News Briefs |
 May 17, 2013
Budget Update
The Guilford County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on the budget at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 6. Commissioners are required by state statute to vote on the school budget on or before July 1. By law, the county must approve the school budget on or before GCS depends on the county to provide more than 30 percent of its budget. The district is seeking $13.6 million more in operating funds from Guilford County Commissioners. The increase would pay for district operations, a salary increase for employees, and lowering class size. The district is also requesting $10 million in county money to maintain and upgrade school buildings. In order to support our students and our staff, who lay it on the line every day, I think we have to ask for increased funding from county commissioners," said Board Chair Alan Duncan. "We have to be advocates for our students and our families." News from our Schools
Of those 50 students, 13 of them graduated with an associate degree from GTCC, five of which were earned in only four years. The Middle College at GTCC-Jamestown is one of several GCS high schools that offer students the chance to earn college credit while in high school.
Dejuan Smith is one of those who will earn both a high school diploma and an associate degree on Wednesday. In addition to taking a full college course load, Dejuan works 25 to 40 hours per week to help provide for his family and cheers competitively in his free time, something he hopes to continue in his college career.
The full 2013 graduation schedule is available on the GCS website. Ceremonies for the district's early and middle colleges and other non-traditional high schools will take place throughout May and early June. Traditional high schools will hold graduation ceremonies June 7 through June 10 at the Greensboro Coliseum Special Events Center.
To ensure all ceremonies go off without a hitch, GCS asks all graduates, family members and guests to show respect for graduates by applauding politely, limiting cheers so every graduate's name is heard and remaining seated during the ceremonies. For safety and security reasons, guests will not be allowed to bring duffel bags, backpacks, balloons, air horns or noisemakers into graduations.
School staff members and families are invited to share outstanding graduation stories with GCS by e-mailing goodnews@gcsnc.com.
GCS High Schools Ranked by Newsweek/The Daily Beast The Early College at Guilford earned recognition among the nation's best high schools according to new rankings released by Newsweek and The Daily Beast. The annual list of high schools ranked The Early College at Guilford 21st in the nation. The school also earned the number one ranking among North Carolina high schools and was ranked 14th in the South.
Penn-Griffin School for the Arts and Weaver Academy were both ranked among the top 10 schools in North Carolina, coming in at 281st and 311th respectively in the national rankings.
In total, 20 Guilford County schools were included in the America's Best High Schools list. The list includes the 2,000 best public high schools in the nation. Guilford County high schools accounted for more than a quarter (27 percent) of the North Carolina schools on the list.
The rankings are based on graduation rate (25 percent), college acceptance rate (25 percent), AP, IB and college-level exams taken per student (25 percent), average SAT/ACT scores (10 percent), average AP, IB and college-level exam scores (10 percent), and percent of students enrolled in at least one AP or IB course (5 percent).
Click here to view full list.
Guilford Parent Academy Hosts Family Fun Day at Camp Weaver Guilford Parent Academy is hosting its third-annual family fun event this Saturday. This fun event at Camp Weaver will allow parents, caregivers and children the opportunity to enjoy a day of crafts, entertainment, horseback riding, kayaking, walking trails and other outdoor activities (there will be no swimming). All children must be accompanied by an adult. More than 2,500 students and family members will be in attendance. Registration was required for the event and is now closed.
Local food vendors will provide a variety of snacks and meals for purchase. Families may also bring in picnic lunches. Free lunches will NOT be provided this year.
All guests must park at a transportation site and ride the shuttle to Camp Weaver.
Western High Drama Teacher to Be Recognized by Police A Guilford County Schools (GCS) drama teacher was recognized Thursday night for her role in helping the Greensboro Police Department (GPD) save lives. Linda Veneris, drama teacher at Western High, will receive the Chief's Award during the Annual Police and Citizens Awards Dinner at 6 p.m. at the Koury Convention Center.
Veneris is being recognized for developing two teen safety awareness campaigns in partnership with the police department. In February 2012, she worked with Western High creative writing students to write three separate skits related to teen dating violence for GPD's "No Hatin 'n Datin" campaign. Veneris collaborated with students from Southwest High, who performed the skits.
Earlier this year, Veneris again contributed to the department through its anti-texting while driving campaign, "A Message 2 Die 4." Western High students wrote and acted in four vignettes about a fictional student killed while texting and driving. The stories aired at Western High prior to a live crash re-enactment at the school. The same students acted out the conclusion of the story, demonstrating the fatal accident and funeral scene, to show their peers the dangers of texting and driving. The program was also shared at other GCS high schools.
Northern Middle Opens New Outdoor Learning Center
The project, which began in 2010, was built in three phases. Overall, a total of $30,000 was raised through corporate sponsorships, private donations and student fundraisers in order to complete the outdoor classroom that also includes a basic inventory of classroom supplies.
Although the concept of an outdoor classroom seems simple, there is nothing ordinary about the Northern Middle’s outdoor learning center. The unique setting gives students an environment that encourages creative thinking outside of traditional classroom walls. The space is comprised of a 30-foot by 30-foot concrete base and a UV-resistant shade sail that is anchored by four steel columns.
“The open space is conducive to inspiring students to think and engage on another level that they might not reach in a traditional classroom,” said Gabriel Sams, seventh-grade social studies teacher and the project leader. “Not being confined by walls and rows of desks allow students to exercise their bodies and minds in new, innovative ways.”
Teachers can check out the space similar to how they would check out the media center or computer lab. Open construction allows for the space to be used creatively, and teachers can attach white boards or use sidewalk chalk. Click here for pictures of the space.
