Welcome

Welcome to the new home of the Calhoun City Schools Communicator. This blog will serve as the system's weekly communication and is intended to communicate the great happenings of our students, staff and community. Please visit us at www.calhounschools.org for complete coverage of our schools.

Sunday, October 30, 2016

Happy Halloween

We hope you enjoy a fun and safe Halloween!

CCS 11th Annual Technology Fair

Tuesday, December 6th at Calhoun High School. The Technology Fair is a student technology competition. Students create a project in 1 of 15 possible categories. Students compete against other students in the following grade divisions: 3/4; 5/6; 7/8; 9/10; & 11/12. For more information and registration, visit the CCS Tech Fair Website. 


Calhoun's National Honor Society is having a Georgia Pecan Fundraiser. Shelled pecan halves from Appling County are shipped within 24 hours of picking.  These pecans will be available in the CHS School Store.  Get an order form from the front office.

Do you know how to search, find, and use images that 
do not violate a copyright? 
Simply navigate to www.creativecommons.org then 
click the orange SEARCH THE COMMONS button  
Enter what you are searching for (i.e.> pumpkin, basketball)
Choose what you want to search (i.e.> Google, Flicker)
Download the item(s) you wish to use.

For more information about Using Creative Commons Licenses please go to http://thepowerofopen.org/




Monday, October 24, 2016

Don't forget!

JACKETS IN JEANS FOR UNITED WAY

If you would like to wear jeans and donate $5.00 any day during the month of October please do so.  We are raising money for the United Way Annual Campaign.  You may wear jeans any day that you donate.  

Please sign in / donate at the following locations: 
PreK / C.O. – Joyce or Diane 
CPS – KaKa Vinson 
CES – Cari Craig 
CMS – Robyn Greeson 
CHS – Ranae Padgett 

Thanks!  Go Jackets for United Way! 

CALHOUN HIGH SCHOOLS’ MUSICAL THEATRE PROGRAM WILL PRESENT URINETOWN – THE MUSICAL IN THE CHS BLACKBOX THEATRE ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2016 AT 7:00 P.M.
GENERAL ADMISSION IS $10
TICKETS ARE ON SALE AT CHS OR CENTRAL OFFICE AND CAN ALSO BE PURCHASED ONLINE @
HTTPS://WWW.SHOWTIX4U.COM/


Parent Conferences 
will be October 26th and 27th for students at the Complex. 
For students at the Campus, please read this post by 
Principal Coombe explaining
 the new parent conference model.  

Teachers, students and parents the Media Centers of Calhoun City Schools are full of digital resources that make learning fun and easy. 
Please click on the links below to browse the resources. 

The National Honor Society is selling pecans to raise funds for needy families during the holidays. To purchase, please contact Susan Dobson at dobsons@calhunschools.org

Monday, October 17, 2016

Happenings in the Hive


JACKETS IN JEANS FOR UNITED WAY

If you would like to wear jeans and donate $5.00 any day during the month of October please do so.  We are raising money for the United Way Annual Campaign.  You may wear jeans any day that you donate.  

Please sign in / donate at the following locations: 
PreK / C.O. – Joyce or Diane 
CPS – KaKa Vinson 
CES – Cari Craig 
CMS – Robyn Greeson 
CHS – Ranae Padgett 

Thanks!  Go Jackets for United Way! 




We are excited about the upcoming production of Urinetown! Calhoun High Schools’ Musical Theatre Program will present Urinetown – the Musical in the CHS Blackbox Theatre at the following times:
Thursday, October 20, 2016 at 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 22, 2016 at 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 23, 2016 at 2:30 p.m.
Monday, October 24, 2016 at 7:00 p.m.
General Admission is $10
Tickets are on sale at CHS or Central Office and can also be purchased online @
https://www.showtix4u.com/


Parent Conferences 
will be October 26th and 27th for students at the Complex. 
For students at the Campus, please read this post by 
Principal Coombe explaining
 the new parent conference model.  

ESSA Public Hearings

The Georgia Department of Education and State School Superintendent Richard Woods are urging anyone interested in the future of Georgia’s public education system to attend one of eight public feedback sessions on the 
Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

Meeting Details
Each ESSA feedback session will include a welcome from Superintendent Woods and an introduction to the Every Student Succeeds Act. Participants will then choose specific topics to discuss in working groups. The public will also be informed of next steps and additional opportunities to provide feedback. Before attending the meeting, we encourage you to review this one-page overview of ESSA topics. For those unable to attend an in-person meeting, a survey opportunity will soon be announced and posted on this website. Feedback can also be emailed to essa@doe.k12.ga.us.

October 17: Gordon County
Gordon County College & Career Academy
305 Beamer Road, Calhoun, GA 30701

ESSA is the replacement for the law commonly known as No Child Left Behind, and offers an enormous opportunity for Georgia’s students, teachers, parents and communities because it replaces the top-down federal approach required by NCLB. The new law allows states and local schools/districts to make education decisions that are best for their students, and requires states to develop plans that address standards/assessments, school and district accountability, and special help for struggling schools and students.

“For all those invested in the future of Georgia’s education system – and those interested in a more holistic approach for students – whether you’re a parent, a student, an educator, or a community member, I strongly encourage you to offer your feedback as we develop our ESSA state plan,” Superintendent Woods said. “If you can, please attend a meeting – you’ll invest two hours of your time in exchange for many years of education policy. If you’re not able to attend in person, there will be opportunities to offer your feedback online and via email. Again, I urge you to join us as we shape the future of education in our state.”

Sunday, October 2, 2016

Well Hello October!

FAFSA Questions?


