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April 2008

April 30, 2008

Peeler Open Elementary to Hold “Invention Convention”

On Thursday, May 1 starting at 9 a.m., fourth-grade students at Peeler will participate in the first-ever Peeler fourth-grade “Invention Convention.” For the past six weeks, students have collaborated or worked individually to create a new invention or improve an existing one. This is in concert with their studies of energy, motion and machines in science.

The students will present their inventions to visitors throughout the day in the cafeteria. Parents, teachers and other Peeler students will share this experience with the fourth-graders. For more information, please contact Principal Marshall Matson at 336- 370-8270.

Southern High Storm Players Present “The Tempest”

On May 1 and May 2 at 7:30 p.m., the Southern Storm Players will present Shakespeare's “ The Tempest” in Southern’s auditorium. Through collaborative exploration and play, the group has incorporated dance, movement, vocals, drums and band instruments into the show. The show will be presented with the Globe Theater's perspective of audience and actors sharing the light. Tickets are $5 and are available at the door. For more information, please contact Principal Jim Gibson at 336-674-4250.

Spring Concert at Smith High

Smith will hold a spring concert on Thursday, May 8 at 7 p.m. The concert, which will feature chorus, dance and the concert band, will take place in the school auditorium. For more information, please contact Director of Bands Charles Butler at 336-294-7300.

Sumner Elementary Students Register for the Duke University Talent Identification Program

Six fourth- and fifth-grade students at Sumner have registered for the Duke University Talent Identification Program (Duke TIP). The program identifies gifted children and provides resources to nurture their development. Duke TIP also provides students with an opportunity to learn more about their abilities.

Students who participate are formally recognized, praised for their performance and sent a clear message that continuing to develop their intelligence can be fun and fulfilling. For more information, please contact School Social Worker Yvetta Grier at 336-316-5888.

The Academy at Lincoln’s Eighth-Grade Band Receives Superior Rating

Congratulations are in order for The Academy at Lincoln’s eighth-grade band. The band received a Superior Rating at the 2008 Carowinds Band Contest Festival on Saturday, April 26. For more information, please contact Principal Rodney Boone at 336-370-3471.

April 23, 2008

Science Extravaganza at Wiley Elementary

Wiley will hold a science carnival on Thursday, April 24 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Students from North Carolina A&T State University (A&T) have designed booths with creative hands-on activities. The booths will reinforce the North Carolina Standard Course of Study for science. A&T students running the booths are education majors enrolled in science and math methods courses. For more information, please contact Principal LaToy Kennedy at 336-370-8295.

Fairview Elementary Drama Club to Perform

The Fairview Drama Club will perform “Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale” on Thursday, April 24 at 6 p.m. in the gymnasium. The production is a children’s play adapted from an acclaimed book. Members of the African Drumming Club will provide music to accompany the students. For more information, please contact Youth Coordinator Shannon Flowers at 336-819-2890.

Eastern High to Host Character Education Assembly

All Eastern student athletes will attend a character education assembly facilitated by the Annual Spring Lighthouse Project on Friday, April 25 at 9:45 a.m. on the football field. The event will feature Shaun Alexander, 2006 National Football League Most Value Player and player for the Seattle Seahawks. Local businessman Gary Newell, former East Carolina University All-American and former player for the Los Angeles Rams, will also speak during the event. Each year, the Lighthouse Project recognizes an outstanding student of character with a partial scholarship. For more information, please contact Curriculum Facilitator Charlie Abourjilie at 336-449-6311.

Vandalia Elementary to Participate in Great American Campus Clean-Up

Vandalia students and staff will help clean their school environment from Monday, April 28 through Friday, May 2. Classroom clean-up will be the focus on Tuesday, April 29. On Wednesday, April 30, all students are encouraged to wear green to show their support for the environment. Students will pick up litter around the school on Thursday, May 1. The week will culminate with Campus Beautification Day on Friday, May 2. For more information, please contact Principal Keisha McMillian at 336-370-8275.

