May 24, 2013

The Guilford County Board of Education will meet on Thursday, May 30 at 6 p.m. in the Board Room of the Administrative Offices, 712 N. Eugene St., Greensboro, NC.

Guilford County Board of Education meetings are broadcast live on GCSTV (Time Warner Cable channel 2 and U-verse) and re-air the day after the meeting at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. and the Saturday following the meeting at 1 p.m. To watch the meeting online, visit http://media.gcsnc.net/gcstv .

Students at Archer Elementary are working to finish the race for those who were unable to complete the Boston Marathon. They hope to walk 6,295 miles by June 3.

Six thousand, two hundred and ninety five. That's how many miles were left to be run by participants who reached the 24.8 mile marker in the Boston Marathon when it was interrupted by the tragic blasts of April 15.

Chris Terzigni's fourth-grade class at Archer Elementary had a simple idea - to finish the race on behalf of those "almost finishers" who couldn't. Through "Operation: Finish the Race," students are walking 1.4 miles per runner for the 4,496 runners who couldn't cross the finish line that day. With the help of four other schools that are recording and adding their totals, the students are more than 50 percent to their goal, which they hope to reach by June 3.

This service-learning project not only allows the students to demonstrate the GCS character trait of perseverance, but recording and calculating the miles also gives them a lesson in real-world mathematics.

May 23, 2013

Watch the latest GCSTV Newsbreak about Staff Sergeant Robert Benson, who surprised his children during an assembly at Rankin Elementary after returning from deployment to Afghanistan. Students at Rankin have supported N.C. 514 First Platoon and skyped with the soldiers at Veterans Day.

Watch more GCSTV

May 21, 2013

Dhara Shah was one of two students from the Middle College at GTCC - High Point to turn her tassel from right to left twice at her graduation ceremony on Monday, May 20. She joined classmate Stefan Miric as two students who earned their high school diploma and associate degree tuition-free.

Students at the middle and early colleges can earn up to 60 hours of college credit or an associate degree in four years at the same time as graduating from high school. More than 88 percent of the 38 graduates from The Middle College at GTCC-High Point earned a total of 640 college credits that can be transferred to a four-year college or university.

For Dhara, it was this opportunity that attracted her to the middle college program.

"I really liked the middle college program because I had access to great college classes, and the small classes also helped me during high school," she said. "I also heard that students at the middle colleges are more like family."

This was certainly apparent at the school's graduation as student speakers joked about moments during their high school careers only they could understand.

Dhara praised the middle college program for helping her to come out of her shell and take on leadership positions. "I was shy and probably a little immature, but my school has helped me make really good decisions."

She certainly showed she's matured - she served as president of student council, leader of the student-mentoring program USucceed, a member of the Superintendent's Student Advisory Council and a student who presented at the National Service-Learning Conference.

As a recipient of the district's service-learning diploma, Dhara will represent her school at Cool to Serve - one of GCS' signature events that honors students who dedicated at least 225 hours to serving the community.

Dhara will attend her "dream school" of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She plans to study biology and hopes to devote a career to dentistry.

A physician's assistant. An opthamologist. A child psychologist. A veterinarian. These are just a few of the medical careers the standout graduates of The Academy at Smith will pursue as they continue their education.

Fifty students graduated from The Academy at Smith on Friday night, crossing the stage at N.C. A&T's Harrison Auditorium. Among them was Luis Angel Vargas, the school's valedictorian, who graduated summa cum laude as a North Carolina Academic Scholar and member of the National Honor Society. Luis, an avid boxer, has earned college credit through dual enrollment at GTCC and also took Advanced Placement classes. He will pursue a degree in biology on his way to becoming a physician's assistant.

Kenya Hairston's commitment to service learning may help her in her quest to become a child psychologist. She earned an impressive 784 hours of service, while also taking college and AP classes. She will be attending UNC-Chapel Hill in the fall to major in psychology.

Camoriae Carter hasn't let a chronic illness slow her down. She graduated magna cum laude with a service-learning diploma, a Certified Nursing Assistant license and college credits to help her as she pursues a biology degree at UNCG. She plans to become a veterinarian.

Tra Nguyen also earned a service learning diploma and was honored as this year's salutatorian. A member of the National Honor Society and summa cum laude honoree, she will be attending UNC-Chapel Hill in the fall to pursue her dream of becoming an ophthamologist.

The Academy at Smith Class of 2013 earned an impressive 259 college acceptances and more than 6,000 hours of service learning.

For more stories and photos from The Academy at Smith, click here.

For the second year in a row, The Middle College at N.C. A&T can boast a 100 percent graduation rate and 100 percent college acceptance. The 29 members of the Class of 2013 celebrated at a graduation ceremony on Thursday, May 16, that included messages from 2012 GCS Principal of the Year Eric Hines and Dr. Harold Martin, Chancellor of N.C. A&T State University.

Among those heading off to college next year are uncle and nephew Dondre and Dominiqe McCaskill, who think of themselves as brothers. They've grown up together and share a love of reading and video games. In fact, both plan to pursue careers in video game design. Dondre will attend N.C. State University, and Dominiqe will head to Cleveland State University in the fall.

Five students received a service-learning diploma, and 11 graduated with honors. The Middle College at N.C. A&T is one of two single-gender high schools in GCS. For more stories and photos, click here.

May 21, 2013

Allen Middle will welcome a new principal in July as it begins a transformation designed to improve student performance and school atmosphere.

Dr. Shelia Gorham, current principal of Wiley Elementary, will serve as the new principal at Allen Middle effective July 1. Under Gorham's leadership, Wiley saw its End-of-Grade test scores jump 18.7 percentage points between 2011 and 2012, making it one of the district's most improved schools in 2012.

Allen Middle has been recommended by the district to undergo transformation to address falling test scores and concerns from parents and staff about the school climate. Part of that process includes bringing in new leadership and giving existing staff the opportunity to reapply for their positions if they choose. They can also apply to work at a different GCS school.

"We want to make sure Allen Middle has a team that is full of energy and ideas to make the school a more successful place to learn," says Dr. Terry Worrell, Central Region Superintendent. "The district is committed to doing whatever it takes to give all students the best possible education."

Under the transformation plan, the school year will be extended by 10 days to allow for additional instructional time. The revised calendar, if approved by the Board of Education, would start the school year on Aug. 12, 2013, and end it on June 10, 2014.

Accelerating school reform is an initiative included in Guilford County Schools' 2016 Strategic Plan . GCS administrators opted to intervene at Allen to reverse the academic trend as a proactive measure.

The rain didn't stop parents and children from joining in the fun at Guilford Parent Academy's third annual spring event this Saturday. During Family Fun Day at Camp Weaver, families participated in free activities including canoeing, horseback riding, climbing and other outdoor games. Entertainment, arts, crafts and family enrichment activities were also provided.

In one of the camp's dining halls, families were able to take a break indoors and learn more about Parent Academy resources, as well as how the Personalized Achievement, Curriculum and Environment (PACE) project will use technology to transform classrooms. Representatives from Amplify were on site to show off the new tablets middle school students will be using. Parents were also able to explore the online learning resources available through Parent Academy.

Guilford Parent Academy's Family Fun Day was sponsored by Sprint, the U.S. Department of Education, Blackboard Connect, Guilford County Schools, Guilford County Association of Educators, Guilford Coalition on Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention, Guilford County Council of PTAs and the YMCA of Greater Greensboro.

"Family Fun Day is our way to say thank you to parents, caregivers and children across Guilford County that make our community a great place to learn and thrive," said Lisa Gardner, GCS coordinator for Guilford Parent Academy and partnerships. "By providing opportunities where families and children can participate in activities together, we can all reinforce the importance a strong family unit plays in the overall development of a child. Kudos to everyone involved, especially our hard-working volunteers who helped make sure Family Fun Day was a huge success."

Tuesday, May 21

Northeast High Receives Donation from Crown Honda, 10 a.m., (Northeast High, 6700 McLeansville Road, McLeansville) - Crown Honda will donate three vehicles to the Northeast High Automotive Program for training purposes. This donation is the result of automotive technician, David Melchionne, at Crown Honda who has served on the school's National Automotive Technician Education Foundation Business/Industry Advisory Council.  Melchionne worked on this committee after work hours and unbeknownst to those at Crown Honda.  When Crown Honda was informed of his support for the program at Northeast High, they offered to donate the cars to show support for the program.

The Middle College at GTCC-Greensboro Hosts Graduation Ceremony, 7 p.m., (Guilford Technical Community College, Jamestown, Koury Auditorium, 601 High Point Road, Jamestown) - The Middle College at GTCC-Greensboro will bid farewell to the senior class of 2013 during a graduation ceremony on Tuesday.

Wednesday, May 22

The Academy at Central Celebrates Commencement, 7 p.m., (Guilford Technical Community College, Jamestown, Koury Auditorium, 601 High Point Road, Jamestown) - The Academy at Central will send off their graduating seniors during a commencement ceremony on Wednesday.

Thursday, May 23

Archer Elementary Students Finish the Race for Boston Marathon Victims, 10:15 a.m., (Archer Elementary, 2610 Four Season Blvd., Greensboro) - After discussing the events of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings, a group of fourth-grade students from Archer Elementary decided to finish the miles for those individuals that were unable to finish the race. During the past several weeks Archer students and their families have been collecting data on the number of miles they run and walk every day. Their goal is to collect 1.4 miles for each of the 4,496 runners who were unable to finish the race. On Thursday, students will be outside walking and running laps to add towards their goal of 6,295 miles.

Friday, May 24

The Early College at Guilford Holds Graduation Ceremony, 10 a.m., (Guilford College, Dana Auditorium, 5608 W. Friendly Ave, Greensboro) - The Early College at Guilford will celebrate the class of 2013 during a graduation ceremony on Friday.

Thanks to community sponsors and the determination and hard work of teachers and students at Northern Middle, the school will officially open its Outdoor Learning Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday, May 18 from 4-6 p.m.

The project, which began in 2010, was built in three phases. Overall, a total of $30,000 was raised through corporate sponsorships, private donations and student fundraisers in order to complete the outdoor classroom that also includes a basic inventory of classroom supplies.

Although the concept of an outdoor classroom seems simple, there is nothing ordinary about the Northern Middle's outdoor learning center. The unique setting gives students an environment that encourages creative thinking outside of traditional classroom walls. The space is comprised of a 30-foot by 30-foot concrete base and a UV-resistant shade sail that is anchored by four steel columns.

"The open space is conducive to inspiring students to think and engage on another level that they might not reach in a traditional classroom," said Gabriel Sams, seventh-grade social studies teacher and the project leader. "Not being confined by walls and rows of desks allow students to exercise their bodies and minds in new, innovative ways."

Teachers can check out the space similar to how they would check out the media center or computer lab. Open construction allows for the space to be used creatively, and teachers can attach white boards or use sidewalk chalk. Click here for pictures of the space.

Saturday, May 18, Camp Weaver will be packed with families and children canoeing, riding horses, creating art and learning about organizations from across Guilford County. Student performers will include a drum line, dance teams and bands - and it's all free.

GCS Family Fun Day, presented by Guilford Parent Academy and Guilford County Schools, is a way to say thank-you to parents and students for their hard work this school year.

Last year, more than 5,000 guests attended Family Fun Day and had a great time. This year, staff planned the event to accommodate a specific number of guests so all families will be able to enjoy all the activities.

In order to ensure that, GCS made some changes this year:

· All families were asked to pre-register for the event; registration is now closed.

· All visitors will park at one of five transportation sites and take shuttles to and from Camp Weaver.

· Staff will be at each transportation site with a list of registered guests; only guests who registered will be permitted to board the shuttles to Camp Weaver.

Also new this year, local food vendors will offer a variety of snacks and meals for purchase. Free food will not be provided at the event. Families may also bring picnic lunches.

Families will also have a chance to learn more about the Personalized Achievement, Curriculum and Environment (PACE) project , which will use technology to transform classrooms.

The PACE project is the signature initiative for the 2016 Strategic Plan: Achieving Educational Excellence: Personalizing Learning . Funded by a $35.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education, the project will create and stimulate student-led, personalized learning in all GCS middle schools, reaching nearly 19,000 students and teachers.

Representatives from Amplify will be on hand to show the tablets students will be using. Amplify creates digital products and services to engage students, and currently serves more than 200,000 educators and 3 million students.

The PACE project will start this fall with students in 18 middle schools. The remaining six middle schools will join the program in the 2014-15 school year. Each student will have a tablet filled with lessons and assignments for their classes, as well as research tools and secure Internet access. Teachers can access lesson plans and materials aligned with the Common Core State Standards, creating "playlists" of multimedia materials tied to the day's activities. They can also do spot-check quizzes during lessons to ensure all students are on track.

Families can also explore the online learning resources available to all families for free through Guilford Parent Academy. The resources, provided by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, include content for pre-K through 12th grade and allow parents to help their child improve reading skills, build vocabulary, practice math problems and explain complex topics. GCS is one of only two districts in the nation and the only district in North Carolina to provide this digital academic content for free.

Parent Academy is supported by a $1.9 million supplemental grant award the district received as part of the $35.2 million grant.

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS:

Silver Sponsor: Sprint

· U.S. Department of Education

· YMCA of Greater Greensboro

· Blackboard Connect

· Guilford County Schools

· Guilford County Council of PTAs

· Guilford County Association of Educators

· Guilford Coalition on Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention

Thanks to Connect With Kids for its support of the Take a Break with Tablets Cooling Station

May 17, 2013

Fifty students from The Middle College at GTCC-Jamestown walked across the stage at the Koury Hospitality Careers Center at GTCC on Wednesday night, marking the first of 30 graduations for GCS between May and August 2013. Of those 50 students, 13 of them will graduate with an associate degree from GTCC, five of which were earned in only four years.

Dejuan Smith

Dejuan Smith is one of those who earned both a high school diploma and an associate degree on Wednesday. In addition to taking a full college course load, Dejuan works 25 to 40 hours per week to help provide for his family and cheers competitively in his free time, something he hopes to continue in his college career at Texas Tech University.

For stories and photos from The Middle College at GTCC-Jamestown, click here.

Watch the GCSTV Newsbreak from The Middle College at GTCC-Jamestown's graduation.

A new class of Bennett Belles has graduated. On Thursday, 22 students from The Middle College at Bennett crossed the stage at the Annie Merner Pfieffer Chapel and became GCS graduates. It was the smallest class the school has seen, but the school is celebrating 100 percent graduation, and each of the women is college-bound.

Daisia Tatum

Several students demonstrated their leadership during graduation speeches, including Daisia Tatum, who serves as Miss Middle College at Bennett, a position that enables her to be an all-around student ambassador. She is a member of the National Honor Society and has been an A or A/B Honor Roll student throughout her high school career. She will enroll at UNC-Wilmington in the fall.

The Middle College at Bennett is one of two single-gender middle colleges in GCS. For more stories and photos from The Middle College at Bennett, click here.

To hear them tell it, the 60 graduating seniors at Greensboro College Middle College were more like family than fellow students. Family and friends joined them for a heartfelt graduation ceremony on Friday at the Odell Memorial Building at Greensboro College.

Jose Oliva

The audience was inspired by speaker such as Jose Oliva, who arrived in the U.S. from Guatemala in 2011. After first attending Doris Henderson Newcomers School, he applied and was accepted to Greensboro College Middle College. While at Greensboro College Middle College he has earned an "A" in all of his classes, currently has a 3.9 GPA, and by the time he graduates will have earned 20 hours of college credit and the districts' Service Learning Diploma (has nearly 300 Service Learning hours).

Jose has served as a student ambassador for Greensboro College Middle College, served on the Superintendent's Student Advisory Council, attended the National Conference for Community and Justice of the Piedmont Triad (NCCJ), attended a weeklong Outward Bound camp for leadership, served on the district's Service Learning Council and attended a weeklong Free Enterprise Leadership Challenge (FELC) week. Jose has completed all of this while only missing two days of school, the entire time he has been at Greensboro College Middle College. This spring he was also selected to serve as a page in the North Carolina House of Representatives, the first GCMC student ever to do so.

For more stories and photos from Greensboro College Middle College, click here.

May 16, 2013

A Guilford County Schools (GCS) drama teacher will be recognized tonight for her role in helping the Greensboro Police Department (GPD) save lives. Linda Veneris, drama teacher at Western High, will receive the Chief's Award during the Annual Police and Citizens Awards Dinner at 6 p.m. at the Koury Convention Center.

Veneris is being recognized for developing two teen safety awareness campaigns in partnership with the police department. In February 2012, she worked with Western High creative writing students to write three separate skits related to teen dating violence for GPD's "No Hatin 'n Datin" campaign. Veneris collaborated with students from Southwest High, who performed the skits.

Earlier this year, Veneris again contributed to the department through its anti-texting while driving campaign, "A Message 2 Die 4." Western High students wrote and acted in four vignettes about a fictional student killed while texting and driving. The stories aired at Western High prior to a live crash re-enactment at the school. The same students acted out the conclusion of the story, demonstrating the fatal accident and funeral scene, to show their peers the dangers of texting and driving. The program was also shared at other GCS high schools.

"Mrs. Veneris embodies the best of police-citizen partnerships," the nomination states. "More importantly, through her incredible connections with her students, she could be saving lives."

Veneris' contribution to the police department initially began outside of her teaching role. In 2011, she helped teach her 4-year-old son about real-life heroes through the Officer Ted. E. Bear program. Guests at the boy's birthday party were encouraged to donate teddy bears, which were then used by the officers to help comfort children exposed to trauma.

Tuesday, May 14, 2013 at 6 p.m.

For more information on any of the following items, please click here .

Recognitions

GCS Employee of the Month for May 2013

The board recognized Letisha Joyner, a bus driver serving Jamestown Elementary, as the May 2013 Employee of the Month.

GCS Volunteer of the Month for May 2013

The board recognized Theresa Lee, a volunteer at McNair Elementary, as the May 2013 Volunteer of the Month.

