Friday Notes from Guilford County Schools

May 4 , 2007

Our Vision, Mission/Thematic Goals and Core Values

Our vision – what we will become, Our mission/thematic goals- how we will get there -- Our
core values - what we believe -- solidify the underlying foundation for all Guilford County Schools’ decisions and actions.

Threats to Schools

It is unfortunate that we live in a culture where extreme acts of violence are being perpetrated on school grounds. Columbine, Lancaster County’s Amish school and Virginia Tech incidents serve as reminders that we are not immune to potential threats. Guilford County Schools has had a crisis plan for many years and those procedures are currently being reviewed and updated by a team of school and central office personnel. 

Today, we were again reminded how easily rumors and inaccurate information can spread during situations of possible threats to a school.  Please know that GCS takes all threats made very seriously.  When these incidents occur, the proper law enforcement agency is immediately notified and school and district officials cooperate thoroughly with them to investigate the matter. Those determined to be involved with such acts will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. It is important that parents speak with their children and explain the very serious nature and consequences of such threats.

It is our philosophy and practice that in situations of a threat to a school, parents be notified via the Connect Ed telephone calling system as soon as safety is ensured.  We ask that you not rely on rumors or second hand information; always contact your school administrator or the main central office to verify information.  Because of this, it is crucial that student contact information be kept accurate at all times and that the school be provided with a variety of telephone numbers for contacting parents/guardians (home, cell, work, other relatives, etc.). Maintaining the safety of our students and staff will require a partnership. If you have any questions, please contact me at 370-8992.

NEW TIME -- Board Conducts Line Item Review of Superintendent’s FY08 Budget Request

The board will hold a special called meeting for the purpose of conducting a line item review of the Superintendent’s FY08 Budget Request on Monday, May 7 starting at 4 p.m. in the Board Room of the Administrative Offices, 712 N. Eugene St., Greensboro.  The meeting will also air live on GCSTV 2.  For more information, please contact Sonya Conway, Chief District Relations Officer, at 370-8386.

Proctors Needed for End-of-Grade Testing

With End-of-Grade and End-of-Course exams right around the corner, GCS is busy preparing all students for these important tests.  However, in order for success on the exams, the district is reaching out for help from the community.

According to State Board of Education policy HSP-A-0110 (16 NCAC 6D .0306), proctors shall serve as additional monitors to help the test administrators ensure that testing occurs fairly and uniformly.  There has to be a proctor assigned regardless of the number of students in the room where End-of-Grade/End-of-Course exams are administered before testing may begin. Many schools in Guilford County, especially those in highly impacted areas, are in need of testing proctors.  Members of the community who do not work at the school are encouraged and welcomed to volunteer.

GCS is extremely thankful of the generous parents, grandparents and community members who volunteer at our schools during this important time.  However, with the increased volume of testing that takes place each year, school staffs are stretched beyond their resources to provide proctors for test administration.  We are in great need of more help and will call on you again to lend a helping hand.

This year, EOG tests for third- through eighth-graders will be held May 22 – May 24.  High school EOC exams are being held throughout the month of May and early June.  For more information or to sign up to be a proctor, please contact your neighborhood school or click here for a list of district schools.

National School Nurses Day

May 9th is National School Nurses Day.  This day is an excellent opportunity to recognize the contributions that school nurses make in our education system.  They work with our students, parents, and staff members to develop healthy lifestyles.  We thank our school nurses for being supportive of student achievement by helping to keep students in school and ready to learn.  Let’s be sure to let our school nurses know how much we appreciate them.   For more information, please contact Robin Bergeron-Nolan, Director of Health Services, at 370-8333.

Transportation Professionals Appreciation Week

May 7 through 11 is School Bus Driver Appreciation Week.  In Guilford County, 624 school and 62 First Student, Inc. bus drivers travel 52,241 miles transporting 38,761 students each school day.  However, it takes more than school bus drivers to ensure our students are transported safely.  Mechanics, transportation safety assistants, routing specialists, supervisors and other support staff also play a vital role.  Because of that, GCS celebrates Transportation Professionals Appreciation Week.  On May 8, the Transportation Department will recognize the best of the best at its annual Professional of the Year ceremony.  For more information, please contact Jeff Harris, Transportation Director, at 370-8920.

