Friday Notes from Guilford County Schools

1609 page views

October 6, 2006

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.

GCS United Way Kick-Off

The Guilford County Schools United Way Campaign will officially kick-off next Thursday, October 12.  This year, our theme is “GCS Cares … A Campaign of Excellence.” The district’s campaign goal is to raise $360,000.  A campaign video will air on Channel 2 beginning October 16 and will run from 7:30 – 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 -5:30 p.m. through October 20.  The video will then run from October 23 – November 3 at 8 a.m., 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. The co-chairs for this year’s campaign are Chief of Staff Dr. Eric J. Becoats and Chief Finance Officer Sharon Ozment.  Click here for more details. For more information, please contact Dr. Becoats at 378-8838 or Ms. Ozment at 370-8343.

GCS Speech Pathologist Named President – Elect of NCSHLA

Lisa McDonald has been named President-Elect of the North Carolina Speech, Hearing and Language Association (NCSHLA). Lisa is currently assigned to General Greene Elementary where she has served as a Speech Pathologist for the past eight years.

NCSHLA is a professional association that promotes and advocates for the professional practice of speech, language and hearing sciences. The organization consists of over one thousand speech and audiology professionals across the state.

During her tenure at General Greene, Ms. McDonald has facilitated the implementation of a specialized curriculum called Language! by working cooperatively with a special education teacher. She was also instrumental in obtaining sound-field amplification systems funded through the PTA to improve the auditory environment for students.  She was awarded the 2006 NCSHLA Public Information Award for that endeavor. Ms. McDonald has served in various capacities in NCSHLA as well as the North Carolina Association of Supervisors in Speech/ Language Pathology and Audiology (NCASSPA). For more information regarding NCSHLA, please contact Sue Bennett Kellum, EC program administrator for speech and language, at 370-2318.

GCS College Night 2006

Over 3,000 people attended GCSCollege Night on Tuesday, October 3 at the Coliseum Pavilion.  There were 139 colleges, universities and military institutions present to share information with students and their parents. Several college representatives complimented Guilford County Schools for the marked changes in student preparedness. Takeila Barnes of the College Foundation of North Carolina did a fantastic job of hosting two mini seminars for parents and students on financial aid and college entry readiness. The Greensboro Kiwanis Club sponsors this annual event and they were elated with the impressive turnout. GCS counselors were on hand to meet, greet and assist students, parents and representatives. Mr. Mike Sauve and other personnel at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex also provided excellent service for the event. Thanks to all who helped to make this event a success. We look forward to a bigger and better College Night next year on October 2, 2007. For more information, please contact Gwen Willis, executive director of student services, or Gwen Adams, high school supervisor of counseling services, at 370-2331.

Superintendent Continues Student and Teacher Communicator Meetings

Dr. Terry Grier recently met with a group of students at Eastern High to talk about the state of their school over pizza and salad.  For the 10 students selected to take part in the meeting, it was a chance to discuss what’s going well and concerns they have for their school. The diverse group of students said they feel safe in their school, but would like to be able to take part in classes and read more literature that focuses on their diverse backgrounds.

Ten teachers at Ferndale Middle also had the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Grier and discuss their concerns and goals.  Whether strategizing on how to better involve the community or how to strengthen relationships within the school, the meeting was a chance for staff members to brainstorm ideas and to pose questions and concerns directly to the superintendent.

The communicator meetings will continue on a monthly basis throughout the 2006-07 school year.  For more information, please contact Lillian Govus, program administrator – communications, at 370-8997.

Dough for Schools

Here’s an easy way to raise some “dough” for your school.  The Dominoes franchises of Guilford County are hosting “dough raising” nights for GCS from October 16-18. Click here for the form. Simply order a pizza one of those nights, fill out the form, give it to the delivery person and Dominoes will donate 20 percent of your net order to the school of your choice.  For more information, please contact Cecilia Adams, manager of community partnerships, at 370-8355.

