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December 17

Students at Northeast Middle Participate in Science Fair
Parents, teachers and students are invited to the Northeast Middle Science Fair Open House on Wednesday, December 17 from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Students who have entered qualifying projects for the fair will have them displayed in the cafeteria. Winners will be selected in specific categories. After the category winners are chosen, they will be displayed in the media center before the winning students take their projects to the regional competition. For more information, please contact Mary Kmetz, science teacher, at 336-375-2525.

Dr. Deborah E. Parker is Nominated Magnet Principal of the Year for GCS
Dr. Deborah E. Parker, principal of Erwin Montessori, was named Guilford County Schools (GCS) Magnet Schools of America nomination for Magnet Principal of the Year. The Magnet School of America’s Principal of the Year award annually recognizes an outstanding school leader who has succeeded in providing innovative programs that promote equity, diversity and academic excellence for students in magnet schools. The winner will be announced during the annual Magnet Schools of America conference in Charlotte from April 26-29.

Parker is an accomplished educator, principal and leader and has obtained degrees or certifications from the District of Columbia Teachers’ College, American University, Fayetteville State University and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Others have recognized her excellence, including the National Association of Elementary School Principal’s National Distinguished Principal for North Carolina. For more information, please contact Michelle Ungurait, magnet and choice program director, at 336-378-8832.

Welborn Academy Hosted Mobile Cinema Park
The Welborn Academy of Science and Technology’s school auditorium was transformed into an edutainment theatre as the sixth- and seventh-grade classes hosted NXE’s Mobile Cinema Park experience. The program has been shown overseas in hundreds of countries over the past several years. This remarkable new educational tool provides educators with a fun way to enrich curriculum. The presentation utilized some of the most advanced and cutting-edge technology available, including 3-D projection, smart lighting and interactive wireless remotes.

The presentation selected for sixth-graders was “Journey Through the Universe,” while the seventh-graders watched “The Human Xperience.” For more information, please contact Tavy Fields, magnet coordinator and science electives instructor, at 336-819-2880. To learn more about the program, visit www.mobilecinemapark.com.

Northeast Middle Has Successful Food Drive
During the holiday season, Northeast Middle‘s student council sponsored the “Rams Can” food drive to benefit Greensboro Urban Ministry and the local chapter of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Students and staff produced an overwhelming response to the call to help these organizations, and collected 2,842 cans and non-perishable food items. For more information, please contact Tamika Davis, media specialist, at
336-375-2525.

Joyner Elementary Surpasses Goal in Canned Food Drive
The student council at Joyner Elementary sponsored a canned food drive to benefit Greensboro Urban Ministry. The school’s goal was to collect 400 cans of food during the first two weeks of December. The lifelong character trait for the month of December is caring, and the students of Joyner proved just that as they donated more than 775 cans of food and even helped load the truck when it arrived for pickup. For more information, please contact Linda Comerford, media specialist, at 336-545-2020.

High School Ahead Academy Receives Surprise Holiday Celebration
Students at High School Ahead Academy were surprised when they were given a holiday celebration at Guilford Baptist Church’s Fellowship Hall on Tuesday, December 16. The school’s staff and Parent Advisory Committee raised money through generous donations. With those monetary donations, jackets with the High School Ahead Academy’s logo were purchased and given to each student. For more information, please contact Principal Michelle Hayes at 336-294-7640.

Students Learn About Legal Careers
Several members of the Sister-to-Sister club from Northeast High joined students from Dudley and Grimsley High, as well as other area schools for Teen Court Training on December 13. The program, sponsored by One Step Further, Inc., is designed to give courtroom experience to students interested in careers in law or criminal justice. Students served as jury forepersons, defense and prosecuting attorneys. Each participant received a certificate of completion at the end of the workshop. For more information, please contact Claudia M. Kirkley, ISS coordinator at Northeast High, at 336-375-2500.

Local CVS Donates Rolls of Tape to Sedalia Elementary
Lance Stokes, principal at Sedalia Elementary, received 149 rolls of tape thanks to a local CVS store (#7062). Store officials encouraged their customers to buy one CVS brand tape for themselves and another for the school. For more information, please contact Judith Hyman, counselor, at 336-449-4711.

December 10

Students at Sedgefield Elementary Receive a Special Gift
All the students in grades K-5 at Sedgefield will receive free jump ropes compliments of the Modern Woodmen of America. The jump ropes will be distributed by a local Modern Woodmen representative during the Physical Education (P.E.) Celebration at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 17 in the multi-purpose room. For more information, please contact Lori Kirk, P.E. teacher, at 336-316-5858.

Jones Elementary is Hosting “Kans for Kids 2008”
Every year, Jones gives back to children during the holiday months. Students at Jones participate in a school-wide service project during the holiday season. The Thanksgiving food drive was a success, and now they are working on their Christmas holiday drive that ends Thursday, Dec. 18.

