Madison County students returned for another school year Friday, Aug. 10.
Some of the biggest changes this year are at Comer Elementary, which sports a new media center, three new classrooms, a renovated clinic and computer lab, along with a new energy-efficient HVAC system. A new deceleration lane at the entrance to the school should also help alleviate traffic tie-ups and increase safety for both students and parents, especially during dismissal in the afternoons, principal Dr. Christine Register said.
Impending construction is also making for some changes at the high school this year, particularly in the area of student parking.
“With the new construction, we will have a slightly different parking situation this year, for many of the spaces which have been traditionally used will now be taken up for our anticipated new facility,” interim principal George Bullock said. “There is information and maps on the school website under parent and student resources. We appreciate your patience with this progress. We are excited to know that all the inconveniences that might arise will be well worth it once the new building is complete.”
Madison Co. students back in class
Elementary School general information
Lunch prices are $1.60 for students and $1.25 for breakfast, with reduced prices 40 cents and 30 cents, respectively.
School begins at 8 a.m. and ends at 2:55 p.m. each day at Danielsville, Hull-Sanford and Comer. The school day begins at 7:45 a.m. for Colbert and Ila Elementary students. The afterschool program will be offered again this year at all elementary schools. The program runs from 2:55 to 6 p.m. each day school is in session and the cost is the same as last year – a one time $10 registration fee and then $6 per day. Students must be registered in order to participate.
Colbert Elementary
Colbert has 398 students on the books as of the first day of school, and while Colbert does not offer the lottery-funded pre-K program, it does house a special education pre-K program. Over the summer improvements at the school include: an energy-efficient upgrade to the HVAC system, new paint on outside doors, four new smartboard set-up installations in various classrooms, an “industrial cleaning” of the gym, along with new carpeting for this area, new tile on the faculty lounge floor, additional furniture for new teachers, brand new classroom signage throughout the building, an additional fourth bus route to eliminate over-crowded buses, walls built in two classrooms to sub-divide into four smaller classrooms and a $7,700 grant from Williams Company for non-fiction leveled books.
New faces on the faculty and staff at Colbert this year include: full-time counselor Dana Prickett (previously shared between Ila and Colbert); Brenda Chandler and Lorie Skelton (kindergarten teachers), Tavi Peeples (first grade), Ashley Armour (third grade), Sarah Kroll (special ed), Pam Rice (FTE secretary) Sarah Reynolds (kindergarten parapro), Sundee Warren (first grade parapro), Brenda Morrow (supportive instruction parapro), Kathy Bishop (cafeteria), James Jones and Edwin Fowler (new bus drivers for the additional bus route) and Mary Lutz (school psychologist).
Breakfast is served at Colbert from 7:20 to 7:50 a.m. each day and car riders need to ensure that they arrive in time (before 7:50 a.m.) to eat breakfast. Students are considered tardy after 8 a.m. and need to be signed in by parents/guardians.
The procedures for car riders remains the same this year as in the past. Bus riders are dismissed at 2:55 p.m., with car riders being dismissed at 3 p.m. Car riders can be dropped off at 7:15 a.m. at the earliest, school officials noted.
“It is my honor to serve as principal to Colbert Elementary for my second year,” principal Sandra Seymour said. “Colbert has an outstanding faculty and staff that endeavor to help each and every student experience success. I look forward to continued and improved student achievement. We have set challenging goals for Colbert students and it will take the teamwork of students, teachers, paraprofessionals and parents to make them a reality. Please know that the change of curriculum to the Common Core Performance Standards will require more rigor and higher expectations of students in all grades.”
Seymour said she wants to encourage parents to help build the parent volunteer program.
“Any parents who have a few hours to spare will be encouraged to volunteer to help teachers and students,” she said. “We also need to expand our PTO executive council to assist in school needs and initiatives. We purchased a new school sign and a playground structure for the fifth grade playground last year. We need more interested parents to assist in allowing the PTO to serve our school needs. We can work together for students and teachers. Please let me know if you would like to be a part of this exciting team.”
