About The Jenkins County times. (Millen, Ga.) 2023-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 20, 2023)
Page 4 - Wednesday, December 20, 2023 The Jenkins County Times jenkinscountytimes.com mm oii/fi JENKINS COUNTY & SCHOOL SYSTEM EAGLE NOTES John Paul Heam, Superintendant Jenkins County School System I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. The Jenkins County School System is the best there is. I want to be clear here. When I say the school system is great, I am not just referring to those who work in the system. I am talking about our faculty, staff, students, and all the students’ families. Time and again, when we face some type of adversity, we handle it and move forward. That was on full display last Monday morning when I had to call an audible and make the decision to close school just as students were arriving. A side note here. We now have the capacity to send out mass text, email, and phone messages to all student guardians listed in PowerSchool through an integrated app called SwiftK12. It uses contact information and allows us to message everyone in a matter of minutes. If you have students in our system and didn’t receive a message last week, please contact the school to verify your info is correct. Now, to get back to another reason why our system is great. Buses had already started unloading, and many parents had already dropped off their children. It was the week before Christmas break, and of course, the school was decorated and festive. Seeing the students walking dressed up and so joyful for the day, my heart was breaking inside because I knew they were about to be told they were returning home. When I sent out the message that school was closing due to an email I received, I knew it would probably create some panic among our parents. Although many were concerned, I can honestly say that no parent or guardian acted out of the way. Those who had already dropped their children off returned to pick them up. Our transportation department responded, loaded our students back up, and carried them back home. Our faculty and staff shifted to dismissal mode, and even though it may have looked somewhat chaotic, everyone performed their job flawlessly. We had a reunification location set up but didn’t even have to use it because all our parents and guardians responded. That is a testament to our parents and guardians in our community. I want to take a minute and say this. I want to assure our community that the students' safety, security, and success in Jenkins County are my top priorities. It broke my heart when I saw those children confused last Monday about heading home at 8:15 am. Situations like that and others that impact our student's well-being cause me to lose sleep at night. I am not saying any of that for the proverbial “pat on the back.” I simply want you, as parents and guardians, to know that I don’t just have two children, I have over 1,150, and I view See EAGLE NOTES page 6 By Joe Brady, Editor for The Times So, last week I attended services at the Millen Church of God! Actually, cousin B.L. and Karen bribed me with chicken and dumplings. Y’all don’t think I got fat by eating carrot sticks and kale did you? Yes, I can be lured by food. Now, the service left me in culture shock, but then remember I’m Anglican. Y’all know I have often said in this column how we are all headed to the same place, we just get their along different routes. One thing I will say about these good folks at Millen COG, y’all can cook! I mean better than Episcopalians! I just got excommunicated I’m sure. Actually, I was reminded of the passage in a cook book I have. In one of the chapters the book speaks of the difference of cooking amongst churches. For instance, the Baptist’s created fried foods. If you can fry it, chances are you will see it on the buffet table in the church social hall. Fried chicken? Hello! The Methodists created the casserole, give the Methodists a can of cream of something and you will see a casserole on the buffet table! Now, the Episcopalians? Well, we took the fried foods and the casseroles but you can always tell you’re eating in the parrish hall by the number of silver trays on the table. Which also reminds me, the Episcopalians use the common cup at communion. Now, the excuse for not passing the common cold around to everyone in the church is because of the silver and the alcohol. Yes, we use the real stuff. Well, when covid came around, what was the first thing we dumped? You guessed it, the common cup! After my stint on the Altar Guild, which are the ones who prepare the church every Sunday for worship I realized one very important thing. The cup is silver plate not sterling. And the wine is watered down. I ain’t putting my lips on that cup again! But I will leave you this last week of Advent with one thought. Branch out and visit other churches, denominations, and alternative methods of worship. The church down the road you think is all wrong, is doing the same thing you are, just in different ways. Thank you to Josh Farthing for welcoming me last Sunday and the chicken and dumplings were delicious. Oh, did I mention Barbara Jackson’s ice box fruitcake? Oh my God, heaven on a plate! That’s all for now, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to our readers! Sam Eades Publisher Joe Brady Editor Sam Eades Advertising Sales Debbie Hearn Admin/Layout and Design Executive Sarah Saxon ....Admin/Legals/Reporter/AP Correspondent BradAsbury Sports Editor Lori Jones Front Office/Receptionist THE JENKINS COUNTY TIMES issue 41 December 2023 is published weekly by on Wednesday for $24.95 per year by THE JENKINS COUNTY TIMES, 125 N. Main • Sylvania, Ga. 30467. Periodical postage pending at Sylvania, GA POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE JENKINS COUNTY TIMES, P.O. 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