Each class is collecting non-perishable items, coins and plastic containers of peanut butter and 100 percent fruit juice. Jones will be purchasing turkeys with the donations they receive. Jones continues to collect school supplies for their students all year long. For more information, please contact Crystal Cox, school counselor, at 336-370-8230.

E.P. Pearce Elementary to Host Chick-Fil-A Night
E.P. Pearce will host Chick-Fil-A night on Thursday Dec. 18 from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Guilford College Road Chick-Fil-A. For more information, please contact Elbert Tonkins, technology assistant, at 336-605-5480.

Weaver Academy Students Advance to State Competition for Governor’s School
James Ferguson III (drama), Alex Hayes (social science) and Hannah Pope (visual arts) have advanced to the summer 2009 state competition for Governor’s School. In order to compete, each student had to be eligible for the advanced learner program and have test scores at or above the 92 percentile.

At the state level, each student will audition for the arts program and interview for academic programs to see if they qualify to move on to the next level. For more information, please contact Lisé Timmons, director of advanced learning, at 336-370-8045.

Ben L. Smith Band Wins the Greensboro Jaycee’s Battle of the Bands
The Greensboro Jaycees hosted a “Battle of the Bands,” where eight local high school bands competed before the start of the Greensboro Christmas Parade. Smith High’s “Band of the Millennium” was the judge’s favorite. The $1,000 award will help pay for a sousaphone, which costs $4,000. For more information, please contact Charles Butler, band director, at 336-294-7300.

December 3

Sumner Elementary to Host Parent Workshop
Sumner Elementary works hard to make sure parents understand the requirements necessary for success. The principal and curriculum facilitators will hold a training session for all Sumner parents on Wednesday, Dec. 10 at 8 a.m. The meeting will focus on what it means to be a Title I school, help parents understand Adequate Yearly Progress/ABCs and give parents an opportunity to ask questions so that they can learn how to work with their child at home. For more information, please contact Dr. Brian Clarida, principal, at 336-316-5888.

Pearce Elementary to Host Holiday Performances
Pearce will hold its annual holiday performances in the multipurpose room. The fourth-grade performance will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 9 at 6:30 p.m., the fifth-grade performance will be held on Thursday, Dec. 11 at 6:30 p.m. and the third-grade performance will be held on Monday, Dec.15 at 6:30 p.m. For more information, please contact Elbert Tonkins, technology assistant, at 336-605-5480.

Career and Technical Education and Counseling Services to Host Career Fair
The Guilford County Schools (GCS) Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Counseling Services Departments will hold the first countywide “Career Exploration Fair 2009: Your Connection to the Future - An Interactive Experience.” This event will take place Tuesday, Jan. 6 at the Coliseum Special Events Center – West Wing B1, from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m.

This inaugural event aims at connecting local businesses with a potential workforce for middle and high school students, parents and the community at large. To RSVP, a form should be filled out and mailed or e-mailed by Friday, Dec. 5 to Judy Harrington. For more information, please contact Judy Harrington in the CTE Department at 336-370-8338.

Middle School Students Win Writing Contest
The Greater Greensboro Society of Medicine Alliance sponsored a writing contest for participating district middle schools. On Tuesday, Nov. 25, Jordan Delaney Boles from Welborn won first place, winning a $100 gift card to Target, a plaque and a certificate. Destiny Andrews from Jackson won second place and Markia Miller from Hairston won third place. Dennzel Elcock and Leslie Juarez, both from Jackson, and Jamie Wharton from Allen won honorable mention.

In addition, Ms. Vivian L. McKnight, a language arts teacher at Jackson, was honored for having the most participating students.

Students were encouraged to create a poem, narrative or essay with the title of, “I Can Choose, I Can Be…” This topic was chosen to challenge the students to think about healthy life choices. For more information, please contact Vivian McKnight, teacher, at 336-294-7350.

The Academy at Lincoln Honored World AIDS Day
On Monday, Dec. 1, the seventh-grade art majors and life skills classes unveiled their AIDS Memorial Quilt project to celebrate World AIDS Day. The AIDS Memorial Quilt went on display in many locations around the country. The seventh-grade students looked at many important aspects of history, art, social issues and opinions to help them to understand how words and imagery work together to communicate a message.

The students shared their artwork and knowledge in hopes of making other students aware of important social issues and opinions regarding AIDS around the world. For more information, please contact Angela Baucom, visual arts teacher, at 336-370-3471.

Northwest Middle Students Awarded for Singing Talent
Two eighth-grade singers from Northwest Middle, Zach Wiener and Cody Morris, were awarded spaces in North Carolina’s elite 2008-09 All-State Honors Chorus. They competed for these spots in blind auditions against more than 1,000 students statewide. The All-State Honors Chorus performed at the Stevens Center under the baton of Dr. Judith Bowers at the opening ceremonies for the North Carolina Music Educators Conference in Winston-Salem on Sunday, Nov. 9. For more information, please contact Tammy Balser, teacher, at 336-605-3333.

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 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.