The Thomas County School System is planning a viewing opportunity for our students and staff to experience the partial solar eclipse phenomenon on Monday, April 8. To ensure the safety of our students and staff, we will be providing solar eclipse glasses equipped with the ISO filter recommended by NASA. This is a rare event that we are eager to use as a unique learning experience for our students.

Please complete the Parent Survey!

The Thomas County School System is conducting a Parent Survey. We value your opinion and ask that you take the time to complete this survey. Please be assured that your responses to this survey will be anonymous.

The survey is open until Friday, March 29. Thank you for your time and valuable feedback!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Parent-FY24

Spanish surveys available upon request.
Encuestas en español disponibles a pedido.

The Thomas County Board of Education held its first meeting of the new calendar year Tuesday, January 16. After the invocation, outgoing chair Leah Smith declared the positions of chair and vice chair vacant and asked for nominations.

Board member Mark NeSmith made a motion that Dan Stewart be elected chair and that Ed Hopper be elected vice chair. Chris Hayes seconded NeSmith’s motion.  Smith called for any additional nominations. There were no additional nominations, so Stewart and Hopper were elected to their respective roles with no dissenting votes.

Stewart serves District 6, and he and his wife, Sheri, reside on a family farm outside of Ochlocknee. Stewart retired as building maintenance supervisor at the Southwestern State campus where he worked for 30 years. Stewart is a family partner in a cattle/farming operation.

Stewart said, “I am humbled and honored to serve as chair alongside an incredibly cohesive group of board members. I feel my position as chair is dignified by the fact that we have the best school system that I could ask for. I look forward to working closely with Mr. Hopper, the rest of the board members, and Dr. Lisa Williams for a successful year.”

Hopper, who serves District 7, is self-employed. Hopper is a product of Thomas County Schools, and is excited to serve on the board for his alma mater. He is married to Lauren Hopper who teaches at Garrison-Pilcher Elementary School.

“I am honored to serve on the Thomas County Board of Education as the vice chair,” Hopper said. “It is an exciting time to be a Yellow Jacket! Whether in the classroom or on our athletic fields, we have great things happening in Thomas County, and I am proud to be a part of it.”

Register now for new students from Pre-Kindergarten to 12th grade. Use link below to register.
PreK and Kindergarten 24-25 Registration

The Thomas County Board of Education held its first meeting of the new calendar year Tuesday, January 16. After the invocation, outgoing chair Leah Smith declared the positions of chair and vice chair vacant and asked for nominations.

Board member Mark NeSmith made a motion that Dan Stewart be elected chair and that Ed Hopper be elected vice chair. Chris Hayes seconded NeSmith’s motion.  Smith called for any additional nominations. There were no additional nominations, so Stewart and Hopper were elected to their respective roles with no dissenting votes.

Stewart serves District 6, and he and his wife, Sheri, reside on a family farm outside of Ochlocknee. Stewart retired as building maintenance supervisor at the Southwestern State campus where he worked for 30 years. Stewart is a family partner in a cattle/farming operation.

Stewart said, “I am humbled and honored to serve as chair alongside an incredibly cohesive group of board members. I feel my position as chair is dignified by the fact that we have the best school system that I could ask for. I look forward to working closely with Mr. Hopper, the rest of the board members, and Dr. Lisa Williams for a successful year.”

Hopper, who serves District 7, is self-employed. Hopper is a product of Thomas County Schools, and is excited to serve on the board for his alma mater. He is married to Lauren Hopper who teaches at Garrison-Pilcher Elementary School.

“I am honored to serve on the Thomas County Board of Education as the vice chair,” Hopper said. “It is an exciting time to be a Yellow Jacket! Whether in the classroom or on our athletic fields, we have great things happening in Thomas County, and I am proud to be a part of it.”

Make your plans to be at Mercedes-Benz in Atlanta on Tuesday, December 12 at 7:00 p.m. to watch our Yellow Jackets battle the Woodward Academy Eagles for the 6A State Championship! Click on the link below for the details. See you there!

State Championship Game Details

Bishop Hall faculty and staff recently attended a professional development session after school presented by Chad (Coach) Ward. Teachers completed a personality activity assignment and were surprised by the results. It was an eye opening experience allowing teachers to see themselves how others see them. The group determined that perception is everything.

Bishop Hall Charter School faculty recently hosted their first “Family Literacy Night” for the 2023-2024 school year. With more than 100 people in attendance, parents and students learned the importance of literacy, how to understand Lexile scores, how to keep track of student progress, and how literacy is addressed across Bishop Hall.

Bishop Hall teachers Dr. Retha Lee and Paul McMullen organized the event. 

Lee said, “The turnout was incredible. We had a full house and a line out the door with parents and students waiting to get in.”

McMullen was also happy with the high attendance, saying, “It is exciting and invigorating to see such interest from both parents and students. I hope it continues on our next Literacy Night in February.” 

Principal Dr. Wiggins was thankful for those who attended the event. All of the teachers were pleased by the support of parents and the staff members who made the event successful. The next Literacy Night at Bishop Hall is planned for Thursday, February 22.

Most of Georgia's public school systems are accredited by Cognia, a nonprofit organization tasked with setting educational standards that prepare students for life after the classroom. Cognia will be conducting an accreditation review for the Thomas County School System during the school year. As part of the accreditation process, schools submit their educational environment to a rigorous process of analysis and evaluation. This parent survey will allow you to respond to questions about Cognia standards and how Thomas County includes families in the education of their students. Please complete this survey by September 22, 2023. If you have children in two or more schools, please take a moment to complete a survey for each school.

Click here to for more information and to take the survey!

Bishop Hall is off to a great start! Click read more to view our newsletter.

With the threat of severe weather from Hurricane Idalia, Thomas County Schools will be closed Wednesday, August 30. This decision was made after consulting with national, state and local emergency agencies. The safety of our students, teachers, and staff is very important to us. Please stay safe!

Bishop Hall Charter School ninth grader Zyannah Gosier recently asked Principal Dr. Verna Wiggins for permission to do something kind and generous for a fellow student. Dr. Wiggins set out to find someone who was worthy to receive a memorable gift.

Dr. Wiggins chose an outstanding young man who represents the great qualities of a Bishop Hall student. Jacameron Samuel, an eighth grader, was the lucky one chosen to receive two Wild Adventures tickets from his classmate. Gosier believes that giving to others is more important than receiving. As an employee of Wild Adventures, Gosier was thrilled to be able to do something special for someone.

Samuel was in shock when he found out. He was overwhelmed with excitement and shared his news with other students. The two students did not know each other, yet they shook hands and were very happy. 

Dr. Wiggins said, "We are a family and even students realize that. Jacameron was very appreciative and continued to thank me for selecting him as the deserving student of the month.”

Bishop Hall teacher Dr. Retha Lee was there to witness the transaction and was brought to tears by the simple kindness of others.

“Bishop Hall is truly a family,” Lee said. “The smiles say it all.”

The valuable, yearlong Cross Creek discount cards are on sale now through September 1. Buying a Cross Creek card has many benefits including saving money, helping to provide incentives and rewards for Cross Creek students, as well as keeping the shopping local for our generous merchants.  Selling at the same low price of $5.00 since 1994, Cross Creek cards save money throughout the year and pay for themselves after the first or second use.

The first Cross Creek cards were sold in 1994 and have continued to be an important fundraiser for Cross Creek.  Almost 30 years later, money raised over the years continues to fund many extras.

According to Cross Creek Principal Ashley Lane, past funds have helped purchase a golf cart for the school, which is used to monitor grounds and transport students, and provide an incentive for good behavior to ride with the SRO.

“The funds also help us support all academic celebrations every nine weeks including Accelerated Reader (AR) prizes and Positive Behavior incentives.  This includes our end-of-the-year celebration for students at the YMCA,” Lane said.  

The Bishop Hall faculty recently had the honor of hearing Richard Johnson and Lana Hicks speak about the history of Bishop Hall. The two respectively served as headmaster and assistant principal at Bishop Hall from 1999 until 2014. The charter school is approaching its 25th anniversary, and the guest speakers motivated the teachers by offering encouraging words to help them bring about student success. 

Recognizing the need to decrease the dropout rate and increase the graduation rate of Thomas County Schools, past Superintendent Dr. Terry Solana was instrumental in obtaining a charter from the Georgia Department of Education and hiring Richard Johnson to be the first headmaster. Only seven teachers were hired when the school opened. In the beginning, Bishop Hall served approximately 60 students, later increasing that number to 110. It presently serves 220 children in the Thomas County area. The inaugural students created the identity and culture of Bishop Hall, designing the school's logo, choosing its colors, and electing to wear uniforms. 

Johnson credits the success of Bishop Hall Charter School for increasing the graduation rates and for the strong relationships between the students and the teachers. Non-traditional approaches to education and experiential learning provided students and teachers with hands-on opportunities that engaged in holistic learning. Everyone worked hard to help students reach their goals and succeed. As students were learning, teachers were as well. The faculty attended national charter school conventions and visited other charter schools with the help of grants and extra funds.

The TCCHS CTAE Department is in the process of reviewing a textbook for possible adoption for the 2023-2024 school year for the Animal Science pathways. 

The TCCHS and Bishop Hall Physical Education Department is in the process of reviewing a textbook for possible adoption for the 2023-2024 school year for the Health and Personal Fitness courses.

Samples of these texts will be on display in the main administration office at the Thomas County Schools Board of Education. Parents are invited to stop by during normal office hours (7:30-5:00) from July 10-13 to review these materials and leave any desired feedback

Please contact Robin Cartright, Curriculum Director, if you have any questions (rcartright@tcjackets.net or 229-584-9158).

Thomasville Toyota was named Thomas County School System’s BEE Partner of the Year for 2022-2023.  This is the second time Thomasville Toyota has been chosen as BEE Partner of the Year. The first time was in 2020.

The Business and Education Exchange (BEE) Partner of the Year is chosen from the outstanding BEE Partners who work with Thomas County Schools to strengthen the link among schools, businesses/industries, and the community.  

The partnership between Thomasville Toyota and Thomas County Schools is strengthened by the support of Brad Ramsey, Thomasville Toyota’s Service and Parts Director.

“It is a true honor to be selected as the BEE Partner of the Year,” Ramsey said. “Thomasville Toyota is committed to providing resources to help the staff and students at Thomas County Schools. We are happy to be a part of their mission to educate students and help young people become productive members of society.”

Thomas County School System officials have named Melissa O’Neal, third grade teacher at Cross Creek Elementary, as the District Teacher of the Year. O’Neal has worked for Thomas County Schools for 21 years.

Upon being named Teacher of the Year for the system, O’Neal said, “What an incredible honor! I am beyond thrilled and deeply grateful to be recognized as the Teacher of the Year for Thomas County. Teaching has been my true calling and passion in life, and I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of my students every day. This award is not only a recognition of my passion for teaching, but also a celebration of the collective efforts of our entire educational community.”

O’Neal currently teaches 3rd grade, having previously taught pre-kindergarten, 1st grade, 4th grade and 3rd grade. She has taught various academic levels such as special education inclusion, ESOL, and gifted students.

Cross Creek Elementary School Principal Ashley Lane said that O'Neal is deeply committed to the field of education and to the noble profession of teaching.

