Friday Notes from Guilford County Schools

1710 page views

December 15, 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.

Parkview Elementary and Page High Receive Signature Schools Award

For experiencing significant improvement in the last year, Parkview and Page each received the Signature Schools Award from the Piedmont Triad Education Consortium. The Piedmont Triad Education Consortium is a collaboration of 15 school districts and 17 higher education agencies.

The award is presented based on the following initiatives at the school: innovative practices to increase student achievement, systematic positive changes, overall improvement in quality of teaching and learning and engaged support of parents and the community. For more information, please contact Page Principal Terry Worrell at 370-8200 or Parkview Principal Vicki Miller at 819-2945.

Another District Utilizes GCS Writing Approach

GCS Elementary Writing Curriculum Specialist Cheryl Lynch received correspondence this week from an elementary school principal outside of GCS requesting information about writing pacing guides that are posted on the GCS Web site.  The school was impressed with the data made available on the Web site and plans to reference the district’s pacing guides as a tool for developing their own county-wide pacing guide.  Congratulations to GCS specialists and staff for their dedication and hard work. For more information, please contact Dr. Mack McCary, chief academic officer, at 370-8106.

GTCC Huskins Programs

Guilford Technical Community College (GTCC), in partnership with GCS, offers Huskins Bill cooperative education programs for eligible high school students.

The purpose of the Huskins Bill cooperative education program is two fold: to make college-level technical and advanced courses available to high school juniors and seniors, and to provide a seamless transition for the Huskins Bill student/graduate from the high school into Guilford Technical Community College.

The courses offered in this cooperative education program serve a dual purpose. The credits meet graduation requirements for electives at the high school and also apply toward the student’s A.A.S. degree at GTCC. If a student takes one full year of coursework as a Huskins Program student and complete each course with a grade of “C” or higher, the student is eligible to apply for a two-year Tech Prep scholarship.

To enroll in the Huskins program a student must do the following:

• See his/her high school counselor
• Complete the GTCC Application for Admission
• Take the Asset or COMPASS placement test
• Ask a high school counselor to submit a GTCC Application, placement test scores, and high school transcripts to Bill Eversole at GTCC by May 31

Huskins programs that are currently available include Aviation Systems Technology, Criminal Justice Technology and Fire Protection Technology. For more information, please contact Debra Barham, instructional improvement officer, at 370-8101.

Ball Boys and Ball Girls Needed

The Pizza Hut Little Four Basketball Tournament is looking for students age 8-13 to serve as ball boys and ball girls at the Greensboro Coliseum Special Events Center, Tuesday, December 26 - Thursday, December 28. Students can work one or multiple games and will be given instructions 15 minutes before each game. For more information, please contact Brett Schulman at 282-3773 or e-mail at brett@simpsonandschulman.com.

Put Your Energy Ideas on ICE

What can we, as individuals, do to make a difference in the growing global energy crisis? That’s the question the Igniting Creative Energy (ICE) Challenge, sponsored by Johnson Controls, is encouraging teachers to ask their students. The answer could win a trip to Hawaii for three students and one teacher. The challenge is simple: learn how wise energy choices can help reduce energy consumption; ignite your creative energy to explore new and creative ways to conserve energy and use your talents to communicate your energy ideas and actions to others. The ICE Challenge is open to all students grades K-12. For more details and entry information, visit www.ignitingcreativeenergy.org. Entry deadline is February 17. For more information, please contact Cecilia Adams, manager of community partnerships, at 370-8355.

Guilford County Schools Night with the Bobcats

It’s not too late to order your tickets for Guilford County Schools Night with the Charlotte Bobcats. You’ll see the Charlotte Bobcats take on the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday, January 13 at 7 p.m. Two dollars from each ticket will go to the Enrichment Fund for Guilford County Schools, which provides field trip scholarships for students and teacher mini grants. For more information or to purchase tickets, please contact Jessica Davis at (704) 688-8782 or jdavis@BobcatsSE.com or Lillian Govus, program administrator - communications, at 370-8997.