Parents, do you have questions regarding FAFSA? If you do, please attend an informational session this Tuesday night at 6:00 pm in Calhoun High School's PLC. The session will provide you with an opportunity to begin the FAFSA, ask questions, and find out what you need to be doing to prepare for the financial obligations that come with having a son or daughter in college. Please bring your 2015 tax return with you to the meeting. Contact Kendra Arnold at Calhoun High School if you have any questions. 

Jackets in Jeans for United Way

If you would like to wear jeans and donate $5.00 any day during the month of October please do so.  We are raising money for the United Way Annual Campaign.  You may wear jeans any day that you donate.  

Please sign in / donate at the following locations: 
PreK / C.O. – Joyce or Diane 
CPS – KaKa Vinson 
CES – Cari Craig 
CMS – Robyn Greeson 
CHS – Ranae Padgett 

Thanks!  Go Jackets for United Way! 


Mark your Calendar

Calhoun High Schools’ Musical Theatre Program will present Urinetown – the Musical. General admission is $10.00. The musical will be in the CHS Blackbox Theatre at the following times: 

     Thursday, October 20, 2016 at 7:00 p.m.   
   Saturday, October 22, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. 
   Sunday, October 23, 2016 at 2:30 p.m. 
   Monday, October 24, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. 


Fall Break for students in October 10-14, 2016

Parent Conferences will be October 26th and 27th for students at the Complex. 
For students at the Campus, please read this post by Principal Coombe explaining
 the new parent conference model.  



Transition to OneDrive and GoogleDrive
If you weren't able to attend the STING sessions on how to transfer files
from the H drive to either Microsoft 365 OneDrive or GoogleDrive, 
please contact Jenny Vowell at vowellj@calhounschools.org or 
vowellj@ccsjackets.org.  Thank you. 










Sunday, September 25, 2016

Focus on students

Arrangements for Francisco "Paco" Topete
Calhoun City Schools experienced the loss of a student last week when Francisco "Paco" Topete, current junior at CHS,  lost his prolonged battle with cancer.  Many have asked about arrangements.  Paco's family are meeting tomorrow morning to finalize arrangements, but at this time we anticipate that the funeral will be held on Thursday with visitation on either Tuesday or Wednesday evening.  Once we know all dates, times and locations we will share more specific information.  Please continue to pray for this family as they grieve the loss of their beloved son.

Professional Learning Opportunity

E-course announcement featuring online, self-paced, continuing education courses offered cooperatively with Valdosta State University. Click here for more information. 


Third grade is rocking!

CES 3rd Grade graders made models of sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rocks. These students in Mrs. Rollins' class used Starburst candies to make their models. 


Pictured above Bella Barajas, Edwin Reyes, April Pena,  Sam Dixon, Olivia Adcock, Catelyn Payne, Nick Adcock, Edgar Brito, Keyli Chavez-Vargas, Briana Esquivel-Avila, and Braxton Burton are all smiles while learning a lot about science.

A New Tool for Chromebooks
Here’s an awesome and easy way to take notes while watching videos. VideoNot.es lets you watch any video and take notes side by side on the same screen. It also automatically syncs your notes and video. Plus, your notes are stored in Google Drive for easy access and sharing. Please watch this video or read this post from BetterCloud. You will be glad you did!

Transition to OneDrive and GoogleDrive
Last week Jenny Vowell, our district Instructional Technologist, trained The Campus faculty on how to transfer files from the H drive to either OneDrive or GoogleDrive. If you weren't able to attend the STING sessions, please contact Jenny Vowell via email at vowellj@calhounschools.org or vowellj@ccsjackets.org. By the way, we are currently working on plans to train all the support staff as well. Thank you. 

More helpful links




Sunday, September 18, 2016

Go Jackets! #Gameon

Congratulations CCS Teachers 
of the Year! 




Homecoming 2016 Recap




STEM LAB WANTS YOUR OLD STUFF 

Deconstruction is the selective dismantlement of building components, specifically for re-use, repurposing, recycling, and waste management. In our STEM lab we are going to use this term to describe the purposeful dismantling of everyday objects so that we can understand what makes them work. We also plan to repurpose motors, servos, and circuit boards for future robotics and engineering projects.
What Do We Need For Deconstruction Zone:
  • Computers
  • Printers
  • Kitchen Appliances
  • Electronic Games
  • Remote Controls
  • RC Toys
The object does not have to be working. Since we are going to deconstruct it you will not get it back! Contact Greg Green, STEM Coordinator (greeng@calhounschools.org) to arrange for pickup.

If you create a lot of PowerPoint presentations with specific terminology, you can use this feature to create a miniature shorthand library. You’ll find that your work will take a fraction of the time it used to. 
Watch this video by BetterCloud Monitoring to learn how. 



Calhoun City Schools

Calhoun Community Education



Monday, September 12, 2016

Calhoun High School Celebrates 2016 Homecoming Week







STEM LAB WANTS YOUR OLD STUFF 

Deconstruction is the selective dismantlement of building components, specifically for re-use, repurposing, recycling, and waste management. In our STEM lab we are going to use this term to describe the purposeful dismantling of everyday objects so that we can understand what makes them work. We also plan to repurpose motors, servos, and circuit boards for future robotics and engineering projects.

What Do We Need For Deconstruction Zone:
  • Computers
  • Printers
  • Kitchen Appliances
  • Electronic Games
  • Remote Controls
  • RC Toys

The object does not have to be working. Since we are going to deconstruct it you will not get it back! Contact Greg Green, STEM Coordinator (greeng@calhounschools.org) to arrange for pickup.

Here are seven keyboard shortcuts, from BetterCloud that will make using Microsoft Word quicker and easier.