Congratulations to the Winners at the 15th Annual District Oratorical Competition
Announcements, Community, Education January 31, 2024
We had the honor and privilege of hosting the 15th Annual District Oratorical Competition this morning and, wow, were we blown away. These students prepared and presented speeches on how optimism and a positive mindset can change the world. Those two factors can change the world, and these students will definitely change the world.
Congratulations to our overall winner, Ellia McClain from AHS! Aubrey Murray from CMS placed second and Libby Lively from AES placed third. Congratulations to ALL participants!
With this, we leave you with some positive, wise words from our students: “go be an optimist; embrace positivity” and “optimism is superpower we all have within us.” Go be great, FCS!
Celena Arrington and the Instructional Technology Specialists presented on best technology practices in the classroom
Announcements, Community, Education January 22, 2024
On Friday, Celena Arrington and our Instructional Technology Specialists presented on best technology practices in the classroom to student teachers at Shorter!
We are so thankful to have Celena and our ITS techs at FCS—they go above and beyond
for our teachers and students every day, so we are always excited when they get invited to share their knowledge and expertise with future educators!
Main Elementary Crushes Reading Goals, Celebrates with Principal Challenge
School Corner December 7, 2021
ROME, GA— The cheers in the Main Elementary gymnasium, Thursday November 3, were in celebration and pure amusement as students were rewarded for reaching their “Wild About Reading” goals.
For the third year of their reading incentive program, students at Main have met and surpassed their goal; and in record time this year!
Reading Incentive Director, Julie Reid, said that she created a goal of 10,000 books to be read by Christmas; as of Thursday, students at Main had reached 14,510 books. Reid said that the goal had originally been 5,000 books by Christmas, but Main students quickly showed her that they would need a bigger challenge.
Reid said a reward was definitely due! The Principal Challenge celebration kicked-off with a cornhole competition between Principal Dr. LaRoyce Sublett, and none other than Willie the Wolf himself. As bean bags were tossed across the gym, Willie and Sublett were sure to include plenty of fun, competitive banter back and forth. The excitement from the bleachers was heightened with each turn.
Sublett eventually took the win and the kids went wild.
“That was exciting,” Sublett smiled. “I had a great time. The kids were all curious about what cornhole was. They thought we were going to eat corn out of a hole,” he laughed.
“I am very proud of these kids,” he added. “They have been trying to meet their goals for reading and it’s been great to see that with everything going on, reading is a focus, and they are working hard to achieve those goals.”
Reid explained that the younger kids are responsible for reading at least 15-20 minutes each night, and keeping their reading log updated, while the older grade level students also take a reading comprehension quiz.
Prizes are awarded as each nine-week goal is met. Prizes include items like frisbees and a T-shirt, as well as activities like an ice cream sundae party and a field trip.
“We want to associate reading with fun, that’s why we’ve added the principal challenges so that they associate reading, not with tests, but with fun activities, fun books, and nurturing family events,” Reid explained.
The two top-readers for each grade (K-sixth) got the chance to try their hand at cornhole with a quick toss, as Willie the Wolf and Sublett cheered them on! They each received a prize for their accomplishments as well.
Reid explained that Main Elementary also has signature walls and photo walls that recognize reading goals as students’ progress and achieve. She said that those creative ways of recognizing students have really fueled the students’ reading efforts.
“We are super proud of these students and the teachers,” Reid said. “The teachers have raised the goal in the last three years. We have surpassed our goals each year.”
“None of this would be possible without the support and encouragement of their teachers along with their parents,” Sublett said. “They’ve made it an initiative to have our kids ready for reading by grade three as a focus for the school system; they’re working hard to make sure that’s a reality as well. The teachers have really been putting in the work and the effort to have our kids focus on reading.”
Great job, Main!
Game Day at Anna K. Davie Elementary Celebrates Positive Behavior
School Corner December 2, 2021
ROME, GA— Just before the Thanksgiving holiday, students at Anna K. Davie Elementary were having a celebration of their own.
Marking the end of the first nine weeks, Friday November 19, was Game Day at AKD; a reward for those students who had received 250 PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) points.
Assistant Principal, Lorraine Reeves, explained that positive behaviors and acts of kindness earn recognition and points. “Our mantra is ‘Positive Actions Create Kindness,’ or P.A.C.K.,” she said.
Principal, Felisha Jackson, explained that every student, teacher, and staff member is involved in practicing positive behaviors and earning PBIS points. She added that the acts of kindness throughout the hallways of AKD are frequent and never gone unnoticed.
Jackson and Reeves said that they have witnessed students holding doors open for each other, picking up trash in the hallways, and even offering help to young ones to tie their shoelaces.
Fourth grader, Anderson Layned, said that his acts of kindness included helping other people.
“Like if somebody spilled water,” he explained, “we would help them to clean it and we also picked up trash.”
Any game was a go, as some classes played board games or got crafty and creative, while others had snack time and a movie. Dominos, Monopoly, pumpkin pie making, and even classroom obstacle courses were among some of the festivities.
“The kids are excited,” Jackson smiled. “They look forward to this. Every nine weeks we have a big celebration. Our PBIS team and our Highly Functional team get together and come up with the big events for the kids for the four nine weeks.”
As the year progresses and the students continue to practice their P.A.C.K. mantra, there are three other celebration days scheduled for the teachers and students. In December, they will get a chance to enjoy the Winter Wonderland at the Forum in downtown Rome. The end of the nine-week period in March will bring some groovy vibes on Tie Dye Day, and in May all AKD PBIS celebrators will get to participate in Field Day fun.
AKD makes sure that acts of kindness are awarded efficiently, so as not to miss anything.
Reeves explained, “Every student has a card, and so we can just scan it in the hallways when we see students earning PBIS points.”
Fifth grade teacher and PBIS Coach, Chanita McIntosh, smiled as she explained some of the positive behaviors she has witnessed. “A lot of my students are great listeners,” she said, “so they’re always doing exactly what they were asked to do. They are safe and silent in the hall. They hold the doors open for the younger kids, and they’re always asking how they can help us.”
“The students have been really excited about today,” she added. “They love any time when they can socialize and have fun.”
Reeves explained that pre-COVID, AKD would bring the students together for a big gathering. However, the smaller classroom celebrations showed no lack of spirit or celebration. Reeves said that some of the teachers were even wearing their Game Day jerseys!
“I am very proud of these kids,” Jackson smiled. “They have come a long way.”