GCS News Briefs

June 6 , 2008

Reminder - 2008 GCS Climate Survey

Just a reminder – today is the last day to participate in the 2008 GCS Climate Survey, whichfocuses on employees’ perceptions regarding their work environment. The 2008 surveyis available online. Staff should have received an e-mail providing a link to the survey.  If you do not have access to a computer, hard copies of the survey are available in the lobbies of the Eugene Street and Franklin Boulevard offices.  Please provide your GCS picture I.D. to the receptionist to receive a copy.

The survey is anonymous -- the results are compiled by an outside company, so please feel free to take the survey in confidence. We will share the results with each school and each central office department. Your valued opinions and recommendations, combined with the information from the teacher working condition survey, will help us address your concerns.

Together, we can make positive changes to make GCS an even better place to work. For general questions, please contact GCAE President Mark Jewell at 299-9601 or for technical questions, please contact Dr. Eric J. Becoats, co-interim superintendent, at 378-8838.

Top High School Graduates Honored

Congratulations to the GCS valedictorians and salutatorians from the class of 2008. They are just a few of the many examples of what is right in our schools. The honorees are:

For more information, contact Haley Miller, program administrator – communications, at 370-3200.

Teacher of the Year Semifinalists

The Teacher of the Year Reading Committee has reviewed and scored the portfolios submitted by school-level winners from across the district. The top scorers from the portfolio round will meet with the Interview Committee on June 23 and 24. The winner will be announced at the Wachovia “Best in Class Awards” on September 22.  Special thanks to the members of the Reading Committee who included: Darcy Kemp, Linda Lyon, Benita Lawrence, Lee Ann Segalla, Betty Anne Chandler, Shawn Watlington, Doris Henderson, Amy Holcombe, Robin Bergeron, Tony Burks, Pam Misher, LaToy Kennedy, Jason Cayton, Jennifer Topper, Melissa Nixon, Robyn Barrett and Barbara Stinnett. The teachers selected to move forward to the interview round include:

Beverly Alt – Northwest High
Irving Crump - Northeast Middle
Tavy Fields – Welborn Academy of Science and Technology
Melinda Galloway – Greensboro College Middle College
Rodney Morgan – Aycock Middle
Sabrina Peacock – Pilot Elementary
Sophia Roberts – Jones Elementary
Margaret Schram – The Academy at Lincoln
Kathy Sims – Pearce Elementary
Robert Whiteheart – Kiser Middle

Congratulations to these outstanding educators and all of our school-level winners. For more information please contact Carla Alphin, program administrator for employee relations, at alphinc@gcsnc.com or 378-8821.

Principal of the Year Nominations

Nominations for the 2008 GCS Principal of the Year are currently being accepted. In order to meet the Department of Public Instruction’s qualifications, the nominee must have at least four years experience as an administrator (years may be a combination of assistant principal, principal and central office experience). They should be active, not only in their schools, but also in the communities where they distinguish themselves as leaders. Candidates should demonstrate the ability to improve the achievement of students from various backgrounds and with differing capabilities. Anyone can make a nomination including staff, students, parents or community members. Nomination forms are located on the GCS homepage at www.gcsnc.com. Once completed, send the form to Carla Alphin in the Human Resources Department, 712 North Eugene Street, Greensboro, NC 27401 or email to alphinc@gcsnc.com. Nominations must be received by 5 p.m. on July 9. For more information, please contact Carla Alphin, program administrator for employee relations, at 378-8821.

Jackson Middle Student Wins Writing Competition

Jackson Middle eighth-grader Nick Ritchie won first place in a countywide writing competition that focused on ways of eliminating school-yard bullying. The competition, which was sponsored by the Greater Greensboro Society of Medicine Alliance, was open to in Guilford County students in grades six, seven, and eight attending Title 1 schools. Students had to write a poem, essay or narrative about bullying and how they could help eliminate it in our schools. Nick’s winning entry was a poem entitled: Bullies are People Too. His first-place finish came with a plaque, a certificate and a $100 Target gift card. Kimberly Kossover, a representative at the Greater Greensboro Society of Medicine, made the presentation to Nick during his first core Language Arts class in Cynthia Jeffries’ classroom. For more information, please contact Principal Rodney Wilds at 294-7350 or Lewis Ferebee, instructional improvement officer, 370-8301.

