GCS News Briefs

February 5, 2010

Inclement Weather Make-Up Days

GCS was closed to students Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday due to inclement weather. Make-up days for student instruction missed are as follows:

•           Schools on the traditional calendar                 Feb. 18, April 23, April 26
•           The Early College at Guilford                         Feb. 19, March 8, June 1
•           Greensboro College Middle College               Feb. 19, March 8, May 24
•           Year-round schools                                         Feb. 19, April 5, May 28
•           Middle colleges                                               Feb. 19, April 5, May 27
•           Extended-year schools                                   No make-up days are needed

For more information, view the district’s calendar page at http://www.gcsnc.com/information/allcalendars.htm.

GCS Science Fair Postponed to Feb. 10

GCS postponed the district Science Fair until Wednesday, Feb. 10 due to weather conditions this week. The fair was originally scheduled for Feb. 3. The fair will take place at Four Seasons Town Centre in Greensboro and is for elementary, middle and high school students. Students’ science projects will be on display.

Judges will include local teachers, college professors and business professionals working in science fields throughout the community. Judging will take place from 9 a.m. until noon. Public viewing is from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m., with the awards ceremony starting at 5:30 p.m. For more information, please contact Lillian Govus, communications manager, at 370-8997.

GCS Hosts College Tech Prep Showcase on Feb. 10

Learn more about the College Tech Prep (CTP) and Career & Technical Education (CTE) courses offered in GCS. Some options include video game development, diesel technology, medical careers, early childhood education, computer programming, construction technology, digital media and more. CTP programs are offered at all GCS high schools. CTP students have the opportunity to earn college credits in high school, earn nationally recognized certifications and qualify for a two-year CTP scholarship.

The CTP Showcase will take place from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Feb. 10 at Weaver Academy, 300 S. Spring St., Greensboro. For more information, go to www.gcsnc.com/ctp or call 370-8357.

GCS Spelling Bee Postponed to Feb. 11

GCS postponed the district Spelling Bee until Thursday, Feb. 11 at 9 a.m. due to weather conditions this week. The bee was originally scheduled for Feb. 5. At the spelling bee, students from 16 middle schools will compete. Both central office administrators and school-based staff members will be judging, assisting and supporting the organizational aspects of this event. For more information, please contact Jocelyn Becoats, K-8 curriculum officer, at 370-2311.

More Than 50 Magnet Programs on Display Saturday

On Saturday, Feb. 13 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Greensboro Coliseum Pavilion, the district will host the annual Magnet and Choice Schools Fair. At the fair, interested families with students in pre-K through 12th grade can learn about each school’s unique theme while speaking to teachers and watching student demonstrations. Applications for magnet and choice schools will be accepted from Feb. 13 through March 12 at 5 p.m. Applications will be available at the magnet fair and at each magnet school. For more information about each of the programs, go to http://www.gcsnc.com/magnet.

Five GCS Magnet Schools Honored by National Organization

Five of the district’s magnet and choice schools are schools of merit for 2010 according to Magnet Schools of America. Johnson Street Global Studies was among a select group named Schools of Excellence by the organization. Jones Spanish Immersion Elementary, The Early College at Guilford, Weaver Academy and Washington Elementary were named Schools of Distinction.

Magnet Schools of America recognizes the top magnet schools in the country annually. Schools are selected based on their commitment to high academic standards, curriculum innovation, successful desegregation/diversity efforts, specialized teaching staffs and parent and community involvement. For more information, go to www.gcsnc.com/magnet or call 378-8832.

Central Region to Hold Town Hall Meeting

Regional Superintendent Dr. Terry Worrell will hold a town hall meeting at Guilford Elementary on Monday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. All Central Region staff, students and parents are invited to attend to meet Dr. Worrell and share questions and comments about Central Region schools. For more information, contact Lillian Govus, communications manager, at 370-8997.

