Happy New Year! We all seem to have made it through the holidays and the emotional and physical jolts of being back in school.

Coming back from winter break, I would like to take a moment to reaffirm our priority to support and educate our students. In spite of the difficult economic times, our students are learning and they are safe.  As we start the new year, here are a few tips hopefully you can build into your home routine in the New Year.

When children eat right and get enough sleep, they are better equipped to do well in school. Eating a healthy breakfast not only prepares your child for the day, it can also boost their immune system. Fewer sick days mean greater scholastic success for your child. Even though the work they miss can be made up, the lessons gained in the classroom learning environment are irreplaceable. And school breakfast is a great value.

Getting enough sleep is vital to a student’s ability to absorb and process information. Be sure your child gets the appropriate amount of sleep for their age. Preschool children up through age nine need 10-12 hours of sleep per night. Children ages 10 to 12 need a little over 9 hours of shuteye a night, while teens need about 8 to 9.5 hours of sleep.  As kids get older they tend to get less sleep, when they actually need more. Because teens often have schedules packed with school activities, they tend to be chronically sleep deprived. Sleep deprivations adds up over time, so an hour less per night is like a full night without sleep by the end of the week. Help them to make good choices to balance their schedules so that they have enough time for sleep.

Preparing students to become responsible and caring citizens begins at home.  Remember that you are your child’s best and most important role model. If your children see you make eating right and getting enough sleep a priority, they will too!  As a district, we are committed to providing support for our parents and reinforcing the lessons learned at home in a safe and healthy classroom environment. By working together, we can all do our part to keep our students, staff, parents and community healthy.

Sincerely,

Sherrie Whiten

Beginning with the 2009-2010 school year, parents of students enrolled in Georgia public schools may request to transfer their child to another school within the school district if the district determines there is classroom space available. If a transfer is approved, the parent must assume the responsibility and cost of transportation to and from the school. Classroom space may be available at the following schools for the 2010-2011 school year: Eastanollee Elementary School, Liberty Elementary School, Toccoa Elementary School. The District will accept transfer requests for the 2010-2011 school year from July 5 to July 23, 2010. Requests received after close of business, 5:00 p.m., July 23, 2010, will not be considered. Parents will receive notification of approval or denial by email or standard U.S. mail on or before July 31, 2010. The 2010-2011 Transfer Request Form is available at the Superintendent's Office or on the web.

(Click Here for 2010-2011 Transfer Request Form).