GCS News Briefs

February 20, 2009

GCS Seeks Feedback on Money Saving Ideas

In this week’s blog, Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green highlights the importance of keeping everyone aware of how the economy is affecting our schools.

As planning for the 2009-10 budget begins, we are asking everyone for their ideas on how to keep costs down while still providing an excellent education for students. According to Green, “I’ve asked our employees for their input and ideas, and I want to do the same for parents, community members and students.” Click here to read the Superintendent’s blog.  To submit your ideas, e-mail feedback@gcsnc.com

Kindergarten Registration Period Approaches

GCS encourages the families of 4- and 5-year olds to prepare for kindergarten registration early. The district wants its newest students to have an easy transition this fall – understanding the qualifications and gathering the required materials in advance will save families time and stress.

Kindergarten registration begins Monday, March 2. In order to register a child for kindergarten, parents need to provide the following items to their child’s assigned school:

• A certified copy of the child’s birth certificate
• Completed kindergarten health assessment form
• A record of the child’s immunizations (shots)
• Proof of residence showing name and address (i.e. electricity bill, rental agreement)

Additional are available on the district’s Web site. Parents can find out their child’s school assignment by contacting the Student Assignment Office at 370-8303 or by using the GCS School Locator at http://www.gcsnc.com/locator0809/streetsearch.aspx.

It is especially important for parents to plan ahead this year due to a change in the date by which students must turn 5. Starting with the 2009-10 school year, state law requires children to be 5 years old by Aug. 31 to enroll in kindergarten. According to the Department of Public Instruction, the revised law moves the birthday requirement up by a month and a half to make sure students are ready for formal school when they begin kindergarten.

For families with children who turn 5 after Aug. 31, there are a number of free pre-K programs within GCS and the community. Applications for GCS pre-K programs will be accepted through Friday, April 24. In addition, gifted 4 1/2-year-olds who are functioning two to three years beyond their age may be eligible to enroll in kindergarten early. Parents with questions about qualifications for early kindergarten should contact the principal at their child’s assigned school.

Kickoff to Kindergarten

GCS and community partners will host a “Kickoff to Kindergarten Parent Day” on Monday, Feb. 23 at the Greensboro Children’s Museum, 220 N. Church St., Greensboro. The free event, scheduled from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., will inform parents about resources available in the school district and greater community.

Brown Summit Middle School Student Wins GCS Spelling Bee

GCS proudly announces the winner of the 2009 GCS Middle School Spelling Bee: Will Gleason, a 13-year old, eighth-grader at Brown Summit Middle.  Will enjoys playing club soccer with Guilford United, serves as his school’s student body president and occasionally plays video games. 

Will spelled the word oxidize to win the championship. He will move on to the regional competition sponsored by the Winston-Salem Journal on March 22 at the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem. The Champion Bee will begin at 2 p.m.  The runner-up and alternate for the regional competition is Kinsey Danzis, a sixth-grader from Penn-Griffin Middle.  Congratulations to both of them for their outstanding achievement.

Sixteen other school winners participated in this year’s spelling bee:  Keaton Brower (The Academy at Lincoln);  Madeleine Brayer (Aycock Middle); Kaitlyn McBride (Eastern Middle); Jakob Ingram (Ferndale Middle); Dusan Cubrilovic (Guilford Middle); Jessica Billie (Hairston Middle); Millia Edwards (Jackson Middle); Essence Edwards (Jamestown Middle); Eric Laming (Johnson Street Global Studies); Krista Bradley (Kernodle Middle); Jas Syquia (Mendenhall Middle); Anfernee Ellis (Northeast Middle); Haven Medley (Northern Middle); Danny Hage (Northwest Middle); Jamal Wilhite (Southeast Middle) and Matthew Lilly (Southwest Middle). Congratulations to all of these students for their participation in the spelling bee.

Judges were Pam Embler, Sara Painter and Lisa Wojnar, and assistants were Andi Hesman and Lillie Tucker.  Tracey McCain, WFMY News 2 news personality, served as the pronouncer, and Dr. Noah Rogers, principal of Smith High, hosted the competition. Many thanks to all for volunteering their time for this event.

Research shows that a solid vocabulary lays the foundation for developing knowledge that allows students to tackle new challenges. Enhancing rigor in academics is one reason GCS participates in the spelling bee. For more information, please contact Stacy Gibbs, middle school English language arts curriculum specialist, at 370-3272 or gibbss@gcsnc.com.

