Ten Muscogee County School District teachers are now certified through a program that trains teachers to use arts-integrated instruction across their curriculum.

The Professional Arts Integration Resource (PAIR) program is an educational outreach initiative of the Springer Opera House that provides hands-on, arts based professional development for teachers to deeply engage students in learning.

PAIR lessons integrate drama, visual arts and creative movement techniques directly with state standards while emphasizing 21st Century life skills such as collaboration, empathy, self-discipline and resilience. The lessons also appeal to non-traditional learners, shy students who might not be outspoken in a traditional setting, gifted students looking to be challenged differently, and so many others.

“PAIR was founded on the idea that all kids can learn and that all people, adults and kids, are creative,” Sally Baker explains, founder of PAIR and Education Director at the Springer. “By infusing creativity into learning on a consistent basis, students and teachers will discover knowledge together.”

These teaching strategies are not about creating an artistic product, but rather using the arts as an alternative process to learn in a classroom setting. In addition to achieving better test scores and offering teaching strategies to educators, this program also increases student engagement and builds classroom and school community.

“We see the intangible effects of teacher collaboration, teacher job satisfaction and student excitement in the classroom all the time,” Baker says.

The two pilot schools that participated in this program include Fox Elementary and South Columbus. Congratulations to the following teachers who earned their PAIR certification:

• Christina Alexander, South Columbus Elementary
• Patrice Autry, South Columbus Elementary
• Heather Cameron, South Columbus Elementary
• Tina Floyd, South Columbus Elementary
• Ashley Miles, South Columbus Elementary
• Teresa Mims, South Columbus Elementary
• Monique Proteau, South Columbus Elementary
• Cathy Russell, Fox Elementary
• Haley Morgan Smith, Fox Elementary
• Heather Zurita, South Columbus Elementary

In order for these educators to become certified, they must have regular attendance, participate in arts-integrated instruction both with and without a PAIR Specialist in the room, actively participate in yearly evaluations, and participate in community advocacy. These certified teachers have spent at least two years as a PAIR partnering teacher, achieved almost 100 hours of arts-integration PD, and redelivered strategies to peers and colleagues.

For more information about the PAIR program, visit their website: https://pairprogram.org/

Columbus, GA – Based on the most recent weather advisories, Muscogee County School District Schools and offices will observe a two-hour delayed opening schedule Friday, April 19, 2019.

Please note the following information:

• Each employee and student should report to his/her assigned location two hours after the regularly scheduled time.
• All field trips scheduled for tomorrow, during the school day or out of town, have been cancelled.
• Local athletic and/or extracurricular activities, occurring after the school day, will continue as scheduled at this time.
• All system-wide tests scheduled for tomorrow have been postponed until Monday, April 22, 2019.
• School nutrition will proceed with a delayed lunch schedule; breakfast will not be served tomorrow morning.
• All District sites and schools will observe the regularly scheduled ending times for each employee and student.

We will continue to monitor this situation to determine if we will need to make any further adjustments to the District schedules based on any predicted changes and/or damage that could result from the weather. All official District announcements related to this matter will come directly from the Office of Communications and/or our Superintendent.

The mission of the Muscogee County School District is to inspire and equip all students to achieve unlimited potential. For more information, please contact the Office of Communications at 706.748.2034 or communications@muscogee.k12.ga.us.

Spot Rezoning Proposal FAQs.pdf

Many SPLOST construction projects have been completed and several are in progress in the Muscogee County School District.

The most recent completed projects include:

• Spencer High School
• Rainey-McCullers School of the Arts
• Fort Middle School renovations and new gym
• Kinnett Stadium alterations and additions
• Jordan High School auditorium renovation
• Northside High School cafeteria expansion and wrestling room
• Jordan High School autism Wing
• Hardaway High School Roof
• Dimon Elementary School roof
• Hardaway High School auditorium renovation
• Kendrick High School auditorium renovation

The following SPLOST projects are now in progress:

• Shaw High School drama room
• Shaw High School wrestling/weight/activity room addition
• Shaw High School baseball and softball field upgrades
• Kendrick High school football, baseball and softball field upgrades
• Kendrick High multipurpose room addition
• Kendrick High parking lot upgrade
• Jordan High school football, softball and athletic field upgrades
• Columbus High softball/baseball field upgrades
• Columbus High multipurpose room addition
• Northside High athletic field upgrades

Thank you for supporting the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST). The students, principals, faculties, administration, staff, and community have benefited from your support of new schools, classrooms, technology and buses.

For a full presentation of SPLOST construction projects, click here.

Here is a Facebook video highlighting some of the projects.

Columbus, GA- Columbus High School was honored as the first of six schools in Georgia to be presented the inaugural Military Flagship Award. A ceremony was held in celebration of Columbus High’s achievement and in recognition of the National Month of the Military Child on April 3, 2019. Georgia State Superintendent, Dr. Richard Woods, along with Fort Benning Garrison Commander Cox, State Representative Dave Belton, and State Board of Education member, Helen Odom Rice, presented Columbus High with a banner to display on campus.

The Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) initially announced Columbus High as a winner of the award in November 2018 for going above and beyond to provide a supportive environment for military students and families. All State schools were eligible to apply for the Military Flagship School Award; applications were evaluated by a committee including active members of the military, School Liaison Officers, school district staff, and members of the Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission.

