WCS News & Updates
Special Guests Tour Elementary Schools
Three representatives from Georgia members of Congress enjoyed a learning tour as they visited several Whitfield County elementary schools Tuesday morning.
Superintendent Judy Gilreath and Georgia Board of Education member Larry Winter hosted Denise Clopton, senior field representative for U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson, Seth Coker, regional representative for U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, and Travis Loudermilk, field representative for U.S. Rep. Tom Graves. Winter represents Region 14, which covers all or part of 12 northwest Georgia counties including Whitfield.
Their tour took them to Varnell, Cohutta, Beaverdale, and Dawnville elementary schools. Clopton worked with superintendent Gilreath to arrange the tour. She said the senators (Isakson and Chambliss) and Rep. Graves are interested in education and want to know what is happening in Georgia’s schools.
During the tour, they saw students perform The Jungle Book, learned about Reading Recovery and the community literacy initiative, visited classrooms, read with students, and even took some time out to hone their skills with a bow and arrow as students were finishing up their archery class at Cohutta Elementary.
Photos from the visit
Travis Loudermilk, field representative for U.S. Rep. Tom Graves, center, talks with Cohutta Elementary fifth-grader Cheyenne Spurlock about mentoring time with kindergartener Allyssa Coran.
Denise Clopton, senior field representative for U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson, shares some reading time with Cohutta Elementary kindergartener Kalynn Cameron.
Seth Coker, regional representative for U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, reviews work with giggling Cohutta Elementary student Brandon Rivera, at right, and his friend Dylan Whaley.
Georgia Board of Education member Larry Winter leaves his painted handprint on the wall while visiting Beaverdale Elementary.
Cohutta Elementary kindergartener Teryn Blair, at left, shares her work with Travis Loudermilk, field representative for U.S. Rep. Tom Graves and her fifth-grade buddy Reece Cauthen.
Varnell Elementary Principal Lisa Jones on Tuesday discusses how teachers provide art instruction for students with guests touring the school. From left are Travis Loudermilk, field representative for U.S. Rep. Tom Graves; Whitfield County Schools Superintendent Judy Gilreath; Seth Coker, regional representative for U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss; Denise Clopton, senior field representative for U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson; and Jones.
Cohutta Elementary archery teacher Jennifer Brown leads instruction and shares the equipment with Travis Loudermilk, field representative for U.S. Rep. Tom Graves. Seth Coker, regional representative for U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, is in the background ready to fire at a target.
PGE Student Performance is Historical
Students at Pleasant Grove Elementary School recently performed in a production of The Adventures of Lewis and Clark a musical that describes true historical events of the exploration and expansion of the United States.
The actors are, from left, Eden Scruggs as Cassie, Elisa Castelo as Scannon the dog, and Bryson Burnette as Captain William Clark with "soldiers" Ramses Serrato and Karle Wright in the background.
Free Meals this Summer
The goal of the USDA Seamless Summer Nutrition Program is to provide free meals and snacks to all children under the age of 18.
Download a flyer in English or Spanish to see or share all of the information.
The service launches with the first free meals of summer shared on Monday, June 3, and will continue through July 31. Families may also visit North Whitfield Middle School or the Northwest Georgia College & Career Academy on Saturdays & Sundays where lunch is served from 11:15 a.m. to 12:40 p.m. depending on the site. Call (706) 876–3679 or (706) 259–9537 for exact times or more information.
The community service is paid for by the United States Department of Agriculture. No local tax dollars supplement the program placing no additional tax burden on the local school systems or community.
Sites include church buildings, community centers, playgrounds, apartment complexes, parks and other areas where children gather in the summer. Guidelines limit each site to two servings per day and may provide breakfast, lunch, or a snack. Food must be eaten on site.
Sites this year include:
- Amberfield Subdivision, Phase 1 & 2
- Antioch Elementary
- Autumn Ridge Apts., Cleveland Hwy.
- Bear Creek Estates
- Bonnie Grove Subdivision
- Carolyn Baptist Church
- Cedar Ridge Trailer Park
- Chalet Valley Apartments
- Cleveland Hwy. Trailer Park
- Cricket Trailer Park
- Curtis Road
- Dawnville Elementary
- Dawnville Meadows
- Derby Drive
- Eastbrook Trailer Park
- Eastside Elementary
- Excalibur Apartments
- Gillespie Drive
- Hill Road Apartments
- Hill Top Trailer Park
- Jason Way
- Jupiter Circle, Dawnville
- Liberty Baptist Church
- Logo Vista Apartments
- Maddox Chapel Apartments
- Manis Grocery, Cohutta
- Margaret Circle
- Martin Luther King Trailer Park
- Mount Vernon United Methodist Church (Westside)
- Mountain View Subdivision, Cleveland Hwy
- New Haven United Methodist Church, South 41
- New Life Baptist Church
- North Whitfield Middle
- Northwest Georgia College & Career Academy
- Park Place Apartment
- Piney Ridge Trailer Park
- Pleasant Grove Elementary
- Riverbend Trailer Park
- Roberts Circle Trailer Park
- Salem Baptist Church
- Stanley Street, Eastside Area
- Strawberry Commons
- Stinnet Trailer Park
- Timbervale Circle
- Tunnel Hill United Methodist Church
- Turf Road
- Uma Way
- Underwood Apartments
- Underwood Circle Apartment
- Valley Baptist Church
- Valley Point Park (at the school)
- Varnell Pavilion
- Woodlawn Subdivision
- Woodpark Subdivision
In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, D.C. 20250–9410 or call toll free (866)632–9992 (Voice). Individuals who are hearing impaired or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877–8339 or (800) 845–6136 (Spanish). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Eastbrook Teacher a Leader in National Art Education Association
As the National Art Education Association (NAEA) convention in Fort Worth, Texas, came to a close in March, Eastbrook Middle School art teacher Kristi Harvey began her two-year term as southeastern region middle level director-elect with the organization.
