Month in Review--March 2014

8/21/2019 Month in Review--March 2014

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ongratulations! We have successfully completed the AdvancED District Accreditation process, and the externalview team has recommended the reaccreditation of the Newton County School System for the next five years!

e members of our external review team commented that we are doing great things in NCSS and the Leadvaluator stated that he would have his children attend school in the Newton County School Systemn a heartbeat!The team began their visit Monday, March 24thwith presentations, interviews of various groups, and

extensive review of the artifacts collected as evidence of our work. On Tuesday, March 25th the team visitedansfield and Rocky Plains Elementary Schools, Clements and Liberty Middle Schools, and Alcovy and Eastsidegh Schools. During the teams school visits, they talked with school leaders, teachers, support staff, and students.e team spent most of their day visiting classrooms to conduct observations using the ELEOT (Effective Learningvironments Observation Tool). Wednesday, the team spent the day at the Board of Education finalizing their data and

port. The ExitReportidentified the following Powerful Practicesto highlight our work:

NCSS has developed policies and procedures that provide clear operational direction for the effectiveadministration and oversight of the system and its schools.

NCSS utilizes a structured process to recruit, employ, acclimate and retain staff that has the skills,knowledge, and commitment to the systems mission and vision.

NCSS has unique partnerships with parents and other community stakeholders who support the visionand mission of the school system through meaningful participation in the education of children.

NCSS has made a commitment to providing technology at all levels and to support, manage, train, anduse technology to improve the performance of students and staff members through theimplementation of instructional technology in the classrooms.

e report identified the following required actions:

Develop and implement a rigorous, continuous program of professional learning that is aligned withthe systems vision and mission to ensure that all professional and support staff are adequatelytrained.

Design and implement a plan to ensure all professional and support staff members are trained toevaluate, analyze, interpret, and use data to further the mission and vision of the system .

e ratings of each of the ELEOT environments represent the excellent work of our teachers and students! The meetse standard rating is 3.0. The digital learning environment rating of 2.70 reflects that our students know how to usechnology, but to meet the standard our students must use technology to gather, evaluate, and/or use

formation for learning, to conduct research, solve problems, and/or create original works for learning , andtommunicate and work collaboratively for learning (the rating scale is 1-4):

Equitable Learning Environment 3.04 High Expectations Environment 3.09 Supportive Learning Environment 3.51 Active Learning Environment 3.27 Progress Monitoring and Feedback Environment 3.60 Well-Managed Learning Environment 3.57 Digital Learning Environment 2.70

Thank you for all of your hard work, focus on continuous improvement, and dedication toour students, families, and community. We are well on our way to becoming THE BEST!

One of Marzanos High Impact Strate

Summarizing and Note-Taking. Acc

to the research, students who utili

strategy are likely to experience g

their achievement of 34 percentile po

order to summarize and take students must be able to synthes

information they are taught. They m

able to delete, substitute, and keep

information. In order to determine w

keep, substitute, and delete, student

analyze information at a deep lev

important that students are aware

explicit structure of information and t

structure is an aid to summarizing. St

should be required to summarize

understanding throughout each lesso

they must practice effective noteThink-Pair-Share is a strategy that e

students to rehearsetheir responses

having to respond. At the link belo

will find a document that identifies

Summarizing Strategies for Use

Classroom. As you plan your next

be sure to plan for summarizin

effective note-takingthroughoutthe

http://www.christina.k12.de.us/literac

elemresources/lfs_resources/summa

strategies.pdf

Summarizing and Note-Ta
http://www.christina.k12.de.us/literacylinks/elemresources/lfs_resources/summarizing_strategies.pdfhttp://www.christina.k12.de.us/literacylinks/elemresources/lfs_resources/summarizing_strategies.pdfhttp://www.christina.k12.de.us/literacylinks/elemresources/lfs_resources/summarizing_strategies.pdfhttp://www.christina.k12.de.us/literacylinks/elemresources/lfs_resources/summarizing_strategies.pdfhttp://www.christina.k12.de.us/literacylinks/elemresources/lfs_resources/summarizing_strategies.pdfhttp://www.christina.k12.de.us/literacylinks/elemresources/lfs_resources/summarizing_strategies.pdf


