GCS News Briefs

February 6, 2009

Inclement Weather Make-up Days

GCS was closed on Tuesday due to inclement weather. Make-up days for student instruction are as follows:

• Schools on the traditional calendar - Thursday, June 11
• The Early College at Guilford - Tuesday, June 2
• Year-round schools - Monday, March 23
• Middle colleges - Friday, April 10
• Extended-year schools - No make-up day is needed
  

In addition, several scheduled activities were canceled. The rescheduled activities are listed as follows:

• The College Tech Prep Showcase at Weaver Academy is rescheduled for February10 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• The Dean B. Pruette SCALE Academy grand opening ceremony is rescheduled for February 24 at 6:30 p.m.
• The All County Band auditions are rescheduled for Tuesday, February 17, 2009 at Hairston Middle School.  Auditions will begin at 4:30pm.  Band directors have information regarding this event.

Guilford County Schools 2007-08 Dropout Rate Below State Average

The North Carolina State Department of Public Instruction released its 2007-08 Annual Dropout Report yesterday. In it, the GCS dropout rate of 3.31 percent is not only significantly below the state average of 4.97 percent, but it is also the lowest among the largest districts in the state. Last year, the dropout rate for GCS was 2.99 percent.

 “I am pleased to see that the dropout rate for GCS has remained low,” said Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green. “However, there was a small increase over last year, which is something we need to keep an eye on. I believe that all of our students have the capacity to be excellent. As a district, we will not be satisfied until no student drops out of school and all students graduate from high school within four years.”

GCS’ high school dropout rate has declined almost 50 percent since the 1999-2000 year, when it was 5.97 percent. The district is a state and national leader in the middle college high school movement, locating six middle college high schools for disconnected students on local college and university campuses. The schools form the foundation of “Zero Guilford,” the district’s national award-winning dropout prevention and recovery program.

Statewide, data analysis found that 32 percent of all students drop out during the ninth-grade year, 25 percent drop out in the 10th grade and 23 percent drop out in the 11th grade. Students report a variety of reasons for dropping out, but attendance is the most-often reported reason and enrollment in a community college program is the second most-often reported reason. For more information, visit http://www.ncpublicschools.org/research/dropout/reports/ .

GCS Magnet Fair Tomorrow

Guilford County Schools’ magnet and choice options will be on display Saturday at the Magnet and Choice Schools Fair, 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at the Greensboro Coliseum Pavilion.

Representatives from the 44 schools, which provide 50 programs and 17 themes as options, will be available to answer questions and talk about the unique opportunities available to students. Rising pre-K to 12th grade students can apply to magnet and choice schools during the application period, which starts at the fair and goes through March 6 at 5 p.m. For more information, please contact Michelle Ungurait, director of magnet and choice schools, at 378-8832.

District Seeks Title 1 Improvement Participation

GCS is continuing in Title I district improvement since the district did not meet Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) targets in reading in elementary, middle and high schools for at least two years in a row.

GCS will continue to identify steps to improve student achievement by revising its district improvement plan. This plan describes what the district will do to help students who are struggling to meet challenging academic achievement standards. Click here to view the current district improvement plan.

In revising the plan, GCS will consult parents, school staff and others. To participate in the revision process, please contact the Title I office at 370-2368.

A letter with information about district improvement is going home with all students this week.

GCS will be in district improvement until it meets all target goals in reading in grades three through five or six through eight or high school for two consecutive years. This is the third year that GCS has been in improvement. For more information, visit http://www.ncpublicschools.org/nclb/district .

Mission Possible Featured in National Publication

Mission Possible, GCS’ teacher incentive plan that helps the district keep and attract highly effective teachers and administrators in schools with critical needs, was recently featured in a national policy report published by the Center for American Progress.

The report, “From Qualifications to Results: Promoting Teacher Effectiveness Through Federal Policy,” highlights the district’s use of value-added data, which measures a teacher’s effectiveness in the classroom. Value-added data takes into account individual student growth to determine a teacher’s overall effect on student performance.

The teacher’s effect is compared to that of all other GCS teachers who taught the same course in the same school year. A resulting score will yield a “Below” mean, “No Detectable Difference (NDD)” from the mean, or “Above” mean rating for each teacher. From these ratings, Mission Possible performance incentives are determined. Principals also use value-added data when making decisions about teaching assignments.