Johnson Street Global Studies to Host Chinese Principal

Johnson Street will host Ou Qun, principal of Changzhou Garden Middle School in China from Tuesday, April 29 to Thursday, May 1. Students and staff will host a welcome ceremony for Ou on April 29 at 8 a.m. in the gymnasium. Throughout his visit, Ou will learn about the American education system through classroom observations at Johnson Street. Changzhou Garden and Johnson Street have collaborated throughout the school year, beginning with a visit to China by two Johnson Street representatives last summer. For more information, please contact Magnet Coordinator Kym Gould at 336-819-2900.

Irving Park Elementary to Celebrate 50th Anniversary of Fun Day

Irving Park students, parents, staff and friends will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Fun Day on Saturday, May 3 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Children of all ages will enjoy carnival games, pony rides, face painting and other activities. The event will also include a raffle, with a grand prize of $500, second-place prize of a grandstand box for the July 4 Greensboro Grasshoppers game and a third-place prize of four rounds of golf at Grandover Resort.

Annually held on the first Saturday in May, Fun Day is one of the primary fundraising events for Irving Park’s Parent Teacher Association. For more information, please contact Principal Melissa Nixon at 336-370-8225.

Robotics Team Competes on TV and the Web

The Early College at Guilford FIRST Robotics team, comprised of students from 10 different high schools across the district, participated in the “Super Bowl of Smarts,” the FIRST Championship at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. The team qualified for the championship by receiving the Engineering Inspiration Award at the Peachtree Regional in March. For more information, please contact Principal Charles Blanchard at 336-316-2860.

Southwest Elementary Running Club Helps Students GO FAR

The Southwest Go Out For A Run (GO FAR) Club, comprised of students, parents, staff and friends, participated together in the Colfax 5K Race on Saturday, April 12. More than 180 race participants represented Southwest, with 10 of the top 20 student runners being club members. The race was the culmination of a 10-week training program, during which fourth- and fifth-grade students trained together after-school and individually. For more information, please contact Physical Education Teacher Anneli Bennett at 336-819-2992.

April 16, 2008

Northwest High Students and Faculty to be Honored for Unity Day

Students and faculty leaders will be honored for their work with Unity Day on Friday, April 18 at noon. More than 40 students served as peer facilitators during the event last month, which featured discussions on racism, respect and understanding in the school climate by Northwest freshmen. The National Conference for Community and Justice of the Piedmont Triad sponsored the event. For more information, please contact Principal Angelo Kidd at 336-605-3300.

Johnson Street Global Studies Students to Perform Chinese Program

More than 20 Johnson Street students will perform a Chinese program during the High Point International Festival on Saturday, April 19 at 11:30 a.m. in High Point at the corner of Elm Street and Green Street. Kindergarten through fifth-grade students will perform a traditional Chinese dragon parade, a Chinese jump rope routine and two Chinese songs. The performance will showcase the knowledge learned through the school’s yearlong partnership with the Changzhou Garden Middle School in China. For more information, please contact Magnet Coordinator Kym Gould at 336-819-2900.

Lindley Elementary to Celebrate 80th Anniversary

Students, faculty and the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) will celebrate Lindley’s 80th anniversary on Friday, April 25 at 1:30 p.m. in the outdoor amphitheater. In conjunction with Earth Day, the event will feature a tree planting ceremony. All former principals and teachers are encouraged to attend and will be honored for their contributions to Lindley. For more information, please contact Principal Merrie Conaway at 336-294-7360.

Joyner Elementary to Host Annual Spring Jamboree

Joyner students, family and friends are invited to attend the annual Spring Jamboree on Saturday, April 26 from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Sponsored by the PTA, the jamboree will feature a variety of games and prizes throughout the school. Presale tickets can be purchased for $12 in the front office or for $15 on the day of the event. For more information, please contact Media Specialist Linda Comerford at 336-545-2020.

