Upson-Lee Elementary School third graders performed at the UL Fine Arts Center on Tuesday, December 3. Congrats to the ULES third grade students and their teacher Mrs. Nicole Barber for treating us to a wonderful holiday concert!!! You can view their performances on the Thomaston-Upson You Tube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@T-USchools
Following the holiday break and gatherings with families and friends, the Thomaston-Upson School System would like to remind you to continue to monitor your child/children for signs of pertussis/whooping cough. According to the CDC, the number of people reported with whooping cough is rising in the United States, and it is recommended that families make sure they are up to date with whooping cough vaccination to help protect against the disease. If you would like to learn more about pertussis/whooping cough, you may visit the following CDC webpage: https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/about/index.html
The Thomaston-Upson School System has been notified by the GA Department of Public Health District 4 that 2 confirmed cases of pertussis (whooping cough) have been identified within the school district: 1 at ULES and 1 at ULMS. Detailed information has gone out to the students, their families, and faculty and staff at ULES and ULMS. In addition, parents/guardians of all children directly affected will receive a confidential call from the Department of Public Health within the next 24 hours. Please be vigilant and informed about the signs and symptoms of this illness in order to ensure the health and wellness of students and staff at all schools. If you would like to learn more about pertussis/whooping cough, you may visit the following CDC webpage: https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/about/index.html
Our 6th Annual Family Engagement Night will be Thursday, November 21, from 5-7 PM at the UL Agriculture Center. We can't wait to see you there!
The community is invited to a free ULHS Band and Chorus Concert honoring our U.S. military veterans for their service and sacrifice - TONIGHT, November 11, at 7 PM at the Upson-Lee Fine Arts Center. Thank you, Veterans!!! We hope to see you there!!!
So excited to announce that the Be Pro Be Proud Mobile Workshop will be at Upson-Lee High School next week! BIG thanks to the Thomaston-Upson Industrial Development Authority and Mr. Slade Gulledge, IDA Executive Director, for sponsorship of this event! #ULProud #ULPartners
On Monday, November 11, ULMS FFA is honoring our community's veterans with a drive-thru breakfast!!! See flier for details.
SO EXCITING!!! Tuesday, November 5, was the groundbreaking for the new Upson-Lee Middle School Baseball & Softball Complex!!! Superintendent Dr. Larry Derico and ULMS Principal Mrs. Rhonda Gulley spoke at the event and thanked the Thomaston-Upson Board of Education, MSSA-PBK Architects, Parrish Construction Group, and the student-athletes from the ULMS baseball and softball teams, who served as groundbreakers for the ceremony. They also thanked the citizens of Upson County for their support of the 2023 ESPLOST and Bond Referendum, which has made these TU athletic renovations possible. We can't wait to see this new complex once it is complete! It's going to be fantastic!!! #weareUL #ULProud
Join us on Tuesday, November 5, at 2 PM for the ULMS Baseball & Softball Complex groundbreaking ceremony!
Travon Walker has been nominated for the NFL's 2024 Salute To Service Award!!! The Salute to Service Award acknowledges the exceptional efforts by members of the NFL community to honor and support U.S. service members, veterans, and their families. We all know how generous Travon has been to our school system and our community, and it's heartwarming to know that his generosity resonates throughout the military community in Jacksonville, Florida, as well. This young man continues to shine a positive light on Thomaston, GA and the Thomaston-Upson School System. You can VOTE now for Travon to be one of the 2024 finalists for this award!!! Click the voting link below, find Jacksonville Jaguars/Travon Walker among all of the nominees and vote for Travon!!! You can vote once a day, so vote now and vote daily. 😁
Voting Link: NFL.com/SaluteFanVote
Voting ends on November 30. Votes determines the top 3 finalists, and a panel of judges will select the winner from among the 3 finalists. The Travon Walker Foundation is a Partner In Education with the Thomaston-Upson School System!
