Want to know how to submit your school's Good News? Click here to find out how.

September 2007

September 26, 2007

Guilford County Elementary Schools to Attend Performance at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NC A&T)

The first production of the season for NC A&T’s Theatre Arts Program will be performed especially for Guilford County elementary schools. First, Aggie’s in Action for Theatre will host a pre-performance workshop of Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters, a children’s play adapted from an acclaimed book of the same title, on Tuesday, October 16 at Washington Elementary. NC A&T Chancellor Stanley F. Battle will accompany the theatre team to read the book to third- and-fourth grade students at 8:30 a.m. in the media center.

On Wednesday, October 17, the Theatre Arts Program will host a morning of theatre for Washington, Wiley Elementary, Oak Hill Elementary and Montlieu Math and Science Academy at 9:30 a.m. in the Paul Robeson Theatre on the campus of NC A&T. The students will see Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters. For more information, please contact Kelly Hales, director of Title I, at 336-370-2368.

General Greene Elementary Finds “Book Buddies” at Benjamin Branch Library

General Greene has partnered with the neighboring Benjamin Branch Library to promote literacy skills among students. Through the new program, “Book Buddies” will volunteer once a week to read with a General Greene student. Library patrons and others interested in helping can attend the next training session October 18 at 10 a.m. at the Benjamin Branch Library. For more information, please contact George Boschini, principal, at 336-545-2015.

Board of the North Carolina Art Education Association Honors Assistant Principal

The Board of the North Carolina Art Education Association (NCAEA) honored Dr. Susan Hines, assistant principal of The Academy at Lincoln, as a Friend of Arts on September 22. As an exemplary art educator and advocate of the arts, Dr. Hines and other “Art Stars” will celebrate their accomplishments during the NCAEA Professional Development Conference later this fall. For more information, please contact Dr. Hines at 336-370-3471.  

Eastern High Students Participate in Highway Cleanup

Members of Eastern’s Advanced Placement Environmental Science class, Ecology Club, Global Awareness Club and Boy Scout Troup 303 participated in highway cleanup activities on September 23. The group of nearly 30 students and adults collected 31 bags of trash and 15 bags of recyclable items along Bethel Church Road. The cleanup was organized to continue providing support for the Sanderford family, who adopted the highway in honor of their son. For more information, please contact Tim Riggs, science department chair, at 336-449-6311.

Brown Summit Middle Student Qualifies for U.S. Gymnastics World Age Team

Stewart Pritchard, a sixth-grader at Brown Summit Middle, recently qualified for the U.S. Gymnastics World Age Group Tumbling and Trampoline Team. As one of five in the 11-12-year-old age bracket, Pritchard will represent the United States in competition against 40 other countries in Quebec City, Canada during the World Championship event in November. For more information, please contact Valerie Collins, principal, at 336-656-0432.

September 19, 2007

Representative Laura Wiley to Visit Welborn Middle

Rep. Laura Wiley, the 61st District representative from the NC House of Representatives, will attend Welborn on Thursday, September 20 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. A former educator, Wiley will speak with two eighth-grade classes and two seventh-grade classes while at the school. For more information, please contact Pamela Bunch, teacher, at 336-819-2880.

Sumner Elementary to the Community: “Be a Sumner Superstar”

As a way of building partnerships and promoting student achievement, on Friday, September 21 from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m., Sumner is holding a Community Day. Members of the community are invited to come anytime throughout the day and find out how they can be a “Sumner Superstar.” Attendees will be able to help teachers in the classroom or have lunch with students.

“We believe this will not only be exciting for our students, but also beneficial for them to see how many role models care about them and their education,” said Dr. Brian Clarida, principal of the school. For more information, please contact Clarida, at 336-316-5888.

