Friday Notes from Guilford County Schools

August 10, 2007

Our Vision, Mission/Thematic Goals and Core Values

Our vision – what we will become, Our mission/thematic goals- how we will get there -- Our
core values - what we believe -- solidify the underlying foundation for all Guilford County Schools’ decisions and actions.

2008 Graduation Schedule

Click here to view the graduation schedule for 2008.  Please call me at 370-8992, should you have questions.      

2007-08 Open House Schedule

Are you ready? GCS announces its 2007-08 Open House schedule for all schools. Click here to view the schedule. For more information about Open House events, parents should contact the individual school.

GCS Internet/E-mail Scheduled Downtime

The GCS network infrastructure will be down for scheduled maintenance and bandwidth upgrade on Saturday, August 11 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please plan your work schedule accordingly.  This will affect district internet access, the district’s Web page and email during the scheduled period of network maintenance.  For more information, please contact Dr. Terrence Young, Chief Information Officer, at 370-2308.

Thanks to Crown Automotive, It’s Cool to Be Smart in GCS

In a couple of weeks, Shay Hopkins, a Grimsley High graduate, will arrive at Flagler College located in St. Augustine, FL in a brand new car, courtesy of Crown Automotive. The hard work of Shay throughout high school earned her an invitation to the annual Crown Automotive Cool to Be Smart event, which gives qualifying Advanced Placement (AP)/International Baccalaureate (IB)graduates a chance to win a new car, scholarships and laptop computers.

Students received a key upon arrival for a chance to win a car of their choice. Much to her surprise, Shay had the key that unlocked the door to a new car. She won her choice of a Honda Civic 2dr LX, Chevrolet Cobalt 2dr, Nissan Sentra, Nissan Versa, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Ford Ranger or a Dodge Avenger.

Thanks to the Visiting International Faculty (VIF) program and Harris Teeter Neighborhood Markets, other winners included.

• $1,500 VIF Scholarship Winner: Nisha Verma

• $2,500 Harris Teeter Scholarship Winners: Carlos Saravia, Jennifer Leaf, Colleen McNamara, Russell Trigonis and Sarah Barnwell.

• Harris Teeter Laptop Winners: Justin Crowder, Natasha Tinsley, Roxanne Neumann, William Cimino and Kyrsten Wicker.

To qualify for the event, a student must have either scored a three or higher on any five AP exams and had a mean score of three on all exams, scored a four or higher on any five IB exams or had a combination of five AP/IB scores at those levels. For more information, please contact Dr. Jane Fleming, Executive Director for Advanced Learning, at 370-2316.

Hard-Working Students Earn Savings Bonds at Academic All-Star Camp

From July 9 through July 27, advanced rising ninth-graders developed leadership skills, explored an academic area of interest and learned test-taking strategies regarding the PSAT and SAT. At the closing ceremony of the camp on July 29, nine students received $1,000 US Savings Bonds based on their SAT scores.

Of the nine winners, three students received bonds based on earning the highest SAT score at their assigned camp.

Those students include:

• Samuel Bucior
• Isabel Kenny
• Nathaniel Swofford

The other six winners received bonds for having improved the most between the pretest and the post-test.

Those students include:

• Stella Daniel
• Benjamin Evans
• Spencer Hitchcock
• Joseph Shepherd
• Shawn Streeter
• Alice Williams

These GCS students were invited to the camp based on their PSAT scores taken in the seventh grade. The camp took place at Guilford College, Guilford Technical Community College (GTCC) - Jamestown and GTCC - Greensboro.  For more information, please contact Haley Miller, Program Administrator-Communications, at 370-3200.

GCS Honors Retired Employees

After 5,982 years of commitment and service among them, 251 GCS retired employees were honored this week. Dr. Terry Grier, the Guilford County Board of Education and GCS employees honored these devoted individuals at a retirement reception on August 7. The reception took place at the Mullin Life Center in the First Presbyterian Church of Greensboro.

Of the retirees, 138 dedicated more than 25 years of service to GCS.  Anne Murr retired with 40 years of service, the most of any of the 2007 retirees. At the reception, all retirees were presented with a certificate of recognition and a Harris Teeter gift card.

