Parent Handbook

PARENT HANDBOOK

GIRL SCOUT TROOP 12712

Kennesaw Charter Elementary

Kenworth Unit – Kennesaw, GA

WELCOME TO GIRL SCOUT TROOP 12712

As a Girl Scout, your daughter is a member of an organization of approximately 3.7 million Girl Scouts worldwide (2.7 million girls and 928, 000 adult volunteers). In Girl Scouts, girls discover the fun, friendship, and power of girls together. Through a myriad of enriching experiences, such as extraordinary field trips, sports skill-building clinics, community service projects, cultural exchanges, and environmental stewardships, girls grow courageous and strong. Girl Scouting helps girls develop their full individual potential; relate to others with increasing understanding, skill, and respect; develop values to guide their actions and provide the foundation for sound decision-making; and contribute to the improvement of society through their abilities, leadership skills, and cooperation with others.

MEETING INFORMATION

DATE:                        Bi-Monthly

TIME:              Juniors & Cadettes (5pm – 6:30pm)  Daisies & Brownies (5:30pm – 6:30pm)

LOCATION    Kennesaw Charter Science and Math Academy

3010 Cobb Pkwy

Kennesaw, GA 30152

Note: We follow the Cobb County school calendar and inclement weather policies. If school or afterschool activities are cancelled due to inclement weather conditions, the Troop meeting or activity will be cancelled. We will do our best to post this information to the blog.  We will also do our best to send out an email.

TROOP LEADERSHIP

Leader:                       Lara Wiggins

Phone: 404-219-2731

Email: kcsmagirlscouts@gmail.com

Daisy Leader:           Cha-Leen Martin

Brownie Leader:      Dawn Simmonds

Junior/Cadette          Kenyatta

Leader:   

Treasurer:                Tricia Lannaman

TROOP COMMUNICATION

The main form of communication is via email and our website.  The troop newsletter, calendar of activities and events, and reminder notices regarding upcoming Girl Scout activities will be available on the Troop website. Please provide the troop leadership a valid email address that will accept attachments.

Troop website address: http://www.kcsmagirlscouts.blogspot.com

Troop email address: kcsmagirlscouts@gmail.com

If you do not have email and/or Internet access, please provide a phone number where a message can be left if no one is available to answer. 

                                               

GIRL SCOUT MISSION

Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.

EXPECTATIONS FOR GIRL SCOUTS

Our troop leaders have volunteered their time to provide fun and educational learning experiences for the Scouts. We ask that parents and/or guardians review the following expectations with their Scout to insure that all Scouts understand their responsibilities to the Troop and to their fellow Scouts.

Girl Scouts will...

• Wear uniform to meetings & activities.
• Register annually. ($12 per year)
• Pay troop dues ($1.00) for each meeting.
• Learn and follow the Girl Scout Promise.
• Learn and demonstrate behaviors and attitudes that reflect the Girl Scout Law.

The Girl Scout Promise

On my honor, I will try:
To serve God and my country,
To help people at all times,
And to live by the Girl Scout Law.

 

The Girl Scout Law

     I will do my best to be
     honest and fair,
     friendly and helpful,
     considerate and caring,
     courageous and strong, and
     responsible for what I say and do,
     and to
     respect myself and others,
     respect authority,
     use resources wisely,
     make the world a better place, and
     be a sister to every Girl Scout.

EXPECTATIONS FOR PARENTS/GUARDIANS OF SCOUTS

Children learn by example. Our troop leaders endeavor to teach and follow the Girl Scout Promise and Law. It is expected that families and/or guardians will support those ideals in all Girl Scout activities.

As a parent of a Girl Scout...

1. I have a genuine concern and interest in my daughter's participation and knowing that parents have the biggest influence on my daughter, I will reflect on the Girl Scout Promise and Law in order to be a positive role model.

2. I recognize that troop leaders are volunteers and I will support those who are working with my child, in order to encourage a positive and enjoyable Girl Scout experience for all.

3. I will communicate concerns through proper channels, not in the presence of the girls, and should I have a complaint or problem, I will share a suggested solution.

