GCS News Briefs

April 24, 2009

Budget Questions Answered

For the next several weeks, we will feature answers to your budget questions in this newsletter. If you have a comment about the budget, please e-mail feedback@gcsnc.com . To see an interview with Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green on the budget, click here.

We are in a budget crunch. How much will reorganizing the district into regions cost?

A. Ideally, the reorganization will not impact our budget, and in fact, gives us a net savings of $1.1 million. The goal is to develop and staff the regional offices by redirecting current budget dollars and positions. In other words, except for some costs associated with the transition, this shift does not require additional funding.

Regionalization costs total $4.2 million. This includes $3.8 million for personnel costs of approximately 45 positions and $0.4 million in non-personnel costs. With the $5.2 million in personnel cuts of 63 positions (including instructional improvement officers, school resource officers and office support staff) and another $0.1 million cuts in non-personnel cuts totaling $5.3 million, a savings of $1.1 million is yielded. Click here for more information on regionalization.

New Memories Begin at Eastern High Dedication

Eastern High parents, staff and the entire community will celebrate the opening of the new school facility at a dedication ceremony this Sunday at 3 p.m. Students returned from Spring Break on Monday and attended their first day of class in the new school.

The new 273,000-square-foot building incorporates many of the green building features that the district is utilizing in new construction to keep operating costs down and conserve energy. Also, the school incorporates a flexible design, with the cafeteria and a cyber café blending into a large, sky-lighted atrium in the center of the school. This area will serve as the crossroads of the school as students flow up and down large staircases during class changes.

The 64 classrooms incorporate 21st century technology to enhance teaching and learning. Wireless Internet is available throughout the building.

Throughout the past two and a half years after the original building was destroyed in a fire, offers of help from the community have poured into the district’s central office and the school’s PTSA. In total, the district received more than $676,000 in donations from about 1,000 donors and thousands of dollars more in tangible supplies from many more. For more information, please contact Principal Travis Reeves at 449-6311.

North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program Award Scholarships  

Thirty-one students from GCS were awarded the 2009 North Carolina Teaching Fellows Scholarship, the second highest number of recipients in the state of North Carolina. The recipients will receive a total value of $26,000 to attend a college or university that participates in the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program. 

The program provides $6,500 scholarship each year for four years to 500 outstanding North Carolina high school seniors. Upon acceptance of the scholarship, the student agrees to teach for four years following graduation from college in one of North Carolina’s public schools or United States Government schools in North Carolina.

Samara Johnson, supervisor of high school counseling, says, “We know that all of the recipients have the ability to make a tremendous impact in the field of education and make a positive difference in the lives of students.  Upon completion of an education degree, we encourage these students to return to GCS for employment.  It is so important to groom your own future educators.  Congratulations to all recipients.”

Thank you to all high school counselors who assisted in the recruiting process for the N.C. Teaching Fellows Program.  A special thanks to GCS employees, members of the community and retired GCS employees for participating in the local screening interview process.  We appreciate your invested time and commitment in helping the students of GCS achieve academic excellence. 

The following students are recipients of the 2009 North Carolina Teaching Fellows Scholarship:

For more information, please contact Gwen Willis, executive director of student services, at 370-8397 or Samara Johnson, supervisor, high school counseling at 370-2332.

Kiwanis Club of Greensboro Awards Scholarships to GCS Students

The Kiwanis Club of Greensboro Scholarship was established in 2008 with the purpose of awarding a scholarship to deserving students from Dudley and Smith High who plan to attend a two- or four-year college/university (does not include trade/technical study).  The scholarship is awarded on the basis of merit, proof of character and involvement in extra-curricular activities and community service. 

The first recipients of the Kiwanis Club of Greensboro Scholarship are Raven Hartsfield from the Early College Academy at Dudley High and Funmilayo Solar from Smith High. Raven and Funmilayo both plan to attend UNC-Chapel Hill to continue their academic studies, and will be awarded $1,500 per academic year for a total of four years.  The scholarship is renewable if the recipients maintain the minimum cumulative grade point average. Congratulations to both for their academic accomplishments and achievements. 