Thanks to Harris Teeter Neighborhood Markets, retirees received the following amounts in gift cards based on years of service:

• Five to 24 years - $25
• 25 years or more - $75
• Retiree with the most years of service - $200

For more information, please contact Lillian Govus, Program Administrator-Communications, at 370-8997.

Teacher Appreciation Day at the Wyndham Championship Golf Tournament

Teacher Appreciation Day will be held on August 18 at Wyndham Championship Golf Tournament and all Guilford County teachers are invited to attend. All teachers and a guest will be given free entrance to the tournament and are invited to have snacks/drinks at the Guilford Education Alliance tent on the 18th fairway while at the tournament.

There are three ways to get your ticket at the tournament.

1. Present your Guilford County identification at the Will Call booth and receive your tickets.
2. Present your Guilford County identification at the main entrance (beside the 18th green) and receive your tickets.
3. If you park in a parking lot, there will be ticket vendors in the lot.  Show your Guilford County identification and get your two tickets. If there is confusion here as most of the parking lot ticket vendors are volunteers and possibly will not know to give free tickets, then go to one of the other locations.

Parking is not free.

To access the Guilford Alliance tent, look for the hostess at the end of the tent row.  Show your Guilford County identification and your ticket, and you will receive a wrist band that is entrance to the tent area.  There will be a sign in front of the Guilford Education Alliance tent.  Members of the board of Guilford Education Alliance will be your hosts. For more information, please contact Margaret Arbuckle, Executive Director Guilford Education Alliance, at 841-4332 or Cecilia Adams, Manager of Community Partnerships, at 370-8355.

School Web Sites Updated With Key Information

In preparing for the 2007-08 year, all school Web sites have been updated with key back-to-school information, including:

• Principal
• Assistant Principal(s)
• Counselor
• School Hours
• Telephone Number
• Open House Schedule
• Transportation Information
• School Supply List

This information will help students, parents and staff as they prepare for another successful year. For more information, please contact Antonio Simon, Web Technician, at 335-3291.

Bus Driver Orientation

School Bus Driver Orientations were held at the Weaver Education Center Auditorium on Tuesday, August 7 and Wednesday, August 8.  The sessions were scheduled from 8 a.m. until Noon and from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. on both days.  Bus drivers from the eleven zones were divided up and scheduled to attend one of the four-hour sessions.  Training topics ranged from policies governing school bus idling; legislative updates effecting bus drivers; school bus inspections; Operation Lifesaver, dealing with safe railroad crossing procedures; and an enlightening presentation by Vernice Thomas related to student behavior management.  For more information, please contact Deborah Graves, Program Administrator/Training and Recruiting, at 370-8920.

Transportation Department Prepares for the Opening of School

On August 28, 624 school buses will depart from their parking sites en-route to transport approximately 39,000 students to their assigned schools.  Buses will travel approximately 54,000 miles of roadway in Guilford County daily, with the foremost concern being the safety of the students.

Thousands of work hours have been spent preparing bus routes for students who attend various educational opportunities throughout GCS.  The objective of the department is to provide safe efficient bus routing, which is reliable and provides the best possible service to the students.  In order to achieve this objective, preparation began in the spring of 2007 with plans set forth to minimize confusion and communicate department needs to those requiring services.  The primary component of the plan focused on informing parents, thus, emphasis on the submission of the transportation request ensued. 

Utilizing all forms of the media and available resources, the department communicated the requirements and deadlines for planning and preparation.  The department continued after the transportation request submission deadline of July 12, to route bus stops and bus runs until the day the bus routes were posted on the GCS Web site.  The result was the ability to provide comprehensive bus routes on the GCS Web site on August 10 and the dissemination of printed bus routes to the individual schools on August 14.  Click here to access the Bus Stop Locator.  The locator will provide parents and students with both morning and afternoon stop locations and times, as well as contact information for zone supervisors.  Parents are encouraged to obtain bus stop information by either visiting the Web site or by visiting their child’s assigned school as soon as possible, thus reducing confusion and frustration on the first day of school. 

Due to the complexity of the magnet bus routing process, route assignments will be mailed to parents on August 17.  Staff members will call parents, with students assigned to magnet schools, with individual bus stop information to ensure receipt.  Staff members will begin making phone calls on August 20, with a proposed completion date of August 23.  Transportation staff members will also attend every open house for both magnet and traditional schools to answer transportation related questions. 

