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GCS Insider - Making a Difference


Making a Difference: Music in Our Schools


What would a football game be without a marching band?  How about a flag presentation by JROTC without a drum beat, or a holiday concert without a choir?  Music adds life and color to events of all types, and music in our schools helps make a difference now and in the future.

 

According to a recent Harris Interactive® poll of more than 2,500 adults, 75 percent were involved in some type of music program, such as band or chorus, while in school.  The poll linked music education to higher learning and higher earnings.  Only 65 percent of those with a high school graduation or less participated in music education, while 86 percent of college graduates participated in music education. In addition, 83 percent of people with an income of $150,000 or more participated in music education.

 

Music at GCS


Mark Freundt, advanced piano teacher at Weaver Academy, understands the importance of music in our schools and the lifelong impact it can have.  “My goal is to help a student develop a passion for music that lasts a lifetime,” says Freundt.

 

The Weaver Academy music program teaches and guides students at an intermediate level and provides several opportunities throughout the year to prepare for performances. The rigorous program covers technical studies, creates opportunities for solo and ensemble recitals, emphasizes class discussion and provides feedback on ways to improve.

 

Kate Burkhalter, a 10th-grader in the music program at Weaver Academy, has always loved playing piano and is interested in studying music education in college.  “We get to do a lot of interactive things in class from juggling and duets, to working with an ensemble of 20 people,” says Kate. “Our teachers are amazing, and it makes learning fun.”

 

Music in Our Schools Month


The month of March is set aside by the National Association for Music Education (MENC) as Music in Our Schools Month, a month long celebration of school music. The MENC offers several suggestions for music celebration in school.  Some of those include:

  • Plan an all-school sing.
  • Hold a talent show that emphasizes the use of music, whether singing, playing an instrument, dancing to music or reading poetry or stories about music.
  • Work with your students to create a musical wall collage featuring music, instruments and musicians found in magazines.
  • Invite a community music group to perform at your school.
  • Develop an essay contest with a theme of, “How is music a part of your everyday life?”

 

Music is key to the development of a well-rounded student and can emphasize not only lessons on reading notes or playing the right keys, but also teach lifelong skills such as discipline and how to work together to create a common goal. According to Freundt: “It comes as no surprise that students who study music more often do well academically.  This is in large part due to the spillover of disciplined practice that the study of music requires. And through all of this, music is able to stir and move our hearts.”

 

 

 

GCS Insider - Employee of the Month

 

Don’t try to keep up with adaptive physical education teacher Nancy Abel – it’s nearly impossible. She’s always on the go, traveling to 15 schools a week and going to whatever level needed to meet the needs of her students. She may be on a scooter at Jamestown Middle, on the floor at Oak Hill Elementary or working with exceptional students in a pool. She does whatever it takes not only to meet the needs of her students, but also to provide new opportunities to them, like taking part in the Special Olympics.

 

To know Nancy is to love her. Faculty, parents and most importantly, her exceptional students all sing the praises of a woman who all say is exceptional herself. Nominations tell of a woman who puts others first and the interest of her students are always at the top of the list. Team player, inspirational, energetic, devoted, selfless are just some of the words used to describe Nancy. The real proof is in the eyes of her exceptional children who light up when they see Nancy walk through the door.

 

This “people person” is a relationship builder and starts in the classroom where it matters most. Coworkers tout Nancy for going the extra mile and meeting the needs of exceptional children who require extra attention. They describe a woman who will go to any length to ensure success, whether it is getting on the floor with her students, providing transportation, a hug or a uniform.

As Guilford County Schools’ Employee of the Month, Nancy received a $50 gift card from Sam’s Club, who has partnered with GCS to execute the employee recognition program.  Nancy’s photo will hang at the district’s central offices and at Sam’s Club on Wendover Avenue. She was also recognized at the March 4 Board of Education meeting. Watch for the Employee of the Month on GCSTV2!

 

To nominate someone you think goes above and beyond the call of duty, simply click on the following link to submit your nomination form online: http://www.gcsnc.com/emp_month/index.aspx

 

For more information, contact Lillian M. Govus, Program Administrator – Communications, 370-8997.