Recognition of Winter Sport State Champions

The board recognized several individuals from schools across the district for earning state championship titles during the 2012-13 winter sports season.

GCS Student Receives President's Volunteer Service Award

The board recognized Zoe Schorr, a senior at Greensboro College Middle College, as a recipient of the President's Volunteer Service Award.

Two GCS Educators Recognized by NCAE

The board recognized two educators for their outstanding work and awards they received from the North Carolina Association of Educators.

Consent Agenda

The board approved the following items on the consent agenda:

- Meeting Minutes

- Personnel Action Report and Addendum

- Renewal of Driver Education Services Contract

Staff Reports

Approval of High Point Central High Gymnasium Floor Replacement Change Order

The board approved a change order in the amount of $232,208.62 and eight additional days for substantial completion of the gymnasium floor replacement scope of work at High Point Central High.

Board Discussion

Update on School Security Task Force

Nora Carr, chief of staff, provided an overview of the work of the Board of Education School Security Task Force since the group began meeting in January, as well as recommendations for board discussion on security improvements that have potential budget and/or funding impact for 2013-14.

Approval of 2013-14 Superintendent's Recommended Budget

The board approved the superintendent's proposed operating budget of $629,085,238 and total budget of $705,827,043. The budget request now goes to the Guilford County Board of Commissioners for review. The budget request seeks $13.6 million more in operating funds to pay for district operations, a salary increase for employees and lowering class sizes. The district is also requesting $10 million from the county to maintain and upgrade school buildings. The Guilford County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on the district's budget on Thursday, June 6. The county is required by law to adopt a budget by July 1.

Reports from the Superintendent

Nora Carr, chief of staff, provided an update on Family Fun Day, a free event for families hosted by Guilford Parent Academy on Saturday, May 18, at Camp Weaver.

Reports from the Chairman

Board member Sandra Alexander provided an update from the Legislative Committee on the status of education bills currently being discussed by the North Carolina General Assembly.

Guilford County Board of Education meetings are broadcast live on GCSTV 2 (cable channel 2) and online at http://media.gcsnc.net/gcstv . The meetings re-air the day after the meeting at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. and the Saturday following the meeting at 1 p.m.

May 15, 2013

The Guilford County Board of Education approved a $189.2 million budget request for local funding at its May 14 meeting. That request will go to the Guilford County manager today, May 15, in keeping with state statutes.

The Guilford County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on the budget at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 6. Commissioners are required by state statute to vote on the school budget on or before July 1. By law, the county must approve the school budget on or before July 1.

GCS depends on the county to provide more than 30 percent of its budget. The district is seeking $13.6 million more in operating funds from Guilford County Commissioners. The increase would pay for district operations, a salary increase for employees, and lowering class size. The district is also requesting $10 million in county money to maintain and upgrade school buildings.

"In order to support our students and our staff, who lay it on the line every day, I think we have to ask for increased funding from county commissioners," said Board Chair Alan Duncan. "We have to be advocates for our students and our families."

Over the past few years, funding from county commissioners has essentially remained flat, while district expenses, including the number of students and number of buildings GCS manages, have risen significantly. GCS also has faced other funding cuts, including a loss of more than $43 million in state dollars since 2008. Funding for certain positions, textbooks, instructional materials, professional development and technology have all been cut by the state in recent years.

"It's time," said GCS Superintendent Maurice "Mo" Green. "After five years of cutting resources, and after five years of doing more with less, I believe it is time to seek adequate funding to support our students."

The superintendent presented his recommended budget to the Board of Education in March; the Board approved his recommendation without making any changes. The district's total operating budget of $629,085,238 includes $13.2 million in reductions and redirections. Many of those will have a direct impact on schools and classrooms, such as increasing class sizes; eliminating $2 million in funding for summer school, after-school tutoring and other academic-intervention programs; central office reductions of $1.8 million; redirecting mentor pay for teachers who support new educators, and eliminating some school-based literacy facilitator positions.

The GCS total proposed 2013-14 budget is $705,827,043, which includes capital outlay funds, special revenue funds (which pay for pre-k programs), and enterprise funds, which include child nutrition and afterschool care enrichment services. GCS spends 85 percent of its budget on salaries and benefits.

GCS is projecting federal funding to be nearly $43.5 million and $389,286,993 from the state, but will not have final numbers until the state budget passes sometime in the next few months. Governor Pat McCrory's proposed budget, for example, eliminates more than $117 million for teacher assistants in second and third grade, including $6.2 million from GCS. If Governor McCrory's budget is adopted by the state, the district would need to find another estimated $5.2 million in cuts.

"We would not be able to cut this deep without cutting people and positions," said Green. "This is a serious situation, one that threatens our ability to serve our children well."

May 14, 2013

The first 50 of more than 5,000 students graduating from Guilford County Schools (GCS) this year will take the stage at GTCC's Koury Auditorium on Wednesday night. The Middle College at GTCC-Jamestown marks the first of 30 graduation ceremonies from May to August for the GCS Class of 2013.

Of those 50 students, 13 of them will graduate with an associate degree from GTCC, five of which were earned in only four years. The Middle College at GTCC-Jamestown is one of several GCS high schools that offer students the chance to earn college credit while in high school.

Dejuan Smith is one of those who will earn both a high school diploma and an associate degree on Wednesday. In addition to taking a full college course load, Dejuan works 25 to 40 hours per week to help provide for his family and cheers competitively in his free time, something he hopes to continue in his college career.  

The full 2013 graduation schedule is available on the GCS website. Ceremonies for the district's early and middle colleges and other non-traditional high schools will take place throughout May and early June. Traditional high schools will hold graduation ceremonies June 7 through June 10 at the Greensboro Coliseum Special Events Center.  

To ensure all ceremonies go off without a hitch, GCS asks all graduates, family members and guests to show respect for graduates by applauding politely, limiting cheers so every graduate's name is heard and remaining seated during the ceremonies. For safety and security reasons, guests will not be allowed to bring duffel bags, backpacks, balloons, air horns or noisemakers into graduations.

School staff members and families are invited to share outstanding graduation stories with GCS by e-mailing goodnews@gcsnc.com .

May 14, 2013

The Early College at Guilford earned recognition among the nation's best high schools according to new rankings released by Newsweek and The Daily Beast. The annual list of high schools ranked The Early College at Guilford 21^st in the nation. The school also earned the number one ranking among North Carolina high schools and was ranked 14^th in the South.

Penn-Griffin School for the Arts and Weaver Academy were both ranked among the top 10 schools in North Carolina, coming in at 281^st and 311^th respectively in the national rankings.

In total, 20 Guilford County schools were included in the America's Best High Schools list. The list includes the 2,000 best public high schools in the nation. Guilford County high schools accounted for more than a quarter (27 percent) of the North Carolina schools on the list.

The rankings are based on graduation rate (25 percent), college acceptance rate (25 percent), AP, IB and college-level exams taken per student (25 percent), average SAT/ACT scores (10 percent), average AP, IB and college-level exam scores (10 percent), and percent of students enrolled in at least one AP or IB course (5 percent).

Monday, May 13

Mendenhall Middle Fights Hunger During Empty Bowl Night, 4 - 6 p.m., (Mendenhall Middle, 205 Willoughby Blvd., Greensboro) - Students from Mendenhall Middle will host an Empty Bowls event today. Art students created ceramic bowls that will be for sale alongside ice cream from Ben & Jerry's. During the event, there will be a performance by choral students, and the school's step team. There will also be a presentation about Mendenhall's partner school, the Community Eleven School in Tema, Ghana. Normally, proceeds from Empty Bowls events go to help fight hunger in the community, but since Mendenhall Middle is working with a school in Ghana, they will donate all sales to the Community Eleven School in Ghana.

Tuesday, May 14

Murphey Traditional Academy Receives Donation from UNCG Library Science Group,
2 p.m., (Murphey Traditional Academy, 2306 Ontario St., Greensboro) - Murphey Traditional Academy will receive a $300 donation from the UNCG Library Group for its media center on Tuesday. The donation will be used to purchase new books for fourth- and fifth-grade students. UNCG students studying to become media specialists designed and sold T-shirts to raise funds for Murphey.

Wednesday, May 15

Allen Jay Elementary to Receive a Makeover, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., (Allen Jay Elementary, 1311 E. Springfield Road, High Point) - As part of its 125^th anniversary celebration, Belk of High Point will provide a makeover to Allen Jay Elementary. Volunteers from Belk and the Volunteer Center will work together to install shelving for a food pantry, plant trees, paint murals and assemble bookcases.

GCS Day at the Greensboro Grasshoppers, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., (NewBridge Bank Park, 408 Bellemeade St., Greensboro) - Thanks to the generous ticket donation from the Greensboro Grasshoppers and President and General Manager Donald Moore, more than 4,000 GCS second-grade students will attend the Greensboro Grasshoppers home game on Wednesday at no cost. For many students this may be their first opportunity to attend a professional sporting event. Students from Lindley Elementary will sing the national anthem.

The Middle College at GTCC-Jamestown kicks-off 2013 Graduation Season, 6 p.m., (Guilford Technical Community College, Jamestown, Koury Auditorium, 601 High Point Road, Jamestown) - The Middle College at GTCC-Jamestown will kick off the 2013 graduation season with a ceremony on Wednesday in the Koury Auditorium.

Thursday, May 16

The Middle College at Bennett Celebrates Commencement, 3 p.m. (Bennett College, Pfeiffer Chapel, 900 E. Washington St., Greensboro) - The Middle College at Bennett will bid farewell to the senior class of 2013 during a commencement ceremony in Pfeiffer Chapel .

The Middle College at N.C. A&T Hosts Graduation Ceremony, 7:30 p.m. (N.C. A&T University, Harrison Auditorium, 1601 E. Market St., Greensboro) - The Middle College at N.C. A&T will celebrate the class of 2013 during a graduation ceremony on Thursday.

Friday, May 17

Greensboro College Middle College Celebrates Commencement, 10 a.m., (Greensboro College, 815 W. Market St., Greensboro) - The Middle College at Greensboro College will send off their graduating seniors during a commencement ceremony on Friday.

The Academy at Smith Holds Graduation Ceremony, 6 p.m., (N.C. A&T University, Harrison Auditorium, 1601 E. Market St., Greensboro) - The Academy at Smith will bid farewell to the class of 2013 during a graduation ceremony on Friday.

Saturday, May 18

GCS Hosts Family Fun Day at Camp Weaver, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., (Camp Weaver, 4924 Tapawingo Trail, Greensboro) - Guilford Parent Academy is hosting its third-annual family fun event this Saturday. This fun event at Camp Weaver will allow parents, caregivers and children the opportunity to enjoy a day of crafts, entertainment, horseback riding, kayaking, walking trails and other outdoor activities. All children must be accompanied by an adult. More than 2,500 students and family members will be in attendance. Registration was required for the event and is now closed.

Northern Middle Celebrate Completion of Outdoor Learning Center with Ribbon Cutting, 4 - 6 p.m., (Northern Middle, 616 Simpson-Calhoun Road, Greensboro) - Northern Middle will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of its new $30,000 outdoor learning center. Funded through a combination of student fundraising, corporate sponsorship and private donations, this new 30-foot by 30-foot area covered by an ultraviolet resistant shade will allow teachers to move the classroom outside to encourage students to better connect with nature.

Eastern High Science Teacher Offers Astronomy Observation Session, 8 p.m., ( Northeast Park, 4010 High Rock Road, Gibsonville) - The community is invited to join the Eastern High Physics Club for a star-gazing event at Northeast Park on Saturday. Eastern astronomy teacher Thomas Hefner will lead the star viewing. Members of the Greensboro Astronomy Club will help to operate telescopes. Students who attend schools in the Eastern High attendance zone will be eligible to win a telescope of their own.

Monday, May 20

Rankin Elementary to Welcome Home Returning Solider, 9:30 a.m., (Rankin Elementary, 1501 Spry St., Greensboro) - Rankin Elementary will host a welcome-home celebration for Staff Sergeant Robert Benson on Monday. Staff Sergeant Benson has been serving at Camp Clark in Afghanistan with the North Carolina National Guard 514^th Military Police Company. Staff Sergeant Benson is part of the group of soldiers who Skyped with Rankin Elementary students for Veteran's Day. Benson's wife is a teacher at Rankin Elementary. During the celebration Staff Sergeant Benson will surprise his three children who don't know that he is coming home.

The Middle College at GTCC-High Point Holds Graduation, 7 p.m. (Guilford Technical Community College, Jamestown, Koury Auditorium, 601 High Point Road, Jamestown) - The Middle College at GTCC-High Point will honor the class of 2013 during a graduation ceremony on Monday in the Koury Auditorium.

May 10, 2013

Breaking News from Washington, D.C. -

Guilford County Schools is one of only three school districts to be named a 2013 National District of Character and the first ever from North Carolina.

Guilford County Schools (GCS) was named a 2013 National District of Character. GCS is one of only three districts in the country to earn the recognition, which is part of the National Schools and Districts of Character Program, administered by the Character Education Partnership (CEP) in Washington, D.C. This is also the first time a school district in North Carolina has won this national award.

In February, GCS was named the North Carolina District of Character, and learned it was selected as a national finalist from a pool of 131 schools and districts across the country. On Friday, May 10, CEP announced the 25 schools, three districts and one charter district to win the distinction.

Watch the GCSTV Newsbreak

"It is a big honor to win this national recognition," said GCS Superintendent Maurice "Mo" Green. "We launched our character development program in 2010 with three fundamentals: character education, service-learning and civic education. Since then, our students and staff have embraced the concepts, and it is having a positive impact on academics, student behavior and school culture."

Character, Service and Safety is one of the five areas of the new Strategic Plan 2016: Achieving Educational Excellence: Personalizing Learning . Character development and service-learning were big pieces of the Strategic Plan 2012, which focused on graduating students who demonstrated high academic achievement, strength of character and service to others. The 2016 plan builds on that foundation, with goals that include integrating character education and service-learning with the Common Core State Standards, increasing character-development opportunities for students outside of school and recognizing students and staff members who demonstrate excellence in character development.

All 124 GCS schools are engaged in character development and service-learning. In the 2012-13 school year, GCS students performed more than 200,000 hours of service to schools and our community. Approximately 400 students in the Class of 2013 will receive a service-learning diploma for completing more than 225 hours of service during high school; more than 300 students will receive an exemplary award for completing more than 100 hours.

In June, 2012, five GCS schools - Southern High, Weaver Academy, Vandalia Elementary, Oak Hill Elementary and Jefferson Elementary - earned the Character Education Partnership's Promising Practices Award, which showcases innovative best practices in character education. GCS earned five of the 297 awards given to individual schools, districts and organizations from across the U.S., as well as from Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong and Mexico.

CEP will honor these schools and districts at the 20th National Forum on Character Education , to be held October 24-27, 2013 in Washington, DC. Click here for more information about the National Schools and Districts of Character Program and the 2013 National Winners .

"The only thing that separates you from CEOs in corner offices or scientists in labs is determination, hard work, and a passion for what you want to achieve."

More than 700 students heard this advice and more from aviation hero Barrington Irving, who was the first black pilot to fly solo around the world.

Irving spoke in a special "Dream & Soar" program at Northern High that was sponsored by B&C Associates in High Point, Mitsubishi Heavy Equipment Industries and U.S. Rep. Howard Coble. Students from Northern, Northwest High, Page High and Northern Middle attended the program, while students from Andrews Aviation met with the pilot for a special question and answer session.

Irving spoke about the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education, careers in aviation and pursuing their passion. In 2007, at age 23, he became the youngest pilot to fly solo around the globe, breaking seven speed and distance records on his 97-day trip. Rep. Coble, a frequent visitor to GCS, also spoke to students and staff.

After Irving's presentation, students had the opportunity to ask questions. Students asked about his flight around the world, how often he wears his flight suit and why he chose aviation. When describing his upbringing, Irving mentioned how he was a kid who didn't know how to swim, but he was clean pools in order to make extra money. One student followed up on this, asking if he had ever learned to swim (he has - just two years ago).

May 10, 2013

The Guilford County Board of Education will hold the following meetings May 13-24:

• The Construction Advisory Committee will meet on Tuesday, May 14 at 2:30 p.m. at High Point Central High, 801 Ferndale Blvd., High Point. 

• The Guilford County Board of Education will meet on Tuesday, May 14 at 6 p.m. in the Board Room at 712 N. Eugene St., Greensboro.

• The Governance Committee will meet on Thursday, May 16 at 8:30 a.m. in the Swann Room at 712 N. Eugene St., Greensboro.

• The Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB) Advisory Committee will meet on Tuesday, May 21 at 11:30 a.m. in the Board Room at 712 N. Eugene St., Greensboro.

May 9, 2013

Watch the latest GCSTV Newsbreak about students from Southwest Elementary, Middle and High planting dogwood trees on Arbor Day. Seven trees were planted near the entrance to the schools, and 400 more seedlings were given to students to plant at home. The trees were donated by Cone Health.

Watch more GCSTV

May 9, 2013

Watch the latest GCSTV Newsbreak about school district administrators and university representatives from Houston, Texas, visiting Guilford County Schools' early and middle colleges to gather information about whether it would be feasible for them to start a similar program.

Watch more GCSTV

Guilford County Schools and the community are thanking all GCS employees during Thank a Teacher in May, but this week in particular, we celebrate School Nurse Week and School Nutrition Employee Week.

Preparing healthy school meals, promoting good nutrition habits and offering a friendly greeting are all in a day's work for the 743 school nutrition employees in Guilford County. The nonprofit School Nutrition Association celebrates this professional commitment. The week is an opportunity for parents, students, school staff and communities to thank those who provide healthy meals to 32 million of America's students each school day. In the 2011-12 school year, GCS School Nutrition Services provided 4.2 million breakfasts and 7.9 million lunches to students.

