Friday Notes from Guilford County Schools

February 8, 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.

GCS Magnet Fair this Saturday

They’ve prepared for months, and this Saturday, they get their time to shine. GCS magnet schools and high school options show what they have to offer to prospective students and their parents during the annual Magnet Fair, Saturday, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the Koury Convention Center.

GCS offers magnet or high school options at 44 schools across the district. Each of these schools also gives parents and students an opportunity to learn about them during “Magnet Mondays,” beginning this Monday, and at Magnet Open Houses.  Click here www.gcsnc.com/magnet for more information, or contact Tony Lamair Burks II, Director of Magnet and Choice Schools, at tlburks2@gcsnc.com or 378-8832.

The Early College at Guilford Names Two Candidates for "The Presidential Scholars Program"

Nik Antolin and Mark Draelos, seniors at The Early College at Guilford, are candidates for the 2008 Presidential Scholars Program.  The 2,600 candidates were selected from nearly 2.8 million students expected to graduate from U.S. high schools in the year 2008.

Inclusion in the Presidential Scholars Program, now in its 44th year, is one of the highest honors bestowed upon graduating high school seniors.  Scholars are selected on the basis of superior academic and artistic achievements, leadership qualities, strong character and involvement in community and school activities.

The candidates were selected for their exceptional performance on either the College Board SAT or the ACT Assessment.  Further consideration is based on students’ essays, self-assessments, descriptions of activities, school recommendations and school transcripts.  A distinguished panel of educators will review these submissions and select 500 semifinalists in early April.

The Commission on Presidential Scholars, a group of some 32 eminent citizens appointed by the President, will make final selection of the Scholars.  They will select one young man and one young woman from each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and U.S. students living abroad; 15 students at-large and up to 20 students from the creative and performing arts.  The U.S. Department of Education will announce the scholars in May.

Scholars are invited to Washington, DC, for several days in June to receive the Presidential Scholars medallion at a recognition ceremony and to participate in events and activities with their elected representatives, educators and other key public figures. For more information about The Early College at Guilford, please contact Principal Charles Blanchard at 316-2860.

GCS Student to be Featured in NC General Assembly

The North Carolina Virtual Public School (NCVPS) is an online school community providing instruction available anytime and anyplace to public school students throughout the state.  On Tuesday, February 12, NCVPS will tout its success in a film presentation shown to the Education Oversight Committee of the NC General Assembly.  This film will feature William Mendelson, a tenth- grader from Grimsley High. 
Recently, Dr. David Roper, Executive Director of Innovative Services for GCS, was asked by officials from NCVPS to identify a student who had successfully completed a Virtual Public School course.  William not only successfully completed one of these classes, but did so from Spain during the summer of 2007.  William’s achievement serves as a good example of the benefits that can be derived from a program that provides students with expanded options for their academic coursework.  His success is being replicated many times over by other students in GCS. For more information regarding the North Carolina Virtual Public School Program, please contact the Office of Innovative Services at 370-8191.

Smith High Band Director Named February Employee of the Month

Numerous nominations poured in on this dynamic band director’s behalf, many from students and many from parents, but they all credit Charles Butler with the same thing: teaching students at Smith discipline and respect while giving them a sense of value. Many students credit him with keeping them in school and setting them on a positive path.

The secret to Charles’s success is in the relationships he builds with his students. He treats them all as if they were his own children, and he shows interest and concern in all aspects of their lives. His wife described a man who cares deeply for the children he teaches, but also spends nights awake wondering how he can do more not only for the students, but also for his coworkers. Because of his endless dedication and remarkable ability to inspire and guide children, he was selected as the district’s Employee of the Month.

As Employee of the Month, Charles received a $50 gift card from Sam’s Club, which has generously partnered with GCS to support the employee recognition program. In addition, the Guilford County Board of Education recognized him at its February 7 meeting.

Do you know someone in the school district’s workforce who goes above and beyond the call of duty? The GCS Employee of the Month program, sponsored by Sam’s Club, recognizes an employee each month who:

• Demonstrates excellence in his/her job
• Exhibits a “teamwork” attitude
• Has made a significant contribution to the school district, employees, students and/or the community
• Enthusiastically supports the mission of GCS

Full-time or part-time GCS employees may be nominated. All nominations must be received by the 10th day of each month. Nomination forms are available at the GCS central office locations and at the district’s schools. Click here to submit online nominations. For more information, contact Lynne Brandon, Program Administrator – Communications, at 370-8353.