4. I will uphold the Girl Scout Promise and Law by demonstrating positive support and encouragement to my daughter and her troop members.

5. I will demand a Girl Scout environment for my child that is free from drugs, tobacco, and alcohol and I will refrain from their use at all Girl Scout events.

6. I will place the emotional well being of my child ahead of my own personal aspirations in order to allow my daughter to be successful as a Girl Scout.

7. I will support the Girl Scout efforts to provide an environment of acceptance for all girls and their families by asking  my child to treat other with respect regardless of race, color, creed, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, citizenship, ancestry, physical or mental disability, marital status, veteran status, socio-economic/public assistance status, national origin or any other protected status.

HELPFUL WEBSITES

Our Council

http://www.gsgatl.org

Girl Scouts of the USA

http://www.girlscouts.org

SCOUT UNIFORMS, INSIGNIA AND MATERIALS

	Daisy Girls Guide Binder	$22.50
	Try-its Handbook for Brownie Girl Scouts	$9.95
	Junior Girl Scout Badge Book	$11.95
	Cadette Girl Scout Handbook	$11.50
	Interest Projects for Girls 11-17	$9.95
	Brownie Girl Scout Sash (If purchasing VEST, do not need a sash.)	$5.25 - $5.75
	Junior Girl Scout Sash (If purchasing VEST, do not need a sash.)	$5.50 - $6.00
	Girl Scout 11-17 Sash	$6.50 - $7.00
	Daisy Tunic /Daisy Beanie (optional) (if purchasing tunic, do not need vest)	$7.00 -$14.50
	Vest (if purchasing vest do NOT need sash)	$15.75 -$16.75
	Daisy Insignia Tab (yellow) Brownie Insignia Tab (brown) Junior Insignia Tab (green) Cadette/Senior/Ambassador (navy)	$2.50
	Daisy Girl Scout Membership Pin	$1.50
	Brownie Girl Scout Membership Pin	$1.50
	Contemporary Membership Pin (Junior Level and above)	Regular - $2.00 Gold-plated - $5.00 14kt Gold - $210.00
	World Trefoil Pin	$2.25 - $4.75
	American Flag patch	$1.75
	Girl Scout Council Identification	$4.00
	Troop Numbers (12712) Brownies = brown Juniors & above = green	$1.25 each X5 = $6.25

                                               

PURCHASING SCOUT UNIFORMS, INSIGNIA AND MATERIALS

Available online at http://shop.gsgatl.org/store/

Or locally at the Girl Scout Shop/Service Center(s)

Girl Scout Shop/Center

5601 North Allen Road

Mableton, GA 30126
770-702-9100

UNIFORM TIPS

“In Uniform”

A Girl Scout is in uniform if she is wearing her Girl Scout pin, which she receives at her first official Troop ceremony, typically an Investiture.

Attaching Patches

The most fool-proof way to attach patches is to sew them on. This can be done using a sewing machine or by hand. Thread color should match the border of the patch; using invisible thread or embroidery floss is a great way to accomplish this. As the year progresses, Scouts may be learning to attach their own patches.

Various fabric glues and iron-on adhesives or webbings are sold and marketed for the purpose of adhering patches. This is a temporary “fix” and these will often release the patch(es) when washed and machine dried. This is not recommended for permanent adhesion.

Please take care in attaching the patches and placing them in the proper position. This allows your Scout to display her awards and achievements proudly.

PROGRAM GOALS

The Girl Scout program can change the way girls see the world and their place in it. Girls learn the importance of personal responsibility, the value of goal-setting, the spirit of teamwork, and the thrill of accomplishment. The Girl Scout program is based on the Girl Scout Promise and Law and four fundamental goals that encourage girls to:

• Develop to their full potential.
• Relate to others with increasing understanding, skill, and respect.
• Develop a meaningful set of values to guide their actions and to provide for sound decision-making.
• Contribute to the improvement of society.

In our Troop, we will use badges, activities, and related experiences and field trips to achieve the Girl Scout program goals.