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THE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIRhe purpose of the Science and Engineering Fair is to encourage all of Georgia's teachers and school districts to incorporate active sciencngineering researchinto their classrooms in order to help students1) develop a love for science, 2) learn to isolate important problems and to attaolve these problems within the framework of organized, logical thought, careful research, and a detailed analysis of facts, and 3) showcase and celebrachievements. Students competed at the Griffin RESA Regional Science and Engineering Fair-many students will represent the Newton County System at the Georgia Science and Engineering Fair that began on March 27, 2014 at the University of Georgia . Students who progress from thompetition then move to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Los Angeles, California, beginning on Maongratulations to each of our winners!

EDUCATION SUMMITThe Newton County School System is reaching out to our community to demonstrate our continued commitmto providing ahigh quality education and the development of a college-going atmosphere---each o

plays an instrumental role in the process of educating our students. Parents, families, and members of

community will have the opportunity to attend a variety of sessions designed to provide information regard

support for our students. The Spring Education Summitwill take place at Newton High School on April

beginning at 9:30 am. If you are interested in leading a session at the April Summit, please con

Mrs. Deena Sams at [email protected]


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B NDDuring March, both our high school and

middle school band studentsparticipated in the 2014 Georgia AllState Bands and Orchestras Program.During this event, our students havehe opportunity to work with some ofhe very best clinicians and composersrom across the country. The students

who attend also work with the bestnstrumentalists in the state

representing very talented bandprograms from other counties. As aresult of this exposure, students

become leaders in our programs.

LGPELarge Group Performance Evaluations

(LGPE) assess bands and choruses.Both are assessed by highly qualified

state adjudicators as to the level of

achievements the ensembles have

accomplished through their studies

and their classrooms and programs.

The ensembles receive grades that

assess tone, intonation, technique,

balance, and musicianship on three

selections that are from a state list

divided into six different performance

levels.

Music is about communication, creativity, and cooperation, and by study

music in schools, students have the opportunity to build on these skills, enrtheir lives, and experience the world from a new perspectiv

Bill Clinton, Former President of the United States

MARCH IS MUSIC IN OUR SCHOOLS MONTHMarch has been officially designated by the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) for the observance of Music In

Schools Month (MIOSM), the time of year when music education becomes the focus of schools across the nation. MIOSM began

single statewide celebration in 1973, and has grown over the decades to encompass a day, then a week, and then in 1985 to beco

a month long celebration of school music. The purpose of MIOSM is to raise awareness of the importance of music education fo

childrenand to remind citizens that school is where all children should have access to music. MIOSM is an opportunity for m

eachers to bring their music programs to the attention of the school and the community and to display the benefits school mbrings to students of all ages.

Thank you to our Band, Chorus, and Music teachers! We appreciate your collaboration, dedication, and continued effor

keep music education an important part of the work to educate the whole child. The arts help to ensure students are

prepared to enter the world outside of school. Beyond school, students will face a world of work, culture, creative problem sol

collaboration, and intellectual activity. The arts round out a complete education.


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Students selected to be in the Georgia All State Chorus Ensemble are among the most accomplished vocalists in the Georgia. The GeMusic educators Association recognizes these musicians and provides an opportunity for them to work as an ensemble with some of the linicians and vocal teachers in the country. Students who audition for the Georgia All State Chorus have prepared, etudes, sight-readingassed a music theory exam. This accomplishment represents the highest recognition possible for individual student musicians in our state

will most likely result in college scholarship offers when they graduate and apply to the college or university of their ch

CONGRATULATIONSto CLMSsJosiah Webb and EHSsSam Potts and Jacob Smith!