February Volunteer of the Month Makes a Difference at Northwest High

Janeen Price takes volunteerism seriously. In fact, she has missed only one day in her year-and-a-half tenure.  The staff and students of Northwest High feel her presence throughout the school as she fields questions, answers the phones and assists wherever needed. From the principal to the front office, all say that she is indispensable. But Janeen’s work with the school parking lot program is what endeared her to the staff at Northwest High.

Thanks to Janeen’s diligence in setting up parking lot procedures and working closing with school staff, the program is running smoothly. Her determination includes painting numbers on 700 parking spaces in last summer’s heat. The person who nominated her said without Janeen’s involvement, the parking lot program would not have been completed.  Because of her constant support of the faculty and students at Northwest High, Janeen is the February GCS Volunteer of the Month.

As the GCS Volunteer of the Month, Janeen received a certificate of appreciation and also a $25 gift card from American Express, which partners with GCS to execute the volunteer recognition program. Her photo will hang on a plaque at the district’s central offices and at her school during the month of February.  Remember to watch for the Volunteer of the Month on GCSTV 2.

Click here to nominate a volunteer who you think goes above and beyond the call of duty. Nominations must be received by the 10th day of each month.  For more information, please contact Lynne Brandon, Program Administrator – Communications, at 370-8353.

School Counselors Celebrated National School Counseling Week

GCS Counselors celebrated National School Counseling Week February 4-8. Sponsored by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), school counseling week highlights the tremendous impact that counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career.
School counselors are actively engaged in helping students examine their abilities, strengths, interests and talents as they focus on positive ways to enhance students' social/personal, educational and career development. Professional school counselors are certified, experienced educators with a master's degree in guidance and counseling. The combination of their training and experience makes them an integral part of the total educational program.

As part of its celebration for National School Counseling Week, counselors within GCS carried out activities such as presentations on the role of the school counselor, special bulletin boards depicting the “Pathways to Success” national theme, poster contests and other activities focusing on the counseling program. For more information, please contact Samara Johnson, Supervisor, Counseling Services
(Secondary), at 370-2331.

2008 Regional and District Science Fairs

The GCS Science Fair, sponsored by the Business Advisory Board of Science and Mathematics, was held Wednesday, February 6, at Oak Hollow Mall in High Point.  The judges for the science fair were recruited from the Business Advisory Board, GCS staff, local universities, and community members.  Two hundred and sixty-five student projects from elementary, middle and high schools in the district were displayed and judged during this event. Click here to view the winners in each category. For more information, please contact Robyn Barrett, Elementary Science Specialist, at 312-4332; Christopher Bronson, Math Science Project Grant Coordinator, at 312-4096, or Debbie Kraszeski, Secondary Science Specialist, at 312-3355.

Department of Advanced Learning Initiates Community Outreach 

The Advanced Learning (AL) department is developing a parent and community outreach initiative to inform the public about opportunities available to GCS students in grades K-12, who may be identified as advanced learners. Department staff members will meet with faith-based organizations on Tuesday, February, 19 at 1 p.m. at Providence Baptist Church located at 1106 Tuscaloosa Drive in Greensboro. The purpose of this meeting is to provide an overview of AL including AL identification, Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) and Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT). The AL department will meet with non-profit organizations on March 5 at 10 a.m. in the GCS Administrative office board room to discuss K-12 opportunities.

Additionally, the community outreach initiative includes brochures, a user-friendly Web site and staff members available upon request to speak with parents and parent organizations. Numerous radio station interviews are scheduled for the same purpose. For more information, please contact the Advance Learning Department at 370-8361.