Transportation staff members are confident in the plans and preparations made for the 2007-08 school year.  Minimal problems are anticipated and steps are being taken to reduce, identify and resolve “Red Flags” that may exist.  For additional information or assistance with bus routing, contact your area zone transportation supervisor.  Telephone numbers are:

GCS to Expand Federal Reverse Choice Program

North Carolina has been approved to continue participating in the federal Reverse Choice pilot program. This agreement permits GCS, along with six other districts in North Carolina, to provide Supplemental Educational Services (SES) to eligible students in Title I schools in the first year of school improvement in place of opt-out choice.

SES is a crucial component of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), giving low-income families the option to obtain free tutoring and other academic enrichment services for their children.

With this program, four additional schools are able to offer SES in 2007-08. The following schools will offer SES this school year:

• Alderman Elementary
• Archer Elementary
• Bessemer Elementary
• Fairview Elementary
• Ferndale Middle
• Gillespie Park Elementary
• Hairston Elementary
• Hampton Elementary
• Jackson Middle
• Kirkman Park Elementary
• Northwood Elementary
• Oak Hill Elementary
• Oak View Elementary
• Rankin Elementary
• Union Hill Elementary
• Washington Elementary
• Wiley Elementary

For more information, please contact Haley Miller, Program Administrator-Communications, at 370-3200.

GCS Educators Attend CARLA at University of Minnesota

During the week of July 30-August 3, several educators from GCS attended The Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition’s (CARLA) Summer Institute on teaching Spanish Immersion.  Representing Jones Spanish Immersion Elementary School were teacher Maria Mosquera, Maria Johnson, Carla Flores- Ballesteros and Principal Bea Jones.  Kirkman Park Spanish Immersion Elementary was represented by Haidy Gomez.  Spanish Teachers Jade Dickerson and Tiffany Hamilton from Grimsley High School also attended.

Participants focused on becoming more familiar with the history, theory, and practices of immersion education as well as the distinguishing characteristics and goals of various program models.  The educators examined effective instructional strategies for the immersion context and collaborated on the development of content-based curriculum that systematically enhances language growth.  The Curriculum and Instruction Department will provide other GCS immersion teachers with opportunities to interface with the educators who have attended CARLA. For more information, please contact Gisela Hood, World Languages Specialist, at 370-3273.

GCS Extended Learning Summer Sessions

The GCS Extended Learning Summer Session, held July 5 – 31, is an intervention that allows students additional time to master essential skills for academic achievement at the next grade level.  This summer, approximately 3,300 students attended:  1,300 elementary, 1,000 middle and 1,000 high.  At the end of the summer session, Gateway students took a second administration of the End-of-Grade (EOG) or End-of-Course (EOC) test to demonstrate the gain of knowledge during summer school.  A special thank you to all of our teachers and students who made 2007 Summer Session a great learning experience. For more information, please contact, Roberta Pearson, Extended Learning Coordinator, at 370-3275.

Advanced Learner Director Briefs Senate Panel on Effective Tutorial Services

Dr. Jane Fleming, Executive Director for Advanced Learning, accompanied Maryland’s Assistant State Superintendent for the Division of Student and Support Services Ann Chafin to a Senate hearing in May 2007 to provide information about successful implementation of Supplemental Educational Services (SES) as the reauthorization of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) was being considered.  In July, Maryland was invited to Capitol Hill to discuss SES and the use of effective strategies that raised participation.   At the time, Dr. Fleming served as Coordinator for Comprehensive School Reform and Supplemental Educational Services (SES) for the Maryland State Department of Education. 

SES is provided for by the federal NCLB Act of 2001.  Any school that is in year two of improvement, restructuring, or in corrective action must offer supplemental educational services (SES) to eligible children from a provider approved by the state agency and selected by the parents [Section 1116(e)(1)].  Supplemental educational services are free tutoring and other educational interventions that target students from low-income families in Title I Schools in need of Improvement. During the 2006-07 school year, Maryland enjoyed a 67.8 percent participation rate in the SES program--the highest participation rate in the nation; the national average was 19 percent.  