Upson-Lee High School 2024 4-Year Graduation Rate Sets a District Record
The Georgia Department of Education released state and district graduation rates on October 8, 2024. Upson-Lee High School's 2024 4-year graduation rate was 91.6%, the highest graduation rate on record for Thomaston-Upson County Schools. The ULHS 2024 graduation rate was 3.7 percentage points higher than the 2023 graduation rate, 6.17 percentage points higher than the 2024 state average of 85.4%, and 3.4 percentage points higher than the unofficial Regional Educational Service Agency (RESA) average of 88.2%. Thomaston-Upson County Schools is third in the RESA district for the highest 4-year district graduation rate in 2024.
“We are extremely proud of the 2024 Upson-Lee High School graduation rate of 91.6%, the highest 4-year graduation on record for our district,” stated Superintendent Dr. Larry Derico. “This milestone is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our students, teachers, staff, and families. This is a significant achievement for Upson-Lee High School; however, it also signifies a collective effort, prekindergarten through twelfth grade, to provide our students with the education and support they need to succeed,” he concluded.
BIG congratulations to the ULHS Class of 2024 for this significant achievement!!! To the teachers, staff members, administrators, and family members who played a role in their achievements, we say "Job well done!" #ULProud #weareUL
Upson-Lee Students Continue to Show Increased Scores on State Assessments
The Thomaston-Upson School System’s 2024 Georgia Milestones Assessment System (GMAS) results for Mathematics, released on September 30 by the Georgia Department of Education, provide evidence of student improvement in mathematics in multiple grades. Students across the state participated in the first Georgia Milestones for the new math curriculum implemented in 2023-2024. The Georgia Department of Education delayed the release of the mathematics scores to align the GMAS grading scales with the new K-12 Mathematics standards. GMAS scores for English-Language Arts, Social Studies, and Science were released on July 26, 2024.
Students take Georgia Milestones End of Grade (EOG) tests in grades 3-8 and Georgia Milestones End of Course (EOC) tests in identified high school courses. The Georgia Milestones assessment system meets the federal requirement that states test students in math and ELA in grades 3-8, once in high school, and science once per grade band (3-5, 6-8, 9-12).
Deputy Superintendent Dr. Amy Miller stated, “We are delighted to report that our district has experienced significant improvements on the 2024 Milestones for mathematics. This achievement is evidence of the tireless efforts and unwavering commitment of our students, teachers, staff, and families. Our math teachers and staff embraced the new curriculum and designed lessons that increase students’ mathematical thinking and reasoning. Our math lessons are engaging, relevant, hands-on, and full of opportunities for students to work together to acquire the skills necessary for future industry and the workforce. Our academic growth across all contents on the 2024 Georgia Milestones and graduation rate is evidence of our district’s commitment to achieving our vision of inspiring and preparing students to be personally, academically, and socially successful in school and life.”
Thomaston-Upson Schools 2024 GA Milestones Mathematics Highlights
3rd Grade: Highest percentage of students scoring Developing, Proficient, and Distinguished since 2018 (88.5%)
3rd Grade: Highest percentage of students scoring Proficient and Distinguished since 2018 (46%)
3rd Grade: The percentage of students scoring Proficient and Distinguished (46%) exceeded the RESA and State average
4th Grade: Highest percentage of students scoring Developing, Proficient, and Distinguished since 2016 (87%)
4th Grade: Highest percentage of students scoring Proficient and Distinguished since 2018 (50%)
4th Grade: The percentage of students scoring Proficient and Distinguished (50%) exceeded the RESA and State average
5th Grade: Highest percentage of students scoring Developing, Proficient, and Distinguished since 2019 (78%)
5th Grade: Highest percentage of students scoring Proficient and Distinguished since 2019 (40%)
5th Grade: The percentage of students scoring Proficient and Distinguished (40%) exceeded the RESA average
8th Grade: Highest percentage of students scoring Developing, Proficient, and Distinguished since 2018 (77%)
8th Grade: Highest percentage of students scoring Proficient and Distinguished since 2019 (32%)
8th Grade Algebra Concepts and Connections: Increase of 4 percentage points since 2023
8th Grade Algebra Concepts and Connections: The percentage of students scoring Proficient and Distinguished (67%) exceeds the RESA and State average
9th Grade Algebra Concepts and Connections: Highest percentage of students scoring Developing, Proficient, and Distinguished since 2015 (68%)
Additional information about the 2024 Georgia Mathematics Milestones can be found at:https://www.gadoe.org/External-Affairs-and-Policy/communications/Pages/PressReleaseDetails.aspx?PressView=default&pid=1168
The TU School System and Upson-Lee High School would like to remind you of important student/fan behavior expectations and stadium rules for football games at Matthews Stadium.