Lane said, “Ms. O'Neal has a true heart for teaching.  She embraces the profession and dedicates her time and attention to the needs of her students.  She often states that her students are her heart.”

O’Neal said that from the moment she stepped into the classroom, she knew that teaching was her true passion.

On March 14, Bishop Hall celebrated National Pi Day with pi or circle-based activities, crafts, and games!

On February 10 and 11, band students from Thomas County Central High School and Thomas County Middle School traveled to ABAC in Tifton, Georgia, to participate in the District 2 Honor Band Clinic. Nearly 100 students participated from the Thomas County School District, and this prestigious group honors the best youth musicians the state offers.

TCCHS Band Director Joe Regina said that the high school is well represented at district honor band every year, but having so many students selected is quite an achievement.

"I'm so unbelievably grateful that Thomas County Schools supports the fine arts the way that it does, which is something that you just don't find in every school district,” Regina said. “Everyone from the superintendent to the principals and administrators, down to the faculty and our tremendous band staff district-wide are all a part of this great accomplishment." 

Phoenix Brock, a TCCHS freshman French horn player, enjoyed his experience at District Honor Band. 

“I got to meet new people, and the food was really good which is a big plus for me,” Brock said. “Also, I felt like I really learned from the music we played. I hope I can grow as a french horn player and a member of the TCCHS Band. Overall, I would love to do this again next year!" 

Academic Success Night was a huge success at Bishop Hall. Thank you to Melissa Rodgers and Gwendolyn Mitchell for organizing this event. Thank you to all the teachers, parents, and students who attended. Items discussed were dress code, attendance, the Georgia Milestones, Infinite Campus, the number of weeks remaining in school, senior deadline, the tutoring schedule, Google Classroom, and parent involvement. After the presentation, parents got to meet with teachers. If you would like any information regarding any of the topics, please reach out to Melissa Rodgers.

The Thomas County Board of Education held its first meeting of the new calendar year Tuesday night. After the invocation, outgoing chair Mark NeSmith declared the positions of chair and vice chair vacant and asked for nominations.

Board member Ken Harper made a motion that Leah Smith be elected chair and that Dan Stewart be elected vice chair. Chris Hayes seconded Harper’s motion.  NeSmith called for any additional nominations. There were no additional nominations, so Smith and Stewart were elected to their respective roles with no dissenting votes.

Smith has been a member of the board since 2018, and this is her first time serving as chair. Smith is a registered nurse at the Thomasville Eye Center. She and her husband, Ben, have two children in the school system.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue representing Thomas County’s students, parents, and taxpayers with my re-election,” Smith said. “As the chair, I’m excited for all of the wonderful things this year holds for our school system. Working alongside Dr. Williams, vice chair Dan Stewart, the other board members, and our staff to channel your voices, I look forward to witnessing Thomas County’s successes.”

An ONLINE registration portal will be active on January 30 and 31st. This live link will be available on this website and on social media for registration. If you need access to a computer, please call Hand-In-Hand at 229-225-3908 and ask for Trish Kearce who will schedule an appointment to assist you in registering your child.  All eligible students signed up for pre-k on January 30 and 31st will be guaranteed a slot. Out-of-district students will be accepted upon approval by the Board of Education.

A link will also be available during online registration to schedule your child’s screening appointment. 

The Thomas County School System recently held the official groundbreaking for a new 122,000 square foot multi-purpose building housed on the Thomas County Central High School campus. The new building, expected to be completed in 2024, will feature a state of the art band facility, new home for the JROTC program, new basketball locker rooms for both girls and boys varsity and junior varsity programs, a full gymnastics and cheerleading gymnasium, football locker rooms for the varsity and junior varsity teams, presentation room, health classrooms, modern weight room, and a full 120 yard indoor practice field for football, soccer, baseball, softball, and golf. The groundbreaking was held to kick off the beginning of Phase I which includes the addition of a new student parking lot which will allow room on the high school campus for the new facility. School board members, community members, and district and school administrative staff were present for the event. 

Please click on the link provided to sign up for Infinite Campus Parent Portal.  Parent Portal gives parents and guardians of students in Thomas County Schools access to attendance records, class schedules, and grades.  Additionally, the Parent Portal enables parents to verify household information including email addresses, home addresses, and telephone numbers.

We are excited to see our students on Tuesday, January 3, 2023.

The Winter Break is December 19 - 30, 2022. There is a teacher workday/student holiday on Monday, January 2. We look forward to seeing students back on Tuesday, January 3!

Bishop Hall Did It again~

The students' and teachers' generosity and kindness are greatly appreciated and will make some children and seniors very happy during this holiday season. We were able to help five (5) seniors and fifteen (15) children due to the care and concern that students and teachers have shown. Ms. Beasley said, "I am so thankful to this faculty and staff for making this a success". 

Calling all Santa’s helpers: Thomas County Central High School’s Shop With A Yellow Jacket, or SWAYJ, annual charity event is almost here. 

Always held in mid-December, SWAYJ assists Thomas County Schools pupils whose families could use a helping hand during the holiday season. 

“TCCHS is committed to improving the lives of its students and members of the Thomas County community,” assistant principal Levi Williams said. “The holidays can be an especially difficult time for many of our families and students. The mission for SWAYJ is to share a little holiday cheer and to reinforce the belief that helping and caring for one another is how we grow as a community.” 

Teams of TCCHS students raise funds to take an elementary-age pupil Christmas shopping at Walmart. But it’s not a spree for themselves.

“Instead, the gifts they purchase are for their family members, further spreading the spirit of giving during the holiday season,” Williams said.

Senior Bhumin Patel knows how special SWAYJ is because he’s participated before and plans to do so again this year. He started because he wanted to do something nice for someone else.

Patel recalls his favorite part of the experience as seeing the smile on his group’s little shopper’s face after finding a specific toy.

Parents and students,

Progress reports are going home today, November 18, 2022. Please remember that tutoring is available for all students and is highly encouraged. We hope all of our students have a wonderful Thanksgiving break.

Bishop Hall was honored to have, Richard Johnson, the first principal of Bishop Hall, as the guest speaker for Veterans Day. Mr. Johnson served in the Army Airborn-173 Brigade.  He served as headmaster/principal at Bishop Hall from 1999-2013. Students were engaged and impressed by Mr. Johnson's experience in the military and his commitment to education. 

Pictured below are Mr. Johnson (first principal), Chris Huckans (second principal), and Dr. Verna Wiggins (current principal).

Mrs. Tutu-Gxashe, daughter of the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu, was our guest speaker for a student assembly on Friday, November 4, 2022. She discussed her father's legacy and her purpose in education and literacy. In her honor and for the many students in Africa, Bishop Hall students making a difference by raising $500.00 to help fund desks for children.

The TCCHS and Bishop Hall social studies departments are in the process of reviewing a textbook for possible adoption for the 2022-2023 school year for the world history course. A sample of this text will be on display in the TCCHS Media Center. Parents are invited to stop by during normal school hours (from October 17-21) to review these materials and leave any desired feedback.

Please contact Robin Cartright, Curriculum Director, if you have any questions (rcartright@tcjackets.net or 229-584-9158).

Thomas County School Nutrition Director Dr. Lauren Duplantis was recently appointed to serve on the 2022-2023 State School Nutrition Director’s Advisory Council. As a member of the Advisory Council, she will work with other directors, state staff, professional association and industry members to enhance the reach and effectiveness of school nutrition services across Georgia.

Duplantis was asked by State Director of School Nutrition Dr. Linette Dodson and will serve on the council for three years. The majority of the meetings are held virtually, but at least one meeting per year is held in person.

“It is an honor to be chosen to serve on the advisory council for the state, and I look forward to providing input that will not only improve the programs we provide locally, but that also enhances school nutrition services throughout Georgia,” Dr. Duplantis said. “Our mission is to provide quality meals and nutrition education opportunities for students that promote healthy children, ready to learn, and it is exciting to work alongside others in school nutrition who share this passion as well."

The current alignment of the council is with the RESA districts, having one local director from a district in each of the 16 different RESA districts.

State School Superintendent Richard Woods has appointed 16 new parents to serve on his 2022-2023 Superintendent’s Parent Advisory Council (PAC). Danniell Slocumb, a Thomas County Middle School representative on the Thomas County School District’s Parent Advisory Council, was chosen as one of the members.

Slocumb, who is one of only 31 parents serving on the State PAC, was nominated by the Thomas County School District at the beginning of this school year. New members are selected each year by representatives of the Georgia Department of Education based on the applicants’ responses to questions on engaging parents to ensure their children’s success at school and the local school superintendent’s recommendation. Slocumb will serve a two-year term on the council.

Slocumb is actively involved with the Thomas County School System and a supportive member of the community. Having a recently graduated senior and a current seventh grader, Slocumb is well aware of the academic and social supports families can benefit from. She has partnered with the different schools in the Thomas County school district since her first daughter started school 18 years ago.

“I think that being engaged in a constructive way at the school level is the only way to be able to have a voice so that the school has a chance to listen to an outside perspective and then take action accordingly,” Slocumb said.

Bishop Hall Charter School had a successful day learning about local government. The U. S. History classes had the opportunity to learn from various elected and appointed officials from Thomas County. Included in the presentation were: County Manager, Micheal Stephenson; Tax Collector, Alicia Hester; Sheriff, Carlton Powell; Director Emergency Services, Derrick Olgetree; and Public Works Director, Tony Bodiford.

Students had the honor of listening to special guests who shared the importance of the Constitution. Lt. Col. Aaron Williams and Lt. Todd Williams spoke to classes at Bishop Hall on Constitution Day. 

Bishop Hall Charter School hosted its third literacy fair, and the turnout was amazing. Many students attended the event and learned how Bishop Hall has boosted engagement with new class books, a student-led book club and a reading growth initiative. The group learned more about Infinite Campus, played interactive games, and shared personal stories. Door prizes were awarded at the end of the event. 

The Thomas County Board of Education has adopted a $65 million general fund budget for the current school year, and to partially fund this budget, approved a tentative rollback millage rate of 12.533 mills for tax year 2022.  The rollback rate is a 9% decrease from the 2021 millage rate of 13.804.

The proposed millage rate marks the tenth year in a row that the county board of education has reduced the school property tax rate. Thomas County School’s 2021 millage rate of 13.804 was the 25th lowest out of 180 school districts that can levy a tax, placing it in the bottom 14% of districts in the state.  The state average school property tax rate for 2021 was 15.88 mills.  Since school districts are in the process of adopting millage rates, comparison rates for 2022 are not yet available, but the school system’s proposed roll back rate is expected to move lower in the state ranking to at least the bottom 10% of the lowest property tax rates in the state.

Property values in the Thomas County School tax district increased 11.7% from 2021, but only 1.5% of the increase is in the form of real building growth. Over 10% of the property value increase was in the form of property reassessments, and by law, the school district is required to roll the millage rate back to yield the same amount of revenue that would have been collected had the reassessments not occurred.  By law, if a rollback is not adopted, the school system must declare a tax increase.  Approximately $11.7 million of local property tax revenue is included in the system’s 2022-2023 budget.

For the eighth time and fourth consecutive year in a row, the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts has recognized the Thomas County School System for Excellence in Financial Management and Reporting.

