Friday Notes from Guilford County Schools
January 4, 2008
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.
New Principal Named
Keisha McMillan is the new principal at Vandalia Elementary effective January 2. Ms. McMillan has recently served as the assistant principal at both Summerfield Elementary and Smith High School.
Grimsley JROTC Cadet appointed to Naval Academy
Army Junior ROTC Cadet Lucas Wren received his congressional nomination to the United States Naval Academy this week from the Honorable Congressman Howard Coble. Lucas currently performs duties as the highest ranking Cadet in the “Whirlie” Battalion – Cadet Battalion Commander. Congratulations to Lucas, Grimsley High Army Junior ROTC Instructor Sergeant Major Richard Dunlap and the entire Grimsley High family.
The Shaw-Lewis Grant for First-Year GCS Teachers
The Beta Delta Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society for Key Women Educators is sponsoring a scholarship for first-year women teachers. Teachers are encouraged to apply if they have a special classroom project that cannot be funded in another way. The application process is as follows:
- Female first-year teachers in a K-12 school in Guilford County may apply
- Grant will be based on the merit of the proposal
- Two awards annually in the amount of $500 each are available
- Grant in Aid applications should be mailed by February 15 to: Anita Lawson, 6310 Lakebend Court, Greensboro NC 27410
- The letter of application should be written on school stationery and should include a description of the specific classroom needs the applicant has identified, the materials that would be purchased to address these needs and their approximate costs. A telephone number and/or e-mail address should be provided.
- The application should also include a letter of support from a supervisor or principal.
For more information, please contact Leisa Huddleston at 316-5883.
Read Across America
The Literacy Empowerment Foundation (LEF), a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization, invites schools to apply for free books for Read Across America Day. During the past year, LEF distributed over three million books to schools all across the country for Read Across America Day and other literacy projects. Please share this important information with your fellow educators. Orders must be received by February 10, 2008. To order go to http://literacyhelp.org
Using Advanced Placement Potential
On January 9, 2008 Advanced Placement (AP) coordinators from each high school will attend a workshop offered by the Advanced Learning Department entitled “Using AP Potential.” The Department of Advanced Learning believes that all students deserve a rigorous academic experience that will prepare them to succeed in college. AP Potential is one tool that can help parents, students and counselors find an appropriate Advanced Placement course. In October 2007, all GCS students in Grades 9, 10, and 11 took the Pre-Scholastic Assessment Test (PSAT). The College Board conducted research on thousands of students to determine what correlation exists between the PSAT score on specific sections of the test and the likelihood that students will earn a 3 or higher on a specific AP course exam. Although this is an important indicator, no one factor can guarantee success. Student motivation, parent support, teacher efficacy and post-secondary plans are some of the other factors that should guide course selection. In addition to using AP Potential in the registration process, the workshop will address how schools can use this tool to grow AP programs and support struggling students. Advanced Placement and other rigorous courses are an important part of overall college readiness. For more information about this session or AP Potential contact Ashly Morrison, Coordinator of AP and IB at 370-8244 or morrisa2@gcsnc.com
Transfer List Sign-Up
Human Resources sent an electronic notice to all probationary and career contracted licensed employees on Wednesday, January 2, 2008 with information regarding the 2008-2009 transfer list. A link to this information is also available on the GCS Web site under the Employee section and “transfer list.” http://www.gcsnc.net/pdf/transfer_list.pdf All eligible, licensed employees interested in adding their name to the transfer list must do so by Friday, January 11, 2008. Please note that the link to the transfer list will not work from your home computer. For additional information please contact the Staffing Office at 378-8806.
GCSTV 2
New Teacher Supply Warehouse
The district’s new Teacher Supply Warehouse is now open providing traditional school supplies and more to teachers at Title 1 schools. Through the generosity of contributions from businesses and individuals, GCS has a more efficient way to link donated school supplies to the children who need them. The goal is to open the warehouse to more schools as donations increase. This program airs Friday through Monday at 9:30 a.m.
Employee of the Month
Duane Lewis has the respect of his students and his peers. His hard work as a social worker at the Middle College at North Carolina A&T earns him the honor of December Employee of the Month. This program airs daily at 6 a.m., 9:58 a.m., 12:50 p.m., 3:58 p.m., 6:57 p.m. and 9:58 p.m.
Education Matters
The significance of an education in our society is undeniable. That is why support for our schools is so important. This presentation outlines how GCS schools are funded relative to other districts in the state and how important it is to understand the educational issues we face. This program airs Friday through Monday at 8:44 p.m.