Six 2008 School Bond Projects Currently in the Design Phase Set to Complete in 2011

Six of the projects approved in the 2008 School Bonds are currently being designed and are scheduled to have construction completed in 2011. Architects have been selected, and construction will begin upon design approval. The projects under design are:

• Southeast High
• Alamance Elementary
• Summerfield Elementary
• Allen Middle
• Southeast Middle
• Grimsley High

For more information about the progress of the projects included in the 2008 School Bonds, click here .

GCS Teacher of the Year

The Human Resources Office is beginning to receive nominations for Teacher of the Year as school level winners are selected. The deadline for principals to submit their winner’s name to Human Resources is February 19. Nominees must complete portfolios, which are due April 21, in order to compete in the district level process. A committee of principals, teachers and central office administrators will review all portfolios, and finalists will move on to the interview round. The winner will be announced in the fall at the Principal/Teacher of the Year celebration. For more information, please contact Carla Alphin, employee relations, at 370-8821 or alphinc@gcsnc.com

Upcoming Enrichment Fund Opportunities and Deadlines

The Enrichment Fund for GCS provides more than $70,000 dollars each year for student field trips, teacher mini-grants, recognitions and college scholarships. Here are the next opportunities for funding.

Ayers Endowment Grants – This award honors the lifelong service of educators Robert and Glenn Ayers and is intended to encourage community service by students under the leadership of GCS employees. You must be a GCS employee to apply. Application deadline is Monday, Feb. 15.

The Debby Reynolds Award – This award recognizes an educator, counselor or other GCS staff member who actively and resolutely advocates for children in need. Although this person will be the recipient of the actual award, a monetary donation of $700 will go to the school that nominates the winner. Use of the $700 award is at the discretion of the school and the teacher receiving the award. In addition, an award of $500 goes directly to the winner to be used as he/she chooses. Nomination deadline is March 26.

Field Trip Scholarship – The last round of scholarships are for trips taking place or deposits needed after April 30. Application deadline is April 16.

Eberhart Scholarship – The purpose of the Eberhart Scholarship is to provide financial assistance to a graduating GCS senior who may not otherwise be able to attend an institution of higher learning. The $1,500 scholarship is for students who plan to attend a state or private four-year college or university in North Carolina. Application deadline is May 21.

Application forms and instructions are available on the Enrichment Fund Web site. For more information, contact the Enrichment Fund at enrichmentfund@gmail.com or Cecilia Adams, community relations manager, at 370-8355.

Southwest Middle Raises Money for Special Olympics

Southwest Middle will participate in the Guilford County Polar Plunge on Feb. 21 at Emerald Pointe to raise money for the local Special Olympics. In the past, the school has raised more than $1,000. Raising money for local nonprofits is something Southwest Middle is familiar with. Earlier this year, students and staff raised $5,459 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  In order to encourage participation a friendly contest was held between classrooms to see which class could raise the most money.  Eighth-grade math teacher Candice Slater’s class won with a donation of $954.42. For more information, please contact Principal Beverly Wilson at 819-2985.   

Operation H.O.P.E.

When the devastating earthquake hit Haiti, GCS schools and offices began Operation H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People Everywhere). To date schools and central offices have reported $4,500 in donations. If your school or office is participating in this disaster relief, please let us know so your efforts can be counted. Send your information to Vernice Thomas, director of character development and safe schools, at thomasv@gcsnc.com .

GCS Alternative Certification Program Showcased at National Conference

The GCS Lateral Entry Resource and Advising Team – Dr. Amy Holcombe, Tina Johnson, Mark Jewell and Terrik Higgins – presented North Carolina’s only in-house teacher licensure model, GCS Alternative Certification Track (GCS-ACT), at the National Association for Alternative Certification (NAAC) conference. The NAAC Annual Conference showcases successful alternative route programs to administrators, state agency representatives, researchers and federal Department of Education staff. Attendees share best practices, research and hear from colleagues about trends in alternative certification and teacher preparation across the nation. All in attendance shared a common goal: seeking the best ways to recruit and prepare highly qualified teachers who will impact student achievement in meaningful ways.