The Department of Audits created the award program to recognize those entities that are audited annually and go beyond standard financial business practices to be considered “the best of the best.” An award of distinction is presented to organizations that submit quality financial statements and supporting documentation in a timely manner, whose annual financial report is given an unmodified audit opinion and is free of any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses, and comply with all Transparency in Government requirements.

Thomas County School Superintendent Dr. Lisa Williams and Board Chair Mark NeSmith presented the award to Deputy Superintendent for Finance Joey Holland at the July board of education meeting. Upon receipt of the award, Holland gave credit to the staff members in the system’s finance department.

Technology as a man’s domain is an antiquated idea getting a redesign thanks to opportunities like the Virtual Reality Environment Design event sponsored by Women in Technology and attended by Thomas County Central High School Girls Who Code club. 

Sponsor Mark Thompson, who teaches computer science classes, wanted his students to attend because he feels it is essential to expose them to as many aspects of technology as possible, which touches nearly every part of their lives. 

“The border between art and technology is thinner than we often realize,” Thompson said. “Just as importantly, girls are overlooked when it comes to computer science. This event was a great way to show our female students that there are so many different ways to use technology. If they are inspired to create, then it was a worthy trip.”

The group from TCCHS included Emily Wood, Lainey Woodfin, Cadence Curnalia, Heather Smith, Shelby Bryant, Rowan Garland, Julia Hutchings and Genesis Mickles. Held April 30 in Duluth, girls from across Georgia participated and split into teams to design 3-Dimensional environments using VR headsets.

Pre-Kindergarten teacher Debbie Carraway is one of three finalists in a public school system for the 2022-2023 Georgia’s Pre-K Program Teachers of the Year according to the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL). Carraway, who has taught Pre-K at Hand-In-Hand Primary School for six years, was chosen for representing high quality early childhood education.

Carraway received a $500 cash prize from the Georgia Foundation for Early Care + Learning after her application was reviewed and scored by a panel of impartial judges.

Carraway has been teaching for 15 years, and 12 of those years have been in Pre-K.

“It is an honor to be selected as one of the top three finalists for Georgia Pre-K Teacher of the Year,” Carraway said. “If chosen to represent Thomas County as the 2023 Georgia Pre-K Teacher of the Year, my message would be that our children are our future. As an educator, I know that every day I make an impact on someone's life.”

This fall each of the finalists will be observed in their classroom by a Pre-K Specialist, will submit a small group video to be scored by outside judges, and will appear before a panel for a personal interview.

Thomas County Middle School recently became the first official Girls on the Run (GOTR) program in Thomasville which helps inspire and empower girls in third to eighth grade.

The goal of GOTR, a national non-profit organization, is to help girls build confidence within themselves and foster care and compassion for self and others, while building social, emotional, and physical skills.

One of the components is physical empowerment so the girls were training to finish a 5K at the end of the season. In April, 32 GOTR participants, under the direction of their seven coaches, had the opportunity to practice their 5K.

Volunteer coaches, such as TCMS Language Arts Teacher Rena Eason, suit up in their fitness attire and cheer the kids on. At each practice, they used clever tactics to encourage the girls to keep going. 

Georgia Youth Science & Technology Centers (GYSTC) has recently awarded Garrison-Pilcher science teacher Jessica Duncan with the 2022 Georgia STEM Scholar Award. As part of this special recognition, she will receive a $500 grant to purchase STEM education materials for her classroom, as well as receive free admission to attend the GYSTC Summer STEM Institute. 

Duncan believes that Garrison-Pilcher provides a great foundation for STEM education.

Duncan says, "I am very thankful for the opportunity to expand the resources for the students who will come through my classroom next year and the years to come.”

She also said that the activity mentioned in the award "Slimy Attributes" is a second grade favorite. 

The Thomas County School System is conducting a Parent Survey. We value your opinion and ask that you take the time to complete this survey. Please be assured that your responses to this survey will be anonymous.

The survey is open until April 1. Thank you for your time and valuable feedback!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ParentSurvey21-22

Spanish surveys available upon request.
Encuestas en español disponibles a pedido.

The Thomas County School System announced recent staff promotions and title changes following approval at the February regular board meeting.

Both Dr. Jim Rehberg and Lindsay Thompson are moving from Thomas County Central High School to the district office.

Rehberg is now serving as the Director of Facilities and Operations. Rehberg, who holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership, spent the previous 10 years as a district and school administrator at Thomas County Central High School where he was in charge of testing, academic recognition, and facilities. Prior to that, he worked as a media specialist serving the entire student body and faculty of TCCHS after teaching English literature and computer science.

"There is a direct correlation between a warm, welcoming, and secure atmosphere and student achievement,” Dr. Rehberg said. “The facilities at Thomas County Schools are among the best, and it is a privilege to work alongside the men and women responsible for ensuring our buildings remain a place where all students are safe and happy. We are always looking for ways to make what we have better. I look forward to facilitating the best environment possible for the students of Thomas County Schools."

Rehberg, a 1990 graduate of then Central High School, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English at University of Georgia before completing his graduate work at Valdosta State University.
 

The links below will take you to the registration forms. The forms are not compatible on mobile phones, but computers will be available at HNH and the board office. Please call 229-225-3908 for more information.

Pre-K English Registration Form

Kindergarten English Registration Form

After you register, please click here to schedule the Pre-K & Kindergarten Screener.

de prekínder Formulario de

registro de jardín de infantes

La cita de evaluación de su hijo será el  22 de febrero de 2022. Llame Thais Woods al (229) 516-2080 entre las 10:00 am y las 3:30 pm para registrarse para la evaluación de su estudiante.

An ONLINE registration portal will be active on January 31 and February 1. This live link will be available on this website and on social media for registration. If you need access to a computer, please call Hand-In-Hand at 229-225-3908 and ask for Trish Kearce who will schedule an appointment to assist you in registering your child.  All eligible students signed up for pre-k on January 31 and February 1 will be guaranteed a slot. Out-of-district students will be accepted upon approval by the Board of Education.

A link will also be available during online registration to schedule your child’s screening appointment. 

Click here for more information.

A new year brings new beginnings for the Thomas County School System. During a called meeting this morning, the board approved the retirement of Mrs. Trista Jones, along with the recommendation of Mr. Jamie Thompson being named the new Thomas County Central High School principal and Mrs. Ashley Lane being named the new Cross Creek Elementary School principal.

Mrs. Jones has devoted 30 years of her life to our students and system. She will always be a cherished member of our Yellow Jacket family. We congratulate Mrs. Jones on her retirement and thank her for her many years of service to our system.

Congratulations also to Mr. Thompson and Mrs. Lane! They are both excellent leaders who will continue to help our system flourish and excel in their new positions.

Justin Rogers was hired as the Thomas County Central head football coach Friday following the Thomas County Board of Education’s unanimous approval at a morning board meeting.

He will officially begin his duties as the Yellow Jackets’ head coach on January 3 according to Athletic Director Philip Duplantis.

“It is a privilege and honor to be able to serve as the head coach at Thomas County Central,” Rogers said. “I’m super excited to be a part of the Yellow Jacket family and feel passionately about continuing the tradition of excellence.”

The Thomas County School System decided to "GO GOLD" in September which was Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Faculty, staff and students wore gold or yellow on Friday, September 3, to share awareness and show support for kids and families impacted by childhood cancer. Each school in the system also participated in Caps for CURE by paying one dollar to wear a hat on Friday. Thomas County Schools raised a total of $2,125.68. The money raised was donated to CURE Childhood Cancer. Sharon Johnson visited the school system recently to accept the check on behalf of CURE. 

The Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) awarded the Thomas County School System $3,754,352 over four years to advance literacy efforts. During this second round of Literacy for Learning, Living, and Leading in Georgia (L4GA),  grants were awarded to 23 school districts totaling $22,101,554. 

Curriculum Director Robin Cartright “We are excited to again be awarded the L4GA grant as it allows us to provide literacy opportunities to our students and to our community. Through previous grant awards, we have implemented literacy initiatives and provided books and other texts that have led to stronger readers, and I have no doubt this will continue with the current grant award.”

Dr. Lisa Williams, Superintendent of Thomas County Schools stated, “I commend the extraordinary collaboration among our district and school level faculty in preparing the grant. It’s because of their exceptional teamwork that our system was awarded the L4GA literacy grant. The funds received from the grant will go a long way in helping our system to continue its focus on overall literacy improvement."

As a recipient of the Literacy for Learning, Living, and Leading in Georgia (L4GA) grant, Thomas County Schools will focus on creating plans for children from birth to 12th grade. Additionally, the school will partner with the community to support early literacy for all local children.

In July, the Thomas County School Board approved administrative personnel changes for the new school year upon the recommendation of Superintendent Dr. Lisa Williams.

Brecca Pope has been named Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services. In her new role, she will continue to support the district with a primary focus on human resources.  

Pope has worked with the Thomas County School System since 1999.  She served in Thomas County as a Speech Language Pathologist at Cross Creek, as assistant principal at Hand-In-Hand Primary School, and as assistant principal at Cross Creek before joining the district office administrative team. Pope is currently working on her doctorate degree in educational leadership.

The Thomas County Board of Education has tentatively approved a rollback millage rate of 13.804 mills for 2021, a 2.4% reduction from the 2020 millage rate.

The proposed millage rate marks the ninth year in a row that the county board of education has reduced the school property tax rate. Thomas County School’s 2020 millage rate of 14.139 was the 34th lowest out of 180 school districts that can levy a tax, placing it in the bottom 19% of districts in the state.  The state average school property tax rate for 2020 was 16.14 mills.  Since school districts are in the process of adopting millage rates, comparison rates for 2021 are not yet available, but the school system’s proposed roll back rate is expected to once again be among the lowest property tax rates in the state.

PINES Library Access for Youth (PLAY) is brought to you through a collaboration between the Thomas County School System, Georgia Library PINES, and the Thomas County Public Library System. 

Thomas County School System student ID numbers will now act as a library card number for your public library! The public library provides free access to books and online resources to help your child succeed in school, as well as fun resources that help develop a lifelong love of reading.

Click below for more information.

PLAY - PINES Library Access for Youth

Welcome Back-to-School Letter from the Superintendent 

Back-to-School Information 

The School-Based Health Center, located at the Thomas County Middle School, has released the summer schedule. There are some days and weeks when the center is open, but not for sick visits. During those times, there will be no provider on site so only COVID tests and vaccines will be administered. Call 229-227-2936 for questions or appointments.

At the regular April meeting, the Thomas County Board of Education accepted Charles Evans' resignation as the District 3 Board representative. According to Evans, his resignation is due to health reasons that have made it difficult to continue in his role.

For his more than 14 years of service as a board member to the children of Thomas County, Evans was honored during the meeting with a certificate of appreciation and a personalized clock showing his years of service and support to the school system.

“Serving on the board has been one of the greatest experiences in my life,” Evans said. “It has been such a part of my life that I will miss tremendously."

Superintendent Dr. Lisa Williams said, “The school system is very appreciative of Mr. Evans for his more than 14 years of faithful, dedicated service as a board member to the children of Thomas County. We greatly appreciate all the many ways that he has helped support our students and system. He has served District 3 and the Thomas County community well and even though his time as a board member has ended, he will forever be a member of our Yellow Jacket family.”

The Board also approved the appointment of Ken Harper to fill the vacant District 3 board seat for the remainder of the current term.
 