Columbus High was noted for implementing the following initiatives:

1. Student 2 Student (S2S) student leadership program: welcomes new military transfer students by taking them on a tour of the school and serving as a lunch buddy, if needed.
2. Peer Helper program: provides support to military students by offering peer tutors to assist students who are struggling academically and, through a partnership with the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC), 24-hour, web-based tutoring services to all military students.
3. Pre-registration night: a separate night observed specifically for transfer students, who are typically military.
4. Attendance policy specifically for military families: administrators will individually consider military absence requests.

The District will continue to participate in special events celebrating military-connected children throughout the month of April, in coordination with the National Month of the Military Child effort, and invites all stakeholders to support this initiative. The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) encourages communities to wear purple on April 18 to observe "Purple Up" day; purple is a color used to represent all military service branches.

Pictured in front row (l-r): Dr. Marvin Crumbs, Superintendent Dr. Lewis, Representative Dave Belton, Cadet Donovan Williams, State Superintendent Dr. Richard Woods, and State Board of Education member Helen Odom Rice (3rd Congressional District).

For a full gallery of pictures from the Military Flagship Award ceremony, click here.

The mission of the Muscogee County School District is to inspire and equip all students to achieve unlimited potential. For more information, please contact the Office of Communications at 706.748.2034 or communications@muscogee.k12.ga.us.

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DRAFT--Spot Rezoning--Midland Middle and Aaron Cohn Middle--DRAFT.pdf

Columbus, GA- The Georgia Movie Academy (GMA) has announced its 2019 digital storytelling winners; three District schools placed in the competition. Shaw High School was awarded Best Picture (1^st place) and two teams at Midland placed 1^st runner and 2^nd runner up, respectively.

GMA is an annual digital storytelling competition sponsored by the Educational Technology Center at Chattahoochee-Flint RESA. The competition recognizes student work in the area of video production and storytelling. This project-based learning opportunity allows students to work in teams to produce a theme-based, standards-based, three-minute video on a topic of their choice. This year’s theme was “inspire.” The selection of winning movies can be viewed online: http://www.georgiamovieacademy.org/movies.html.






The mission of the Muscogee County School District is to inspire and equip all students to achieve unlimited potential. For more information, please contact the Office of Communications at 706.748.2034 or communications@muscogee.k12.ga.us.

Columbus, GA- The Muscogee County School District is proud to announce that Britt David Magnet Academy won the Georgia Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl (HRRB) competition this past Saturday, March 30, at the University of Georgia.

The following students and coaches comprise the Britt David Magnet Academy Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl State Championship team:

Students:

• Noor Ahmed
• Lucile Choudhury
• Harrison Hendrix
• Sammy Hendrix
• Jivesh Nayyar
• Bhargav Padhi
• Tanusha Raviprakash
• Sabina Stancu
• Maddie Vaillancourt
• Dean Walker

Coaches:

• Angie Cheal
• Carol Jones
• Karen Metasavage
• Lisa Seegar
• Julie Williams

The HRRB competition is an annual state-wide initiative that includes students in grades 4-12. Elementary and middle school students read and are quizzed on the 20 Georgia Book Award nominees, while high school students read and are quizzed on the 20 Georgia Peach Teen Book Award nominees. The book selections change each year. The effort culminates with a State level competition at the Annual Conference on Children’s Literature in March after winning teams from regional bowls are determined.

For more information on the Georgia Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl, visit their website.

The mission of the Muscogee County School District is to inspire and equip all students to achieve unlimited potential. For more information, please contact the Office of Communications at 706.748.2034 or communications@muscogee.k12.ga.us.

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WHEN: Wednesday, April 3 and Thursday, April 4 | 6:00-7:00 p.m.

WHERE: Midland Middle School
6990 Warm Springs Road | Midland, GA 31820

WHAT: The Muscogee County School District will share the proposed spot rezoning plan that will affect select students from Aaron Cohn and Midland middle schools. The District welcomes all parents, educators, community leaders, students, agencies and interested citizens to attend, provide input, and give feedback concerning the proposed information. The recommended action will be finalized during the Board voting session, April 15.

The mission of the Muscogee County School District is to inspire and equip all students to achieve unlimited potential. For more information, please contact the Office of Communications at 706.748.2034 or communications@muscogee.k12.ga.us.

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Columbus, GA- The Muscogee County School District is pleased to announce that a student has been admitted into the Carnegie Mellon University Summer Academy for Math and Science (SAMS). Bryan Cueva, an 11^th grader at Early College Academy, will attend the STEM-focused program this summer tuition free.

SAMS is a six-week residential summer program hosted at Carnegie Mellon University each year for minority student groups interested in pursuing STEM-related undergraduate majors. Cueva was nominated by his teacher, Rebecca Jones. His application was reviewed for evidence of rigorous coursework, a strong interest in STEM-related fields, and demonstrated leadership qualities.

Cueva, along with other select SAMS scholars, will participate in courses taught by Carnegie Mellon professors, hands on projects, and workshops.

The mission of the Muscogee County School District is to inspire and equip all students to achieve unlimited potential. For more information, please contact the Office of Communications at 706.748.2034 or communications@muscogee.k12.ga.us.

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