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March 2008

March 19, 2008

Pearce Elementary to Learn Through Artists-in-Schools Program

Pearce fourth-grade students will expand their knowledge of the arts on Thursday, March 20 and Friday, March 21 when artist Toni Lindahl will teach classes. Through the Artists-in-Schools Program sponsored by the Green Hill Center for North Carolina Art, Lindahl will show her work as a pastel artist to students. In addition, Lindahl will demonstrate how art is transparent across all subject matters and discuss the role of visual arts in North Carolina’s economy. For more information, please contact Media Specialist Elbert Tonkins at 336-605-5480.

Sumner Elementary to Hold Pep Rally with U.S. Representative

U.S. Rep. Mel Watt will visit Sumner students and teachers on Friday, March 21 at 1 p.m. in the gymnasium. Watt will speak to students during the pep rally about the importance of focusing on academics. For more information, please contact Social Worker Yvetta Grier at 336-316-5888.

Joyner Elementary to Host “Teddy Bear Picnic” Open House

Joyner will host a “Teddy Bear Picnic” open house for kindergarten registration on Tuesday, April 8 from 6 p.m. until 7 p.m. in the media center. Address verification, immunization records and the student’s birth certificate are needed to register. For more information, please contact Media Specialist Linda Comerford at 336-545-2020.

Students to Attend Beijing Youth Science Creation Competition

Two Guilford County Schools students are currently in Beijing, China attending the Beijing Youth Science Creation Competition through Tuesday, March 25. Mark Hendrick Jr. from Northwest High and Kyle O’Donnell from Southwest High were both selected to participate from an online competition; this is O’Donnell’s second time attending. The North Carolina Science, Mathematics and Technology Education Center is sponsoring the delegation for students to meet and exchange ideas with individuals from other countries. For more information, please contact Northwest Principal Angelo Kidd at 336-605-3300 or Southwest Principal Alan Parker at 336-819-2970.

Dudley High Female Step Team Wins State Competition

For the second week in a row, the Dudley “Blaque Queens” female step team placed first in a step competition on Saturday, March 15. The team will compete in state and national competitions in May. The “Blaque Queens” won the national competition in 2007. For more information, please contact Teacher Dyora Kinsey at 336-370-8130.

Northwest Middle Geometry Class Wins Statewide Competition

Northwest geometry students placed first during the North Carolina Department of Transportation Statewide Model Bridge Building Regional Competition on Friday, March 7. The competition requires students to research and document their design for oral presentations to a judge’s panel.

The Northwest students constructed their 37-gram bridge from balsa wood that supported 38.7 lbs. of sand during the competition. The team will participate in the state competition on Friday, April 11 in Raleigh. For more information, please contact Geometry Teacher Dr. Jesse Gassaway at 336-605-3333.

Northwest Middle Odyssey of the Mind Teams Win at Regional Competition

Two Odyssey of the Mind teams from Northwest have advanced to the state tournament after placing first and second in their divisions during the regional tournament held in Boone, N.C. The state tournament will take place on Saturday, April 5 at East Carolina University. For more information, please contact Social Studies Teacher Tammy Balser at 336-605-3333.

March 12, 2008

Dudley High to Host Art Exhibit and Choral Concert

The Dudley visual arts and choral music departments will host an art exhibit and choral concert on Thursday, March 13 from 6:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. in the media center. The event is open to all faculty, students, parents and friends of Dudley in recognition of Youth Art Month and Music in the Schools Month. Community leaders will judge the art showcase. For more information, please contact Francine Scott, community in schools coordinator, at 336-370-8130.

Dudley High to Participate in “The Human Race” Event

Dudley students, faculty, parents and community members are encouraged to participate in “The Human Race” walk/run event on Saturday, March 15 at 9 a.m. at Grimsley High. Participation in and fundraising for the event will support the Dudley Parent Teacher Student Association. “The Human Race” is an annual event coordinated by the Greensboro Volunteer Center, which provides community nonprofits the opportunity to raise funds. For more information, please contact Francine Scott, community in schools coordinator, at 336-370-8130.

Aycock Middle to Host Art Celebration

Aycock students, parents and faculty will participate in an art celebration on Tuesday, March 18 from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. in the Aycock auditorium. In addition to displayed student artwork, attendees will enjoy a choral performance and a silent auction to benefit a new art club. For more information, please contact Art Teacher Kate Hudson at 336-370-8110.

Welborn Middle to Host “Respecting Yourself for the Future” Seminar

Welborn eighth-grade students will participate in a seminar, “Respecting Yourself for the Future,” on Wednesday, March 19 from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. in the school gymnasium and auditorium. While speaking to students during the event, community leaders will focus on self-respect, respecting others and the community at large. For more information, please contact Assistant Teacher Kathleen Jefferies at 336-819-2880.

Ferndale Middle to Host Annual Cultural Fair

Ferndale students will participate in the school’s annual cultural fair on Thursday, March 20 from 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. in the Ferndale gymnasium. With more than 20 countries represented in the student body, Ferndale will celebrate its cultural diversity with music, dance, videos and student-created multimedia presentations. For more information, please contact Randall Saenz, English as a second language teacher, at 336-819-2855.

Joyner Elementary to Host Annual Multicultural Fair

Joyner students will participate in an annual multicultural fair on Friday, March 21 from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. For more information, please contact Media Specialist Linda Comerford at 336-545-2020.