Seymour said she values communication and would love for parents to drop by to meet her in the next few weeks.
Comer Elementary
Student enrollment at Comer is projected at 350 for this year.
In addition to the new construction at Comer, there are a few new faces on staff. There is new speech teacher MarLee Colquitt, from Elbert County, whose husband Chuck Colquitt is the new middle school principal. Also new to Comer this year are parapros Brandi Paul and Heather Thompson, who just completed their student teaching at the school.
PTO co-presidents this year are Kerith Smith and Heather Allen, with Misty Berryman and Elisha Hart serving as vice presidents. The PTO secretary is Kay Clifton.
“They, along with other PTO volunteers, have some exciting events planned for the families of Comer this year,” principal Dr. Register said. “We will be gearing up to install our walking track later this year now that our building is completed and plans for the back field are coming together.”
Danielsville Elementary
There are 512 students enrolled at Danielsville Elementary, making it the elementary school with the highest student population.
Principal Angie Waggoner said the school has had new lights and tile installed this summer, as well as new solar-powered HVAC units.
There will only be one new face on staff at Danielsville so far this year: pre-K parapro Janie Smith.
Car riders may begin arriving at the school at 7:20 a.m. each day, with afternoon procedures remaining the same with dismissal from the gym circle.
“We are anticipating a very successful year,” Waggoner said. “On the heels of our best test scores ever, we are ready to embrace the new Georgia curriculum. Our Colts are always striving to be the best they can be. We are excited to see our boys and girls – we missed them over the summer.”
Hull-Sanford Elementary
Enrollment at Hull-Sanford stands at 505 as the 2012-13 school year opens. New faculty this year are teachers Michelle Archer and Addie Henderson.
“We are excited have our students back in the building,” principal Cathy Gruetter said. “We miss them over the summer. The faculty and staff have worked hard the last couple of weeks to prepare for their return.”
Ila Elementary
Ila’s enrollment stands at 430 students at the beginning of this year.
“We have worked hard over the summer to beautify our school,” principal Lynne Jeffers said. “The custodians have been busy all summer cleaning and painting so that the rooms will be ready for our students. Our air conditioning system has been updated. We have put new lighting in all the rooms and the media center’s carpet has been replaced with tile.”
New murals have been painted by Tracy Massey in the main hallway, doorway and each bathroom entrance now has a “Gator” girl or boy painted on the wall, Jeffers noted.
“Ila Elementary dads had a work day on Aug. 4 to clean and spread mulch on our playgrounds,” Jeffers said. “Our dads also began a new playground area with a new swing set and mulch at our track area. We are very excited about the improvements that have taken place during the summer.”
Ila has a few new faces this year. They include: Melissa Kirk (SPED teacher), Ashley Osborne (resource teacher), Travis Moak (computer lab teacher), Ali Robertson (SPED parapro), Bonnie Westbrook (resource parapro), Lannae Johnson (resource parapro), Julie Elrod (parapro) and Colton Chandler (parapro).
Ila will continue to use the same car rider procedures as in the past for the morning drop off, with 7:15 a.m. being the earliest time to drop off students. Car riders are dismissed from the gym after school buses have left the school grounds.
“I look forward to beginning my ninth year here at Ila, my sixth year as principal,” Jeffers said. “Ila is a wonderful school with a first-rate faculty and staff. I am excited to have the opportunity to work with these students, parents, faculty, staff and community.”
Madison County Middle School
The middle school begins the school year with 1,100 students enrolled in grades six through eight, and a new principal at the helm – Chuck Colquitt, who takes over for Matt Boggs, who retired June 30.
“I feel that it is a privilege to be a part of such a great school system,” Colquitt said. “I look forward to building relationships with the students, teachers and community. I am proud to help continue the progress that the students, faculty/staff and parents have made at MCMS. We are all looking forward to a great year at Madison County Middle School.”
The school day begins at 7:57 a.m. and ends at 3:11 p.m.
