GCS News Briefs

March 13, 2009

Guilford County Schools to Reorganize Services

On Tuesday, the Guilford County Board of Education voted to approve Guilford County Schools Strategic Plan 2012. This vote paves the way for district staff to begin implementing many of the strategies included in the plan – strategies designed to achieve education excellence.

A major initiative of the GCS Strategic Plan calls for providing quality, timely and cost-effective support to schools by reorganizing the schools and district resources into geographic regions. Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green and district staff presented four models of reorganization to the Board during Tuesday’s meeting. The board approved the reorganization of academic services and regionalization of the district, asking staff to come back to the March 26 meeting with the top two models for review and approval.

The proposed plan divides the district into two to four geographic regions and an Enrichment Region, each led by a regional superintendent. The geographic regions will consist of elementary, middle and high schools based on current high school feeder patterns. As much as possible, the regions will have the same number of students and comparable ethnic and socioeconomic populations. Current attendance boundaries will not change.

The Enrichment Region will include up to 10 schools in need of intensive support. The Enrichment Region superintendent will have authority to make non-traditional decisions based on the particular needs of the schools served.

As result of reorganization, the district’s school support and instructional improvement offices will close, with resources from these departments reallocated to the regions. While some positions may be eliminated, the district will reassign current employees to new positions when possible.

The changes will be in place starting July 1, 2009. Click here to view the proposed regions. For more information, please contact Lewis Ferebee, instructional improvement officer on special assignment, at 370-8301.

Partnerships Make the Difference at Smith High

The students in chemistry teacher Aebeyo Abraha’s class at Smith High are real scientists. Wearing safety goggles and with probes in hand, they conduct an experiment on temperature change and the pH of solutions. Hands-on learning experiences like this are made possible by a partnership with UNC-Greensboro (UNCG).

Through an NC QUEST grant, UNCG professors created a program, which includes teacher mentors and student tutors that supports teacher development and improves student performance on End-of-Course (EOC) exams. Prior to the program, Smith’s passage rate was 23.1 percent on the biology EOC, which is a requirement for graduation. During the first year of the partnership, the passage rate increased to 39.3 percent, a statistically significant increase. This includes students who received extra support from the program and retested.

This partnership is one of many for GCS. With UNCG alone, the district has about 30 partnerships. In total, more than 1,700 community groups and businesses partner with GCS. In times of economic hardship and a tightened budget, partnerships provide the resources and support for learning experiences that prepare students for careers and higher education.

Expanding partnerships with area universities, colleges, community groups, faith-based organizations and businesses is an important goal in the district’s new strategic plan, which was launched in January. 

Smith’s partnership with UNCG through the NC QUEST grant has made noticeable impact, including a higher rate of passage on the biology EOC, teachers who work in community with their colleagues to improve instruction and science closets full of supplies from test tubes to centrifuges.

For more information on Smith’s UNCG partnership, please contact Principal Dr. Noah Rogers at 294-7300. To find out how your organization can partner with a school, please contact Cecilia Adams, manager of community partnerships, at 370-8355.

Montlieu Math and Science Academy Receives Lowe’s Toolbox for Education Grant

Montlieu Math and Science Academy received a 2009 Lowe’s Toolbox for Education grant in the amount of $4,000 for their Operation Montlieu project. The school will use the funds to build outdoor learning environments, create a new nature trail filled with hands-on curriculum-integrated stations and create a reading garden and bird sanctuary. In April, parents, students and community members will be invited to Montlieu Day for the Operation Montlieu groundbreaking. The faculty and staff are very excited about receipt of the grant in order to provide numerous learning experiences for their students. For more information, please contact Principal Folice Bailey or Kimberly Maynard, science specialist, at 819-2910.

Washington Montessori's Community Partnership and Annual Pancake Breakfast

Washington Montessori enjoys an exceptional school/community partnership with West Market Street United Methodist Church. The partnership reflects the collaborative efforts and ongoing commitment of church members to students and the staff at Washington Montessori. Church members dedicate their time and talent to the school including mentoring and tutoring students, providing school supplies, serving as lunch buddies and volunteering in classrooms and school programs.