National School Nurse Day, celebrated on May 8, highlights the critical role school nurses have in improving public health and ensuring students' academic success. We know that healthy children learn better, and school nurses are a crucial part of the school health team. School nurses have specialized knowledge and skills to manage students' medical conditions and chronic health illnesses in order to keep them healthy, in school and ready to learn.

Help GCS say thank you!

May 8, 2013

Christopher Ross, a first-grade student at McNair Elementary, uses amateur radio to ask astronaut Tom Marshburn how emergency situations, like someone becoming sick or injured, are handled on the International Space Station.

On Thursday, May 2, more than 860 students and guests from across Guilford County gathered at McNair Elementary and hundreds more watched live on television and the Web as Guilford County Schools (GCS) made an amateur radio contact with astronaut Tom Marshburn on the International Space Station. GCS was selected by NASA to make a direct contact with the space station as it flew over McNair Elementary, which is in its first year as a new school and was named for former astronaut and North Carolina A&T graduate Ronald McNair.

GCSTV Newsbreak - GCS Students Talk to Astronaut on the International Space Station

Sixteen out of the 20 students who were selected to ask questions were able to speak with Marshburn during the approximately 10-minute radio contact. They asked questions such as if astronauts believe in aliens, how emergencies are handled in space, how zero gravity affects dreams and the most interesting thing astronauts see while in space. These students' questions were selected from more than 2,740 originally suggested by students at 35 schools.

Members of the Greensboro Amateur Radio Association provided expertise in setting up the radio connection. Additionally, RF Micro Devices, a local corporation that specializes in the design and manufacture of radio frequency (RF) solutions for mobile devices and communication equipment, generously donated the amateur radio equipment and loaned GCS a sophisticated antenna that was used to make a direct contact with the International Space Station as it passed about 250 miles over the school.

Slideshow of Photos from the Event

Teachers prepared students for the radio contact by including lessons on space, astronomy, NASA and the International Space Station in their subject curriculum using a guide of suggested educational resources put together by GCS.

The contact was intended to expose students to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) in a fun and meaningful way, and inspire students to explore these subjects in the future. The skills needed to use amateur radio as a communication tool are applicable to a variety of technical careers, including engineering, emergency management services, aviation, nanotechnology, telecommunication and electrical trades, all careers that GCS students could pursue one day.

This event was coordinated through the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program, a cooperative venture of NASA, the American Radio Relay League, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation and other international space agencies that schedule radio contacts between astronauts and schools. The ARISS radio contact is one in a series of educational activities organized by Teaching From Space, a NASA Education office dedicated to improving STEM teaching and learning using the unique environment of human spaceflight.

GCSTV broadcasted the event live, and hundreds of students, teachers and community members watched on television and online. The broadcast will re-air at times to be announced. Visit www.gcsnc.com/ariss for more information.

May 7, 2013

Three Guilford County Schools were honored this year by the National Energy Education Development ( NEED ) Project, including one school that is considered one of the best in the nation.

Colfax Elementary received a NEED Youth Award as both the National Elementary School of the Year and the North Carolina Elementary School of the Year. Northern Middle was recognized as the North Carolina Junior School of the Year, and Northern High was named the North Carolina Senior School of the Year.

All three schools, and nearly 80 more, are participants in the district's Energy WISE program, which uses student-led teams to identify and eliminate energy waste at the school level. With more than 12 million square feet of building space, GCS implemented the Energy WISE program in 2010-11 as part of the 2012 Strategic Plan initiative to develop a district-wide master energy plan.

"We are so proud of all of our Energy WISE teams, but especially proud to have these schools recognized by NEED as among the best in the country," says Carol Graydon, GCS energy engineer. "Our students are doing a great job as conservation role models, not just at school but at home and in the community too."

Since the Energy WISE program began in 2010-11, GCS has had state-level NEED winners every year, including Stokesdale Elementary, Sedgefield Elementary, Lindley Elementary, Northern Middle, Ragsdale High, Andrews High and Southern High. Sedgefield Elementary was also recognized as the National Rookie Elementary School of the Year in 2011.

As 2013 NEED award winners, all three schools are invited to attend the NEED Youth Awards Program June 21 to 24 in Washington, D.C., where they will tour the nation's capital, meet with government officials and receive their awards. In addition, their stories will be published in the NEED annual report.

May 6, 2013

Letisha "Tish" Joyner

What started as a way to dry a young bus rider's tears has turned into a remarkable program that forges friendships and helps build a lifelong love of reading.

Today, bus driver Letisha "Tish" Joyner was recognized as the May 2013 Guilford County Schools (GCS) Employee of the Month, just a few months after starting the Reading Riders program on Bus 910, serving Jamestown Elementary.

Joyner, a 13-year veteran GCS bus driver, was inspired to start the club after seeing an older student sit with and read to a pre-kindergarten student, who was struggling with leaving home each morning. The child was comforted, and Reading Riders was born.

The program pairs older students with younger ones to read together on the bus, morning and night, four days a week. The results have been impressive, and the staff at Jamestown Elementary hope it will grow to include other buses and other schools.

"Miss Tish is not only helping to improve student literacy, but she's also helping to improve student behavior, increase student self-esteem and motivate the most reluctant of readers," says Jamestown Elementary Principal Kim Fleming. "She's making a major impact on our students and their achievement. She's proof that it takes us all working together to ensure the success of ALL students, whether it's in a classroom at Jamestown Elementary or in her 'mobile' classroom, Bus 910."

Joyner's idea not only helps encourage reading in connection with the district's Roadmap 2 Reading literacy program, it also shows that every GCS employee makes a difference in a student's life.

As Employee of the Month, Joyner received a $50 gift card from Sam's Club, which has given nearly $5,000 to exceptional GCS employees since 2005. During the month of May, her photo will hang at the district's central offices, at Jamestown Elementary and at the Sam's Club on Wendover Avenue. She will be recognized at the Board of Education meeting on May 14.

Preparing healthy school meals, promoting good nutrition habits and offering a friendly greeting are all in a day's work for the 743 school nutrition employees in Guilford County.  The nonprofit School Nutrition Association celebrates this professional commitment with School Nutrition Employee Week, May 6-10, 2013. The week is an opportunity for parents, students, school staff and communities to thank those who provide healthy meals to 32 million of America's students each school day.

Breakfast and lunch are available to all students in Guilford County.  In the 2011-2012 school year, GCS School Nutrition served 4.2 million breakfasts and 7.9 million lunches to students. 

School nutrition employees must balance many roles and follow numerous federal, state and local regulations to ensure safe and healthy meals are available in schools. They are trained sanitation and food safety experts and must manage financially self-sufficient programs despite limited funds to prepare and serve each meal. School nutrition professionals also provide nutrition education to students and use their creativity to make the cafeteria a fun and welcoming place.

This year, school nutrition employees took on a new responsibility.  In January 2012, the federal government finalized new nutrition standards for school meals, requiring schools to serve more fruits and vegetables (including weekly servings of legumes, dark green and orange vegetables), switch to whole grains and limit the sodium and calories in each meal.  GCS School Nutrition professionals have been anticipating these changes for years and began offering whole grains and a wide variety of fruits and vegetables years ago.

Guilford County's School Nutrition Department strives to serve healthy meals to students every day.  The lunch and breakfast menus include various whole grain and low-fat choices.  Local, fresh produce, such as the strawberries and blueberries featured in May are available for students at lunch through the North Carolina Farm to School Program.

The importance and nutritional value of school meals are well documented. For many children, school lunch is the most important and nutrient-rich meal of their day.  In fact, federal regulations ensure that every school lunch offers students their choice of milk, two fruits or vegetables, a grain and a protein.  School meals must also meet strict limits for fat, saturated fat and portion size.

Please join the school nutrition department in recognizing and celebrating its staff for their hard work and dedication to serving the students in Guilford County a nutritious and appetizing meal every day.

Tuesday, May 7

Weaver Academy Students Share Anti-Bullying Books with Rankin Elementary, 10:45 a.m., (Rankin Elementary, 1501 Spry Road, Greensboro) - Brutus Learns a Lesson and Sammy the Swordfish, books written and illustrated by Weaver students, will be read to fourth-grade students at Rankin Elementary as part of a service-learning activity about bullying prevention. After the activity Weaver students will donate the books to the school media center.

Brooks Global Studies Says "Thank You" to Teachers, 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., (Brooks Global Studies Media Center, 1215 Westover Terrace, Greensboro) - As part of National Teacher Day, Brooks Global Studies will thank its dedicated teaching staff during a teacher appreciation luncheon on Tuesday. The luncheon is an opportunity for students and parents to show their gratitude for all that teachers do. Parents will serve food to teachers while students take turns reading thank you letters they have written for their teachers. GCS thanks all its teachers and staff during Thank a Teacher month each May.

Wednesday, May 8

Weaver Students Design Educational Games, 9:45 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., (Murphey Traditional Academy, 2306 Ontario St., Greensboro) - Game Art and Design students from Weaver Academy will visit Murphey Traditional Academy on Wednesday to present the board games they designed using funding they received from a Bright Ideas Grant. Weaver Academy students worked with Murphey Traditional Academy teachers to create the board games, which align with the fourth- and fifth-grade Common Core State Standards. The Bright Ideas education grant program provides funding to North Carolina teachers for innovative classroom projects that fall outside normal funding parameters.

Friday, May 10

Aviation Hero Barrington Irving and U.S. Rep. Howard Coble Speak with Students About Careers in STEM, 9:30 a.m., (Northern High, 7101 Spencer-Dixon Road, Greensboro) - Barrington Irving, the first black pilot to fly solo around the world, will speak to students about the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education, careers in aviation and pursuing their passion. In 2007, at age 23, Irving was the youngest pilot to fly solo around the globe, breaking seven speed and distance records on his 97-day trip. U.S. Rep. Howard Coble also will speak about the importance of STEM education and the need for more women and minorities to get involved in the field.

Greensboro Grasshoppers Players Visit Jones Elementary, 11 a.m. - noon, (Jones Elementary, 502 South St., Greensboro) - Students at Jones Elementary will have the opportunity to interact with native Spanish speaking baseball players from the Greensboro Grasshoppers on Friday. The players will visit students in the Spanish Immersion Program as well as students in the Neighborhood Leadership Program at the school. Fifth-grade students will have the opportunity to work on their translation skills by acting as interpreters for non-Spanish speaking students.

May 6, 2013

Watch the latest GCSTV Newsbreak about four major accomplishments achieved by Guilford County Schools on Thursday, May 2. The district received North Carolina District of Character, Grimsley teacher Karyn Dickerson won North Carolina Teacher of the Year, Northern High student T.J. Logan won North Carolina Athlete of the Year, and students contacted astronaut Tom Marshburn on the International Space Station using amateur radio.

Watch more GCSTV

May 2, 2013

With more than 10,000 employees, one day isn't enough to say thank you. One week isn't even enough. So Guilford County Schools (GCS) has designated May as Thank a Teacher Month   to celebrate the contributions made by GCS employees to the students and community of Guilford County.

Though teachers make up the bulk of the district's positions, it takes many more roles to keep a school district functioning. Thank a Teacher month is designed to thank not only teachers but support staff and administrators as well.

"All of our employees deserve thanks, from the bus drivers who see the children first thing in the morning, to the custodians who get the buildings ready for their arrival," says Superintendent Maurice "Mo" Green. "We want to show them our appreciation for all that they do, because we know that in many cases, what they do goes far beyond their job descriptions."

Employees, parents and community members are invited to share stories of their favorite GCS employees by emailing goodnews@gcsnc.com . Posters and cards will also be distributed throughout the community to provide a public way to say thanks. You can also download the materials from the district's Thank a Teacher page at http://www.gcsnc.com/thankateacher .

For more stories of great employees, watch GCSTV , which is channel 2 on Time Warner Cable, and pick up the Sunday, May 5 issue of the News & Record . GCS would like to thank Action Greensboro, Businesses for Excellence in Education and Guilford Education Alliance for their support of Thank a Teacher Month.

May 2, 2013

Karyn Dickerson, Grimsley High English teacher, was named the 2013-14 North Carolina Teacher of the Year. With her are Superintendent Mo Green, her husband Jade, and her principal Greg Newlin.

Karyn Dickerson has been inspiring students at Grimsley High with her love of language for nearly seven years. Now, as North Carolina's top teacher, she will share her skills with educators across the state.

At a ceremony today in Cary, Dickerson was named the Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year by State Superintendent June Atkinson. In making the presentation, Atkinson said Dickerson is an inspiring example of the teachers leading North Carolina public school classrooms.

"Karyn's educational philosophy prepares students to succeed in the classroom and in life," Atkinson said. "She encourages her students to think for themselves and provides them with numerous opportunities for open discussion and cooperative learning. These are valuable skills that will serve them well in further education and in their careers."  

Dickerson, who teaches English, sees her role as helping students grow not just academically but personally and interpersonally as well. "Learning critical thinking, organizational and writing skills will transcend the high school classroom and propel students into college and the workplace," she wrote in her application. "I want my lessons to empower students to examine the world around them and to assert their own place within that world."

A National Board Certified Teacher, Dickerson came to the teaching profession through lateral entry and has spent the majority of her career at Grimsley High. She also coaches Grimsley's varsity tennis team and teaches English Teaching Methods at Guilford College.

"Karyn Dickerson's students are engaged, challenged and motivated to embrace new ideas," said Grimsley High Principal Gregory Newlin. "I'm thrilled that she'll be in a position to lead and educate other teachers. She's an ideal candidate for this honor."

As North Carolina Teacher of the Year, Dickerson will spend the next school year traveling the state as an ambassador for the teaching profession. She will receive an automobile to use during the year thanks to Flow Automotive in Winston-Salem, an engraved vase, a one-time cash award of $7,500, a trip to the National Teacher of the Year conference, the opportunity to travel abroad through an endowment through the North Carolina Center for International Understanding and a technology package valued at more than $11,000 from SMART Technologies.

She also will serve as an advisor to the State Board of Education for two years and as a board member for the NC Public School Forum for one year. In addition, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction will sponsor her enrollment and completion of the Education Policy Fellowship Program.

Dickerson joins an elite group of Guilford County Schools (GCS) educators who have been recognized as the state's best. In 2012, Principal Patrice Faison was named the Wells Fargo Principal of the Year. Last year's GCS Teacher of the Year, Jennifer Arberg, was named a regional finalist for the state honor.

May 2, 2013

T.J. Logan, a three-sport athlete at Northern High, was named 2013 Athlete of the Year by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) today at the organization's annual meeting in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Athlete of the Year is the top athletic award given by the NCHSAA to honor the most outstanding male and female high school athletes in the state. Both Logan and female Athlete of the Year Hailey Cook of Hendersonville High School were selected by a special panel of media representatives from across the state.

For the honor, Logan received the Pat Best Memorial Trophy, named for former Goldsboro High principal and president of the NCHSAA, who died unexpectedly in 1988.

"T.J. is a three-sport athlete who comes around once in a lifetime," said Brian Thomas, athletic director at Northern. "As good an athlete as he is, he is also as good a person."

Logan has been a standout athlete in football, basketball and outdoor track throughout his time at Northern. In football, he helped lead the Nighthawks to three consecutive NCHSAA state championships, including rushing for a whopping 3,146 yards during the fall and earning the Most Valuable Player honor in the 2012 state championship game with 510 yards and eight touchdowns. He was also the Mid-State Conference Player of the Year in football.

In basketball, Logan was a three-time all-conference selection and runner-up for Conference Player of the Year honors. He scored 15.5 points per game, grabbed 4.8 rebounds an outing and handed out 6.1 assists.

In track, Logan is the defending NCHSAA 3-A champion in the 200 meters and was the state runner-up last year in the 100 meters. In competition this spring, his times have improved in both events.

Logan will be attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on a football scholarship this fall.

May 1, 2013

The Guilford County Board of Education will hold the following meetings May 3-10:

• The Board of Education and Guilford County Board of Commissioners will hold a budget work session on Friday, May 3 at 8:30 a.m. in the Blue Room at the Old Guilford County Courthouse, 301 W. Market St., Greensboro, NC.

• The School Security Task Force will meet on Monday, May 6 at 7 p.m. in the Board Room at 712 N. Eugene St., Greensboro, NC.

• The Shared Communications Committee, now known as The Sounding Board, will meet with Southeastern Region principals on Tuesday, May 7 at 4:30 p.m., in the media center at Southern High, 5700 Drake Road, Greensboro, NC.

• The Board of Education will hold a budget line-by-line review meeting on Wednesday, May 8 at 8 a.m. in the Board Room at 712 N. Eugene St., Greensboro, NC.

• The Legislative Committee will meet on Thursday, May 9 at 12:30 p.m. in the Swann Room at 712 N. Eugene St., Greensboro, NC.

• The Shared Communications Committee, now known as The Sounding Board, will meet with Northern Region principals on Thursday, May 9 at 4:30 p.m., in the media center at Page High, 201 Alma Pinnix Dr., Greensboro, NC.

For more information on any of the following items, please click here .

Recognitions

GCS' Thank a Teacher Month Proclamation 

The board voted to approve this May as GCS' Thank a Teacher campaign for May 2013.

2013 National Board Certified Teachers

The board recognized the district's newest National Board Certified Teachers who earned their certification this year.

Johnson Street Global Studies Selected for Student Spaceflight Experiments Program

The board recognized the Johnson Street Global Studies team, whose science experiment was tested on the International Space Station.

GCS Students Selected as Top Poets Laureate

The board recognized the 2013 Poets Laureate from the participating high schools across the district.

Consent Agenda

The board approved the following items on the consent agenda:

-   Meeting Minutes

-   Personnel Action Report

-   2012-13 Budget Amendments/Transfers Report

-   Approval of Utility Easements, Sidewalk Easement and Right-of-Way Dedications Plat at Allen Jay Middle School - A Preparatory Academy Campus

Staff Reports

Construction Update

Julius Monk, director of construction, presented to the board an update on the district's construction projects .