“I strongly encourage parents/guardians to stress the importance of attending school with their children throughout the year,” Colquitt said.
Other new faces at MCMS this year include: Nathan Crowe (eighth grade science), John Lastly (agriculture), Cindi Rouis (special ed), Lori Baerne (special ed), Stephanie Ring (sixth grade science), Carey Metts (health and PE), Tanya Lynch (school nurse) and Jeffrey Vaughn (school resource officer).
Doug Wood was selected to serve as assistant principal and leader of House 1200.
There are no changes in class structure at the middle school this year, but there are three areas of emphasis that are intended to improve student achievement. The first is Common Core Georgia Performance Standards, which are common standards adopted by 46 of the states, including Georgia.
“The implementation of these standards will require all parties involved to work together and dig deeper on task-oriented assignments in order to meet the rigor of the standards,” Colquitt said. “We will be continuing the use of Data Teams which allows for the collaboration among teachers to look at data to address the specific academic needs of our students.”
Colquitt said the school will also continue to implement the STEM grant that allows students to gain relevant classroom experience that can be applied in real world situations.
“In addition, two of our classes at the middle school are piloting ‘Bring Your Own Technology’ (BYOT) which will help prepare our students for the 21st century by involving them in student learning that is engaging, problem-base and student-centered,” Colquitt said.
Madison County High School
There are approximately 1,450 students at MCHS this year. The biggest hurdle facing students and staff this year will likely be the challenges that come with the construction of a new “core” for the high school – which will include a new media center, cafeteria, classrooms, labs and office suites in a three-story structure situated where the current teacher parking lot is. Principal Bullock said construction is slated to begin in late-September.
New faculty and staff at the school this year include: Kelly Bunger Benson (math), Matt Boggs (social studies), Kyle Cooper (student services), Amanda Frary (student services), Veronica Hunter (freshman academy assistant principal), Libby Loftis (student services), Frank May (student services parapro), Renee McCannon (attendance coach), Michael Patton (custodian), Ashley Hines Reynolds (science) and Greg Walton (chorus).
“This year will be met with many new implementations,” Bullock said. “Some of these are the unfamiliar faces who we hope you have the opportunity to meet, the new Common Core Standards, the continued emphasis on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math education) and data teams (education practices supported by teacher research), the Charter System process, and the new construction. With that said, there is one thing that will not be new. This is the fact that every decision will be made with all students in mind.”
Lunch prices are $1.60 for students and $1.25 for breakfast, with reduced prices 40 cents and 30 cents, respectively.
School begins at 8 a.m. and ends at 2:55 p.m. each day at Danielsville, Hull-Sanford and Comer. The school day begins at 7:45 a.m. for Colbert and Ila Elementary students. The afterschool program will be offered again this year at all elementary schools. The program runs from 2:55 to 6 p.m. each day school is in session and the cost is the same as last year – a one time $10 registration fee and then $6 per day. Students must be registered in order to participate.
Colbert Elementary
Colbert has 398 students on the books as of the first day of school, and while Colbert does not offer the lottery-funded pre-K program, it does house a special education pre-K program. Over the summer improvements at the school include: an energy-efficient upgrade to the HVAC system, new paint on outside doors, four new smartboard set-up installations in various classrooms, an “industrial cleaning” of the gym, along with new carpeting for this area, new tile on the faculty lounge floor, additional furniture for new teachers, brand new classroom signage throughout the building, an additional fourth bus route to eliminate over-crowded buses, walls built in two classrooms to sub-divide into four smaller classrooms and a $7,700 grant from Williams Company for non-fiction leveled books.
New faces on the faculty and staff at Colbert this year include: full-time counselor Dana Prickett (previously shared between Ila and Colbert); Brenda Chandler and Lorie Skelton (kindergarten teachers), Tavi Peeples (first grade), Ashley Armour (third grade), Sarah Kroll (special ed), Pam Rice (FTE secretary) Sarah Reynolds (kindergarten parapro), Sundee Warren (first grade parapro), Brenda Morrow (supportive instruction parapro), Kathy Bishop (cafeteria), James Jones and Edwin Fowler (new bus drivers for the additional bus route) and Mary Lutz (school psychologist).