2007 Excellence in Education Award Nominations Needed

The National Center for Urban School Transformation (NCUST) at San Diego State University invites eligible schools to submit applications to nominate themselves for the 2007 Excellence in Education Award.  This is the second year for the award, which is given annually to a small number of urban schools that have achieved excellent academic results for all populations served.  The award recognizes:

• Hard work, dedication and talent of urban school educators
• Educates the public about accomplishments and potential of urban schools
• Provides a concrete benchmark of excellence that motivates reform efforts
• Deepens the knowledge base of best practices for promoting urban school transformation

The award is only for public or public charter schools that serve urban communities.  Requirements include:

• A minimum of 50 percent of the school’s students must meet the eligibility requirements for the federal FRL program
• Secondary schools may be considered if at least 50 percent of the students in two-thirds of their feeder schools meet the FRL criteria
• Eligible schools may not have any selective admissions criteria
• Met AYP for the ‘03/’04 and ‘04/’05 school years
• Met all state requirements for AYP in ‘04/’05 for school year ‘06/’07
• Minimum 92 percent average daily attendance in both ‘03/’04 and ‘04/’05
• Minimum 75 percent cohort graduation rate for every major demographic group within the school
• Low suspension/expulsion rate (specific percentage to be determined)
• Other strong evidence of academic excellence (AP/IB participation and passing exams, SAT participation, etc.)

Top finalists will receive a site visit from a team of NCUST researchers. All semi-finalists will receive a certificate and listed on NCUST’s Web site.  Award winners will receive a check for $1,000, a banner for their school and a profile on the NCUST Web site.  As well, each school will receive travel costs for one representative to attend the NCUST Symposium in San Diego, CA on May 4-5, 2007. For more information or to submit an application, visit http://edweb.sdsu.edu/ncust/awards.  The deadline is December 18, 2006.   For more information, please contact Sonya Conway, executive director of district relations, at 370-8386.

Annual Search Under Way for Nation’s Top Youth Volunteers

The search is on for the nation’s top youth volunteers.  For the 12th year, the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards will recognize thousands of students from across the country for their willingness and commitment to helping the less fortunate, promoting health and safety, protecting the environment and serving their communities through volunteer activities.  All middle and high school students are eligible for nomination.  Application forms can be obtained by visiting www.prudential.com/spirit or www.principals.org/prudential or call 888-450-9961.

Alamance Elementary Keeps the Lights On

Alamance Elementary and Young Rembrandts art after school program are partnering to raise awareness of the need and benefit of after school programs with Lights on After School. This event will be held onThursday, October 12 at 2:30 p.m. Lights on After School is a project of the After School Alliance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that all children have access to quality, affordable after school programs by 2010. Students at Alamance will participate in a special lesson with a light bulb theme.  Guests from the community and government will be invited to see and participate in the Young Rembrandts special program to gain an understanding of the importance of access to after-school enrichment programs for all students.  For more information, contact Cecilia Adams, manager of community partnerships, at 370-8355

Smith High Receives NCAE/NEA Student Achievement and Human and Civil Rights Grant

Strong leadership and dedicated staff at Smith High has garnered the school a $6,000 grant from the North Carolina Association of Educators/National Education Association (NCAE/NEA).  The grant will assist Smith in various areas including: providing quality teaching and learning conditions, planning family and community involvement activities and supporting a qualified, caring and diverse staff. The grant, "Public Policy to Close the Achievement Gap," will focus on connecting communities for student success.  NCAE/NEA presented the grant to the school during a ceremony on October 6.  For more information, please contact Noah Rogers, principal at Smith High, at 294-7300; Mark Jewell, GCAE president, at 299-9601 or Haley Henderson, program administrator – communications, at 370-3200.

Montlieu Math and Science Academy to Sponsor Fundraising Event

Montlieu will sponsor a fish fry and yard sale fundraising event at the school on October 14. The yard sale will be held from 8 a.m. until noon.  The fish fry will be held from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. For more information, please contact Chiyanna Young, school counselor, at 819-2910.

Guilford Primary School to Hold Scholastic Book Fair

Guilford Primary will hold a Scholastic Book Fair beginning on Tuesday, October 17 until Friday, October 20 The fair will be open from 7:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. everyday except for Wednesday, October 18, when the fair will be open from 7:30 a.m. until noon due to early release.

On Thursday, October 19, two family events will be held at the book fair. From 7:30 a.m. until 8:30 a.m. a family breakfast will be held, while a family shopping event will be held from 2:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. Drawings for prizes will be announced every half hour at the events. For more information, please contact Laura Baker, media specialist, at 316-5844.

