[Type here] Savannah-Chatham County Public School System
HAPPENINGS:
THE BEACON
"Lighting the Way for Tomorrow's Leaders"
Volume 2 / Issue 6
M. Ann Levett, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Savannah-Chatham County
Public School System
208 Bull Street
Savannah, GA 31401
(912) 395-5600
SCHOOL BOARD Jolene Byrne
President
Julie M. Wade
District 1
Dr. Dionne Hoskins-Brown
District 2
Cornelia H. Hall
District 3
Shawn A. Kachmar
District 4
Irene Hines
District 5
Larry Lower, Vice-President
District 6
Michael Johnson
Vice-President Pro-Tempore
District 7
Ruby Jones
District 8
NEWS YOU CAN USE:
DON’T BE SELFISH!!! TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT OUR GOOD NEWS!
TEACHER OF THE YEAR FLAG RAISING CEREMONY Each year the Flag of Learning and Liberty is raised at the school where the district’s Teacher of the Year is located. The flag was officially raised earlier this week. The flag will now fly high throughout the entire 2018-19 school year at Mercer Middle School where the Savannah-Chatham County Teacher of the Year, Kiwonda Riley, is located. On July 4, 1985, the first flag symbolizing the link between education and a strong, free nation was raised over the capitals of all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The Flag of Learning and Liberty was inspired by the importance of education and significant reform movements undertaken by many states of USA. In 1985, the Flag of Learning and Liberty was designed incorporating the red, white and blue of the "Stars and Stripes," symbolizing America's historical belief in and reliance upon education. The flag features: A horizontal red stripe across its top depicting the strength and vitality of a democratic way of life. A blue stripe running horizontally along the bottom which represents the stability and opportunity made possible by a strong system of education. A center field of white which conveys the virtue and aspiration of a nation of free people. The central focus of the flag is the emblem in the middle of the white field, featuring: Two gold flames at the top - one for learning and one for liberty. These flames are supported by a base of four elements, arranged in alternating blue and red pairs. The blue elements represent the two key foundations of strong education - high expectations and effective teaching. The red elements symbolize the cornerstone institutions of a democratic society - responsible families and involved communities.
[Type here] Savannah-Chatham County Public School System
THE BEACON – PAGE 2
"Lighting the Way for Tomorrow's Leaders"
RED RIBBON WEEK IS
OCTOBER 23-31,
2018 For Red Ribbon Week in October, we can use a number of unique educational activities to spread the knowledge and importance of drug and bullying prevention. The entire community can come together during Red Ribbon Week to teach children to develop good habits early in life to help them achieve future success.
NATIONAL SCHOOL BUS
SAFETY WEEK, OCTOBER 22-
26, 2018 National School Bus Safety Week in October is the ideal time to reinforce bus safety rules among students and express gratitude to our bus drivers, monitors, and transportation support staff for their hard work and professionalism. Please share a special thank you to all transportation staff members today!
SCCPSS HOSTED ITS ANNUAL FALL HIGH SCHOOL READY TO WORK JOB FAIR The Savannah-Chatham County Public School System (SCCPSS) is dedicated to the support of our students as they transition from school to the world. Whether students seek college or career opportunities, the school district strives to provide quality learning experiences and program options that will ensure all students are fully prepared to succeed in an increasingly competitive global workforce. In this spirit, on October 4, 2018, SCCPSS hosted its annual Fall Student Ready to Work Job Fair at the Savannah Mall, with the intent to connect the world of work with our work ready students. There were over 50 businesses present that provided opportunities for students. In addition, there were 20 colleges and universities present vying for students to enroll in their institution. The event was a huge success!
[Type here] Savannah-Chatham County Public School System
THE BEACON – PAGE 3
"Lighting the Way for Tomorrow's Leaders"
OCTOBER 2018 IS
BULLYING PREVENTION
MONTH
Bullying is serious business.
In fact, every state in the
U.S. has anti-bullying laws in
effect, so it's more
important than ever to have
a strong and ongoing anti-
bullying program that
reaches everyone in our
schools. Educating children
about the dangers of
bullying and how to deal
with it is essential and
should start at a young age
in order to prevent this
negative behavior. We can
help with educational tools
designed to motivate
students to become role
models and perform acts of
kindness every day.