Johnson Street Global Studies Raises More Than $1,180 for Heifer International

Through donations and pledges, Johnson Street Elementary has collected more than $1,180 to assist needy people around the world by purchasing livestock through the Heifer International program. Each gift of livestock provides an ongoing source of food and income for the receiving family and for others who may receive offspring of the animal. The staff and students of Johnson Street are proud to actively demonstrate their concern for the global community. For information, please contact Dr. Sue Elder, media specialist, at 819-2900.

Grimsley High DECA Club Shines at District Competition

The Grimsley DECA chapter, an association of marketing students, competed in the District 5 Marketing Competitive Events Conference (MCEC) on December 5. Grimsley DECA had 17 students who received the proficiency award, seven students received the highest test score award, five students received the highest role play award, five students were event finalists and two students were district champions.

District 5 is comprised of DECA chapters from the following counties: Guilford, Forsyth, Stokes, Randolph and Davidson. The purpose of the MCEC is to assess student knowledge of marketing competencies as identified through testing and student role playing, as well as recognizing student achievement. The students competed in four series events: Apparel and Accessories Marketing, Food Marketing (Associate Level), Quick Serve Restaurant Management and Retail Merchandising. 

The students’ commitment to excellence and hard work truly paid tremendous dividends at this year’s MCEC, which hosted more than 300 participants. For more information, please contact Atiba Bethea, marketing teacher, at 370-8180.

Mendenhall Middle Students Help U.S. Soldiers

Sixth graders at Mendenhall collected more than 50 boxes of supplies for U.S. soldiers in Iraq. The class collected the following items: cards, letters, games, food and toiletries. In conjunction with their geography class and to promote a global perspective, the students researched Iraq to see how their geography lessons applied to the country. The students also learned about community and empathy through this project. For more information, please contact Principal Nola Taylor at 545-2000.

Arctic Express at Union Hill Elementary

All aboard! Students at Union Hill Elementary enjoyed a holiday program that was trainloads of fun on December 13.  Students went on a magical “train ride” around the world to learn about winter festivals such as Diwali, Kwanzaa, Solstice, Lunar New Year, Ramadan, Hanukkah and Christmas.

Using colorful books, amazing tricks, captivating stories, holiday music and even a rat (puppet) named Livingston; Conductor Steve Somers hosted an entertaining and educational look at a variety of winter holidays from around the world. Students discovered how these festivals share common themes while learning distinct cultural perspectives. Somers is the founder of Amazing Teacher, a company that produces “educationally significant” assembly programs that motivate children to read. For more information, please contact Tammy Gruer, media specialist, at 819-2130.

Grand Opening of the “Shoppes at Lincoln”

Sixth graders at the Academy at Lincoln hosted a grand opening of their “shopping mall” on December 14. The students have been working on creating their own 3-D scale stores in their math, science, social studies and language arts classes and unveiled the designs to the community. Of course, the event would not have been complete without a ribbon cutting and lighting of the Shoppes at Lincoln. Not only did the project help students learn the curriculum in an inventive and dynamic hands-on style, but it was designed to accommodate the learning styles of diverse students with a variety of gifts and talents. All subjects were incorporated into this project. For more information, please contact Suzanne Ladka, counselor, at 370-3471.

Hunter Elementary Multicultural Winter Concert

Hunter hosted a unique winter concert on December 14 at Westover Church on Muir’s Chapel Road. All grade levels performed multicultural songs from around the world, showing students, parents and community members the diverse cultures in this county. For more information, please contact Arnold McQueen, music teacher, at 294-7345.