 

 

 

 

GCS Insider - Department in Depth


GCS Purchasing Department – Purchasing Power

 

Did you ever stop and think that without the purchasing department, schools would not have desks, cafeterias would not have food, offices would not have telephones or computers and teachers would not have supplies? Essentially, without the GCS purchasing department, the district could not function. The purchasing department interacts with almost all other GCS departments, as well as outside vendors and state agencies. 

 

John Mann, purchasing officer, sits at the helm of the purchasing department. On a typical day, he might review 100 requisitions that come across his desk.  Whether the request is for pencils or a major ticket item like computer servers, Mann reviews them all.  Last year, the busy eight-person purchasing department approved 15,000 purchase orders.  “We are not physically in the classroom, but what we do directly impacts our schools,” said Mann.

 

Professional Purchasing

The GCS purchasing department is the only entity in North Carolina to win the sustained professional purchasing award for seven years in a row. “I attribute this recognition to the direction of the board of education, our chief financial officer and our staff, which has a passion for what they do,” Mann explained. 

 

Passion is key to working within the purchasing department.  All purchasing staff are required to go through a certification process for government purchasing.  Once completed, each staff member becomes an approved local government purchasing officer. 

 

How Purchasing Helps

One department that works very closely with purchasing and realizes the results of its hard work first-hand is the maintenance department. “We work on a pressing time line,  and purchasing always works with us in a timely manner to expedite a needed purchase order for us,” said Gerald Greeson, director of maintenance.  “John finds creative solutions to make things happen, and he does it quickly.”  

 

The modest Mann says he is just doing his job and trying all he can to cut costs. That has already happened thanks to a relatively new online ordering program for supplies. The group also has cut costs by issuing procurement cards, which have sped up the time for vendors to get paid.

 

The Future of Purchasing

Long-term goals for the purchasing department center on using the Web to increase efficiency and decrease costs.  Some ideas include online ordering for school and offices supplies and providing requisitions and informal bids online. 

 

“We are always looking for ways to save time and money,” said Mann. “We have a high level of accountability and try to be good stewards of our taxpayers’ money. If we have to say no to a request for supplies, it may be because we are just trying to find the best solution for the request.”

 

Mann holds the bar high for the purchasing department and holds himself accountable for results. “At the end of the day I ask myself, ‘Did end users get what they needed, were vendors treated fairly and did the taxpayers get full value for their tax dollars?’  If I can answer yes to all three questions, then I know I have fulfilled my duties as Purchasing Officer for Guilford County Schools.”

 

For more information about the purchasing process, please visit: http://www.gcsnc.com/depts/purchasing/index.htm

 

DID YOU KNOW?

  • Purchasing department approved 15,000 purchases in 2007.
  • The purchasing officer reviews up to 100 requisitions each day.
  • In 2006-07, purchasing expenditures were approximately $62 million.
  • $500 million in bond money from 2000 and 2003 went through the purchasing department.
  • Turnaround time for receiving purchases has decreased significantly from 10 days to 24 to 72 hours.

 

 

GCS Insider - Quick Notes

 

March 2008

 

Music In Our Schools Month (see this month’s feature article here)
National Mental Retardation Month
National Nutrition Month
Youth Art Month
Women’s History Month
Social Work Month

  • 2              Dr. Seuss’ Birthday
  • 2-8          National School Breakfast Week
  • 3-9          National Foreign Language Week
  • 3              Read Across America
      • A day to celebrate the importance of reading by having caring adults visit schools as “guest readers” to share books with children.  
  • 3              Adoption of US National Anthem
  • 9              Daylight Savings Begins
  • 16-22     National Agriculture Week
  • 16-22     National Poison Prevention Week
  • 19           First Day of Spring
  • 19           Absolutely Incredible Kid Day
      • Camp Fire USA’s national call to action asking adults to write letters of love and support to special children in their lives

National Social Work Month

National Social Work Month is set aside to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of social workers throughout the U.S.  GCS is proud to recognize the achievements of its social services staff.  For more information about National Social Work month, click here.