28 SCCPSS NEW YOUTH MENTION HEALTH FIRST AID INSTRUCTORS SCCPSS is proud to announce that we have certified 28 new Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructors (100% of our cohort)! Participants completed a rigorous 5 day course to earn this credential. Our SCCPSS instructors join the ranks of over 10,000 Mental Health First Aid instructors. Mental Health First Aid is a national movement that is changing how Americans understand mental health and addiction. Our new instructors will be able to certify SCCPSS staff in Youth Mental Health First Aid. YMHFA curriculum raises awareness about mental illness as wells as works to eliminate the stigma associated with mental illness. This awesome experience was a component of SCCPSS’s Coordinated Early Intervening Services (CEIS) program headed by the Department of Specialized Instruction. Our New Instructors include: 9 Transition Specialist 8 Behavior Interventionists 3 School Social Workers 3 Staff from Building Bridges (2 Teachers and a School Psychologist) 2 School Counselors 2 School Resource Officers 1 Parent Mentor
[Type here] Savannah-Chatham County Public School System
THE BEACON – PAGE 4
"Lighting the Way for Tomorrow's Leaders"
PREPARING CHILDREN
FOR EMERGENCIES
Talk to your children
today about what
emergencies may impact
Chatham County and
what your family’s plan is
in case a disaster strikes.
Check out these
resources to learn more!
#2018PrepareAThon
[Type here] Savannah-Chatham County Public School System
THE BEACON – PAGE 5
"Lighting the Way for Tomorrow's Leaders"
MANDATORY
ENROLLMENT OPENS
OCTOBER 15TH
Open Enrollment will begin
October 15th and will
continue through November
2nd at 11:59 p.m. Open
Enrollment provides
employees the opportunity
to review benefit plans for
the 2019 benefit plan year,
review and update
beneficiary information,
elect, change, and/or drop
benefit coverages. All
changes to your benefit
coverage will be effective
January 1, 2019 through
December 31, 2019.
Enrollment for District
Benefits is mandatory for all
employees, see the attached
newsletter for enrollment
instructions.
For additional information,
contact the Shaw Hankins
customer service center at
844-550-9717 for District
Benefits and SHBP/ADP at
800-610-1863 for medical
only.
On October 25, 2018, we can join millions across America to celebrate the amazing power of reading with the READ FOR THE RECORD event! Read for the Record brings together millions of people each year in classrooms, libraries, community centers, and homes across the US. This annual campaign was launched by Jumpstart over a decade ago to highlight the importance of building early literacy and language skills for EVERY child, so that all children have the opportunity to enter kindergarten prepared to succeed. This year’s book selection, Maybe Something Beautiful, by F. Isabel Campoy and Theresa Howell, and illustrated by Rafael López, celebrates the magic that can happen when a community comes together to create something beautiful and bring about change.
Congratulations to Mrs. Natasha Grant, Business Teacher at Johnson High School for being
selected for the 2018-19 LEAD CTAE cohort!!! The elite group of 20, representing school
systems and program areas from across the state, were selected from 76 applicants. The
CTAE Resource Network, GACTE, and the Georgia Department of Education are proud and
excited to welcome this group and provide this great professional learning opportunity.
JOHNSON HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER SELECTED FOR
THE STATE LEAD CTAE PROGRAM
[Type here] Savannah-Chatham County Public School System
THE BEACON – PAGE 6
"Lighting the Way for Tomorrow's Leaders"
SAFETY GRANTS FOR SCCPSS
The Department of Justice this week announced more than $70 million in grants to support school
safety nationwide. The Savannah-Chatham County Public School System is pleased to have been
the recipient of two of those grants totaling nearly half a million dollars.
SCCPSS Campus Police were awarded $187,500 through the STOP School Violence Prevention and Mental Health Training Program, also managed by BJA. The grant monies will provide training and education on preventing violence and effectively responding to related mental health crises.
SCCPSS Campus Police in collaboration with Chatham County Government were also awarded $306,912 through the COPS Office School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP). This grant will provide for school safety measures including coordination with law enforcement, training for law enforcement to prevent student violence against others and self, target hardening measures, and technology for expedited notification of law enforcement during an emergency.
The federal grants are authorized by the STOP School Violence Act, which are intended to improve school security by helping students and teachers reduce exposure to risks, prevent acts of violence, and quickly recognize and respond to violent attacks.
SCCPSS Campus Police Chief Terry Enoch says, “The grants will help Savannah-Chatham County
Public Schools enhance security at each of our facilities and continue our efforts in training our
staff, students and law enforcement officers in the best ways to prepare for the possibility of
violence and mitigate the effects.”
Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools make ensuring the safety of students, staff and our
facilities a top priority and assessments are regularly conducted to determine what improvements
can be made to enhance those efforts.
STEM ACADEMY @BARTLETT WINS HONOR!
We’re excited to announce that The STEM Academy @ Bartlett has been selected as an Apple Distinguished School for 2018–2021, a three-year designation.
Congratulations on being recognized for continuous innovation in learning, teaching, and the school environment.
CHECKING
BENEFICIARIES –
NOW IS A GOOD
TIME!