Sports Center:  The ESPN of Academics

For the last seven weeks, 42 Oak Hill Elementary students have been participating in a session of Extended Learning (EL) entitled “Sports Center.”  Many of the students at Oak Hill express a great deal of interest in sports; therefore, the teachers decided to use this as an instructional theme for Extended Learning.  Teachers selected seven different sports, one for each week of Extended Learning.  Each week, our participating teachers planned reading and math activities focused around these sports.  The “Sports Center” theme really motivated and gained the interest of our EL staff and students. 

As a culminating activity, several High Point Central High student athletes will visit the Oak Hill campus on December 14 to speak with students.  The students from High Point Central will speak about academic and behavioral expectations, scholarship opportunities, being a role model and much more. For more information, please contact Principal Sara Roberts at 819-2925 or Bill Hurt, instructional improvement officer, at 370-2347.

Andrews High Hosts Career Expo

On December 13, Andrews High hosted the FIRST Career Expo.  Andrews is a school of Research and Technology and showcased careers that students could pursue after high school.  More than 900 students ‘Dressed-for-Success’ as they interacted with 32 career professionals from the local business community.  The successful event generated positive comments from students as well as the community. Click here to view Andrew’s students with representatives from NCA&T and General Dynamics. For more information, please contact Principal Monique Brooks at 819-2800 or Debra Barham, instructional improvement officer, at 370-8101.

Second Annual Joint Human Relations Meeting

On December 14, Andrews High hosted the second High Point Student Human Relations Commission meeting of the year. More than 35 student representatives from South West, High Point Central, Andrews and Westchester Day school met in the school’s media center.  Al Higgins and Esther Boss from the High Point Human Relations Commission facilitated the meeting.   Andrew's Gospel Choir opened the meeting.  Planning activities for Martin Luther King Day (Jan 14 at the High Point Theater) and Human Relations Day (March 8) was the agenda.  This is the third year the city’s Human Relations Commission has involved the schools. For more information, please contact Principal Monique Brooks at 819-2800, Ms. Higgins at 883-3124 or Debra Barham, instructional improvement officer, at 370-8101.

Procurement Cards

We currently have approximately 650 procurement cards in use throughout the district. Procurement cards (also known as purchasing cards) enable the district to make small purchases more quickly and efficiently by minimizing paperwork and processing time. Similar to VISA or MasterCard, procurement cards can be processed by vendors just like personal charge cards.

Bank of America has been awarded a contract to serve as the new Procurement Card program administrator for the state. Therefore, our current procurement cards issued by MBNA/Wachovia will expire as of end-of-day on Friday, February 23, 2007.

Authorized maintenance, transportation and school food service staff members will be provided new procurement cards issued by Bank of America on Monday, February 26, 2007. Eligible school personnel will be provided new procurement cards issued by Bank of America by June 15, 2007 and eligible central office administrators will be provided new procurement cards issued by Bank of America by June 30, 2007. The new procurement cards issued by Bank of America will be activated for use in fiscal year 2007-08 as of July 1, 2007. Authorized/eligible procurement card holders have completed purchasing training, AS 400 computer training and have demonstrated compliance with existing purchasing/procurement guidelines/procedures.

Purchase requisitions must be completed and submitted to the Purchasing Department for purchases of goods or services, if any, made by school-based personnel and/or central office administrators during the February 24, 2007 through June 30, 2007 timeframe. For more information about procurement cards, please contact Procurement Administrator Vivian Lane at 370-3237.