Dr. Fleming explained that the best tutorial services available are only effective if students use them.  Strategies that include collaboration, principal and teacher support, heightened communication between service and classroom teacher and parent, and client satisfaction surveys are among the most successful.  These engagement strategies will be reviewed for appropriateness and delivery options as student support for advanced learning initiatives in GCS are developed.  Research and data on what determines the effective implementation of tutoring services is also being disseminated through Instructional Improvement Officers to principals. For more information, please contact Dr. Fleming at 370-2316.

Benefits Update

The Benefits Department would like to share the following information:

1. There will be a special enrollment of state health insurance due to the increase in premium rates.  The enrollment is in effect through the month of August and includes the PPO plans as well as the Indemnity plan.  Changes can be made at the Benefits Office, 712 N. Eugene Street, Greensboro.  There will also be representatives from the Benefits Office at 900 English Road, High Point, on August 28, 2007.

2. The Indemnity plan’s individual deductible has increased from $350 to $450 and the family deductible has increased from $1,050 to $1,350.  The prescription brand name with no generic has increased from $25 to $30. 

3. Annual enrollment for supplemental insurance and dental insurance begins August 20 and continues through September 7, 2007.  Internet enrollment will be available for most products; agents will visit each administrative site to assist employees.

4. Pre-Paid Legal and Identity Theft insurance is available to eligible employees; enrollment continues through August and concludes at the end of the day on September 13, 2007.  Representatives from Pre-Paid Legal, Inc. will conduct enrollment meetings at selected sites around the district.  The calendar of meetings will be emailed to each employee.

For more information, please contact Patty Kinkade, Director of Benefits, at 370-8092.  For complete information concerning changes in the state health insurance, visit www.shpnc.org.

District Vacancies

Assistant Principalships
GCS has two assistant principal vacancies: Kernodle Middle and Andrews High.  If you are interested in one of these opportunities and you have completed the GCS online application and screening process, please contact Andrews High Principal Monique Wallace at 819-2800 or Kernodle Middle Principal Charles Burns at 545-3717. If you have not completed the online process and need more information about the application process, contact Rebecca Warren, Office of Employment, at 370-8319.
           
Curriculum Facilitator
Brown Summit Middle currently has a Curriculum Facilitator vacancy.  Please contact Principal Valerie Collins at 656-0432. For more information about these vacancies, please contact Dr. Peggy Thompson, Chief Human Resources Officer, at 370-8340.

Visiting International Faculty Teachers Arrive

The Office of Employment hosted the arrival of 70 teachers from the Visiting International Faculty Program (VIF).  The teachers arrived bringing experience from 18 different countries (New Zealand, Costa Rica, Canada, Venezuela, Romania, Mexico, Colombia, Panama, Peru, United Kingdom, Australia, Philippines, Brazil, Chile, Spain, Uruguay, South Africa and Slovakia).  Their subjects of expertise range from Pre-K to high school science and math.  These teachers have been placed in 48 schools throughout the district.  For more information, please contact Alan Hooker, Director of Employment, at 370-8055.

GCSTV 2

Reading Comprehension

Join faculty and staff at Monticello-Brown Summit Elementary for this look into the “Power of Retelling.”  It is an in-depth illustration of a comprehension strategy that helps children more fully enjoy reading and listening to stories and ultimately, develop into lifelong readers.  This special program airs nightly at 10 p.m.

The Home Field Advantage

Changing schools during the year creates a disadvantage for students when it comes to their studies.  Research indicates that children who study at one school throughout the school year do better academically than those who change schools one or more times during the year.  GCS offers students at select schools the “Home Field Advantage.”  The initiative gives children a chance to stay at their original school if their family moves during the academic year.  Get the latest information on this program that helps students stay in the game.  Home Field Advantage airs five times daily at 7:30 a.m., 10 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. 

Tus Hijos y GCS (Your Children and Guilford County Schools)

The Guilford County Board of Education has authorized a new school for the coming year.  The GCS Newcomers School is being established to serve newly arrived immigrant students. It will open August 28 on the current campus of Guilford Primary. Join host Karin Young for this latest edition of our Spanish and English language program, Tus Hijos y GCS.  Karin provides the latest information about the GCS Newcomers School and how it will serve students and their families.  Tus Hijos y GCS airs daily at 1 a.m., 7 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.   