GCS Career and Technical Education Students State Winners

A Career Technical Student Organization (CTSO) is an integral part of each program area in Career Technical Education (CTE).  The courses are designed to develop citizenship, technical, leadership and teamwork skills essential for students who are preparing for the workforce and further education.

The following Guilford County Schools’ CTE students were winners in the recently held State CTSO Leadership competitions, and several will move on to national competitions to represent North Carolina: 

Future Business Leaders of America

The following individual students placing first at the state competition and are moving on to compete in the national competition to be held in Atlanta, Georgia on June 26 – 29:

• Travis Mullen – Desktop Application Programming – Southeast/Weaver
• Amos Cao – Introduction to Technology Concepts – Western/Weaver
• Andrew Hall – Technology Concepts – Northwest /Weaver

Placing second in the Network Design Team Event and moving on to the national competition:

• Sam Milstead – Ragsdale/Weaver
• Austin Bodenheimer – Southwest/Weaver
• Luke Blackwood – Grimsley/Weaver

Also placing in the State competition as finalists:

• Adam Pyle (Northwest/Weaver) – Impromptu Speaking
• Bryan Terrell (Southeast/Weaver) – Networking Concepts
• Lyndsey Fernandez (Southeast/Weaver) – Website Development – Team Event
• Valentin  Magheru (Ragsdale/Weaver) – Website Development – Team Event

SKILLS USA
The following individual students placed first at the state competition and are moving on to compete in the national competition in Kansas City, Missouri on June 24 – 27:

• Chrismon Atkins –Residential Wiring – Southeast/Weaver Academy
• Derek Caudle – Collision Repair Technology – Ragsdale/Weaver
• Tiep Nay – Internetworking (CISCO) – Eastern/Weaver
• Preston McDonald – Telecommunications Cabling – Andrews

Also placing in the state competition:

• Daniel Gelley – second place – Diesel Technology – Southwest/Weaver
• Will Adams (Southeast/Weaver) and Jordan Bunce (Northwest/Weaver) – second place – TV Production
• Chris Lupo- third place, HVAC – Southwest/Weaver Academy
• Zachery Currie – third place – Residential Wiring – Southeast/Weaver Academy
• Xavier Sosa – third place – Telecommunications Cabling – Andrews
• Kristen Edgell (Northwest/Weaver) and Seava Harris (Northwest/Weaver) – third place – TV Production
• Shannon Wellington – fifth place – Internetworking - Andrews
• Sam Milstead – fourth place – Internetworking (CISCO) – Ragsdale/Weaver
• Bryan Matthew Terrell – fourth place – Computer Maintenance Technology – Southeast/Weaver
• Jose Garnica – fifth place – Diesel Technology – Dudley/Weaver
• Zachary Bowers – seventh place – HVAC –  Ragsdale/Weaver
• Lyndsey Fernandez (Southeast/Weaver) and Valentin Magheru (Ragsdale/Weaver)  - State finalist – Web site Design

Technology Student Association (TSA)
Placing first at the state competition and moving on to compete in the national competition in Orlando, FL, June 28 - July 2:

• Chelsea Davis – Dragster Design  - Page

Placing third at the state competition:

• Zane Stearns – Desktop Publishing – Page

Family Career and Community Leaders of America
Placing in the state competition:

• Calin Fletcher - Gold Medal, Culinary Arts and Pat Worth $1,000 Scholarship - Ragsdale/ Weaver
• Kaitlin Seufer - Silver Medal, Culinary Arts – Northeast/Weaver Academy
• Annika Kraft - Silver Medal, Culinary Arts – Northeast/Weaver Academy
• Lauren Swartz - Gold Medal, VoCATS Test – Early Childhood Education II - Ragsdale
• Jessica Gers and Katie Baker - Silver Medal, VoCATS Test – Early Childhood Education II – Ragsdale
• Amber Mann and Ashia Neal - Bronze Medal, VoCATS Test– Parenting & Child Development - Ragsdale