Building on Our Strengths
Our schools outperform the state average on ABC rankings and surpass the state’s largest school district on Average Yearly Performance. Watch Building on Our Strengths to learn what is right with our schools and our community, as well as areas that need improvement. This program airs daily at 9:02 a.m. and 9:34 p.m.
Tus Hijos y Guilford County Schools
Join host Karin Young for this latest edition of our program that addresses the issues important to our newest students. This edition of Tus Hijos y GCS (Your Children and Guilford County Schools) highlights how parents and students alike can get more involved with their schools. The program is broadcast in Spanish and English daily at: 1 a.m., 7 a.m., 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.
All County Festival Chorus
Join us for this sample of the musical talent of GCS students. The 2007-08 High School All- County Festival Chorus performs in a fall concert at Grimsley High. This program airs daily at noon.
The Performance of Our Students
This Power Point presentation analyzes the results of GCS test performance with a breakdown on how individual schools scored on Average Yearly Performance and ABC tests. The presentation airs Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10:32 a.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).
Lunch and Learn
Good behavior at school is rewarded within GCS. Students at Irving Park Elementary get to have lunch with a person of their choice as a thank you for their good deeds. This newsbreak airs Wednesday, January 9.
The New Northern
Getting a new school up and running is no small task. Get a peek into how one of GCS’ newest schools started the new year. This newsbreak airs Friday, January 11.
For more information, please contact Leonard Simpson, Broadcast Production Manager, at 370-8167.
NON-GCS EDUCATIONAL NEWS
A Positive Future for Black Boys
A report released by The Schott Foundation point out that the nation increasingly recognizes the growing crisis affecting the life chances of five million Black boys in the United States. Nationwide, schools are graduating a dismal 42% of Black males who enter the 9th grade. Enormous disparities in achievement levels and graduation rates exist regardless of the family's socio-economic levels. Discrimination in school discipline and special education, among other things, has created the kind of dramatically disproportionate statistics that help build the school-to-prison pipeline. For example, Black students comprise only 17% of public school students, but 41% of special education placements, 85% of which are boys. Following this pattern to its logical end, Black men are also overrepresented in the country's criminal justice systems and prison populations. Click here to read more.
College Navigator
College Navigator (http://collegenavigator.ed.gov), the Department's web site for information about colleges and universities, has been named by Money magazine as "the best first screen" for researching higher education institutions. Navigator was cited in the publication's December 4, 2007, issue, which rated the Top 28 web sites in seven categories -- one of which was college search tools. Money notes that the web site, unlike many other college search tools, is not tied to any marketing department seeking students' personal information. It also credits the web site for being "one of the simplest" to use, for having "a good comparison tool," and for providing "a full set of the latest data on expenses, aid, enrollment, admission and graduation rates, majors, and more, along with a Google map pinpointing location." Launched in September, Navigator is one of several agency resources developed to supply the public with clear and reliable information on the college selection process and federal financial aid. They are part of Secretary Spellings' plan to make the American higher education system more accessible, affordable and accountable. Click here for more information.
Igniting Creative Energy Challenge
Johnson Controls, in partnership with the National Energy Foundation, invites students to participate in the annual Igniting Creative Energy Challenge. Students must use their creative talents to communicate their energy ideas and actions to win. The winner will have their work published and win a prize package valued at $1,000. Additionally, three students and one teacher will win a trip to Hawaii. Winners will also participate in the national Energy Efficient Forum in Washington, D.C. For more information about how to enter the completion go to www.ignitingcreativeenergy.org. Submissions must be marked on or before January 31, 2008.
Volunteer Service
The Corporation for National and Community Service is asking Americans to appropriately honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s legacy on January 21 by making the holiday a day ON -- versus a day off. This year marks the 40th anniversary of Dr. King's assassination and the 21st observance of the holiday. King Day became a national day of service in 1994, when Congress passed legislation to give the holiday even greater significance. A dedicated web site enables organizers to register projects in every state and the District of Columbia. The site has ideas and resources, as well as photographs of previous activities. Click here for more information.
Note: The King Day of Service falls during National Mentoring Month, which stresses the importance of bringing caring adults into the lives of children who need guidance, support, and encouragement. Click here for more information.
Reports: Foreign Language Instruction Must Be More Rigorous
Ohio must start foreign language instruction earlier, move more quickly to advanced material and introduce more Chinese and Arabic classes, two major reports conclude. "Ohio's students need opportunities to learn a broader range of languages in order to prepare them for future economic, diplomatic, educational and personal endeavors," Ohio's Foreign Language Advisory Council said in a report released this month. Click here to read more.
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