GCS is proud to be a partner with the Kiwanis Club of Greensboro.  The Kiwanis Club of Greensboro is dedicated and committed to making a difference in the community and serving the students of GCS. The Kiwanis Club of Greensboro also co-sponsors the GCS Annual College Night. For more information, please contact Gwen Willis, executive director of student services, at 370-8397 or Samara Johnson, supervisor, high school counseling, at 370-2332.

Jamestown Middle School Odyssey of the Mind Team Wins First Place in State

The Jamestown Middle School Odyssey of the Mind team took first place at the State Odyssey of the Mind tournament on April 4 at Wingate University. Jamestown is the only team from GCS and the northern region of North Carolina to advance to the World Finals, which is in May. The team will travel to Iowa State University to represent the district and the state to compete against teams from across the United States, as well as 13 other countries.  Members of this team are:  Carmen Atwater, Lindsey Schaeffer, Taylor Fielding, Sam Gibson, Tommy Frungillo, Tucker Overbey and Brendan Whitaker.  The team is coached by Jana Ritter and Jennifer Gibson, teachers at Jamestown Middle. For more information, please contact Principal Denise Richmond at 819-2100.

Annual GCS Elementary Battle of the Books

Thirty EBOB teams representing a total of 318 fourth- and fifth-grade students and 62 coaches participated in the GCS Elementary Battle of the Books (EBOB) competition on April 20 at the Elliott Center on the campus of UNCG.  Congratulations to the top three winners: First Place—Brooks Global Studies, Second Place—The Academy at Lincoln and Third Place—Rankin Elementary.

This competition is sponsored by the North Carolina School Library Media Association and promotes reading and the development of exceptional school library programs.  For more information, please contact Debbie Karibian, media specialist at Colfax Elementary, at 275-4332 or karibid@gcsnc.com, or Jean Howard, program administrator for Media Services, at 370-2357 or howardb@gcsnc.com.

Greensboro Grasshoppers Bring Fun to Learning

GCS middle and elementary students from across the county are learning what math, art, reading and many other subjects have to do with baseball. Thanks to the generous ticket donation from Greensboro Grasshoppers President and General Manager Donald Moore, they’re experiencing their studies in action.

Next Wednesday, more than 7,000 second-grade students will fill the stands at NewBridge Bank Park to watch the Greensboro Grasshoppers play. For many, it’s their first opportunity to attend a professional athletic event. 

Guilford the Grasshopper, the team’s mascot, is visiting schools prior to the game to teach students how to do the hokey pokey. At the game, students will set a park record for the most people doing the hokey pokey at once. Students from Parkview elementary will sing the national anthem and Principal of the Year LaToy Kennedy from Wiley Elementary will throw out the first pitch.

When middle school students attended this past Wednesday’s game, Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green threw out the first pitch and students from Southern Middle sang the national anthem. For more information, please contact Lillian Govus, program administrator – communications, at 370-8997.

Town Hall Meeting Helps Parents See Signs of Drug Abuse

Alcohol and Drug Services with the Guilford County Substance Abuse Coalition invite parents to a town hall meeting concerning teens and prescription drug abuse next Friday from 7 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at Grimsley High’s auditorium. Next to marijuana, teens use prescription drugs to get high more than any other illegal substance. Refreshments are provided at 6:30 p.m. Click here for more information or call Vic Nussbaum, executive director of the Guilford County Substance Abuse Coalition, at 274-7446.

Celebrate Children and Books

GCS is proud to join the Greensboro Public Library in celebration of El Día de los Niños y el Dia de los Libros - Children’s Day and Book Day, Saturday, May 2 from noon until 3 p.m. at Center City Park in downtown Greensboro. Award-winning poet and children’s book author Pat Mora will share her poems and what she calls “bookjoy” with children and parents. This is a wonderful way to have family fun while celebrating a love of reading.

On Friday, May 1, Ms. Mora will visit students at Jones and Hunter elementary as well as the GCS Newcomers School to share her work and give students a preview of the festival. Click here for more information on the event or call the Greensboro Public Library at 373-3636.