Approval of Fundations Program (Kindergarten-Third Grade Literacy)

Beth Folger, chief academic officer, and Whitney Oakley, executive director of K-8 curriculum and instruction, presented to the board a recommendation to accept a service agreement for the Fundations Program as part of the GCS plan to implement the Common Core Standards. The board voted to approve staff to enter into negotiations with Fundations.

Approval of Meal Price Increase for 2013-14

Angie Henry, chief financial officer, and Jim Faggione, school food service director, presented to the board a recommendation to approve a 10-cent increase in lunch meal prices effective with the 2013-14 school year as part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. The board voted to approve a 5-cent increase to lunch prices for the 2013-14 school year.

Report on Universal Free Breakfast

Angie Henry, chief financial officer, and Jim Faggione, school food service director, presented to the board a report on the district's universal free breakfast program.

Continued Budget Discussion

Chief Financial Officer Angie Henry led a discussion to answer board member questions about the Superintendent's recommended budget.  

Personnel Action Report Addendum

The board approved the addendum to the personnel action report.

Board Discussion

Governance Committee Update

Nancy Routh, convenor of the governance committee, led the board in discussion regarding approval of revisions to Policy JBCC, School Assignment. The board voted to approve the revisions.

Report from the Chairman

Chairman Alan Duncan called on Chief of Staff Nora Carr to present an update on the School Safety Task Force, which has been meeting since January. The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 6 at 7 p.m.

Guilford County Board of Education meetings are broadcast live on GCSTV 2 (cable channel 2) and online at http://media.gcsnc.net/gcstv . The meetings re-air the day after the meeting at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. and the Saturday following the meeting at 1 p.m.

The Board of Education approved Tuesday a 5-cent increase in lunch meal prices for the 2013-14 school year in conjunction with the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. The federal guidelines address not only the types and quantities of foods offered, but also how they are priced.

Currently, students in elementary, middle and high school pay $2.50 for lunch, and beginning next year, lunch will cost $2.55.

Districts were required to adhere to a meal-price equity requirement, in which the cost of a paid meal is equal to the difference between the free meal reimbursement ($2.94) and the paid meal reimbursement ($0.35). This comes to $2.59, or approximately $2.60.

While staff recommended a 10-cent increase to meet the requirement price and avoid the possibility of a more substantial increase in the future, the five-cent increase will not negatively affect the operations of school nutrition services.  

The change approved by the board will not impact those receiving free or reduced-price meals, which accounts for more than 57 percent of all GCS students. Families who cannot afford to pay for their child's lunch may apply for free or reduced-price meals through their child's school. Applications must be renewed each year, but families can apply throughout the school year.

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which brought the first major changes to school nutrition guidelines in 30 years, introduced a variety of foods. New meal patterns for lunch were introduced at the beginning of the school year, and similar changes will be introduced for breakfast in the 2013-14 school year.

These changes include:

• ensuring students are offered both fruits and vegetables every day of the week;
• requiring all grain products to be whole grain rich;
• allowing only fat-free or low milk (flavored milk must be fat free);
• limiting calories based on the grade of the student; and,
• increasing efforts to reduce sodium, saturated fat and trans fat.

For more information, contact School Nutrition Services at 336-370-3266.

April 30, 2013

Small savings can sometimes yield a big reward. That's certainly the case for the 30 GCS schools that won cash prizes at last night's Energy WISE awards banquet.

The Energy WISE program, now in its third year, employs student-led teams to identify and reduce energy waste within the school building. Students also conduct awareness activities to educate the community about the importance of conservation.

Five schools were named Gold Award winners, earning $1,000 to support their school's Energy WISE team. Those schools are Lindley Elementary, Union Hill Elementary, Northern Middle, Northwest High and The Early College at Guilford.

Parkview Village Elementary, Northwest Middle and Andrews High won Silver Awards and a prize of $750. An additional 21 schools earned the Bronze Award and a $500 prize.

Four schools received special awards for excellence in a particular area and a bonus of $1,000:

• Best Comprehensive Program - Colfax Elementary
• Best Community Outreach Program - Northern High
• Best Technology Program - Southwest Middle
• Best Conservation Program - Northwest Middle

The Energy WISE program, which is modeled after one from the Kenton County School District in Kentucky, helps the district avoid thousands of dollars in energy costs each year.

"With more than 12 million square feet of building space to maintain, even small changes can make a huge difference," says Gerald Greeson, GCS director of maintenance. "What makes our program great is that it empowers students to become leaders and set an example for their peers."

More than 80 GCS schools participated in this year's Energy WISE program, which began as part of the 2012 Strategic Plan and was continued in 2016 Strategic Plan through strategy IV.17.

April 30, 2013

On Thursday, May 2, Guilford County Schools (GCS) students will get the rare opportunity to talk directly with an astronaut on the International Space Station using amateur radio. GCS has been selected by NASA to make live contact with astronaut Tom Marshburn , who was born in Statesville, N.C., as the International Space Station passes directly over Guilford County.

The contact will take place at McNair Elementary, which is named for former astronaut Ronald E. McNair, who was a crew member on Space Shuttle Challenger. More than 750 students will experience the contact live at McNair, and students, teachers and community members across Guilford County are invited to tune into the live broadcast of the event. The event will be shown live on GCSTV on Time Warner Cable channel 2 or AT&T U-Verse channel 99. It will also be streaming on the GCS website at www.gcsnc.com/gcstv  or http://media.gcsnc.net/gcstv.

The 10-minute, live question-and-answer session will allow students to speak directly with the space station as it passes over the school, about 250 miles above. Twenty students from schools across the district were selected to ask questions during the event. Their questions were selected from more than 2,740 originally suggested by students at 35 schools.

The questions include topics such as what space suits are made of, if astronauts believe in aliens, how emergencies are handled in space, how zero gravity affects dreams and what astronauts do for fun.

Teachers have prepared students for the radio contact by including lessons on space, astronomy, NASA and the International Space Station in their subject curriculum using a guide of suggested educational resources put together by GCS. The contact is intended to expose students to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) in a fun and meaningful way, and inspire students to explore these subjects in the future.

Members of the Greensboro Amateur Radio Association are providing expertise in setting up the radio connection. Additionally, RF Micro Devices , a local corporation that specializes in the design and manufacture of radio frequency (RF) solutions for mobile devices and communication equipment, is generously donating the amateur radio equipment and loaning GCS a sophisticated antenna that will be used to make a direct connection with the International Space Station when it passes over the school.

This event is coordinated through the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program, a cooperative venture of NASA, the American Radio Relay League , the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation   and other international space agencies that schedule radio contacts between astronauts and schools. The ARISS radio contact is one in a series of educational activities organized by Teaching From Space , a NASA Education office dedicated to improving STEM teaching and learning using the unique environment of human spaceflight.

For more information, visit www.gcsnc.com/ariss.

Guilford Parent Academy invites families to enjoy a free day of activities together during the second annual GCS Family Fun Day at Camp Weaver on Saturday, May 18.

Family Fun Day - 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Camp Weaver, 4924 Tapawingo Trail in Greensboro - will include activities and fun for kids of all ages and the young at heart. Parents, caregivers and children will have the opportunity to enjoy a day of crafts, entertainment, horseback riding, kayaking, walking trails and other outdoor activities.

Local food vendors will provide a variety of snacks and meals for purchase. Families may also bring in picnic lunches.

All guests attending Family Fun Day must pre-register for the event. All guests must also park at a transportation site and ride the shuttle to Camp Weaver. Buses will pick up from sites every half-hour from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Return shuttles will run every hour from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Pick-up / Drop-off locations:

• Andrews High, 1920 McGuinn Drive, High Point
• Dudley High, 1200 Lincoln St., Greensboro
• Page High, 201 Alma Pinnix Drive, Greensboro
• Southeast Middle, 4825 Woody Mill Road, Greensboro
• Western High, 409 Friendway Road, Greensboro

Space is limited, so register today by visiting http://conta.cc/14y4bTb. Interested in volunteering? Sign up for a two-hour shift by emailing Lisa Gardner at gardnel2@gcsnc.com or Kassinda Ross at rossk3@gcsnc.com. All volunteers will receive a voucher for a half-priced meal and will be able to park on-site for the day.

Family Fun Day is sponsored by Guilford County Schools, Guilford County Association of Educators, Guilford Coalition on Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention, Guilford County Council of PTAs and the YMCA.

For more information, call 336-279-4924 or email parentacademy@gcsnc.com. Find Guilford Parent Academy online at www.gcsnc.com/ParentAcademy, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GCSParentAcad or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GCSParentAcad.

Tuesday, April 30

Houston ISD Visits GCS Middle College, 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., (Middle College at GTCC-High Point, 901 S. Main St., High Point) - Board of Education members and principals from the Houston Independent School District in Houston, will tour the Middle College at GTCC-High Point to develop a better understanding of how the Guilford County Schools (GCS) early/middle college system works. After the tour, the Houston school district representatives will have the opportunity to eat lunch and speak with the students and staff from the middle college. Later in the afternoon, Principal Charlos Smith-Banks will head a panel discussion about the benefits the middle college system.

Parent Academy Webinar, 6 - 7 p.m., (Smith High, 2407 S. Holden Road, Greensboro, High Point Central, 801 Ferndale Blvd, High Point) - Parents are invited to take part in a free webinar, hosted by Guilford Parent Academy, on Tuesday night. This free event will provide parents with useful tips and suggestions on how they can set better standards and encourage their children to become productive adults. Attendees may log in from home or attend at a viewing site at High Point Central or Smith High.

Wednesday, May 1

Comic Book Artist to Visit Guilford Middle, 3:30 p.m., (Guilford Middle, 320 Lindley Road, Greensboro) - Comic book artist Chris Giarrusso will meet with Guilford Middle students and discuss how he became a professional comic book artist. During his visit, Chris will giveaway sketches and participate in a question-and-answer session with students. Chris is best known for the series "G-Man" published by Image Comics and "Mini-Marvels" published by Marvel Comics.

Thursday, May 2

GCS Students Speak with Astronauts on International Space Station, 10:30 a.m., (McNair Elementary, 4603 Yanceyville Road, Brown Summit) - GCS students will get the rare opportunity to talk directly with an astronaut on the International Space Station using amateur radio, and all classrooms in the district will have the chance to watch the event live. The International Space Station is scheduled to orbit directly over Guilford County for 10 minutes on Thursday, and GCS has been selected by NASA to make a live contact with astronaut Tom Marshburn, who was born in Statesville, N.C.

Ragsdale High to Host North Carolina Center for Safer Schools Forum, 6 p.m., (Ragsdale High, 1000 Lucy Ragsdale Drive, Jamestown) - The community is invited to attend a school safety forum hosted by the North Carolina Department of Public Safety at Ragsdale High on Thursday. Department of Public Safety Secretary Kieran J. Shanahan, Secretary Dr. Aldona Wos of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, and Eric Tellefsen from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, will attend. This forum brings parents and community leaders together to voice their concerns about school safety directly to state officials.

Friday, May 3

Comic Book Artist to Visit Weaver Academy, 10 a.m. - noon, (Weaver Academy, 300 S. Spring St., Greensboro) - Comic book artist Chris Giarrusso will meet with Weaver Academy students and discuss how he became a professional comic book artist and what it takes to have a career in art. During his visit, Chris will giveaway sketches and participate in a question-and-answer session with students. Chris is best known for the series "G-Man" published by Image Comics and "Mini-Marvels" published by Marvel Comics.

April 26, 2013

After 33 years of service to North Carolina's school children, Central Region Superintendent Dr. Terry Worrell will soon start a new phase of her career. Worrell has accepted a leadership position with North Carolina New Schools and will be leaving Guilford County Schools (GCS) at the end of the school year.

Worrell has served as the Central Region Superintendent since 2009 and currently has 42 schools under her leadership. During that time she helped the district open two new high school magnet programs - The Middle College at UNCG and The STEM Early College at N.C. A&T. Worrell has also been instrumental in implementing magnet programs at Bluford Elementary, Brown Summit Middle and The Academy at Lincoln.

"Dr. Worrell has provided outstanding leadership to the district and will truly be missed," says Dr. Beth Folger, chief academic officer. "Her unwavering commitment to our students, teachers and community will be a lasting legacy in GCS. Dr. Worrell is leaving behind shoes that will be hard to fill."

During her years with GCS, she was principal at Page High, Mendenhall Middle and Bluford Elementary. She also served as a school support officer, instructional improvement officer, assistant principal and substance abuse lead teacher. Worrell's first role with GCS was teaching physical science at Lincoln Junior High.

In 2003 during her tenure at Page High, Worrell was named Guilford County Schools' Principal of the Year. She was the North Carolina Association of Educators Principal of the Year in 2000 while at Mendenhall Middle. She currently serves as president of the North Carolina Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

April 25, 2013

What started as a small thought turned into a school-wide service-learning project at Gibsonville Elementary. On Earth Day, April 22, Gibsonville held a ribbon-cutting for its brand new garden, and each class took part in the planting. Teachers will use the garden to integrate lessons around growing, measurement and non-fiction reading.

The garden blossomed out of a small grant received by speech therapist Chassattee Mickens. She invited school staff to join her in the garden, and she and her colleagues discovered each other's hidden gardening talents. For example, music teacher Ryan Mack built large wooden planter boxes, and media specialist Catherine Wray, who has a greenhouse at home, took an active role. Many other staff members and community members, as well as Lowes and Home Depot, have contributed to the project.

"Mrs. Mickens' garden project exemplifies the best characteristics of service-learning," principal Jessica Bohn said.  "The entire garden team's efforts are to be commended for showing us what excellent service-learning can look like and how fun it can be."

April 25, 2013

Page High was ranked fourth in the state by the new U.S. News and World Report 2013 Best High School Rankings . Southern High also made the state list, coming in at no. 23. More than 21,000 public high schools across the country were evaluated and ranked within each state, as well as nationally. Page came in at number 669 overall, and Southern High was 1,595 overall.

U.S. News used data from the 2010-11 school year to evaluate schools in three areas: first, the overall performance of students on state tests, and second, high schools that performed better than the state average for least-advantaged students.

The third area included reviewing students' performance on Advanced Placement and/or International Baccalaureate exams in order to determine national gold, silver and bronze medal winners. Page and Southern High schools received silver medals. In the national rankings, 500 schools earned gold medals, 1,790 were awarded silver and 2,515 took home bronze. Click here to read more about the U.S. News top high schools in North Carolina and across the country.

This has been a big month for GCS; a total of 16 schools were included in the Washington Post's America's Most Challenging High Schools list. Penn-Griffin School for the Arts earned the number-one ranking among North Carolina high schools and was ranked 41^st in the nation.

Grimsley High ranked sixth in the state and came in at 202^nd in the national rankings. Weaver Academy and Page High also ranked among the top 10 schools in North Carolina. The Early College at Guilford was named by The Washington Post as one of the country's top-performing schools with elite students .

Western Region Superintendent Angelo Kidd with Rookie Teacher of the Year Monica Doyle.

April 25, 2013

Today, GCS celebrated the achievements of its first-year teachers and those that helped them along the way at the annual Mentor of the Year and Rookie Teacher of the Year event, sponsored by Guilford Education Alliance and BB&T.

Pamela Hall, a literacy coach at Kiser Middle, was named the Rosalyn Tanner Orr Mentor of the Year. In the words of one of her mentees, Krista Pool, "Mrs. Hall has been my rock. Without her guidance in the first few months, my first year of teaching may not have been a success story."

Hall received $1,000 from the Rosalyn Tanner Orr Endowment from the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro and a tablet computer from Lenovo. She has been a mentor for 22 years. Other nominees, each of whom received $100, were Temple Cantrell of Kiser Middle, Cathy Haywood of Northwest High, Heather McLamb of Pearce Elementary and Mary Olzer of Triangle Lake Montessori.

Also Thursday, GCS named Monica Doyle of High Point Central High as the secondary and overall Rookie Teacher of the Year. Principal Robert Christina predicted she would later become a teacher of the year at High Point Central. "Her greatest skill set is her ability to engage, relate and enjoy her students," he writes, citing the creative ways she uses music and hands-on activities in her Algebra 1 lessons. Another recommendation calls her one of the best first-year teachers the school has ever had.

As the overall winner, Doyle received a tablet computer from Lenovo. Other secondary nominees included Tiffany Gibson of Jackson Middle and Kim Robson of Twilight School.

Rhonda Terrell of Morehead Elementary was named the elementary rookie teacher of the year.  During her first year of teaching, Terrell won praise for her organizational skills and willingness to collaborate with other colleagues. Other elementary nominees were Alison Graham at Reedy Fork Elementary and Aaron Murphy at Bessemer Elementary.

April 22, 2013

The Guilford County Schools Minority and Women Business Enterprise (MWBE) office and Samet | SRS invite contractors, subcontractors, service providers and suppliers to participate in an outreach event for the new George C. Simkins Jr. Elementary School project. The mixer and information session will allow attendees to network with Minority Business Managers and Historically Underutilized Business Coordinators and learn more about the scope and specifications for the Simkins Elementary construction project.

The event will be held Tuesday, April 23 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the PTA Room at the Guilford County Schools office, 712 N. Eugene St., Greensboro.

Preconstruction and operations staff members from Samet | SRS and Guilford County Schools will be available to answer questions. Topics that will be covered during the information session include project scope, plans and specifications, prequalification process and application, project logistics and scheduling, subcontractor/insurance requirements, and the State Wide Uniform Certification. Attendees will have the chance to win door prizes.

Simkins Elementary, which is named for longtime Greensboro civil rights activist George C. Simkins Jr., is one of the 2008 School Construction Bond projects. The school will be located at 3511 E. Lee St. in Greensboro and will serve approximately 700 students in kindergarten through fifth grade. It will relieve congestion at Alamance Elementary and potential overcrowding at Sedalia Elementary and McLeansville Elementary. The school is scheduled to open in August 2014.

To RSVP, please email jsigers@srsincorp.com by Monday, April 22.