Frazier Elementary to Host Annual Health, Safety and Community Resource Fair

Frazier students and parents are encouraged to attend the Health, Safety and Community Resource Fair on Wednesday, April 30 from 4:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. in the cafeteria. The fair will educate students and parents about the importance of incorporating healthy lifestyle choices in their daily lives. More than 20 community agencies that promote positive change will attend the fair. For more information, please contact Social Worker Cheryl Donahue-Wright at 336-294-7340.

GCS Newcomers School Plants “Community in Peace Gardens”

Students and faculty at the GCS Newcomers School recently began to plant a sustainable garden on the school’s campus. The “Community in Peace Gardens” is rooted in the belief that gardening supports the well being of the entire school community. While helping with the garden, students will learn about life cycles, ecosystems, species diversity, environmental pollution and food economics. The plants in the garden will represent the diversity of students’ backgrounds, while providing fruit, vegetables, shade and wildlife habitat for the school community. For more information, please contact Principal Jake Henry at 336-316-5883.

Grimsley High Army Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) Awarded

The Grimsley Army Junior ROTC program was reviewed during the annual formal inspection on Thursday, April 8. The cadets received the Honor Unit with Distinction, the highest rating awarded by the United States Army Cadet Command for their scores in academics, special areas, military marching, appearance and attendance. For more information, please contact Lieutenant Colonel James Davis, senior Army instructor, at 336-370-8180.

April 9, 2008

Sumner Elementary to Host Pep Rally with College Basketball Teams

Sumner will host a pep rally for third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students on Friday, April 11 at 1 p.m. in the gymnasium. Both the men and women’s basketball teams from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University will play during the event. Throughout the year, students who exemplified overall good behaviors have been able to participate in pep rallies as basketball players or cheerleaders. For more information, please contact School Social Worker Yvetta Grier at 336-316-5888.

Archer Elementary to Celebrate Diversity

Archer invites parents and the community to attend the annual celebration of diversity on Friday, April 11 at 6 p.m. in the cafeteria. The event shares the cultures of the 19 different countries represented in the student body through a fashion show highlighting the native clothing of students and a performance by two dancers from India. In addition, each grade has been assigned a continent to study and will perform a dance to share part of what they are learning. Attendees will also be able to go on an international tour, visiting each classroom and learning more from students about each continent. An international food tasting will conclude the multicultural event. For more information, please contact Principal Patrice Brown at 336-294-7335.

High Point Central High Senior Receives Prestigious College Scholarships

Joseph Terrell, a senior at High Point Central, has earned two of the most highly coveted scholarships in North Carolina. Terrell was selected to receive the Morehead-Cain Scholarship, a four-year undergraduate scholarship to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC). Terrell was also selected to receive the four-year undergraduate Trinity Scholarship from Duke University. Both scholarships include tuition, room and board, books, a laptop computer and a stipend for spending money each year.

Due to significant interest in multicultural studies and a strong desire to study abroad during his collegiate years, Terrell has accepted the Morehead-Cain Scholarship and will attend UNC. In addition, Terrell was notified in February of his standing as a National Merit Scholarship Finalist. For more information, please contact School Counselor Nancy Mark at 336-819-2825. 

Aycock Middle Wins Guilford County Schools Magnet Fair Best of Show Award

Through a new initiative to recognize magnet schools and high school options, the Office of Magnet and Choice Schools launched the “Best Of…” awards program. The Best of Show Award was presented to Aycock in recognition of the comprehensive promotional program incorporating consistency in multiple promotion components. For more information, please contact Director of Magnet and Choice Schools Tony Lamair Burks II at 336-378-8832.

Students Place in German Day Competition

The North Carolina Chapter of the American Association of Teachers of German hosted its eighth annual German Day, a day of competition for middle and high school students, March 6 at Elon University. Students came from all over the state to participate in a wide range of fun activities, including verb and spelling bees, skits, song and art contests, the Kulturpokal competition (cultural knowledge about German speaking countries) and a Gummibärchen (gummy bear) guessing game. 