DECA – Marketing, Management and Entrepreneurship
Placing in the state competition:

• Vilas Sankar – Second place – Technical Sales - Proficiency Level – International Competition – Western Guilford
• Jasmine Nesi – State Finalist - Apparel and Accessories - Western Guilford

The following teachers also will participate in national competitions:

• Michael A. Crenshaw   (Weaver Academy) – SKILLS USA Advisor – National TV Production Competition Chairman, Kansas City, Mo.
• Jeremiah Wills   (Page High School) – Advisor Competition  in the Bring and Brag  Dragster and Dragster Challenge, Orlando, Florida

Congratulations to all students and their CTSO advisors who displayed leadership and initiative by participating in these competitions.  For further information contact Sylvia Anderson, director of college tech prep, at 370-8357.

High Schools That Work Award of Academic Excellence Winners

Thirty-three Southern High students received this year’s High Schools That Work (HSTW) Award of Educational Achievement. Students qualify for the award by completing a college-preparatory course of study in at least two of three subject areas (English, mathematics or science), completing a concentration in a career/technical area, (mathematics/science or the humanities) and meeting performance goals in all three areas on the HSTW assessment. 

Southern High had the third highest number of students to receive the award in North Carolina. Students who met the requirements receive the 2008 HSTW Award of Academic Excellence given by the Southern Regional Education Board. For more information, please contact Principal James Gibson at 674-4250.

PowerGirl Scholarships Available to GCS High School Students

The PowerGirls Network, a program of Johnnetta B. Cole’s Global Diversity and Inclusion Institute, is offering five $5,000 and 20 $1,000 scholarships to high-school-age girls as a part of its 2008 Most Powerful Girls in the World Award Nominations. The scholarships are awarded to recognize, celebrate and encourage the achievement of teen girls in academics, community service, entrepreneurship, innovation and philanthropy in the “worldplace.”  Nominations are accepted from teachers, school administrators, and community program directors.  Awards will be presented at the PowerGirls Global Leadership Summit in Atlanta, GA, July 25-27. All nominees must be full-time high school students or full-time entering college freshmen at the time of receipt of the award.   Nominations must be completed and turned in to the Diversity Office no later than 2 p.m. on Tuesday, June 10.  For more information, please contact Monica Walker, diversity officer, at 370-3284.  

Guest Scholar/Professor Provides Insight on Creating Educational Excellence for African American Children

Dr. Janice E. Hale, professor of early childhood education at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, and founder of Institute for the Study of African-American Children (ISAAC), will provide insight to Guilford County educators, parents and the community on creating educational excellence for African American children on June 19 and 20. The event is sponsored by the GCS Diversity Office and the Office for Curriculum and Organizational Development. Dr. Hale will conduct the following three workshops:

• Principals and administrators - Thursday, June 19, 8:30 - 11:30 a.m.  Northern High Media Center
• C&I staff & teachers - Thursday, June 19, 1- 4 p.m. Northern High Media Center
• Staff & general public - Friday, June 20, 8:30 - 11:30 a.m. Northern High Media Center

In this workshop, teachers, administrators, parents and the community gain information on preferred African American styles of learning that can complement the teaching process.  When more is known about how African American children approach academic tasks and process information, teachers can design educational practices that enhance motivation and a love for learning.  For more information, please contact Monica Walker, diversity officer, at 370-3284.  

Books Galore at Monticello-Brown Summit Elementary School

Monticello-Brown Summit Elementary (MBSE) recently sponsored a book drive in an effort to support summer reading for students who may not have access to a variety of books at home to read.   The response from MBSE students and school community was phenomenal, with nearly 3,000 books donated. Qualifying students may borrow 12 books to read over the summer and can choose books that are of interest to them and are at an appropriate level.  MBSE is proud of the fantastic response to the summer book drive and is happy to know that all of their students will have the opportunity to continue reading during the summer months. For more information please contact Principal Benita Lawrence at 656-4010 or Steve Oates, instructional improvement officer, 370-8060.