Literacy Audit Team Meets with McREL Researchers

This week, two principal researchers from the Mid-Continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) engaged the Guilford County Literacy Audit Team in an interactive session to further clarify issues and collect information for the elementary literacy audit, as well as sharing a research-based framework for evaluating our current approaches to reading and making recommendations for improvement.  Dr. Helen Apthrop, with specialties in classroom assessment and special education and Dr. Elena Bodrova, a developmental psychologist originally from Russia who specializes in early childhood, helped the team define their desire for a coherent framework (an integrated, balanced literacy system), differences between a program for all children and an intervention.  They also clarified the difference between research-based programs, which many developers have incorporated into their approaches, and research-evaluated programs, which are rare because most of them are too new, which implies the importance of districts analyzing their own data about the implementation and impact of literacy programs they adopt.  Dr. Bodrova pointed out some of the limitations of using current research as a basis for program design and instructional practice.  Some of the most crucial theoretical factors contributing to early literacy, such as oral language development and play, have very little research because those factors are so difficult to measure, as opposed to extensive research on letter recognition, which is much easier to measure.  They also discussed with the team the crucial importance of ongoing, sustainable staff development, as well as ideas for differentiated what individual teachers need, the crucial roles of district, school and teacher leadership, and ideas for developing sustainable district capacity.

McREL will use continuing information supplied by the audit team and Guilford County to evaluate how well our current approaches address the crucial components of a research based, balanced literacy framework, and to make recommendations for how the district could move forward to implement a complete and differentiated approach to preventing early reading failure to ensure that all entering kindergarten students read on grade level by the end of third grade. For more information, please contact Dr. Mack McCary, chief academic officer, at 370-8106.

Registering, Signing In and Un-registering for Professional Development

The Office of Professional Development offers a wide variety of courses for GCS employees. Once a participant registers for training, the office of professional development system sends a confirmation email response to verify enrollment. Once you arrive at your session it is important to remember that each participant must sign in on the roster each day of the session. This ensures proper credit for the entire course and also appropriate CEUs are awarded. If you register for a course and then are not able to attend, it is imperative that you un-register for that course before it starts, to avoid getting a 'no show' flag on your transcript. For more information, please contact Rick Cobb, director of professional development, at 378-8811.

Classroom Teachers Benefit from Read GCS Intermediate Training

Recently, approximately 40 teachers completed Read GCS Initial Intermediate training for grades three - five. This hands-on training provided teachers with many ideas and strategies to promote cooperative learning and to improve reading comprehension instruction. Some of the topics discussed included: using questioning to improve comprehension, understanding how to teach predicting and inferring, utilizing graphic organizers to teach vocabulary, creating and managing literacy stations, and administering the fluency assessment. The participants were also involved in activities and instructional strategies such as a concept scavenger hunt; QAR Place Mat; Quiz, Quiz, Trade; Word Parts Relay; Fan-n-Pick—just to name a few.  These teachers left with numerous ideas to use in their classrooms to help increase student achievement in reading. For more information, please contact Stephanie Davis, director of professional development, at 370-3269.  

The Power of We—True Cooperative Learning 

The professional development department recently offered its first session on the Power of Cooperative Learning. This exciting and informative course was held on December 6 and 13 at the Washington Street Annex Building.   Participants from elementary and middle schools gained valuable insight into foundational principles and structures that must be in place when starting this process. Presenter’s thoroughly explored two of the most common approaches of cooperative learning. The first approach, Learning Together, provided a plan for applying cooperative learning in any subject area and at any grade level.  Positive interdependence, face-to face interaction, individual accountability, interpersonal skills and group processing were the essential components examined.  During day two of the training, participants explored the structural approach.  This approach provided teachers with numerous structures that gave many distinct ways to increase student interactions in a classroom. Additionally, teachers were given sample lesson plans and a host of cooperative learning activities for immediate use in their classrooms.  For more information, please contact the following Professional Development Trainers: Johnita Readus at 317-3177, LaTina Robinson at 317-3096 or Randy Shiflett at 312-3930. 

Helping Adolescent Males

The final session of “How to Help Adolescent Males Succeed in Middle and High School” for 2006 finished up on Thursday, December 14.  Nearly 100 GCS employees completed the training this fall, taking valuable, “cutting edge” research from Michael Gurian’s book The Minds of Boys back to their schools.  Excellent, innovative strategies were developed by the trainers and participants in these workshops and implementation of these strategies has already proven effective for many of the participants with their middle and high school males.  Trainers Heather Blackmon and Randy Shiflett are excited about the interest in the workshop and are currently planning several more sessions for the spring semester.  For more information, please contact Heather Blackmon at 312-6518 or Randy Shiflett at 312-3930.

