GCS News Briefs

March 6, 2009

Inclement Weather Make-Up Days

This week’s snow meant no school for students on Monday and Tuesday. GCS is following the 2008-09 calendar by designating the following make-up days:

• Schools on the traditional calendar      June 12, June 15
• The Early College at Guilford                  March 9, March 10
• Year-round schools                                  June 15, June 16
• Middle colleges*                                        May 26, May 27
• Extended-year schools                             No make-up day is needed

*Make-up days for The Middle College at GTCC–Jamestown, The Middle College at GTCC–Greensboro and The Middle College at GTCC–High Point will be announced at a later date. For more information, please contact Lekan Oguntoyinbo, district relations officer, at 370-8386.

School Social Work Week, March 1-7

As liaisons between home, school and community, GCS social workers make sure students overcome outside barriers and are free to learn. We are proud to recognize the extraordinary work they do during this week’s national School Social Work Week. This week provides an opportunity for the public to learn more about the daily commitment of social workers to the wellbeing of GCS students.

GCS social workers work closely with teachers to help meet students’ academic and social needs. They also make thousands of home visits and parent contacts. Click here to learn more about their work in the district. To say thank you, GCS acknowledged social workers’ service at a recent professional development meeting. For more information, please contact Richard Tuck, supervisor–dropout prevention/intervention/parent outreach, at 621-4035.

Kindergarten Registration Begins

Kindergarten registration is now open, and it is important for families to register eligible children now instead of waiting until the first day of school.  Due to a change in state law, children must turn 5 by Aug. 31 to enroll in kindergarten. 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 details about these items are available by clicking here. 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.

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.

Kirkman Park Elementary Receives High Point Community Foundation Grant

Kirkman Park Elementary has been selected as the first recipient of the High Point Principals’ Fund Grant provided by The High Point Community Foundation. The fund has been established to support needs not covered by the school budget of public schools located in High Point. This grant has been awarded to support Kirkman Park Elementary’s fifth-grade field trip to Washington, D.C.  During the trip, students toured Mt. Vernon and the nation’s capital, visiting such historic sites as the Smithsonian Museums, the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam Wall, the Capitol, the World War II Memorial, the White House and numerous other sites.  For more information, please contact Principal Naquita Brewington-McCormick at 819-2905.

GCS Students Participate at Regional Science Fair

After months of preparation, 14 GCS students were recognized this year at the Region V Science Fair on Feb. 27 at SciWorks in Winston-Salem. More than 120 students participated in the Region V competition from Alamance, Chatham, Guilford, Forsyth, Caswell, Davidson, Orange, Person, Randolph, Rockingham and Stokes Counties. GCS students Meghan Rankins, Nicole Shaw, Courtney Reynolds, Benjamin Bucior and Rajlakshmi De will go on to compete at the North Carolina State Science Fair on March 27 at Meredith College in Raleigh. Click here for a list of GCS students who participated in the Region V Science Fair.  For more information, please contact Robyn Barrett, elementary science specialist, at 312-4332 or Beth Chappell, middle school science specialist, at 317-2825.

Students Vie for State Reflections Honors

Five GCS students placed first at the district level in the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Reflections competition. GCS and the Guilford County Council of PTAs would like to congratulate the following students and their schools:

•           Anjali Kapil from The Academy at Lincoln - Literature, seventh grade
•           Demetria Hall from Lindley Elementary - Dance, first grade
•           Talie Patalano from Nathanael Greene Elementary - Dance, fifth grade
•           Lauren Easter from Millis Road Elementary - Music, second grade
•           John Hudgins from Southwest Elementary - Photography, first grade

These students will compete at the state level in the spring. Reflections is a national PTA cultural arts program designed to enhance quality arts education. For more information, please contact Katie Sayani, reflections chair, at katiesayani@yahoo.com.

GCS Students Attend Women’s ACC Tournament

The Women’s Atlantic Coast Conference Basketball Tournament hosted GCS elementary and middle school students this week. Elementary students attended the opening game on Thursday between Georgia Tech and Clemson. Middle School students were treated to the first quarterfinal game today between UNC-Chapel Hill and Clemson.

Before each game, the crowds heard the national anthem sung by our students. Jamestown Elementary students performed on Thursday, while students from Allen Middle sang today.
Click here to listen to the Jamestown students.

The ACC School Partnership – a GCS, ACC and Greensboro Coliseum collaboration – combines the up-close sights and sounds of March Madness with academics. A team of GCS teachers developed a curriculum weaving the ACC and the women’s basketball tournament into students’ study of physical education, science, social studies, math, language arts, technology and character development throughout the year. For more information, please contact Lillian Govus, program administrator – communications, at 370-8997.

Morehead Community Delivers

As a part of the annual Men’s Breakfast at Morehead Elementary, staff and PTA members have committed to expand their public service project for Greensboro Urban Ministries. This year’s results were nothing short of amazing as the school collected 8,317 pounds of food representing an increase of 390 pounds over last year. The effort involved placing collection boxes in each classroom throughout the month of January. The aim was not only to increase donations but to give students greater ownership of the project.  Students were challenged to fill each box in the classroom. The Men’s Breakfast Committee was confident that the students, with the help of teachers and parents, would make it all happen, and they did that in a big way.

