GCS News Briefs

November 21, 2008

This is What You Said

We asked you to send us your thoughts for formulating a plan that would make GCS the nation’s leading public school system. We are thankful to the thousands of you who responded. Over the next two months, we will post a variety of your suggestions in this newsletter.  In today’s edition, we are publishing one of the suggestions:

“The current class size limits make classes too large for effective teaching. With the loss of so many teacher assistants, it is not possible to use them as support in these large classrooms...there simply aren't enough people, particularly if your school is not Title I and receiving that extra money. Budgets need to be looked at to either provide more teachers to make class sizes smaller or provide more assistants to provide support and small group leadership for these classes.”

Applications Requested for Superintendent’s Teacher Advisory Council

Teachers: here is your opportunity to have a voice at the table when it comes to decisions affecting our schools. Apply for a seat on the Superintendent’s Teacher Advisory Council (TAC).

TAC members will serve as advisors to the superintendent. This diverse group of teachers will provide feedback and suggestions on major district-wide initiatives and programs.  Additionally, the TAC will serve as a liaison between teachers, schools and central office administrators in order to identify, express and resolve system-wide concerns.

The application deadline is December 1, 2008.Click here for Guilford County Association of Educators (GCAE) overview of the TAC process and an application form. Return your completed application to your GCAE building representative.  Teachers randomly selected to serve on the council will receive a written notice. For more information, please contact Mark Jewell, GCAE president, at jewellm@gcsnc.com or 299-9601.

Local Elementary Establishes New Honor Society Chapter

Wiley Elementary has established a chapter of the new National Elementary Honor Society (NEHS) to recognize their most outstanding students. The school recently received notification that its application to begin this prestigious new national student recognition program was approved, and they may now select new members for the 2008-09 school year.  Wiley Elementary will be designated as a “Founding Chapter of NEHS” joining elementary schools around the nation in establishing a program to promote excellence in academic achievement and involvement in leadership and service for the nation’s youngest students. More than just an honor roll, NEHS engages its members in service activities and leadership development to strengthen programs for all students and improve life in the community. 

The first inductees were initiated on November 7 at the first quarter honor roll assembly. “This is an honor to be able to recognize our students for their academic achievements.  It is always a milestone to be one of the first to do something as grand as this,” said Principal Dr. LaToy Kennedy.  For more information, please contact Dr. Kennedy at 370-8295 or Sandra Culmer, instructional improvement office, at 370-2336 or visit these suggested Web sites:  www.principals.org, www.naesp.org  and www.nehs.us.

Thanksgiving Food Drive for Greensboro Urban Ministry

The Middle School Curriculum and Instruction Department is sponsoring a Thanksgiving food drive in cooperation with Greensboro Urban Ministry at the Washington Street Annex. Boxes were placed on each floor. The Food Drive will end Monday, November 24. For more information, please contact Beth Chappell, middle school science specialist, at 370-3274 or chappee@gcsnc.com.

Bring the Classroom to the Ballet

The Greensboro Ballet is offering discount tickets for GCS classrooms to its December 18 performance of the Nutcracker.  Plenty of seats are still available, and teachers get in free with 10 students. Click here for more information or call Becky Harris at the Greensboro Ballet at 333-7480.

Engineers – Guest Speakers

On November 6, three guest speakers presented at the Middle School Science Contact meeting. Scarlett Kitts from Trigon Engineering presented information about the Future City Competition. Selena Keith, a eighth-grade science teacher at Allen Middle, and her students will be competing in this year’s competition at North Carolina State University(NCSU) on January 10.  Teachers learned about the program and how to enter for the 2010 competition. Linda Wayne, VP of Destination Imagination, presented the Construction Challenge. There is still room available for this competition.  Lonnie H Baxley, Jr., of the Institute for Electrical Engineering Education (IEEE) presented information about the IEEE Teacher In-service Program and Engineers in the Classroom. For more information contact Beth Chappell, middle school science specialist, at 370-3274 or chappee@gcsnc.com.

Colonial Times Were Different!

