South Metro GNETS Newsletter

Greetings!

It is spring time and summer is coming soon! As the Georgia weather continues to get warmer and warmer, it is important for students to focus on doing their very best on the Georgia Milestone testing. Our scholars have worked all year and now it is time to demonstrate what they have learned.

South Metro GNETS has had an exciting year filled with various therapy programs such as equine, animal assisted and group therapy! LiveSchool was a huge part of this year’s success with various fun PBIS events, a new PBIS cart store and many more fun activities!

We are also excited to announce an upcoming awards ceremony on May 16th @ 10AM, celebrating the students moving up, on and/or out! It truly takes a village, so thank you all, parents, staff and students for making this year a very successful one!

We look forward to finishing the 2023 – 24 school year strong in supporting the educational and therapeutic needs of all of our students.

Best Regards,

Derrick Gilchrist

This grounding exercise designed to reduce stress and anxiety. Students have to identify 5 things they can see, 4 things they can touch, 3 things they can hear, 2 things they can smell, and 1 thing they can taste.

Equine Therapeutic Riding with the Calvin Center

South Metro GNETS and the Calvin Center have collaborated to offer equine therapeutic riding for Ash Street and J.B. Henderson Center students. Students, who are enrolled in the therapeutic riding program, attend weekly or bi-weekly visits to the Calvin Center, which is an equestrian center located in Hampton, GA. These students are able to experience routine care for the horses and engage in riding the horses. For students who experience social-emotional challenges, working with the horses aspires to teach them responsibility, kindness and self-discipline.

Therapeutic riding has been found to improve cognitive, physical, emotional and social well-

being of students with disabilities:

• Improved Sense of Time and Sequence- students may develop an awareness of time concepts and the ability to perform tasks in sequential order
• Improved Comprehension- students may develop the ability to use judgment and reasoning in riding and working with the horses, which could enhance his/her ability to use judgment and reasoning when dealing with situations and changes in the environment
• Improved Problem-Solving Skills-students learn and practice the process of problem solving by working to accomplish a specific horsemanship goal/skill

• Improved Communication Skills- as riding is usually a group activity, students learn to effectively communicate better with peers, volunteers and the instructor(s)

The Calvin Center provides an array of services at their facility including conferences, retreats,

camping trips, and more for students, veterans and community members. They also host

summer camps for students with special needs and equine-assisted activities for wounded

warriors, as well as therapeutic riding for those in the community. For more information on

the Calvin Center visit their website https://calvincenter.org/ or call them at 770-946-4276.

Welcome back South Metro GNETS Parents and Guardians,

Each spring our students stress with the anxiety of taking & preparing for testing. As parents, we are faced with the challenge of creating a support system to help our students feel loved and encouraged during this time.

Below are some helpful tips to help our students feel their best during the testing season.

1. Make sure your student gets plenty of rest the night before. This will ensure your student is able to feel well rested and decrease chances of feeling too anxious about testing. By setting a healthy bedtime that allows your student to receive a full 8 hours, you can ensure your student is receiving plenty of rest.

2. Morning routines help decrease a student feeling rushed on test day. By incorporating a routine, students do not feel as rushed in the morning and makes departure a little bit easier. Routines can include ironing clothes the night before, packing backpack with essential items, or making their lunch the night before instead of completing these tasks in the morning.

3. Make sure your student is prepared. Students can never be too prepared for testing. As parents, we can help with their preparedness by making sure your student has pencils, erasers, and a calculator. Yes, these items will be provided by the school but have a extra pair in your student bookbag to ensure they are ready for testing.

4. Remain Positive. As parents, we know testing can cause anxiety to our students. Practice relaxation techniques with your student. Listen to a music in the morning that encourages positive energy. Leave notes in your student bookbag for them to read prior to testing.

5. Check-in with your students after testing. One major way we can support our student is checking in with them to see how they felt about testing. Also, encourage healthy study habits for other classes.

Important 2024 Testing Dates

• GAA Test March 25- May 03
• Elementary EOC Test - April 15- 26
• Middle School EOC Test- April 30 – May 17
• High School EOC Test – April 15-26

The Boys and Girls Club

The Flint River Community Center Boys & Girls Club provides an environment where all youth feel safe and secure to dream, discover and develop. The overall formula for the Boys and Girls Club is to enrich the lives of young people in communities with high needs through outcome-driven Club experiences. For more information on rates and Medicaid discounts of membership, please visit one of the sights below:

Clayton County:

Flint River Community Center Boys and Girls Club

Location: 153 Flint River Road Riverdale, GA 30274

Henry County:

Shaquille O’Neal Boys and Girls Club

Location: 166 Holly Smith Drive McDonough, GA 30253