The Grimsley High team placed second in the overall competition. In addition, Grimsley earned first and third place for poetry recitation and first place for the trivia bowl. Northwest High earned first place in the song competition and second place in the skit performance. For more information, please contact Grimsley Principal Kevin Fleming at 336-370-8180 or Northwest Principal Angelo Kidd at 336-605-3300.

Kernodle Middle Donates $6,840 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Kernodle students successfully participated in Math-A-Thon, an education-based fundraising program, raising $6,840 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Through Math-A-Thon, students obtain sponsors for the number of math problems completed in special provided workbooks. Participation in the program helps students learn more than just math problems; they also learn the importance of helping children who are less fortunate than they are. For more information, please contact Sixth-Grade Teacher Lecia Bentley at 336-545-3717.

April 2, 2008

Pilot Elementary and Jamestown Middle to Host Locks of Love Hair Drive

Pilot and Jamestown will host the Third Annual Locks of Love Hair Drive on Tuesday, April 8 throughout the day and evening at Nouveau Salon on High Point Road. Locks of Love is a non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children suffering from long-term medical hair loss. Students and community members at both schools are encouraged to participate in the free event to better understand the importance of children helping each other. All participants will receive coupons from Taekwondo America and Biscuitville. For more information, please contact Pilot Inclusion Facilitator Lori Price at 336-316-5820.

Page High Playmakers to Perform Spring Musical

Page High Playmakers will take to the stage from Wednesday, April 23 until Friday, April 25 at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium to perform the spring musical, Pippin. The cast, crew and orchestra of more than 55 students will share the story of a young prince through music, special effects, international costumes and talented acting. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $6 in the Page front office or $7 before each performance. For more information, please contact Theatre Director Michael Parrish at 336-370-8200.

High Point Students to Participate in National Anti-Violence Campaign

On April 3, buses carrying nearly 100 students from three High Point schools will leave for Memphis, Tenn. to lead a historic boycott against violence in honor of the 40-year anniversary since the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Students from High Point Central High, Andrews High and Ferndale Middle will participate in the national event to build capacity for the national youth civil rights movement. At the event, High Point youth will be recognized for their national leadership in the 2007-08 Pen or Pencil Building Unbalanced Systems (B.U.S.) Boycott.

Since the inaugural kickoff of the B.U.S. Boycott by High Point Central students, more than 41 schools across the nation have participated in one of two 40-day curriculum-driven or service learning cycles. Efforts to empower the students from High Point for 2007-08 have been supported exclusively by Communities In Schools of High Point and the National Alliance of Faith and Justice of Washington, DC. For more information, contact Pen or Pencil Project Coordinator Carrie Richburg at 336-638-5878.

Northeast High Student Named Miss Black Teen of the Triad

Northeast sophomore Kiarria Watson was named the Miss Black Teen of the Triad during a pageant held on Sunday, March 9 at Dudley High. In addition, Watson won the Most Talented Award for her performance of a spiritual dance. The pageant was sponsored by the Greensboro chapter of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women Club. For more information, please contact Principal Anitra Walker at 336-375-2500.

Millis Road Elementary Odyssey of the Mind Team Takes Home Award

The Millis Road Odyssey of the Mind Team won first place in the Division I “Eccentrics” problem at the northern regional competition on March 8. The team will compete at the state tournament on April 5 at East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C. For more information, please contact Advanced Learner Curriculum Specialist Denise Stephens at 336-819-2125.

Kernodle Middle Student to Participate in State Geographic Bee

Matthias Neill will represent Kernodle at the state geographic bee on Friday, April 4 in Raleigh, N.C. Neill also qualified last year and finished third overall. For more information, please contact Principal Charles Burns at 336-545-3717.

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About Guilford County Schools
Guilford County Schools is the third largest school district in North Carolina serving more than 71,000 students at 120 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.