Attention parents!  Please take a moment to complete our Parent Survey which will provide us with valuable information about our schools and will help with future improvement strategies.  Your feedback makes a difference!

The Thomas County School System recently held the spring Parent Advisory Council meeting. Superintendent Dr. Lisa Williams presented an overview of the systems’ plans for Federal CARES and funding and reviewed projects planned for successful E-SPLOST V funding. Assistive Technology Technician Alison Parker provided an update on the assistive technology resources and supports provided by the school system. Dr. Bob Dechman, Assistant Superintendent for Federal Programs and Accountability, presented the system’s policy on Family Engagement and asked participants to complete a survey to provide suggestions for plan revision. Each school principal reviewed progress on their School Improvement Plans to date and asked parents to complete a survey to make suggestions for next year’s plan.

We invite you to watch the recording of the meeting and provide your input as well. If you have questions or input, you may contact Dr. Bob Dechman by email bdechman@tcjackets.net or contact the parent involvement coordinator at your child’s school.

ZOOM Meeting Recording

You may also share your input by completing the following surveys:

District Family Engagement Policy: https://forms.gle/9cJp73gXCBqK4L8C6

School SIP survey: https://forms.gle/M6yXUwZSEZRVtLk96

This is a reminder that Friday, March 26, is a teacher workday. There will be no school for students!

Please click below for information on our "Finish Strong" plan:
"Finish Strong" Video

Dear Parents and Guardians,

At its February meeting, the Thomas County Board of Education endorsed a series of proposals recommended by the curriculum department to support students and teachers through the second semester of the 2020-2021 school year.

The “Finish Strong” plan calls for the return of more students to in-person learning and aims to reduce the number of teachers who have to simultaneously teach both in-person and on-line classes. To provide time for teachers, counselors, and administrators to plan for these adjustments, three teacher work days have been added to the school calendar.

The Thomas County Board of Education held its first meeting of the new calendar year Tuesday night. After the invocation, outgoing chair Charles Evans declared the positions of chair and vice chair vacant and asked for nominations.

Board member Nancy Hiers made a motion that Kay Streets be elected chair and that Mark NeSmith be elected vice chair. Leah Smith seconded Hiers’ motion.  Evans called for any additional nominations. There were no additional nominations, so Streets and NeSmith were elected to their respective roles with no dissenting votes.

Thomas County Schools is pleased to announce that Joey Holland, SFO, Deputy Superintendent for Finance, has earned the Certified Administrator of School Finance and Operations® (SFO®) by the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO). School business professionals who earn the SFO certification have proven that they have the required knowledge, expertise, and fiscal credibility to lead their school district and effectively manage the district’s finances.

“Even though I’m going into my twentieth year in school finance for Thomas County Schools, I wanted reassurance that I had the knowledge and professional competencies to lead the school district in not only finance, but other areas of school operations,” Holland said.  “I was also eager to find out if my finance and operations knowledge was on par with other school finance officials across the country.”

ASBO International’s SFO certification is an internationally recognized standardized assessment for school business officials.

The Thomas County School system recently held its annual Fall Parent Advisory Council meeting via zoom. Each school was represented by parents and stakeholders. The meeting is designed to inform stakeholders of system initiatives and request feedback on future planning. A link to the recording and follow up survey are posted below and on the Federal Programs page. If you have questions or input, you may contact Dr. Bob Dechman by email bdechman@tcjackets.net or contact the parent involvement coordinator at your child’s school.

Zoom link

Survey link

We celebrated National Parent Involvement Day giving us the opportunity to recognize the many contributions parents and caregivers provide on a daily basis. We appreciate your continued support of our school system!

https://youtu.be/HiFMuwKMsLg

The Thomas County School System decided to "GO GOLD" during the last week of September which was Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Faculty, staff and students wore gold or yellow on Friday, September 25, to share awareness and show support for kids and families impacted by childhood cancer. 

Each school in the system also participated in Caps for CURE by paying one dollar to wear a hat on Friday. Thomas County Schools raised a total of $2,178.61. Each school showed their support by donating the following: Hand-In-Hand, $241.23; Garrison-Pilcher, $412.30; Cross Creek, $634.08; TCMS, $351; TCCHS, $500; and Bishop Hall, $40.

Superintendent Dr. Lisa Williams said, "I am very appreciative of the compassion that our students, staff, and parents have demonstrated in their support of Childhood Cancer Awareness and Research as shown through their actions and contributions. Together, we were able to make a difference for such a worthy cause." 

The money raised was donated to CURE Childhood Cancer. Sharon Johnson and Kathy Pipkin visited the school system recently to accept the check on behalf of CURE. 

“‘Caps for CURE’ was started by my family's friend, Sarah Barr, from Locust Grove," said Johnson. "Her idea to encourage students to raise awareness and funding for childhood cancer continues today.  Sarah fought Ewing’s sarcoma for seven years and passed away just before her 20th birthday. We appreciate the continuing support of ‘Caps for CURE.’”

The Thomas County Health Department and Thomas County Schools are teaming up to fight the influenza (flu) virus again this year by providing immunizations in our schools. 

Flu registration packets are being sent home with students. If you need another copy, the forms and other additional information can be accessed by clicking on the links below. Flu registration packets must be completed and returned to the school on or before Tuesday, October 6, 2020. You can also fax the forms to the health department by dialing 229-379-3521. 

2020 Parent Letter - Flu

2021-2022 Student Consent Form

Adult Vaccine Consent Form

Influenza Inactive VIS 2021-22

Privacy Notice

A recent grant for the Thomas County School System has provided start-up costs for a National Defense Cadet Corps (NDCC) program, a program that will eventually become a full-fledged Army Junior ROTC unit to serve students from both Bishop Hall Charter School and Thomas County Central High School.

This is the inaugural year for the Army NDCC in Thomas County which will operate exactly like a JROTC program. The program is organized as two battalions: the Knight Battalion at Bishop Hall Charter School and the Yellow Jacket Battalion at Thomas County Central High School.  Lieutenant Colonel Kevin “Buzz” Ingram is the Senior Army Instructor and will oversee both programs. Prior to coming to Thomas County Schools, he served as the Senior Army JROTC Instructor at Ware County High School in Waycross, Georgia.

LTC Ingram said, “I am beyond excited to be here and start something special. This program is unique in that it’s not just one program, but two. I am establishing different battalions at Bishop Hall and Thomas County Central, embracing the culture and traditions at each school. Collectively, we are the 59th Cadet Regiment, paying tribute to the US Army Air Corps’ 59th Fighter Group that called Thomas County home in the early to mid-1940s. The legacy of the men and women of the greatest generation will live on in our cadets in the 21st century.”

Due to the delay in the start of this school year, our 20-21 school calendar had to be revised. Please make note of the changes. Fall break has been eliminated, Thanksgiving break was shortened, and the end of the school year has been extended one week with the last day of school on Friday, May 28. We are looking forward to our students starting back to school on Tuesday, September 8, either traditionally, through our remote classrooms, or our virtual school option. We are greatly missing our students and are counting down the days until we are able to see them again soon. Please continue to monitor the system and school websites and social media pages for continued updates.

2020-2021 School Calendar

Dear Thomas County Schools Families,

After many recent discussions with the local and regional health departments regarding Thomas County's current COVID-19 data, along with Archbold's announcements of rising COVID-19 case numbers, and the Governor's announced recommendation for systems to reopen after Labor Day, the start date for pre-planning has been moved to August 17 with students scheduled to return on September 8. The changes in dates will cause some changes to our 20-21 school calendar, which will be shared once it has been revised.

The postponement of school reopening will allow further development of our remote learning plans, computing device deployment for our digital learners, teacher preparation, continued discussions with health and local officials, and to ensure that our families and employees are fully prepared to start school in a successful manner.

We realize that the delay may not be the ideal solution for everyone, but please know that we did not make this decision lightly. The health and wellbeing of all of our students, staff, and families are vitally important to us. We are all eager to get back to traditional learning in our schools because that is where the majority of our students and staff thrive.

Our remote classroom and virtual school options will continue to be available for families who are not ready to have their child return to traditional learning.

Open house dates will be communicated to families through their child's school.

Thank you for your continued patience and understanding as we work to provide the safest learning environment for our students and staff.

Please continue to monitor our district website and social media pages for system updates.

Survey results are in, and parents' voices have been heard so now it's time to choose the best learning opportunity for your student! You will be choosing between the Traditional Option, the Remote Classroom Option or the Virtual School Option. Click below to access a flyer that contains more information and the necessary links such as the Superintendent's Letter, the Registration Form, and Frequently Asked Questions. Please complete the registration form by Friday, July 17.

Time to Make a Choice - Registration Form 

Please call our Buzz Helpline at 229-413-1234 for more information.

6/24/2020

Dear Thomas County Schools Families,

We only have a few weeks before school is scheduled to start back. I realize that this Back to School season is weighing heavily on your minds, as it is ours. Please rest assured that the leadership of our system has been working hard to stay current with agency guidelines related to the safe operation of schools. We are continuing to use the guidelines received from the Georgia Department of Education, Department of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to prepare for the reopening of our schools.  One of the most challenging aspects of this work is that the guidelines and restrictions continue to evolve. We greatly appreciate your patience and understanding during this time as we continue to plan for a safe re-entry for all students and staff.

We are planning for our schools to reopen for in-person instruction for our students as scheduled on August 3rd.

We hope that the majority of our families will feel safe returning to a fairly traditional school setting with health screening and enhanced hygiene measures in place. Thomas County Schools will be implementing additional measures to address COVID-19 concerns and to keep our students and staff as safe as possible within the school environment.

Click on READ MORE to see other options and access survey

The School-Based Health Center on the TCMS campus reopened June 1.  In light of COVID 19, and PCSG’s desire to keep our patients and staff safe, patient appointments will be limited to two per hour.  PSCG is working with the School’s Athletic Director and Archbold Medical Group in providing the community-wide sports physicals (dates to be determined).  If you are unable to make those dates, PCSG will provide sports physicals in the clinic for $10. 

The clinic will be open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday – Friday. In addition to offering in-clinic appointments, PCSG offers telehealth visits.   

To help maintain physical distancing rules, all appointments must be scheduled in advance.  To schedule your appointment, please call  229-227-2936.

For the safety of our patients and staff:

1.      Before entering the clinic everyone must be screened.
2.      Only one person may accompany a minor for a visit.
3.      All patients and accompanying adult must wear a mask.
4.      PCSG staff will be wearing a mask as well as other protective equipment.
5.      PCSG will limit the number of individuals in the clinic at any one time.   

The Thomas County School System wants students to READ this summer!  Did you know that students can have up to a 2-3 month loss in reading ability over the summer?  It's important for students to spend time sharpening their reading skills!

Each school has developed a summer reading challenge for students.  We would like for students to read for 15-30 minutes everyday this summer. The guidelines and requirements vary by school.  Please click the link below for more information about each school's guidelines and a list of eBook resources.  If you need more information, please talk to the media specialist at your school.  The guidelines are for the school the students will be attending in the 2020-2021 school year.

Summer Reading Challenge Website

GARRISON-PILCHER

Chromebook Drop-Off
May 26 - 29 - Hall Road side of Cross Creek
Tuesday, May 26 -  9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, May 27 - 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, May 28 - 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Friday, May 29 - 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Yearbook Pick-Up
Wednesday, May 13 – 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. on sidewalk outside PLC

*Teachers have already collected needed work packets & dispersed student belongings. Questions concerning packets should be discussed with teachers.