Increase the Peace: Conflict Resolution Session

“Wonderful, everyone should be exposed to this training.”  “I would highly recommend this training at all grade levels. Absolutely practical and informative!”  These are just two of the written comments received in reaction to the recent “Increase the Peace: Conflict Resolution” two day training session that concluded on Wednesday, December 13.  Professional Development trainers Reggie Adkins and Traci Miller conducted the highly interactive training session which allowed participants to gain a better understanding of conflict and the essential stages of effective conflict resolution.  Participants looked into the different components of the verbal escalation continuum, including intervention techniques and also learned how to deal with difficult people.  The next session of Increase the Peace: Conflict Resolution (click to register) will begin on March 1, 2007.
 
In addition, the professional development department is offering I'm Listening: Effective Communication in the Workplace (click to register) on January 23, 2007.  This workshop will help participants develop effective two-way communication skills and will include a special segment with an expert guest speaker.  For more information, please contact Professional Development trainers Reginald Adkins at 317-1534 or Traci Miller at 312-4266.

GCSTV 2

Family Resource Center

Everyone needs a little help once in a while.  We’re fortunate in Guilford County there is usually someone or some organization there to lend a helping hand.  GCS provides the Family Resource Center. The center offers assistance primarily to immigrant families for everything from enrolling children in school to linking families with other agencies and organizations that can help. Join host Karin Young for the newest edition of our Spanish and English language program: “Tus Hijos y GCS.”  Karin provides us with an overview of some of the agencies and how they can be of service.  Tus Hijos y GCS airs daily at 1 a.m., 7 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 7 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.

The Youngest Help Out
Pre-K students spend much of their school days learning the basics.  For the second year, the youngest students at Lindley Elementary are spending their school time learning the rewards of helping others.  Go with them to the grocery store as the class shops to put food on the tables of the less fortunate.  This Newsbreak airs Wednesday, December 20.
           
Helping At Any Age
Retirement means different things to different people.  To Leonard Glashow it certainly doesn’t mean slowing up when it comes to helping out.  At 86 years of age, Glashow spends much of his free time in classrooms at Jefferson Elementary.  Ask him why and he’s quick to tell you: “The kids need our help.”  This Newsbreak airs Friday, December 22.

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

NON-GCS EDUCATIONAL NEWS

NBC Scores Released

Score results for 2005-2006 first-time and retake candidates were released on Wednesday, December 13.  Score reports are available to candidates on a password-protected NBPTS Web site accessible from http://www.nbpts.org with the ability to view their scores once a candidate has verified their identity by providing secure data submitted on their candidate application.  Due to expected high traffic on the NBPTS Web site, it is possible that candidates will receive an error notice while attempting to access their scores or the Web site may take longer than usual to load.  In these instances, the candidates should wait a short period before re-attempting to access their scores.

Candidates will need to provide their Candidate ID Number, Date of Birth and Social Security number to access scores.  Candidates will not be able to view their scores through the secure site unless NBPTS has their correct social security number and date of birth on file. Therefore, encourage your candidates to go to My Profile (http://www.nbpts.org/for_candidates/my_profile) and view their personal information to ensure that it is accurate.

Candidates Can Update their Social Security Number and Date of Birth. 
If the candidate has never provided NBPTS with their social security number, they can update it any time in My Profile.  If the social security number and/or date of birth NBPTS has on file is incorrect, the candidate must Fax an enlarged copy of their social security card, driver's license and/or birth certificate, along with a written request containing their signature to: 1-888-811-3514.