1. ALL students/fans should remain seated/standing in the bleachers throughout the games unless getting concessions or going to the restroom.
2. After going to the concession stand or restroom, students/fans should immediately return to their seats.
3. Ball playing or other games on the grass banks or side areas will not be allowed.
4. Loitering and/or congregating outside of the stands will not be allowed.
5. Please note that all restrooms and concession stands will be closed and locked at the 6-minute mark in the 4th quarter.
6. At the end of the game, all students/fans should exit and report to their cars. No loitering is permitted after the game in the parking lot or in the stadium.
7. The following items are NOT allowed at Matthews Field: backpacks, coolers, umbrellas, pets (with the exception of service dogs), weapons, tobacco products of any kind, vapes, and balloons.
Failure to comply with these rules and expectations could result in removal from the stadium. Thank you in advance for helping us to ensure student and spectator safety and to maintain a respectful and enjoyable environment for everyone at our Upson-Lee Knights football games. Go Knights!!! #weareUL
All schools have completed their school lockdown drills and will be returning to their regular class schedules. Parents and guardians, please take a moment this evening to talk with your children about the lockdown experience. Ask questions about the process, such as “What do you do first?” and praise your children for listening to the teacher and doing the things that they have been taught to do during a drill. You may want to explain that safety is something that we must practice, just like we practice reading or math. And, the more we practice, the better and more confident we become. We want safety drills to be a confidence-building experience, not a scary experience. Thank you for entrusting us with the education and safety of your children, and thank you to the Upson County Sheriff's Office for their assistance today! #weareUL
School Lockdown DRILL: At 9 AM this morning, all Thomaston-Upson Schools, with the assistance of the Upson County Sheriff’s Office, initiated a school lockdown DRILL. During a lockdown drill, all exterior doors are locked and no entry or exit is allowed. Phones at the school are not answered during a lockdown drill.
At the September 10 Board of Education meeting, the Board approved the 2025-26 school district calendar.
We are excited to announce that Upson-Lee High School is one of 10 national winners in Concord Theatricals’ Sing Like a Sponge: The SpongeBob Musical Contest! The ULHS Drama Department receives a FREE 3-performance license and ALL rental materials for their spring production of "The SpongeBob Musical"!!! CONGRATULATIONS to Mr. Jacob Sapp, ULHS Theatre Teacher, and Upson-Lee Knight Theatre!!! "The SpongeBob Musical" will take the stage at the Upson-Lee Fine Arts Center Spring 2025. More information will be released at a later date. WE CAN’T WAIT!!! BIG THANKS to Concord Theatricals!
Parents, Guardians, and Visitors to Thomaston-Upson Schools: In efforts to continue improving the safety and security of our schools, the Thomaston-Upson School System will be implementing new visitor procedures, effective Tuesday, September 3, 2024. These new procedures apply to any visitor gaining access beyond a school’s secure vestibule. Examples of these types of visitors include, but are not limited to, Parent/Guardian Eating Lunch with Student, Public Speaker/Presenter, PIE/School Council Member, Classroom Speaker, Parent Attending a Meeting (504, IEP, leadership), and College/Career Fair Participant.