CROSS CREEK

Chromebook/Work Packet Collection
May 26 - May 29 – Clark Road side
Tuesday, May 26 -  9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, May 27 - 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, May 28 - 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Friday, May 29 - 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Because we always want the very best for our students, Thomas County Schools has found a way to provide meals during the month of June. The new program will deliver meals to your doorstep for free. This program is called Emergency Meals-to-You, and students who attend Thomas County Schools are eligible to participate in the program. However, you must enroll your student in the Meals-to-You program in order to have meals shipped to your home during the month of June.

All you have to do is fill out and submit an online form.

Please hurry because the enrollment period ends at midnight on May 18.

Even if you enroll in the Emergency Meals-to-You program, please remember that our local meal distribution will still take place every Wednesday through May 27. 

April 17, 2020

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The Thomas County School System family has made me very proud as we have worked together to help keep our families safe and connected through the COVID-19 pandemic. While it is common to hear that “the schools are closed,” your school system has remained open and has continued to serve its students and the community in a number of ways.

Our food service workers have already prepared more than 212,000 meals that have been delivered by our transportation department or made available for pick-up at Thomas County Middle School. We will continue to provide weekly meal packages each Wednesday through the end of May. Dozens of school employees and community volunteers make this meal program possible, and I thank them for their service. The Backpack Buddies Program has made generous donations of food to provide weekend meals that are packaged with the weekly food deliveries.

Our technology department has partnered with our public library system and other entities to create free Wifi zones in various locations across the county to support our distance learning efforts.

Click READ MORE for the remainder of the letter

Thomas County Schools will be offering meal distribution every Wednesday starting April 22 through May 27. Each box will contain breakfast and lunch for seven days. Thomas County Middle School will be the main location, and we will continue to deliver to the outlying areas. Times will also remain the same with it being from 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. at TCMS and from 11:00 a.m. - 12 noon at the other sites. We are happy to still be here for you! Please call 229-413-1234 if you have any questions.

Thomas County Schools is distributing meals for the week and the weekend. Pick up breakfast and lunch for seven days! Distribution for meals is ONLY on Wednesday of this week. Students no longer have to be present. Visit TCMS from 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. or our various community locations from 11:00 - 12 noon. We are still here for you! Please call the Buzz Helpline at 229-413-1234 for questions or information.

​

SECOND HARVEST PROVIDING MEALS MONDAY & WEDNESDAY

Please don’t forget to stop by Hand-In-Hand tomorrow, Monday, April 6, from 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. to pick up meals. Students do NOT have to be present during the meal pick-up. We are very appreciative of Second Harvest’s willingness to help feed our families during spring break.

Versión en Español

Dear Thomas County Schools Community,

Today, April 1, Governor Brian Kemp announced an executive order closing all public schools in Georgia for in-person instruction for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. It is very hard to believe that our students will not be physically returning to our schools and classrooms again this school year. We are truly heartbroken for our seniors and all students impacted by this pandemic.

Distance learning will continue for our students. We will provide alternatives to online instruction for those who do not have access to the internet. Our teachers, administrators, and county office will remain in contact with you through this challenging process. We will abide by the Governor's order and follow the guidance of the Georgia Department of Education and the Governor's Office of Student Achievement in completing the remainder of the school year. 

Spring break is April 6-10, and we encourage you to relax, rejuvenate and enjoy time with your family. Distance learning will resume Monday, April 13.

We have 18 free WiFi hotspots available at various locations throughout the county to help those without internet access at home. Please email us at techsupport@tcjackets.net or call 229-413-1234 for assistance or if you are having any trouble accessing the free WiFi.

*NOTE - We request that people don't park directly in front of the garage doors at the fire department locations. There should be plenty of space to park at these sites without blocking the doors. Thank you!

Thomas County WiFi Map

We will be distributing ready-to-eat meals ONLY on Tuesday & Thursday starting this week (Tuesday, March 31 & Thursday, April 2). NO meals will be distributed during spring break (week of April 6 - 10). Please visit our main location at the Thomas County Middle School during the limited times below. The time for community distribution sites will remain the same.

Meal Distribution Schedule Week of March 30 - April 3

Following a recent executive order from Governor Brian Kemp, the Thomas County School System will remain closed until Friday, April 24, with students returning on Monday, April 27. According to the Governor, the closure could be extended if the pandemic crisis worsens.

Tras una reciente orden ejecutiva del gobernador Brian Kemp, el Sistema Escolar del Condado de Thomas permanecerá cerrado hasta el viernes 24 de abril, y los estudiantes regresarán el lunes 27 de abril. Según el Gobernador, el cierre podría extenderse si la crisis pandémica empeora. 

For the week of March 23-27: Meal Boxes (10 meals) are available for distribution on MONDAY ONLY.  A snack and a meal provided by Second Harvest will be available on WEDNESDAY. Our meal distribution sites will remain the same.

Meal Updates:  This week we will only be able to provide the meal boxes containing 5 breakfasts and 5 lunches on Monday (3/23). Please plan to pick up a box with your child(ren) on Monday. We want to ensure that all of our students receive a box of food for the entire week. A snack and a meal provided by Second Harvest will be available on Wednesday. Our meal distribution sites will remain the same.  

See schedule below:

Monday & Wednesday
TCMS - 8:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.*
Bus deliveries - 11:00 a.m. - 12 noon
*On Wednesday while supplies last

Please continue to monitor the district’s web page and Facebook daily for important updates. We are here for our families. For assistance, call the Buzz Helpline at 229-413-1234. 

As a result of the school closures due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19), the Thomas County School System plans to distribute items needed to provide instruction to our students in a variety of formats. Chromebooks will be provided  for any student in grades 2-12 who needs a device to complete digital learning assignments. 

A distribution site will be located at each of our schools during the times below:  

Monday, March 16: 1:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, March 17: 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Parents and Guardians,

The Thomas County School System is working diligently to provide services to your children in order to minimize, as much as possible, disruptions in your child’s education due to the school system closure.

To help us better serve your child, we have developed a short on-line survey.

Please complete the survey at the following link as soon as possible: Thomas County Schools Closure Survey 
Spanish version of survey: Thomas County Schools Encuesta de Necesidades de Cierre

Please continue to check our website and/or Facebook page daily for updates regarding services that will be available to your child during the closure.

Many of the digital resources for our school system can be found on our Clever page.  

The Clever page address is clever.com/in/tcjackets

The Thomas County School System remains in close contact with local and state agencies to assure that we are all doing what we can to protect the health and welfare of our students and school system employees. 

Our system is committed to providing our staff and students with a safe and healthy learning environment. We are working hard to ensure that our schools and buses are being cleaned and sanitized daily. 

Families are encouraged to frequently check the Georgia Department of Public Health (GaDPH), the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE), and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) websites for the most current, reliable information about this issue. These websites are listed below. 

• https://dph.georgia.gov/novelcoronavirus
• https://www.gadoe.org/External-Affairs-and-policy/communications/Pages/coronavirus.aspx
• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

The Thomas County School System is in the initial phase of the system's strategic planning process. We value the input of our stakeholders and want to take into consideration the thoughts, ideas, wishes, and dreams of those who are invested in our system. Your input will help establish the system's goals and priorities, which will guide the system over the next five years. If you were unable to attend the Community Engagement Session on Thursday, February 20, to provide your input, please complete the short survey below by 11:45 p.m. on March 5. Thank you for your time, and we greatly appreciate your feedback. 

English survey:    https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CE20-Thomas

Spanish survey:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CE20-Thomas-Spanish

Those who need translation may email Emily Ross eross@tcjackets.net for assistance.

Thomas County Schools will be closed Thursday, February 6, due to the threat of high winds and inclement weather. The safety of our students, teachers, and staff is very important to us.

The Thomas County School System is initiating a strategic planning process and invites you to participate! It is vital that we hear from our stakeholders on the future direction of the school district before the plan is developed.

When:  February 20, 2020, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Where:  Thomas County Central High School   

Who:  All Thomas County School System employees, parents, senior citizens, businessmen and women, civic leaders and residents. High school students are also encouraged to attend.

What:  A Community Engagement Session to gather input from parents, citizens, district employees and students. Everyone is invited: parents, all district employees, high school students and community members. No special experience or knowledge is required. We will present information on the district, the strategic planning process and then break into small groups for discussion.

NOTE: Sandwiches and beverages will be served at the event. Please RSVP using the link below to help us plan how much food to prepare.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CommunityEngagementEvent                                                              

The Thomas County School System is offering an anxiety seminar entitled, "Beyond Survival: Helping Families Cope with Anxiety." The hour-long seminar will be held in the Thomas County School Board Auditorium on Tuesday, January 14, at 6:00 p.m. 

We hope that each of you had a wonderful break and enjoyed special time with friends and family. We look forward to our staff and students returning next week. As a reminder, Monday, January 6, is a teacher workday and a student holiday. Our students are scheduled to return on Tuesday, January 7. Happy New Year!

It's National Computer Science Education Week, but in Thomas County, we are proud to have computer science as a part of our curriculum all year long! Cross Creek Elementary School was featured in this video from the Georgia Department of Education about Computational Thinking. Take time to watch this short video!
https://youtu.be/BAxW5vzREr8

The Thomas County School System's BEE Partners of the Quarter were recognized for the first nine weeks. These businesses and industries support the school system in so many ways, and their support is very appreciated.
Hand-In-Hand -Dawson Street Baptist Church WMU
Garrison-Pilcher - Barnett's Creek Baptist Church
Cross Creek - Dog World
Thomas County Middle School - McDonalds
Thomas County Central High School - Thomasville Dental Center (Dr. Sanders)
Bishop Hall - Donathan Photography
If a business or industry is interested in partnering with Thomas County Schools, please contact Erin Rehberg for more information. See pictures of our Partners of the Quarter by clicking the link below.

Hand-In-Hand Primary School is competing for a $2000 Envision grant that will allow the school to further develop their "Beecoming Your Best" program through social and emotional learning. The school made it to the top nine, and we want them to be in the top 3! See details below about voting.

How to Vote:
Share with your family, friends, and coworkers and encourage them to cast their vote. Come back and vote once per day. Voting ends November 11! To vote, visit the link below. Simply click on the video frame or the circular button in the top left corner of the video to select your choice, enter your email at the bottom of the page, then click the "Vote" button.

www.EnvisionCU.com/VOTE   

A federal grant is providing fresh fruits and vegetables to Thomas County students.

The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) is a federally assisted program that provides all children in participating schools with a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the school day. It is an effective and creative way of introducing fresh fruits and vegetables as healthy snack options. The FFVP also encourages schools to develop partnerships at the state and local levels for support in implementing and operating the program.
 

The Thomas County School Board has approved administrative personnel changes for the 2019-2020 school year upon the recommendation of Superintendent Dr. Lisa Williams.

Richard Potter has been named principal of the Renaissance Center for Academic and Career Development. The Renaissance Center is Thomas County’s alternative school, serving students in grades 5-12 whose home schools are Thomas County Middle School, Thomas County Central High School, or Bishop Hall Charter School.

