June 23, 2016 - Unplug from the Daily Grind

Summer is in full swing and many are enjoying some well-deserve time off with family and friends.  Summer vacations are not only a time for adventure and excitement, but also a time to unplug from the daily grind and recharge for the year ahead.

Life gets busier and busier with each passing year and as I continue to grow, as a young father and educator, I have learned the importance of scheduling time to change my daily routine to allow uninterrupted time with family and friends.  We spend so much of our lives "plugged in," that it is imperative that we take time to unplug.  This week was a week in which I unplugged from my daily routine and invested in my family.  They are, after all, my core support system.  We have had a great time at the beach and I am actually writing this as my daughter naps beside me, between trips to the beach and the pool.  It is a time that I will treasure and am thankful for.   My wife can attest that I have a hard time stepping away from school.  I am fully committed to the success of Calhoun City Schools, but my family kindly reminds me that unless I take time to recharge I will not be of much use to The Campus or CCS as a whole.

With that said, I am ready to return to CCS, recharged, and prepared to continue the important planning that must take place in order for us to have a successful school year.  Many people are working this summer behind the scenes so that the administration is prepared to do the most important job of all... support teachers and students as they teach and learn in the classroom.  

Lastly, I want to congratulate each and every one of our staff, students, parents and community members who helped to make Calhoun City Schools the 2016 Charter School System of the Year as recognized by Lt. Governor Casey Cagle on Wednesday in Atlanta.  We had a great showing of educational leaders and education supporters in attendance.  You can view the video recognizing CCS below:

Staff Spotlight

I would like to recognize all those who are coordinating summer programs this summer through Calhoun City Schools to best prepare our students for the 16-17 school year.  From summer school led by Monica Pierson and Lynne Wilson to math camps at CMS led by the math department, we have an abundance of programs contributing to student success at Calhoun City Schools.  Be sure to thank those who are sacrificing time this summer to put on programs such as cheer, twirl-o-whirl, football, soccer, transitions, STEM, band, performing arts, ESOL, tutorials, health, math, swimming, tennis, summer feeding, etc.  The list goes on and on.  Never have I seen a community and a school system so invested in their students during the summer months!

Student Spotlight

Aubrey Marbutt will be serving as the student body president for the 2016-2017 school year at Calhoun High School.  More than that, she is a representative of all students at Calhoun City Schools.  Aubrey has served in Student Government her entire high school career and is a dedicated student.  I have known Aubrey since she was in elementary school.  She has always shown great leadership potential, and I am very proud to have her serve along side me this upcoming year as the elected student representative of her peers.  Please congratulate her and wish her the best as she works diligently this year to make it the best year at The Campus to date!

June 5, 2016 - Toes in the Sand

There's nothing quite like the feeling of watching the minutes tick away on the last day of school and running out of the doors as the heat hits your face, signaling the start of that epic time of year called summer!  Not only does this describe the last day for our students, but also that of our teachers and staff.  We often hear the faint grumbling of educational critics who scorn teachers for their excessive social media posts of beach vacation pictures and galavanting adventures across the globe.  These critics paint a canvas with broad strokes of commentary such as "they may not get a huge salary, but they have all that time off" and, "I wish I didn't have to work over the summer!"  I contest that these critics would have benefited from sitting in the classrooms of Calhoun City Schools teaching staff.  I praise our teachers for their pictures of sand covered feet gazing across the ocean.  I view this as a trade.  They have survived 10 months of 5 a.m. wakeup calls.  They have given up the privilege of seeing their own house during daylight hours.  They take care of other people's children while theirs are in daycare.  They teach for 10 hours, sponsor arts, academic, and athletic organizations in the evenings and hit stop and repeat once the clock strikes midnight.  They have most likely missed most, if not all, of their own child's classroom events, parties, field days, field trips etc. so that they can provide these same experiences for those who would criticize them.  They love unconditionally.  They carry the burden of knowing that for some of their students, school is the safest, warmest, and most loving place they will know.  They reach into their own pocket books to pay for field trips for those who cannot afford these adventures.  They sponsor their own students when Christmas comes around so that they too can feel the excitement that comes on Christmas morning.  In short... teachers are superheroes!  If allowing them two months to enjoy their own families and brag about it on social media is the price we have to pay to have these superheroes for 10 months, then I will gladly suffer the constant barrage of beach pics and poolside toes.  I love our teachers!  I love our schools!  I love our community!  We are Calhoun!

Staff Spotlight

All of our teachers and staff!  As I stated above in the blog, you are all superheroes!  We appreciate you and your commitment to our students.  Now, go and dip your feet in the water and post your obligatory sandy feet pics!!!  Have an incredible summer and drop by and visit me when you have the chance.  I would love to hear all about your adventures!

Student Spotlight

Reed Allen - For those of you who did not get to know the son of Heidi (CMS School Counselor) and John Allen (CHS Football Community Coach) you missed out on knowing an outstanding young man.  We recognize Reed this week because he has done what so few will ever accomplish...  He graduated from the United States Air Force Academy.  Reed represents what we aspire for all of our Calhoun graduates to achieve... a commitment to excellence both in and out of the classroom.  Congratulations to Reed and the Allen family!