About The Jenkins County times. (Millen, Ga.) 2023-current | View Entire Issue (April 7, 2023)
Page 8 - Friday, April 7, 2023 The Jenkins County Times thej enkinscountytimes .com JENKINS COUNTY SCHOOLS Upcoming Dates in School April 14 - Prom May 26 - Last Day/Early Release/ Graduation Elementary students visit GA Aquarium By Joe Brady, Editor for The Times Ms. Kent’s and Ms. Fields’ SpEd class, consisting of kindergarten thru fourth grade recently went on a field trip to the GA Aquarium in Atlanta. Mrs. Fields said, “this trip was a once in a lifetime experience for our students. Many of them were in awe of the “tall towers” in Atlanta before we arrived at the Georgia Aquarium.” To finance the trip, sponsors graciously donated so the students were able to eat lunch at the aquarium instead of taking a sack lunch from the school. “We want to thank all or our sponsors for their generosity. In addition to lunch, each student received a $25 souvenir of their choice from the aquarium gift shop,” Fields continues. Kelly Tours took the students because of the constant access to restroom facilities. Those sponsors who graciously made the trip something to remember are: Dairy Queen, Jenkins County Times, Ogeechee Peaches, Spring Creek Auction, Suggs Lawn Care, Jaws Inc, Bob Kent, Kenny Clarke, Marie Lank, Neal Hardware, US Silica. Pruitt Bethany celebrates Doctor’s Day Staff from Pruitt Bethany celebrated local area doctor’s day by delivering gift baskets to Dr’s Prakul Chandra and Kyle Gay. Pictures include Sherri Adams and Tammy Royal with PruittBethany. (photo contributed) Mrs. Sims' Third Grade Class of Jenkins County Elementary enjoy having some Easter Fun. Easter is Sunday, April 9, 2023. Carpet Cleaning! 3 rooms + Hall $140 Call 706-871-7470 EAGLE NOTES Tara Cooper Superintendant Jenkins County School System Spring Break! Such a beautiful time to recharge, refresh, and renew! When I was a Special Education teacher in Burke County years ago, I called Spring Break “IEP writing break.” There was never enough time during the school day to get it all done. Our Individual Education Plans for our students were always due in April. I distinctly remember writing and updating twenty-eight IEPs in that one week one year! I felt like I always missed out on that break back then with my head buried in goals and data. I, of course, would rather read books. But now, oh joy, it’s a beautiful week! And I can read all I want! In the interest of going from good to great (which is, if you are an avid Eagle News reader, a frequent theme), I will tell you that we are beginning a push for Early Learning awareness and preparation by our school system. An opportunity is coming up for our parents of three- and four-year-olds to come over, bring the children, and share food, fun, fellowship, and learning! Learning about what our little ones need to know before starting school. A time to share what parents can do at home with these babies so they are prepared for school. Another idea that we have been discussing is a “library bus,” that can be driven around our community to let students and parents borrow books and do literacy activities. It would be kind of like the bookmobile of old. I still remember the musty “book” smell of the bookmobile back in the day. I loved that minibus! Our plan is to investigate other counties that have the traveling book bus, and hopefully get Jenkins County rolling soon. Research is clear that children who are not proficient readers by the third-grade struggle with future learning and suffer long term effects including poor performance in school and then employment difficulties. We, in the Jenkins County Schools, hope to address the “readiness gap” as well. Educational research has also shown that children with lower socioeconomic backgrounds are at a disadvantage because of the differences in availability of resources and are not equipped with the same language and early learning skills as other children. Our drive will be to put books in children’s hands and support parents with the skills to work with their little ones. We have not filled our Prekindergarten classes yet. Our registration started in March. That is a concern and precisely why we need to focus diligently on the early learning process. Our goal is to have students reading on grade level by the time they reach third grade. Our elementary school teachers are in place, will receive more training, and are willing to face the challenges of our reading goals! We need the children and parents on board as well. I will say it again and again, never underestimate the abilities of our students. It can be done. Our media center is chock full of books in all genres for all age groups! Encourage our children to read! SUBSCRIBE NOW! Cjowt County CjcWi Paper 478-401-5007 e 8 9 Y 0 £ I s 8 £ 0 Y G 8 r 8 9 r 8 4^ 9 8 £ Y G 0 Y 9 r -1^ S 0 8 8 G 8 G 8 9 Y 0 £ r 8 £ 0 8 r G 9 Y 4^ 0 r 8 £ Y 9 G 4- 8 Y 8 0 G 8 r 9 £ 9 G £ r 8 8 0 Y q 3 L a i A a U I/I 9\ o a A 3 i/i i V o I/I A T 3 O J A T 3 A M 3 3 3 3 3 V i T 3 3 o H I/I 3 w o 3 q A I/I