Young Drivers - The High Risk Years

If you have teenagers who are already driving or will be getting their licenses soon, don’t miss this program.  The focus is on ways to reduce injuries and death among our young.  It is told from the perspective of teens and parents who know the consequences of a simple mistake made behind the wheel.  This program airs daily at noon, 9 p.m. and midnight.

Sci-Vis

It’s a modern day art.  Sci-Vis is short for scientific visualization, and it’s a field that is wide-open for students enrolled in GCS.  Come along as students at The Middle College of Entertainment Technology at GTCC explain their Sci-Vis class and how the technology has an effect on everything from medicine to architecture and entertainment.  This program airs daily at 8 a.m., 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.

The Middle College of Entertainment Technology at GTCC

The Middle College of Entertainment Technology at GTCC is one of the exciting educational choices students have within GCS. It’s here where they can get hands on experience in television production and other aspects of the entertainment industry. This program is a sample of how students apply their skills to producing, videotaping, reporting, editing and creating their own show.  This program airs daily at 9 a.m., 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Vals & Sals

GCSTV 2 salutes 2006-07 GCS Valedictorians and Salutatorians in feature profiles that air daily at 45 minutes past the hour beginning at 7:45 a.m.  These bright young men and women also reflect on advice that they have for other high school students when it comes to studying and doing their very best in school.  This additional Vals & Sals feature airs daily at 4:45 p.m.

GCS/ABC 45 Partnership Continues

GCS continues its partnership with ABC 45 television to share the 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. Also, learn more about GCS by tuning in to GCSTV 2 (Cable Channel 2).

Eastern Guilford High’s New Principal
It’s been a year of adversity and progress for the students, faculty and staff at Eastern Guilford High School.  The November 2006 fire that destroyed the building disrupted lives and the educational experience for so many.  A new school year brings promise and a new principal who will help the Wildcats adjust to the move back to the Eastern campus. This newsbreak airs Wednesday, August 15.        

It’s Cool To Be Smart
Studying hard will help a student get into college, but the Guilford county business community helps to provide some incentives.  The Crown Automotive Cool to Be Smart recognition program encourages Guilford county students to take part in Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs and excel.  A brand new car is the grand prize!  This newsbreak airs Friday, August 17.

For more information, please contact Leonard Simpson, Broadcast Production Manager, at 370-8167.

Central Office Summer Schedule

GCS central offices will operate on a summer schedule from June 11 through August 17. Office hours will be 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. on Friday. Normal office hours will resume on Monday, August 20. 

NON-GCS EDUCATIONAL NEWS

Study: With Greater Diversity, Less Community Engagement

Research from Harvard political scientist Robert Putnam found that as diversity increases, civic involvement and neighborhood trust decline. "We can't ignore the findings," says Ali Noorani, Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition executive director. "The big question we have to ask ourselves is, what do we do about it; what are the next steps?"  Click here to read more.

Mixing Rich and Poor Is New Goal

Seminole County is joining a handful of school systems across the nation that are making integration more a matter of green rather than black and white.  Starting this school year, the district is abandoning racial considerations when deciding who goes to which school.  Instead, household income will become the primary factor in approving student assignments and transfers and will play an important role in decisions that shift attendance zones. ... Seminole is among 40 school districts in the nation that have adopted "economic integration" in pupil assignments to some extent, according to a new report by Richard Kahlenberg, a researcher with the nonpartisan Century Foundation ...  Officials caution the new process will be slow, and a balance of low-income and affluent kids at schools won't come soon.  "But we have identified a goal that we are working toward," Superintendent Bill Vogel said.  Click here to read more.

New Rule Will Not Affect Teacher Salaries in Upcoming School Year

Moving to clear up confusion about a recent tax law change, the Internal Revenue Service today reassured teachers and other school employees that new deferred-compensation rules will not affect the way their pay is taxed during the upcoming school year.  Recently, the IRS has received inquiries from teachers who had been told that they had to make certain decisions about their pay this month or risk severe penalties. At issue is a 2004 law change that applies to people who decide to defer compensation from one year to a future year. In April, the Treasury Department and the IRS issued final rules implementing this law change. ... School districts that offer annualization elections may have to make some changes in their procedures. Click here to read more.