Guilford Technical Community College Presents President’s Lecture Series

Guilford Technical Community College (GTCC) presents its first President's Lecture Series at the Jamestown campus on February 20. The event is in recognition of the school’s 50th anniversary celebration.  Dr. James Johnson kicks off the lecture series with the timely topic, “Jobs on the Move: Implications for Higher Education and Workforce Development.” Johnson is an author, Distinguished Professor of Entrepreneurship at the UNC-Chapel Hill and Director of the Urban Investment Strategies Center at the Frank Hawkins Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise. The evening includes a  panel discussion led by Don Cameron, President GTCC; Lillian Plummer, Director of Greensboro/High Point/Guilford County Workforce Development Board; Stanley Battle, Chancellor of North Carolina A&T State University andDon Kirkman, President and CEO of Piedmont Triad Partnership Board. Keith Debbage from UNC-Greensboro is the moderator. The reception is at 5:45 p.m. in the Koury Hospitality Center with discussion beginning at 6:30 p.m. Click here to register.  The event is free and open to the public.  For more information, please contact Jackie Greenlee, Director Organizational Development at GTCC, at 334-4822, ext 2202 or jcgreenlee@gtcc.edu.

Guilford County Elementary Schools Receive Defibrillators

Thanks to funding from The High Point Community Foundation, the GCS Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Initiative is placing a defibrillator in four High Point elementary schools: Allen Jay, Oak View, Shadybrook and Southwest. The AED Initiative is an ongoing project seeking to place defibrillators in all GCS schools and school buildings.  All high schools and middle schools have defibrillators.  The initiative supplies elementary schools as funding allows. For more information, please contact Herb Goins, Director of Athletics, at 370-8950 or Linda Helle at 370-8962.

Professional Development Opportunity for GCS Teachers

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, The Center for New North Carolinians and The Guilford Education Alliance present a lecture by Rafe Esquith and the Hobart Shakespeareans, “Teach like Your Hair is On Fire.”  Esquith teaches at Los Angeles’ Hobart Boulevard Elementary, the second-largest elementary school in the U.S. His fifth-grade students, known as the Hobart Shakespeareans, come largely from immigrant Central American and Korean families and are learning English as a second language. They also consistently score in the top 5 percent to 10 percent in the country in standardized tests. All teachers that attend the lecture receive a complimentary copy of Rafe Esquith’s book as well as professional development credit.  A follow-up workshop is also available. The lecture is at 3:30 p.m. on February 25 in the Elliott University Center at UNC-Greensboro.  Click here to register. For more information, please contact Cecilia Adams, Manager Community Partnerships, at 370-8355.

Intel Schools of Distinction Awards

The deadline is fast approaching to earn the Intel School of Distinction Award. The yearly Intel Schools of Distinction Award recognizes U.S. schools that implement innovative, replicable programs which inspire students and lead to positive educational outcomes in the areas of math and science. Intel's education programs are designed to help students graduate with the skills they need to be successful in college and the work place. The Intel Foundation choose 18 finalists from each grade group of K-5, 6-8 and 9-12, with six winners receiving $10,000 from the foundation and more than $100,000 in products and services from the program award sponsors. The final winner receives an additional $15,000 cash grant from the Intel Foundation as well as additional services and products from the award sponsors.  Click here to apply for the Intel Schools of Distinction Awards. The deadline is February 14. For more information about the program, please visit  www.intel.com/education or contact Lynne Brandon, Program Administrator – Communications, at 370-8353.

GCS Data Systems Featured in Education Week

With one computer keystroke, officials in North Carolina’s Guilford County school district can see which students are at risk of dropping out years before it might happen. They can check class attendance, current grades and past years’ grades. They can see whether a student is older than his or her classmates, and whether that student lags behind in credits earned. Click here to read this complete article featured in EdWeek’s Digital Direction. For more information, please contact Dr. Terrence Young, Chief Information & Special Services Officer, at 370-2308.

GCS Social Workers Expand Use of ‘Why Try’ Program

GCS social workers received a follow-up training session on implementing the ‘Why Try?’ program. The ‘Why Try?’ program is a strength-based approach to help youth overcome their personal life challenges and improve in areas of truancy, behavior and academics. GCS staff in Dropout Prevention like trainers Angela Barnes and Kimberly White and the school social workers ask what does ‘Why Try?’ do.  It is not “the be all and end all” to solve all student problems. Rather, staff persons use its visually appealing, highly interactive and concise curriculum with individuals, small groups and even whole classes to tackle the difficult adjustments youth must make. For more information, please contact Richard Tuck, Director –Dropout Prevention/School Social Services, at 621-4027.