April 22, 2013

Reading can take you places you've never been before. In the case of Guilford County Schools (GCS), it will take students on a coast-to-coast journey from Cape Hatteras to San Francisco.

On Friday, GCS announced its newest literacy initiative, Roadmap 2 Reading . All GCS students will be challenged to read 20 minutes per day outside of their classroom work and record their minutes. Those minutes will be counted as miles as students record their progress across the country.

Each student will strive to move the 3,114 miles across the country by the next State of Our Schools event in January 2014. The district will also track its progress as a whole by taking the total number of minutes read and dividing that by the number of students.

The district's latest literacy initiative is included in the 2016 Strategic Plan, which Superintendent Maurice "Mo" Green unveiled in January. Strategy I.31 calls for raising awareness about the importance of literacy by developing a home-school-community initiative.

"Children who are frequent readers have been shown to perform better in the classroom, spend more time volunteering and work in higher-paying jobs after school," says Dr. Beth Folger, Chief Academic Officer. "Roadmap 2 Reading gives our students a clear and easy guideline to follow to help them become more avid readers."

Parents can help students on their journey by helping them keep track of their minutes, which can be spent reading electronic or printed material of the child's choosing. Community groups are also encouraged to volunteer as reading buddies or make a book donation.

Roadmap 2 Reading is a continuation of the district's One, Two and Three Million Books campaigns. From January 2010 to January 2013, GCS students read and recorded 7,913,454 books, equal to 110 books per student.  

"Our students have amazed us during the last three years with the number of books they've read," says Folger. "Now with Roadmap 2 Reading, we're taking the challenge to the next level."

To view video of the kickoff event, click here.

Why do kids and families face so much stress, anxiety and challenges today? What has changed in our society since we were kids? What can we do as parents to set standards, take responsibility and be the coach that our kids need to become productive adults?

These questions and more will be answered during Guilford Parent Academy's first-ever webinar for parents. The webinar, called "Living from the Inside Out," will take place on Tuesday, April 30 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Stacey Dewitt, founder and president of Connect with Kids Education Network, will lead parents in a discussion and review online Guilford Parent Academy resources that can help launch a common community conversation, whether the topic is bullying prevention, building resilience, online ethics or creating a kind and caring environment in schools, homes and community.

Tuesday, April 30 from 6-7:30 p.m.
Living from the Inside Out
Thought leadership on building resilience, character and a culture of kindness at school and home

Parents can log on and register for the webinar at https://cwkevents.webex.com/cwkevents/onstage/g.php?d=668766127&t=a.

Event number: 668 766 127
Event password: parent

Parents can also attend one of the viewing sites:

Find Guilford Parent Academy online at www.gcsnc.com/ParentAcademy,  on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GCSParentAcad or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GCSParentAcad. To view a short Guilford Parent Academy video, visit http://bit.ly/GCSParentAcad.

Tuesday, April 23

GCS Invites Contractors to Outreach Event for Simkins Elementary Project, 5 - 7 p.m., (Guilford County School Office, 712 N. Eugene St., Greensboro) - The Guilford County Schools Minority and Women Business Enterprise (MWBE) office and Samet | SRS will meet with contractors, subcontractors, service providers and suppliers to participate in an outreach event for the new George C. Simkins Jr. Elementary School project. The mixer and information session will allow attendees to network with Minority Business Managers and Historically Underutilized Business Coordinators and learn more about the specifications for the Simkins Elementary construction project. Simkins Elementary, which is named for longtime Greensboro civil rights activist George C. Simkins Jr., is one of the 2008 School Construction Bond projects. The school will be located at 3511 E. Lee St. in Greensboro and will serve approximately 700 students in kindergarten through fifth grade.

Thursday, April 25

Rookie/Mentor of the Year Recipients to be Announced, 7:30 a.m., (Magnolia Manor, 8818 W. Market St., Colfax) - Join the Guilford Education Alliance as it hosts the Rookie Teacher of the Year and Mentor of the Year Breakfast at Magnolia Manor. During the breakfast, recipients of this year's Rosalyn Tanner Orr Mentor of the Year and GCS Rookie Teacher of the Year will be announced.

GCS Students to Compete in State SkillsUSA Conference, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., (Greensboro Coliseum, 1921 W. Lee St., Greensboro) - More than 50 GCS students from across the district will compete in the annual SkillsUSA competition on Thursday. Students will compete in more than 70 categories ranging from digital media and construction to the culinary arts. 

Friday, April 26

General Greene Elementary to Host Technology Fair, 8:15 a.m. - 1 p.m., (General Greene Elementary, 1501 Benjamin Parkway, Greensboro) -General Greene Elementary will host its annual Technology Fair. Presenters will share how their career has been affected by technology and showcase the different uses of technology in their job. The event is designed to help students will begin to think long-term about the importance of learning about technology, science and engineering. Students in grades K-5 will move through presenter stations to hear a wide variety of careers and see the progression of technology in the work force over time.

GCS and Cone Health Partner to Plant Trees for Arbor Day, 10:30 a.m., (Southwest High, 4364 Barrow Road, High Point) - Cone Health will present 400 white fir and dogwood tree seedlings to students at Southwest High and Environmental Service Clubs from schools across Guilford County. The seedlings are intended to replace an estimated 361 trees consumed while printing training materials for more than 8,000 people as they learned how to use Cone Health's integrated electronic medical record system, Cone HealthLink.

Saturday, April 27

GCS Hosts Get Fit Guilford Event, Noon - 4 p.m., (Ragesdale YMCA, 900 Bonner Drive, Jamestown) - Organized by Guilford County Service-Learning Youth Council, this event will provide the community with information about the importance of healthy living. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn healthy eating habits, participate in exercises demonstrations and take part in a fitness walk. Representatives from Earth Fare, the YMCA, Vitamin Shoppe and the Greensboro Children's Museum will be on hand to educate attendees on about nutrition and healthy choices.

Monday, April 29

GCS Day at the Greensboro Grasshoppers, 10:45 a.m. (NewBridge Bank Park, 408 Bellemeade St., Greensboro) - Thanks to the generous ticket donation from the Greensboro Grasshoppers and President and General Manager Donald Moore, more than 4,000 GCS second-grade students will attend the Greensboro Grasshoppers home game on Monday at no cost. For many students this may be their first opportunity to attend a professional sporting event. Students from Lindley Elementary will sing the national anthem.

Energy WISE Teams Celebrate Success at Year-End Banquet, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Grimsley High, 801 Westover Terrace, Greensboro) - Community partners and district representatives will honor Energy WISE teams for their hard work throughout the district during a year-end banquet on Monday. More than 80 GCS schools participated in this year's Energy WISE program, which aims to reduce the district's energy usage and impact on the environment.

April 21, 2013

Northern Middle seventh-grader Ricky Dorman was recently named a state ambassador for the Fuel Up To Play 60 program. Ricky will represent the state of North Carolina at the National Student Ambassador conference in Charlotte in July.

Ricky has been actively involved in the Fuel Up to Play 60 program at Northern Middle for two years. He attends weekly club meetings, helps organize school events that promote healthy eating and nutrition and encourages his peers to be physically active and make healthy food choices. By being named a student ambassador, Ricky gives youth an even greater voice in the program, which builds leaders who inspire healthy changes for themselves, their school, and the community. Last year, there were only 35 State Ambassadors chosen in the entire United States.

The Fuel Up To Play 60 program is an in-school nutrition and physical activity program that is sponsored by the Southeast Dairy Association and the National Football league. The program encourages students to eat plenty of nutrient rich foods, including low and no-fat dairy products, fruits, vegetables and whole grains products and to get at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily. Fuel Up to Play 60 creates an environment that encourages healthy and high achieving students and schools. The program is student led and the program advisors are Northern Middle physical education teachers Amanda Browning and Russ McHenry.

April 19, 2013

In just a couple of weeks, GCS students will get the rare opportunity to talk directly with an astronaut on the International Space Station using amateur radio . The International Space Station is scheduled to orbit directly over Guilford County the week of April 29-May 3, and GCS has been selected by NASA to make a live contact with crew members.

The contact will take place at McNair Elementary, which is named for former astronaut Ronald E. McNair, who was a crew member on Space Shuttle Challenger. More than 750 students will experience the contact live at McNair, and all students, teachers and community members are invited to tune into the event live on GCSTV or through webcast on the day of the event. The official date and time are still TBA, and will be released by NASA soon.

The 10-minute, live question-and-answer session will allow students to speak directly with the astronauts as the space station orbits 250 miles above Guilford County. Twenty students from schools across the district have been selected to ask questions during the event. Their questions were selected from more than 2,740 originally suggested by students at the school level and 64 final questions that were submitted by 35 schools. The students selected to ask their questions during the contact are as follows:

· Gavin Grime, kindergarten, Joyner Elementary

· Nasir Newkirk, kindergarten, McNair Elementary

· Christopher Ross, first grade, McNair Elementary

· Ashley Wood, second grade, Jones Elementary

· Aaron Soto, second grade, McNair Elementary

· Jordan Darwish, second grade, McNair Elementary

· Jaylin Woods, third grade, McNair Elementary

· Jakobi Lovings, third grade, McNair Elementary

· Jayla Martin, fourth grade, Bluford STEM Academy

· Rachel Olla, fourth grade, McNair Elementary

· Natalie Brown, fifth grade, Monticello-Brown Summit Elementary

· Jordan Neal, fifth grade, Gibsonville Elementary

· Josue Carlin, fifth grade, McNair Elementary

· Samantha Williams, fifth grade, Claxton Elementary

· Kevin Toledo-Perez, fifth grade, McNair Elementary

· Katie Clark, Mikala Lovell and Wyatt Slaughter, sixth grade, Mendenhall Middle

· Erick Trujilla, eighth grade, Southern Middle

· Antaysha Meadows, 10^th grade, Page High

· Taylor Harris, 12^th grade, Twilight High School

Teachers from these schools and others that plan to watch the event live in their classrooms on GCSTV or webcast are invited to prepare their students by using the educational plan of pre-event and post-event activities to introduce the concepts of space, astronomy, NASA and the International Space Station leading up to the event.

A team of educators and staff members from a variety of schools and offices in GCS, along with community members from Greensboro Amateur Radio Association (GARA), have been planning for the contact since June 2012. Members of GARA are providing expertise in setting up the radio connection. Additionally, RF Micro Devices , a local corporation that specializes in the design and manufacture of radio frequency (RF) solutions for mobile devices and communication equipment, is generously donating the amateur radio equipment, and loaning GCS a sophisticated antenna that will be used to make a direct connection with the International Space Station. The direct connection will allow students to talk to the astronauts at the time when the space station passes directly over the school.

This event is coordinated through the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program, a cooperative venture of NASA, the American Radio Relay League , the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation and other international space agencies that schedule radio contacts between astronauts and schools. The ARISS radio contact is one in a series of educational activities organized by Teaching From Space , a NASA Education office dedicated to improving teaching and learning in science, technology, engineering and mathematics using the unique environment of human spaceflight.

For more information, visit www.gcsnc.com/ariss.

April 19, 2013

The Guilford County Board of Education will hold the following meetings April 22-26:

• The Board of Education will hold a budget meeting on Monday, April 22 at 11:30 a.m. in the Board Room at 712 N. Eugene St., Greensboro, NC.

• The Shared Communications Committee, now known as The Sounding Board, will meet with Central Region principals on Monday, April 22 at 4:30 p.m., in the media center at Ragsdale High, 1000 Lucy Ragsdale Dr., Jamestown, NC.

• This School Safety Committee will meet on Tuesday, April 23 at 9 a.m. in the PTA Room at 712 N. Eugene St., Greensboro, NC.

• The Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB) Advisory Committee will meet on Tuesday, April 23 at 11:30 a.m. in the Board Room at 712 N. Eugene St., Greensboro, NC.

April 17, 2013

For more information on any of the following items, please click here .

Recognitions

GCS Employee of the Month for April 2013

The board recognized Charles Wright, lead custodian at Smith High, as the April 2013 Employee of the Month.

GCS Volunteer of the Month for April 2013

The board recognized Tracey Powell, a volunteer at Colfax Elementary, as the April 2013 Volunteer of the Month.

Battle of the Books competition

The board recognized students from the winning Battle of the Books teams at the elementary, middle and high school levels.

Guilford Association of School Librarians Media Specialist of the Year

The board recognized, Tricia Goodman, media specialist at Sternberger Elementary, who was named as the Guilford Association of School Librarians Media Specialist of the Year.

Get Fit Guilford Proclamation

The board recognized Get Fit Guilford and accepted a proclamation bringing awareness to healthy living options within the community.

Consent Agenda

The board approved the following items on the consent agenda:

-   Personnel Action Report

-   Renewal of Contract for Transportation - First Student, Inc.

-   Approval of Parkview School Improvement Grant Application

-   Design Contract Termination for Airport Area High School

Staff Reports

Consideration for Naming of the Baseball Stadium at Ragsdale High

The board approved the name "Ronnie Smith Stadium" for the baseball stadium at Ragsdale High. Smith was a student, teacher and baseball coach for more 30 years at three GCS schools, include Ragsdale High. As a student, he led Ragsdale to its first state title game. Smith died in 2007.

Consideration for Naming of the Northern High Football Stadium

The board voted to submit the name "Nighthawks Stadium" for the Northern High football stadium, and the name "Johnny Roscoe Field" for the football field at Northern High for a 30-day period of public comment. Roscoe has led the Northern Nighthawks to three state championship titles since 2008.

Western High School Options

At the meeting of April 16, 2013, Terry Worrell, central region superintendent, presented to the board options for academic improvement at Western Guilford High School. In May, staff will begin hosting a series of community meetings to gather feedback and will report back to the board in fall 2013.

Approval of Personalized Achievement, Curriculum and Environment Project

The Board of Education on Tuesday approved a proposal to supply the district's 17,000 middle school students with personal learning devices from Amplify Education, which currently serves more than 200,000 educators and three million students . The devices are part of the district's Personalized Achievement, Curriculum and Environment Project, also known as PACE.

Contractual Agreement for Additions and Renovation at Allen Jay Middle School

The board awarded a construction contract to Shelco, Inc. for the additions and renovations project at Allen Jay Middle School in the amount of $7,778,886.

Contractual Agreement for HVAC Renovations at Northwest Middle School

The board awarded a construction contract to H.M. Kern Corporation for the HVAC Renovations project at Northwest Middle School in the amount of $606,800.

Contractual Agreement for the Canopy Replacement at Jackson Middle School

The board awarded contract to Bar Construction Company, Inc. for the canopy replacement at Jackson Middle School in the amount of $398,000.

Continued Budget Discussion

Chief Financial Officer Angie Henry led a discussion to answer board member questions about the Superintendent's recommended budget. The discussion included an explanation of the governor's proposed state budget and its potential impact on GCS.

Personnel Action Report Addendum

The board approved the addendum to the personnel action report regarding administrator contract renewals.

Report from the Superintendent

Robert Melton, executive director of facilities and construction, reported to the board on behalf of the superintendent that the Greensboro City Council voted to return the Grimsley pool to the control of the school district beginning in May 2013.

Report from the Chairman

Chief of Staff Nora Carr updated the board on the status of several bills pending in the legislature that would affect public education.

Guilford County Board of Education meetings are broadcast live on GCSTV 2 (cable channel 2) and online at http://media.gcsnc.net/gcstv . The meetings re-air the day after the meeting at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. and the Saturday following the meeting at 1 p.m.

April 17, 2013

Ragsdale High's baseball stadium will bear the name of a beloved coach, teacher and graduate, the Board of Education voted Tuesday.

The board approved a proposal to name the Ragsdale High baseball stadium as "Ronnie Smith Stadium." Smith was a student, teacher and baseball coach for more 30 years at three GCS schools, include Ragsdale High. As a student, he led Ragsdale to its first state title game. Smith died in 2007, shortly after his retirement from the school district.

The name, which received 30 public comments of support, was submitted by Mike Raybon on behalf of the Ragsdale booster club.

Also on Tuesday, the board voted to submit the name "Nighthawks Stadium" for the Northern High football stadium, and the name "Johnny Roscoe Field" for the football field at Northern High for a 30-day period of public comment. As head football coach, Roscoe has led the Northern Nighthawks to three state championship titles since 2008.

The name "Johnny Roscoe Stadium" submitted previously was not approved.

Input on the names can be emailed to gcscomments@gcsnc.com  or via courier or U.S. mail to District Relations Department, Attn: Naming of Northern High Stadium, Guilford County Schools, 712 N. Eugene St., Greensboro, NC 27401. Comments will be accepted through May 16.

April 16, 2013

Penn-Griffin School for the Arts earned recognition among the nation's top 50 high schools according to new rankings released by The Washington Post. The school earned the number one ranking among North Carolina high schools and was ranked 41^st in the nation.

Grimsley High also found itself near the top of the North Carolina rankings. It ranked sixth in the state and came in at 202^nd in the national rankings. Weaver Academy and Page High also ranked among the top 10 schools in North Carolina. The Early College at Guilford was named by The Washington Post as one of the country's top-performing schools with elite students . The schools in this category were not included in the rankings.

A total of 16 Guilford County schools (GCS) were included in The Washington Post's America's Most Challenging High Schools list, which uses the Challenge Index to rank high schools. This formula is a measure of the number of Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) or Advanced International Certificate of Education given in a school divided by the number of graduating seniors. The annual list includes only schools that have an index of at least 1.000, which means students within a school took as many placement exams in a year as the school had graduates. About 9 percent of the approximately 22,000 public high schools in the United States made the list.

America's Most Challenging High Schools List

The Guilford County Board of Education approved a resolution asking the North Carolina governor and legislature to provide funding to fully support Guilford County Schools.

