Friday Notes from Guilford County Schools

January 25, 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.

Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year 2008 Award Program

Each year, the Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year award recognizes outstanding senior scholar athletes throughout the U.S. Coaches, principals, parents and others can nominate a deserving athlete for the award until March 7. Seniors may also nominate themselves.

Nominees will be judged based on five categories:

• Academic performance (35%)
• Athletic excellence (35%)
• Leadership (15%)
• Community service (10%)
• Milk experience (5%)

Finalists are narrowed to 25 winners who will each receive a $7,500 college scholarship, weekend at Disney World and coverage in national magazines.  Click here for official rules. For more information, please contact Sonya Conway, Chief District Relations Officer, at 370-8386.

Alamance Elementary Wins 2008 Spirit of North Carolina Award

Alamance Elementary is the winner of the 2008 Spirit of North Carolina Award for United Way. The school won for the combined efforts of students and staff who raised more than $10,000. The award program provides statewide recognition for exceptional commitment and support to communities through local United Way involvement. The Spirit of North Carolina Campaigning for Excellence Awards are sponsored by the United Way of North Carolina. For more information, please contact Assistant Principal Jill Hall at 697-3177.

North Carolina Association of Educational Office Professionals (NCAEOP) Awards Scholarship

Connie Cromer is $1,000 richer thanks to a NCAEOP scholarship. The award is given to GCS employees who are pursuing higher education. Connie is employed in the accounting department and represents the Guilford County Association of Educational Office Professionals. She is the first GCS employee to win at the state level and will receive the award at the state conference in March. For more information, please contact Joan Miller at 545-3700 or go to www.ncaeop.org.

Dow Corning Foundation Grants Available to GCS Teachers

A Dow Corning Foundation initiative will award up to 50 $1,000 grants to teachers in U.S. communities where Dow Corning employees work and live. Teachers in Guilford County are eligible and encouraged to apply for the grant. The initiative will equip math, science and technology teachers to bring more innovation into the classroom and students will have exciting opportunities to learn more about these subjects. Awards can be used to purchase equipment, supplies or training.  Individuals or a team of teachers may apply for the grants. Applications are due by midnight on March 10. Awards will be announced before the end of the 2007-08 school year. Click here to apply.  For more information, please contact Kevin Musser at kevin.musser@dowcorning.com  or 547-7120.

Reminder: Inclement Weather Make-up Days

District schools were closed on Thursday, January 17 due to inclement weather. To make-up for the instruction lost, students will attend school on days previously designated as teacher workdays. Make-up days for student instruction missed due to inclement weather are as follows:

• GCS middle colleges: Friday, February 15 and Friday, April 18 (for the missed day on Tuesday, January 22)
• Schools on the traditional calendar: Oak Hill Elementary: Monday, February 25
• The Early College at Guilford: Tuesday, March 11
• Extended-year schools: No make-up day is needed

Each year, potential make-up days are designated when school calendars are approved by the Board of Education. The potential make-up days assist families and school officials in planning for anticipated days missed due to inclement weather. School calendars may be accessed on the district Web site: http://www.gcsnc.com/information/allcalendars.htm.

GCS Exceptional Children Services Host Spring Institute

The GCS Department of Exceptional Children and EC Parent Advisory Council (ECPAC) is conducting a spring institute on March 13. The program to be held at Kiser Middle from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., includes dinner and informational sessions on topics including literacy, understanding assessments, positive behavior support and much more. Click here to view the flyer. To register, please contact Stephanie Antkowiak, ECPAC liaison, at 370-8329 or Andrea Worthington, ECPAC member, at 856-9923.  Registration deadline is February 29. Space is limited.

Rookie Teacher of the Year Nominations

The Office of Induction and Success has received 51 nominations for "Rookie Teacher of the Year."  Nominees will complete portfolios which are due February 1.  A committee of principals, teachers and community representatives will review all portfolios and select five finalists.  The five finalists will be recognized at a breakfast in the spring.  The winner of the "Rookie Teacher of the Year” award will receive a scholarship for the master's program at UNCG.  For more information, please contact Martha Snavely, Executive Director, Induction and Professional Development, at 335-3290.

