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December 2007

December 12, 2007

Parkview Elementary Presents “The Wonders Of The Earth”

On December 13 at 6:30 p.m. and December 14 at 9:30 a.m., Parkview third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students will present “The Wonders of the Earth” in the School Auditorium. The musical, which incorporates science and social studies lessons, is about the seven different continents around the Earth. The musical will integrate all areas of the arts, as students from the drama club have written the narration and the visual arts teacher is painting the scenery. For more information, please contact Patricia Gabriel, music teacher, at 336-819-2945.

Dudley High To Receive A Visit From DESTINY Traveling Science Learning Program

One of the traveling laboratories from the University of North Carolina’s DESTINY Traveling Science Learning Program will stop at Dudley on Tuesday, December 18.

Dudley students will be on board the traveling lab from 8:50 a.m. to 10:20 a.m. and from 10:25 a.m. to Noon to perform a lab exercise, “Mystery of the Crooked Cell.” Students will discover the molecular basis of sickle cell disease by using gel electrophoresis as a diagnostic tool to differentiate normal hemoglobin from hemoglobin found in individuals with sickle cell disease.

The DESTINY Program serves secondary schools in North Carolina by bringing contemporary science and technology to teachers and students at no cost to the school. For more information, please contact Phyllis Martin, Dudley principal, at 336-370-8130.

Update - Peeler Open Elementary To Perform At Local Nursing Home

Peeler fifth-grade piano students will perform holiday music at Friend’s Home on Wednesday, December 19 (rather than Tuesday, December 18) at 11 a.m. as a seasonal community service event. For more information, please contact Tony Steen, keyboard teacher, at 336-370-8270.

Southern High Takes Graduation Projects To The Next Level

At Southern, students have created digital portfolios to show all aspects of their senior project, from the proposal to the finished product or completed service. These digital portfolios replace the antiquated tri fold display boards while lessening the expense for students and increasing relevance to the next stage of their life.

Seniors are displaying their projects through videotapes, digital pictures, Flash files and audio files. Using a non-linear PowerPoint presentation, the students will hyperlink the various components of their project.

Not only are students completing their graduation projects, but they are also gaining valuable computer skills that will be useful in college or in the workforce. For more information, please contact Carolyn Swaim, media specialist, at 336-674-4250.

Southwest Elementary Promotes Fitness Among Students, Families And Staff

Understanding that physical activity helps reduce stress and promotes a healthier lifestyle, Southwest’s Health Advisory committee, comprised of staff and parents, is launching a friendly competition to encourage all families to get active.

Each family will track daily physical activity each month. Every 15 minutes of activity will translate into a mile. At the end of the month, the class with the most miles will be presented the “traveling parachute” to use during their recess time. For more information, please contact Libby Chestnut, technology assistant, at 336-819-2992.

Students From The Early College At Guilford Are National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists

Five students from The Early College at Guilford are National Merit Scholarship semifinalists. Each year, the National Merit Scholarship program honors approximately 50,000 academically talented high school students, and only 16,000 of them are named semifinalists. Approximately half of the finalists will be chosen as Merit Scholarship winners in the 2008 competition.

Congratulations to the following semifinalists: Nikolas Antolin, Mark Draelos, Ellis Driver, Diya Jost and Tyler Loftin. For more information, please contact Charles Blanchard, principal, at 336-316-2860.

GCS Musicians Perform At 2007 NC Music Educators Annual Conference

During the North Carolina Music Educators Association 2007 Conference at the Benton Convention Center in Winston-Salem, 39 GCS students performed along with students from across the state. These musicians were selected based on rigorous statewide audition requirements, resulting in top-notch vocal and instrumental performances.

In addition, GCS music educators performed at the event, including: Mara Barker from Joyner Elementary, Jane York from Penn-Griffin School for the Arts, Marta Richardson from Peeler Open Elementary and Angela Toney from Morehead Elementary. For more information, please contact Lynn Egerton, music specialist at Jesse Wharton Elementary, at 336-545-3700.

“Pennies For Patients” At Hunter Elementary

Students at Hunter Elementary collected “Pennies for Patients” to support Leukemia and Lymphoma patients. Students collected a total of $1,700 with Mrs. Kamala Jones’ third-grade class collecting the highest amount, $360. Mrs. Jones’ class won a pasta party at Olive Garden for their efforts. For more information, please contact Karen Tate Gray, counselor, at 336-294-7345.