The Board approved the resolution at its March 12, 2013 meeting. The resolution names a number of reasons for the legislature to provide adequate funding, including:

• Students in our community and state must compete with students from across the globe for 21st century jobs;
• Every student must have an equal opportunity to receive a sound basic education and every school must have the resources necessary to do so;
• The 2012-13 state budget allocated 11 percent less to public education than during the 2007-08 fiscal year, even as public school enrollment has increased;
• State budget cuts have resulted in the loss of $43.2 million and hundreds of full-time positions for GCS since 2008-09, while enrollment has grown by more than 900 students;
• Based on the 2012 Public School of NC Local Finance Study, Guilford County is ranked 17th in the state for per-pupil expenditure at the local level, despite being the third-largest district in the state; and
• The future of the state and nation depends on the education of our local young people.

The resolution was also supported by the Board of Directors of the Guilford Education Alliance, the Guilford County Board of the PTA Council, the Greensboro Chapter of the NAACP, the Guilford County Association of Educators and the League of Women Voters of the Piedmont Triad.

The Board of Education's Legislative Agenda also addresses local, state and federal funding as major issues of concern.

Guilford County Schools' World Languages Department and the global education committee are sponsoring the second level of its free world language classes. Open to all GCS employees, classes will begin the week of April 15, and include Spanish, French, Chinese, Arabic and Japanese.

Registration information is listed below .

• GCS-CUI: World Languages - Basic Conversational Spanish 2- 2013
• GCS-CUI: World Languages - Basic Conversational French 2- 2013
• GCS-CUI: World Languages - Basic Conversational Chinese 2- 2013
• GCS-CUI: World Languages - Basic Conversational Arabic 2- 2013
• GCS-CUI: World Languages - Basic Conversational Japanese 1 2013

For more information, contact Liliana Jordanov, GCS World Languages Curriculum Specialist, at 370-3272 ext. 3.

Tuesday, April 16

Haynes-Inman Participates in Color Walk and Roll, 1 p.m., (Haynes-Inman Educational Center, 200 Haynes Road, Jamestown) - Haynes-Inman Education Center students and staff will make a colorful parade around their building at the first-ever Color Walk and Roll event. Similar to the Color Me Rad 5K, the event allows participants from the special needs school to get their T-shirts painted a different color as they pass various milestones around the school. The colors correlate to the school's eight core values: compassion, dignity, hope, happiness, patience, perseverance, strength and respect.

Wednesday, April 17

GCS Day at the Grasshoppers Game, 10:45 a.m., ( NewBridge Bank Park, 408 Bellemeade St., Greensboro) - Thanks to the generous ticket donations from the Greensboro Grasshoppers and President and General Manager Donald Moore, more than 3,500 sixth-grade students will attend the Greensboro Grasshoppers home game on Wednesday at no cost. For many, it is their first opportunity to attend a professional athletic event. Students from Johnson Street Global Studies will sing the national anthem.

Guilford Parent Academy Provides Families with Free Tutoring Resources, 6 p.m. (Hampton Elementary, 2301 Trade St., Greensboro) - Guilford County School (GCS) families are invited to learn more about math and reading tutorials available through Guilford Parent Academy. Parents are invited to come learn about ways you can help your child with math and reading at home. Everyone who attends will receive a Chick-fil-A sandwich, so please be sure to register in advance.

Guilford Parent Academy Helps Parents Identify Signs of Substance Abuse, 6 - 7 p.m., (Northern High, 7101 Spencer Dixon Road, Greensboro) - Parents are invited to learn more about substance abuse among adolescents. The workshop will provide parents with the skills needed to enhance their ability to identify warning signs of drug use and how to respond appropriately when use is identified. This free workshop is provided through Guilford Parent Academy.

Thursday, April 18

Guilford Parent Academy Provides Families with Free Tutoring Resources, 6 p.m. (Northwood Elementary, 818 W. Lexington Ave., High Point) - GCS families are invited to learn more about math and reading tutorials available through Guilford Parent Academy. Parents are invited to come learn about ways you can help your child with math and reading at home. Everyone who attends will receive a Chick-fil-A sandwich, so please be sure to register in advance.

Allen Jay Middle Welcomes Students at Enrollment Event, 6 - 7:30 p.m., (Welborn Academy of Science and Technology, 1710 McGuinn Drive, High Point) - The first class of fifth-grade students at Allen Jay Middle will get to explore the school and officially enroll in the magnet program at an event Thursday. Parents and students will receive additional information about the program, meet staff members, view classroom spaces and enjoy some fun with their future classmates.  Allen Jay Middle is designed to encourage creativity, leadership, character and academic achievement in a unique and open environment. For more information, visit www.gcsnc.com/allenjaymiddle

Friday, April 19

GCS Reveals Roadmap 2 Reading Literacy Initiative, 10:30 a.m., (Sternberger Elementary, 518 N. Holden Road, Greensboro) - After successfully reading more than Three Million Books in one year's time, where will reading take GCS students next? The answer: across the country. Roadmap 2 Reading challenges students at all grade levels to read an additional 20 minutes per day and count those miles as minutes in a journey from Cape Hatteras to San Francisco. Students will help move the district forward as it strives to read 3,114 miles from coast to coast. The Roadmap 2 Reading initiative is continuing the district's focus on increasing student literacy as outlined in the 2016 strategic plan.  

Northwest Middle Principal Rich Thomae challenged his students to raise $2,000 in a week for St. Jude Research Hospital. If they did, he would perform the Harlem Shake. Thomae held up his end of the bargain after students raised $3,600.

Check out Mr. Thomae . 

April 11, 2013

A team of students from The STEM Early College at N.C. A&T will represent North Carolina at the Real World Design Challenge, a national engineering competition that asks high school students to develop innovative solutions to real-life challenges. Having won the state-level competition, these 12 GCS students will now travel to Washington, D.C., to compete in the national championship on April 20.

STEM Early College students competed in the aviation challenge, which called for them to design an unmanned aircraft that could detect a missing child, believed to be in a wooded area, wearing a blue jacket. The challenge also asked for teams to formulate a business plan based on their design.

The GCS team is one of 44 teams in the competition, and the only all-freshman team in the country. Seven students will have the opportunity to present their project; the remaining five will attend in support of their teammates.

"This event gave our ninth-grade students the opportunity to work with state-of-the-art computer programs and tackle scenarios that the top engineering minds in the country are facing as well," says STEM Early College principal Stacey Alston. "I'm proud of their ability to apply the engineering skills they've been learning here in a realistic and career-minded way."

The Real World Design Challenge is a public-private partnership designed to increase the workforce potential in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields. Schools that participate receive professional engineering software along with training, curriculum materials and access to mentors, valued at $1 million.

The STEM Early College, a GCS magnet school, opened in August 2012 with a class of 50 ninth-graders. Students will focus on biomedical sciences, renewable energy or engineering and will graduate with both a high school diploma and two years of college credit through North Carolina A&T State University.

April 11, 2013

Guilford County Schools (GCS) staff turned the tables on middle school principals on Thursday, April 11. Principals became students during a surprise demonstration of new tablet technology that could be in the hands of every middle school student by 2015.

"I think it's very exciting. I think a lot of our teachers are going to be very excited about this," said Northwest Middle Principal Rich Thomae. "There are incredible possibilities for administrators to see what is happening in the classroom, right from one device."

The hands-on demonstration was intended to show middle school principals exactly how the Personalized Achievement, Curriculum and Environment (PACE) project can use technology to transform classrooms.

"This technology means our students will have access to true personalized learning, with tools to explore their classes, their interests and their individual skill levels," said Superintendent Maurice "Mo" Green. "Students who want to dig deeper into subjects that interest them can do that, while students who need a little extra time can take it without feeling the pressure to rush."

The PACE project is the signature initiative for the 2016 Strategic Plan: Achieving Educational Excellence: Personalizing Learning . Funded by a $30 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education, the project will create and stimulate student-led, personalized learning in all GCS middle schools, reaching 17,000 students. The district also received another $5.2 million in optional grant funding to support the PACE project through Guilford Parent Academy, the African-American Male Achievement Initiative and a GCS Virtual Public Middle School.

The PACE project with start this fall with students in 18 middle schools. The remaining six middle schools will join the program in the 2014-15 school year. Each student will have a tablet that is filled with all of the lessons and assignments for their classes, as well as research tools and secure Internet access. Teachers can access lesson plans and materials aligned with the Common Core State Standards, creating "playlists" of multimedia materials tied to the day's activities. They can also do spot-check quizzes during lessons to ensure all students are on track.

"We have been describing this technology to our principals since we learned we won the federal grant," said Dr. Terrence Young, chief information officer for GCS. "It's hard to visualize and understand how this can change teaching and learning until you hold the tablet in your hands and see what it can do."

The middle school principals were test-driving tablets provided by Amplify . The company creates digital products and services to engage students. Amplify currently serves more than 200,000 educators and 3 million students.

Amplify was one of seven companies that submitted 11 responses to GCS' Request for Proposals. A committee of GCS staff from across the district evaluated all the responses and narrowed the list to three companies. Those companies presented their proposals in person. After carefully reviewing all the proposals, the staff is recommending that the Board of Education select Amplify to provide GCS with the tablet and its integrated content. On Thursday, representatives from Amplify demonstrated the tablets for middle school principals. Board members tested the tablets during their work session at noon on Thursday, April 11.

Next, the Board of Education will decide whether GCS staff can move ahead with contract negotiations with Amplify. That item is expected to be on the agenda for the Tuesday, April 16 Board meeting. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. in the Board Room at 712 N. Eugene St., Greensboro.

Go to www.gcsnc.com/paceproject to learn more about the PACE project.

Thursday, April 11

GCS Students Create Oral Histories with Lincoln Financial Foundation, 8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., (International Civil Rights Museum, 134 S. Elm St., Greensboro) - More than 40 Guilford County Schools (GCS) juniors will spend a morning exploring the legacy of Abraham Lincoln and their own aspirations for democracy and freedom, thanks to a partnership with Lincoln Financial Foundation. Students will meet at the International Civil Rights Museum for a private tour with young leaders from Lincoln Financial Group, watch an interview with Woolworth's Sit-in leader Franklin McCain Sr., and then create their own short videos describing the legacy they hope to leave for America.

GCS Students Perform On Stage!, 7 p.m., (War Memorial Auditorium, 1921 W. Lee St., Greensboro) - More than 450 GCS students will perform at On Stage!, an annual talent showcase hosted by the Guilford Education Alliance. The show features acts representing schools across from Guilford County. Admission is $15.

April 5, 2013

A group of students from Page High had the chance to meet with State Superintendent June Atkinson on Monday, March 25 and share their thoughts with her. Atkinson met with Principal Patrice Faison and students on her Principal's Council. Her time at Page included a discussion of current education issues, a video presentation on the school's technology needs and a tour.

April 4, 2013 The Guilford County Board of Education will hold the following meetings April 8-19:

• The Legislative Committee will meet on Thursday, April 11 at 12:30 p.m. in the Swann Room at 712 N. Eugene St., Greensboro.

• The School Security Task Force will meet on Monday, April 15 at 7 p.m. in the Board Room at 712 N. Eugene St., Greensboro.

• The Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB) Advisory Committee will meet on Tuesday, April 16 at 11:30 a.m. in the Board Room at 712 N. Eugene St., Greensboro.

• The Guilford County Board of Education will meet on Tuesday, April 16 at 6 p.m. in the Board Room at 712 N. Eugene St., Greensboro.

• The Governance Committee will meet on Thursday, April 18 at 8:30 a.m. in the Swann Room at 712 N. Eugene St., Greensboro.

In addition, the Shared Communications Committee, now known as The Sounding Board, will meet with principals in each region. All meetings begin at 4:30 p.m.:

• Tuesday, April 9: Western Region, Southwest High School Media Center (4364 Barrow Rd., High Point)

• Wednesday, April 10: Enrichment Region, Smith High School Media Center (2407 South Holden Rd., Greensboro)

• Thursday, April 18: Northern Region, Page High School Media Center (201 Alma Pinnix Dr., Greensboro)

• Monday, April 22: Central Region, Ragsdale High School Media Center (1000 Lucy Ragsdale Dr., Jamestown)

• Wednesday, May 1: Southeastern Region, Southern High Media Center (5700 Drake Rd., Greensboro)

April 2, 2013

Watch the latest GCSTV Newsbreak about preparations for the GO FAR race. Students from Southwest Elementary and several other schools are training for the 5K race in High Point on May 11.

Watch more GCSTV

April 2, 2013

Watch the latest GCSTV Newsbreak about a special birthday party first-graders at Stokesdale Elementary held for Uriah Priest, a local 3-year-old who has Brittle Bone Disease. The students from Stokesdale raised more than $1,600 to help with Uriah's medical expenses.

Watch more GCSTV

Across Guilford County Schools (GCS), 20,000 parents are now more informed, engaged and connected to resources available that can help them help their children achieve more success in the classroom and beyond.

Guilford Parent Academy hit a new milestone of reaching 20,000 parents since the initiative launched in 2011.

Planned by parents and a diverse team of educators and community members, Guilford Parent Academy provides information and resources on a variety of relevant topics for parents, grandparents and family members caring for children and young people in Guilford County. The academy uses a number of strategies to reach parents, including free workshops and events on topics such as planning for college, helping with homework, bullying and staying healthy. Additionally, parents can help their students improve reading skills, build vocabulary, practice math problems and explain complex topics by accessing Parent Academy's online learning resources . The resources include content for pre-K through 12^th grade.

In the last two years, Guilford Parent Academy has also accomplished the following:

• Partnered with more than 70 community organizations and businesses that share information, facilitate and host events and provide other in-kind/financial resources.
• Secured approximately $2. 9 million in monetary and in-kind donations including $650,000 in startup costs donated by Businesses for Excellence in Education.
• Awarded schools across the district with $39,975 in grants from Cone Health Foundation and the DanPaul Foundation.
• Hosted 433 total workshops and events.
• Offered Parent Academy on the Go workshops at six different places of business, bringing workshops directly to parents at work during lunch hours and breaks.
• Hosted two family events including Family Fun Day, where 5,000 people visited the YMCA's Camp Weaver and participated in free activities that included swimming, canoeing, horseback riding, climbing and other outdoor games. The next GCS Family Fun Day is slated for May 18, 2013 at Camp Weaver.
• Added additional online resources, including Connect with Kids WebSource , a website with content on social and emotional topics ranging from bullying prevention, building resilience and substance abuse to life skills, character development and making healthy choices. Students and parents can also explore what careers are suited best for them and connect with career coaches through Futures for Kids .

"We know students do better in school and in life when parents are actively involved in supporting their education," said GCS Superintendent Maurice "Mo" Green. "We are excited to build on the success of Guilford Parent Academy and continue supporting parents-our students' first and most important teachers."

Given the success of Guilford Parent Academy, GCS continues to make parent involvement a priority for the district and included multiple initiatives in the Strategic Plan 2016 to expand the program, including adding additional digital and broadcast content, developing mobile checkout labs of tablet-style devices for parents and expanding Guilford Parent Academy On the Go.

These programs will be supported by the $1.9 million supplemental grant award the district received for Parent Academy as part of the $35.2 million Race to the Top-District (RTTT-D) grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

Find Guilford Parent Academy online at www.gcsnc.com/ParentAcademy , on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GCSParentAcad or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GCSParentAcad . To view a short Guilford Parent Academy video, visit http://bit.ly/GCSParentAcad .

March 28, 2013

Guilford County Schools Superintendent Maurice "Mo" Green is asking the county for $13.6 million in new operating funds for the 2013-14 school year, as well as $10 million in capital outlay for school maintenance. Green presented his recommended budget to the Guilford County Board of Education during its meeting on Thursday, March 28. 

The recommendation includes a total operating budget of $629,085,238, with nearly 7 percent coming from the federal government, nearly 62 percent coming from the state and 31.2 percent funded locally by Guilford County. 

The recommended request of the Guilford County Commission is $189.2 million, including $13.6 million to fund items in three categories:

1. An increase of $5.9 million to sustain operations. Over the past three years, GCS has requested $13.9 million in increased funding, but has not received it. As a result, the district has absorbed $19.1 million in increased costs in student enrollment at the district and charter school level, health insurance, retirement, utilities and hundreds of thousands of square feet of classroom and school space. 
2. An increase of $3.4 million to cover a salary increase for all employees. The funding also includes $1.08 million to recruit and retain quality employees and hard-to-fill medical and health care educator positions. 
3. An additional $3.2 million to restore cuts made as a result of the Great Recession. In the past five years, GCS has cut central administration and school-based positions, supplies, materials and professional development, as well as increasing class size by one student. This funding would undo the increase by .5 students per class by adding approximately 63 teacher positions.

2013-14 Budget Web Page

"During the past five years, our students and staff have endured budget cuts, increased class sizes, reduced supplies and equipment, and the loss of critical administrative support for schools," Green said. "After five years of cutting resources, and after five years of doing more with less, I believe it is time to seek adequate funding to support our students."

In addition, the recommended budget includes $10 million in local funding for maintenance, upgrades and support for school buildings and property. In 2005-06, county commissioners provided $10 million in capital funding to maintain approximately 9.5 million square feet of facility space. In 2013-13, GCS received $2 million to maintain over 12 million square feet. 

The recommended budget lays out $13.2 million in potential reductions and redirections, including:

• Using approximately $1.4 million held centrally in the 2012-13 budget for unexpected situations, school needs or the 2013-14 budget;
• Reducing or redirecting $1.8 million from central office divisions and departments;
• Eliminating seven middle school literacy facilitators funded locally after the state stopped funding these positions in 2009-10;
• Holding $2.4 million of the Weighted Student Formula (WSF) funding normally allotted to schools in abeyance; 
• Holding 10 percent of federal Title I and Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act funding in abeyance;
• Generating $1.8 million in savings by increasing the class size student-teacher ratio by .25 students in grades K-12; and
• Holding $3.3 million in funding in abeyance in student at-risk and student accountability dollars, along with teacher mentor pay.

That savings generated by the reductions would be used to cover anticipated losses in funding for the 2012-13 budget and the impact of federal sequestration on Title II programs. Redirections also would help fund Strategic Plan 2016 initiatives that will launch in the 2013-14 school year, including a junior class at the Middle College at UNC-Greensboro and a sophomore class at the STEM Early College at N.C. A&T.

