Mrs. Nelms

770.823.1473

The mission of the Cobb County School District is to provide an academically rigorous,caring and safe educational environment in partnershipwith families, students and the community.

Our vision is a community with a passion for learning.

Philosophy Statement:

I believe independence and self-confidence are the two most important things a child can learn in their early childhood. If a child has these two then they are ready to take on whatever the world has in store for them. Our roles as educators are to help the children with these two characteristics. Our role is to help them try; to let them know that it is okay to fall down as long as you get back up and try again. Children need to know it is okay to make mistakes. As long as they put their best effort into whatever they do. As teachers we should aid the children and their families to get the best education that they can get. To help the children, teachers should use a multitude of strategies. However, the effective teacher will use them all; hands on, reading, experiments, authentic assessments, dramatic play, etc. The goal is not only for the children to remember information, the goal is for them to understand and be able to apply the information they care taking in. My strength as a teacher lies in the learning process. My passion is not only the children and their well-being, but for the learning process that takes place. I enjoy the challenge of trying different strategies to permit each child to have the same knowledge as the next. I want children to want to learn. Children need to wake up every morning and say ‘I get to go to school today!’ not ‘I have to go to school today.’ Being a teacher is the only thing that I have ever wanted to do. It has always been my lifelong dream to touch lives as my teachers touched mine. There are very few things a child remembers in their early childhood, but their teachers are always one of them. I was lucky enough to have many amazing teachers in my early childhood and I want a child to look back at me one day and feel that I touched their life. Even if it is not the amount of knowledge that they received from my class, maybe it is that I made them feel special in a world that did not. I want to inspire someone to be better than what they think they can be. I want to be the positive light in a child’s life that is otherwise not bright.

Inclement Weather Plan:

WHO IS WATCHING THE WEATHER? The superintendent and administrative staff carefully watch the weather conditions during seasons of possible inclement weather.

WHERE DO THEY GET THEIR INFORMATION? Our school district staff listen to the weather forecasts. The director of transportation tests the road conditions on our bus routes beginning at 3:30-4 a.m. We also contact the local law enforcement about road conditions. We must give careful consideration to the most dangerous bus routes in the district. So, even if it looks clear on your street, dangerous conditions may exist in other parts of our district.

WHAT FACTORS ARE CONSIDERED WHEN MAKING THE DECISION TO CLOSE SCHOOL? The safety of all Cobb County children is our primary concern in making our decision. In deciding whether children will be safe, we look at the following factors:

Information on road conditions from the director of transportation and from law enforcement, including whether roads are icy;
Time snow or ice starts and the amount;
Weather predictions;
Building conditions (e.g., whether schools have power and heat);
Parking lot conditions;
Temperature and wind-chill.

WHO MAKES THE DECISION? The superintendent of schools is responsible for the final decision, based on the above factors and recommendations from the district staff.

WHEN IS THE DECISION MADE? The decision is made by 5:30 a.m., except in the situations when inclement weather may force school closings during the school day, so that radio and TV stations can be notified.

HOW IS THE PUBLIC NOTIFIED? When the decision is made to close school, details will be posted immediately on the school district web site. Additionally, the school district will begin notifying parents using the automated calling system, but that process may take up to three hours to complete. The District also provides closing information to local news media outlets, including:

TELEVISION STATIONS	RADIO STATIONS
WSB-TV (Channel 2)	WSB (750 AM)
WAGA-TV (Channel 5)	WSRV (97.1 FM)
WXIA-TV (Channel 11)	WGST (640 AM)
WGCL-TV (Channel 46)	WKHX (101.5 FM)
	WYAY (106.7 FM)
	STAR 94 (94.1 FM)
	WAZX (1550 AM)

WHAT IF SCHOOL CLOSES DURING THE DAY? Parents should make sure that their child’s teacher has on file a written explanation of what the student should do in the event that school closes during the day. If school closes during the day all students will be sent home on their regular bus or daycare van unless other directions are on file. It is impossible for the school staff to accept phoned in directions under such circumstances.

Fire Emergency:

Cobb County schools have fire drills every first Wednesday of the month. The children are taught how to exit the building quickly and quietly. All classrooms have two exits, just incase the first is inpassable. The teacher counts heads and carries the roll sheet to make sure all children and counted for.