Northern High to Hold Parent Meeting

Northern High will hold a parent meeting addressing general updates on school progress on October 19. Parents can learn about volunteer opportunities. There will be a question and answer session followed by a small reception. The meeting will be held at Brown Summit Middle at 7 p.m. For more information, please contact Joe Yeager, principal at Northern High, at 574-1612.

Sumner Elementary Hosts Family Reading Night

On Thursday, October 19, Marya Ryals, children’s librarian, will lead a family reading night, sponsored by Sumner Elementary. It will be from 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at Hemphill Public Library, located at 2301 W. Vandalia Street. For more information, please contact Jane Roach, instructional technology coordinator, at 316-5888.

Résumé Writing Workshop for Sumner Elementary Parents

On Thursday, November 9, there will be a resume writing workshop for parents of students who attend Sumner Elementary. The workshop will be held from 5:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. in the school’s technology center. For more information, please contact Jane Roach, instructional technology coordinator, at 316-5888.

Professional Development Targets Teaching Males

The Professional Development Department is committed to helping GCS Employees understand the unique issues of teaching boys. The first of several sessions of “Helping Adolescent Males Succeed in Middle/High School” began this week at Page High.  Professional development trainers Heather Blackmon and Randy Shiflett led participants in examining aspects of the male brain and male behavior.  In coming sessions, the workshop aims to offer suggestions for differentiating instruction to better meet the needs and interests of our young males. Two additional courses will be offered in the Spring. Also being offered are sessions of “Unique Strategies to Instruct and Motivate Elementary Boys”, which uses brain-based research findings to understand the minds of boys and provide instructional strategies designed to enhance the academic achievement of boys. Click here to register. For more information, please contact professional development trainers Traci Miller at 312-4266 or Reggie Adkins at 317-1534.

Benefits

Employees who have enrolled in one of the NC Smart Choice PPO plans and have not received their new medical cards can call Blue Cross Blue Shield Customer Service at 1-888-234-2416 and request cards.  Our understanding is that all cards have been mailed, but were put on a staggered mailing schedule so some employees may not have received their card at this time.  If an employee has to go to a doctor or medical facility, call Customer Service and a card will be faxed to the doctor’s office or medical facility.  For more information, please contact Patty Kinkade, director of benefits, at 370-8092.

GCSTV 2

Students Deliver the “News”

Students at the GTCC Middle College of Entertainment Technology have plunged right into the new school year by producing their own television show.  It’s the second year of studies at this middle college and GCSTV-2 is proud to bring you a preview of their hard work.  The show is produced, written and hosted by TV broadcasting & production students.  This show airs daily at 12:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

GCS/ABC 45 Partnership Continues

GCS continues its partnership with ABC 45 television to share the following 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.

NC Art Teacher of the Year
She pours her heart into her art and her profession -- they just happen to be one and the same.  Joy Hudson of Colfax Elementary School was recently named the 2006 North Carolina Art Teacher of the Year by her peers.  See why this dedicated veteran teacher has earned the love and respect of her students and peers.  This newsbreak airs Wednesday, October 11.

2006 Celebration of Excellence
Academic accomplishment is rewarded in many ways.  Guilford County’s business community steps up to help GCS celebrate academic excellence.  For the sixth year, 15 GCS schools have been recognized for their improvement in end-of-grade tests.  Action Greensboro’s Commitment to Excellence committee provides each school with $8,000 and $1,000 to 30 teachers who made the greatest impact on the two top performing students in each school.  The two top performing students of each school received a $50 AMEX gift check.  This newsbreak airs Friday, October 13.

For more information, please contact Leonard Simpson, broadcast production manager, at 370-8167.

NON-GCS EDUCATIONAL NEWS

Teaching Fellows Scholarship Applications Available Online

The North Carolina Teaching Fellows Commission recently announced that the application for the 2006-07 North Carolina Teaching Fellows Scholarship/Loan Program is now available online for high school seniors. Each Teaching Fellow receives a $26,000 scholarship loan from the state, payable in $6,500 annual increments. The full loan is forgiven after the Fellow has completed four years of teaching in North Carolina public schools. The deadline to return completed applications to the Fellows Liaison Counselor in the high school is Oct. 20.  Click here for the application and additional program information.