“At GCS, we are proud to be a national leader in finding innovative ways to attract and retain highly qualified teachers,” said Dr. Amy Holcombe, executive director of talent development. “The use of value-added data has allowed the district to place teachers in positions that better match their strengths, which ultimately helps our students be successful.” Click here to view the report. Mission Possible is featured on page 23. For more information, please contact Dr. Holcombe at 335-3294.

GCS Takes Big Step to Raise Student Performance

Research suggests that teacher quality is key to boosting student achievement and that attracting high-performing teachers to under-achieving schools is a challenge nationwide, particularly in urban settings. To this end, GCS is implementing a new initiative to attract high-performing teachers to the district schools that need them the most.

The Talent Transfer Initiative will offer high-performing teachers monetary incentives to work for two years in under-achieving schools. The Guilford County Board of Education approved the initiative in December, and implementation is now under way for the 2009-10 school year.

The initiative is funded by the U.S. Department of Education and will be operated with support from Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. (MPR), a public policy research organization with extensive experience evaluating education issues. GCS is one of several school districts from around the country participating in the program. It will cost the district nothing to participate, and administrative costs associated with the initiative will be reimbursed.

With the help of MPR, the district will use End-of-Grade and End-of-Course test results to identify eligible schools and teachers. Eligible schools will have low test scores and a staff vacancy in a tested grade and subject. Teachers at participating schools will not be displaced by the program – existing vacancies will be filled. Eligible teachers, who have at least three years of experience contributing to their students’ high test scores, will be invited to apply in the coming months.

Selected teachers who agree to transfer to participating schools will receive a stipend of $10,000 a year for up to two years. Those who already teach at participating under-achieving schools will receive a stipend of $5,000 a year for two years. Teachers also will receive training and support from The New Teacher Project, a national non-profit that works closely with MPR.

“As in many districts around the country, GCS faces the challenge of recruiting and retaining excellent teachers,” said Dr. Peggy Thompson, chief human resources officer. “This initiative will help us reach our goal of achieving education excellence for all students.” For more information, please contact Haley Miller, media relations manager, at 370-3200.

Students Encouraged to Speak at Gap Conference

Students interested in public speaking are encouraged to apply now to make a presentation at the 13th annual Raising Achievement and Closing Gaps Conference. The conference is scheduled for March 30-April 1 at the Sheraton Greensboro Hotel at Four Seasons/Joseph S. Koury Convention Center, Greensboro. Three students will be selected to make presentations during the opening session scheduled for March 30 from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m.  For more information, including how to apply, please visit the NCDPI Web site at http://www.ncpublicschools.org and click on the appropriate link under “News.”

GCS Students Receive Student of the Month Honor

Battleground Kia named Shermar Patterson of Hampton Leadership Academy, Darvin Jasper of Northeast Middle and Catherine Lane of Ragsdale High the students of the month. For more information, please contact David Jarmon, Hampton principal, at 370-8220; Johncarlos Miller, Northeast principal, at 375-2525; or Kathy Rogers, Ragsdale principal, at 819-2960.

High School Ahead Academy Wins Award for Work with United Way of Greater Greensboro

Today, High School Ahead Academy received the Spirit of North Carolina Award for United Way for their employee spirit during the 2008 campaign. The school received the award at the United Way of North Carolina’s annual meeting in Pinehurst, NC.

Their rating of excellence in the category of educational institutions with up to 50 employees was exemplified by meeting all of 10 criteria, the best in North Carolina in that category. Under great leadership and enthusiasm, High School Ahead had a per capita gift of $205.17 – an increase of 51.4 percent over last year’s high of $135.53. Congratulations to Principal Michelle Hayes, Coordinator Virginia Hoover and their team for a job well done. For more information, please contact Nicole Beatty, United Way donor relations manager, at 378-5023.

Training on Bullying and Gender Diversity Issues

GCS educators are invited to participate in a unique opportunity for training on bullying and gender diversity issues in our schools.  A six-hour (CEU) training is being offered, which will give them a deeper understanding of and tools to address these pressing concerns. GCS administrators are encouraged to enroll at least one person from a school’s staff to take advantage of this important training and serve as a resource for faculty.

