See the special edition GSCS Community Community E-Newsletter - use this link https://conta.cc/49C4CoL
Happy Friday, Cowan Colts! 🎉📚
Join us for a fun and helpful Virtual Homework Tips Meeting on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, via Google Meet!
✨ Two chances to join:
⏰ 3:30–4:00 PM
⏰ 4:15–4:45 PM
Pick the time that works best for your family and gather some great tips to support learning at home. 💡
📩 Meeting link coming soon — stay tuned!
📚 Reminder for Families: Tuesday, January 20 is an At-Home Learning Day.
Students will bring home packets to complete that day. Please check backpacks and/or ClassDojo!
Kids Heart Challenge is almost here! Thank you for your efforts in helping to change and save lives. Many students and families already completed Finn’s Mission, but I need your help to reach our goal. Sign up under our school today.
Thank you to the families who have already registered for our team and are learning the lifesaving skill of Hands-Only CPR. Remember that if 50% of our families sign up, our school will earn an additional $500 gift certificate for fitness and well-being equipment to support the health of our school community. We just need 231 more students to register online! I know we can do this!
I know our school can do this!
Sign up at the link below or download the free “AHA Schools” app for iPhone or Android.
Raise funds to help kids with special hearts.
Complete Finn’s Mission (https://vimeo.com/1114359015?share=copy): Complete all 7 steps, learn Hands-Only CPR, and be entered to win two Super Bowl LXI tickets in 2027!
Donations are DUE on: 1/30/2026.
#WalkTheWalk #LeadersAreHelpers
Thank you for helping kids with special hearts!
Sign-up here: https://www2.heart.org/site/TR;jsessionid=00000000.app30128a?company_id=550426&fr_id=12400&pg=company&NONCE_TOKEN=A2CFAFB2E815CFBAA58631B2E666EFFF
Thank you to the families who have already registered for our team and are learning the lifesaving skill of Hands-Only CPR. Remember that if 50% of our families sign up, our school will earn an additional $500 gift certificate for fitness and well-being equipment to support the health of our school community. We just need 231 more students to register online! I know we can do this!
I know our school can do this!
Sign up at the link below or download the free “AHA Schools” app for iPhone or Android.
Raise funds to help kids with special hearts.
Complete Finn’s Mission (https://vimeo.com/1114359015?share=copy): Complete all 7 steps, learn Hands-Only CPR, and be entered to win two Super Bowl LXI tickets in 2027!
Donations are DUE on: 1/30/2026.
#WalkTheWalk #LeadersAreHelpers
Thank you for helping kids with special hearts!
Sign-up here: https://www2.heart.org/site/TR;jsessionid=00000000.app30128a?company_id=550426&fr_id=12400&pg=company&NONCE_TOKEN=A2CFAFB2E815CFBAA58631B2E666EFFF
Reminder! Tomorrow is the 100th Day of School!
Please check Dojo or "take home" folders for info on how your child's grade level is celebrating.
We can’t wait to celebrate this fun milestone! 💯
Please check Dojo or "take home" folders for info on how your child's grade level is celebrating.
We can’t wait to celebrate this fun milestone! 💯
Career Day Volunteers Needed!
Cowan Road Elementary is hosting Career Day on April 17 from 9:00–12:00, and we’d love for parents, professionals, and community members to join us! Volunteers will talk about their careers, share education or training experiences, and inspire our students to dream big.
Interested in participating? Contact Ms. Whaley, School Counselor at 770-229-3790 or patrice.whaley@gscs.org
Help us show our students the many paths their future can take!
#WalkTheWalk #CareerDay
Cowan Road Elementary is hosting Career Day on April 17 from 9:00–12:00, and we’d love for parents, professionals, and community members to join us! Volunteers will talk about their careers, share education or training experiences, and inspire our students to dream big.
Interested in participating? Contact Ms. Whaley, School Counselor at 770-229-3790 or patrice.whaley@gscs.org
Help us show our students the many paths their future can take!
#WalkTheWalk #CareerDay
Tuesday, January 20, is an At-Home Learning Day for Students and a District Professional Learning Day for Staff.
School Board Names Warren as GSCS Superintendent
On Tuesday, January 13, the Griffin-Spalding Board of Education appointed Dr. Donald Warren as the superintendent of the Griffin-Spalding County School System (GSCS).
Dr. Warren has 33 years of experience in education and has served GSCS for almost 10 years. He has served as the interim superintendent for the last eight months and also for four months in 2020. He has served as the GSCS Deputy Superintendent since 2021, overseeing district operations. Warren began with GSCS in 2017 as the GSCS Executive Director of Secondary Education, where he supervised all middle and high school principals along with career and technical education.