2007 Harris Wofford Award

Youth Service America is accepting nominations for the Harris Wofford Award, which recognizes citizens who are making service and service-learning the common expectation and experience of every young person. The Harris Wofford Award, which honors former Senator Harris Wofford, an outstanding public servant, recognizes extraordinary achievements in three categories: Youth (ages 12-25), Organization (nonprofit, corporate, foundation) and Media (organization or individual). Nominations in the Youth and Organization category will be accepted through October 19. Sponsored by State Farm Companies Foundation®, the Harris Wofford Award winners will be announced at the 18th Annual National Service-Learning Conference to be held March 28-31, 2007, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Click here for more information, including a nomination application.

Getting Teachers Out From Behind Their Desks  

Lee Dorman, a middle school teacher, calls herself "a walker and a stalker," as she teaches not from behind a desk but by walking throughout the classroom. "I just never figured out how on earth to teach sitting down," says Dorman, whose desk is basically an oversize in-basket. Here and there, a small but growing number of teachers is following Dorman's example, educators say, abandoning the traditional classroom power center. To them, a desk is really a ball and chain, distancing them from students. With the new emphasis on raising achievement for all students, many teachers say they have to stay mobile to make sure they are reaching everyone in their classroom, reports Jay Mathews. The no-desk movement seems to have had little visible impact on schools so far. David Horn, director of marketing communications for the School Outfitters Web site, said he saw no sign of teacher desk sales falling off. There appears to be no research on how many instructors have abandoned their  desks and, in a field replete with specialist groups, there apparently are no declared associations of deskless teachers. Still, success stories among deskless teachers appear to have influenced plans for some charter schools, which are publicly funded but independently operated. Deskless teachers are more common in such schools because the schools themselves tend to encourage experimentation. Some charter school principals have banned teacher desks from classrooms and placed teacher workstations in group offices to facilitate lesson planning. Click here to read more…

Making Children Successful in the Early Years of School

A student’s entire journey along the educational spectrum is affected by what occurs -- and, crucially, by what does not occur -- before the age of eight or nine. Yet early learning has never received the attention it deserves and needs. In his latest book, education expert Gene Maeroff takes a hard look at early learning and the primary grades of schooling. "Building Blocks" describes PK-3 -- a concrete and groundbreaking strategy for improving early education. Filled with colorful descriptions and anecdotes from Maeroff’s visits to schools around the country, "Building Blocks" creates a rich portrait of education in America, ranging from math lessons imported from Singapore in Massachusetts to serious but joyful kindergartens in California. He speaks of the need for schools to prepare for the burgeoning enrollment of youngsters from immigrant families and for all children to acquire the habits and dispositions that will make them committed and productive students. Maeroff issues a call to action for policy makers and parents alike. Click here to read more…

National Bullying Awareness Prevention Week is October 22-28

Sponsored by the PACER Center and cosponsored by the National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education, National Education Association, and National PTA, National Bullying Prevention Awareness Week is Oct. 22-28, 2006. PACER Center encourages you to help promote this important week in the following ways: (1) Promote the website below as a bullying prevention resource for elementary-age children, including those with disabilities; (2) Download and share a colorful poster promoting National Bullying Prevention Awareness Week.; (3) Read "Bullying Fast Facts"; and (4) Let the public hear the message, "Bullying is never okay. What can you do to stop it?" Click here to read more…

Mixed Ability Classes Show Promise in Denver

 Denver’s East High School is one of the most prestigious high schools in Colorado, a school that dominated Constitutional Scholars competitions and sent graduates annually to Ivy League colleges. Yet the freshmen and sophomores in the low and remedial track classes in the autumn of 2004 seemed unable to string together sentences, much less weave them into paragraphs. Especially discouraging was the fact that in a school that was 45 percent white, classes were so segregated that all but two or three of the students in Jeremy Hoffer’s low-track classes were minorities. Researchers at schools throughout the nation have found that African Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans tend to be concentrated in low or vocational tracks. Hoffer, however, had not encountered this before and to him it was unacceptable. If he was going to stay at East, something had to change. He had an idea about what that might be. For the five years of his career before arriving at East, he had taught untracked middle school classes containing a diverse mixture of minorities and whites, reports Holly Yettick. Click here to read more…