GCS Searching for Fastest Kid in Guilford County If you’re born to run, sign up for the National Scholastic Sports Foundation’s Fastest Kid in Guilford County contest. The 100-meter race is open to all elementary and middle-school students in Guilford County, and registration is free. For more information and to register online, visit http://www.nationalscholastic.org/nbon/fastest_kid/.
You must register by Wednesday, June 12 at 5 p.m. Preliminaries will take place Friday, June 14, at 4:45 p.m. at North Carolina A&T State University, and the eight fastest boys and girls in each category will compete there in the finals on Saturday, June 15, at 2:35 p.m. Medals will be given to the top six finishers, and a trophy will be awarded to the winner. For more information, email info@nationalscholastic.org.
Thousands of Second-Graders Cheer on Hoppers
Alderman Elementary PTA to Receive Kindle Donation
The PTA Family Reading Experience, Powered by Kindle is a set of free activities that engage the entire family. The activities focus on improving the reading skills of children between kindergarten and fifth grade. The curriculum, which National PTA developed in consultation with family engagement and literacy experts, includes activities with both physical books and e-books.
Wags & Whiskers Campaign is a Success at Southwest Elementary The Southwest Elementary Safety Patrol had a successful “Wags and Whiskers” campaign that supported the Guilford County Animal Shelter. Each grade level chose a service-learning project in connection with the campaign.
The five kindergarten teachers brought in photos of their pets, which were placed by collection jars in the office. Students, staff and parents voted for their favorite pet by putting spare change in the jars. Ms. Martinelli’s dog, Bella, won the contest, and $220 was raised for Susie’s Fund.
Fourth-graders raised $1,446 by walking and running for the animal shelter with $1,000 going toward care for the animals and the remaining money going toward Susie’s Fund. A special plaque will be on display at the shelter to recognize the school’s efforts.
Also happening at Southwest Elementary – a student broke the school record for points earned in a school year through the Accelerated Reader program. Second-grader Jason Creech broke the previous record of 951.9 points that was set by a fifth-grader in 2008. This week, Jason totaled 965.8 points after taking and passing 76 tests on books, some of which were at the seventh-grade reading level.
Penn-Griffin Collects Backpacks for Homeless Students Students in Penn-Griffin School for the Arts’ Key Club, in conjunction with junior Katie Kennedy’s Girl Scout Gold Award project, collected 28 gently used backpacks through the H.E.A.R.T. Packs program. The backpacks will be filled with donated school supplies over the summer and given to Homeless, Endangered and Runaway Teens (H.E.A.R.T.) at the beginning of next fall. Students and several teachers donated bags, and Mrs. Craven’s Apparel II class made several handmade bags. The students’ goal is to collect 50 backpacks.
UNCG Gives $300 to Murphey Traditional Academy
Mendenhall Middle Fights Hunger During Empty Bowl Night Students from Mendenhall Middle hosted an Empty Bowls event on Monday. Art students created ceramic bowls that were sold alongside ice cream from Ben & Jerry's. Empty Bowl events are used to educate students and the community about the prevalence of hunger in our local communities and around the world. During the event, there were performances by choral students and by Mendenhall’s step team. There was also a presentation about Mendenhall's partner school, the Community Eleven School in Tema, Ghana. Normally, proceeds from Empty Bowls events go to help fight hunger in the community, but since Mendenhall Middle is working with a school in Ghana, they donated all sales to the Community Eleven School in Ghana.
Guilford Education Alliance Holds Student Improvement Awards The Guilford Education Alliance will hold its Student Improvement Awards Ceremony this Saturday at Starmount Country Club. The Student Improvement Awards honor students who have overcome immense struggles, including home and food insecurity, but managed to get on track with their studies. Each month, two students were chosen and recognized at the Summit Rotary luncheon at Starmount Country Club. The students will be honored at a luncheon on Saturday and two of the students will receive the Student of the Year Award. Employees in the News Nominations Now Accepted for 2014 Principal of the Year Nominations may be made by anyone, including staff, students, parents or community members. Nominations must be received by 5 p.m. on June 17, 2013. Once nominated, principals must complete a portfolio in order to participate in the process. Candidates should merit the respect and admiration of students, teachers, co-workers, and parents. They should be active, not only in their schools, but also in their communities where they distinguish themselves as leaders. Candidates should demonstrate the ability to improve the achievement of students from various backgrounds and with differing capabilities. To nominate a deserving principal or if you have any questions, please contact Carla Alphin, Director – Employee Relations, at alphinc@gcsnc.com or 378-8821. What’s New on GCSTV The GCS television channel broadcasts throughout Guilford County on Time Warner Cable channel 2, on AT&T U-verse, and around the world LIVE on the GCS website.
Want to know what’s on GCSTV and when? Check out our on-line Daily Programming Guide.
GCS Newsbreaksand select other GCS video productions are also available on YouTube.
The Latest News from GCS:
GCS Named a National District of Character
Full Announcement-GCS Named a National District of Character
Safer Schools Public Forum
Career Fair at the Middle College at GTCC High Point
Teacher Appreciation at Brooks Global Studies
Guilford County Board of Education Meetings Watch Guilford County Board of Education meetings live. Encore presentations of board meetings are telecast the day following the meeting at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. and the following Saturday at 1 p.m. You can also watch Board of Education meetings at your convenience. The meetings are now archived and available online anytime on the GCS website. About GCS News Briefs GCS News Briefs is produced every week by the District Relations staff. To share your news with us, send details to goodnews@gcsnc.com.
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