Jackson Middle Social Worker Leads SAVE Chapter to Success

Jackson Middle’s Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE) club was named the middle school Chapter of the Year by SAVE. School Social Worker Keith Pemberton leads the student group and serves as an excellent role model for students. In fact, Pemberton received an honorable mention for SAVE Advisor of the Year. For more information, please contact Keith Pemberton at 294-7350.

Building Bridges Builds Overseas Bridge

Teachers from Germany recently visited GCS as part of Building Bridges, a Teaching American History grant program. They participated in a discussion on “African American History in North Carolina, 1500- 1860” led by Building Bridges Project Coordinator  Patricia Camp. 

Visiting teacher, Anna Schneider, commented, “Children are the same everywhere. Our problems in Germany are similar, but ours are based on economic status. Germans are very interested in American politics and I enjoyed hearing the students talk about political propaganda. German students do not discuss as freely in class.”

Building Bridges currently is soliciting applications for the 2009-10 program. For more information, please contact Ms. Camp at 317-2644 or campp@gcsnc.com.

Letters to the Editor

Seven Dudley High students saw their names in print recently when the Greensboro News & Record published their letters to the editor. The students, all of whom have Alexis Gines for Advanced Placement (AP) English 11, wrote the letters as part of a unit on Argumentative Writing. Other students have been contacted by the newspaper regarding future publications. So far, the following students have seen their work published:

• Kristopher Rawls, “College-bound Students Must Manage their Time” (April 19)
• Donnell Bruce, “High School Diploma Arrives 60 Years Later” (April 19)
• Michael Campbell, “June Makeup Days will be a Waste of Class Time” (April 15)
• James Phifer, “Kids who Skip Classes Squandering Tax Dollars” (April 16)
• Kiera Brown, “Many Teens Disregard Drunken-Driving Risks” (April 18)
• Charles Davis, “All State Lottery Money Should go to Education” (April 14)
• Raven Wilson, “University Budget Cuts Worry Future Collegian” (April 17)

To read the letters, go to http://blog.news-record.com/opinion/letters/archives/2009/04/
For more information, please contact Angie Kratzer, secondary English language arts curriculum specialist, at 370-3200 or kratzea@gcsnc.com.

2008-09 “Dr. Martha Sharpless Mentor of the Year” Finalists Named

First- and second-year beginning teachers submitted portfolios of their mentors to be considered for the “Dr. Martha Sharpless Mentor of the Year” award sponsored by the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro.  A committee of administrators, career teachers and community representatives reviewed and scored portfolios.  The 2008-09 finalists are:

• Cathy Danford – Parkview Elementary
• Lou Ann Gaffney – Jones Elementary
• Stephen Lee – Northern Middle
• Julie Nichols – Southwest High
• Frances Szafran – Southern High

The winner will be announced at the May 12, 2009 Board of Education meeting.  The winner receives $1,000 and a plaque.  The remaining four finalists will also receive a cash award and a certificate.  Each rookie teacher who nominated a mentor finalist receives a $50 gift certificate at Edu-Play.  For more information, please contact Martha Snavely, executive director for induction and professional development, snavelm@gcsnc.com  or 335-3290.

Lincoln Financial Foundation Supports History and Civics Partnership

Lincoln Financial Foundation awarded Touring Theatre of North Carolina $13,500 to continue a U.S. history and Civics curricula partnership with GCS. Ten GCS high schools will experience the Touring Theatre’s The Life and Times of Fannie Lou Hamer as part of their studies

GCS high school curriculum specialists were instrumental in the implementation of this project as they developed study guide materials for instructors, as well as pre- and post-performance evaluation questions for students.  Touring Theatre and GCS are proud to receive support from Lincoln Financial Foundation and are excited about continuing this important educational opportunity next year.

For more information, contact Morris Johnson, curriculum specialist for social studies, at 370-2349, ext. 1 or johnsom@gcsnc.com.

The Yearly Sessions Are Complete – On to the Summer Institute

The April Colloquium for year two of the Teaching American History (TAH) grant program focused on the topic “World War I and its Aftermath.”  Thirty-three GCS U.S. History high school teachers attending the two-day workshop at Guilford College  This completed the yearly sessions with this Colloquium, which will be followed by a summer institute in June.