The Extra Ingredient that Contributes to Student Success

They are the ones in charge of providing more than 70,000 GCS students with nutritious and mouth-watering meals daily. Without these hardworking employees, students would not be able to concentrate in math class, finish that good book or run in PE. A healthy meal is one of the keys to success, and thanks in part to the 725 GCS employees who work in the schools’ cafeterias every day, GCS has many successes to celebrate. On May 7 – May 11, GCS will honor school nutrition employees with National Child Nutrition Employee Appreciation Week. Don’t forget to thank the valuable staff who feed GCS’ children every day, and let them know they are treasured. For more information, please contact Haley Henderson, Program Administrator-Communications, at 370-3200.

GCS Rookie Teacher of the Year -- Establishing Relationships, Making Learning Fun

When asked about her teaching style, Leah Carper, a first-year teacher at Western Guilford, is quick to reference Mary Poppins.  This witty movie character once said: “For every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. You find that fun, and snap, the job’s a game!”

As a rookie teacher, Leah has incorporated this attitude into her classroom.  “Through my teaching experience, I have learned that teens learn, and more importantly, want to learn, if the class is fun,” Leah said.  She has strived to reach every one of her ninth-grade students by establishing positive relationships, incorporating pop culture into the classroom and cracking jokes about characters in novels.  “Ms. Carper creates an environment which encourages learning,” said Western High Assistant Principal Shirley Stipe-Zendle.  “She asks sustaining questions and answers students’ questions with respect.  She utilizes a variety of materials and strategies, making learning fun.”

Because of her hard work and dedication during her first year teaching, Leah was named the Guilford County Schools Rookie Teacher of the Year for 2006-07. She was also named the Secondary Rookie Teacher of the Year.

Leah was up against five finalists for the award, and received $500 and a scholarship worth $10,000 to the University of North Carolina at Greensboro for a Master’s degree.  Richard Sherman from Foust Elementary was named the Elementary Rookie Teacher of the Year and received $500.  Other GCS finalists included: Molly Flynt from Colfax Elementary, Eric Lyons from Florence Elementary and Katherine Finch from Ferndale Middle.  They received $100 each.  The event is sponsored by the Guilford Education Alliance, BB&T and VF Corporation.  For more information, please contact Haley Henderson, Program Administrator-Communications, at 370-3200.

GCS Students Receive National Merit Scholarship

Two seniors from Guilford County high schools can now call themselves a Merit Scholar after illustrating a strong combination of accomplishments, skills and potential for success in rigorous college studies.

These GCS students secured two of the National Merit Scholarships worth $2,500 based on their standardized tests scores, academic record, contributions and leadership in school and community activities, an essay describing interests and goals and a recommendation written by a high school official.

Larsen Jones from Grimsley High and Angela Pratt from The Early College at Guilford are among the 2,500 distinguished scholarship winners nationwide. Recipients were selected by a committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors.  Scholar selection was based on committee members’ appraisal of information submitted by 15,000 finalists and their schools.  The number of winners named in a state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the national total of graduating high school seniors.

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) finances most of the single-payment National Merit $2,500 Scholarships with its own funds.  Companies and businesses that support sponsored awards through NMSC help underwrite these scholarships with grants they provide in lieu of administrative fees.  For more information, please contact Chad Campbell, Media Relations Manager, at 370-8356.

Northern Middle Student to Participate in the NC Junior All-State Orchestra Concert

Blake Riley, a sixth-grade student at Northern, will be one of the few sixth-graders at the NC Junior All-State Orchestra Concert on Saturday, May 5. Riley will play viola in the concert, which is primarily composed of seventh- and eighth-grade students.  The concert will take place at the Grimsley High auditorium at 7 p.m.  For more information, please contact Terry Kay Force, Media Specialist, at 605-3342.

Northwest High Odyssey of the Mind Team Advances to World Finals

With first place victories in the regional and China National competitions, the Northwest Odyssey of the Mind (OM) team will advance to the World Finals at Michigan State University. In order to raise the necessary funds to attend the competition, the OM team is busy organizing and participating in fundraisers throughout the community.  One fundraiser invites the community to become a “shareholder” in the OM team’s journey and to support the team both financially and emotionally.  After competing at the World Finals, the team will thank community shareholders by hosting a celebration dinner including: catering from Carrabbas, highlights of the team’s trip to China and the World Finals and a performance of their skit.  The celebration dinner will take place on Thursday, June 7 at Calvary Church in Greensboro, from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.  For more information, please contact Principal Angelo Kidd at 605-3300.