Thomas County School Superintendent Dr. Lisa Williams has appointed Dr. Lauren Duplantis to serve as the district’s health and wellness coordinator.

Duplantis will chair the system’s wellness committee and will help market the school-based health center as an option for parents who do not have a primary-care provider.

Thomas County School Superintendent Dr. Lisa Williams has appointed Michele Dechman instructional coordinator of Bishop Hall Charter School.

Dechman joined the faculty of Thomas County Schools in 1999 where she has taught elementary education, special education, gifted education, and computer coding.  She earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Florida State University and an educational specialist degree from Valdosta State University.
 

Please click "...Read More" for all open house dates and times.  

In order to recognize the teachers who have gone above and beyond with implementing the effective use of technology in classroom instruction, this year the Thomas County School System named the second annual Digital Learning All-Star Teacher at each school and for the district. Daphney King, a fourth grade teacher Cross Creek Elementary School, was selected as the district winner.

“The Thomas County School System has made a significant investment in technology for our students and teachers as a result of having E-SPLOST funds and receiving other grants," said Erin Rehberg, Digital Learning Coordinator for Thomas County Schools. "It is important to reward those teachers who have used the technology provided to them to effectively transform the learning process in their classrooms.  Not only do all of our Digital Learning All-Star Teachers effectively use technology with their students, they are also known for helping their peers with various technology tools.”

Each school held a nomination process with the winner for each school completing an application in order to compete for the district title. This year, the district winner was awarded a Google Chromebook courtesy of Firefly Computers and will be able to attend an educational technology conference in the fall.  

The Thomas County School System is conducting a Parent Survey.  We value your opinion and ask that you take the time to complete this survey. Please be assured that your responses to this survey will be anonymous. Thank you for your time and valuable feedback!

2019 Parent Survey

Student Google accounts will be disabled from June 17 - August 2, 2019. If a student needs account access during this time, he or she should complete the form below.   Please allow 24 hours for access to be granted. Student accounts will continue to be monitored for inappropriate usage during the summer months.  Questions should be directed to Erin Rehberg at erehberg@tcjackets.net.

Student Account Request Form

Thomas County School System officials have named Jill Grimes, first grade teacher at Garrison-Pilcher Elementary School, as the District Teacher of the Year.

“Being named Teacher of the Year for the Thomas County School System is such an honor,” Mrs. Grimes said. “I am incredibly grateful to work with the most amazing and supportive colleagues. Our system is composed of phenomenal people on every level. The support of my coworkers, family, and friends is what has shaped me into the educator I am today. To represent our system at state will be a privilege.” 

Grimes has been a teacher for three years with Thomas County Schools. She began her teaching career in Mitchell County in 2008 first as a fifth grade teacher in math, science and social studies, and then as a Pre-K teacher at Mitchell County Elementary School where she taught for eight years.

Due to the threat of high winds and inclement weather, the Thomas County School System will be closed Friday, April 19.

On Saturday, March 9 a student group from Bishop Hall participated in the 15th Annual Atlanta College Expo at the Cobb Galleria. 

The Thomas County School System's financial system was recently targeted by criminals who sought to steal funds from a school system account. Security procedures that the school system and its banking partner have in place prevented the loss of any funds. Click on the link below for more information. 

IMPORTANT SECURITY AND PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION NOTIFICATION

In light of the recent news stories concerning hacking on YouTube and other websites that provide children's programming, we urge parents to monitor what their children are viewing by way of Internet connections. The Internet can be a wonderful educational tool, but the online world can also be dangerous. Please protect your children by supervising their Internet exposure.

The Thomas County School System has services that monitor all student web searches, email messages and storage of files for inappropriate or dangerous content. We are diligent in protecting students while they are using accounts and devices provided by the district whether they are at school or off-campus. We urge parents to monitor their students’ use of all Internet connections, especially those that occur outside of the school system’s monitored network.

Please feel free to contact your child’s school or the school district if you ever have concerns about Internet content that your child accesses by way of a school system owned device or connection.

Hand-In-Hand Primary School is holding Pre-K and Kindergarten registration for the 2019-2020 school year on Monday, February 4, and Tuesday, February 5, from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. both days. Registration will take place on the Board of Education campus in the Professional Learning Center. For Pre-K, your child must be 4 or 5 years old ON or BEFORE September 1, 2019. All eligible students signed up for Pre-K on these days will be guaranteed a slot. Click on the link below for more information.

Hand-In-Hand Pre-K/K Registration

We are pleased to announce that the Thomas County Health Department will be coming to your child's school during the month of January to offer the flu vaccine. There will be no out-of-pocket cost for your child to receive the vaccine given during the school flu clinics. If you would like for your child to get vaccinated at the school flu clinic, please click on the link below for more information and to access the consent form: 

Flu Packet to return by January 15, 2018

The Thomas County School System has been named a Google Reference District. In order to become a reference district, Google must recognize the work being done by a district with G Suite for Education and send an application to the system.  

Thomas County Schools began using G Suite for Education in 2015. Since that time, the district has adopted Google Chromebooks at a rate of one device per student in grades 2-12.  Students in grades 9-12 are allowed to check out a Chromebook for use both at home and at school.

“Adding G Suite tools and Chromebooks in our district has allowed our teachers to do many things that they have never been able to do in the past,” said Erin Rehberg, Digital Learning and Media Services Coordinator for Thomas County Schools. “Technology truly has the power to transform learning by allowing students to easily collaborate, communicate, and create.  Being named a Google Reference District is confirmation that our teachers are using technology to help prepare Thomas County students for their futures.”

A drive-thru flu shot clinic scheduled for Monday, October 15 at Thomas County Central High School has been canceled until further notice.  

Parents...Are you familiar with vault apps? Do you have questions about cyberbullying and dangerous social media trends? Thomas County Schools is sponsoring a FREE Cyber-Safety Seminar with nationally recognized speaker, Sgt. Jesse Hambrick of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.  Please make plans to attend on September 11 at 6:00 PM at the Thomas County Board of Education.

The Thomas County Elementary Schools supplies/wish list is now available. The Thomas County School System has not made any changes to the bookbag/backpack policy. For questions, please contact the Thomas County Board of Education at 229-225-4380.

Thomas County Elementary Schools Supplies/Wish List

Save the date for the annual Back to School Blitz! This year's event will take place in the gym at Thomasville High School on Saturday, August 4, from 9:00 AM until 11:00 AM.

In order to recognize the teachers who have gone above and beyond with implementing the effective use of technology in classroom instruction, this year the Thomas County School System named the first ever Digital Learning All-Star Teacher at each school and for the district.

“With the help of local E-SPLOST funds as well as several grants received over the past several years, the Thomas County School System has made a significant investment in technology for our students and teachers," said Erin Rehberg, Digital Learning Coordinator for Thomas County Schools. "This year we thought it would be very beneficial to reward those teachers who have used the technology provided to them to effectively transform the learning process in their classrooms. Not only do all of our Digital Learning All-Star Teachers effectively use technology with their students, they are also known for helping their peers with various technology tools.”  

Each school held a nomination process with the winner for each school completing an application in order to compete for the district title. This year, the district winner was awarded a laptop computer courtesy of ByteSpeed Computers and will be able to attend an educational technology conference in the fall.  

Thomas County School System officials have named Lacey Howard, fourth grade special education teacher at Cross Creek Elementary School, as the District Teacher of the Year.

“I was very surprised and felt very honored to be named Teacher of the Year,” Howard said. “There are always so many wonderful things happening in the Thomas County School System. To be given the opportunity to represent our amazing system is such a privilege.” 

Student Google accounts will be disabled from June 15 - August 3, 2018. If a student needs account access during this time, he or she should complete the form below.   Please allow 24 hours for access to be granted. Student accounts will continue to be monitored for inappropriate usage during the summer months.  Questions should be directed to Erin Rehberg at erehberg@tcjackets.net.

Student Account Request Form

Early Thursday morning, the Thomas County School System’s Maintenance Department was notified that employees and students at Garrison-Pilcher Elementary School were complaining about the odor of diesel fuel in some parts of the building.  A few students and teachers complained of headaches that they believed to be associated with the odor.  The maintenance department investigated the odor and found diesel fuel in a ditch near the school.

Spring Break is Monday, April 2, through Friday, April 6. Students will return on Monday, April 9. Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday and a very Happy Easter!

Due to the drastic increase in flu cases throughout the nation and state, the Thomas County Health Department has agreed to return to our system to provide flu vaccines to our students. The Health Department will have flu vaccine clinic sites at TCMS and GP on Jan. 31. The school system will transport the participating students to the flu clinic sites on Jan. 31 to obtain their flu shot.

Participating students from HnH, TCMS, TCCHS, and BH will obtain their vaccinations between 7:30–10:00 AM at TCMS on Jan. 31. GP and CC participating students will receive their flu shots at GP between 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM on Jan. 31.

If you would like to sign your child up to receive a flu vaccine on Jan. 31, you will need to complete the Parental Vaccine Consent Form linked below and return the form to your child’s school by Friday, Jan. 26. If the vaccine consent form is not signed and returned by Friday, Jan. 26, your child will not be able to participate in the flu vaccine clinic on Jan. 31.

Flu Vaccine Consent Form - Students

Flu Vaccine Sign-up Form - Staff 

Flu Vaccine Administration Record, Flu Vaccine Info, Privacy Notice 

Thomas County School System officials have been closely monitoring the weather forecast for tomorrow and have been in communications with Thomas County Emergency Managment Services. Unless there is a change in the forecast, Thomas County Schools will be open tomorrow, Wednesday, January 17. If there is a change in conditions, announcements will be made on our website, social media pages, and by way of our phone messaging system and local media outlets. 

The Thomas County Board of Education has approved the hiring of Ashley Henderson as Thomas County Central High School’s head football coach. Henderson will officially begin work on Thursday, February 1.

Henderson comes to the Thomas County School System from Valwood School in Hahira, Georgia, where he served as head coach for six years. While a coach at Valwood, he led the team to state championships three times, and celebrated being region champs five times.

Hand-In-Hand Primary School

2018-2019 Pre-K & Kindergarten Registration

Students currently enrolled in Pre-K at Hand-In-Hand DO NOT need to register for Kindergarten.

Monday, February 5 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday, February 6 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.

Registration Place: Thomas County Board of Education, PLC 200 N. Pinetree Blvd.

(Park in the big parking lot across the street from Wendy’s.)

Click Here for Registration Requirements

Thomas County Schools is pleased to announce the opening of a School-Based Health Center on Friday, January 12, 2018. The School-Based Health Center is located on the campus of Thomas County Middle School. The health center will be open to all Thomas County School System students, regardless of which school they attend. The school system will provide transportation from other Thomas County Schools to the health clinic for students who need to be seen there.

Please click on the link below to access the consent form and the health information packet for your child. The completed forms may be returned to your child's school or to the School-Based Health Center. There will be prize drawings held to encourage the return of the consent forms and health packets. The prizes include free pizza coupons, movie passes, Wild Adventure passes, and many more. 

Link: School-Based Health Center Registration Packets for Students and Staff

A community listening session will be held Monday evening, December 11, at 6:00 p.m. in the Thomas County Central High School cafeteria.