Professional Development Policy Revision

Beginning January 1, 2008, Professional Development changed the minimum requirement for Continuing Education Units (CEU) credit from 10 hours to 6 hours. Employees will now be able to receive credit for a course that is six hours or more in length. Previously, all courses had to be at least 10 hours to get any CEU credit.  Participants should not register for courses unless they can attend 100 percent of the sessions. No partial credit may be given to workshop participants.  For more information, please contact Martha Snavely, Executive Director, Induction and Professional Development, at 335-3290.  

Secondary Curriculum and Instruction Staff Presents at North Carolina Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate Honors Forum

Gisela Hood, World Languages Specialist, and Morris Johnson, Teaching American History Project, are making presentations at this year’s North Carolina AP/IB and Honors Forum.  The NC Department of Public Instruction is sponsoring the forum on Wednesday, February 13 at the Twin City Quarter in Winston-Salem.  The sessions will focus on content, strategies and resources for the new or experienced Pre-AP, AP, IB or Honors teachers.  Gisela will present on “Achieving High Levels in AP/IB and Honors World Languages Exams” and Morris will discuss “Using Historical Connections to Combat Coverage over Content.”  For more information, contact Gisela Hood at 707-8324 or Morris Johnson at 317-1199. 

Teaching American History Project Holds Civil War/Reconstruction Seminar

On February 8 and 9, the Teaching American History (TAH) Project held its third seminar.  GCS and the Greensboro Historical Museum hosted high school U.S. history teachers and historical professionals from across the county for presentations and discussions addressing “The Civil War and Reconstruction.”  Presenters included professors of history from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, North Carolina A&T State University, High Point University, and Guilford College.  The TAH Project is a three-year program made possible by the TAH Grant.  The project helps participating teachers expand their understanding of U.S. History and learn strategies to improve student achievement.  The TAH Project’s fourth seminar is scheduled for April 25 and 26 and is hosted by the Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum.  For more information, contact Morris Johnson at 336-317-1199 or johnsom@gcsnc.com.

Mission Possible Recruitment and Retention Successes Featured at State Conference

Mission Possible, Guilford County’s innovative recruitment and retention initiative, was featured this week at the North Carolina ASCD conference in Pinehurst, NC.  Dr. Peggy Thompson, Chief Human Resources Officer; Dr. Amy Holcombe, Senior Director of Mission Possible and Innovative Projects; Dr. Grenita Lathan, Principal of Washington Elementary and Revonda Johnson, Principal of High Point Central High, shared with educators across the state how Mission Possible’s compensation incentives, performance accountability, professional development and structural support have aided in recruiting and retaining the best teachers for Guilford County’s most impacted schools.  Both Washington Elementary and High Point Central High made AYP last year, their first year of participation in the Mission Possible program.  For more information about the NC ASCD conference or Mission Possible, please contact Dr. Amy Holcombe at 335-3294 or via email at holcoma@gcsnc.com.

Annual Enrollment for Health Insurance

Annual Enrollment for Health Insurance is March 1, 2008 through March 28, 2008.  During this time period, employees may make changes to health coverage or, if previously declined health insurance, may enroll without a qualifying event. Beginning July 1, 2008, the Indemnity (Comprehensive Major Medical) Plan will no longer be offered.  During the March enrollment, employees currently insured by this plan must elect and enroll in one of the Preferred Provider Organization Plans (PPO).  The State Health Plan office will mail enrollment kits and information to current members’ homes in the next two weeks.  Employees enrolling or making changes may send completed forms to the Benefits Office via the courier at 712 N. Eugene Street. It is extremely important that employees keep copies of forms sent to the Benefits Office.

Our next retirement seminar is Thursday, February 28 at Alamance Elementary from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the school’s cafeteria.  There is no registration for the seminar. For more information, contact Patty Kinkade, Director of Benefits, at 370-8092 or via email at kinkadp@gcsnc.com.

GCSTV2

Magnet and Choice Schools

Some students may thrive in arts, some in science. Others may excel in a rigorous academic curriculum. Recognizing that the “one-size-fits-all” philosophy doesn’t apply in Guilford County, GCS offers 17 magnet and choice themes from Montessori to Mandarin Chinese.  GCSTV 2 brings you highlights of our magnet/choice themes in a series of video showcases airing each weekday at 11:56 a.m., 12:45 p.m., 1:40 p.m., 2:15 p.m. 4:26 p.m., 7:45 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.  