Middle School Poet Laureate Winners are Named

To promote poetry among sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students, GCS conducted the Middle School Poet Laureate Contest and has named seven winners.  Area middle schools submitted up to three finalists for the contest and the Poets Laureate were chosen by Independent Judge Matt McNees, former high school teacher and current university English instructor.

The Middle School Poets Laureate include: Savannah Mills from Southeast Middle, Katie Hoover from Southeast Middle, Rachel Hampton from Guilford Middle, Caitlin Annear from Kiser Middle, Darnella Reeder from Jackson Middle, Dayson Ford from Jackson Middle and Pria Thomason from Ferndale Middle.  All winners received a medallion, a certificate and a $25 gift certificate from Follett Library Resources for their accomplishments.  For more information, please contact Jean Howard, Program Administrator of Library Media Services, at 370-2357.

Penn-Griffin Student Selected to Attend the Legislators’ School for Youth Leadership and Development

Lauren Howard, a ninth-grader at Penn-Griffin, will join 150 students from across eastern North Carolina this summer to participate in the Legislators’ School for Youth Leadership and Development.  The Legislators’ School is a residential, week-long summer program funded by the North Carolina General Assembly and held at East Carolina University. The program targets young leaders in the state and aims to teach leadership and community service skills through a curriculum designed to develop critical thinking, reasoning and problem-solving skills. In addition to classroom sessions, the young leaders will participate in field trips, ropes courses, special events, recreational sports and cultural activities.  For more information, please contact Principal Bobby Ann Hayes at 819-2870.

School Support and Diversity Offices Offer Diversity Lecture for District Staff

GCS School Support Office and Diversity Offices will co-sponsor a unique opportunity for school social workers, counselor and other relevant staff are invited to attend a Diversity Lecture focused on “Analyzing and Moving Students Beyond Internalized Racial Oppression.” The workshop is aimed at helping counseling and social workers recognize the symptoms of self-destructive behavior, as well as suggest and promote alternatives for building and employing buffers to motivate and support at-risk children representing diverse populations in our schools. The workshop will be held on Friday, May 11 from 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. and will be held at 501 West Washington St. in Room 304.  A light lunch will be provided.  All interested participants must RSVP, as space is limited.  For more information and to RSVP, please contact Monica Walker, Diversity Officer, at 370-3284. Click here for additional information.

Great Teachers Make Great Public Schools

In recognition of the nation's teachers, GCS and the National Educators Association are encouraging individuals from coast-to-coast to say "thank you" on National Teacher Day (Tuesday, May 8).  Across the country, people will show their appreciation by organizing teacher appreciation breakfasts, surprising teachers with tokens of appreciation and hosting teacher recruitment activities and events.

NEA has a number of activities planned for National Teacher Day, including:

• Teacher Day Gift Poll.  An apple?  Flowers?  A class present?  NEA is asking teachers what type of gifts they'd most like to receive during National Teacher Day. Results will be revealed right here.
• Nation's Largest Teacher Thank You Card.  Together with the Parent Teacher Association, NEA is asking individuals to take part in creating a larger than life teacher thank you card that will visit key markets in 2008.  How can people participate?  Stay tuned … NEA and PTA will announce details on Monday, May 7
• National Teacher Day Artwork.  Celebrate and spread the word about your National Teacher Day celebration by downloading NEA's variety of customizable artwork. 

Each year, NEA's National Teacher Day honors teachers and promotes the profession of teaching. The celebration also helps call attention to the National Teacher Day tagline, "Great Teachers Make Great Public Schools."  Through National Teacher Day, NEA raises awareness about the importance of having teachers in classrooms that are highly qualified and reflective of America's diversity.  For more information, please contact Mark Jewell, GCAE President, at 299-9601.

GCS Celebrates School Volunteers

During the 2005-06 year, volunteers spent 243,647 documented hours helping our students achieve great things.  To ensure that these selfless volunteers be recognized, GCS created a Volunteer of the Month program.  Each month, GCS will select a volunteer who has made a difference in their school and in the lives of the students, based on nominations.  Persons who volunteer at GCS full- or part-time are eligible to be nominated.  All nominations must be received by the 10th day of each month and are valid for 30 days.  Click here to nominate a volunteer who goes above and beyond. Those selected as the district's Volunteer of the Month will receive a $25 gift certificate from American Express and will be acknowledged at a Guilford County Board of Education meeting.  For more information, please contact Lynne Brandon, Program Administrator-Communications, at 370-8353.

