Our Pre-K friends had their first big adventure in the ATK library! They learned the rules and giggled their way through building their very own library with Magna Tiles.
Dear ATK Families,
What an amazing start to our second week of school! It has been a joy to welcome our scholars back and see so many bright, smiling faces walking through our doors each morning. Your partnership means the world to us, and we’re excited for a safe and successful school year together.
As we move forward, please take a moment to review these important arrival and dismissal reminders to help ensure the safety and efficiency of all students:
🕖 School Arrival Time:
Doors open at 7:00 AM. Please do not drop students off before this time, as supervision is not available.
Students are considered tardy at 7:45 AM. Please make every effort to have your child on campus with enough time to enter the building and get to class by the bell.
Being on time sets a positive tone for the day and helps your child start strong!
🚗 Car Rider Arrival:
For the safety of all children, students may not cross the street alone during arrival. Although staff members are stationed outside, they are focused on assisting students getting out of vehicles—not monitoring street crossings.
If you park across the street, you must escort your child to the school entrance. Please make this a consistent habit to ensure every student arrives safely.
🚗 Car Rider Dismissal:
All adults picking up students as car riders must remain in their vehicles during dismissal. This helps maintain the correct order of pickup and keeps the line moving safely and efficiently.
🏷 Car Rider Tags:
To streamline dismissal, please ensure your car rider tag is clearly visible on your dashboard or rearview mirror. This helps us identify you quickly and safely load your scholar.
🚶♂ Walker Option:
If you're unable to wait in the car rider line, you may choose to change your scholar to a walker, allowing you to meet them at a designated exit. If interested, please contact your child’s teacher to request the change in writing.
⏰ No Early Dismissals After 2:00 PM:
To minimize classroom disruptions and maintain schoolwide safety, no early dismissals will be permitted after 2:00 PM. Please plan ahead accordingly.
📝 Transportation Changes:
All transportation changes must be submitted in writing—either as a note with your child in the morning or by emailing the front office before 1:30 PM.
🆔 Photo ID Required for Early Pickup:
All parents or guardians picking up students early must present a valid photo ID. This policy is in place to ensure every child’s safety.
Thank you for your continued support and cooperation. With your help, we’re off to a fantastic start and building a safe, positive learning environment for every child.
With gratitude,
Mrs. Jackson
What an amazing start to our second week of school! It has been a joy to welcome our scholars back and see so many bright, smiling faces walking through our doors each morning. Your partnership means the world to us, and we’re excited for a safe and successful school year together.
As we move forward, please take a moment to review these important arrival and dismissal reminders to help ensure the safety and efficiency of all students:
🕖 School Arrival Time:
Doors open at 7:00 AM. Please do not drop students off before this time, as supervision is not available.
Students are considered tardy at 7:45 AM. Please make every effort to have your child on campus with enough time to enter the building and get to class by the bell.
Being on time sets a positive tone for the day and helps your child start strong!
🚗 Car Rider Arrival:
For the safety of all children, students may not cross the street alone during arrival. Although staff members are stationed outside, they are focused on assisting students getting out of vehicles—not monitoring street crossings.
If you park across the street, you must escort your child to the school entrance. Please make this a consistent habit to ensure every student arrives safely.
🚗 Car Rider Dismissal:
All adults picking up students as car riders must remain in their vehicles during dismissal. This helps maintain the correct order of pickup and keeps the line moving safely and efficiently.
🏷 Car Rider Tags:
To streamline dismissal, please ensure your car rider tag is clearly visible on your dashboard or rearview mirror. This helps us identify you quickly and safely load your scholar.
🚶♂ Walker Option:
If you're unable to wait in the car rider line, you may choose to change your scholar to a walker, allowing you to meet them at a designated exit. If interested, please contact your child’s teacher to request the change in writing.
⏰ No Early Dismissals After 2:00 PM:
To minimize classroom disruptions and maintain schoolwide safety, no early dismissals will be permitted after 2:00 PM. Please plan ahead accordingly.
📝 Transportation Changes:
All transportation changes must be submitted in writing—either as a note with your child in the morning or by emailing the front office before 1:30 PM.
🆔 Photo ID Required for Early Pickup:
All parents or guardians picking up students early must present a valid photo ID. This policy is in place to ensure every child’s safety.
Thank you for your continued support and cooperation. With your help, we’re off to a fantastic start and building a safe, positive learning environment for every child.
With gratitude,
Mrs. Jackson
GSCS is producing its first-ever district-wide musical! Auditions are open to all GSCS students in grades K–12. Auditions will be held this Saturday, August 16th. For more information, contact jennifer.wilson@gscs.org.
Ms. Robinson’s 5th graders are on the move! Solving math task cards in a scavenger hunt around the room, learning, thinking, and having a blast!
Today at ATK our AWESOME admin team sprinkled a little sweetness into our day with donuts filled with love! We sure do feel the love, thank you for making our Friday extra special. Donut you know we love you a lot!
First fire drill of the 25-26 school year! Our teachers grabbed their Go-Kits and showed just how prepared they are to keep our Bears safe. Great job, students!
Told you the music room is the place to be! Principal Jackson, Assistant Principal Schellhause, and Mr. Lackey all agree!