Information Session for Lateral Entry Teachers - GCS Alternative Certification Track (ACT)

Newly hired lateral entry teachers and any lateral entry teachers hired after January 1, 2008 are invited to attend an information session to learn more about how to obtain a North Carolina Standard Professional I license through GCS ACT.  GCS ACT is an in-house teacher preparation program co-taught by GTCC professors and GCS master teachers.  This program is the first of its kind in the state and offers lateral entry teachers a route to licensure that bypasses a college/university program or RALC program.  GCS ACT takes approximately 18 months to complete and is offered at a fraction of the cost of similar programs.  Please join us on June 11 from 4 - 5 p.m., in the PTA Room at Eugene Street to learn more about GCS ACT.  For more information about GCS ACT, please visit: http://www.gcsnc.com/gcsact/index.htm.  For questions about GCS ACT, contact Dr. Amy Holcombe, executive director of talent development, at holcoma@gcsnc.com or at 334-3294.

Wellness Activities for 2007-08 

The Benefits Department organized and communicated to employees several wellness activities this year.  Listed below are our accomplishments:

• Wellness contacts are established in every school and central office site.
• A Wellness Committee is forming and will meet on June 11.
• Electronic information, “Tidbits from Benefits”, was sent to all employees periodically throughout the year.  Wellness activities, insurance information, retirement changes and leave of absence procedures are among the items sent to employees.
• The Employee Assistance Program continues to be offered to all full-time and part-time employees. This program is through Cornerstone Psychological Services, and eligible employees are given five free counseling sessions for self or immediate family members on a yearly basis.
• Flu Shots were given to 2,978 employees and dependents during fall 2007. The flu shots were free for employees and dependents covered by our state health insurance. Those not covered could pay for the shots.  
• GCS participated in the “Get Healthy Guilford Challenge.”  This challenge was a ten week county wide activity funded by the Moses Cone-Wesley Long Community Health Foundation and organized by the YMCA of Greensboro. Eighty two employees completed the challenge. Our grand prize, a weekend for two at the Inn at Biltmore, was won by Lisa Barefoot, a physical education teacher from Weaver Academy.  
• A weight loss challenge was an optional activity associated with “Get Healthy Guilford,” and 51 employees participated. A total of 405.3 pounds were lost, and LaGail Williams, Sims/Office Support from Falkener Elementary, lost the most weight.  She won a gift certificate from The Fresh Market.
• The Benefits Department, District Relations and School Nutrition Services came together and produced three “Healthy Cooking” segments for our GCSTV2. The segments were written and presented by Amanda Hester, Registered Dietitian for Guilford County Schools and Ashley Mathis, intern serving in School Nutrition Services.  The segments included increasing fruits and vegetables, portion distortion and eating as a family. We are proud of the segments and they are still running on GCSTV2.
• Currently, all Central Office employees are invited to participate in the Walk 100/Run 200 Miles to the Coast activity. This was a successful activity that started in the 2006-2007 school year. This year, 112 central office employees have registered to participate.
• The YMCA of Greensboro and High Point offer special rates to our employees. Other area businesses such as Rush, Curves, The Club at Oak Branch and The Club at Green Valley offer special incentives as well.
• One future activity will begin October 2008 in partnership with the YMCA of Greensboro and High Point. “Get Real Weight Management” classes will be offered at four area YMCA’s for our employees.
  

For additional information on Wellness Activities, please contact Patty Kinkade, director of benefits, at kinkadep@gcsnc.com or at 370-8092.

GCS Calendar of Events

Click here to view the district’s upcoming calendar of events.

Central Office Summer Schedule

GCS central offices will operate on a summer schedule from Monday, June 16 through Friday, August 15.  Summer office hours are:

• 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday
• 7:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. on Friday
  

Normal office hours (8 a.m. – 5 p.m.) resume on Monday, August 18. We will revert back to normal office hours during the first week of July (June 30 – July 4) due to the July 4 holiday.

