The Village
We're all in this TOGETHER!
Winter Edition
Family Service Center
The FSC office supports family assistance programs, resource connection, MKV, and foster care students. Our goal is to help families so students can remain in school and become successful in all areas of their lives!
Ms. Barbie Woods, LCSW, SSW
School Social Worker (Students with last name A-L)
Mrs. Joey Schneider, MS, MSW, LPC
School Social Worker (Students with last name M-Z)
Ms. Niki Mincey, BS
McKinney-Vento (MKV) Liaison & Family Services Center Coordinator
Medicaid Renewal Concerns
When medicaid redetermination came upon us in Georgia, many of our students lost their medical coverage, leading to interruptions in medical and mental health services, as well as prescription coverage. We have heard from multiple parents that they have been struggling to get their children covered. Many are getting frustrated with how long it is taking to complete the process, which has been taking well over the 45-60 day time limit. REMEMBER - Everyone must reapply for medicaid coverage this year by April.
If you still have coverage:
You must renew your medicaid yearly (this was put on hold during COVID). Log into https://gateway.ga.gov and make sure your address, phone number, and email address is up to date. If you are eligible to renew, please click the RENEW button to get that started. Visit https://staycovered.ga.gov/ for more information.
If your child has lost their Medicaid:
While it seems that some cases resolve themselves without intervention, there are a few steps you can take on your own.
1) Contact your medicaid caseworker. This information can be found at the top of any correspondence you have received from DFCS regarding medicaid. If you do not have the emails or paper letters, you can find this information in Gateway (gateway.ga.gov) under your account. Document all calls/emails to this caseworker in case it needs to be escalated to a supervisor.
2) If you cannot get in touch with your caseworker, call 866-211-0950 or complete this online form https://dch.georgia.gov/contact-dch.
3) The Place offers help with benefits enrollment and renewals. Contact Jessica at 770-887-1098 or benefits@theplaceofforsyth.org
4) The local DFCS office can help you find and contact your caseworker (likely from another county - they are assigned from all over the state). The local office is open Monday-Thursday 9:00am - 4:00pm and closed for lunch from 12:00 - 1:00.
Here are some additional phone numbers and links regarding Medicaid.
https://www.medicaid.gov/about-us/beneficiary-resources/index.html#GA
Important Dates
January
- 1/15 - MLK Day - No School
- 1/24 - Scoliosis Screenings
February
- 2/14 - 2/27 - Pre-K Lottery Registration Open
- 2/16 - Early Release
- 2/19 - 2/20 - No School
March
- 3/4 - Kindergarten Registration Starts
- 3/7 - Early Release
- 3/8 - No School
- 3/22 - Kindergarten Round-Up
April
- 4/1 - 4/5 - Spring Break - No School
May
- 5/21 - Early Release/Last Day of School
BRRRRRR!!!!
It's cold outside! If you need a coat for your student, please reach out to your school counselor.
Attendance Matters
Make Every Day Count for Your Student
If your child must miss school, please send all medical excuses or parent excuse notes to the school (teacher or front desk), or upload them to your child's PowerSchool account. Upon return from an absence, a parent must provide a written note (within 5 days) including the date(s) of the absence and and the reason for the absence, REMEMBER - A parent can provide a maximum of 10 parent notes per year. To excuse any additional absences, a medical excuse must be provided.
Counselor's Corner
Counselor Spotlight: Gabby Tracchio, Dawson County Middle School
I wanted to take a moment to share a little bit about myself.
This is my first year as a School Counselor! I received my Master's in Education in School Counseling from Auburn University. Though I grew up next door in Forsyth County, I am so happy to call Dawson County Middle School my work home.
I love dogs, working out, playing video games with my nieces and nephew, and sitting down with a good book. My favorite thing about being at DCMS is the relationships/connections I am making with our students. I sincerely missed our students over the break and was so elated to hear the feeling was reciprocated.
A common struggle I am seeing with all students is in regards to change: disliking change and or being fearful of it. Change, however uncertain, can in fact be a good thing. I was nervous coming to Dawson County as a first year counselor. Now, just a few months later, I could not be happier. Most of the time the things I was nervous about work out for the best.
Another struggle I've seen frequently is lack of motivation. A number of our students have difficulty seeing the purpose of being in school. This is where building positive relationships with their teachers and having positive conversations about school at home are important.
Thank you!