GSCS is excited to announce the District Literacy Kickoff, launching a new year of learning with a strong focus on reading! As part of our RISE (Read Inspire Succeed Everyday) reading initiative, student-athletes from across the district have showcased books to inspire younger readers and promote the importance of literacy both on and off the field. Join us as we celebrate a community-wide commitment to building strong readers and lifelong learners!
Our Bears are clapping out surprise rhythms with Rhythm Randomizer! It builds music reading skills, focus, and fun, one beat at a time!
Lunchtime at ATK is always a highlight of the day! Our Bears fuel up with tasty, nutritious meals that keep minds sharp and smiles bright.
Our Kindergarten royalty is ruling the world of rhymes! This week, our little kings and queens are having a royal time learning and reviewing rhyming words, making reading magical one crown at a time! 👑
On July 28 & 29, GSCS teamed up with Wellstar EMS, Spalding County Fire, Spalding EMA, and Griffin-Fire Rescue to provide Cardiac Emergency Response training for teams from every school/campus in the district. Each team member received their CPR/AED certification and an invaluable experience in scenario-based drills. We aim to equip staff with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to respond decisively in emergency situations. Special thanks to Adam Marat, Glenn Polk, and Matthew Perry for their instrumental roles in these sessions.
2026 GSCS Fall Parent Survey - Your voice is needed! Help us make it a great year!
English Survey Link:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NDQ9B3R
Spanish Survey Link:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MM76X6F
English Survey Link:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NDQ9B3R
Spanish Survey Link:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MM76X6F
Follow us on social media to see daily updates, fun photos, and important announcements. Let’s keep our Bear family connected all year long! 🐻❤️
📘 Facebook: @Susie B. Atkinson
🐦 X (Twitter): @atk_alltheway
📸 Instagram: @atkbears
🔗 Scan the QR codes on our flyers to follow instantly!
📘 Facebook: @Susie B. Atkinson
🐦 X (Twitter): @atk_alltheway
📸 Instagram: @atkbears
🔗 Scan the QR codes on our flyers to follow instantly!
Our Bears came back ready to learn, laugh, and shine brighter than ever! From big hugs at drop-off to excited stories at pickup, today was filled with smiles, new friendships, and endless possibilities.
A huge THANK YOU to our incredible Day One Greeters for making this morning extra special with warm welcomes, high-fives, and positive vibes all around. You helped set the perfect tone for an unforgettable school year!
A huge THANK YOU to our incredible Day One Greeters for making this morning extra special with warm welcomes, high-fives, and positive vibes all around. You helped set the perfect tone for an unforgettable school year!
Today is Day One in the District! Thank you to all of the Partners In Education, volunteers and community members who welcomed back our students and staff this morning. We had over 260 volunteer greeters representing over 55 businesses, organizations, civic groups, municipalities and churches! We are off to a successful 2025-2026 school year! Thank you for supporting GSCS! #GSCSDayOne2025
Tomorrow is GSCS Day One in the District! Use this link https://boothpics.com/booth/0coy8l tomorrow to show us your Day One smiles with our virtual Day One in the District photo booth!
As we prepare to begin the 2025-2026 school year, the safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our top priority. The Griffin-Spalding County School System (GSCS) is committed to creating a secure and supportive environment in all of our schools. We are implementing several important safety enhancements across our district.
Classroom Emergency Bags:
All classrooms in GSCS will be equipped with a standard emergency Go-Kit to help ensure staff are prepared in case of an emergency.
Security Monitors in Elementary Schools:
Beginning this school year, all elementary schools will have Security Monitors provided by Synergy Security Services. They will work closely with our staff to maintain a safe school environment.
Open Gate Metal Detectors in Middle and High Schools:
To enhance school safety, we will be using Open Gate Metal Detectors in all our middle and high schools. These devices will replace the previous Evolv system and are designed to improve efficiency. All students will be screened using the Open Gate system upon arrival on campus.
Increased School Resource Officer Presence:
Each high school in our district will now be staffed with two School Resource Officers (SROs). These officers play a critical role in promoting safety, building relationships with students and responding swiftly to any security concerns that may occur.
We appreciate your support and cooperation as we take these steps to ensure a safe learning environment for every student.
Classroom Emergency Bags:
All classrooms in GSCS will be equipped with a standard emergency Go-Kit to help ensure staff are prepared in case of an emergency.
Security Monitors in Elementary Schools:
Beginning this school year, all elementary schools will have Security Monitors provided by Synergy Security Services. They will work closely with our staff to maintain a safe school environment.
Open Gate Metal Detectors in Middle and High Schools:
To enhance school safety, we will be using Open Gate Metal Detectors in all our middle and high schools. These devices will replace the previous Evolv system and are designed to improve efficiency. All students will be screened using the Open Gate system upon arrival on campus.
Increased School Resource Officer Presence:
Each high school in our district will now be staffed with two School Resource Officers (SROs). These officers play a critical role in promoting safety, building relationships with students and responding swiftly to any security concerns that may occur.
We appreciate your support and cooperation as we take these steps to ensure a safe learning environment for every student.
On July 24, the Griffin-Spalding County School System (GSCS) Back to School Celebration brought all 1400+ staff together for a motivational kick-off to the 2025-26 school year at Oak Hill Church. Read the news release at https://5il.co/3mkym
GSCS is hosting a job fair on July 30 at Griffin High School. Attend and join the GSCS family!