Recently, the first Colloquium of the Building Bridges Project met at Tannenbaum Historical Park. Twenty-nine GCS teachers from the fifth, eighth and 10th grades learned fabulous facts and fascinating stories about Colonial America and North Carolina. Presenters came from various educational settings, including independent scholars, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro(UNCG), NCSU, Guilford College, the High Point Museum and the Tannenbaum Historical Museum.  The highlight of the weekend was a tour of the Tannenbaum Historical Park and presentation by Curator Brent Brackett.  At the end of the presentation, teachers received a CD with original source documents relating North Carolina colonial history to the broader U.S. colonial time period.  The Building Bridges Project is made possible by a grant from the Department of Education’s Teaching American history Program. The project assists with the vertical integration of American History objectives that are taught throughout various social studies classes, focusing on those taught in fifth-grade American history, eighth-grade North Carolina history and high school civics and economics. For more information, please contact Project Coordinator Patricia L. T. Camp at 317-2466 or camp@gcsnc.com.

Brooks Global Studies Teacher Wins National Award

On Wednesday, November 19, Harris Teeter Neighborhood Markets selected Effie Goodman, a third-grade teacher at Brooks Global Studies, as the Harris Teeter Teacher of Excellence. Brooks’ PTA submitted Goodman’s name along with five others. The teachers had to complete an application, submit references and write an essay. The selection involved all Harris Teeter locations. Both Goodman and Brooks Global Studies received a check for $1,000.  For more information, please contact Principal Charles Foust at 370-8228.

Northeast High School Competes in 2008 National Band Competition

On November 15, Northeast High band competed in the 2008 National High Step High School Band competition at North Carolina A&T State University. Congratulations to Northeast High School’s Ladies of Elegance for placing first in the dance line competition, as well as Northeast’s Marching Shockwave for an outstanding job in the National High Stepping Competition. In Saturday’s full band competition, Northeast received the following awards in the 1A class:  third place overall, second place music, second place percussion, second place marching, second place drumline, second place majorettes and first place drum major.  Congratulations to the students and Band Director Steven Anderson.  For more information, please contact Principal Anitra Walker at 375-2500 or John Eldridge, instructional improvement officer, at 370-2360.

Ragsdale High Wins the NCHSAA State Championship Carolina Cup

On November 8, Ragsdale High varsity cheerleaders competed in the Super Varsity Division against 11 other teams at the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) State Championship.  Receiving first place in their division, the squad became eligible for the Carolina Cup which is awarded to the varsity team with the highest cumulative score of the entire competition.  Ragsdale varsity cheerleaders defeated 114 other teams in the competition.  The school received a small cup to have in their display case.  The larger Carolina Cup will remain at the NCHSAA headquarters with Ragsdale’s name engraved on it.  This is the third straight year that the Ragsdale cheerleaders have placed first and named state champions. Congratulations to all!  For more information, please contact Principal Dr. Kathy Rogers or Varsity Cheerleading Coach Tricia Fodel at 819-2960 or John Eldridge, instructional improvement officer, at 370-2360.

Teaching American History

The November Colloquium for Year Two of the Teaching American History (TAH) three-year grant project focused on the topic “Emergence of U.S. into World Affairs.”  The 30 U.S. History high school teachers attending the two-day workshop, held at High Point Museum, received instruction from university professors from UNCG, NCSU and Guilford College.  A teacher focus session was initiated at this Colloquium with GCS teachers Ray Parrish and Robert Glasgow presenting “Project Ideas” and “How to be an Amateur Historian.”   This TAH project, funded by the federal government, but designed and implemented by the district’s social studies high school curriculum staff, has two more colloquia scheduled in February and April.  The focus of each upcoming session includes the following North Carolina Standard Course of Study US History topics:  the Progressive Era and World War I and its Aftermath. The value of the November session can be heard through the voices of the participants in comments such as “(The professors) understand our task as teachers and provide practical application of classroom material,”  For more information about the TAH grant, please contact Maureen Robinson, TAH grant coordinator, at 370-2349 or robinsm2@gcsnc.com.