Ms. Gabrielle Tracchio, M.Ed., NCC
Professional School Counselor
Dawson County Middle School
(706)-216-4849 (ext.1333)
Getting Your Ducks in a Row - What's Coming Up?
Pre-K Lottery Dates
Pre-K is offered at Robinson Elementary, Kilough Elementary, and Riverview Elementary. Spots are filled through a lottery system. Registration for the lottery will open on February 14th at 8:00 am and end on February 27 at 10:00 am. More information can be found HERE.
Kindergarten Round-Up
Kindergarten registration will open March 4th for NEW 2024-25 Dawson County Kindergarten students! In order for classes to be filled and buses to be routed in a timely manner, please complete the online registration when the portal opens and schedule an appointment to complete registration (if needed). Waiting until summer may cause your student to miss the first days of school.
KINDERGARTEN ROUND-UP WILL BE MARCH 22. This is an important event to complete Kindergarten readiness screeners.
⭐ Now is a good time to make sure all of their immunizations are up-to-date (Form 3231) and they have a complete GA 3300 form (Hearing, Dental, Vision, and Nutrition Screening). More information about these forms and what is needed to register your child can be found HERE.
New School Safety Measures
As part of our commitment to student safety and mental health, we are launching an anonymous reporting program, called P3 Campus. This will allow parents, guardians, students and community members to report safety concerns or student wellness issues. Visit www.p3campus.com for more information.
Also, please see the district's new safety page link: https://www.dawsoncountyschools.org/cms/One.aspx?portalId=494645&pageId=14730182
🩺 The Nursing Nook 🩺
Attention Dawson County Residents, the Flu Season Is Here...
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), flu viruses tend to peak between fall and spring, and this is called the “Flu Season.” The timing of the flu is not always predictable and can vary in different parts of the country and from season to season. Although most people will recover from the flu, it can cause severe illness and possibly even death in those who are at high risk. High-risk populations include older adults, very young children, pregnant women, and those with certain chronic medical conditions. The CDC and public health officials recommend every one – 6 months of age and older get the flu vaccine yearly. Therefore, it is essential for us to remind parents, students, and faculty/staff to get vaccinated.
The flu is spread mainly from person to person through coughing, sneezing, and touching surfaces with the flu virus on them. Typical flu symptoms include high fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headache, muscle aches, and fatigue. Some preventive measures you can do to help reduce the spread of flu and other infectious illnesses include:
- WASH YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer/rub.
- Teach children not to share personal items like drinks, food, or eating utensils.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and properly dispose of used tissues.
- Stay home if you are sick, especially during the first days of illness when symptoms are more severe and the infection is most contagious. Return to work or school only after symptoms have improved and after you have been without fever for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medications.
- Try to avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like the flu. Viruses lurk in places you wouldn’t think. Everyone is vulnerable to picking up viruses.
- Eat healthy food (fruits and vegetables) and drink plenty of fluids.
- Make sure your vaccinations are up-to-date.
- Take flu antiviral medications if your doctor prescribes them.
Sincerely,
Dr. Vikki Brannon DNP, MSN, BSN, RN, NCSN
Director of Youth Health Services
706) 265-3246 ext. 1125
Scoliosis Screenings
ESE Telehealth in Schools
Students, teachers, and staff are able to see a licensed Nurse Practitioner virtually during the school day from the convenience of the school clinic. Currently, this service is available at Riverview Elementary, Black's Mill Elementary, Robinson Elementary, and Dawson County High School. They can diagnose and prescribe for many common illnesses such as strep, flu, ear infections, skin rashes, and more. Most insurances are accepted.
ESE also offers virtual mental health appointments with a licensed counselor. Students can access this service at each school in Dawson County. Most insurances accepted.
Please reach out to your school nurse or school counselor for more information, and scan the QR codes below to register.
Ways to care for your student and yourself!
This is a great time of the year to review
ROUTINES!
What is a routine?
A routine is a sequence of actions regularly followed.
Why do we need a routine?
Routines are created to provide more efficiency and productivity to your day.
Routines can be for the morning, evening, weekday or weekend.
An example of a routine can look like this:
5:30am waking up, meditating/praying, making breakfast, completing personal hygiene
6:30am waking up children and getting them ready for school
7:15am leaving home to drop off children to school and go to work
Routines sometime require prep work such as already knowing what to eat for breakfast prior to waking up at 5:30am. Just remember the purpose of routines is to improve the flow of your day. You are using less mental and physical energy as well as less time to complete your regular everyday responsibilities. Have an energized 2024!!!