When is the last time you updated your beneficiary designations? It’s open enrollment time, so now is a perfect time to check your designated beneficiaries. It's truly amazing the amount of people who have prior spouses or deceased relatives still named as a beneficiary on a retirement account at a former employer, or on a life insurance policy purchased long ago. That's why it's so important that after marriages, divorces, births, deaths and other major life events, account-holders need to check and, if necessary, update beneficiary statements.
[Type here] Savannah-Chatham County Public School System
THE BEACON – PAGE 7
"Lighting the Way for Tomorrow's Leaders"
WANT TO GET YOUR
SCHOOL
NOTICED! SEND IN
YOUR EVENTS,
SCHOOL HAPPENINGS,
GOOD NEWS AND
ACCOMPLISHMENTS!
When your school has great
things going on - we want to
know about it! Let District
Communications help
spread the good news
about your school to the
community. Each week we
send out an event rundown
and coverage opportunities
to our media partners and
we want to make sure your
school gets noticed! Good
PR is at every turn – don’t
miss an opportunity!
Make sure you inform us of
your good news so we can
share it with the
community!
Just fill out this link:
Send in Your Good News
today
2018 CONSTITUTION DAY ART CONTEST WINNERS
Congratulations to all of our winners in the 2nd Annual Constitution Day Art/Essay
Contest. All of the winners will be recognized on Monday, November 5th at 10 a.m. at
the Federal Bankruptcy Court in downtown Savannah by Judge Edward J. Coleman. The
students will enjoy a tour and reception at the courthouse and their artwork and essays
will be displayed in the courthouse for the rest of the school year.
Kindergarten winner is Michael Hall Carter, II, from Ms. Newsome’s class at White Bluff Elementary School
1st grade winner is Nusaybah Kirk, from Ms. Lorelei Faucette's class, at Jacob G. Smith Elementary School
2nd grade winner is Paxton Parrish, from Ms. Elizabeth Harper's class, at Pooler Elementary School
3rd grade winner is Cooper Crunkleton, from Ms. Bynikini Frazier's class, at Hesse Elementary School
4th grade winner is Lietta Checketts, from Ms. Richardean Platts' class, at Jacob G. Smith Elementary School
5th grade winner is Kamrin Ladson, from Ms. Carolyn Chisholm's class, at Otis Brock Elementary School
GADSDEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SCCPSS GREEN RIBBON SCHOOL
As you may recall, we recently attended a national ceremony in Washington DC to officially receive
the designation for Godley Station K8 as a US Department of Education National Green Ribbon
School! Godley Station is just one of 46 in the nation!
And there are others that we feel are deserving of this award as well. This year, Gadsden
Elementary School has been chosen to receive the Savannah Chatham County Public School System
Green Ribbon Sustainability Award for the SY18-19! They are being recognized for efforts to
reduce their environmental impact and utility costs, promote better health and implement
effective environmental education experiences.
Gadsden will be nominated by the District to receive the Georgia Department of Education Green
Ribbon School Award in March of 2019. We are very proud of efforts at many of our schools
toward green living! Congratulations to Gadsden!
[Type here] Savannah-Chatham County Public School System
THE BEACON – PAGE
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"Lighting the Way for Tomorrow's Leaders"
[Type here] Savannah-Chatham County Public School System
THE BEACON – PAGE 9
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SCCPSS WINS FAFSA GRANT
A press conference was held Monday, October 1, 2018 on the front steps of the Board of
Education to announce that the city has secured a $40,000 grant from the National College
Access Network (NCAN), a nonprofit focusing on ensuring equal access to higher education. The
grant will fund a project in partnership with the University System of Georgia and the Savannah-
Chatham County Public Schools (SCCPSS) to increase the number of 12th graders completing the
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The announcement comes on the opening day
of the 2019 FAFSA application.
The project is funded by the Kresge Foundation and the Great Lakes Higher Education
Corporation & Affiliates. The Kresge Foundation is a national nonprofit focusing on improving
educational outcomes.
Through its GEAR UP Georgia grant, the University System of Georgia will work with SCCPSS and
multiple community partners over the next 10 months to provide services and supports to help
12th graders and their families complete the FAFSA. The project will pilot a number of innovative
ideas, including providing community options for families to receive assistance.
Research shows that 9 out of 10 seniors that complete the FAFSA enroll in college. As a cross-
sectional collaboration, we are eager to continue improving our practices to help more Georgia
students enter and succeed in college."
Additional partners in the project include:
The City of Savannah
Chatham County Commission
Georgia Student Finance Commission
Georgia Technical College System
Savannah State University
Georgia Southern University, Armstrong Campus
Savannah Technical College
Georgia Association of Student Financial Aid
[Type here] Savannah-Chatham County Public School System
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[Type here] Savannah-Chatham County Public School System
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