TRY-ITS, BADGES, PATCHES, & AWARDS

Can my Scout earn other recognition(s) in addition to or instead of Try-Its or badges?

Yes. Scouts can earn quite a few additional special recognition awards and special event patches. A Scout may earn these patches during troop activities or on her own. A list follows:

Additional Awards

• Girl Scout National Research Pin
• International Friendship Recognition Pin
• Lady Baden-Powell International Friendship Award
• Lifesaving awards
• The President's Volunteer Service Award
• Religious awards

Participation Patches and Pins

• American Flag Patch
• Connections Patch (Issues for Girl Scouts series)
• Flag Ceremony Patch
• Follow the Reader Bilingual Patch
• Fun Patches
• Get with the Land Patch*
• Girl Scout-American Volkssport Association Master Program Award Patch*
• Girl Scouts Against Smoking Patch
• Girl Scouts Go Global! Patch
• Girls Are Great Patch (Issues for Girl Scouts series)
• Shape UP! Patch*
• GirlSports Basics Patch
• Investiture Patch
• In the Zone Patch
• Learning About Government Patch
• Let's Get Movin' Patch
• Media Know-How Patch (Issues for Girl Scouts series)
• Ms. President Patch (The White House Project)*
• Read to Lead Patch (Issues for Girl Scouts series)
• Strength in Sharing: Philanthropy in Girl Scouting Patch
• Water Drop Patch*
• World Thinking Day Patch

May my Scout earn more, different, or extra Try-Its/badges, patches, and recognitions outside of the troop?

Yes. We encourage Scouts to pursue their interests and the Try-Its Handbook for Brownie Girl Scouts book, the Girl Scouts of the USA website, and other GSUSA materials offer a variety of patches, pins, and achievements for nearly every interest.

Scouts can even develop their own patches – ask our leadership about developing a Scout Interest Project.

If your Scout chooses to pursue additional badges or achievements, please file a Brownie Try-It Affidavit or Badge Affidavit with the Troop Advancement Chairperson. This will serve as a record of your Scout’s hard work and accomplishment and will assist our leadership team in providing your Scout with appropriate recognition at the Court of Awards. Copies of the Affidavits are available through troop leaders or on the troop website.

Am I responsible for purchasing all of my Girl Scout’s patches and recognitions?

No. The troop will purchase all Try-Its and other earned participation patches, pins, and additional awards that were earned as a part of troop activities such as meetings, special events, or occasions.

If a Scout chooses to earn additional Try-Its, badges, patches, pins, or other recognitions outside of standard sponsored troop activities and events, the troop will purchase up to five (5) additional recognitions. Any additional recognitions are the responsibility of the parent and/or guardian of the Scout but we will gladly present these at the regular Court of Awards.

FORMS APPENDIX

GIRL SCOUT TROOP 12712

Kennesaw Charter Elementary

Kenworth Unit – Kennesaw, GA

ACTIVITY FORMS

• Activity Registration Form (interactive registration form for activities)
  https://www.gsgatl.org/forms/Pages/default.aspx

• Activity Information Form (permission form for activities)
  https://www.gsgatl.org/forms/Pages/default.aspx
•  

FINANCIAL FORMS

• Financial Assistance Form (request financial assistance – CONFIDENTIAL)
  https://www.gsgatl.org/forms/Pages/default.aspx

• Request for Girl Scout Membership Dues Financial Assistance (request financial assistance for Girl Scout Annual Membership dues ONLY – CONFIDENTIAL)
  https://www.gsgatl.org/forms/Pages/default.aspx

MEMBERSHIP FORMS

• Girl Scout Registration Form (new memberships)
  https://www.gsgatl.org/forms/Pages/default.aspx

• Adult Registration Form (new memberships)
  https://www.gsgatl.org/forms/Pages/default.aspx

• Membership Update Form (for transfers & leadership changes)
  https://www.gsgatl.org/forms/Pages/default.aspx

RELEASE FORMS

• Multimedia, Video, & Photograph Release Form (permission to use image)

• Telephone Release Form (permission to publish telephone number in Troop Directory)

• Volunteer and Talent Interest Survey