The Red Nose Run is being held on Saturday, December 16, at Thomas University. The half marathon and 5K run/walk will begin at 8:00 a.m., and the fun run (12 & under) will begin at 9:00 a.m. The event is sponsored by Thomasville Junior Service League and Thomasville National Bank. Proceeds from the event will benefit Thomas County's children's charities. Register before December 1 to ensure t-shirt availability! Click on the link below for the registration form:

JSL/TNB Red Nose Run Registration Form

The Thomas County Board of Education has approved the appointment of Brecca Pope to the position of Director of Administrative Services at the Board of Education. Pope comes to the board office from Cross Creek Elementary School where she served as assistant principal for the past six years.

"I am very thankful for the opportunity to serve the students and staff of Thomas County Schools in this capacity,” Pope said.  “As an educator, I recognize the benefits of lifelong learning and look forward to my new role as Director of Administrative Services.”

In her new role, Pope will assume many of the duties currently assigned to Dr. Lisa Williams as Dr. Williams prepares to transition into her new role as superintendent designee.

From now on when the school bell rings, Jeanna Mayhall won’t know what to do with herself. For the first time in almost 30 years, the retiring Hand-In-Hand Principal won’t be returning to the school campus at the break of dawn every week day. For Mayhall, who has been in the school environment her whole life, says “it will be hard to transition to the ‘normal’ world because my internal rhythm follows the rhythm of the school calendar.”

The beloved veteran educator who just completed her 29^th year in education was sent off by an adoring group of family, friends and coworkers during a recent reception held in her honor. Mayhall received many gifts and was honored by coworkers who made signs and a slideshow, performed a humorous skit and entertained her with a song written just for her.

The Covey Film Festival is offering an opportunity to view the movie, "Hidden Figures," at no charge on Monday, October 2, at 7:00 p.m. The movie will be shown in the Thomas County School System's Auditorium at 200 North Pinetree Boulevard. Click on the link below to see the flyer for details!

Covey Film Festival Hidden Figures

Thomas County Schools will welcome staff and students back for a normal day tomorrow, September 13. We do not expect any significant changes to bus routes, and all of our schools will be open for the regular schedule.

The Thomas County School system is monitoring Hurricane Irma very closely. We are working with Thomas County EMS and the National Weather Service to determine the best plan for school closures. Please stay up-to-date by tuning in to the local news, checking our website, and following us on social media including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. It is important to ensure that we have your current contact information because we will be sending out alerts through our notification systems. Thank you for your patience and understanding!

Plans are underway for a phenomenal day in Thomas County Schools as students, teachers, and staff observe “The Great American Solar Eclipse” on August 21. To allow students to fully appreciate the experience, the school day in Thomas County Schools will be extended by 30 minutes on the day of the eclipse.

While Thomas County will not see a total eclipse, expectations are that the moon will cover approximately 90% of the sun for a brief period, enough to create a dramatic effect and illustrate the phenomena of an eclipse.

Click here to access the Solar Eclipse Opt Out Form.  

Bishop Hall to particpate in solar eclipse activities.

The Thomas County Health Department will be open for a back-to-school immunization clinic on Saturday, August 12, from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Click on the link below for more information!

Don't Be Late... Vaccinate!

As we prepare for the new year, we like to reflect on our past accomplishments. This video highlights some of the many successes of our staff members and students who make this school system one of the best. We are looking forward to exciting opportunities and new successes in 2017-2018!

Simply the Best

Search for Thomas County Schools in your app store to get our new app. Click the link below for more information.

Thomas County Schools App

Join us at the Thomas County Central High School gym for the Back-to-School Blitz this Saturday, July 29!

The Thomas County Board of Education has named Associate Superintendent Dr. Lisa Williams as its sole candidate to succeed Dr. Dusty Kornegay as superintendent of the county school system upon his retirement which will be effective June 1, 2018.

Kornegay informed the school board in January that he plans to retire at the end of the 2017-2018 school year, and he provided official notice of his retirement in a letter to the board in June.

Click "More" to read entire press release

Student Google accounts will be disabled from June 16-August 1, 2017. If a student needs account access during this time, he or she should complete the form below.   Please allow 24 hours for access to be granted. Student accounts will continue to be monitored for inappropriate usage during the summer months.  

Student Account Request Form

The Thomas County Board of Education has given tentative approval to a $63.5 million budget for the 2017-2018 school year. The board has scheduled two public hearings prior to final adoption of the budget in compliance with a law passed by the general assembly in 2016 which requires public hearings for school board budgets even if no local property tax increase is anticipated.

The first public hearing will be held in conjunction with a 7:00 p.m., May 23, called board meeting at the Board of Education Meeting Room located at 200 North Pinetree Boulevard, Thomasville. The second hearing will be held in conjunction with the June 13, 2017, board meeting, also at 7:00 p.m. in the Board Meeting Room.

Click here to see FY18 Budget

Your participation matters! Please click on the link below to complete our annual parent survey. The survey will be open until Saturday, May 20. 

PARENT SURVEY

Dr. Caitlin Dooley, Georgia Department of Education (DOE) Deputy Superintendent of Teaching and Learning, recently visited Thomas County Schools to learn more about what is needed to ensure all students in Georgia – in rural, suburban, and urban schools – have access to high quality Science Technology Engineering Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) education including computer science across all grades in K12.

Dr. Dooley’s visit started at the Thomas County Board of Education where she met with school principals and administrators. The group interacted as Dr. Dooley asked questions about Thomas County’s intensive computer science program that starts in Pre-K and continues through twelfth grade.

“Last week, I had the pleasure of seeing students in Thomas County while visiting several school districts in South Georgia,” Dr. Dooley said. “The county is a leader and innovator as it incorporates computer science education throughout elementary, middle, and high school.”

March 27, 2017: The Thomas County School System became aware early this morning of a very vague threat to an individual student at one of our schools. The student is safe, and the threat is not deemed to be credible. Contrary to social media rumors, no weapons have been found on any of our school campuses nor have there been any incidents of violence on our campuses.  We have determined that it is safe for our schools to continue with a normal day. Out of an abundance of caution, in cooperation with the Thomas County Sheriff’s Office, we have increased security at our schools.

Read all of the latest news in the Buzz newsletter! Click the link below:

Jan/Feb 2017 Buzz

All parents are encouraged to participate in the Georgia Parent Survey. Parents may complete the short 24 question survey using their personal computer, smartphones or tablet. For parents that do not have access to the Internet, please contact your child’s school to make arrangements to complete the survey.

The data from the survey will be used to calculate the School Climate Star Rating for our schools. Survey responses are anonymous and will be submitted directly to the Georgia Department of Education for analysis. Individual data results from the Georgia Parent Survey will not be available to the public and will not be posted online. 

To access the Georgia Parent Survey, please click on the image below. Your participation in this survey is very important to our system and our schools.

We need your input for improvement! Please complete survey by Friday, September 30.

We would like your input on our system-wide Comprehensive Local Education Agency’s Implementation Plan (CLIP).  Below are two links where you can view the plan and complete a brief survey.  Thank you for your input and suggestions.

Click here to review the implementation plan (CLIP).

Click the link below to complete the survey:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/16-17-CLIP

State School Superintendent Richard Woods has appointed sixteen new parents to serve on his 2016-2017 Superintendent’s Parent Advisory Council (PAC). Allen Thornhill, a Hand-In-Hand Primary School representative on the Thomas County School District’s Parent Advisory Council, was chosen as one of the members. 

Thornhill, who is one of only 24 parents serving on the State PAC, was nominated by the Thomas County School District at the beginning of this school year. New members are selected each year by representatives of the Georgia Department of Education based on the applicants’ responses to questions on engaging parents to ensure their children’s success at school and the local school superintendent’s recommendation. Thornhill will serve a two-year term on the council.

Click More Information to Read Full Story

The Thomas County School System will be closed Friday, September 2, due to the threat of inclement weather. The schools will have normal dismissal today (Thursday).

CANCELLED
Also, the Parent Volunteer Orientation meeting that was scheduled for today (9/1) at 5:30 p.m. has been cancelled. Please contact the parent involvement coordinator at your child's school about ways to volunteer. He or she will be able provide you with volunteer opportunities.

Please help to ensure that we have current contact information and phone numbers on file for your child(ren) at all times. You can access and update this information through your Parent Portal account.  If you do not have a Parent Portal account, please sign-up for one today. The process only takes a few minutes of your time and you will also gain access to your child(ren)'s grades, attendance, and schedule(s).  Please click on the link below to access the Parent Portal Instruction Guide and the Parent Portal Registration Link. 

Parent Portal Instruction Guide and Registration Link  

The volunteer orientation scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 1 has been cancelled due to the weather.  

There are two new ways to stay connected to what is going on in the Thomas County School System.  

Thomas County Schools now has an app! In the App Store or Google Play, search for "School Pointe" and then locate the Thomas County School System the first time you open the app. The app allows you to find contact information for schools and staff, as well as see current news articles and information.  

We are also on Instagram!  Follow us by searching for @thomascountyschools.  

This is a reminder that ALL Thomas County Schools will re-open for students Monday morning.

It is normal for traffic to be heavy around our schools the first few days of the school year, so please allow a little extra time on your morning commute this week.

Children throughout the county will gather at bus stops, so please watch out for the children and exercise caution around bus stops. Please keep a safe distance from all school buses, especially while they are loading and unloading students.     

Best wishes for a great school year.

As always, thank you for supporting Thomas County Schools.

The Administrators, Faculty and Staff of Bishop Hall Charter School are excited about the 2016-2017 School Year and cordinally invites you to attend our Open House on Friday, July 29, 2016 beginning at 1:00PM to 3:00PM. Students and Parents will have the opportunity to pick up their schedules, sign-out their Chromebooks and most importantly prepare for a wonderful new school year. 

Please participate in this important online survey! We need your feedback and suggestions to revise our School Improvement Plans. This survey is available now through Saturday, May 21, 2016.  Click on the link below.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/parentsurveyFY16

Thomas County School System officials have named Erin Hall, second grade interventionist at Garrison-Pilcher Elementary, as the District Teacher of the Year.

“Words cannot express how incredibly honored and grateful I am to represent the Thomas County School System as Teacher of the Year,” Hall said. “My family, friends, coworkers, and administration support me in my passion for children and education. Without their support, I would not be able to make such an impact on the students I serve.” 

Hall has been a teacher for five years with Thomas County Schools. She taught PreK for two years at Hand-In-Hand and three years at Garrison-Pilcher, with one year in a second grade classroom and the past two years as the Second Grade Interventionist.

Click "More Information" for complete story

The Thomas County School System provides on-line learning opportunities for home-school and cyber-school students. Please join us for an informational meeting. Two sessions will be offered to provide more opportunities for parents to attend.

Tuesday, May 3
10:00 a.m. & 6:00 p.m.
Professional Learning Center
Thomas County Board of Education
Call 229-225-4380 for more information!

Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald, the Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Health and the State Health Officer, has requested that we share important information with our school families about protecting against mosquito bites and preventing the spread of Zika virus in Georgia.

Please click on the link below to view the information. 

Zika Virus Information

The Thomas County School System will be closed Wednesday, February 24, due to the threat of inclement weather.

MEETING POSTPONED 

Medical In-service

Provided for School Staff and Parents
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Thomas County Board of Education
Professional Learning Center
(across from Wendy’s)

Sponsored by Thomas County Schools

On January 4, Thomas County Upper Elementary and Thomas County Middle School held its third annual “Techno Expo.” On this professional learning day, teachers attended sessions to learn how to integrate technology into their classrooms.  Click "More Information" for details.

