Feedback with next steps

One of Barrow County's initiatives this year is to increase the amount of feedback that we give to students. This feedback needs to be positive (Have a "GLOW") and also provide suggestions for the next steps ("GROW") so that each student will know how to improve.
Our teachers have been doing a wonderful job of giving students specific feedback on their work. The teachers are using the language of the standard and giving specific "next steps" so that each student can continually improve. I have included a picture here of some work and the specific feedback that teachers are giving to the students. As you can see, it really helps the students to feel success in what they have already done but also provides the student with next steps to improve.

Just like our students, we as a school are always looking to improve what we do. Please feel free to provide us with feedback as well, so we can continue to provide the best education for all of our students.

Thank You Peoples Bank

I wanted to thank one of Winder, Georgia's finest banks for their donation to one of our special needs programs. The People's Bank in Winder has a "Hero's" program where they look to "pay it forward". This month, they donated 4 I-Touches to Ms. Mays's class. Ms. Mays uses these I-Touches to download apps that are specifically designed for communication, daily living skills, social stories, cause and effect, and many other skills that are specific to the students success. Ms. Mays and her students love the individuality of the I-touch and how it engages the students with the electronic device. Ms. Mays says that the "one" i-touch that she had was one of the favorite and most effective learning and communication device her students had. Now she has 4 more. Thanks People's Bank in Winder

Great Work is seen on the Walls

Every morning I get to school around 4:45am to get my day started. One of my morning routines is to walk down the halls and pray for the teachers and students. When I am doing this, I also check every classroom and unlock the doors. This allows me to see what the rooms look like and make sure that they have everything that they need for the day. It also allows me to see the great work that is on the hallway displays. Some my favorites the last week or so have been the Flowmaps that Ms. Newsom's class did that gave the sequence for making "Pigs in the Blanket". I enjoyed reading the wanted posters of our 5th Grade math students that showed that they were looking for "One odd guy" that was know to be hanging out with: "Sum' of their partners and crime" . I also like the "Circle Maps" that Ms. Horne's class did to help create some creative writing. There are many other great things going on at KES and you can see them when you come and visit. You can visit any time; It does not have to be at 4:45 am!

Grandparents' Breakfast

One of my favorite traditions of Kennedy Elementary School occurred today and will happen again tomorrow morning - Grandparents' Breakfast!

It is amazing to me to see multiple generations enjoying breakfast together at THE school! I love hearing our students introduce their MiMi's, Nonna's, Papa's, and even Sue's to me as they come in with a smile and their grandparent holding their hand. We had well over 250 people here for breakfast today and look forward to another great turnout tomorrow.

Positive Behavior Intervention and Support

We have been implementing Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) this year at KES. This program is designed to TEACH students what the core values of: Ready, Respectful, and Responsible look like in each area of the school day. We have been teaching what it looks like to be Ready, Respectful, and Responsible in the hallways, cafeteria, restrooms, and playground through morning announcement videos. The teachers have been teaching what it looks like to be Ready, Respectful and Responsible in the classrooms through individual lessons. Starting in September, students will be earning Dragon Dollars when they are "caught" being Ready, Respectful, or responsible in the school. These dollars will be used to purchase items in our PBIS stores. This is a great way to teach our students how to be Ready, Respectful, and Responsible which are all character traits that will make them successes in school and LIFE!!

Please check out some of our videos