Breakfast is served at Colbert from 7:20 to 7:50 a.m. each day and car riders need to ensure that they arrive in time (before 7:50 a.m.) to eat breakfast. Students are considered tardy after 8 a.m. and need to be signed in by parents/guardians.
The procedures for car riders remains the same this year as in the past. Bus riders are dismissed at 2:55 p.m., with car riders being dismissed at 3 p.m. Car riders can be dropped off at 7:15 a.m. at the earliest, school officials noted.
“It is my honor to serve as principal to Colbert Elementary for my second year,” principal Sandra Seymour said. “Colbert has an outstanding faculty and staff that endeavor to help each and every student experience success. I look forward to continued and improved student achievement. We have set challenging goals for Colbert students and it will take the teamwork of students, teachers, paraprofessionals and parents to make them a reality. Please know that the change of curriculum to the Common Core Performance Standards will require more rigor and higher expectations of students in all grades.”
Seymour said she wants to encourage parents to help build the parent volunteer program.
“Any parents who have a few hours to spare will be encouraged to volunteer to help teachers and students,” she said. “We also need to expand our PTO executive council to assist in school needs and initiatives. We purchased a new school sign and a playground structure for the fifth grade playground last year. We need more interested parents to assist in allowing the PTO to serve our school needs. We can work together for students and teachers. Please let me know if you would like to be a part of this exciting team.”
Seymour said she values communication and would love for parents to drop by to meet her in the next few weeks.
Comer Elementary
Student enrollment at Comer is projected at 350 for this year.
In addition to the new construction at Comer, there are a few new faces on staff. There is new speech teacher MarLee Colquitt, from Elbert County, whose husband Chuck Colquitt is the new middle school principal. Also new to Comer this year are parapros Brandi Paul and Heather Thompson, who just completed their student teaching at the school.
PTO co-presidents this year are Kerith Smith and Heather Allen, with Misty Berryman and Elisha Hart serving as vice presidents. The PTO secretary is Kay Clifton.
“They, along with other PTO volunteers, have some exciting events planned for the families of Comer this year,” principal Dr. Register said. “We will be gearing up to install our walking track later this year now that our building is completed and plans for the back field are coming together.”
Danielsville Elementary
There are 512 students enrolled at Danielsville Elementary, making it the elementary school with the highest student population.
Principal Angie Waggoner said the school has had new lights and tile installed this summer, as well as new solar-powered HVAC units.
There will only be one new face on staff at Danielsville so far this year: pre-K parapro Janie Smith.
Car riders may begin arriving at the school at 7:20 a.m. each day, with afternoon procedures remaining the same with dismissal from the gym circle.
“We are anticipating a very successful year,” Waggoner said. “On the heels of our best test scores ever, we are ready to embrace the new Georgia curriculum. Our Colts are always striving to be the best they can be. We are excited to see our boys and girls – we missed them over the summer.”
Hull-Sanford Elementary
Enrollment at Hull-Sanford stands at 505 as the 2012-13 school year opens. New faculty this year are teachers Michelle Archer and Addie Henderson.
“We are excited have our students back in the building,” principal Cathy Gruetter said. “We miss them over the summer. The faculty and staff have worked hard the last couple of weeks to prepare for their return.”
Ila Elementary
Ila’s enrollment stands at 430 students at the beginning of this year.
“We have worked hard over the summer to beautify our school,” principal Lynne Jeffers said. “The custodians have been busy all summer cleaning and painting so that the rooms will be ready for our students. Our air conditioning system has been updated. We have put new lighting in all the rooms and the media center’s carpet has been replaced with tile.”
New murals have been painted by Tracy Massey in the main hallway, doorway and each bathroom entrance now has a “Gator” girl or boy painted on the wall, Jeffers noted.
