South Metro Newsletter

Greetings!

As spring is upon us, it is time to reflect on what we’ve done well and on the exciting next steps for South Metro GNETS. Our students have enjoyed time receiving various forms of therapeutic supports, PBIS events and other hands-on learning activities this past session! We have also prepared students ready to transition to our outpost sites and for graduation—exciting news indeed!

As warmer weather approaches, we will shift our gears and focus on upcoming state testing for our students. Our students have worked hard over the last two semesters to prepare for the Georgia Milestone Assessment System (GMAS) and the Georgia Alternate Assessment (GAA). Testing season provides a tremendous opportunity for our students to showcase what they have learned this year.

The Spring season also brings forth our second session of triangulation meetings. These meetings are used to focus on our students individually. We are able to identify what resources and programs would be more beneficial for each student. This process helps us identify which students are ready to transition into a less restrictive environment (LRE).

We look forward to finishing the school year off strong!

Warmest wishes,

Derrick Gilchrist

January was National School Board Appreciation Month and some of Ms. Welty-Green’s art therapy participants volunteered their time to create thank you cards for the Clayton County Board of Education. Three students created a card each and we took them around for staff and students alike to sign, as a way of showing our appreciation for our Board Members’ hard work and dedication to our students. We in turn would like to show our appreciation to our students for taking time to help out with the huge shout out; THANK YOU!

Welcome back South Metro GNETS Parents and Guardians,

Random Acts of Kindness Day is February 17, 2023.

Random Acts of Kindness Day was initiated in 1995 in Denver, Colorado, by a nonprofit organization called the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation. For those of you who wish you could change the world, National Random Act of Kindness Day, on February 17th, is just for you. Here are a few tips on how to talk to your children about kindness:

1. Help Them Understand What Kindness Means: By teaching the empathy and compassion to your child.

2. Inspire Their Imagination: Pretend play is a great way for young kids to practice empathy.

3. Model Kindness Everywhere You Go: It is valuable for parents to show acts of kindness to others and to themselves. By showing kindness to yourself you are teaching your children the importance of self-care.

4. Encourage Kind Habits: Help your children match abstract concepts of kindness with concrete verbs that enact it: sharing, championing, compromising, listening, and noticing when others need help.

5. Understand That Kindness Isn’t Always Easy: We should remind ourselves and our children that kindness is hard sometimes but it doesn’t mean we are not kind when we are not always kind. It can be challenging however with intentional practice you can achieve success.

6. Pay Attention to the Effects of Kindness on Your Child: Help your children notice how it feels to be kind—and how other people respond.

For more information on Random Acts of Kindness read 6 Ways to Teach Kids to Be Kind by Catherine Newman.

Students and faculty enjoyed a day for tasty snacks and beautiful painting of various pictures. We certainly have an abundance of talent at JBH!

JBH Students and faculty honored our counselor, Ms. Hammond, for Counselor Appreciation Week with posters, notes, gifts, candy and gift cards! Each and every one of the kindnesses were appreciated!

Mr. Belford, at Ash Street, enjoyed his decorated office and gifts of appreciation!

JB Henderson Secondary School has been selected for a Project Learning Garden Rejuvenation Grant Award! We are excited to rejuvenate our raised gardens with soil, amendments, and an irrigation system. We will also be able to restock our mobile cooking cart items. We look forward to using this in our classroom activities and in our new garden club. The order will arrive around March 15th. Thanks Ms. Hodges and Ms. Perrier for you fine work on making this happen at JBH!