GCSTV 2

GCS is Building Futures

With GCS growing by more than 1,700 students each year, the challenge is keeping up with the demand to educate them in a safe, comfortable environment.  More than two dozen construction projects are currently underway within our school district to help reach that goal.  The new Southern Middle is on schedule to be finished in May.  Guilford Elementary will be completed by August and Northern Elementary by December.  In addition, enhancement construction is underway at Oak View Elementary and Ferndale and Southern middle schools.  Come along for a tour with GCSTV 2 to see how our school construction bond money helps to make these improvements possible.  Join hosts Lillian Govus and Dave Burnett for this edition of GCS Building Futures.  The program airs daily at: 12:20 a.m., 12:20 p.m. 4 p.m. & 9:20 p.m.

Legislative Luncheon

As enrollment grows, so does our need for fiscal support.  High quality public education is dependent upon local, state and federal governments to provide the funds to meet the educational needs of our children.  Join us as board and staff members discuss school needs with those who represent Guilford County at the local, state and federal levels of government.  This program airs daily at 10 a.m.

Tus Hijos y GCS (Your Children and Guilford County Schools)

It’s time to register for next year’s classes.  If you need help with the process, there is help available.  Join host Karin Young for this newest edition of our Spanish and English language program: “Tus Hijos y GCS.”  Karin provides the latest information on registering for school next year including tips that will help make the transition to the next grade level a bit smoother.  Tus Hijos y GCS airs daily at 1 a.m., 7 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.

The Home Field Advantage

Changing schools during the school year creates a disadvantage for students when it comes to their studies.  Research indicates that children who study at the same school throughout the school year do better academically than those who change schools one or more times during the year.  GCS offers students at select schools the “Home Field Advantage.”  The initiative gives children a chance to stay at their original school if their family moves during the academic year.  Get the latest information on this program that helps students stay in the game.  “Home Field Advantage” airs five times daily at: 7:30 a.m., 10 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Young Drivers-The High Risk Years

If you have a teenager who is already driving or will be getting their license soon, don’t miss this program.  The video focuses on ways to reduce injuries and death among our young drivers.  It is told from the perspective of teens and parents who know the consequences of a simple mistake made behind the wheel.  This program airs daily at noon, 9 p.m. and midnight.

On Assignment

For the latest in news and information that chronicles programs and events throughout the school district, join host Leonard Simpson for “On Assignment.”  This newest episode airs daily at: 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.

GCS/ABC 45 Partnership Continues

GCS continues its partnership with ABC 45 television to share the current news and feature stories about our district. The segments run on ABC 45 (Cable Channel 7) during “Good Morning America” each Wednesday and Friday at 7:25 a.m. and 8:25 a.m. You can also learn more about GCS by tuning in to GCSTV 2 (Cable Channel 2).

NEA President Pays a Visit
He is a hero to teachers across the country.  That’s because Reg Weaver steps up and speaks out for the interests of teachers as President of the National Education Association.  The veteran educator paid a visit recently to some of his constituents in GCS and talked about his philosophy of education.  This Newsbreak airs Wednesday, May 9.

Giving Life
The generous donations from GCS’ partners not only make a difference in the lives of our students, they can also save lives.  Just ask the Western Guilford High student whose life was spared with the help of the school’s Automated External Defibrillator.  The folks at Greensboro Orthopedics want to make sure more students have that life saving help and recently donated an AED unit to GCS.  This Newsbreak airs Friday, May 11.

For more information, please contact Leonard Simpson, Broadcast Production Manager, at 370-8167.

NON-GCS EDUCATIONAL NEWS

Guilford County Government Needs Your Input on County Strategic Plan

The county has embarked on an exciting project called, The Strategic Alliance: Building Tomorrow. The Board of County Commissioners recently voted to begin a strategic planning process at their January 2007 retreat. In February, the county manager appointed a working committee made up of department directors and administrative staff. The project will take as long as 16 months and consist of four phases: Assessment, Goal Setting, Plan Development and Managing for Results. The purpose of the project is to develop a process whereby we can best serve the needs of residents while remaining fiscally responsible. The outcomes will be performance driven and geared toward excellence in customer service.