"It's time to reverse this and fund our students' education at a level that allows them to compete with others across the United States and around the world," said Green, noting that a 2013 report by the National Education Association now ranks North Carolina 46 out of 50 states in total per-pupil (local and state) funding.

Despite more than five years of cutting resources, GCS students and staff continue to celebrate major accomplishments:

• GCS's graduation rate increased to 84.5 percent, the highest four-year cohort graduation rate ever achieved in GCS.
• In 2012, 19 GCS schools were named Schools of Excellence or Honor Schools of Excellence under North Carolina's school accountability system and 27 GCS schools were named Schools of Distinction. That translates to more than 33 percent of schools receiving the highest state designations.
• The Class of 2012, about 5,000 students, earned more than $139 million in scholarships, the most ever in GCS.
• 676 members of the Class of 2012 earned college-level scores in four or more college-level courses through the Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate programs and/or a "B" or better on equivalent college-level courses.
• GCS is a recognized state and national model for character development and service-learning.
• More than 520 members of the Class of 2012 earned Service-Learning Diplomas for completing at least 175 hours of service-learning activities, while another 350 members earned Exemplary Awards for completing at least 75 hours of such activities.
• During a three-year time frame, in response to one, two and three million book reading challenges, GCS students read more than 7.5 million books.
• GCS opened innovative and important schools, including the Middle College at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, the STEM Early College at North Carolina A&T State University, the Haynes-Inman Education Center and McNair Elementary School.
• GCS transformed various previously state-designated, low-performing schools, including Montlieu Academy of Technology, Oak Hill Elementary and Wiley Elementary, into Schools of Progress, while the number of low-performing schools went from nine to one.
• GCS established Guilford Parent Academy, serving more than 20,000 individuals since its launch in January 2011.

The next step in the budget process is for the Board of Education to conduct budget work sessions. The first is scheduled for April 22 at 11:30 a.m. The Board also will hold a public hearing on the budget during the April 30 Board meeting. The Board will adopt the budget on May 14, and will submit it to the Board of County Commissioners no later than May 15.

Visit the GCS budget site, which includes the superintendent's full budget recommendation, the presentation to the Guilford County Board of Education, and Frequently Asked Questions about the budget process.

March 28, 2013

Watch the latest GCSTV Newsbreak on a special opportunity students at Welborn Academy of Science and Technology had to learn more about how the heart works. Thanks to a grant, students were able to dissect sheep hearts in science class, and many students were excited to get a hands-on experience beyond the textbook.

Watch more GCSTV

Thursday, March 28, 2013 at 6 p.m.

For more information on any of the following items, please click here .

Recognitions

2013 Arts Education Teacher of the Year Award

The board recognized the 2013 Arts Education Teacher of the Year sponsored by Guilford County Schools in partnership with the United Arts Council of Greater Greensboro and also name the two finalists.

GCS Students Chosen for Senate Youth Program

The board recognized Aditya Garg, a junior at The Early College at Guilford, and Elizabeth Grady, a senior at Western High, for being chosen to participate in the 51st Annual United States Senate Youth Program.

Consent Agenda

The board approved the following items on the consent agenda:

- Meeting Minutes

- Personnel Action Report

- 2012-13 Budget Amendment and Transfers Report

- Duke Energy Carolinas Span Guy Pole and Guy Wire Agreement, Stage Coach Trail

- Duke Energy Carolinas Span Guy Pole and Guy Wire Agreement, and Right-of-Way Agreement for Hairston-Falkener Autism Wing

- Burroughs Wellcome Fund Grant

- Auction of Surplus Property

Staff Reports

Consideration for Naming of the McIver Project

The board approved posting proposed names for the McIver Projects for a public comment period: Clifton C. Willard Wing , Christine J. Greene Education Center , Dale J. Metz Autistic Education Center and The Lillian Neill Education Center . These names were added to names already posted for public comment: Melissa Taylor Education Center , Robert Utley Special Education Center , McIver East , Joseph J. McKenzie and McIver West . Comments on the naming should be submitted by email to gcscomments@gcsnc.com or through U.S. mail to the District Relations Department, Guilford County Schools, 712 N. Eugene St., Greensboro, NC 27401.

Construction Update

Terrence Young, chief information officer, and members of the Facilities and Construction Department presented to the board an update on the district's construction projects. Read the full report here .

2013-14 Superintendent's Budget Recommendations

Superintendent Maurice "Mo" Green and Angie Henry, chief financial officer, presented to the board the superintendent's budget recommendations for 2013-14. The budget recommendation includes a request for an increase in funding from the Guilford County Board of Commissioners. For more information about the proposed budget, visit www.gcsnc.com/2013-14budget .

Board Discussion

Legislative Committee Update

Sandra Alexander and Rebecca Buffington, convenors of the Legislative Committee, led the board in a discussion regarding recent legislative events. The board voted to draft a letter of opposition to Senate Bill 317 Version 1: Guilford School Election System.

Shared Communications Committee Update

Darlene Garrett, convenor of the Shared Communications Committee, led the board in a discussion regarding the progress of the committee. The committee will hold a series of Sounding Board meetings with principals by region during the month of April.

Nomination of GTCC Board of Trustees

The board voted to recommend that David S. Miller be appointed to a four-year term for the Guilford Technical Community College (GTCC) Board of Trustees.

Option to Purchase Property

The district received a signed option to purchase real property owned by the Archdiocese in High Point.

Guilford County Board of Education meetings are broadcast live on GCSTV 2 (cable channel 2) and online at http://media.gcsnc.net/gcstv . The meetings re-air the day after the meeting at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. and the Saturday following the meeting at 1 p.m.

State funding and tuition will support the 2013 Governor's School session.  Each school district is allotted a certain number of students based on its 10th- and 11th-grade enrollments. For more information, visit www.ncgovschool.org .

More than 120 teachers and administrators attended the district's second annual Global Education Conference held at Jamestown Middle on Saturday, March 23. The conference helped educators explore resources and best practices to apply global themes in their daily planning as well as within the school culture.

GCS leaders and global education experts shared personal experiences and lessons learned for this growing area of emphasis that is included in the district's strategic plan. The sessions specifically addressed the North Carolina Professional Teaching Standards and 21st Century Themes, and included topics like "Why Culture Matters," "Globalizing Your Perspective," "Your Classroom and Your School" and "Global Teachers Create Global Leaders." Several sessions focused on service-learning projects where students learned about global issues and how they can make a difference even from across the world.

"Our students need to be prepared for a changing world and we have to give them the tools to be successful in a workforce scenario that has no borders," said Liliana Jordanov, GCS' world languages curriculum specialist. "By providing resources to our educators to incorporate global themes in their daily lessons, in service-learning projects and in the whole school environment, we are preparing the global leaders of tomorrow."

For more information and for more photos, visit www.gcsnc.com/globalconference.

Guilford County Board of Education member Sandra Alexander was among a group of select alumni to be honored at North Carolina A&T State University's Founders Day celebration on March 21. Dr. Alexander, who is an at-large member of the board, is a 1969 graduate of A&T's School of Education.

The university recognized alums from each school and college with an Alumni Achievement Award, which is given to alumni who have made significant contributions to the growth and development of the university.

Teaching fellows from across the state raced around GCS and across Guilford County on Tuesday, March 26, all to learn as much as they can about the district.

"We're lucky that we can go around and meet people," said Elon University student Wesley Rose. "This is much better than sitting in a conference room and just hearing reports."

The 24 teaching fellows are juniors at universities across North Carolina, from Western Carolina University, to UNC Greensboro, to Elon University. The GCS tour is part of their senior orientation process. Students choose which school district to visit.

"Obviously, we chose the best one!" said Bethany Wilcox, a UNCG student.

The General Assembly enacted the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program in 1986. The mission of the program is to recruit talented high school graduates into the teaching profession and to help them develop leadership qualities. Selected students enroll in one of 17 universities. After graduating, they have seven years to pay back their scholarship. If they teach at least four of those years in a public school district in North Carolina, their loan is considered repaid.

The students were tasked with learning about GCS by playing a special version of the TV reality show "The Amazing Race." They were divided into six teams of four students each. Teams were given a list of items to accomplish, from observing a classroom, to interviewing members of GCS departments, to asking questions about the district, as well as asking employees why they loved GCS.

"I was surprised to learn how much Guilford County Schools takes advantage of research-based strategies," said Hannah Moore, a student at Western Carolina University. "It's reaching out to other districts to see what works there, and using the resources they already have as a model for success in GCS."

One group of students interviewed employees in District Relations. They learned why communications is so important when it comes to supporting teaching and learning.

"It's important to make sure everyone is on the same page," said UNCG student Jordan Jones. "Employees need to know what is going on from the district, not from the news. You have to be able to make just one phone call to let everyone know what is going on, and that's how the department helps."

After completing their tasks, the students came back together to share what they learned with the rest of the group. "We get to teach the other teachers," they joked.

Students say they learned more about the district by playing this creative - and educational - game.

"This has confirmed my desire to work here," Wilcox said. "I go to school here and this has confirmed my passion to work here. I thought I really loved education at the school level, but now I know I really care about the entire district."

Principal Rodney Wilds accepts the Hugh Humphrey Cup

Andrews High was selected as the recipient of the Hubert B. Humphrey Jr. School Improvement Award, which recognizes schools for improving student achievement through sound educational practices, community outreach and collaborative relationships.

The award, worth $10,000, was presented on March 21 by the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro at its annual luncheon. Principal Rodney Wilds accepted the award, which will go toward continuing student improvement, and will proudly display the Hugh Humphrey Cup in the hallways of Andrews until the next winner is named. 

Andrews' End-of-Course composite score increased from 58.6 percent proficient in 2011 to 64.3 percent proficient in 2012. The school's Algebra I score increased more than 20 percentage points - from 48.7 in 2011 to 69.0 in 2012. The school also saw significant improvement in its graduation rate - the Class of 2012 had an 87.6 percent graduation rate, increasing from 80.1 percent in 2011.    

Hubert B. "Hugh" Humphrey was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation from 1981 until he passed away in 2003. Revered by fellow trustees and staff, Humphrey also served as legal counsel to the Foundation. In November 2003, the Trustees created the Hubert B. Humphrey, Jr. School Improvement Award to honor his dedication. The Foundation established a fund at the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, which is used each year to support the cash award.

March 25, 2013

Charles Wright has been a part of Smith High since the early 1970s, first as a student and athlete, and then as an employee. On Friday, the lead custodian added to his legacy at the school as the district's April Employee of the Month.

Wright graduated from Smith in 1975 after being named an All-American in both football and basketball, the only one in Smith's history. He returned to Smith as a staff member and has stayed for more than 26 years.

Wright takes pride in his school, and it shows in the gleaming hallways and crystal clear windows. He stops by on the weekends, just to make sure everything is up to par. And he takes time to bond with the students and encourage them to listen to their coaches and teachers.

As Employee of the Month, Wright received a $50 gift card from Sam's Club, which has given nearly $5,000 to exceptional GCS employees since 2005. During the month of April, his photo will hang at the district's central offices, at Smith High and at the Sam's Club on Wendover Avenue. He will be recognized at the Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, April 16.

Tuesday, March 26

Andrews High Prepares Seniors for Career Success, 9 - noon, (Andrews High, 1920 McGuinn Drive, High Point) - In preparation for their future careers, seniors at Andrews High will have the chance to participate in mock interviews to improve their skills. The interviews will be conducted by community volunteers who will provide feedback to students on topics such as proper business attire, body language and how to make a positive first impression. The mock interviews are part of a day-long senior success seminar. All week, Andrews will teach students in all grades about a different employability skill each day during Raiders R Ready Week.

Ten Smith High Seniors to Receive Free Laptops, 10 a.m., (Smith High, 2407 S. Holden Road, Greensboro) - Ten seniors from Smith High will receive free laptop computers on Tuesday. Smith High has worked with the Handy Capable Network to provide 10 seniors with laptops for educational and personal use. Selection of the students was based on criteria set by the Handy Capable Network and priority was given to hardworking students without computer access at home.

Stokesdale Elementary Students Raise Funds to Help Child with Brittle Bone Disease, 12:30 p.m. (Stokesdale Elementary, 8025 U.S. Highway 158, Stokesdale) - On Tuesday, first-graders at Stokesdale Elementary will present Uriah Priest, a local 3-year-old with a rare bone disorder, with funds they have raised to assist with the cost of his surgery. Students and staff from the school have pitched in and helped raise more than $500. Along with the donation, students will have a birthday celebration for Uriah who turned 3 earlier this month.

Wednesday, March 27

Elementary Students Get a Glimpse of the Future During Career Exploration Fair, 8:30 a.m. - noon, (Irving Park Elementary, 1310 Sunset Drive, Greensboro) - Students at Irving Park Elementary still have some time before they choose a career, but their school is giving them a head start by exposing them to potential careers choices. Students will meet with more than 20 area professionals representing a variety of career paths. Students will move between the booths and receive information about each career. Representatives from local colleges and universities will also be on hand to talk about college qualifications and the various careers that can be studied at each of their schools.

Morehead Elementary Celebrates New Outdoor Learning Lab, 1:10 p.m., (Morehead Elementary, 4630 Tower Road, Greensboro) - Morehead Elementary will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new Star Outdoor Instructional Learning (SOIL) Lab on Thursday. This project was made possible by a $5,000 grant from Lowe's Home Improvement. Weaver Academy teacher Thomas Bader and his construction technology students built the lab's benches and tables, which accommodate 30 students, as well as a teacher table and a chalkboard. The SOIL Lab will be used as an outdoor classroom for hands-on activities.

March 22, 2013

Guilford County Schools (GCS) students with an interest in health care can now apply for the Summer Health Institute, a three-week program sponsored by the Greensboro Area Health Education Center and the GCS Career and Technical Education Department.

The program, which will serve 30 students entering grades 10 through 12, is designed to give students a deeper knowledge of the careers and opportunities available in the health care field. Students will take a daily science and math enrichment class, participate in service-learning activities and field trips to area health facilities and complete CPR certification.

The Academy at Smith, which focuses on health careers and electrical trades, will host the institute, which will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday, July 8 through July 26. Students must have at least a 2.5 grade point average and submit a $30 application fee upon acceptance.

"It is our hope that the Summer Health Institute will open students' minds to the many career opportunities available in the area of health care and scientific research," says David Miller, principal at The Academy at Smith.

Applications will be accepted through April 21, 2013. To download an application, click here .

March 22, 2013

Watch the latest GCSTV Newsbreak about Claxton Elementary's annual Science Extravaganza. This year, students constructed "puff mobiles," handmade vehicles, out of household items. Engineering students from North Carolina A&T State University assisted with the project.

Watch more GCSTV

March 22, 2013

Watch the latest GCSTV Newsbreak about recent breakfast meetings held by the Guilford County Board of Education to discuss legislative agenda items with the Guilford County Board of Comissioners and state legislators.

Watch more GCSTV

March 22, 2013

The Guilford County Board of Education will hold the following meetings March 25-28:

• The School Security Task Force will meet on Monday, March 25 at 7 p.m. in the Board Room at 712 N. Eugene St., Greensboro, NC.

• The Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB) Advisory Committee will meet on Tuesday, March 26 at 11:30 a.m. in the Board Room at 712 N. Eugene St., Greensboro, NC.

• The Shared Communications Committee will meet on Wednesday, March 27 at 10 a.m. in the Swann Room at 712 N. Eugene St., Greensboro, NC.

• The Board of Education will hold a work session on prioritization construction/renovation projects on Wednesday, March 27 at 11:30 a.m. in the Board Room at 712 N. Eugene St., Greensboro, NC.

• The Joint Budget Committee of the Board of Education and Guilford County Board of Commissioners will meet on Wednesday, March 27 at 4 p.m. in the Blue Room at the Old Guilford County Courthouse, 301 W. Market St., Greensboro, NC.

• The Board of Education will hold its regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, March 28 at 6 p.m. in the Board Room at 712 N. Eugene St., Greensboro, NC.

March 20, 2013

At its meeting on March 12, the Board of Education approved revisions to Policy JBCC, School Assignment , to be posted for a 30-day period of public comment. Comments will be accepted through April 19.

The revised policy omits references to school choice that were previously required under No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation. North Carolina received a waiver in relation to NCLB in 2012, making those provisions in the policy unnecessary. Changes to the policy are indicated in red.

The policy has been posted on the district website for a 30-day public comment period. Comments may be sent to gcscomments@gcsnc.com  on or before April 19, 2013.  In addition to the comment email, input can be sent via the courier or the U.S. mail at Policy Development, Guilford County Schools, and 712 N. Eugene Street, Greensboro, NC  27401.  

March 20, 2013

Watch the latest GCSTV Newsbreak about members of the Guilford County Schools (GCS) family who were recognized at the Salute to Heroes ceremony at High Point University. Employees from the GCS Maintenance Department were honored for their quick response of providing CPR when a coworker needed medical assistance. The late Gina Jacobs, who volunteered at Oak Hill Elementary, was also remembered for her tireless advocacy for school-children.

Watch more GCSTV

March 20, 2013

Watch the latest GCSTV Newsbreak about a celebration of March 14, or 3-14, also known as Pi Day. Kernodle Middle celebrated the day in honor of the number 3.14 with a variety of activities, including smashing pies in their teachers' faces. Students won the opportunity by meeting the school's goal in a canned food drive for a service-learning project.

Watch more GCSTV

Tuesday, March 19

Fifty-four Archer Elementary Families to Receive Free Home Computers, 9:30 - 11 a.m., (Archer Elementary, 2610 Four Season Blvd., Greensboro) - Fifty-four Archer Elementary families will receive a free home computer on Tuesday. Archer Elementary has partnered with Kramden Institute Inc. to provide 54 students in grades three through five with home computers for educational and personal use. Families will receive training on how to use their new computers. Parents have been invited to the training and will be able to pick up their student's new computer following the training. Selection of the students was based on criteria set by the grant and priority was given to hard working Archer students. For more information, contact Principal Patrice Brown at 336-294-7335.

