Monroe Messages
Newsletter of Monroe County Schools
TG Scott's Tamarkis Taylor is the Monroe County Schools 2018 Teacher of the Year

Congratulations to TG Scott Elementary School Third Grade Teacher, Tamarkis Taylor!  He is this year's Monroe County Schools Teacher of the Year!  Mr. Taylor is in his fourth year of teaching.  In addition to sponsoring the Young Gentleman's Club at his school, Mr. Taylor also serves as a Robotics Coach, and he is a participant in the PAGE (Professional Association of Georgia Educators) Leadership Academy. Mr. Taylor grew up in Monroe County, and he is a graduate of Mary Persons High School.  Below, Mr. Taylor is pictured with members of his family.

Jason and Holly Connell of Volume  Chevrolet presented Mr. Taylor with a Chevrolet Tahoe and a trip to St. Simon's Island.  Scott Jernigan of Josten's fitted Mr. Taylor for a ring.  Local businesses and organizations contributed to gifts for each Teacher of the Year as well.  Contributors to the TOTY Program are:  Volume Chevrolet, Josten's, State Farm Agency Charlie Pelt, State Farm Agency Tommy Johnston, Central Georgia EMC, Georgia Power, CVS, Flowers by Helen, Jane Pennington AllState Insurance, BB&T, Taco Bell, McDonald's, Apparel Authority LLC, Walmart, United Bank, Burger King, Marco's Pizza, Ingles, Grits Cafe, Sage and Sparrow, Cotique Boutique, Persons Banking Company, Chamber of Commerce,  Minori's, High Cotton, Forsyth Country Cookin', Jonah's on Johnston, Alexandra's Formals, and all of our schools.

To see pictures of last week's Teacher of the Year program, click here.
To see the presentation introducing each Teacher of the Year, click here.

Congratulations to each school's Teacher of the Year!  They are:  Charlotte Copeland, KB Sutton Elementary School; Dr. Kimberlie Harris, Hubbard Elementary School; Lakeisha Walker, Monroe County Middle School; Mark Smith, Mary Persons High School. 


Georgia Milestones Testing in April and May
The Georgia Milestones Assessment System is designed to provide information about how well students are mastering the state-adopted content standards in the core content areas of English Language Arts, mathematics, science, and social studies.   
Importantly, Georgia Milestones is designed to provide students with critical information for their own achievement and their readiness for their next level of learning - be it the next grade, the next course, or endeavor (college or career).  

Informing parents, educators, and the public about how well students are learning important content is an essential aspect of any educational assessment and accountability system.   Parents, the public, and policy makers, including local school districts and boards of education, can use the results as a barometer of the quality of educational opportunity provided throughout the state of Georgia.   
As such, Georgia Milestones serves as a key component of the state's accountability system - the College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI). 
 
Beginning Monday, April 23, students in grades 3-8 will be engaged in Georgia Milestones End of Grade Testing.  Students in Grades 9-12 will be engaged in End of Course testing beginning Tuesday, May 1.  Look for more specific information from your student's school. 

Students are not permitted to use, or bring into the testing environment, any electronic device that could allow them to access, retain, or transmit information (e.g., cell phone, smartphone, PDA, electronic recording, camera, or playback device, etc.). Possession or improper use of such devices during testing may result in disciplinary action in accordance with the system's student code of conduct and/or test invalidation. Devices such as those mentioned above that are brought into the testing environment must not remain in the student's possession during testing. 

End of Course and End of Grade Resource Guides for students and their families are found at:  http://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Assessment/Pages/EOG-Study-Resource-Guides.aspx. and http://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Assessment/Pages/EOC-Study-Resource-Guides.aspx .  See sample test question and experience the Georgia Milestones platform at http://www.gaexperienceonline.com/.  
Important Traffic Pattern Info for TG Scott and MCMS Banks Stephens Campus Parents 
Due to several close calls for the crossing guard at the intersection of Thornton Road and Charles Way, the traffic flow is changing. There will be more space between the crossing guard and passing vehicles. The county road department has made a temporary fix until a more permanent solution can be scheduled with a lane marking company. During peak traffic hours in the mornings and evenings, several traffic cones will be placed at a slight angle for traffic traveling south toward Hwy 41S.  Please use caution and pay special attention when driving on this road.