Tavis Smiley to Visit Smith High Students

Tavis Smiley, founder and president of the Tavis Smiley Foundation, will meet with 60 Smith students on September 21 from 2 p.m. until 3 p.m. who have been identified for their leadership potential. The mission of the foundation is to enlighten, encourage and empower African-American youth by providing an infrastructure that allows youth to voice concerns and actively engage in meaningful civic participation.

As a celebrated and respected author, advocate, radio and talk show host, Smiley will lead an inspirational discussion on how today’s students can build their leadership legacy for tomorrow. Smiley will meet students in the Smith media center prior to speaking at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, as a part of his Talented Tenth Historically Black Colleges and Universities Tour. For more information, please contact Dr. Noah Rogers, principal, at 336-294-7300.

The Middle College at NC A&T Student Travels to Jena, Louisiana

Lamar Gibson, a junior at The Middle College at NC A&T, is traveling to Jena, Louisiana for a civil rights rally. In December 2006, six African-American teenage students were charged with attempted second-degree murder for fighting a white teenage student in Jena. Gibson will travel with other members of New Voice, a program of the Beloved Community Center in Greensboro.

The trip is sponsored by The Future Ladies and Men of Tomorrow and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). For more information, please contact Duane Lewis, social worker, at 336-691-0941.

September 12, 2007

Construction Career Days for High School Students

Juniors and seniors from Grimsley, Southeast, Southwest and Weaver will participate in Construction Career Days on September 13. The event, sponsored by the North Carolina Department of Transportation and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, will be held on the Guilford Technical Community College—Greensboro campus.

During the event, students will learn about rewarding careers in the commercial and highway construction industries. Hands-on access to tools used by the commercial construction industry, participation in interactive exhibits and the chance to operate heavy equipment used to build highways will highlight the event. Contractor personnel, vendors and college representatives will answer questions about training and educational opportunities. For more information, please contact Sylvia Anderson, GCS director of college tech prep and career-technical education, at 336-370-8357.

Dudley High Book Dedication

Otis Hairston, Jr. and his family will dedicate additional books to the Otis L. Hairston Black Studies Collection on September 14 at 10:30 a.m. in the Nannie McAdoo Dick Media Center. For more information, please contact Jacqueline Pender-Jones, Dudley media specialist, at 336-370-8130.

Weaver Academy Student to be Spokesperson for Volunteer of the Week

Weaver Academy is pleased to announce that Chelsea Fobbs, a sophomore vocal major, will be the spokesperson for Volunteers of the Week featuring members of the Greensboro Youth Council’s Back to School Explosion board. For more information, please contact Chuck Kammeyer, Weaver media specialist, at 336-370-8282.

Murphey Traditional Academy Hosts Parent Meeting on Gang Awareness

How does increasing gang activity, prolific violence in video games, explicit lyrics in music and stressful situations at home filter into the classroom and affect at risk students? Danya Perry, motivational speaker and field services specialist for Communities in Schools, will meet with Murphey parents on September 18 to discuss such issues. The workshop will be held in the cafeteria at 6:30 p.m. For more information, please contact Linda Gordon, social worker, at 336-294-7380.

Dudley High Homecoming Parade Invitation

The Dudley Student Government Association invites the community to participate in Dudley’s Homecoming Parade on September 28. Applications are available in the main office at Dudley and should be returned by September 21. There is a non-refundable parade entry fee of $25, which reserves space for a float/vehicle or walking unit. All parade participants should plan to be at Dudley by 4:15 p.m. promptly for lineup in the back parking lot of the main gym (directly behind Bluford Elementary). For more information, please contact Bonita Greene, SGA advisor, at 336-370-8130.

The Renaissance of Poetry at Northeast High

Four Northeast students have been recognized for their creative writing talents. Poems by Malaika Luckett, Allison Carswell, Jessica Ellis and Reneesha McCoy have been selected for publication in an anthology, A Celebration of Young Poets. There were thousands of entries submitted but only a select few were found worthy of publication by Creative Communication, Inc.  Being chosen reflects the hard work, talent and dedication from the students and their teachers. Students selected also have the opportunity to receive an award as a “Top Ten Poet,” as well as additional prizes for their entries in the anthology.