Northern Middle Wins Battle of the Books Contest

Eleven Northern students won the Guilford County Schools (GCS) Middle School Battle of the Books contest on Wednesday, March 5. It was the school’s first time participating in the event. The team will advance to the Regional Battle of the Books Competition held on Friday, April 18. For more information, please contact Media Specialist Terry Kay Force at 336-605-3342.

GCS Celebrates Youth Art Month with Exhibit at the Greensboro Cultural Center

With March being Youth Art Month, artwork by students across the district is on display at the Greensboro Cultural Center in downtown Greensboro. The Youth Art Month exhibition will be open for viewing until March 19.

Youth Art Month is a national celebration of art in schools that emphasizes the value of art education for all children. For more information, please contact Joy Hudson, Colfax Elementary art teacher, at 336-275-4332.

Dudley High Female Step Team Wins Competition

The Dudley “Blaque Queens” female step team placed first in a step competition on Saturday, March 8. By winning, the team qualified to participate in the regional competition on Saturday, April 26. For more information, please contact Teacher Dyora Kinsey at 336-370-8130.

Northwest High Wins Constitution Competition

For the 12th consecutive year, the Northwest “ We the People” team won the North Carolina state championship. During the competition, students from the team testified about constitutional issues during a simulated congressional hearing held before a panel of judges. The “We the People” team will compete nationally in Washington, D.C. in May. For more information, please contact Teacher Ray Parrish at 336-605-3300.

March 5, 2008

Smith High to Host Career and Curriculum Fair

Smith invites students to attend a career and curriculum fair on Thursday, March 6 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. In addition, Smith parents are invited to attend the evening career and curriculum fair from 5 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. Attendees will receive information on the new talent development academies at Smith. For more information, please contact Rita Christie, media specialist, at 336-294-7300.

Erwin Montessori Students to Perform Play

Erwin fourth- and fifth-grade students will perform an adaptation of Carole Boston Weatherford’s children’s book, “Freedom on the Menu: The Greensboro Sit-Ins” on Friday, March 7 at 7 p.m. in the school auditorium. For more information, please contact Jeanie Campbell, teacher, at 336-370-8151.

Guilford Elementary to Host Parent Teacher Association Fundraiser

On Tuesday, March 11 from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m., Guilford’s Parent Teacher Association will host a dinner event at Chick-fil-A on Francis King Street in Greensboro. The dinner will precede a skate night from 6:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. at Skateland USA. For more information, please contact Alethea Reese, secretary, at 336-316-5844.

Vandalia Elementary Celebrates Healthy Lifestyles

Thanks to a grant from the Kids Care Clubs, Vandalia’s “Cougars Care About Community” club will host “Eat Wise…Exercise…Get Moving Family Night” on Thursday, March 13 from 6:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. The event will feature instructions on international line dances, fitness and nutrition advice from a local health club and physical education stations to teach students and parents new exercises. Admission to the event is free with the donation of a new pair of socks. The collected socks will be donated to the Brown Center, a local recreation facility, for their basketball team.

Additionally, members of Vandalia’s staff are participating in a unique fitness challenge. Every Thursday afternoon, staff members exercise together for 45 minutes. Every Friday, all participating staff members are weighed to record their weekly progress. The staff member who loses the most weight by Sunday, April 13 will win $200. For more information, please contact Dawn Amundson, media specialist, at 336-370-8275.

Aycock Middle Home to Guilford County Schools Spelling Bee Winner

Sarah Wilson, a sixth-grade student from Aycock, won the Guilford County Schools Middle School Spelling Bee on Saturday, March 1 by spelling the word ‘hilarity.’ Students from middle schools across the district competed in the event. Wilson will participate in the regional competition on Sunday, March 30 in Winston-Salem, N.C. For more information, please contact Michelle Ungurait, secondary curriculum officer, at 336-370-3275.

Morehead Elementary’s Magnet Stars Attended Sports Tournament

Student Magnet Stars from Morehead participated on Saturday, March 1 in the 2008 Carolina Sports Stacking Championships in Monroe, N.C. The team won a total of 16 awards and five trophies for their participation in different events throughout the day. For more information, please contact Darcy Kemp, principal, at 336-294-7370.

Ferndale Middle Learns from Underground Railroad Historian and Author

Ferndale students learned from Dr. Bryan Walls during his school visit last week. As a fifth-generation Canadian descendant of slaves who traveled the Underground Railroad to find freedom, Walls is an expert on the subject. For more information, please contact Lowana Wade, communities in schools coordinator, at 336-819-2855.

Dudley High Students Win Rotary Club Speech Contest

Three Dudley students are winners of the East Greensboro Rotary Club’s “2008 Rotary Against Drugs Speech Contest,” held on Tuesday, February 26. The speeches addressed the topic, “What Must Be Done to Prevent Drug and Alcohol Abuse in the United States.” Bethany Melton, a junior, placed third in the competition and Gaivalor Bobor, also a junior, placed second. First-place winner and senior, Dominique Garland, will compete in the Rotary Club’s district competition on Saturday, March 15. For more information, please contact Francine Scott, communities in schools coordinator, at 336-587-3270.

Northwood Elementary Students Recognized for Exceptional Art

Two Northwood students were recognized by the High Point Public Library for the artwork they submitted during the “Illustrating a Poem for Black History Month Contest.” Karla Hernandez-Gonzalez received the second-place award, and Gracie Martin received third place. For more information, please contact Scott Winslow, principal, at 336-819-2920.

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.