Every classroom in every school in the county has a Smartboard, an interactive whiteboard, and Thomas County Schools has recently deployed more than 1,400 new Chromebooks and plans to add at least 1,100 more over the next year.

The Thomas County School System has announced the schedule of patriotic events honoring veterans for Veterans Day. Every campus will be participating. Click below for details. 

Today, hundreds of afterschool programs throughout Georgia will join together with students, families and communities to recognize the 16th annual Lights on Afterschool event. Since 2000, Lights on Afterschool has emphasized the importance of keeping the lights on and the doors open after school in order to provide students with quality afterschool programs.

The Thomas County School System provides many opportunities for students to attend afterschool programs. An important partnership with Thomasville Community Resource Center (TCRC) allows the students to receive extra help in academic areas of math, reading, and science, test preparation, homework help, and enrichment activities from certified teachers and certified paraprofessionals. These activities get the students engaged in learning.

Please join us at this community event for children of all ages. Click on the link below for more information:

Thomas County Literacy Fair Flyer

Last Friday, the Georgia Department of Education awarded the Thomas County School System a 2.7 million dollar grant to assist the district in implementing a comprehensive literacy plan for children in Thomas County from birth through eighth grade.

The Striving Reader competitive grant was awarded based on the quality of the proposal and the capacity of the system to implement the plan. Thomas County’s plan places a heavy focus on reading and writing in all content areas and on vocabulary development.

If you are interested in volunteering at Hand-In-Hand, Garrison-Pilcher, Cross Creek, Thomas County Middle, Thomas County Central, The Renaissance Center, or Bishop Hall, please attend one of the volunteer orientation sessions listed below:

Tuesday, September 1
9:00 a.m. OR 5:30 p.m.

Orientation sessions will be hosted at the Bishop Hall Charter School.

THOMASVILLE — Bishop Hall Charter School teacher Scott Trammell was invited to participate in a selective summer teacher workshop called Mars Through Time at NASA Johnson Space Center and The Lunar Planetary Institute, both in Houston, Texas. Trammell was one of only 20 teachers who were selected nationwide to participate in this exclusive workshop.

Bishop Hall Charter School will sponsor a Blood Drive on Wednesday, August 19, 2015. Students interested in participating should contact Mrs. Porter by Tuesday, August 18, 2015.

The Thomas County School System is pleased to offer several afternoon fine arts opportunities for our students through partnerships with the Dance Academy, Versa Music Conservatory (formerly Thomasville Music Academy), and members of our own faculty.  Please click on "More Information" to learn more about these programs and to view the informational flyers.

Endless possibilities await students at Thomas County Schools for the 2015-2016 school year.  Thomas County Schools offer academic excellence, career preparation, and unmatched opportunity.  Please click on the link below to imagine the possibilities:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bpva66Rhpg4&feature=youtu.be

Bishop Hall Charter School student enrollment applications are now being accepted at the Thomas County Schools Student Enrollment Office located at 200 North Pinetree Boulevard, Thomasville, Georgia. All applications will go into a pool for the annual lottery drawing which will occur on Thursday, June 11, 2015. Status letters will be mailed out upon completion of the lottery.

For more information, please call the Thomas County Schools Student Enrollment Office at 229-225-4380.

The Thomas County School System wants students to READ this summer!  Did you know that students can have up to a 2-3 month loss in reading ability over the summer?  It's important for students to spend time sharpening their reading skills!

Each school has developed a summer reading challenge for students.  We would like for students to read for 15-30 minutes everyday this summer.  The guidelines and requirements vary by school.  Please click the links below for more information about each school's guidelines.  If you need more information, please talk to the media specialist at each school.  The guidelines are for the school the students will be attending in the 2015-2016 school year.

Click More Information for links to all guidelines

Cick here for information about programs at the Thomas County Public Library this summer!

Parents, please participate in our online survey. We need your feedback and suggestions to help revise our School Improvement Plans.  The survey is available now through Friday, May 22, 2015.  Please click the link below to complete the parent survey.

Parent Survey

On Tuesday, March 24, at 7:30 p.m., George Rishfeld will tell his story of survival at the Thomas County Board of Education Auditorium.  Sponsored by the Thomas County Board of Education in conjunction with the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust, the event is free and open to the public. 

Click 'More Information' below for more details.

THOMASVILLE — The new Bishop Hall Charter School, 220 N. Pine Tree Blvd., recently observed a dedication ceremony.

Bishop Hall Charter School is part of the Thomas County School System. From August 1999, until December of 2014, Bishop Hall was at 1819 E. Clay St.

The new year brought many new things to students enrolled at Bishop Hall Charter School, namely a new school building on North Pinetree Boulevard.

Students arrived at the new school location Tuesday morning to have breakfast for the first time in the school’s new cafeteria. Students then moved to the recently renovated gymnasium next door for a brief assembly program before going out in front of the new building for the ceremonial raising of the first flags to fly over the new school.

THOMASVILLE — Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal awarded Bishop Hall Charter School a grant of $958,000 to implement a “blended learning” model for high-risk students.

The Thomas County School System was one of three systems in the state to receive the highly competitive technology implementation grant. Other grant recipients were Gwinnett County Public Schools and Fulton County Schools.

THOMASVILLE — Two bright-eyed, energetic, articulate students are not only excited about their new school, but what the institution has meant to their personal and academic development.

Aliya Larkins, a 12th grader at Bishop Hall Charter School, has done a complete about-face. “When I came here, I was the shy girl. ... I just blossomed,” explained Larkins, 18, who is anything buy shy today.

This Christmas season at TCCHS teachers are lending a helping hand in a unique way: by sharing their voices. A group of teachers came together to record a CD in order to raise funds for the annual Shop with a Yellow Jacket (SWAYJ) project. The CD is titled “It’s a Yellow Jacket Christmas 2014” and CDs are $10 apiece.

The most wonderful day of the year is currently in the works at Thomas County Central High School. Shop with a Yellow Jacket, also known as SWAYJ, is being prepared for community kids this Christmas. “Students and teachers come together to help the less fortunate,” Renae Moore, TCCHS teacher and a SWAYJ coordinator, said. “It’s a time where we come together and show what it means to be a true Yellow Jacket.”

Bishop Hall Charter School will host an informational session to update Parents and Student regarding the New Georgia Milestone Testing on Tuesday, Decemeber 9, 2014 at 6:00P.M. The Georgia Milestones Assessment System is designed to provide information about how well students are mastering the state-adopted content standards in the core content areas of language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies.  Importantly, Georgia Milestones is designed to provide students with critical information about their own achievement and their readiness for their next level of learning – be it the next grade, the next course, or endeavor (college or career). Informing parents, educators, and the public about how well students are learning important content is an essential aspect of any educational assessment and accountability system.

School Bus Safety Week reminds students, parents and
motorists of their important role in school bus safety

Georgia celebrates National School Bus Safety Week on October 20 - 24, 2014, and Georgia School Bus Driver Appreciation Day on Monday, October 20.  Schools and safety advocates throughout the Peach State are using the week as an opportunity to highlight the importance of school bus safety.  The 2014 theme for the week, Be Smart - Be Seen, I wait in a safe place, reminds students, parents and motorists of the important role each plays in ensuring student safety at the school bus stop.  One key factor in protecting Georgia’s students rests with motorists obeying the law and stopping for Georgia’s school buses as they board and exit. But, drivers should also be reminded that obeying the law is just not enough.  Children are unpredictable… motorists must have an overall heightened safety awareness and expect the unexpected as children wait at bus stops and as they get on and off their school bus.

We would like your input on our system-wide Comprehensive Local Education Agency’s Improvement Plan (CLIP).  Below are two links where you can view the plan and complete a brief survey.   Thank you for your input and suggestions.

Click here to review the improvement plan (CLIP)

Click here to complete the survey

Parents, we need your feedback and suggestions.  Please take a moment to complete our online survey by clicking the link below.  The survey is available now through Friday, September 5, 2014.  We value your feedback and appreciate you taking the time share it with us!

Parent Survey

Please join us Wednesday, August 13, at 5:30 p.m. for the Volunteer Orientation Meeting at the Thomas County Board of Education Auditorium.  Click here for further details.

Support the Thomas County Elementary Schools by signing up for the Jack O'Lantern Jog!

When: Saturday, October 18, 2014

Where: TCMS and Hand-in-Hand Campuses

Click here to download the Registration Form

Click here to see the T-Shirt Design

Click here to register online

Click here to get the information you need as you prepare to send your children back to school. Open House dates, supply lists, and dress code information are provided for your convenience.

There is a vacancy at Thomas County Central High School for the position of principal's secretary.  If interested, please click the link below for further details and apply online through our job portal at www.thomascountyschools.org.

TCCHS Principal's Secretary Vacancy Notice

Support the Thomas County Middle School Cheerleading Squad by participating in the "Color Me with Cheer" Color Run!  The 5K run/walk is Saturday, May 17, at 8:30am.  Register by May 3.  See the flyer and registration links below for more information.

Color Run Flyer

Color Run Registration

Please check out the Bishop Hall Charter School April 2014 Newsletter

Please click the link below to view vacancies for the 2014-15 school year. Instructions for applying are included in the document.

2014-15 Vacancy Notices

Be A Part!  Please begin reviewing the Strategic Plan Report found at the first link below. After you have read and reviewed the report, please complete the related survey questions found on the second link below before Friday February 21. We appreciate your input on our Strategic Planning Process.

Strategic Planning Report 

Strategic Plan Survey

Due to potentially hazardous road conditions associated with frozen precipitation, the Thomas County School System was closed Wednesday, January 29, 2014. All schools and offices will open on regular schedule Thursday, January 30, 2014.

Due to potentially hazardous road conditions associated with frozen precipitation, the Thomas County School System will be closed Wednesday, January 29, 2014. Thomas County Schools will reopen Thursday, January 30, 2014.

BISHOP HALLCHARTER SCHOOL GRADUATION WINTER 2013

Did you know that 91% of teens post photos of themselves on social media sites and 71% post their school name and where they live?  It is important to stay informed about your teen's social media use.  Click here for more information about our Digital Citizenship Initiative and to see a video of TCCHS students participating in a panel discussion on social media use among teens.

Click here for more information and registration form!

Please join us for the 7th Annual Back to School Blitz on Saturday, August 3, 9:00-11:00am, at Thomas County Central High School Gymnasium (upper level)!  Please click here for more information.

Your opinion is important to us! 

Please click here to review our Implementation Plan (CLIP) and provide input for improvement! 

Click here to get the information you need as you prepare to send your children back to school! Open House dates, supply lists, and dress code information are provided for your convenience.

Bishop Hall Charter School conducted commencement exercises for the spring graduating class of 2013 as 14 students received their high school diplomas Friday night, May 24

Participate in the development of our school system's New Strategic Plan by viewing the Community Engagement Meeting presentation and taking the Community Engagement Survey.    Your opinion matters!

Mark your calendar and make sure you have all documentation ready to register your child for Pre-Kindergarten at Hand-in-Hand Primary School!  Click the link to the flyer below for all details including dates, times, and a list of documents needed.

Pre-K Registration Information