Candidate Can Locate their Candidate ID Number. 
Due to the large volume of anticipated telephone inquiries, candidates can locate their candidate ID numbers without the assistance of Customer Service by accessing My Profile.  The candidate's candidate id number is also on any remaining barcode labels from their Portfolio kit or any correspondence from NBPTS.

Online Professional Development Opportunity

Enrollment has opened for NC in the World's online professional development course for middle and high school teachers called "North Carolina: Connections to the World." This course is designed to provide teachers with an understanding of global perspectives and the integration of these perspectives into their classrooms. Through this work, learners will identify the global connections and issues that exist in their North Carolina communities and will develop methods for engaging students in viewing their world through multiple channels. The course begins Feb. 7 and lasts six weeks. Teachers must enroll by Jan. 28. The course is free. For more information, please go online to http://www.learnnc.org/courses/ncworld

How to Bring Schools into 21st Century  

For the past five years, the national conversation on education has focused on reading scores, math tests and closing the "achievement gap" between social classes. This week a new public conversation will burst onto the front page, when the New Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce, a high-powered, bipartisan assembly of education secretaries, business leaders and a former governor releases a blueprint for rethinking American education from pre-K to 12 and beyond to better prepare students to thrive in the global economy. While that report includes some controversial proposals, there is nonetheless a remarkable consensus among educators and business and policy leaders on one key conclusion: we need to bring what we teach and how we teach into the 21st century. Right now we're aiming too low. Competency in reading and math -- the focus of so much No Child Left Behind testing -- is the meager minimum. Scientific and technical skills are, likewise, utterly necessary
but insufficient. Today's economy demands not only a high-level competence in the traditional academic disciplines but also what might be called 21st century skills. Here's what they are: Knowing more about the world; Thinking outside the box; Becoming smarter about new sources of information; and Developing good people skills. Can our public schools, originally designed to educate workers for agrarian life and industrial-age factories, make the necessary shifts? Click here to read more.

Suburban Poverty Now Outnumbers Urban Poverty  

An analysis of poverty in cities and suburbs of the nation's 100 largest metropolitan areas, based on data from the 2005 American Community Survey and Census 2000, indicates that in 1999 large cities and their suburbs had nearly equal numbers of poor individuals, but by 2005 the suburban poor outnumbered their city counterparts by at least 1 million. Poverty rates rose significantly in Midwestern and Southern metropolitan areas, but remained steady in the West and Northeast. In the Midwest, where job losses were concentrated in the first half of the decade, poverty rates rose in 18 of 20 metropolitan areas. In the West, by contrast, only seven of 23 metro areas experienced poverty rate increases, and poverty actually fell in five. Nearly half of large cities nationwide saw a significant rise in their poverty rates, versus about one-third of their suburbs. In cities and suburbs where overall poverty rates rose from 1999 to 2005, child poverty rates rose faster. At the local le  vel, the enduring social and fiscal challenges for cities that stem from high poverty are increasingly shared by their suburbs, writes researchers Alan Berube and Elizabeth Kneebone in a Brookings Institution report. Public and private efforts that give growing suburban poor populations access to economically integrated neighborhoods and in-work supports could enhance economic security and mobility for a significant number of Americans. Click here to read more.

Teachers Purchase Significant Classroom Supplies  

How and what teachers purchase for classroom use is changing, according to a new report, "Teacher Buying Behavior, 2006-2007." It takes a look at what types of materials and products educators are purchasing and with what funds. On average, teachers report spending a total of $475 of their own money on classroom materials and supplies. 44 percent of respondents spend over $500 on their classrooms, with 20 percent spending over $1,000. 85 percent of teachers surveyed use their own money to buy student rewards. 75 percent use their own money for classroom decorations. 59 percent dig into their own pockets to purchase professional materials. Congress recently passed a tax bill that temporarily extends three popular tax breaks for classroom teachers. The Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006, awaiting President Bush's signature, allows teachers to deduct up to $250 in out-of-pocket classroom expenses, even if they don't itemize deductions. Click here to read more.