The next poetry contest deadline for Creative Communication is December 5. To learn more about the contest, visit www.poeticpower.com. For more information, please contact Sherrie Richmond, English teacher, at 336-375-2500.

Johnson Street Global Studies K-8 Magnet Japanese Program Awarded Grant

The staff and students of Johnson Street are excited to say, Domo Arigatou Gozaimasu, or thank you, to the Japan Foundation of Los Angeles. The Foundation recently announced the recipients of a grant designed to enhance the curriculum of schools currently teaching Japanese language courses. As one of the proud awardees, Johnson Street will receive classroom materials such as textbooks, visual aids, dictionaries and reference books totaling the equivalent of up to 100,000 yen, or approximately $600. These materials will be used to enhance the program offered at the K-8 global studies magnet school. For more information, please contact Kym Gould, magnet coordinator, at 336-819-2900.

September 5 , 2007

Upcoming

Breakfast for Grandparents at Sumner Elementary

The administration, staff and students at Sumner will celebrate Grandparents Day with a breakfast on September 7 at 7:25 a.m. in Sumner’s cafeteria. The purpose of the breakfast is to thank all grandparents for teaching and supporting their grandchildren. “We believe that it takes everyone working as a family to create a positive learning environment,” said Principal Brian Clarida. For more information, please contact Dr. Clarida at 336-316-5888.

Page High and Grimsley High Volleyball Teams Rally for a Cure

The volleyball teams at Page and Grimsley are serving up to make a difference. On September 11 starting at 5:30 p.m., these two rival teams will meet at Page’s Morris Gymnasium for their regularly scheduled JV and Varsity matches. Only this time, all teams will wear pink uniforms, as will coaches and officials.

The cross-town rivals have teamed up this year for the Page vs. Grimsley Rally for a Cure volleyball match that will benefit the Susan G. Komen for the Cure breast cancer foundation. Rather than charging admission, pink event T-shirts will be sold at the door for $8 to spectators, with 50 percent of proceeds going to Komen for the Cure. In addition, the schools will hold a 50/50 raffle during the games and donations will also be accepted. Representatives from the Komen N.C. Triad Affiliate will set up an information booth and the concessions will even sell special pink food. Working together, the two teams hope to raise as much awareness and money as possible for the Komen for the Cure foundation.

Both Grimsley and Page are using this as their community service projects and hope this turns into an annual event with Grimsley hosting next year. For more information, please contact Rusty Lee, Page athletic director, at 336-370-8200.

Wanted: Hampton Academy’s Principal

On September 12, David Jarmon, the principal at Hampton who can always be found with a smile, will be “arrested” and put in jail for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Lock-up. Jarmon must raise $3,000 before September 12 to post his bond.

Students are currently raising money to get their principal out of jail and also contribute to the MDA. The $3,000 will help MDA provide wheelchairs, clinic visits and summer camp for the families locally served. For more information, please contact Jill Huddle, curriculum facilitator, at 336-370-8220.

Highlights

GCS Student Named Semifinalist in 2007 Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge

Nicole Shaw, now a sixth-grader at Aycock Middle, is one of 400 semifinalists in the 2007 Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge. Shaw, known for her “Sick Shopping Carts” science project, won the Exemplary Award at the N.C. State Science Fair in March, which is how she was nominated for this well-earned distinction.

From the 400 semifinalists, 40 finalists will be chosen to attend the Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge finals in Washington D.C., where the finalists will compete for a share of more than $45,000 in scholarships and the top prize of a $20,000 scholarship, as well as the honor of being named America’s Top Young Scientist. Shaw is one of only four semifinalists from North Carolina and the only from GCS. For more information, please contact Valerie Akins, Aycock principal, at 336-370-8110.

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.