On February 19, participants will meet Academy award-winning producer/director, Debra Chasnoff and view and discuss the film “Let’s Get Real,” which takes a close look at bullying at the middle school level. The accompanying curriculum guide will be included as part of the package. Training participants will also attend a public local premiere screening of her newest film, “Straightlaced,” which addresses gender identity and homophobia in teens.

On March 19, participants will attend a follow-up training led by staff and student leaders of the National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ) of the Piedmont Triad. The fee for participation is $15 per person and includes the curriculum guide and two meals. The training enrollment is limited to 60 persons. Learn more about these films at www.groundspark.org. For more information and registration, please contact Annette Green at Annette@gsafe.org.

Speaker Presentation Postponed    

The Pedro Noguera event advertised for February 12 at Smith High has been postponed until further notice. He was scheduled to discuss his latest book, “The Trouble with Black Boys….and other Reflections on Race, Equity and the Future of Public Education.”  For more information, please contact Monica Walker, diversity officer, at 370-3284.

C-SPAN Civics Bus to Visit GCS

The C-SPAN Civics Bus is on the road on its new “100 Days, 100 Schools” tour. The 45-foot mobile production studio and demonstration center will travel to Guilford County making a stop at Weaver Academy on Wednesday, February 11, from 9 a.m. – noon, as the bus visits 100 schools during the first 100 days of the new presidential administration.  The bus will be open for tours with teachers, students and the public.  Time Warner is hosting the bus during its visit.

With a new exterior design and interior features that include the latest television production equipment, the C-SPAN Civics Bus is scheduled to travel to 17 states on its 100-day tour. Weaver Academy is the 17th school on its schedule.

Students, teachers and other visitors will have the chance to tour the bus during the visit and learn about the many resources C-SPAN offers, including the network’s education website, C-SPAN Classroom (www.c-spanclassroom.org), a free membership service for educators with downloadable video clips; the C-SPAN Video library (www.c-spanarchives.org); and C-SPAN’s television coverage of the new administration. For more information, please contact Principal Pete Kashubara at 370-8282.

Southwest Elementary Recognized as Healthy School

The Get Healthy Guilford Coalition recently honored Southwest Elementary with its Healthy School Award. The school’s Health Advisory Committee, led by physical education teacher Anneli Bennett, largely contributed to this honor. The committee leads the school in activities, including Jump Rope for Heart, Walk for Diabetes, a bike-a-thon, GO FAR Running Club and Presidential Physical Fitness testing. It also organizes an annual community exercise program that involves students, staff and families. Families keep fitness-hours logs that, with the help of the PTA, are totaled and credited toward the school’s goal.

Southwest also is one of the first schools in the county to receive “Project Fit America” equipment, which classes can use during outdoor recess to enhance their physical fitness. For more information, please contact Principal Susan Allen at 819-2992.

Bookworm Boys Begin at Pearce Elementary

Recognizing the research that points to the need for male reading role models in boys’ lives, a new all-male reading club has started at Pearce Elementary. On Tuesday, Jan. 27, along with their fathers and grandfathers, 39 boys attended the kick-off. They accepted the 90 for 90 challenge – they will read together for 90 minutes a week for 90 days. Adults learned tips and strategies for reading with their boys.  Everyone enjoyed a martial arts demonstration from students at Allen’s TaeKwonDo. The boys voted to name the new group the Bookworm Boys. The next meeting, on Feb. 12, will feature sharing favorite books and fun facts, and the construction of marshmallow launchers. For more information, contact Cathy Morrison, media specialist, at 605-5480 or morrisc7@gcsnc.com.

Middle School Art on Exhibition 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 from the Triad are professionally mounted and will be on display through April 16. TAG will hold a reception open to the public February 19, 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. in the galleries at the High Point Theatre, 220 E. Commerce Ave. For more information, please contact Kathy Moore, TAG education coordinator, at 887-2137.