“As you know, active membership in a professional organization provides an opportunity for growth in educators,” said Kimberly Cairy, NAEA middle level director, in a letter about the position. "The work she is beginning ensures that the middle level division will continue to be a success for NAEA. She is a vital part of our middle level leadership team.
“We are excited for Kristi as she steps into her new role to fulfill her responsibilities,” Cairy said.
After her two-year term with the Middle Level Division, Harvey gets serve another two years as the Southeastern Region Middle Level Director where she will work closely with the sitting Southeastern Regional Director, the NAEA Middle Level Director-Elect, and Cairy. As Director-Elect, Harvey will assist with the following responsibilities and expectations:
- Communicate regularly with NAEA Division Director including email and phone conferences.
- Develop and maintain contact list for state association division representatives in the region.
- Communicate with regional contacts as needed for information, input and feedback for NAEA and/or Division Director.
- Enlist the help of individuals in their region to assist us, which will in turn foster new leadership.
- Participate in discussions via social media (Listserv, Ning, Facebook, Twitter) as appropriate.
- Attend the NAEA National Convention, “Spark! Infusing Innovative Teaching & Emerging Technologies” March 29–31, 2014, in San Diego, Calif.
About NAEA
Founded in 1947, The National Art Education Association is the leading professional membership organization exclusively for visual arts educators. Members include elementary, middle and high school visual arts educators, college and university professors, researchers and scholars, teaching artists, administrators and supervisors, and art museum educators, as well as more than 45,000 students who are members of the National Art Honor Society or are university students preparing to be art educators. We represent members in all fifty states, plus the District of Columbia, all U.S. Possessions, most Canadian Provinces, U.S. military bases around the world, and twenty-five foreign countries. For our mission, vision, and core values of NAEA please visit the NAEA website at www.arteducators.org.
State Releases Performance Index
The Georgia Department of Education today released the College and Career Readiness Performance Index (CCRPI) based on data from the 2011–2012 school year.
A federal waiver approved last year permitted the state education department to redesign the way it measures school and district performance. The new index replaces the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) reports that came with adoption of the No Child Left Behind Act in 2001.
“Accountability is about giving leaders a roadmap for improvement. It is not about threatening schools. It gives them levers to effect change and a yearly opportunity to measure the pace of change. Every stakeholder in the school has access to data and can play a role in a continually improving success story.”
—Georgia Department of Education
CCRPI for Public and Press
Adjusting to New Measures
The index reveals many opportunities for improvement in Whitfield County Schools. Superintendent Judy Gilreath began working to take advantage of those opportunities soon after the school board named her school chief in March. For several years, teacher training focused on how to design work for students. Gilreath reorganized central level staff to build on that foundation with a focus on standards and content.
“If you design the right work for students, the test scores will come” is one variation on a theme heard often in the school district. Educators stand by that idea with the caveat that state standards must be deeply embedded in the work designed for students.
The Criterion-Referenced Competency Test (CRCT) given in elementary and middle schools and End-of Course-Tests (EOCT) in high schools are called standardized tests because they are based on standards. While that may sound obvious, teachers are challenged to design work that engages students as well as covering changing standards of increasing rigor. Visit GeorgiaStandards.org to get an idea of the depth of knowledge teachers must cover during class to prepare students for success.
The Numbers
The CCRPI is designed to mirror the grades students earn in school. State education officials explain how schools and districts may earn up to 110 points in this breakdown of the score.
A school and district’s overall score is made up of three major areas:
- Achievement (70 points possible),
- Progress (15 points possible), and
- Achievement Gap (15 points possible).
In addition to the three major areas, some schools receive “Challenge Points” to add to their score (up to 10 points). They receive these points if they have a significant number of Economically Disadvantaged students, English Learner students and Students with Disabilities meeting expectations. They also receive points for going beyond the targets of the CCRPI by challenging students to exceed expectations and participate in college and career readiness programs.
More information is available at the Georgia Department of Education’s announcement and the CCRPI reports. Details about the CCRPI on its Accountability website. Here are the district-wide scores for Whitfield County Schools.
| Grade Level | Whitfield | State |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary | 72.3 | 83.4 |
| Middle | 75.8 | 81.4 |
| High | 67.1 | 72.6 |
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