The GCS team presentation detailed how the district has successfully implemented a do-it-yourself recruitment and licensure program with approval from the North Carolina State Board of Education and funding support from the U.S. Department of Education. The interactive session demonstrated how to design, implement and sustain a site-based licensure program around six key strategic areas: Advising, Preparation, Coaching, Networking, Resources and Communication. Each participant received a training manual from the licensure program and strategies, gathered ideas that have helped the district maintain a 100 percent retention rate and viewed video detailing success stories from GCS lateral entry teachers.

The NAAC Conference was highlighted by keynote speakers Dr. Pedro Noguera, New York University, and Jo Anderson, U.S. Department of Education. Noguero is an urban sociologist who discussed his research that focuses on the ways schools are influenced by social and economic conditions in the urban environment. Anderson is the Senior Advisor to Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and is an instrumental voice in the new directions and priorities for public education in America. For more information about this announcement or the GCS-ACT program, please contact Dr. Amy Holcombe, executive director of talent development, at holcoma@gcsnc.com or 335-3294.

Audition for GCS/Community Theater Production

Have you ever dreamed about being a star? Adult roles in the musical “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” are open to all GCS teachers, assistant teachers, secretaries, custodians, administrators and all other school personnel for audition. The GCS faculty and staff audition date is March 22 at Grimsley High. Whether you can sing, dance, act or are interested in backstage roles, we are interested in you! If you are planning to audition, thinking about auditioning or interested in more information, please contact John Eldridge, Enrichment Region executive director, at eldridj@gcsnc.com, Nathan Street, art curriculum specialist at streetn@gcsnc.com or Mitchel Sommers, executive director of Community Theatre of Greensboro at msommers@ctgso.org.

GCSTV 2

The district’s television channel broadcasts throughout Guilford County on Time Warner Cable channel 2 and on the GCS website.

The Latest News from GCSTV 2:

State of Our Schools

See Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green’s 2010 State of Our Schools address recorded live from High Point University. This program airs daily at 2 and 8 p.m.

GCS Newsbreak: (Click the link and see it now!)

GCS students attend the opening of the International Civil Rights Center and Museum on the 50th anniversary of the Woolworth lunch counter sit-ins. This GCS Newsbreak is also available for viewing on YouTube. 

Also Featured Now:
February One – The Story of the Greensboro Four

“In one remarkable day, four Greensboro college freshmen changed the course of American History.”  GCSTV 2 features exclusive presentations of this documentary on the Greensboro Woolworth Sit-ins, actions that changed the course of civil rights forever. This program will be broadcast daily at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. through Feb. 8.     

Magnet Fair-Coming February 13
GCS Newsbreak: (Click the link and see it now!)

GCS Magnet and Choice schools are in the spotlight once again as the district gears up for its annual Magnet Fair scheduled for February 13. This GCS Newsbreak is also available for viewing on YouTube. 

Blue Steel

Watch this documentary on Grimsley High’s drum line produced by a faculty member at UNCG’s Department of Broadcast and Cinema. The program airs daily at noon. 

Falcon Monthly with Tyler Hardin

See this student produced program that provides all the latest news from Southeast Middle.  This program is broadcast daily at 4:30 p.m.

Superintendent’s Media Briefings

See Superintendent Maurice Green’s Media Briefings, during which he addresses topics important to GCS and answers reporters’ questions on a variety of topics.

Staying Healthy During Flu Season

It is the number one flu threat this season. Check out the latest information on precautions to prevent the spread of the flu virus and how to handle it if someone has the flu.

GCSTV 2-LIVE
WATCH OUR LIVE BROADCAST!  

Now streaming on the World Wide Web

GCS Board of Education

Watch GCS Board of Education meetings live when they occur.  Encore presentations of board meetings are telecast the day follow the meeting and the following Saturday at 1 p.m. You can also watch Board of Education meetings at your convenience. The meetings are now archived and available online anytime at gcsnc.com. See them here.

Also on GCSTV 2:
GCSTV 2 Programming Guide

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

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 & 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.