December 5 , 2007

Oak View Elementary to Participate in Winter Celebration

Oak View kindergarten students will participate in a winter celebration organized by High Point University on Friday, December 7 at 10:30 a.m. in the kindergarten classrooms. Each of the 93 students will receive a gift purchased from Toys “R” Us. The High Point volunteers will also provide lunch for all students and staff. For more information, please contact Dwayne Washington, assistant principal, at 336-819-2935.

Pearce Elementary to Host Holiday Events

The Pearce Parent Teacher Association will host a Skate Night at Skateland USA on Monday, December 10 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to wear festive holiday attire to celebrate the season. The Pearce performance art classes will host a winter holiday concert at Calvary Church on Tuesday, December 18 at 7 p.m. For more information, please contact Pam Misher, principal, at 336-605-5480.

Peeler Open Elementary to Perform at Local Nursing Home

Peeler fifth-grade piano students will perform holiday music at Friend’s Home on Wednesday, December 19 at 11 a.m. as a seasonal community service event. For more information, please contact Tony Steen, keyboard teacher, at 336-370-8270.

Peck Elementary Observes Education Week with Guilford Country Schools Chief of Staff

Peck celebrated American Education Week and Children’s Book Week with a special visit from Dr. Eric Becoats, chief of staff for Guilford County Schools (GCS), on Tuesday, November 13. Becoats read to kindergarten, first-, second- and third-grade classrooms. Becoats also discussed future goals and career options with fourth- and fifth-grade students. For more information, please contact Francine Mallory, principal, at 336-370-8235.

Peck Elementary and Mendenhall Middle “Final Stretch” Success

Sara Hernandez, a sixth-grade student at Mendenhall, received a warm welcome from her elementary school, Peck, on Tuesday, November 20. Hernandez was diagnosed with leukemia in 2005 at the beginning of her fourth-grade year. Hernandez will complete chemotherapy early next year and to celebrate, two Peck staff and two Mendenhall staff ran and biked more than five miles from Mendenhall to Peck.

Students and staff surrounded the school to celebrate the “final stretch” of Hernandez’s chemotherapy treatments. Representatives from each Peck classroom presented Hernandez with balloons. Since 2005, more than $5,000 has been raised for the Sara Fund, which supports the Hernandez family’s financial needs and the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society. For more information, please contact Francine Mallory, Peck principal, at 336-270-8235.

Middle School Chess Tournament a Success

More than 140 chess players from 18 middle schools participated in a chess tournament at Aycock Middle on Saturday, December 1. The overall winning team was from Eastern Middle. The winning players from each grade level will compete in the North Carolina Scholastic Chess Tournament hosted in Charlotte in February. The event was sponsored by GCS Chess Helps Every Student Succeed (CHESS) program. For more information, please contact Kent Boyles, CHESS program coordinator, at 336-545-3717.

Pearce Elementary Hosts Successful Food and Blood Drives

Pearce donated more than 1,400 canned food items to the Greensboro Urban Ministry food bank. On Saturday, December 1, Pearce hosted a blood drive for the American Red Cross and collected 35 units of blood. For more information, please contact Pam Misher, principal, at 336-605-5480.

Page High Collects Record Amount for Food Drive

The Page student council hosted their annual Thanksgiving food drive earlier this semester. The goal was to collect 5,500 canned food items for the Greensboro Urban Ministry food bank. The final donation set a Page record and was double their goal, as more than 11,000 canned food items were collected. For more information, please contact Nicole Abell, social studies teacher, at 336-370-8200.

Shadybrook Elementary to Collect Toys for “Eagle Elves” Project

The Shadybrook student council is sponsoring an “Eagle Elves” project. Students are encouraged to donate toys, which will be distributed through the Fox 8 Gifts for Kids Campaign. The “Eagle Elves” will also collect items, such as toiletries, blankets and music, to donate to local nursing homes. For more information, please contact Dennis Foster, principal, at 336-819-2950.

Current Good News

About Guilford County Schools
Guilford County Schools is the third largest school district in North Carolina serving more than 71,000 students at 119 schools. With approximately 10,000 employees, the district’s mission is to graduate responsible citizens prepared to succeed in higher education or the career of their choice.

Guilford County Schools is a national leader in providing specialized schools and instructional programs designed to meet the educational needs of a culturally diverse citizenship. For more information, visit the district’s Web site at www.gcsnc.com.