GCS News Briefs

October 3, 2008

Mo Wants to Know!

What would you do to provide a quality education for all students? What do you think is the most important thing GCS could improve? How would you make GCS the best school district in the country?

Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green began his work with GCS by telling you he’s here to listen. Now, he wants to hear your dreams, concerns and thoughts about how to make GCS a great place for our students, staff and parents.

No idea is too extreme or extravagant. We need your brainpower to help us dream big. We will compile your suggestions and use them as we develop our strategic plan to take the district into the next decade.

Please help us plan. Click here and give us your best suggestions. We need everyone engaged in this process.  Please submit your suggestions by October 16.

Geek-A-Thon Builds Computers for Kids

The Kramden Institute, a North Carolina non-profit agency, invites the GCS community to volunteer for a “Geek-A-Thon,” Friday, October 17 – Sunday, October 19 at the Lenovo Fulfillment Center in Whitsett. The Geek-A-Thon is a marathon computer-refurbishing event to help supply computers to K-12 students in our area who do not have PC’s at home. Volunteers are needed for both technical and non-technical tasks. For more information on how to participate, contact Cecilia Adams, manager of community partnerships, at 370-8355.

Advanced Placement (AP) Saturday

The Advanced Learning Department recently hosted the annual AP Saturday at Dudley High. This year, 82 teachers and two schools won awards totaling $16,400, the highest amount awarded to date. An award of $150 was awarded to teachers whose AP scores surpassed the national mean in their particular classes.  The monetary award is to be used for classroom enrichment and support. Northwest High was awarded $1,000 for the highest increase in participation in AP courses for the second year in a row. High Point Central High had the greatest increase in students successfully completing AP exams with scores of three or higher. Additionally, two laptop computers were won by Don Shoppe (High Point Central High) and Brandon Mack (Page High). Crystal Schicker (Weaver Academy) won a trip to the AP National Conference next July in San Antonio, Texas. A special thank you to the students and staff of Dudley who assisted in the event and providing an excellent facility. The next AP Saturday will be February 28, 2009. For more information, please contact Guy Ferguson, AP/IB/SAT coordinator, at 370-8244.

GCS College Night 2008

GCS held its annual College Night on Tuesday, September 30 at the Greensboro Coliseum Pavilion. This event drew nearly 3,000 participants. Admissions counselors from more than 140 post-secondary educational institutions such as universities, colleges, community and technical colleges, junior colleges and the military were available to answer questions and provide the participants with informational materials, applications and scholarship information.

A representative from College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC) held mini-sessions during the evening on post-secondary financial aid opportunities. CFNC also provided materials to participants on career and academic planning, along with information on scholarships, grants, loan programs and tuition payment plans.

The Kiwanis Club of Greensboro sponsors this event each year for students of Guilford County. Committed to service, Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time. For more information, please contact Gwen Willis, executive director of student services, at 370-8397 or Samara Johnson, counseling services, at 370-2332. 

Writing Lead Teachers Learn to Look at Data

Assessing a student’s writing is a difficult, labor-intensive, subjective process—a task not for the faint at heart. This year the writing lead teacher at each GCS high school will finish a four-year process designed to help their peers score efficiently and analyze data from writing benchmarks. For the past three years, teachers have given writing benchmarks to their students (2005-06), learned to “calibrate” their scoring using anchor papers (2006-07) and learned to align their scoring practices with those of a second reader (2007-08). For the 2008-09 school year, schools will use an Excel spreadsheet designed by Donna Martin, GCS curriculum specialist, to track student performance on content and conventions, the composing features evaluated through the North Carolina Sophomore Writing Assessment. Most high schools used the spreadsheet during the 2007-08 school year, and the district realized a gain of 14.6 percentile points (57.2 percent passing to 71.8 percent passing) on the assessment. This year, all will come on board for both the November and February writing benchmarks. The spreadsheet allows faculty members at each high school to target specific students for support before the March 10 state writing test. For more information, please contact Angie Kratzer, curriculum specialist, at 317-4448 or kratzea@gcsnc.com

Second Annual Enrollment

Due to the change in our benefits’ plan year, a second annual enrollment of dental insurance, cafeteria benefits and pre-paid Legal/Identify Theft Protection will be held the last week of October. Eligible employees may enroll, cancel or make changes to these products. Changes will be effective January 1, 2009.  Representatives from the Mark III Brokerage, Inc. (for cafeteria benefits) and the pre-paid Legal Company (for legal/Identity theft protection) will be available to employees from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. October 27 through October 31. The representatives will be located in the PTA Room at the 712 N. Eugene St. Central Office.  Changes to dental insurance can be made in the Benefits Office located at the 712 N. Eugene St. Central Office.  Internet enrollment will not be available. There will be no changes to health insurance at this time.  Health insurance enrollment is held in March. For more questions, please contact Patty Kinkade, director of benefits, at 370-8092 or kinkadp@gcsnc.com.

GCSTV 2

Teacher of the Year/Principal of the Year

GCS honors its educators in a ceremony in which Rodney Morgan was named Teacher of the Year and LaToy Kennedy Principal of the year.  All of the 10 finalists for both awards are profiled in these video features that run back-to-back at 10:01 a.m. daily.

Superintendent’s Media Briefing

GCS Superintendent Maurice Green meets with the media weekly to discuss a variety of topics related to education.  You can see this week’s briefing at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday.

Inside Out

This documentary is a compelling reminder of the importance of staying in school.  It is a series of stories from inmates who ponder the world outside prison walls as they talk about how dropping out of school dramatically changed their lives for the worst.  Produced by the Mattie Stewart Foundation, GCSTV 2 presents this emotionally gripping film with stories told by those who live with the consequences every day.  This program runs daily at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Driver’s Edge-Driver’s Education Special

Take this in-depth driver’s education course that gives real world examples and advice on how to safely handle a car.  The advice is handed out generously by some of the drivers who should know best …Indy Series racers.  This program runs: Friday through Monday at 5:59 a.m. and 4:59 p.m. and Tuesday through Thursday at 4:59 a.m. and 5:59 p.m.

GCSTV 2 & ABC-45

GCS continues its partnership with ABC-45 television to share the following current news and feature stories about our district. The segments run on ABC-45 (Cable Channel 7) during Good Morning America each Wednesday and Friday at 7:25 a.m. and 8:25 a.m.

Celebration of Excellence
GCS’ most improved schools are honored at a big celebration at Greensboro’s War Memorial Auditorium.  Sixteen schools each took home $8,000 courtesy of the local business community as a reward for their hard work.  This Newsbreak airs Wednesday, October 8.

A Chilling Reminder to Teenagers
It’s a very strong message for all young drivers.  Local fire, police and EMS provide a graphic illustration of what can happen if teenagers are not attentive and very careful behind the wheel of a car.  This Newsbreak airs Friday, October 10.   

For more information, please contact Leonard Simpson, broadcast production manager, at 370-8167.