A day at Whit…

Doors Open 7:15

School begins 7:40

Day ends 2:35

Dismissal 2:40

After School Program 2:35-6:00

As the school building opens at 7:15am, students start to arrive by school bus, walk-ins, or drop off by their guardians at the car rider lane. Drop off in the designated area is between 7:15 am and 7:35am. Students arriving at 7:40 are considered tardy and parents need to walk their children to the front office to sign them in.

Students who plan to eat breakfast should be at the cafeteria no later than 7:35am. 

The school day begins with the Morning Meetings. These meetings provide a short social emotional learning time for students and give them the opportunity to communicate and share their experiences and emotions. Teachers will introduce the plan for the day, morning announcements are presented, and after the Pledge of Allegiance the curriculum begins.

Students then will be instructed in Reading, Math, Writing, Specials, Science, Social Studies or Support/Enrichment. Throughout the school day students are taught in large and small groups. Additionally, individual Instruction may be given for purpose of evaluation and further assistance.

Each grade has its specific schedules, common times for recess where they will meet at the grade appropriate playground,  and shared lunch time by grade in the cafeteria. 

Dismissal starts at 2:40. Teachers group kids according to their mode of transportation- either bus, car riders, walkers, or ASP. You must specify which type of transportation your children will be using at the beginning of the year and have a written note for the office and teacher if transportation changes. When driving in the car rider lane parents should hang their transportation cards with their child’s number on the rear-view mirror of their car. Staff will radio the respective numbers to notify the students to head for dismissal. After 3:00, children still at school will begin the After School Program. 

After School Program

Whit Davis offers an After School Program (ASP) that includes snack time, homework help, and recreational activities.  ASP operates until 6:00 p.m.  Registration information and rates can be found here:  https://www.clarke.k12.ga.us/domain/2226

After School Clubs

Students are able to join After School Clubs, which provide opportunities for students to receive additional instruction in specialized areas such as piano, science, art, karate, and more.  All clubs are after school during the After School Program. Most clubs require an additional fee.  

https://www.clarke.k12.ga.us/domain/401

Family Engagement Committee

The Whit Davis Family Engagement Committee (FEC) is committed to actively engaging all families in the education of their children.  The committee acknowledges that Whit Davis families are diverse in ethnicity, culture, and needs.  We believe that diversity among families is a strength that improves the educational culture for all. The Family Engagement Committee, Whit Davis staff, families and community members work collaboratively to establish activities and practices that enhance family engagement, equity, and success for all students. These activities and practices reflect the specific needs of Whit students and their families.

Parents and community members who would like to be a part of the committee should contact Mrs. Evelyn Rushing, Family Engagement Specialist, at 706-369-1036/ Email rushinge@clarke.k12.42 OR Mrs. Daphne Bailey, Family Engagement Committee, at baileyd@clarke.k12.ga.us.

Frequently Used Terms

SEL- Social Emotional Learning, Social-emotional learning is the process of developing and using social and emotional skills. It's the skillset we use to cope with feelings, set goals, make decisions, and get along with—and feel empathy for—others. (You also might hear SEL referred to as socio-emotional learning or social-emotional literacy.)

PBIS- Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports. PBIS is a proactive approach that schools use to improve school safety and promote positive behavior. The focus of PBIS is prevention, not punishment.At its heart, PBIS calls on schools to teach students positive behavior strategies, just as they would teach about any other subject—like reading or math.

LSGT-Local School Governance Team, A local school governance team is a group of parents/guardians, educators, and community members who work together to support student learning and well-being in their school. 

EIP- Early Intervention Program, An Early Intervention Program (EIP) is a program designed to serve students who are at risk of not reaching or maintaining academic grade level. The purpose of the Early Intervention Program is to provide additional instructional resources to help students who are performing below grade level obtain the necessary academic skills to reach grade level performance in the shortest possible time.

IEP- Individual Education Plan, AN IEP is an individualized plan based off of an evaluation that lays out the program of special education instruction, supports, and services kids need to make progress and thrive in school.

504 plan- a formal plan that a school develops to give a child with disabilities the support they need. That covers any condition that limits daily activities in a major way. These plans prevent discrimination. And they protect the rights of kids with disabilities in school.

ESOL- English to Speakers of Other Languages​ (ESOL) is the state-funded language instruction educational program for eligible English learners in grades K-12 in Georgia public schools. ESOL language instruction is focused on developing EL students’ academic English proficiency in each content area of the Georgia Standards of Excellence.

Family Engagement- the inclusion of families in activities and programs that promote children's development, learning, and wellness, including in planning, development, and evaluation.

Restorative Justice- a mediation based practice that empowers students to resolve conflicts on their own and in small groups. Essentially, the idea is to bring students together in peer-mediated small groups to talk, ask questions, and air their grievances.

Spectrum- Spectrum is an instructional program for gifted students who have qualified through testing. Students are often identified by their teachers and are asked to be tested for the program.

MAP testing- the Measure of Academic Progress, is a computerized adaptive test which helps teachers, parents, and administrators improve learning for all students and make informed decisions to promote a child's academic growth. It provides teachers with evidence to help target instruction for each student or groups of students regardless of how far above or below they are from their grade level.

Local School Governance Team

A local school governance team is a group of parents/guardians, educators, and community members who work together to support student learning and well-being in their school. Their responsibilities include:

• Approve and monitor the school growth plan

• Participate in the principal hiring process by selecting finalists

• Provide input into key decisions including budget and personnel

In Clarke County, LSGTs also help design strategic initiatives tailored to the specific needs of their students, which are funded with charter system funding. These initiatives include:

• Summer and after-school enrichment programs

• Restorative justice and mindfulness programs to address students' behavioral and social-emotional needs

• High-quality professional learning for teachers

• Workshops to help parents support their students' academic success and healthy development

Who Serves on an LSGT?

• Principal

• 3 parents/guardians (elected)

• 3 teachers/staff (elected)

• 3 community members (selected by LSGT)

• 1 student (middle and high schools, selected by LSGT)

• Up to 2 at-large members (selected by LSGT)

Members serve two-year terms except for students, who serve one-year terms. Members can serve two consecutive terms.

Our current Whit LSGT members are: Ruby Basham, Bob Capuozzo, Phillip Davenport, Wesley Glosson, Jody Graichen, Heidi Hensley, Leslie Johnson, Dan McGuire, Rabecca Moore, and Timothy Pritchett.

Parent Advisory Board

• The Parent Advisory Board (PAB) promotes the discussion and development of a shared vision of the educational needs of all students in the Clarke County School District. PAB provides a forum for parents to share their opinions and ideas with each other, the school district administration, and the Clarke County Board of Education.

  PAB is made up of parent representatives from each school. The group meets monthly to learn about district-wide issues and programs, discuss district-wide concerns, and offer advice and feedback to the Superintendent. Each school seeks parents from its own community to serve on PAB.

• https://www.clarke.k12.ga.us/Page/2013

Student Handbook and Code of Conduct

Student Handbook- https://www.clarke.k12.ga.us/domain/2285

Code of Conduct English- https://www.clarke.k12.ga.us/cms/lib/GA02209096/Centricity/Domain/64/2020-2021%20Code%20of%20Student%20Conduct%20-%20English.pdf

Code of Conduct Spanish- https://www.clarke.k12.ga.us/cms/lib/GA02209096/Centricity/Domain/64/2020-2021%20Code%20of%20Student%20Conduct%20-%20Spanish.pdf