"Hands Up High Point"

Do you want to make a difference in your community? Do you want to help our schools? If you have one hour a week, “Hands Up High Point” is the place for you.

“Hands Up High Point” will connect adult volunteers with second-grade teachers in High Point from March through May to help children improve reading skills.

This new community initiative was developed in response to the goals and objectives identified in High Point’s Workforce Development Strategic Plan and the goals in GCS’ strategic plan. “Hands Up High Point” is an opportunity to invest in children by improving learning readiness and establishing a culture of life-long learning throughout the community.Through this initiative, children will achieve academic excellence by improving third-grade reading proficiency. 

Volunteer tutors will attend a two-hour orientation session prior to scheduling time to work with students. The orientation session will include training that will prepare the volunteers to work one-on-one with second-grade students.

Training sessions will be on the following days:

• Feb. 25, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Johnson Street Global Studies
• March 4, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., High Point Chamber of Commerce
• March 11, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., High Point YWCA

The “Hands Up High Point” collaboration includes the following community partners: GCS, City of High Point, Communities in Schools High Point, Guilford Education Alliance, High Point Alliance for Workforce Preparedness, High Point Chamber of Commerce, High Point Community Foundation, Senior Resources of Guilford, United Way of Greater High Point and YWCA High Point.For more information or to sign up for a training session, contact Michael Prioleau at 882-5000 ext 233 or mprioleau@highpointchamber.org.

Author Carole Weatherford to Visit Joyner Elementary

New York Times best-selling author Carole Boston Weatherford will visit Joyner Elementary on Wednesday, Feb. 25. Weatherford has authored 32 books. She has received the Caldecott Honor, Coretta Scott King Award for Illustration, Carter G. Woodson Award from National Council for the Social Studies, NAACP Image Award and two North Carolina Juvenile Literature Awards. For more information, please contact Principal Trina Bethea at 545-2020.

Storyteller/Author to Visit Johnson Street Global Studies

Storyteller Louise Omoto Kessel will visit Johnson Street Global Studies on Wednesday, Feb. 25. Kessel will perform stories from around the globe for kindergarten through second grade students at 9 a.m., for third through fifth grade at 10 a.m. and for sixth through eighth grade at 11 a.m. Families are welcome to attend. For more information, please contact Principal Trent Vernon at 819-2900.

Fairview Elementary Career Fair

Students at Fairview Elementary get a head start on learning about their potential careers as the school’s guidance department hosts its third annual career fair, Thursday, Feb. 26 from 8:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. More than 30 professionals from a wide range of careers will attend. In addition, an outdoor showcase of police cars, fire trucks, a city transit bus and a crime scene investigation vehicle will give students a first-hand look into those careers. For more information, please contact Principal Rhonda Copeland at 819-2890.

Jamestown Middle Celebrates Black History Month

Jamestown Middle celebrates Black History Month with a special program on Feb. 26 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Several notable faces from the community will participate, including Greensboro Mayor Yvonne Johnson. Students will perform Motown vocal selections, dance and instrumental selections. For more information, please contact Principal Denise Richmond at 819-2100.

The Middle College at Bennett Receives Science Grant

Prestina Smith, a junior biology major at Bennett College for Women, submitted a community service proposal to the Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology (CTLT) at Bennett College. The purpose of the proposal was to acquire funds for a community service project, which would motivate and empower the minds of students enrolled in biology classes at the Middle College.

The Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program and Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation Scholars at Bennett College received the funding to purchase materials and equipment needed to instruct five inquiry based labs for the biology students in the Middle College. The funding of this proposal is a win-win for Bennett College science scholars, the Middle College biology classes, as well as our community.

Through the contribution of our scholar’s time and sharing of knowledge with the students, the scholars have indeed invested into our community. For more information, please contact Dr. Mack McCary, instructional improvement officer, at 370-8101.

Life and Physical Sciences Research Symposium

Science students from seven GCS high schools traveled to NC A&T State University on Friday, February 13, for the 11th Life and Physical Sciences Research Symposium. Students attended two sessions presented by Dr. Oliver Smithies of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Smithies is the firt UNC faculty member to win the Nobel Prize, which he was awarded in 2007 for his groundbreaking discoveries in the introduction of specific gene modifications into mice using embryonic stem cells.  

 Dr. Smithies discussed his journey to the Nobel Laureate, as well as the genetic work of his colleagues. Students asked questions and saw scientific research presentations of undergraduate and graduate students from many North Carolina universities. In addition, they learned about Robotic Telescope Access through NC A&T. 