Parents:  Please Note This Year's Proof of Residency Process
Parents, you are encouraged to do your proof of residency process online this year. This will save time and a trip to central office this summer.  With the remodeling of central office this summer, we will have very limited face-to-face opportunities to take proof of residency in person, so online submissions are encouraged.  Proof of residency documentation will be collected via the Infinite Campus Online Registration (OLR) Application beginning May 1, 2018. 

Parents are encouraged to upload their proof of residency documents as soon as the window opens. To complete this process you will need to:
  • ensure you have an email address on file with your child's school.
  • activate an Infinite Campus Portal account.
Your child's school is prepared to assist you with any questions you may have regarding this process.  Below, you will find a link to the web page containing these instructions and a presentation providing step-by-step instructions regarding the use of OLR for this process.  You can navigate through the steps manually and pause the presentation, as needed.
New students who enrolled during the 2018-2019 Pre-K and Kindergarten registration process will not be required to complete this process during the summer.

Parents without an active Infinite Campus Portal account should check their email for a message from " icmessenger@mcschools.org".  This email contains the activation link needed to create your Infinite Campus Portal account.

Please contact Cindy Seymour, System Registrar, at 478-994-2031 with any questions or concerns.


MPHS to Offer Physicals for Student-Athletes
On Monday, April 30, 2018 Mary Persons High School will be offering physicals for all student-athletes interested in participating in athletics.  The cost of the physical is $10.  All student-athletes are required to have a physical in order to participate in athletics.  The physicals will be held at James P. Evans Gymnasium on the campus of Mary Persons High School.  In order for the process to run as smoothly as possible, please adhere to the following times:
 
All Rising 7th and 8th Graders 4:00- 5:00 pm
All Rising 9th - 12th Graders 5:00-6:30 pm
 
REMINDERS:
  1. All student-athletes must fill out the front page of the physical form, and it must be signed in the appropriate places by both the student-athlete and parent/guardian.
  2. All physicals must be on the GHSA approved form.
  3. Cost: $10
MP Spring Sports Move Into Post-Season Competition:  Tennis is Region Runner-Ups
Congratulations MP Tennis!  Mary Persons boys and girls tennis team finished as region runner-ups. They will host the first round of state next week. They are coached by Trey Bernard and Hannah Grossman.
 
 

Hubbard Elementary Student and Family
Make Books and Bears Contributions
Thank you to Hubbard Elementary School student Carly Hicks and family for Books & Bears contributions. Carly, Miss Georgia Princess, is with Assistant Superintendent Jackson Daniel, Family Services Coordinator Gwen Byrd, Superintendent Dr. Mike Hickman, Assistant Superintendent Alicia Elder, and Carly's siblings -- Tyler Hicks,  HES student, and MaKenzie Hicks, MCMS student.  If you or your organization would like to make a Books and Bears Program contribution, please contact gwen.byrd@mcschools.org. 

Public Notice:  Destruction of Old Special Education Records Scheduled
The Monroe County Public School will be destroying old Special Education records in July 2018. The records scheduled to be destroyed are for persons who were served in special education and born in 1996. If you desire to have your records, please contact the Department of Instructional Student Support 478-994-2031 x1604 or x1605.  Records not picked up by August 1, 2018 will be destroyed.



Message from Monroe County Schools Nurses:  Strep Throat or Something Else?
Worried your child's sore throat may be #strep? Viruses, bacteria, & allergens can all cause a sore throat. Strep throat is an infection in the throat and tonsils caused by group A Streptococcus bacteria. A quick test by a doctor can see if it is strep throat. http://bit.ly/2vLGQ9H



Monroe County School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, or sex in its employment practices, student programs and dealings with the public. It is the policy of the Board of Education to comply fully with the requirements of Title VI, Title IX, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act and all accompanying regulations. As a result, the following people have been appointed to oversee specific areas. Title II, Adult 504, Adult Title IX   Dr. Mike Hickman   25 Brooklyn Avenue, Forsyth, GA 31029   478-994-2031  Student and Athletic Title IX Jackson Daniel  25 Brooklyn Avenue, Forsyth, GA 31029  Student 504 Jenny Rooks 25 Brooklyn Avenue Forsyth, GA 31029 Copyright 2018. All Rights Reserved.