Allen Middle Eighth Graders Win at Future City Competition

During National Engineers Week, The Shell Corporation sponsors Future City Competition for seventh- and eighth-grade students.  This competition fosters engineering skills, teamwork and problem solving and assists students in developing and exploring futuristic concepts and careers in science and engineering.  Selena Keith, eighth-grade science teacher at Allen Middle, participated in the competition in Raleigh with a group of eighth-grade students and a volunteer mentor, Juhann Waller, a civil engineer, of the Timmons Group in Greensboro. The students presented a computer model of a future city called Hydraxon, developed an essay and abstract, and built a model of their city including a working water wheel using recycled materials.  The team came away with a monetary prize for Allen Middle for having the best use of recycled materials.  Allen Middle is proud of its participating students:  Brianna Beck, Mark Hawkins, Aaron Hinson, Kellie Jackson, Tyler Jones, Jeffrey Ramey and Rihana Spinner. For more information, please contact Ms. Keith at 294-7325 or Beth Chappell, middle school science curriculum specialist, at 370-3274 or chappee@gcsnc.com.

Andrews High Hosts Career Fair

Andrews High will host its third annual Career Fair Feb. 12 from 9 a.m. to noon. Students will be able to speak with representatives from more than 50 companies encompassing a variety of careers and industries. At least two of the companies in attendance will be seeking employees for seasonal and summer employment. For more information, please contact Principal Monique Wallace at 819-2800.

Piedmont Young Writers’ Conference

The 20th Annual Piedmont Young Writers’ Conference gets underway on the campus of UNC-Greensboro on April 25.  Attendees at the conference come from a combination of public and private schools comprising the Piedmont School District region. Last year, more than 165 elementary and middle school students from Guilford County Schools were among the more than 600 students from the Piedmont School District region participating in the conference. This year’s conference will focus on writing and its link to book publishing. Breakout sessions will include musical lyrics, play scripts and visual art. From Jan. 5-April 31, 2009, participating students in grades 3-8 will work in teams of three to seven students (under the guidance of a project coordinator) to write and illustrate a book following the guidelines of Scholastic’s Kids Are Authors program. This book will become a foundation for discussion in the conference breakout sessions. For more information, please contact Cheryl Lynch, elementary literacy curriculum specialists, at lynchc@gcsnc.com or 574-2645.

Quality American History On the Agenda

Year two of the Teaching American History (TAH) three-year grant project entertains its third colloquium on February 27 and 28 at the Charlotte-Hawkins Brown Museum in Sedalia.  Designed for 11th-grade US History teachers, this colloquium focuses on North Carolina Standard Course of Study Goal 7, the “Progressive Era.”   Professors from Guilford College and UNCG will present information and pedagogical demonstrations relating to the Progressive Platform, the New South, Theodore Roosevelt, Conservation versus Preservation and the Red Progressives. This TAH project, funded by the federal government, but designed and implemented by the district’s social studies high school curriculum staff, has one more colloquia in April and a week-long summer institute scheduled. The focus of each grant project is the North Carolina Standard Course of Study’s US History goals.  For more information, please contact Maureen Robinson, TAH grant coordinator, at 370-2349 or robinsm2@gcsnc.com.

GCS Pre-K Program Prepares Children for Success

Applications for GCS pre-K for the 2009-10 school year will be available at the GCS Magnet Fair Saturday, February 7, 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at the Greensboro Coliseum Pavilion. Pre-K representatives will be present to answer your questions about the GCS pre-K program. Beginning Monday, pre-K applications will be available in district offices, in many elementary schools, various community locations, the district pre-K office at 617 West Market Street, Greensboro or click here to print application. The pre-K application period ends Friday, April 24, 2009. 

A richly prepared environment in which children are given opportunities to discover, solve problems, hear stories/rhymes/poems, build, sing, manipulate, explore and construct, stimulates the child's natural curiosity to learn. Research demonstrates that a quality pre-K experience has lasting effects on academic success. Click here to read the research. For more information, please contact Linda Olinger, GCS pre-K coordinator, at 370-2362 or by email at olingel@gcsnc.com.

Developmental Spelling

GCS is offering workshops on developmental spelling February – April. Framed around the research and activities described in Words Their Way (Bear, Invernizzi, Templeton, & Johnston, 2008), this workshop is designed to improve spelling instruction in the classroom.  All teachers participating in this workshop receive a copy of the book for future reference. 

The philosophy presented in Words Their Way is focused on two major points:  students learn to spell in developmental stages, and most spelling patterns can be learned through creating generalizations

For more information, please contact Katie Doyle, elementary literacy curriculum specialists, at 707-0386 or doylek@gcsnc.com.

