Friday Notes from Guilford County Schools

August 3, 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.

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.

Administrator Evaluation Pilot

We are pleased to announce that GCS is one of 21 North Carolina school districts that have been selected to pilot the new school administrator evaluation instrument.  The instrument was developed by the Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning group following their extensive research project on the work of school administrators and how it impacts student achievement.  GCS was the only district in the Piedmont-Triad area to be selected as a pilot district.  For more information, please contact Dr. Peggy Thompson, Chief Human Resource Officer, at 370-8340. 

Intervention Teams

During the second semester of the 2006-07 school year, 18 schools were assigned a Central Office Intervention Team to provide additional support to schools that had not met academic standards.  Click here to view the preliminary ABC/AYP scores of those schools. The percent proficiency score for all levels significantly exceeded the district average, as did the number and percentage of these schools making AYP and ABC.  Overall, we are very pleased with the efforts of these schools and the support of our intervention teams.  Please call me at 370-8992, should you have questions.

Tax-Free Weekend Means Tools for School

If you shop at Wal-Mart this weekend, be sure to pick up a few extra school supplies for the Tools for School bins, located at the front of all Guilford County Wal-Mart locations. WFMY News 2 is partnering with GCS to help put the right tools into the hands of students whose families may not be able to afford to buy items such as pencils, paper, markers, backpacks and more. The Tools for School program will continue throughout the month of August.  For more information, please contact Cecilia Adams, Manager of Community Partnerships, at 370-8355.

UNC-Greensboro and Hunter Elementary Host Teaching Camp

The School of Education at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) believes that central to the closing of the achievement gap is the need to close the university to public school gap.  To address this need, the School of Education at UNCG and Hunter Elementary, the university’s oldest professional development partner, will host a unique camp at UNCG’s Teaching Resource Center on August 20.

The camp will underscore the importance, role and responsibilities of the public school cooperating teacher to the effective preparation of pre-service teachers.  The onsite teacher educator (OSTE) camp will be co-chaired by Dr. Samuel Miller, Gerry Duffy and Seth Parsons from the School of Education’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction. Hunter Elementary Principal Michelle Thompson and her committee will also assist with the camp. For more information, please contact Ms. Thompson at 294-7345 or 669-4672.

Cast Your Vote for Education

DonorsChoose.org, an educational nonprofit that funnels thousands of dollars into GCS classrooms, has made it to the finals of the American Express Members Project.  Through this project, American Express will donate $1 per registration to the Members Project winner, up to $5 million, and the outcome will be decided by votes of American Express card holders.  If DonorsChoose.org wins, all the proceeds will go to classroom projects in public schools!

Currently, DonorsChoose.org is in second place, and voting ends this Sunday, August 5.  If you are an American Express card holder, please go to the American Express Members Project Web site and cast your vote for “Teachers Ask. You Choose. Students Learn.”
If you have already voted during the contest, you must vote again in this final round for your vote to be counted.  Please see these simple instructions at http://www.donorschoose.org/html/AMEX_voting_guide.pdf for more details. For more information, please contact Cecilia Adams, Manager of Community Partnerships, at 370-8355.

Cumulative Effect Math Project

Seventy math teachers from eight high schools are participating in a two-week training program at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.  This two-year project called the Cumulative Effect, provides intense training in math content and pedagogy, mentor support, and online professional learning communities to math teachers at Andrews, Dudley, Eastern, High Point Central, Smith, Southern, the Middle College at NC A&T and the Middle College at Bennett.  For more information, please contact Dr. Peggy Thompson, Chief Human Resource Officer, at 370-8340.

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).

Boot Camp for Teachers
It is part of continuing education for one GCS teacher, but she’s sharing with her colleagues. See how this fitness “boot camp” is helping middle school teachers keep their commitment to get in or stay in shape during the summer.  This newsbreak airs Wednesday, August 8.        
     
Academic All-Star Camp
Developing leadership skills and exploring academic interests.  That’s what is in store for rising ninth-graders as they embark on the adventure of Academic All-Star Camp.  This summer camp is the culmination of hard work and studying that dates back to their earliest years.  Eligibility for the camp is determined by PSAT scores taken in the seventh grade.  This newsbreak airs Friday, August 10.

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

Summer Slide

"A recent study by Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore concludes that two-thirds of the reading achievement gap between 9th graders of low and high socioeconomic standing in Baltimore public schools can be traced to what they learned -- or failed to learn -- over their childhood summers." An ASCD Blog post highlights an article by Education Week, "Much of Learning Gap Blamed on Summer," and seeks feedback on some questions raised by this article. Click here to read more.

Merit Pay Gaining Support, Included in Major NCLB Reform Bill

Teacher performance pay is gaining favor among more federal lawmakers and presidential candidates. A bipartisan Senate bill to amend NCLB would use state data systems to link student achievement data to teachers as a way to measure teacher effectiveness, and it provides incentives for states to look at performance-pay programs as a way to attract educators to underachieving schools. Click here to read more.

Opinion: Communities Must Help to Close Achievement Gap

If the U.S. wants to close the achievement gap, communities must act to offer disadvantaged students more out-of school opportunities, such as museum visits and internships, says Voices in Urban Education editor Robert Rothman. "If we are serious about ensuring that all children learn to high levels, we need to address both the inequities within schools and those outside of schools," he writes. Click here to read more.

Q-and-A: Preparing for the School Year, Part 2

What's the best way to prepare for the new school year? Award-winning teacher and author Coleen Armstrong continues with her advice on establishing classroom rules, encouraging children to become book lovers and keeping lessons centered on students. Click here to read more.