“Ila Elementary dads had a work day on Aug. 4 to clean and spread mulch on our playgrounds,” Jeffers said. “Our dads also began a new playground area with a new swing set and mulch at our track area. We are very excited about the improvements that have taken place during the summer.”
Ila has a few new faces this year. They include: Melissa Kirk (SPED teacher), Ashley Osborne (resource teacher), Travis Moak (computer lab teacher), Ali Robertson (SPED parapro), Bonnie Westbrook (resource parapro), Lannae Johnson (resource parapro), Julie Elrod (parapro) and Colton Chandler (parapro).
Ila will continue to use the same car rider procedures as in the past for the morning drop off, with 7:15 a.m. being the earliest time to drop off students. Car riders are dismissed from the gym after school buses have left the school grounds.
“I look forward to beginning my ninth year here at Ila, my sixth year as principal,” Jeffers said. “Ila is a wonderful school with a first-rate faculty and staff. I am excited to have the opportunity to work with these students, parents, faculty, staff and community.”
Madison County Middle School
The middle school begins the school year with 1,100 students enrolled in grades six through eight, and a new principal at the helm – Chuck Colquitt, who takes over for Matt Boggs, who retired June 30.
“I feel that it is a privilege to be a part of such a great school system,” Colquitt said. “I look forward to building relationships with the students, teachers and community. I am proud to help continue the progress that the students, faculty/staff and parents have made at MCMS. We are all looking forward to a great year at Madison County Middle School.”
The school day begins at 7:57 a.m. and ends at 3:11 p.m.
“I strongly encourage parents/guardians to stress the importance of attending school with their children throughout the year,” Colquitt said.
Other new faces at MCMS this year include: Nathan Crowe (eighth grade science), John Lastly (agriculture), Cindi Rouis (special ed), Lori Baerne (special ed), Stephanie Ring (sixth grade science), Carey Metts (health and PE), Tanya Lynch (school nurse) and Jeffrey Vaughn (school resource officer).
Doug Wood was selected to serve as assistant principal and leader of House 1200.
There are no changes in class structure at the middle school this year, but there are three areas of emphasis that are intended to improve student achievement. The first is Common Core Georgia Performance Standards, which are common standards adopted by 46 of the states, including Georgia.
“The implementation of these standards will require all parties involved to work together and dig deeper on task-oriented assignments in order to meet the rigor of the standards,” Colquitt said. “We will be continuing the use of Data Teams which allows for the collaboration among teachers to look at data to address the specific academic needs of our students.”
Colquitt said the school will also continue to implement the STEM grant that allows students to gain relevant classroom experience that can be applied in real world situations.
“In addition, two of our classes at the middle school are piloting ‘Bring Your Own Technology’ (BYOT) which will help prepare our students for the 21st century by involving them in student learning that is engaging, problem-base and student-centered,” Colquitt said.
Madison County High School
There are approximately 1,450 students at MCHS this year. The biggest hurdle facing students and staff this year will likely be the challenges that come with the construction of a new “core” for the high school – which will include a new media center, cafeteria, classrooms, labs and office suites in a three-story structure situated where the current teacher parking lot is. Principal Bullock said construction is slated to begin in late-September.
New faculty and staff at the school this year include: Kelly Bunger Benson (math), Matt Boggs (social studies), Kyle Cooper (student services), Amanda Frary (student services), Veronica Hunter (freshman academy assistant principal), Libby Loftis (student services), Frank May (student services parapro), Renee McCannon (attendance coach), Michael Patton (custodian), Ashley Hines Reynolds (science) and Greg Walton (chorus).
“This year will be met with many new implementations,” Bullock said. “Some of these are the unfamiliar faces who we hope you have the opportunity to meet, the new Common Core Standards, the continued emphasis on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math education) and data teams (education practices supported by teacher research), the Charter System process, and the new construction. With that said, there is one thing that will not be new. This is the fact that every decision will be made with all students in mind.”
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