Recruitment

The district conducted a private visit to the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and spoke with 27 seniors who are currently student teaching in the area of special education. Human Resources staff gave a brief overview of the district and discussed the application/interviewing process, special education licensure requirements and employment procedures.  Additionally, two representatives from the GCS Exceptional Children’s Department were available to share pertinent information and the special education employment opportunities in our school system. For more information, please contact Alan Hooker, Director of Employment, at 370-8055.

The Early College at Guilford Provides Guilford County Students an Opportunity to Participate in The Guilford Model Congress Club

To help the students of Guilford County better understand the inner workings of the American government, students at The Early College at Guilford created The Guilford Model Congress (GMC) Club. The Guilford Model Congress club provides an interactive experience for students who participate in the 2008 conference. 

• The conference is set for March 8 and 9 on the campus of Guilford College
• The registration fee is $10 and checks should be made payable to The Early College at Guilford
• The conference is open to 7th-11th graders in Guilford County
• Students may apply with their school or through self-nomination, however if a students' school applies, that student may only apply through their school
• To make communication with GMC staff easier, it is recommended that schools designate one faculty member to be the faculty advisor of your schools delegation
• The deadline for Phase I registration is Thursday, January 31

Click here for more information about Guilford Model Congress or the registration process.  If you are interested in your students participating, please contact Principal Charles Blanchard at 316-2860.

Eastern Middle Students Help Restore Nativity Scene

The nativity scene at Greensboro College was vandalized beyond repair and the students at Eastern Middle showed great commitment to raise money for a replacement.  On December 17, collection containers, provided by a parent, were placed in every classroom.  Students and staff were encouraged to place change or other donations in the containers.  The homeroom that collected the most money during the two-week period was awarded a food party donated by the parents of Chelsea Vandegrift.  Chelsea’s mother, Nancy Vandegrift, stopped by the school every couple of days and collected the money.  Ms. Needham’s homeroom raised the most money ($85.24).  The total amount raised was $500.  Ms. Needham’s class of 30 traveled to Greensboro College on January 24 and presented the check to Dr. Craven Williams, President of Greensboro College.  We are all very proud of the dedication demonstrated by the students, staff, parents and community. For more information, please contact Principal Joe Ferrell at 697-3199 or Lewis Ferebee, Instructional Improvement Officer, at 370-8301.

Department of Advanced Learning Pilots Program Review

In cooperation with the Department of Counseling Services and the Department of Special Services and Information, the Advanced Learning (AL) Department is pleased to announce the development of a program review instrument that ensures compliance to the Approved AL Plan for 2007-10 and state laws, as well as consistent delivery of services to advanced learners district wide. Included in the review are K-12 advanced learning programs, including PSAT/SAT, AP and IB.  This instrument will provide timely information to schools to ensure appropriate placement and to assist schools with scheduling AL identified students; additionally, the instrument will inform principals of any areas affecting advanced learners that need improvement in their schools, as well as expected dates for further review.   This instrument will be piloted in the following schools in February:  Smith HS, Grimsley HS, Kernodle MS, Jackson MS, Parkview ES and Morehead ES.  After further refining of the instrument, each GCS school will receive a full program review in April.  For more information, please contact Dr. Jane Fleming, Executive Director - Advanced Learning, at 370-2316.

GCSTV2

Improvement and Expansion Needs

GCS faces significant enrollment growth with a pressing need to upgrade or replace aging facilities and build new schools. This presentation outlines some of those needs included in a proposed school bond referendum for 2008. This program airs Tuesday through Thursday at 11:30 a.m. and Friday through Monday at 7:40 p.m.  

