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Leaking Boiler Room at Washington Elementary
State of Our Schools: GCS Tries to Keep its Head Above Water as Facilities Needs Flood In

A firefight. That’s how long-time Guilford County Schools (GCS) operations employees describe the work needed to repair the district’s aging facilities. 

Currently, GCS is comprised of 120 schools and more than 300 facilities totaling over 12 million square feet. Many of the buildings were built before Neil Armstrong’s 1969 moon landing. Just like Armstrong, GCS has taken steps forward to address infrastructure challenges, but funding limitations and deferred maintenance have often caused us to lose ground. Why? The short and fast answer is money. But GCS leaders say it will take a little more than cash to get facilities where they need to be. 

  • Budget
  • District Homepage News
  • Facilities
  • Strengthen Health Wellness and Safety in Schools
Read More about State of Our Schools: GCS Tries to Keep its Head Above Water as Facilities Needs Flood In
Students at Brooks Global Studies in their new media center
21st-Century learning: Guilford County Schools Opens Four New Schools

Guilford County Schools (GCS) is ushering in a new era of education with the opening of four new state-of-the-art facilities.  

In the 2024-2025 school year, four new schools welcomed students and staff through their doors: Claxton Elementary, Peck K-8 Expeditionary Learning, Brooks Global Studies and Foust Elementary schools.  

Each building has brought new life into its community. Students, staff and parents alike are all excited about the possibilities for their children. “There is no other elementary school that I would want for my 2nd grade daughter and young son,” Tiffany Estes said.  

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  • District Homepage News
  • Prepare Students for the World
  • Strengthen Health Wellness and Safety in Schools
Read More about 21st-Century learning: Guilford County Schools Opens Four New Schools

Mental Health and Transitions

Mental Health and Transitions

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

Whether it is kindergarten or senior year, going back to school is an exciting time and can also present strong emotions and behaviors.  Being mindful of how to support mental well-being can go a long way to help the experience to be smoother for both students and parents.   

Transition

Supporting a transition to a new school

Below are some actions you can take to help your child navigate this transition. 

1) Explore the campus with your child.

Visiting the school at open house or a private tour before the school year begins is a great way to make them feel more familiar with their new environment. Print out a map of the campus and have your child practice walking through a typical day at school. This may ease any anxiety about getting lost on the first day of school.. 

2) Encourage extracurricular activities.

Becoming involved in clubs or sports helps with meeting new people, learning more about themselves, and gaining confidence. 

3) Arrange social activities before school starts.

Host or arrange a gathering of friends from school at a local park or library to help with beginning of the year butterflies.

4) Check in with your child about their feelings regarding the new school year.

Your child may be apprehensive about attending a new school. Listen and remind them that it’s okay and you’ll get through it together. Help your child plan how to handle things they are worried about. 

5) Meet your child’s teachers early in the school year.

Introducing yourself to your child’s teachers ahead of time by phone or email can help ease your own anxiety about your child’s new school. Knowing the person your child is with during the school day can give you a better idea of their day-to-day experience. Remember that the calmer and more hopeful you are as a parent, you increase the chances your child will too.

6) Research the resources available to your child.

Learn about the mental and physical health resources available at your child’s new school. Communicate with your child about how people like school counselors can be useful resources during the school day.  

 

 

 

 New School Transitions Click HERE for more information

 

 

Treating Generalized Anxiety Disorder in Kids | Amen Clinics Amen Clinics

Click HERE for Mental Health America's

Back to School Toolkit

children getting off of bus

Seven Habits to Start and Stay Strong by 7 Mindsets

 1) Make up your mind before you make up your bed. (Attitude of Gratitude)

 You have to choose the right attitude. We must make up our minds to make it a great day before the day gets away from us.

 2) Choose to give. (Live to Give)

                        This will sound cheesy to students but challenge them to give something away anonymously to another student weekly. A kind note, a little token of appreciation, even a smile goes a long way! Get in the habit of generosity. Studies show that the happiest people are the ones focused on others.

3) Determine your river. (Passion First)

                             Most students are a “Flood” — they move in multiple directions without focus. Successful students must be “Rivers” — they find a single direction and flow toward a specific goal.

4) Decide on outcomes, then work backward. (Everything is Possible)

                          Stephen Covey used to say, “Begin with the end in mind.” Help students determine where they want to end up—that is, what their target is at year’s end. Then help them ask themselves, “What steps do I need to take to get there?” Finally, encourage them to take those steps.

5) Schedule your priorities. (The Time is Now)

                  Successful leaders know this: the issue is not prioritizing your schedule, but rather scheduling your priorities. The time to decide how the day or week will go is when calendars are still blank. Put your most important activities in your calendar first.

6) Treat deadlines like accountability partners. (100% Accountable)

           One of the chief reasons we disappoint ourselves is because we fail to meet deadlines we agreed to meet. I have found deadlines are lifelines — I treat them like a friend who’s asking if I will finish in time. Write them down and take them seriously.

7) Choose who you lose. (We are Connected)

        Be intentional about your friends. Choose them wisely, knowing you can’t be close with everyone. You will choose who you “lose” as a friend by where you invest time. Keep the ones who make you better close to you.

Conversation Starters from The Mental Health Coalition

"How are you feeling about going back to school?" 

"It's okay if going back to school feels hard this year. It would be hard for me too."

"What feels hard about going back to school?  What feels exciting? It's normal to have more than one feeling about the same thing."

"I've noticed you haven't liked talking about going back to school.  It's okay, I am here if you want to talk about it."

"It's okay to ask for help and you can always ask me."

 Back to School Anxiety

Click HERE for an article from Child Mind Institute to learn more:

Why do some kids get anxious about starting school again?

How can parents help their children overcome back to school anxiety?

What are signs that an anxious kids might need more support?