Recently, one partnership activity was proven to be successful year after year when West Market Street United Methodist Church members showed off their culinary skills and shared their annual Pancake Day Festivity with Washington students and staff. Church members organized, planned and served a pancake breakfast at the church for all students and staff. There were plenty of smiles and sticky faces that added to the festivity.  The Pancake Day Festivity is one of many wonderful activities scheduled for the 2008-09 school year through this community partnership. Pictures of this event can be viewed on the church's Web site www.wmsumc.org. For more information, please contact Principal Sharon Jacobs at 370-8290.

Sign Language Club in the Spotlight

The Monticello-Brown Summit Elementary Sign Language Club was recently spotlighted on WFMY 2 News. The Sign Language Club is staffed with volunteers, including teachers, interpreters, UNCG interns and parents, and has 140 student members in grades K-5.  The club increases communication between hearing students and their hearing-impaired classmates.  Sign Language Club students also use American Sign Language to sign the Pledge of Allegiance and School Promise for the school’s morning news show.  For more information, please contact Principal Benita Lawrence or Kathy Metzer, teacher for the hearing impaired, at 656-4010.

Shadybrook Elementary’s Student Council and PTA Host Yard Sale and Goodwill Challenge

Shadybrook Elementary is participating in the Goodwill Challenge where classes compete to bring in the most weight in donated items.   On Saturday, March 28, from 8 a.m. until noon, the Student Council and Parent Teacher Association will host a Community Yard Sale at the school as a culminating activity for the week. There is a $10 fee to rent a space or table in the parking lot to sell items.  Participants keep their profits; however, the Goodwill truck will be on site for any seller wanting to donate any unsold items.  The Student Council will be selling hot chocolate and donuts during the yard sale to raise money for the school’s fieldtrip scholarship fund.  For more information, please contact Principal Dennis Foster at 819-2950. 

Adopt-A-Classroom

You can make a big difference in the educational lives of a classroom full of GCS students by making a donation through the Adopt-A-Classroom project.

Adopt-A-Classroom passes 100 percent of all donations through directly to the teacher to purchase critical resources for the classroom. This helps a lot considering that teachers spend an average of $1,000 a year of their own money purchasing supplies for the classroom.

To maintain 100 percent accountability, Adopt-A-Classroom sends each donor a report that details exactly what the teacher purchased with your donated funds. Donors also receive communications from the classroom, so they can experience first-hand the impact of their contributions.

Click here to find a GCS classroom near you that wants to be adopted. For more information, please contact Cecilia Adams, manager of community partnerships, at 370-8355.

American Express Recognizes Reedy Fork Elementary Volunteer

Almost every morning, you can find Franklin Bowman in front of Reedy Fork Elementary, welcoming students as they enter the school. He makes certain each child gets a bright start to the day, and he adds that special touch to make each student feel special and important. Even on rainy days, parents look for him as they drop their children off at school.

Bowman doesn’t just help students; the school staff also benefits from his kind words and sympathetic ear. As the pastor of the Reedy Fork Community Church, Bowman’s congregation chipped in to give flowers and breakfast to the staff of the school as a token of appreciation for all they do.

An American Express representative and district officials surprised Bowman with Volunteer of the Month honors in a brief ceremony at the school. As Volunteer of the Month, Bowman received a gift bag and a $25 gift card from American Express, which has generously partnered with GCS to support the volunteer recognition program.  In addition, the Guilford County Board of Education recognized him at this week’s meeting.

Do you know a volunteer who goes above and beyond?  Click here to nominate him or her to be the next GCS Volunteer of the Month. For more information, please contact Lillian Govus, program administrator, communications, at 370-8997.

Sam’s Club Recognizes Elton Davenport as Outstanding District Employee

When Elton Davenport makes his bus routes every morning, parents can rest assured that their children are in good hands. Known simply as “Mr. D,” Davenport has made a real bond with the families he serves. They know they can count on him to go beyond his duties as a bus driver – he is a role model, a teacher and a leader. And with 10 years of experience behind the wheel, Davenport knows how to take care of his precious cargo. 

Davenport received many nominations for this honor. One parent wrote, “His reliability, hard work and dedication, all combined with his friendly disposition, make him exceptional and deserving of recognition.” In another, a student said, “Every single morning when I get on the bus, he says, ‘Good Morning, John.’ This gives me an extra boost for my day.”