Students from The Middle College at Bennett, Dudley, Northern, Northwest, Smith, Southwest and Western High participated.  For more information, please contact Debbie Kraszeski, high school science curriculum specialist, at 370-3274 ext. 5 or kraszed@gcsnc.com.

Middle School Art on Exhibit in High Point

Artwork by GCS sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders is on display at the Theatre Art Galleries (TAG) in High Point as part of the Triad Middle School Art Exhibition. About 70 works of art by students will be on display through April 16. Participating schools include the Academy at Lincoln, Mendenhall Middle, Jamestown Middle, Southern Middle and Southwest Middle.

TAG held a reception open to the public on Feb. 19 in the galleries at the High Point Theatre, 220 E. Commerce Ave. For more information, please contact Nathan Street, arts curriculum specialist, at 574-2645, ext. 5, or Kathy Moore, education coordinator for the Theatre Art Galleries, at 887-2137.

“From Woolworth to the White House” at Falkener Elementary 

Falkener Elementary is celebrating Black History month by taking students back in time and bringing them up to the present through a month-long series of activities.

Students have enjoyed performances from the Zambian Acapella Vocal Group and the Aycock Middle Drumline. In addition, students are creating posters, writing essays and participating in quiz bowl on black history. For more information, contact Beth Marshall, advanced learning curriculum specialist, at marsche@gcsnc.com

U.S. Representative Howard Coble Visits Northeast High

U.S. Representative Howard Coble visited Northeast High to speak to members of the Navy Junior Officer Reserve Training Corps Wednesday in the school’s auditorium. He spoke to the cadets about the importance of leadership, citizenship and developing team-building skills. The congressman also answered questions submitted by the students. For more information, please contact Dr. Anitra Walker, principal, at 375-2500. 

Elon University Students Create Story Quilt for the GCS Newcomers School

Students from the GCS Newcomers School can learn to say, “welcome,” in 300 languages. Elon University students created a five-panel story quilt for the school as part of a winter-term course called Story Magic. Peg Gignoux, an adjunct professor at Elon and textile artist, led her art students through the challenge of illustrating on the quilt an original children’s story she co-authored with Susie Wilde for the Newcomers School. For more information, please contact Principal Jake Henry at 316-5883.

Florence Elementary Students Provide Service in Multiple Ways

Florence Elementary students and families have been very active in service to the community and abroad.  From providing Christmas gifts for more than 80 children through the Angel Tree project to sending care packages to soldiers and collecting 1,700 items through a food drive for Open Door Ministries, the school community is learning the importance of giving back.

The Student Council recently implemented recycling in the school and will launch a penny drive soon. Additionally, the Florence Clown Club performs at the Baptist Children’s Home on Saturday, Feb. 28 from noon to 3 p.m. For more information, please contact Principal James McNeil at 819-2120.

AP Participation and Performance Continue to Climb

Sometimes a teacher’s nudge is what it takes. Teal Russell will complete four Advanced Placement (AP) courses when she graduates this spring from Dudley High. She will move on from GCS to one of the six four-year universities that sent her an acceptance letter. And she will be prepared.

“Students shouldn’t be afraid to take on a challenge, because they might end up doing really well,” said Russell. Although hesitant about AP, she took the courses after being encouraged by a teacher. Now, Russell will have passing scores and potentially class credit in hand when she enters college to study biochemistry.

GCS student participation and performance in AP courses are on the rise. The most recent data reflects sustained improvement for the district throughout the past eight years.

For the 2007-08 school year, the district’s number of AP test takers increased 8 percent, and exams taken increased 7.6 percent. These increases are consistent with state and national gains released this month in the College Board’s fifth AP Report to the Nation.

“We are very pleased with the progress,” said Guy Ferguson, AP, International Baccalaureate (IB) and SAT Coordinator. “GCS has a tradition of promoting rigor in the classroom, not just for our best students, but for all. AP and IB classes are excellent opportunities for students to challenge themselves and are the primary way to provide Advanced Learners with appropriate levels of work in high school.”

The district’s percentage of exam scores of three or higher increased 3.9 percent during 2007-08. While this is a smaller gain than seen by the state and nation, it is part of a larger 65 percent increase in successful scores since 2001. Success on an AP exam is defined by the College Board as a score of three or higher on a scale of five. Research shows that scores of three, four and five are predictive of college success and college graduation. Also, colleges and universities typically accept AP scores of three or better for class placement or credit.