School Atmosphere Improved Through Peer Mediation Program, 1:30 p.m., (Eastern Middle, 435 Peeden Drive, Gibsonville) - Students at Eastern Middle will demonstrate how the district's peer mediation program has made a noticeable difference in the lives of students at Eastern Middle. Since the program's inception in October, the team has handled about two dozen cases, resulting in zero repeat offenses or office referrals. On Tuesday, students will discuss the ways Guilford County Schools (GCS) emphasizes conflict resolution and mutual understanding through the mediation program. Increasing student participation in peer mediation programs is a goal of the 2016 strategic plan. For more information, contact Nora Shoptaw, program administrator-communications, at 336-370-8386.

Thursday, March 21

Students Take Up-Close Look at Hearts, 1:30 - 2:30 p.m., (Welborn Academy of Science and Technology, 1710 McGuinn Drive, High Point) - Thanks to a $3,500 Promoting Innovation in Science and Mathematics grant from the Burroughs Welcome Fund, more than 80 seventh-grade students at Welborn Academy of Science and Technology will achieve a better understanding of how a heart works when they dissect sheep hearts in their science class. During the project, students will identify the chambers of the heart and examine how blood flows through the chambers. For more information, contact Christal MacLamroc, science teacher, at 336-819-2880.

Morehead Elementary Students Showcase Art and Music Talents, 6 p.m., (Morehead Elementary, 4630 Tower Road, Greensboro) - In celebration of Youth Art Month, Morehead Elementary students will show off their wide range of artistic skills. Student artwork will be displayed around the school. Third-, fourth- and fifth-graders who are involved in the Arts Academy program, an after-school program that offers more in-depth arts classes, will showcase their skills in handbells, drama, dance and violin, as well as choreography. For more information, contact Laurie Haulenbeek, Morehead Elementary drama teacher, at 336-294-7370.

Guilford Parent Academy Offers Class on Financial Basics, 6 - 7:30 p.m. , (AT&T, 2002 Pisgah Church Road, Greensboro) - Guilford Parent Academy is offering all GCS families the opportunity to acquire basic financial skills that can be used in their everyday lives from balancing a checkbook to making a budget to save for vacation. This free workshop will cover a variety of financial topics, including budgeting, understanding interest rates and credit cards. For more information, contact Guilford Parent Academy at 336-279-4924.

Saturday, March 23

GCS Holds Second Annual Global Education Conference, 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., (Jamestown Middle, 301 Haynes Road, Jamestown) - GCS teachers from schools across the district will gather Saturday to learn more about how to provide students with a global experience through their teaching. Their discussions will include why cultural differences matter, how to build international partnerships for service-learning projects, learning about global water quality and preparing students to be leaders in a global society. GCS leaders and global education experts will share strategies on this growing area of emphasis. For more information, contact Liliana Jordanov, GCS world language specialist, at 336-370-3272.

Additional Story Idea

Health Department Offers Immunization Clinic for Rising Kindergarteners

It's time for parents to prepare their rising kindergarteners for school this fall. The Guilford County Department of Public Health is offering an immunization clinic to help parents get their pre-k or kindergarten students vaccinated. The clinics will be held on Saturday, March 23, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at both the 1100 E. Wendover Ave., Greensboro and 501 E. Green Drive, High Point locations. Appointments are required in order for students to receive a vaccination. Appointments can be made by calling the Health Department at 336-641-3245. Parents should bring their insurance card, including Medicare, and their child's shot record with them to the appointment.

March 18, 2013

Watch the latest GCSTV Newsbreak about a team of students from Johnson Street Global Studies who tested a science experiment on the International Space Station. The students opened their experiment after it returned to Earth and analyzed the results at the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering.

Watch more GCSTV

March 18, 2013

Watch the latest GCSTV Newsbreak about Students at Work Week. The program allowed Guilford County Schools students to job shadow for a day and learn more about careers of their interest. Students from Ferndale Middle were among those who spent the day at local businesses, including a veterinary hospital.

Watch more GCSTV

March 15, 2013

Dr. Jacob Henry and Dr. John Garrow will assume new roles as executive directors in the Guilford County Schools (GCS) administration, the board announced Tuesday.

The board gave approval for Henry, the current principal at Jones Elementary, to become the district's Executive Director of Instructional Technology and Personalized Achievement Curriculum and Environment, better known as PACE. The PACE project, which will provide digital devices to the district's 17,000 middle school students, is funded by a $30 million Race to the Top-District federal grant. In his new role, Henry will plan and oversee the project and other efforts to grow the district's personalized learning and technology initiatives, which are a key component of the 2016 Strategic Plan .

Henry has served as the principal at Jones Elementary, a Spanish Immersion magnet school, since 2011. Before that he was principal at Doris Henderson Newcomers School from 2007 to 2011 and assistant principal at Jones in 2007. He was a finalist for GCS Principal of the Year in 2012 and has been named an Unsung Hero by the Bryan Foundation and a Top Leader Under 40 by the Triad Business Journal.

"Jake has been an exceptional principal during his time at GCS, and we're excited to share his leadership with more students and staff members across the district," says Dr. Jocelyn Becoats, Chief Curriculum and Organizational Development Officer. "In his new positions, he will help GCS revolutionize teaching and learning."

The Central Region will work with the parents and staff at Jones to find the right leader for the school. Until that time, Henry will remain as principal.

Also Tuesday, the board approved the hiring of Dr. John Garrow as the new Executive Director of Accountability and Research. Garrow will be responsible for analyzing data related to teacher effectiveness and helping schools apply that information to improve teaching and learning. He will report to the Chief Executive Officer of Accountability and Research.

Garrow has more than 25 years of experience in education with a focus on assessment and evaluation. He holds a doctorate and a master's degree in language communication and most recently worked for Pittsburgh Public Schools as the director/coordinator of Report Management, Compliance and Assessment.

March 15, 2013

The Guilford County Board of Education will hold the following meetings March 18-25:

• The Board of Education and Guilford County State Legislative Delegation Breakfast will be held Monday, March 18 at 8 a.m. in the Board Room at 712 N. Eugene St., Greensboro, NC, to discuss state issues and legislative agenda items that impact Guilford County Schools.

• The Governance Committee will meet on Thursday, March 21 at 8:30 a.m. in the Swann Room at 712 N. Eugene St., Greensboro, NC.

• The School Security Task Force will meet on Monday, March 25 at 7 p.m. in the Board Room at 712 N. Eugene St., Greensboro, NC.

March 13, 2013

Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 6 p.m.

For more information on any of the following items, please click here .

Recognitions

GCS Employee of the Month for March 2013

The board recognized Marsha Colson Erwin, Communities in Schools coordinator at Montlieu Academy of Technology, as the March 2013 Employee of the Month.

GCS Volunteer of the Month for March 2013

The board recognized Ann Kilgo, a volunteer at Vandalia Elementary, as the March 2013 Volunteer of the Month.

Schools Recognized for Positive Behavior Intervention and Support

The board recognized 38 schools that received special honors from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction for their successful implementation of Positive Behavior Intervention and Support systems and practices.

GCS Purchasing Department Recognized for Excellence

The board recognized the Guilford County Schools Purchasing Department as a recipient of the 2012 Sustained Professional Purchasing Award by the Carolinas Association of Governmental Purchasing.

Consent Agenda

The board approved the following items on the consent agenda:

-   Meeting Minutes

-   Auction of Surplus Property

-   Designation of Official Depositories and Appointment of School Treasurers for 2012-13

Staff Reports

Consideration for Naming of the Baseball Stadium at Ragsdale High

The board approved posting the proposed Ragsdale baseball stadium name "Ronnie Smith Stadium" for a 30-day period of public comment. Comments on the naming should be submitted by email to gcscomments@gcsnc.com or through U.S. mail to the District Relations Department, Guilford County Schools, 712 N. Eugene St., Greensboro, NC 27401.

Designation of Title I Schools for 2013-14

The board approved designating 61 schools as Title I-funded schools for the 2013-14 school year. Two additional elementary schools, Madison Elementary and Monticello-Brown Summit Elementary, will receive Title I funds next year. One alternative school, Pruette SCALE, no longer meets the board's criteria to receive the federal funding, which is based on the economic status of the students the school serves. For more information, click here .

Contractual Agreement with Samet Corporation/SRS for Simkins Elementary

The board approved awarding a contract to Samet Corporation / SRS, Inc. for pre-construction services at Simkins Elementary in the amount of $151,500.

Personnel Action Report

The board approved the personnel action report, including the addendum.

Board Discussion

Approval of Proposed 2013-14 Board of Education Meeting Schedule

The board approved a motion to modify the proposed 2013-14 Board of Education Meeting Schedule, eliminating the Nov. 21, 2013, and Dec. 19, 2013, meetings unless needed. The modified calendar was approved.

Governance Committee Update

The board approved revisions to policy JBCC, School Assignment to be posted on the district website for a 30-day public comment period.

Guilford County Board of Education meetings are broadcast live on GCSTV 2 (cable channel 2) and online at http://media.gcsnc.net/gcstv . The meetings re-air the day after the meeting at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. and the Saturday following the meeting at 1 p.m.

63 days and counting. That's how long Guilford County Schools (GCS) seniors have before the first students walk across the stage and receive their high school diplomas. GCS will celebrate the accomplishments of its senior class during graduation ceremonies held between May 15 and June 10.

As done in previous years, the early/middle colleges and academies will kick-off graduation season with ceremonies in May. All of the district's traditional high schools will hold ceremonies at the Greensboro Coliseum Special Events Center from June 7 through June 10.

Students from Gateway and McIver Education Centers will have the chance to go across the stage during ceremonies on June 3 and June 4. This schedule also includes a ceremony for summer graduates in August.

Click here to view the full 2013 graduation schedule.

March 13, 2013

In response to input received from the community, Guilford County Schools (GCS) invites the public to provide feedback on the naming of the baseball stadium at Ragsdale High. The Guilford County Board of Education voted Thursday to open a 30-day public comment period for the proposed name "Ronnie Smith Stadium." Other names can also be submitted using this nomination form . All comments and additional names must be submitted by April 11.

The nomination, submitted by Mike Raybon on behalf of Ragsdale High's booster club, proposes the name in honor of Ronnie Smith. As a student, Smith attended Ragsdale and led the baseball team to its first state title game in the early 1970s. After attending High Point College (now High Point University), he spent 30 years coaching at High Point Central, Southeast High and at his alma mater of Ragsdale. He retired in June of 2007 and died in August of that year.

The selection process for the naming of the field house is in accordance with the board policy on the naming of facilities, FDCA-P.

Input on the names and additional nominations can be emailed to gcscomments@gcsnc.com or via courier or U.S. mail to District Relations Department, Attn: Naming of Ragsdale High Baseball Stadium, Guilford County Schools, 712 N. Eugene St., Greensboro, NC 27401.

In accordance with Board Policy FDCA-P , special consideration will be given to requests to honor distinguished persons who have made an outstanding contribution to a school, the district, the community, the county, the state or the nation, and who are either deceased or retired from active participation in the school, community, county, state or national affairs for which they are being recognized.

March 13, 2013

Watch the latest GCSTV Newsbreak about Energy Day at North Carolina A&T State University. About 1,000 student attended, and students from Northern High were also presenters. The Newsbreak also features a "From Harlem to High Point," a Black History Month program at Parkview Elementary.

Watch more GCSTV

March 13, 2013

Watch the latest GCSTV Newsbreak featuring students from Eastern Middle performing selections from "Seussical," a Dr. Seuss-inspired musical, at McLeansville Elementary. The performance took place during Read Across America Week, which falls during Dr. Seuss' birthday and promotes literacy.

Watch more GCSTV

March 13, 2013

Watch the latest GCSTV Newsbreak about a service-learning and literacy project led by students from Western High. The high school students took time to read to students from McNair Elementary during Read Across America Day. While showing their younger peers that reading is fun and important, they also raised money for Heifer International to provide livestock and other supplies to needy communities in other parts of the world.

Watch more GCSTV

March 12, 2013

Guilford County Schools (GCS) designated 61 schools as Title I schools for the 2013-14 school year during its board meeting on Tuesday. That's one more school than in the 2012-13 school year.

Title I schools receive federal funds based on the number of students living in low-income households. GCS uses the number of students who qualify to receive free and reduced-price lunch (FRL) as a standard for Title I status.

The board voted to lower the threshold for elementary schools to 56 percent free or reduced-price lunch, which allowed Madison Elementary and Monticello-Brown Summit Elementary to attain Title I status. A total of 44 elementary schools in GCS will be designated as Title I next year.

The board maintained its criteria for middle schools (66 percent FRL) and high schools (75 percent FRL) to receive Title I status. Under those guidelines, 10 schools will remain as Title I middle schools. Seven high schools or alternative schools are on the list for 2013-14, down from eight in 2012-13. Pruette SCALE will not receive Title I funds next year.

District wide, more students qualified for free and reduced-price lunch this year, reaching a total of 57.5 percent of the district's 72,000 students. That's an increase from 56.6 percent this school year.

Title I schools receive a dollar amount per pupil for every student who qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch. The funds are used for all students in the school, not just those who qualify for free or reduced-priced lunch. Some schools have more than 97 percent of their student population who qualify. The dollar amount per student hasn't been determined yet for 2013-14.

Title I funds can be used to pay for additional positions at the school, for extra materials, for greater professional development for teachers or to help students pay for enrichment activities such as field trips.

Grimsley High senior Kassra Homaifar had a big idea. And on Saturday, that idea will become a reality at the first-ever Youth and Media Festival, a free community event designed to foster a discussion about safe and productive media usage. 

YAMFest , as it's come to be called, grew from Kassra's participation in the Bezos Scholars Program , where he was one of 12 students in the country selected to attend the Aspen Ideas Festival last summer. He left with inspiration and $1,000 to put his own big idea into place.

After talking with students and community groups in Greensboro, he found a common question - how do we wisely use technology and social media in the digital age? Kassra and his team recruited a panel of experts, from Harvard University and New York City as well as here in Greensboro, who will share their insights on the subject. N.C. A&T State University is a sponsor of the event, providing both presenters and funding.

"Greensboro must recognize the potential of social media and harness it to create a more informed, civically engaged and socially rich public," says Kassra. "We hope the festival will help raise a technological profile for the Greensboro community."

And since big ideas often lead to more big ideas, the YAMFest team will also announce the next generation of big ideas winners. Local high school students have submitted proposals for their own big ideas designed to improve the city's technological profile. The top three winners will receive up to $1,000 to implement his or her idea, thanks to funds donated by retired Judge Lawrence McSwain.

Parents, students, educators and community members are invited to attend YAMFest, which runs from noon to 6 p.m., on Saturday, March 16, at the Grimsley High campus, 801 Westover Terrace, Greensboro. Attendees can choose which workshops they'd like to attend throughout the day and will have the chance to win door prizes such as Kindle Fires or iPods. The festival will conclude with food and music.

For more information, visit www.yamfest.weebly.com .

March 11, 2013

Guilford County Schools (GCS) is now accepting applications for the fourth-annual Summer Arts Institute. Students who excel in the arts are invited to apply for the program by submitting an application to the arts educators at their school. Students will be selected based on a specific set of criteria that includes performance in arts classes, academic performance and discipline. Applications are due by March 28.

For the first time, GCS will offer two Arts Immersion Weeks programs, expanding the number of students who can participate. Students may apply to attend the program at Eastern High on June 24-27, or at Penn-Griffin School for the Arts on July 15-18. Both offer intensive instruction in band, orchestra, chorus, dance, theater and visual art and will finish with a performance and gallery walk.  

The popular returning program "6 Strings and 88 Keys" will provide students with instruction on piano or guitar during the week of July 8-11 at Weaver Academy.

As in previous years, there are multiple opportunities for budding theater buffs to participate in a drama or musical production. This year's Shakespeare in the Park performance is "Richard III," produced in partnership with The Drama Center, a division of Greensboro City Arts, and the North Carolina Shakespeare Festival. The work will be performed at the outdoor amphitheater at Barber Park in Greensboro.

GCS and Community Theater of Greensboro will once again work together to produce a Broadway-style musical through the Stages of Learning program, which also allows children to learn about acting, choreography, directing, producing and stage management. This year's production is "Godspell Jr."

The Arts Immersion Weeks and the 6 Strings and 88 Keys programs require tuition of $100 per week, though scholarships are available for qualified students. For Shakespeare in the Park and the summer musical, students must audition and be cast in the programs. Audition dates and instructions are included in the 2013 Summer Arts Institute Program Guide .

The Summer Arts Institute was an initiative of the GCS 2012 Strategic Plan that has been renewed and expanded through the 2016 Strategic Plan. For more information, contact GCS Arts Education Curriculum Specialist and Summer Arts Institute Program Manager Nathan Street at sai@gcsnc.com or (336) 279-4926.

Tuesday, March 12

Elementary Students to Perform in All-County Elementary Chorus, 7 p.m. (Smith High, 4207 S. Holden Road, Greensboro) - More than 200 Guilford County Schools (GCS) elementary students will participate in the district's all-county elementary chorus on Tuesday.  Students were selected for the chorus by their school music teachers. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Nathan Street, arts education curriculum specialist , at 336-574-2645.

Thursday, March 14

Kernodle Middle Celebrates Pi Day, 1:45 p.m., (Kernodle Middle, 3600 Drawbridge Parkway, Greensboro) - Students at Kernodle Middle will have the opportunity to throw pies in their teachers' faces in celebration of Pi Day on Thursday. Pi Day is celebrated by math enthusiasts around the world on March 14 because the date corresponds with the number 3.14. Throughout the week, teams of students have been competing in a service-learning canned food drive with the winning team earning the privilege to pie a teacher in the face. For more information, contact Principal Thea McHam, at 336-545-3717.