GCSTV2

Washington Elementary 

Recently featured in a statewide television documentary for its progress, Washington Elementary continues to make strides towards academic success.  That progress, however, could be undermined if GCS’ proposed 2008-09 budget is not fully funded.  This program runs Tuesday through Thursday at 8:42 a.m. and 2:12 p.m., and Friday through Monday at 8:32 a.m.

Budget Discussion

The proposed 2008-09 budget represents the financial plan for GCS.  Our community is keenly aware of the continuing financial challenges the district faces.  If you have questions about the budget, our co-interim superintendents, Sharon Ozment and Dr. Eric Becoats, have the answers you need in this conversation with GCSTV 2’s Leonard Simpson.  This program runs Tuesday through Thursday at 8:01 a.m., 2:01 p.m. and 7:47 p.m.  It also runs Friday through Monday at 9:46 a.m., 5:48 p.m. and 10:01 p.m.

“Taking Initiative:  A Look Inside Guilford County Schools”

GCSTV 2 is showing this UNC-TV documentary on the innovative approaches and educational accomplishments of GCS.  The program explores how initiatives like GCS’ Mission Possible, Home Field Advantage and Newcomers School are leading the way to better opportunities for our students.  This documentary is made possible thanks to the Joseph M. Bryan Foundation, the Cemala Foundation and the Tannenbaum-Sternberger Foundation.  The program runs daily at 9:01 a.m. and 10:01 p.m.

Rappers’ Tribute

It’s an original composition and a tribute to the late Civil Rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King.  High Point Central High seniors Amos Mobley and Kenneth Ledbetter’s rap is attracting attention within the music industry.  GCSTV 2 produced a music video for the song featuring these two members of their school’s Men of Valor Excelling (MOVE) chapter. This video runs Tuesday through Thursday 12:15 p.m. and 8:55 p.m. and Friday through Monday 11:45 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Music Showcase-Middle School All County Band

Music plays a big role in the arts education offered within GCS.  The All-County Band Concert gives students a chance to showcase their talents and GCSTV 2 provides you a seat in the audience.  This program runs daily at 9:01 a.m. and 11:30 p.m. 

Music Showcase- High School All County Band

This performance features the best of the best of Guilford County Schools’ high school band talent taped at their spring performance at Grimsley High.  This program runs daily at 10:01 a.m., 6:01 p.m. and 10:01 p.m.

Eat Smart-Move More

The right nutrition is important to maintain good health.  GCS offers some healthy advice on choosing the right foods and portion sizes to cut down on the extra fat and calories that may be lurking in our diets.  Join Registered Dietitian Amanda Hester and Ashley Mathis for our series: Eat Smart.  Your guide to healthier eating airs daily at 6:57 a.m., 7:56 a.m. and Tuesday through Thursday at 9:52 p.m.  Friday through Monday it runs at 9:55 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 air on ABC-45 (Cable Channel 7) during Good Morning America each Wednesday and Friday at 7:25 a.m. and 8:25 a.m.

Music, Arts and Budgets
Studies show that participation in music and the arts can improve a student’s overall academic performance.  GCS programs that provide our students the opportunity to develop their musical and other artistic talents could be adversely affected if the district’s proposed 2008-09 budget is not fully funded.  This program airs Wednesday, June 11.

High School Ahead
GCS’ innovative programs are celebrated nationally as models for academic success.  The High School Ahead program is one of those that could be adversely affected should the proposed GCS 2008-09 budget request not be fully funded.  This program airs Friday, June 13.

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

Non-GCS Educational News

Study Finds Public Schools as Good as Private Schools

A new study conducted by the University of Illinois and soon to be published in Phi Delta Kappan shows that "public schools are at least as effective as private schools in boosting student achievement." The study examined the longitudinal data of almost 10,000 students in math at about 1,500 public and private schools. Click here to read more.