GCS News Briefs

January 23, 2009

District to Unveil Strategic Plan 2012

After months of research, listening and learning, GCS will present its strategic plan to the public on Tuesday, January 27 at the Koury Auditorium at GTCC Jamestown. The event begins at 5 p.m. with a reception, and the program starts at 6 p.m. Click here for the invitation. The event is open to everyone, but please RSVP to rsvp@gcsnc.com. For more information about the event, please contact Cecilia Adams, manager of community partnerships, at 370-8355.

This is What You Said

We asked you to send us your thoughts on how to make Guilford County Schools (GCS) one of the nation’s leading public school systems. We are thankful to the thousands of you who responded. Here is what one of you suggested:

“Please do all that you can to allow our high school students know that they are much more than just a composite of test scores and numbers, EOC, SAT, AP exam scores, etc. High school can be four years of stress, which is not a healthy way for anyone to live. I know they need to prepare for college, but they need to know that no matter what their class standing may be, they are all important individuals. Volunteer work could act as a way to let them all know they can have a positive impact.”

GCS Principal Named Humanitarian of the Year

The City of High Point surprised Revonda Johnson, principal at High Point Central High, with its 2009 Humanitarian of the Year award. Johnson received the award during the city’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration at the High Point Theatre.

Each year, the High Point Human Relations Commission chooses an outstanding High Point citizen dedicated to the advancement of social justice and human rights to receive the award. Johnson was chosen for her contributions to schools and the community.

Johnson said she was privileged to receive the award during High Point’s 150th anniversary year. “To be chosen during such a special year for the city is truly an honor,” she said.

To commemorate the honor, the city presented Johnson a plaque inscribed with a Martin Luther King Jr. quotation. For more information, please contact Haley Miller, media relations manager, at 370-3200.

District Receives Communications Awards

The GCS District Relations Department recently received statewide recognition for effective communication from The North Carolina School Public Relations Association (NCSPRA).

GCS received four Blue Ribbon Awards, given out each year to school districts for outstanding school publications, excellence in writing, audio-visual presentations, photography and other communication efforts.

GCS received awards for the following:

• GCS 2007-08 Annual Report
• GCS Web Site home page
• GCSTV 2 News Story – “Attention TV Artists”
• GCS 2008-09 Back-to-School Guide

The Georgia School Public Relations Association Board of Directors selected the top entries in each category. Publication entries are judged on appropriateness of message, graphic layout/design, overall appearance, writing/content and effectiveness in reaching goals. Electronic media entries are judged on professional quality and presentation of message, including sound for radio and color/motion for video. For more information, please contact Nora Carr, chief of staff, at 370-2365.

Kickoff to Kindergarten Parent Days

Entering kindergarten can be daunting for both students and parents, but Kickoff to Kindergarten Parent Days will help everyone feel comfortable as the big day approaches.

In conjunction with Guilford Child Development, Guilford County Partnership for Children, United Way of Greater High Point, Junior League of High Point, Get Healthy Guilford, Guilford Education Alliance, High Point Museum and Greensboro Children’s Museum, GCS will host this free event.

On Jan. 26, representatives from transportation, school nutrition, after-school options, English as a second language, parent-teacher associations and kindergarten curriculum will be on hand at the High Point Museum. The event will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and again from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. In addition, representatives from neighborhood libraries, as well as local pediatricians and dentists, will be available to answer questions.

On Feb. 23, the same representatives will be available at the Greensboro Children’s Museum. The Greensboro event also will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and again from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Click here to view the information flyer.

At both events, parents also will be able to learn more about community 3- and 4-year-old pre-K programs. For more information, please contact Haley Miller, media relations manager, at 370-3200.

GCC PTAs Announce Reflection Winners

The 2008-09 Guilford County Council of PTAs (GCC PTAs) Reflections Awards Ceremony took place at the Greensboro Cultural Arts Center on Wednesday, Jan. 6. The National Parent Teacher Association Reflections Program is a cultural arts program for students from pre-K through grade 12. Students can submit entries in any of the six arts areas including Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music, Photography and Visual Arts. The program provides students with an opportunity to express themselves creatively, while receiving positive recognition on a school, community, state and possibly even national level – an achievement we saw two GCS students do last year. Each year, students submit entries based on a theme. This year’s theme is “Wow.”

Students first submitted entries to their local school. A PTA must be in good standing to participate; GCS had 52 schools participating this year, including eight schools taking part for the first time this year.  Click here to view a list of the winning students.

All first-place entries will move on to the district level. Winners at the national level will be invited to and recognized at the National PTA convention in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. in June. GCC PTAs wishes these students the best of luck as they continue on in the program.