Time Warner Cable Seeks Creative Teachers and Champion Principal

Time Warner Cable is seeking entries for its 2009 National Teacher Awards. Fifteen teachers or teacher teams will be chosen from entries submitted from areas served by Time Warner Cable divisions around the country. Click here for the application.

2009 Ecolab Visions for Learning Grants Available

Every year, Ecolab, a Guilford County company, offers grants to GCS schools. This year, $70,000 is available to support creativity and innovation in classroom learning. But you cannot qualify if you don’t apply. Click here for instructions and an application form. Proposals must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday, April 3.  For more information, please contact Cecilia Adams, manager of community partnerships, at 370-8355.

Enrichment Fund Sets New Record in Scholarships

The Enrichment Fund for GCS set a new record in giving back to the district through field trip scholarships. The scholarship committee reviewed more than 450 requests for assistance and provided $46,672.44 to help students attend enrichment activities scheduled January – April. Click here for the list of schools receiving scholarships.

Deadline for the final round of Enrichment Fund scholarships is April 16 for events taking place or requiring payment after April 30. Click here for an application and instructions. For more information, please contact Cecilia Adams, manager of community partnerships, at 370-8355.

Human Race Needs Volunteers

The Human Race is a nationwide, community fundraising event that allows participants to raise money for PTAs, booster clubs or other nonprofit groups that benefit our schools.  The 15th annual Human Race is scheduled for Saturday, March 28, 2009, from 9 a.m. - noon at Grimsley High. The Triad’s local Human Race is planned, managed and promoted by The Volunteer Center of Greensboro.  Click here for more information. 

Race Day volunteers make all the difference!  There are many different volunteer opportunities including set-up crew, registration, hospitality, road race monitors and many more. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Aaron Hunt at The Volunteer Center for more information at 373-1633 or aaronhunt@volunteergso.org.

ArtQuest Announces Special rate for GCS field trips

ArtQuest is offering a special rate to GCS teachers. Tours accommodate 12 – 50 students per 1.5 hour session. For more information, please call 333-7460 ext. 107 or e-mail verna.fricke@greenhillcenter.org. 

GCSTV 2

     
GCS Strategic Plan

Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green unveils the strategic plan designed to promote excellence here in one of the state’s top school districts.  Click here to watch the plan’s debut held at GTCC’s Koury Auditorium. 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 Green outlines details of the GCS strategic plan.  This Newsbreak runs daily at 4:30 p.m.  See it here.
This GCSTV 2 Newsbreak is also available for viewing on YouTube and TeacherTube on the Internet.

Media Briefing

Keep up with the latest information within GCS by watching the superintendent’s media briefing.  These meetings are held periodically on Wednesdays.  When they occur, GCSTV 2 will show them on the same day at 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

In Honor of Black History Month-February One

This documentary chronicles the story of four NC A&T State University students who sat down at the Woolworth Store lunch counter in Greensboro in 1960 and helped change American history.  This hour-long program can be seen daily through February at 11:58 a.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.

Access to Your Board

GCSTV 2 carries all regular Board of Education meetings live and also re-plays 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.

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.

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 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. GCSTV 2 presents this emotionally gripping film with stories told by those who live with the consequences every day.  See this program daily at 2 p.m. & midnight.

GCS Basketball Highlights

GCSTV 2’s Friday Night Rivalries 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.  It runs at 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. daily. 

GCSTV 2 Programming Guide - On TV and on the Web

Want to know when you can see programming on GCSTV 2? Look for the guide to daily programs on the hour throughout the day and evening. Or, go to the GCS Web page for a list of the entire day’s programming and scheduled times.

Showcase Your Talent on GCSTV 2

GCSTV 2 is now accepting student, faculty, staff or parent produced programming.  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 for details. Watch the video here.

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.

Lunches for Urban Ministries
Vandalia Elementary students aim to help stamp out hunger as they pack up scores of lunches and take them to those who need them most.  This Newsbreak airs Wednesday, February 11.

Operation Give Us Hope
Northwest Middle School students respond to the call of a local soldier who requested holiday gifts for the schoolchildren of Ramadi, Iraq.  This Newsbreak airs Friday, February 13.

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