GCS is intent on continuing its gains in both student participation and performance on the exams. Increased AP participation and success are goals in the district’s strategic plan. Furthermore, the district hopes to narrow the achievement gap for students of all ethnic groups. On the 2007-08 AP exams, the percentages for some Hispanic groups rose substantially: Mexican American students scoring a three or higher increased 66.7 percent, and for Puerto Rican students, it increased 42.9 percent.

The achievement gap for black students has not been closed in any state or county in North Carolina, including Guilford. While the number of black students in GCS taking AP has risen 65 percent and scores of three or higher have increased 44 percent since 2001, these increases are smaller than the district’s overall numbers.

GCS has implemented measures to address the achievement gap for black students and to boost student achievement on AP across the board. AP Potential, a College Board program, compares student PSAT scores with their possible success in AP. The program, in conjunction with teacher recommendations and student success in prior coursework, helps GCS school administrators identify students for AP courses and encourage them to take on the challenge. For more information, please contact Mr. Ferguson at 370-2316.

Aetna “Gives Back” By Serving Local Schools

The United Way of Greater High Point and Communities in Schools arranged local service projects for Aetna representatives from across the Southeast who were in town for a meeting. About 35 managers from Aetna volunteered at Montlieu Elementary and Andrews High on Feb. 12. At Montlieu, Aetna volunteers read to students in 17 classrooms and donated books worth $400 to the school after the event.

At Andrews, the volunteers helped with the school’s Career Fair by advising students on what potential employers look for in job candidates and conducting mock interviews. Aetna contacted the United Way several months in advance with an interest in serving local schools.

For more information, please contact Rochelle Bailey, Montlieu principal, at 819-2910 or Monique Wallace, Andrews principal, at 819-2800.

Outstanding Biology Teacher Award

Every year, the Outstanding Biology Teacher Award (OBTA) program recognizes an outstanding biology educator (grades 7-12). Candidates for this award must have at least three years teaching experience. Click here for more information and a nomination form. On-line nomination deadline is March 1. 

GCSTV 2     

GCS Strategic Plan

Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green unveils a strategic plan designed to promote excellence here in one of the state’s top school districts.  Watch the plan’s debut held at GTCC’s Koury Auditorium here:  Strategic Plan Launch: Video The program runs daily at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. 

Strategic Plan Launch Newsbreak

Watch GCSTV 2 coverage and get reactions as Superintendent “Mo” Green outlines details of the GCS strategic plan.  This Newsbreak runs daily at 4:30 p.m.  See it here: Strategic Plan: Newsbreak Video
This GCSTV 2 Newsbreak is also available for viewing on YouTube on the Internet.

Media Briefing

Keep up with the latest information within GCS by watching the superintendent’s Media Briefing.  These meetings are held twice monthly on Wednesday.  When they occur, GCSTV 2 broadcasts them the same day at 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and on Thursday at 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Magnet Schools

GCS is a leader in the nation with Magnet and Choice Schools.  See this preview of the multitude of choices students have in getting their education.  This program runs daily at 2:55 p.m. and 8:53 p.m.

Kindergarten Kickoff

Kindergarten registration begins March 2.  There is a new cutoff date by which your child has to be five years old to be eligible to attend next year.  Find out that and more in this GCSTV 2 Newsbreak.  See it here: Kindergarten Kickoff Newsbreak Video

Access to Your Board

GCSTV 2 carries all regular Board of Education meetings live and also re-broadcasts the meetings the following day at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. and the following Saturday at 1 p.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 being 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, this program is broadcast 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 8 p.m. & midnight.

GCS Spotlight

GCSTV 2 puts the spotlight on entertainment and educational events within the district from musical performances, drama, dance, to the spoken word.  Join us throughout each day for GCS Spotlight at 9 a.m., 1 p.m., 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. 

GCSTV 2 Programming Guide - On TV and on the Web

GCSTV 2 viewers now have convenient live electronic guides to daily programs. Upcoming programs are posted on screen hourly on the hour throughout the day and evening indicating broadcast times.  The guide gives viewers an hourly preview of shows that is automatically updated throughout the day. On the GCS webpage check out the GCSTV 2 homepage for a program guide that lists the entire day’s programming and scheduled airtimes. Click on GCSTV 2 at: GCSTV 2 Programming Guide

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, ready-to-broadcast 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 Details for submissions for details.  Watch the video: Showcase Your Talents

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.

For more information, please contact Leonard Simpson, GCSTV 2 production manager, at 370-8167.