GCS students can begin planning for the 2009-10 Reflections Program with the theme “Beauty is…” For more information about how to start a Reflections Program at your school or about the GCC PTAs Reflections Program, please contact Katie Sayani at 298-4552 or katiesayani@yahoo.com .

Rookie Teacher of the Year Nominations

The Office of Induction and Success has received 69 nominations for Rookie Teacher of the Year.  Nominees will complete portfolios, which are due Feb. 5. A committee of principals, teachers and community representatives will review all portfolios and select five finalists. The five finalists will be recognized in the spring. The winner of the Rookie Teacher of the Year award will receive a scholarship for the master's program at UNCG. For more information, please contact Martha Snavely, executive director, Induction and Professional Development, at 335-3290.

Balanced Literacy for School Leaders

Approximately 20 elementary principals and assistant principals have attended Balanced Literacy for School Leaders. This workshop is designed to enhance school administrators’ current understanding of best practices in balanced literacy. Building on these understandings, principals and assistant principals are better able to analyze student learning, assessment/grouping practices and instructional strategies for learning to read (K-3) and reading to learn (2-5).  Here are two comments workshop participants said about Balanced Literacy for School Leaders:

• “I liked being able to ask questions and get real, usable answers.”
• “I liked the time suggestions and the key elements of Guided Reading. This reaffirms what I feel is wrong (and right) with what my school is doing.”

The next elementary session of Balanced Literacy for School Leaders will be held on March 4 and 11.  For more information, please contact Katie Doyle, elementary literacy curriculum specialist, at 370-3268, ext. 2 or by e-mail at doylek@gcsnc.com.

Transfer List Closes Next Friday

The Transfer List is now available for eligible licensed employees to indicate their interest in transferring for the 2009-10 school year. Eligible employees include those with a contract status of Probationary year 1 of 4, 2 of 4, 4 of 4 and Career. Non-eligible employees include those with a contract status of Probationary year 3 of 4 and Interim. Transfer applications will be accepted through end of day, Friday, Jan. 30, 2009. Transfer offers for the 2009-10 school year will occur between Feb. 1, 2009 and May 1, 2009. Licensed employees seeking opportunities at Mission Possible schools in incentive-receiving positions will receive an extended transfer period through June 15, 2009. Click here to access the GCS transfer application. Please note that the application is only accessible at GCS locations within the firewall. It is not accessible from home computers.  Please contact the Staffing Office at 378-8806 if you experience difficulty with the application. For more information, contact Alison Yates, director of staffing, at 370-8094 or by e-mail at yatesa@gcsnc.com.        

GCSTV 2     

Legislative Luncheon

Educators and Legislators get together to discuss the most pressing issues facing GCS and school districts across the state. This program runs daily at 11:30 a.m.

Building Futures-Your Construction Update

Find out the latest on what’s being built or upgraded within GCS through this tour of the latest projects.  It’s your guide to how construction bond funds are spent to help our school district build on its excellence.  This program runs daily at 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

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 ESOL teacher Karin Young, you can watch this program in Spanish and English daily at 7 a.m., 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Inside Out

This documentary is a stark 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 2 p.m. & midnight.

Jazzing It Up

Tune in and turn on the cool jazz stylings of the GCS All-County Jazz Band. Some of the district’s best musicians showcase their talents in concert, and GCSTV 2 shares the performance with you daily at 10:28 p.m. and 1 a.m.

GCS Basketball Highlights

GCSTV 2’s Friday Night Rivalries (FNR) is sure to delight GCS high school basketball fans!  With football season behind us, FNR turns its attention to round ball with highlights of top team matchups and interviews with coaches and players. The program is produced by Mike Crenshaw’s TV group at Weaver Academy and runs at 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. daily. 

Showcase Your Talent on GCSTV 2

GCSTV 2 is now accepting student, faculty, staff or parent produced programming for possible broadcast!  We’re interested in your complete, compelling productions of school sports, concerts, recitals, plays, debates, academic competitions, school news and more.  These projects can be videos you produce at school or on your own time that educate and entertain. See the GCSTV 2 page at www.gcsnc.com for details.

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.

Inauguration Day Snow
GCS students were going to tune in to President Barack Obama’s inauguration at school, but snow put an end to that. Instead, a snow day out of school provided an opportunity for them to take in the history-making festivities at home.  This Newsbreak airs Wednesday, Jan. 28.

Lunches for Urban Ministries
Keeping their commitment to help others, the students at Vandalia Elementary provide lunch for the less fortunate. This Newsbreak airs Friday, Jan. 30.

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