ONGRATULATIONS to the following students who auditioned for a place in the Georgia Music Educators Honor Chorus. Sturning a place in this ensemble are among the most accomplished vocalists in our district. CMS: Bailey Mitchell, Tyra Mitchell, Jafe Soi

atgherine Soignoli, Bianca Coley, Cameron Welch, Timothy Maughon ICMS: Sahra Draper, Shelby Blevins, Trey Abercrombie, ean, Sueyen Chalmers, Lauren Baulkmon, Ava Teasley, Jasmine McClure, Ross Thompson, Matthew Swinson, Keyarra Bolden.Csiah Webb, Tayana Lester, Jailaunna Brooks, Jamaya Boykin, Jainaba Drammeh, Davis Lewis, Javon Curry, Noble Pryor, Kelmer.AHS: Chyan Tyalor, Shanereya Bowene, Adrianna Maxwell, Breeonna Sheedy, Keira Stakely, Aneissa Barrett, Tyren Fr

ajee Jenkins, Dandre McIntyre, Loren Simon, Aliyah Langford, Georgianna Eubanks, Tanzania Horner.

The following students from Newton County Schools have been selected as members of the State of Geor

State Bands. These students have been chosen through a two-step blind audition process that began with thou

of students from every district in Georgia. This accomplishment represents the highest recognition possi

individual student musicians in our state and will most likely result in college scholarship offers when they gra

and apply to the college or university of their choice. CONGRATULATIONS to CMSs Bailey Peeple

Chandler Parkman. ICMSs Wesley Rains. EHSs Kenney Harris and Reid W

NHSsJosh Harden and Hezekiah Rodgers.

CONGRATULATIONS to the following students who were adjudicated by blind audition for a place in the Georgia Music EducDistrict IV Honor Bands. Band students from across the district prepared and memorized many major scales and an Etude. In addition

tudents had to perform at sight a selection of music that none of them had previously seen. Students earning a place in this ensemble

mong the most accomplished instrumentalists in our district. CMS: Shelly Xu, Lauren Cumming, Gracie Miller, Cameryn Howeth, Au

Huffman, Jhalel Peoples, Gabby Martin, Brianna Lawrence, Stevauney Samuels, Bailey Peeples,Joshua Herron, Chandler Park

Elashia Julien, Garrett Cotton, Mikayla Gholston ,Franklyn Jones, Hannah Robbins, Andy Li,Kalene Heilsesen, Shanna Jackson.

Tahli Viner, Norman Monte. ICMS: Elizabeth Baker, Katie Bryans, Wesley Rains. NCTS: Eli Vinson. EHS: Nick Ande

Devion Carter, Jacob Emerson, Katie Beth Fowler, Kenny Harris, Angel Li, Kelsey Meeler, Matthew Snyder, Reid Waters, J

Willims. NHS: John Harden, Hezekiah Rodgers, Walter James Wilson, Jonathan Reed.

DISTRICT IV HONORS CHORUS

ALL STATE CHORUS

DISTRICT IV HONOR B NDS

LL ST TE B ND


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The Newton County School System's Strategic Plan can be found at the link below.

Take the time to review the plan!

http://www.newtoncountyschools.org/Portals/0/newtoncounty/main/documents/strategic%20plan/NCSS%20Strategic%20Plan.pdf

TWITT R HIGHLIGHT

Students, teachers, and our community working to ensure our students are the

beneficiaries of a high quality, relevant, engaging education.

Check out Twitter- See for yourself! #NCSSBeTheBest
http://www.newtoncountyschools.org/Portals/0/newtoncounty/main/documents/strategic%20plan/NCSS%20Strategic%20Plan.pdfhttp://www.newtoncountyschools.org/Portals/0/newtoncounty/main/documents/strategic%20plan/NCSS%20Strategic%20Plan.pdfhttp://www.newtoncountyschools.org/Portals/0/newtoncounty/main/documents/strategic%20plan/NCSS%20Strategic%20Plan.pdf

Documents

Month in Review--March 2014