Good
afternoon! Welcome to the 13th edition of GaDOE Updates, a newsletter from the
Georgia Department of Education. This is a space for news, information, and
spotlights on K-12 public education in Georgia.
In
between newsletters, keep up with GaDOE on Facebook
and Twitter. And send your tips,
ideas, and events for GaDOE Updates to Meghan Frick at mfrick@doe.k12.ga.us.
Merry
Christmas + Happy Holidays!
Before
we dive in to this month’s updates, we’d like to wish students, parents,
educators, and community partners a happy, restful, and warm holiday break. We
are wishing the best for you and yours, and are grateful for your efforts to
improve public education in all seasons.
School
Spotlight: Putnam County High’s fast-growing dual-enrollment offerings
At
Putnam County High School, persistence, partnerships, and communication have
fueled swift growth of the dual-enrollment program. Three years ago, 20
students participated; this year, that number is up to 150 – that’s
approximately 23 percent of PCHS students. Students are taking nearly 30
courses on the high school’s campus, along with a handful of distance-education
offerings. More than 97 percent of them are earning credit in those courses.
Read more about dual enrollment at PCHS, and the strategies that have led to
its growth, here.
Get
Georgia Reading Campaign: Digital literacy in the Clarke County School District
At
Burney-Harris-Lyons Middle School on a recent Friday, students are at their
desks in a dimmed room, the supplies stacked on their desks backlit by the pale
glow of the projector up front. They’re doing a miniature research project,
their teacher explains. Just outside, a group of observers is making its way
down the hall. “They won’t be surprised to see you here,” says Clarke County
School District Superintendent Dr. Phil Lanoue, walking backwards down the hall
as he faces the group. “They see groups like this all the time.” The guests in
question, on this day, are a group of partners from the Get Georgia Reading
campaign. A partnership of private and public organizations across Georgia, the
campaign has made strategic learning journeys across the state, learning in
person what works. In Clarke County, that’s a strong adaptation to digital
demands paired with an emphasis on literacy. Read more here.
Around
DOE
-We’ve
updated our release on the 2014 Georgia High School Writing Test with school-
and system-level results. View them here: http://bit.ly/1xYbBCu
-GaDOE
is collaborating with the Georgia Professional Standards Commission and the
University System of Georgia to provide support for P-20 partnerships that
focus on continuous school improvement and student learning and growth through
the preparation of candidates and professional development of P-20 educators,
and to ensure that candidates are prepared to implement Georgia’s Teacher Keys
and Leader Keys Effectiveness System. During the fall of 2014, nine regional
collaboratives convened to discuss current initiatives, identify regional
resources and needs, and network. Winter 2015 locations and dates have been
announced, and online registration is open here.
Around
the districts
-Here’s
a great holiday story, sent to us by Appling County High School Assistant
Principal David Williams. At ACHS, students have decked the school lobby with
21 beautifully decorated, donated Christmas trees from various clubs,
organizations and classes. Following the break, trees are delivered by students
and school social workers to underprivileged families who wouldn’t otherwise
have a Christmas tree in their home. This year, ACHS Principal Dr. Gene A.
Starr, Jr. challenged students and staff to bring in one canned good to be
delivered with the trees, and more than 1,600 were donated, more than the 1,200
projected. Additionally, ACHS will provide a gift certificate from a local
merchant for families to redeem for a turkey or ham for their Christmas meal.
Here’s Principal Starr on the program: “We have experienced a true sense of
willingness to help and a true giving spirit.”
Miss Georgia (America) Maggie Bridges, who made a visit to
ACHS on Nov. 21, said, “See, this is what it’s all about. Great job ACHS, you’ve got the vision and
put it into action.”
-This
month, the Gwinnett Daily Post featured
#gwinchat, a weekly
Twitter chat for Gwinnett County educators and others interested in
education in Gwinnett. We featured the statewide version
of these chats – which are part digital, part professional learning, part
networking and social support – in
GaDOE Updates earlier this year. There’s also #cowetaedchat,
which takes place Sundays at 8 p.m. What other Georgia education Twitter chats
should we know about?
-From
the Bulloch County Schools: The Statesboro Arts Council and Averitt Center for
the Arts has received a $10,000 Challenge America fast-track category grant
from the National Endowment
for the Arts for the Averitt Center’s gallery program. The Arts Council has
chosen to team up with Portal Elementary and Portal Middle/High School art
teacher Deena Scarborough to implement several components of the program. Bulloch
County Schools spokeswoman Hayley Greene writes, “[Scarborough’s] ability to
adapt to meet the standards for the various grade levels is a testament to her
talent…we are excited to see what creativity will be fueled by this
partnership.”
Georgia’s
public schools in the news
-Another
great Georgia teacher: her classroom hums with activity | AJC: http://on-ajc.com/1rZOhNP
-Georgia
Innovation Fund projects open students’ minds to what is possible | US ED: http://1.usa.gov/1BUzBt0
-Preparing
kids for a global workforce | 11Alive: http://on.11alive.com/1yROyY9
-IB
program in Marietta City Schools working to create lifelong learners | Marietta
Daily Journal: http://bit.ly/11ZTWMU
Save
the date
-Jan.
9-10: Georgia Striving Reader Differentiation Institute, registration here,
email jmorrill@doe.k12.ga.us with
questions
-Jan.
16-17: Georgia Striving Reader Differentiation Institute, registration here,
email jmorrill@doe.k12.ga.us with
questions
-Jan.
20: Deadline to submit entries to the White
House Student Film Festival
-Jan.
23-24: Georgia Striving Reader Differentiation Institute, registration here,
email jmorrill@doe.k12.ga.us with
questions
View
previous newsletters
December
1, October
9, September
17, September
3, August
22, August
1, June
13, May
30, May
14, May
1, April
11, March
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