GSW College of Education

05/28/2026

Thank you to Mrs. Ashley Waller, the instructor and creative force behind this summer’s COE Reading Camp! She guided our teacher candidates through the planning and development of an engaging and meaningful experience for students.

Literacy, arts, science, movement, and fun all play an important role in whole child development, and this camp beautifully brought those elements together. Through Mrs. Waller’s leadership, our Elementary Education and Special Education teacher candidates gained hands-on experiences that will help them create similar learning opportunities in their own future classrooms.

05/28/2026

(Day 3, Part 2) To close out an unforgettable camp experience, campers were treated to a special performance by Caylee Hammack, who shared an original song inspired by the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly and her love of gardening. Her heartfelt performance beautifully tied together the themes of growth, imagination, and discovery that filled our week.

Thank you to all of our campers, families, community partners, and special guests for making Summer Reading Adventure Camp such a meaningful and memorable experience! 📚🌱🦋☀️

05/28/2026

(Day 3, Part 1) - Day 3 wrapped up our Summer Reading Adventure Camp with a celebration of the simple joys and learning opportunities found right at home! Campers explored the theme of summer adventures at home through hands-on activities centered around gardening, picnicking, nature walks, animal tracking, electricity safety, and caring for pets. Throughout the day, rich read alouds and literacy skill-building activities were woven into every experience, encouraging curiosity, creativity, and a love for reading.

Students enjoyed creating edible bird feeder ornaments using grapes, Cheerios, and cranberries while learning about ways to care for wildlife in their own backyards. Campers also planted seeds generously donated by the Schley County Farm Bureau and discussed the importance of gardening, responsibility, and growing healthy plants. One favorite treat of the day was our delicious “dirt dessert” snack complete with gummy worms — a perfect fit for our garden-inspired adventures!

05/27/2026

🌲⛺ Day 2 of Summer Reading Adventure Camp was packed with outdoor fun, exploration, and unforgettable learning experiences! Today’s “Great Outdoors” theme brought books to life as campers explored stories centered around camping adventures, hiking trails, forest animals, and nature discoveries.

Campers stretched and laughed during an exciting session of goat yoga, made music together using rhythm band instruments, and created glowing lantern crafts inspired by nights around the campfire. They also mixed up their own delicious trail mix snacks while learning about outdoor adventures. One of the biggest highlights of the day was the hands-on reptile exhibit where students had the opportunity to safely interact with fascinating reptiles and learn more about wildlife and habitats.

Throughout the day, literacy remained at the heart of every activity as students connected stories, movement, music, STEM, and creativity to the wonders of the great outdoors. The smiles, laughter, curiosity, and teamwork made Day 2 another incredible adventure at Summer Reading Adventure Camp! 🍃📚🐐🦎✨

05/26/2026

Day 1 of our Summer Reading Adventure Camp was an OCEAN of fun!

Highlights from our Ocean Adventure Day included:

🫙 Creating mesmerizing “Oceans in a Bottle” STEM crafts
🐚 Making clam shell snacks filled with tasty “pearls”
🦈 Playing an energetic game of Sharks and Minnows during movement time
🎶 Singing, dancing, and enjoying ocean-themed songs together
📖 Engaging with interactive read-alouds and ocean literacy activities

A very special THANK YOU to country music artist Caylee Hammack from Nashville for visiting our campers and helping make the day extra memorable! 💙🎤

We cannot wait to continue our Summer Reading Adventure tomorrow as campers head into another exciting day of learning, literacy, creativity, and summer fun! ☀️📚

05/24/2026

The excitement is building for Reading Camp! Our teacher candidates are preparing to meet their reading buddies, and we cannot wait to see the connections, learning, and growth that will happen throughout camp.

We are looking forward to an amazing week of reading, encouragement, and fun!

05/17/2026

Congratulations to Mrs. Walker, Triple Cane, on your promotion to Assistant Principal! We are excited to see you continue to grow as an educational leader and know your experience and commitment to students will serve your school community well in this new role.

Tift County Schools proudly welcomes Stephanie Walker as the new Assistant Principal of Alternative Programs for the 2026-2027 school year. We’re excited to have her join this leadership team!

05/16/2026

At GSW, we are proud to develop educators who not only make a difference in the classroom, but also seek opportunities to enhance learning experiences for their students. Congratulations to Lindsey Creech (Double Cane currently pursuing her Specialist degree with us) and Cara Hunter (Triple Cane), on successfully writing and receiving a grant for your classrooms. We are excited to celebrate this accomplishment and the positive impact it will have on students.

05/15/2026

Congratulations to Charity Brown, Double Cane, on being named Teacher of the Year! This honor reflects the care, professionalism, and excellence you bring to education each day. We are proud to celebrate this well-deserved recognition and the example you set for students and fellow educators alike.

We are beyond proud to announce our MCMHS 2025-2026 award recipients! Please join us in showering these incredible individuals with appreciation for their dedication to our students and community.

🍎 Teacher of the Year: Charity Brown
🦅 Eagle Award Recipients: Tiffany Wodzinski, Dorthey Riley, Janine Lopez, Stacy Tyler, and Sammy Porter

These educators and leaders go above and beyond every single day to make Marion County Middle High School a better place. We are so lucky to have you on our team!
https://www.marion.k12.ga.us/article/2820036

05/15/2026

Summer classes may be shorter, but the learning and connections are just as meaningful ☀️📚

Earlier this week, our students in Mrs. Greene’s EDSP 4060: Disorders of Language and Literacy class worked together on a hands-on activity focused on the foundations of language development. They created child communication profiles while exploring the many factors that can influence how children learn to communicate and interact with the world around them.

One of their favorite things about Maymester is the opportunity for small-group learning, thoughtful conversations, and creative activities that allow future educators to truly apply what they are learning. Watching students collaborate, problem-solve, and grow in confidence is always rewarding 💛

So proud of the work these future teachers are doing this summer!