Once the effort got underway, members of the Morehead community jumped in with both feet. Groups of volunteers organized to collect donations in nearby neighborhoods. Families claimed streets to be responsible for, teachers embraced the challenge to fill their classroom boxes and donations became part of weekly shopping lists. There’s no better advertisement for the power of a dedicated school staff and an engaged, supportive community than the Men’s Breakfast at Morehead. That was never truer than this year when the school loaded a Greensboro Urban Ministry truck with enough food to feed 416 families for a week.  For more information, please contact Principal Darcy Kemp at 294-7370.

Colfax Elementary School Hosts Family Night Sessions

Colfax Elementary hosted Family Night at the Carson Stout Boys and Girls Club in High Point on Tuesday, Feb. 24. Teachers, staff and community agencies provided make-and-take activities for parents and students in rotating stations. Learning activities focused on skills such as letter sounds, reading comprehension strategies, math facts, identifying money and telling time. There were resource and enrichment activities in addition to activities utilizing Brain Gym, counseling resources and speech and language skills.  The sessions were followed by a hot dog dinner. This opportunity will be offered to parents again on March 10, from 5:30 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Colfax Elementary. For more information, contact Principal Michelle Thigpen at 275-4332.

JROTC Student from Smith High attends Air Force Honors Camp

Congratulations to Shiniqua Pryor, a junior at Ben L. Smith High.  As a member of the JROTC program at Smith, Shiniqua was selected to attend Air Force Junior ROTC's Aerospace and Technology Honors Camp this summer on the campus of the University of Oklahoma. Out of the 107,000 cadets enrolled in Air Force JROTC throughout the United States and the Far East, only one-half of one percent are actually selected to attend this prestigious camp.  Academics, leadership and participation in extra-curricular activities were the three areas reviewed for selection.  As one of 432 students selected for this year’s honors camp, Shiniqua is the first student from Smith ever selected for this all-expense paid program. For further information, please contact Lt. Colonel Ron Murphy, Smith Air Force JROTC, at 294-7300.

Get Volunteer Hours Through Human Race

Don’t forget to register your PTA, booster club or student group to participate in the Human Race, a 5K charity walk and run that allows participants to support their favorite nonprofit, school or PTA.  The 15th annual Human Race is scheduled for Sat., March 28, 2009 from 9 a.m. until noon at Grimsley High. 

In addition, students and student groups/athletic teams have the opportunity to get involved as volunteers.  The Volunteer Center that hosts the race needs more than 200 volunteers for the event. Volunteers can earn up to 10 community service hours. Click here for more information. If you are interested in volunteering or participating, please contact Aaron Hunt at 373-1633 or aaronhunt@volunteergso.org.

New Licensure Renewal Requirement for K-12 Teachers

State guidelines require Teachers of grades K–12 to complete three renewal credits in their academic subject areas, including strategies to teach those subjects, during each five-year renewal cycle effective July 1, 2009. Click here to review Frequently Asked Questions, to determine “who to call” and to verify your current “academic credits.”   For more information, please contact the Alison Yates, director of staffing, at 378-8806 or yatesa@gcsnc.com

GCSTV 2

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 times. Click here to see the latest Newsbreak: The Latest GCSTV 2 Newsbreak

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, see them the same day on GCSTV 2 at 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and on Thursday at 1 p.m. and 7:30 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.

GCS Strategic Plan

Watch the full presentation of Superintendent Green’s unveiling of the strategic plan taped January 27 at GTCC’s Koury Auditorium. Click here:  Strategic Plan Launch: Video The program runs daily at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. 

Tdap Alert

If you have a rising sixth-grader, you’ll want to pay particular attention to the latest GCSTV 2 NEWS ALERT.  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 see an ALERT:  GCSTV 2 NEWS ALERT-Tdap   

MCHP Rocks

See the work of the students of the Middle College at GTCC-High Point as they produce, shoot, edit and serve as the talent for their television productions that feature a variety of locations and topics.  This program runs at 6 p.m. daily.

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: Magnet Preview

Kindergarten Kickoff

Kindergarten registration began March 2.  This year, students must turn 5 by Aug. 31. Find out about that and more in this GCSTV 2 Newsbreak.  See it here: Kindergarten Kickoff Newsbreak Video

Building Futures-Your Construction Update

Find out what’s being built or upgraded within GCS through this tour of the latest projects. Facilities Executive Director Andy LaRowe and host Lillian Govus guide you through 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.  See the latest edition here:  Construction Update

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 offered 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 daily at 8 p.m. and midnight.

GCS Spotlight

GCSTV 2 puts the spotlight on entertainment and educational events within the district from musical performances, drama, dance and 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

Upcoming program times are posted on GCSTV 2 on the hour throughout the day and evening. Check out the GCSTV 2 homepage for a program guide that lists the entire day’s programming. Click on GCSTV 2 at: GCSTV 2 Programming Guide

Showcase Your Talent on GCSTV 2

GCSTV 2 is 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. Click here 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.