The Assessment Phase began on April 20 with a very successful press conference announcing the project, the activation of an online community survey, and the dates for eight public forums. There is a link from the main page of the county’s Web site (www.co.guilford.nc.us ) that provides project information and a link to the survey. This site will also be used to post project updates.

To make this project successful they need your help now. Here’s how:

• Attend one of the community forums (click here to view the schedule)

• Take the online survey and encourage others to take it

For more information, please contact Melissa T. Johnson, Guilford County Government, at 641-3352.

Teen Job and Volunteer Fair   

The Greensboro Public Library Teen Job and Volunteer Fair offers an encouraging and learning environment for young adults, ages 16-19. The fair will be held on Thursday, May 10 from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. at The Greensboro Cultural Center, 200 N. Davie St., Greensboro. This fair will help teens in our community learn successful job hunting, interviewing and correct job application form completion skills from the beginning. We also encourage businesses that offer college scholarships for their employees to attend the job fair and to encourage teens to give back to their community by volunteering with local non-profit agencies.  For more information, please contact Rick Baker at 373-5810.

Teen Job Interview Workshop

Find out how to ace an interview, fill out a job application properly, create a killer resume and more.  Professionals from Guilford County Job Links Career Center will offer basic tips for filling out applications, appropriate attire and interviewing. The workshop will be held on Wednesday, May 9 at Central library, 219 N. Church Street, Greensboro. For more information and to sign up for the workshop, please call 433-7260. Guilford County Job Links Career Center will also offer Teen Job Interview workshops at the following Greensboro Public Library branches: McGirt Horton: Rick Baker - 373-5810, Glenwood: Brandon Bensley - 297-5000, Benjamin: Mark Taylor - 373-7540 or Hemphill: Valerie Floyd - 373-2925. 

International Notes

Although unemployment remains low, many young people in Britain are not employed or in school. So called "neets”—young people aged 16 to 24 not in education, employment or training—are wasting their talents due to the system's lack of vocational training or apprenticeships. Click here to read more.

Students in Japan took their first national standardized test in 43 years this week, with around 2.3 million children tested simultaneously. The math and language tests are intended to improve reading comprehension and writing ability; individual school and community test scores will not be publicly released. Click here to read more.

Foreign Languages Languish in U.S.; Wales Requires Bilingualism

As schools in Maine struggle to keep popular Latin programs staffed and North Carolina drops a plan to require foreign language programs, Wales has for 18 years put bilingual education at the heart of its curriculum. Click here to read an article from the Boston Globe. Click on the following links to read related articles:
The Boston Globe/Associated Press
The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.)
The Guardian (London)

Which Children Belong in Special Education?

Many children in special education classes may not belong there, the government says. A new policy is aimed at intervening early with intensive teaching to give struggling students a chance to succeed in regular classrooms and escape the ''special ed'' label. There are nearly seven million special education students in the United States, and roughly half have learning disabilities. Most of those are reading related, such as dyslexia or problems in processing information. The Bush administration, following passage of a broad special education law, issued rules in October that rewrote the way schools determine if a child has a learning disability. States have largely relied on a 1970s-era method that looks for disparities between a child's IQ and achievement scores. The diagnosis of a learning disability is often made around fourth grade, reports the Associated Press. At younger ages IQ tests are seen as less reliable, and it often takes that long for severe achievement problems to become apparent. But that, critics say, is a wait-to-fail approach. They point to research showing that intervening early can make it easier for children to overcome their problems. Click here to read more.

Engaging Citizens in the Process of Educational Improvement  

Drawing on three years of field research and extensive theoretical and empirical literature, “Democratic Dilemmas” chronicles the day-to-day efforts of educators and laypersons working together to advance student learning in two California school districts. Julie A. Marsh reveals how power, values, organizational climates, and trust played key roles in these two districts achieving vastly different results. In one district, parents, citizens, teachers, and administrators effectively developed and implemented district wide improvement strategies; in the other, community and district leaders unsuccessfully attempted to improve system wide accountability through dialogue. The book highlights the inherent tensions of deliberative democracy, competing notions of representation, limitations of current conceptions of educational accountability, and the foundational importance of trust to democracy and education reform. It further provides a framework for improving community-educator collaboration and lessons for policy and practice. Click here to read the first chapter for free.