GaDOE updates newsletter [Dec. 19, 2014]

GaDOE Updates Newsletter: December 19
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://onajc.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
GaDOE Updates Newsletter: September 17
Good afternoon! Welcome to the 10th 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. (You can also keep up with us on Facebook and Twitter). Remember: Send your tips, ideas and events to mfrick@doe.k12.ga.us and mcardoza@doe.k12.ga.us. Recap: The 2nd annual Georgia Education Leadership Institute Our second Georgia Education Leadership Institute came to a close Friday. It was a great three days of enrichment and conversation, and we hope all of you who joined us are bringing valuable connections and ideas back home. If you missed the conference, check out our Twitter for quick updates, and upcoming newsletters for a more complete roundup.
Teacher Spotlight: Sarah Lucas of Georgetown K-8 School

Meet Sarah Lucas. She's a third grade teacher at Georgetown K-8 School in the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System, and a project on ocean pollution she created for her students led to her being named a recipient of the Governor's Innovation in Teaching Award. We talked with her about innovative instruction, project-based learning, moments of inspiration and the passion that makes learning fun. Read a transcript of the conversation here. Around DOE lately More information about the Georgia Milestones Assessment System is now up on our site here's the link. Resources available include content weights, technology guidelines, copies of presentations made on the system and a parents' guide. Is your school working to raise funds while complying with the new, federal Smart Snacks in Schools policy? We've gathered together a list of healthy fundraiser ideas, and we tried to make it a little bit fun it's in Pinterest board form. You can find it here.
Dr. Barge honored eight educators recently for various recognitions within their professional communities. Pictured here: Houston County's Jesse Davis, 2013

National Distinguished Middle Level Principal of the Year; Forsyth County's Robin Sweat, 2013 National Outstanding Middle Level Assistant Principal of the Year; Murray County's Dr. Ardith Bates, 2014 National Distinguished Middle Level Principal of the Year; Glynn County's Leslie Scarboro, 2014 National Outstanding Middle Level Assistant Principal of the Year; Coweta County's Dr. Julie Raschen, 2014 National Distinguished Principal; Houston County's Alicia Conner, 2014 Georgia Distinguished Assistant Principal and 2014 National Distinguished Assistant Principal; and Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools' Kerry Coursey, 2014 Outstanding Middle Level Educator of the Year. Not pictured, but also honored: GAEL's Hal Beaver, who received the Dr. John Lounsbury Award for Outstanding Contribution to Middle Level Education.
Around the state -More than 515 Georgia educators attended "Transforming Educator Preparation (TEP): Building Capacity to Positively Impact P-12 Student Learning Conference," a conference collaboratively hosted by the Georgia Department of Education, the Georgia Professional Standards Commission, and the University System of Georgia, Sept. 2-4 in Atlanta. Funded by Georgia's Race to the Top grant, the conference brought together educator preparation providers (EPPs) and their P-12 partners for two and a half days of professional learning focused on Georgia's transformation of educator preparation; educator certification and renewal; teacher and leader statewide effectiveness systems; and professional

learning. To participate in the conference, EPPs were required to apply for a Planning Award, form a working team comprised of at least one P-12 partner, and select a goal one related to one or more of the reform areas listed above to address with that team over the next year. -The Governor's Office of Student Achievement has posted videos, unit plans, and supplementary materials created by winners of the Innovation in Teaching competition. The resources represent a variety of grade levels and innovative strategies, from project-based and applied learning to differentiated small group instruction and creative classroom management techniques. From GOSA: "All of the resources you will find here are real unit plans created by real teachers, and are designed to help you as you implement the CCGPS in your own classrooms. Most importantly, though, we hope that these resources will help your students learn in new ways off the grid, past the classroom walls, and beyond the textbook."
-We couldn't resist another Ice Bucket Challenge update. Here's Eastvalley Elementary in Cobb County, where students and staff raised $2,339.41 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association in just seven school days. On Aug. 29, administrators completed the Ice Bucket Challenge as a reward to the school for exceeding its fundraising goal. L-R: Assistant Administrator Kim Kranzlein, Principal Karen Wacker, and Assistant Principal Dr. Sage Doolittle

Here's Paulding County Superintendent Cliff Cole taking up the challenge, after being challenged by North Paulding student Bryce Ward:
And here's a link to the Newton County Theme School's Ice Bucket Challenge.

Georgia's public schools in the news Jenkins students get hands-on engineering experience | Savannah Morning News: http://bit.ly/1qcKSbW
Students earn perfect Latin papers | Gwinnett Daily Post: http://bit.ly/Y8hXQM
Georgia National Merit semifinalists named | AJC: http://on-ajc.com/1r5qXRN
Save the date Oct. 8-10: Second Annual Georgia Afterschool and Youth Development Conference. Register here.
Oct. 20-21: The Georgia STEM Forum, Athens. Register here (early registration ends Sept. 19).

Oct. 23-24: Georgia School Public Relations Association Annual Conference. Hotel reservation (by Sept. 22): http://bit.ly/1xTKSYm Conference registration (by Oct. 9): http://bit.ly/1tHBnoD More info: http://bit.ly/1qrWgXu
Dec. 3: Deadline for submissions to the State Botanical Garden's statewide art competition. Drop submissions off in the lower level of the Callaway Building at the Botanical Garden or mail to Connie Cottingham, 2450 South Milledge Avenue, Athens, GA, 30605. Guidelines: http://bit.ly/1wADAHw Entry form: http://bit.ly/1uFNkgn More info: http://bit.ly/1qZpx9D