According to our new procedures, the school visitor will check-in using the “Guest Check In” option on the school’s Checkmate system, which is located inside the school’s secure vestibule. The visitor will be prompted to scan his/her Driver's License. The visitor will then select the reason for his/her visit from the drop-down menu and enter any comments. The printer will provide the visitor with a visitor name tag which must be worn throughout his/her visit to the school.
Our wonderful school receptionists are available to assist with this process as we educate our valued school visitors about these new procedures. Thank you for allowing us to provide an advanced level of security to Thomaston-Upson students, faculty, and staff!
At the 2024 Thomaston-Upson School System’s Back to School Breakfast & Districtwide Meeting, employees with 25 years or more of service to the school system were presented with service pins. Since this was the first year of service pin implementation, an employee’s actual years of service may differ from the pin awarded, as 25-year pins were awarded to employees with 25-29 years of service; 30-year pins were awarded to employees with 30-34 years of service; 35-year pins were awarded to employees with 35-39 years of service; 40-year pins were awarded to employees with 40-44 years of service; and 45-year pins were awarded to employees with 45-49 years of service. Mrs. Susan Carter, ULPS Administrative Assistant to the Principal, was recognized for having the longest tenure with 55 years of service to our local school district. In all, forty-seven Thomaston-Upson School System employees were recognized for having twenty-five or more years of service to the local public school system. CONGRATULATIONS to these outstanding employees and thank you for choosing to work with the Thomaston-Upson School System!!! You are appreciated!!!
Upson-Lee Primary School Honorees: Renae Kilgore, 25 yr pin; Tracy Wainwright, 25 yr pin; Kim Seymour, 25 yr pin; Brenda Ivey, 25 yr pin; Karla Hernandez, 25 yr pin; Michele Daniel, 25 yr pin; Tiffany Bentley, 25 yr pin; Susan Carter, 55 yr pin; Sherry Holley, 25 yr pin; Angela Sledge, 40 yr pin; Natalie Logan, 25 yr pin; Brenda Burnette, 30 yr pin; not pictured: Janet Kendall, 25 yr pin; Betsy Stewart, 25 yr pin
Upson-Lee Elementary School Honorees: Sherre Rohling, 25 yr pin; Amy Fields, 25 yr pin; Donna Fouts, 25 yr pin; Matthew Whatley, 25 yr pin; Tara Keahey, 25 yr pin; Susan McGlon, 25 yr pin; Amy Salter, 25 yr pin; Lynn English, 25 yr pin. Not pictured: Harold Raines, 35 yr pin; Betty Ann Fordham, 30 yr pin
Upson-Lee Elementary Honorees: Eric Foster, 25 yr pin; Rhonda Gulley, 30 yr pin; Kristi Bosworth, 25 yr pin; Marie Reeves, 25 yr pin; not pictured Barbara Wise, 25 yr pin
Upson-Lee Middle School Honorees: Eric Foster, 25 yr pin; Rhonda Gulley, 30 yr pin; Kristi Bosworth, 25 yr pin; Marie Reeves, 25 yr pin; not pictured Barbara Wise, 25 yr pin
Upson-Lee High School Honorees: Vonda Bailey, 25 yr pin; Wayne Puckett, 25 yr pin; Chrystie Pitts, 25 yr pin; Marlene Wheeler, 25 yr pin; Ann McLane, 25 yr pin; Janet Nixon, 25 yr pin; Chester Grant, 35 yr pin; Cary Ellerbee, 25 yr pin; not pictured: Carol Price, 30 yr pin
Grounds Maintenance Honoree: John (CB) Worthy 25 yr pin
Central Office & Transportation Honorees: Karen Truesdale, 25 yr pin; Amy Miller, 25 yr pin; Tommy Allen, 35 yr pin; Kathy Adams, 25 yr pin; Eunice Lowry; Not pictured Chandria Taylor, 25 yr pin
Notes from the August 13th Board of Education meeting. If you would like to download the .pdf version, it is available here: https://5il.co/2u0rn.