 

National Youth Art Month 

March is National Youth Art Month (YAM) across the U.S. In Guilford County, art teachers, students and families will celebrate our talented students with the annual GCS YAM Student Art Exhibition and Reception at the Greensboro Cultural Center, at 200 N. Davie St. in downtown Greensboro.  The students’ artwork is displayed in the main level atrium space of the Cultural Center for public viewing February 29 through March 19. The exhibit is free and open to the public during the normal Cultural Center operating hours.

For more information, please contact Joy Hudson at Colfax Elementary at 545-2010.

 

Ecolab Offers Grants to Teachers

Ecolab offers grants to schools each year in the communities where their associates live and work. Last year, the company donated more than $62,000 to Guilford, Forsyth and Rockingham county teachers.
The program provides materials and resources through grants up to $3,000 to teachers in communities surrounding Ecolab facilities. Proposals must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 28, 2008. All applicants will receive notice by mail in May, and funds will be available in time for the start of the 2008-09 school year. Click here for instructions and an application form.

For more information, please contact Cecilia Adams, Manager of Community Partnerships, at 370-8355.

Coliseum Event Discounts

The Greensboro Coliseum is offering all Guilford County Schools employees special discounts on several of its upcoming events and shows.  Employees should use this link and when purchasing tickets should use the “Supergroups” password, GUILFORD1305.  Some upcoming events include:

 

  • Wonder Bread Years - Best of Broadway Series – April 3-6
  • Go Diego Go Live – April 8
  • Rent – Best of Broadway Series – April 23-24 
  • Sesame Street Live – May 22-25

 

GCS Insider - Cornerstone


Just Say No - The Right Way

By John Holt, Cornerstone Psychological Services

  

You have a lot of responsibilities at home, work, church and in other organizations you belong to. Sometimes your plate is piled too high with deadlines and obligations and sometimes you just need to stop and ask yourself: Am I trying to cram too many activities into too little time? If so, a great stress management tool is as simple as just saying no.

 

So, what is so hard about saying no? It might hurt, anger or disappoint the person you’re saying “no” to, and that’s not usually a fun task. If you work with the person asking, saying “no” in the wrong way might jeopardize a good working relationship.

But, there does come a time when you should say no to requests or tell someone you must give up a task. Saying no is not a selfish act. In fact, it may be the most beneficial thing that you can do for your family and other commitments. When you say no, you'll be able to spend quality time on the things you've already said yes to.

Sometimes it's tough to determine which activities deserve your time and attention. How do we know when to say no?

  • Examine your current obligations and overall priorities before making any new commitments. Ask yourself if the new commitment is important to you. If it's something that you feel strongly about, by all means do it.
  • Is the new activity that you're considering a short-term or long-term commitment? If an activity is going to end up being another source of stress in your life, especially for the long term, take a pass.
  • Let go of guilt. Again, saying no is not selfish.
  • Keep your current commitments in check. If you have relatives coming over for dinner, you don’t have to prepare a three course meal, just keep it simple and order pizza.
  • Sleep on it. When someone makes a request, it is always okay to say, “Let me think about it.” In thinking it over, remind yourself that the decision is entirely up to you.
  • Yes versus stress. If you say yes when you want to say no you will feel resentful throughout whatever you agreed to do. This costs you energy and discomfort and is not necessary if you just say no when you need to.

So, how do you say no when you’ve made the decision? What you want to strive for is a simple no that is assertive and direct. For example, "No, I won't be able to help with that." No explanation is needed, but if you would like to offer one, make it short and simple. Such as, "No, I won't be able to help with that. I've already made a commitment for Friday afternoon." Always start your sentence with the word, "No." It's easier to keep the commitment to say, "No," if it's the first word out of your mouth.

Saying no won't be easy if you're used to saying yes all the time. But learning to say no is an important part of simplifying your way to a better, less stressful life. And people will still like you. You’ll see.

 

John Holt, Cornerstone Psychological Services (CPS). CPS is the district’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that offers five free counseling sessions per year to eligible employees and/or immediate family members. Call CPS at 540-9400 for information.