2008 Bond Presentation

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.  

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

Winter weather in the Piedmont is often a variety of unseasonable warm days followed sometimes by snow and ice. The icy weather affects the operation of our schools the most. Join host Karin Young for the latest edition of Tus Hijos y GCS as she outlines the district’s inclement weather policy and procedures. Broadcast in both English and Spanish, the program airs daily at 7 a.m., 11 a.m., 7 p.m. and 1 a.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 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 Sundays through Fridays beginning Friday, February 1, 2008 at 5:56 p.m. and Saturdays at 9:59 p.m. throughout Black History Month. 

If You Have To Sneeze

It’s the cold and flu season, but that doesn’t mean you have to get sick.  Hand washing is one of the best ways to cut down on the spread of germs, but you can also limit cold germs by knowing the best way to sneeze. Check out this humorous, yet informative presentation on proper cold etiquette. This program airs daily at 8:54 a.m.

New GCSTV 2 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.     

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
This program urges students to stick with academics and discipline and avoid violence at school and beyond, to become productive citizens. Presented at Ferndale Middle, the presentation features a special guest speaker. This newsbreak airs Wednesday, February 13.

So Many Choices
The GCS Magnet Fair offers students and parents a chance to sample the wide variety of schools and areas of study that comprise our magnet and choice schools program. The sign-up period is underway now until March 7. This newsbreak airs Friday, February 15.
 
For more information, please contact Leonard Simpson, Broadcast Production Manager, at 370-8167.

NON-GCS EDUCATIONAL NEWS

From School Yard to Prison Yard

In a number of America's upper-income communities, parents, like generations of family members before them, pre-register their children at birth for blue-chip nursery schools in hopes of placing them on the path to Ivy League and other top-tier universities.  By contrast, millions of Black and Latino children from poor families with no or few stimulating prekindergarten opportunities never make it onto the college track. With multiple strikes against them -- low birth weight, poor single parents, absent fathers, perhaps substance abuse -- many begin life already on the prison track.  A good education in America is a major determinant of what kind of life a child will have when s/he grows up.   Click here to read more.

Area Schools Set To Lose Millions Under Medicaid Policy Changes

Educators nationwide are protesting a Bush administration move to curtail hundreds of millions of dollars in Medicaid funding for disabled students that could force some schools already in budget straits to trim health services or cut back instructional programs. ... The rule, to take effect in June unless Congress intervenes, will bar schools from billing Medicaid for busing special education students to and from school and for certain administrative expenses, including enrolling children in Medicaid and coordinating and scheduling services. Click here to read more.

Longer School Days Create Additional Opportunities for Learning

Struggling learners can get additional help and other students have more time for arts, music and enrichment at the increasing number of schools nationwide that are lengthening the school day or year, proponents say. "Our aspirations for both children and schools have increased dramatically, and we're still working out of the old, very limited box," said Paul Reville, Massachusetts Board of Education chairman, and co-chairman of a Boston-based organization formed to promote longer school days. "We're not getting all students to high standards. It seems to us, the way to do that is make more time available." Click here to read more.

Study: Dropouts' Interest in School May Start Waning Early On

Students who drop out of school don't do so impulsively but instead may fall into a dropout trajectory as early as kindergarten, according to an Arizona State University study to appear in the Journal of Education Research. "Educators may be overlooking important developmental trajectories exhibited by students prior to entering high school," said Gregory Hickman, who directed the undergraduate research. "Dropouts miss an average of 124 days by eighth grade." Click here to read more.

Study: Bullying Victims More Likely to be Depressed, Anxious

Children who are bullied may be far more likely to become depressed or anxious or have suicidal thoughts, according to a British study. "Being bullied is bad for children's health," said researcher Dr. Louise Arsenault. "Their symptoms are to be taken seriously." Click here to read more. 

Study: Experienced Math Teachers Less Common in Low-Income Schools

Wealthier U.S. children are more likely to be taught by certified, experienced math teachers than those from poor families, according to a University of Missouri study, which examined eighth-graders in particular. "When students are not taught by highly qualified teachers, their opportunity to learn is considerably lower," said Motoko Akiba, University of Missouri assistant professor of educational leadership and policy analysis. Click here to read more.