing and drawing.
#GrowConnectSucceed #GordonCountySchools #WLSwainElementary
Grandparents, get ready to saddle up and join us for a special lunchtime with your favorite little cowboys and cowgirls!
Grandparent Lunches are coming up next week, and we can’t wait to welcome some very special guests to WLS! Come enjoy lunch, make sweet memories, and spend a little extra time with your precious grandchildren.
Monday, September 21
5th Grade — 12:00–12:30
Tuesday, September 22
2nd Grade — 11:35–12:05
4th Grade — 12:15–12:45
Wednesday, September 23
Kindergarten — 11:00–11:30
Pre-K — 12:30–1:00
Thursday, September 24
1st Grade — 11:10–11:40
3rd Grade — 11:55–12:25
Parents:
Please make sure that all grandparents and other visitors are listed in Infinite Campus if they plan to visit or eat lunch with your child. They will also need to bring a valid photo ID. If they are not listed, you will need to send a written note giving permission for the visit. For the safety and security of our students, we will not be able to allow grandparents or other visitors to eat lunch with a student unless one of these two requirements has been met.
We’re looking forward to seeing you!
#SaddleUpForSuccess
#SwainNation
Grandparent Lunches are coming up next week, and we can’t wait to welcome some very special guests to WLS! Come enjoy lunch, make sweet memories, and spend a little extra time with your precious grandchildren.
Monday, September 21
5th Grade — 12:00–12:30
Tuesday, September 22
2nd Grade — 11:35–12:05
4th Grade — 12:15–12:45
Wednesday, September 23
Kindergarten — 11:00–11:30
Pre-K — 12:30–1:00
Thursday, September 24
1st Grade — 11:10–11:40
3rd Grade — 11:55–12:25
Parents:
Please make sure that all grandparents and other visitors are listed in Infinite Campus if they plan to visit or eat lunch with your child. They will also need to bring a valid photo ID. If they are not listed, you will need to send a written note giving permission for the visit. For the safety and security of our students, we will not be able to allow grandparents or other visitors to eat lunch with a student unless one of these two requirements has been met.
We’re looking forward to seeing you!
#SaddleUpForSuccess
#SwainNation
Swain Elementary School
Please join us for the Annual Title I Parent Meeting where we will discuss:
What are the district and school goals?
What is Title I?
What is Parent Engagement?
How can I get involved?
September 24, 2026, at 5:00 PM
Swain Elementary School - School Cafeteria
All parents and families are invited to participate.
For more information contact the school at 706-629-0141
Please join us for the Annual Title I Parent Meeting where we will discuss:
What are the district and school goals?
What is Title I?
What is Parent Engagement?
How can I get involved?
September 24, 2026, at 5:00 PM
Swain Elementary School - School Cafeteria
All parents and families are invited to participate.
For more information contact the school at 706-629-0141
Swain Elementary School
Please join us for the Annual Title I Parent Meeting where we will discuss:
What are the district and school goals?
What is Title I?
What is Parent Engagement?
How can I get involved?
September 24, 2026, at 5:00 PM
Swain Elementary School - School Cafeteria
All parents and families are invited to participate.
For more information contact the school at 706-629-0141
Please join us for the Annual Title I Parent Meeting where we will discuss:
What are the district and school goals?
What is Title I?
What is Parent Engagement?
How can I get involved?
September 24, 2026, at 5:00 PM
Swain Elementary School - School Cafeteria
All parents and families are invited to participate.
For more information contact the school at 706-629-0141
W.L. Swain Elementary students in Mrs. Stone’s STEAM class enjoyed a fun, hands on creative activity using Play-Doh.
Students had the opportunity to build, design, and use their imaginations. Activities like this help students explore new ideas while learning through hands on experiences.
#GrowConnectSucceed #GordonCountySchools #WLSwainElementary
Students had the opportunity to build, design, and use their imaginations. Activities like this help students explore new ideas while learning through hands on experiences.
#GrowConnectSucceed #GordonCountySchools #WLSwainElementary
GCHS Homecoming spirit was on full display last night!
Mrs. Green and Mrs. Christophel had the pleasure of riding in the GCHS Homecoming Parade alongside our amazing Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Erin Proctor!
We love seeing our Swain family come together to celebrate our community and show that Warrior pride. What a great night to be part of #SwainNation!
#GCHSHomecoming2026
#SwainNation
#SaddleUpForSuccess
Swain Elementary School
Please join us for the Annual Title I Parent Meeting where we will discuss:
What are the district and school goals?
What is Title I?
What is Parent Engagement?
How can I get involved?
September 24, 2026, at 5:00 PM
Swain Elementary School - School Cafeteria
All parents and families are invited to participate.
For more information contact the school at 706-629-0141
Swain Elementary School
Please join us for the Annual Title I Parent Meeting where we will discuss:
What are the district and school goals?
What is Title I?
What is Parent Engagement?
How can I get involved?
September 24, 2026, at 5:00 PM
Swain Elementary School - School Cafeteria
All parents and families are invited to participate.
For more information contact the school at 706-629-0141