February One - The Local Story of the Pioneers of Civil Rights 

Greensboro played a pivotal role in the history of the civil rights movement. The sit-ins at the F. W. Woolworth store downtown sparked similar non-violent protests against racial segregation in the South.  GCSTV 2 marks this part of history with a special, exclusive presentation of “February One, The Story of the Greensboro Four” in honor of Black History Month.  This historic event occurred 48 years ago on February 1, 1960.  It airs beginning Friday, February 1, 2008 at 5:56 p.m.  It will broadcast daily Sunday through Friday at the same time, and at 9:59 p.m. on Saturday throughout Black History Month. 

New Program Guide

GCSTV 2 viewers now have a convenient electronic guide to daily programs. Turn to GCSTV 2 to find the times of programs on the hour throughout the day and evening. Check out our new GCSTV 2 Program Guide.  

A Warehouse of Classroom Supplies

The district’s 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.      

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).

Choosing Education
A Ferndale Middle program that honors the legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. encourages students to choose education over violence, a pen over the penitentiary. The observance features a message from special guest Darryl Hunt, the man who was wrongly accused of murder and released after serving almost 20 years in prison. This newsbreak airs Wednesday, January 30.

The New Northern Elementary
It’s designed to provide a good learning environment for students, and it gets high marks for doing just that. Getting the new Northern Elementary up and running is no small task.  Take a peek into how one of GCS’ newest schools started the year.  This newsbreak airs Friday, February 1.

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

NON-GCS EDUCATIONAL NEWS

Gifted and Left Behind?

Thousands of Ohio's gifted students go without any special services every year because there's no state mandate to provide them and there's not enough money. Only 31 [states] require districts to provide gifted services, according to the National Association for Gifted Children. Ohio is not among them. ... Roughly 16 percent of the state's public school enrollment is classified as gifted.  But last school year, only 26 percent of those students received either full or partial services. Click here to read more.   

CMS Faced With How to Staff High-Poverty Schools

Despite spirited efforts, Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s high-poverty schools are struggling to attract experienced, highly qualified teachers. This data, along with the 2008 equity report were presented to the school board Tuesday.  
The district’s 2008 equity report, released early this month, is designed to gauge whether students get a fair shot at a good education. The report measures nine areas of educational opportunities, including: teacher-student ratios, libraries, technology, audiovisual equipment, textbooks, enrichment activities, buildings, faculty, and faculty standards.
CMS’s equity report comes to the board three days before a retreat where they will reopen the question of forcing top teachers and principals to move to struggling schools, seen last year as a last resort that wasn’t yet needed.
 In 2007, Superintendent Peter Gorman attempted to tackle the problem by creating a special “achievement zone” to give 11 high-poverty, low-scoring schools special help with hiring. The four high schools in that zone offered 15 percent pay bumps for teachers and signing bonuses up to $15,000 for new teachers hired or experienced CMS teachers who would volunteer for transfers. Yet despite these efforts, achievement zone schools still fare dismally on 2008 faculty ratings. Gorman said he has been talking about “push and pull, or incentives vs. forced moves. “It’s clear to me that you can’t hit those targets that we’ve set just using pull,” he said after Tuesday’s meeting. To view the full report, plus additional data on all schools, go to https://www.cms.k12.nc.us/equityReport/pdf/CMS2008EquityReport.pdf .

NC Fairs Poorly in Education Trust’s Funding Report

According to a report released last week by the Education Trust, North Carolina ranks among the worst 10 states for having the largest gap between funding high wealth and low wealth school districts. The state also ranked low for giving less funding to school districts that have high percentages of minorities. 

The seventh in a series of annual reports, “The Funding Gap” report compares state and local funding from 1999 through 2005 for the approximately 14,000 school districts across the nation. It compares the resources available to school districts serving the highest percentages of low-income students and minorities to the resources available to districts serving the lowest percentages of such students. 

 North Carolina’ gap between highest and lowest-poverty districts grew from $337 in 1999 to -$603 in 2005, with the negative number indicating that fewer dollars were provided to high-poverty districts. With a poverty gap change from 1999-2005 of -$939, it appears the Joint Legislative Study Committee on Public School Funding Formulas comes at the right time. Their next two meetings are scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, January 30 and 31 in room 643 of the LOB.