Dr. Warren came to GSCS after serving as the Director of Curriculum and Instruction & Director of Learning and Leadership for Henry County Schools for five years. He spent much of his career in the Houston County School District as a high school mathematics teacher, assistant principal (elementary and middle) and principal in Warner Robins.
READ MORE: https://5il.co/3tdgc
On Tuesday, January 13, the Griffin-Spalding Board of Education appointed Dr. Donald Warren as the superintendent of the Griffin-Spalding County School System (GSCS).
Dr. Warren has 33 years of experience in education and has served GSCS for almost 10 years. He has served as the interim superintendent for the last eight months and also for four months in 2020. He has served as the GSCS Deputy Superintendent since 2021, overseeing district operations. Warren began with GSCS in 2017 as the GSCS Executive Director of Secondary Education, where he supervised all middle and high school principals along with career and technical education.
Dr. Warren came to GSCS after serving as the Director of Curriculum and Instruction & Director of Learning and Leadership for Henry County Schools for five years. He spent much of his career in the Houston County School District as a high school mathematics teacher, assistant principal (elementary and middle) and principal in Warner Robins.
READ MORE: https://5il.co/3tdgc
100th day of school is coming!
Check ClassDojo or homework folders for plans from your child's teacher/s. We look forward to celebrating being 100 days smarter!! #WalkTheWalk #100thdayofSchool
Check ClassDojo or homework folders for plans from your child's teacher/s. We look forward to celebrating being 100 days smarter!! #WalkTheWalk #100thdayofSchool
Save the Date!!
Daddy-Daughter Dance; come join us in Emerald City on Feb 13, 2026.
#WalkTheWalk #DanceTheDance #DaddyDaughterEmeraldCity
Daddy-Daughter Dance; come join us in Emerald City on Feb 13, 2026.
#WalkTheWalk #DanceTheDance #DaddyDaughterEmeraldCity
All GSCS schools and offices will be closed on Monday, January 19, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
In December, GSCS held its annual Literacy Days competition. Students across the district expressed their creativity in: K-2 Read Aloud, K-8 Poetry Recitation, K-8 Drama and grades 3-8 Ready Writing. There was a high level of participation from all elementary and middle schools, with almost 200 participants. First-place winners will represent GSCS at the Griffin RESA Regional Literacy Days competition in February 2026. Congratulations to these first-place winners!
GSCS Parent University is offering a free 30-minute workshop for families on Safe & Positive Social Media on Thursday, January 15. Scan the QR code to register.
Spalding High School is hosting a STEM Night on February 6 for students in grades 3-5. Register now by scanning the QR code!
Happy New Year from GSCS! Remember, staff and students return on Monday, January 5!
Welcome to 2026 Colt family! Here is our monthly newsletter for January. We are ready for another fun half of our school year! Please click below.
January Newsletter
Our Elf on the Shelf made quite the entrance today—by helicopter!
Students were absolutely shocked (and thrilled!) to see our elf fly in, and the excitement was priceless. Huge thanks to Freddie Briggs, owner of Tier-One Helicopters, and pilots Cameron Conner and Garrett Barton for making this unforgettable moment happen for our kids.
📹 Be on the lookout—a video is coming later so you can feel the excitement, too! #WalkTheWalk #COESElfOnTheShelfDayFive #OurElfOnTheShelfReallyFlies
Students were absolutely shocked (and thrilled!) to see our elf fly in, and the excitement was priceless. Huge thanks to Freddie Briggs, owner of Tier-One Helicopters, and pilots Cameron Conner and Garrett Barton for making this unforgettable moment happen for our kids.
📹 Be on the lookout—a video is coming later so you can feel the excitement, too! #WalkTheWalk #COESElfOnTheShelfDayFive #OurElfOnTheShelfReallyFlies
GSCS families and community: Thomaston Milk Company would like to bless Spalding County families with free milk before the holidays. They will be in the Orrs Elementary parking lot, 1553 Flynn Street, on Monday, December 22, 2025, from 10 AM – 12 PM, while supplies last, distributing ½ pints of regular and chocolate milk. This distribution is a donation on behalf of Thomaston Milk Company. We appreciate their support of our community.
Please complete the ThoughtExchange at the link below to provide input for the questions that will be asked of the superintendent finalists at the town hall meeting on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at 6 p.m in the Griffin Auditorium. The town hall event will also be live-streamed. Thought Exchange Link: https://my.thoughtexchange.com/scroll/474844673/welcome
Today, all GSCS School Principal Secretaries were celebrated at a Jingle & Mingle Heart of the School Christmas Luncheon. They were all recognized for their dedication, hard work and joy that they bring to their schools. Thank you, school principal secretaries! Happy Holidays!