As Employee of the Month, Davenport received a $50 gift card from Sam’s Club, which has generously partnered with GCS to support the employee recognition program. The Guilford County Board of Education also recognized him at this week’s meeting.

Do you know someone like Davenport who settles for nothing less than excellence? Click here to nominate him or her to be the GCS Employee of the Month. For more information, please contact Lillian Govus, program administrator, communications, at 370-8997.

Jazzy Jumpers Perform

Alamance Elementary Jazzy Jumpers kicked off the Jump Rope for Heart events by performing at 15 public and private schools as well as including half-time shows for local university athletic events.  The latest performance was held during the Women’s ACC Basketball Tournament half-time show on March 5, 2009.  The Jazzy Jumpers jump rope team is the only state demonstration team in the Piedmont area.  Congratulations to the students and staff who are part of this jump rope team!  For more information, please contact Robin Bergeron-Nolan, director of health services, at 370-8333.

You see it…You Hear it…You experience it…That’s When Change Takes Place – “Why Try?”

The strength-based strategy, “Why Try?” helps youth to focus on a positive future. GCS Dropout Prevention staff members and School Social Workers improve their skills to help students stay in school. Updated “Why Try?” training and student activities bolster current staff efforts that have been underway since 2006. “Why Try?” is a straight-forward approach to teach social and emotional principles and skills to youth in a way that they can remember. Students learn using a series of 10 pictures (visual analogies) that show discrete principles, such as resisting peer pressure, obeying laws and rules, and understanding that decisions have consequences. The visual/interactive lessons are reinforced by music and other activities. Many students need personalized focused attention to remove barriers to success. Staff members report promising results with their students.

Angela Katona at GCS Newcomers School used “Why Try?” with a group of non English–speaking males to help them form more positive relationships with each other. Michelle Phillips at Penn-Griffin School of the Arts saw academic successes with sixth-graders, and Hannah Feimster at Northwest High noted attendance improvements with her group of ninth-graders. For more information, please contact Richard Tuck, director of dropout prevention, or Angela Barnes, counselor for dropout prevention, at 621-4027 or Gwen Willis, executive director of student services, at 370-8397.

Annual Enrollment of Health Update

A bill has been introduced into the North Carolina Senate regarding changes to the State Health Plan. Until the legislation has been passed and signed by Governor Perdue, no annual enrollment for health insurance will be held.  It is projected that annual enrollment will be held in May.  The Benefits Office will keep employees informed of the timeline.  For more information, please contact Patty Kinkade, director of benefits, at 370-8092 or kinkadp@gcsnc.com.

GCSTV 2

Tdap Alert

If you have a rising sixth-grader you’ll want to pay particular attention to the latest GCSTV 2 News Alerts. There are important changes in school entry requirements for immunizations.  Find out what you need to know.  These News Alerts run at 10 a.m., 11:16 a.m. and 7 p.m.   Click here to watch.

Kindergarten Kickoff

There is a new rule for enrolling your child in kindergarten next year.  Find out what it is and more in this GCSTV 2 Newsbreak. 

MCHP Rocks

See the many talents of the students of The Middle College at GTCC-High Point as they produce, shoot, edit and host their own television production that features a variety of locations and topics.  This program runs at 6 p.m. daily.

The Edition

From Weaver Academy comes our regularly featured program of news and events at Weaver and other GCS campuses produced entirely by broadcast production students. This program airs daily at 9:30 a.m.

Weaver Academy’s Tribute to Quincy Jones

Students pay tribute to the iconic American conductor, composer and record producer in this musical production.  This program runs daily at 2:30 p.m.

GCSTV 2 Newsbreaks

Find out the latest news within GCS by watching GCS Newsbreaks airing throughout the day.  Check our on-line programming guide for broadcast times.  Click here to see the latest Newsbreak.

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.  Click here to see the Magnet/Choice Schools preview.

Access to Your Board

GCSTV 2 carries all regular Board of Education meetings live and re-broadcasts the meetings the following day at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. and the following Saturday at 1 p.m.

GCSTV 2 and ABC-45

GCS continues its partnership with ABC-45 television to share current news and feature stories about our district. These Newsbreak segments are broadcast 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 contact: Leonard Simpson, broadcast production manager, at 370-8167.