High School Counselors Host College Application Week

 Fifteen high school counseling departments in GCS participated in the statewide College Application Week, held November 10-14, co-sponsored by the College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC) and the Carolinas Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (CACRAO).  As part of the CFNC-CACRAO college access initiative, over 750 high school seniors from the Academy at Smith, Dudley High, The Middle  College at Bennett, The Middle College at NCA&T, Greensboro College Middle College, Grimsley High, The Middle College at GTCC-Greensboro, Northeast High, Page High, Ragsdale High, Smith High, Southeast High, Southern High, Southwest High, Andrews High and Western High completed more than 1,100 college applications to various colleges and universities across the state.  Students applied to any of North Carolina’s 58 community colleges, 36 independent colleges and 17 state universities.  Some of the colleges and universities granted application fee waivers as an incentive to encourage more students to apply to college.

The goal of this program is to get more students with college potential to apply to N.C. colleges early in their senior year, with a focus on first-generation college students.  The high school counseling departments would like to thank staff, community volunteers, parent volunteers, college students, college and university representatives and all who contributed to the success of College Application Week.  The Counseling Services Department would like to also thank Camille Cates, College Advisor for the National College Advising Corps, for her pivotal role in coordinating this worthwhile event in GCS. For more information, please contact Gwen Willis, executive director of student services, at 370-8397 or Samara Johnson, supervisor of high school counseling, at 370-2332.

Holiday Weight Challenge

The Benefits Department has notified employees of an opportunity to participate in a wellness activity during the upcoming holiday breaks.  The Eat Smart, Move More…Maintain, Don’t Gain! Holiday Challenge is a part of the statewide Eat Smart, Move More N.C. movement to increase healthy eating and physical activity opportunities wherever North Carolinians live, learn, earn, play and pray.  The annualchallenge begins November 24 and will run until December 31.

During this free six-week online challenge, participants will receive weekly newsletters containing tips to manage holiday stress, ideas for fitting in physical activity during the busy season and resources for cooking quick and easy meals when time is in short supply. A calorie counter, food log and activity log are also available for download to help people track their progress. New this year will be an “ask the experts” feature, where participants can write in to fitness and nutrition experts with their questions on how to maintain their healthy eating and physical activity routine during the hectic holiday season.

Employees can register for the challenge at www.MyEatSmartMoveMore.com. Only an e-mail address is needed to join. All participant information is kept confidential. In 2007, more than 3,500 people from 97 N.C. counties, 24 other states and three other countries took part in the Challenge. For more information, please contact Patty Kinkade, director of benefits, at 370-8092 or kinkadp@gcsnc.com.

GCSTV 2     

Be There

Parents’ participation in their child’s academic life plays an important part in how well they do in school.  Parent participation is what the “Be There” campaign is all about.  This program runs daily at 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Experience “MetamorphaSEUSS”

The members of the Northwest High Viking Marching Band take you on a journey of the band’s metamorphosis as they travel into a magical land inspired from stories written by Dr. Seuss.

This performance was awarded first place at the Scotland High Highlands Competition in Laurinburg. The band also swept the awards at the Albemarle competition, coming home the Sweepstakes Champion. See this performance daily at noon.

Tus Hijos y GCS (Your Children and GCS)

The district’s Spanish language program is designed to help parents and guardians with their children’s education and school experience.  Hosted by English as a Second Language ESOL Teacher Karin Young, this program is broadcast in both Spanish and English daily at 7 a.m., 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Wachovia Best in Class Awards

GCS honors its educators and names Rodney Morgan Teacher of the Year and LaToy Kennedy  Principal of the year.  All 10 finalists are profiled at 10:01 a.m. daily.

Friday Night Rivalries

GCSTV 2’s new show, Friday Night Rivalries is a fast-paced half-hour highlighting top GCS high school team matchups. It’s produced by students at Weaver Academy and runs at 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. daily. 

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 and 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.

Culinary Arts
They’re practicing an art and developing a career at the same time.  See how students at Weaver Academy are learning Culinary Arts by trying out their cooking on their colleagues.  This Newsbreak airs Wednesday, November 26.

Trip of a Lifetime
With a new President of the United States comes a new opportunity for the Dudley Marching Band of Thunder to deliver yet another high-profile performance.  Band members are on a fundraising drive now to pay their expenses for a trip to Washington, D.C. to perform at Barack Obama’s inauguration. This Newsbreak airs Friday, November 28.

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