Registration information for the summer institute will be provided in the upcoming weeks. For more information about the TAH grant and year three, which begins in August, please contact Maureen Robinson, TAH grant coordinator, at 370-2349, ext. 3 or robinsm2@gcsnc.com.

Where Did Those Red Tulips Come From?

Visit a GCS middle or high school this spring, and most likely you will see red tulips in bloom. While they certainly add to the scenery, the tulips represent much more than the beginning of spring Student Mentoring Awareness Resource Teams (S.M.A.R.T.) teams. planted the tulips were at each secondary school in the district as a part of Red Ribbon Week “Plant the Promise” Campaign in October. 

The teams planted tulip bulbs and conducted school-wide prevention campaigns that included having students pledge to remain alcohol, drug and tobacco free.  “Plant the Promise” gave students a chance to reflect on their values and make healthy drug free decisions.  The bulbs were planted in October so they would bloom in April, which is Alcohol Awareness Month. Next time you see a red tulip on a GCS campus remember what it stands for.

For more information on services provided by the Safe and Drug Free Schools Program, please contact Gwen Willis, executive director of student services, at 370-8397 or Vernice Thomas, supervisor of safe and drug free schools, at 621-4026.

Revised Change in Graduate Pay Policy

Licensed employees received an e-mail from Human Resources on Friday, April 3, 2009 notifying them of an approved change to the State Board of Education Graduate Pay Policy which planned to recognize all graduate degrees earned through regionally accredited institutions for salary purposes effective July 1, 2009.  However, notice was received this week from the State Board of Education that implementation of this policy has been delayed to July 1, 2010 due to the state of the economy. 

Licensed employees received an email from Human Resources on Friday, April 17, 2009 notifying them of this information.  For more information, please contact your assigned staffing specialist at 378-8806 or Alison Yates, director of staffing, at 370-8094 or yatesa@gcsnc.com.

Wellness Activity

The Annual Walk/Run Wellness Activity is taking place for all employees during the months of April, May and June.   Employees who have not registered should contact their site’s wellness coordinator. Employees will be receiving an e-mail regarding Retail Generic Prescription Programs.  Many national and local retail pharmacies now offer generics at discounted prices. Generic medications may cost only $4 for a month's supply or $10 for a three month's supply. Each retailer has a unique program with different generic medications covered.  Check with your pharmacy regarding the generic prescription program. For more information, please contact Patty Kinkade, director of benefits at 370-8092 or kinkadp@gcsnc.com.

GCSTV 2

Here’s a sample of what you can see on GCSTV 2 on Time Warner Cable.

News from GCS- GCSTV 2 Newsbreaks
The Latest GCSTV 2 Newsbreak

Also on GCSTV 2:

Superintendent Green on his Proposed Budget
Budget Discussion

New Regional Superintendents
New Regional Superintendents Named

Tdap Alert – Vaccinations Required to Attend School
GCSTV 2 NEWS ALERT-Tdap  These NEWS ALERTS air at 10 a.m., 11:16 a.m., and 7 p.m.  

New Rules for Kindergarten
Kindergarten Kickoff Newsbreak Video

“Keeping Teachers Teaching and Students Learning”

This newest program from the U.S. Department of Education explores the impact on education of the “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.” The program runs daily at 11 p.m.

NASA 360

NASA explores new frontiers in science, helping to develop and inspire technological innovation.  This program runs daily at 3:35 a.m., 9:02 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.

World’s Largest Concert

The Alamance Elementary chorus performs as part of the National Association for Music Education’s  “World’s Largest Concert,”  airing on television stations across America.  You can see it right here daily on GCSTV 2 at 11:16 a.m. 

All County Chorus

The All County Chorus performed recently at Western High. See their performance daily Friday through Monday at 6:13 a.m., 5:05 p.m. and 10:05 p.m. 

Showcase Your Talent on GCSTV 2

GCSTV 2 is now accepting student-, faculty-, staff- or parent-produced programming.  See the Details for submissions here or  Watch the video.

GCSTV 2 Programming Guide

Find out what else is showing on GCSTV 2 here: GCSTV 2 Programming Guide

GCSTV 2 & 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, please contact Leonard Simpson, broadcast production manager, at 370-8167.