GCS News Briefs

August 27, 2010

Welcome Back to School!

As we begin another school year, it is such an exciting time for Guilford County Schools and for this community. While a few schools have already begun, we are glad to have all 71,000-plus students across the district back in school, filling up our hallways, classrooms and cafeterias.

No matter your role in this community, you are a vital part in the success of the district. Let’s work together to give our students the opportunities and attention they deserve. This year, as we continue to implement our strategic plan initiatives, we will focus on improving literacy and instilling character development program in each of our 121 schools. If you are interested in getting involved in either of these initiatives, please let us know. We have made great progress, but we still need your help.

New Administrative Assignments

GCS has made the following administrative assignments:

Executive Director – Enrichment Region – Wanda Legrand will be the new enrichment region executive director.  She is currently the executive director of high school curriculum. Dr. Legrand was also the executive director of leadership and professional development in the Charleston County School district and a principal at Northwest High School, Southwest High School and Southeast Middle School.

Principal – Jerry Simmons will be the new principal at High Point Central High. He is currently the Principal at Hertford County High in Ahoskie, N.C. Simmons also was a principal at Conway Middle in Conway, N.C., principal at Rich Square-Creecy Elementary in Rich Square, N.C. and an assistant principal at Conway Middle.

Assistant Principal – Patricia Woodruff was named assistant principal at Summerfield Elementary School. She was formerly the assistant principal at Northwest Middle and a curriculum facilitator at Northwest High, as well as a teacher in Florida and in Michigan.

Assistant Principal – Cheryl Beeson will join Dudley High as an assistant principal effective August 30. She is currently the curriculum facilitator at Southern High. Beeson also was a curriculum facilitator at Weaver Academy and an associate director for training and implementation for the National Paideia Center at the University of North Carolina.

Two New School Facilities Open to Students

On Wednesday, GCS kicked off the new school year with the opening of two new school facilities. The new Jamestown Middle and Meredith Leigh Haynes-Bennie Lee Inman Education Center are the first of the 2008 school bond projects to be completed.

The new Jamestown Middle, which is located just down the road from the original school, is 162,154 square feet and has a classroom capacity for more than 1,100 students. The school includes sustainable materials like linoleum floors and low-volatile organic compound paints. Recycled content was used in steel, steel studs and carpets in the new facility. The building also includes green features like light monitoring systems with sensor switches, light-colored roofing material to minimize the heat island effect and lavatory sensors for hand washing and toilets. A storm drainage system and retention pond will reduce runoff to adjacent properties and watershed.

As students begin class at Jamestown Middle, they will use new facilities, including labs for life skills, industrial arts and foreign language, as well as a distance learning lab. There are 11 core classrooms and three science classrooms per grade level. The school has 10 classrooms for encore elective classes. Additionally, athletic facilities including a combination track and field, football and soccer facility, baseball field and a softball field will be available to students.

Adjacent to the new middle school is Haynes-Inman Education Center, a state-of-the-art facility for exceptional children. The new school is named for a former student, Meredith Leigh Haynes, who attended Gateway Education Center in Greensboro although her family lived in Jamestown. The school is also named for former educator Bennie Lee Inman, who served as the director of the Greensboro Cerebral Palsy School for more than 30 years and also played an integral role in opening Gateway Education Center.

The addition of Haynes-Inman Education Center brings the total number of schools in GCS to 121 and improves the district’s ability to serve exceptional children with critical needs. The 68,032-square-foot facility will serve about 100 students with disabilities ages 3 to 22.

Haynes-Inman’s design was a collaborative effort between the GCS Exceptional Children Department and the architect, Pinnacle Architecture, and the result is a facility made specifically to meet the student’s needs. The classrooms, hallways and doors are oversized to accommodate wheelchairs and other special equipment for students. The gymnasium and multipurpose room is designed for adaptive physical education programs. The outside of the school features covered areas so students can get in and out of vehicles under a canopy.

While Jamestown Middle held a ribbon cutting ceremony last weekend, Haynes-Inman will invite the community to celebrate its opening at a ceremony on Sept. 26 at 2 p.m.

In 2008, Guilford County voters approved $457 million in school bonds, a package containing 27 projects. The total budget for Jamestown Middle was set at $33,540,951 and the total budget for Haynes-Inman was $8,373,965. For more information, please contact Andy LaRowe, interim chief operations officer, at 370-3490.

Title I Office Holds Tutor Hiring Fair for Teachers

GCS teachers are invited to attend the district's annual Tutor Hiring Fair on Monday, Aug. 30 from 6-8 p.m. at Jackson Middle. Teachers who are interested in tutoring positions for Supplemental Educational Services (SES) at Title I schools in the district are invited to attend the fair. When GCS teachers participate in SES, students benefit from the added time and instruction they receive from teachers who are familiar with their classrooms and curriculum. For more information about the Tutor Job Fair, please contact Erik Naglee, director of Title I, at 370-2368.

Dependent Eligibility Verification Review

Our health insurance, the State Health Plan, is conducting a Dependent Eligibility Verification review to ensure that all dependents (spouses and/or children) meet the eligibility requirements necessary for health insurance coverage. Employees who insure spouses and/or children as of July 1, 2010 have been sent verification packets by the Secova Company on behalf of the State Health Plan. Employees must complete the required forms; provide the appropriate documentation and submit the materials to the Secova Company no later than October 15, 2010.  Failure to provide this information will result in loss of health insurance coverage for dependents retroactive to July 1, 2010, with no refund of premiums. Employees will be responsible for repayment of claims paid by the State Health Plan, beginning July 1, 2010 for spouses and /or children. Beginning August 30, 2010, Secova will begin mailing reminder letters to employees who have not completed the verification process. For additional information, contact the Secova Company online at https://verify.secova.com/NorthCarolina or call toll-free at 1-866-565-5311.

Back to School with the Hoppers

When you come to the Hoppers game on September 1, be sure to bring some school supplies. The Greensboro Grasshoppers are collecting supplies for the Teacher Supply Warehouse   starting at 6 p.m. The Teacher Supply Warehouse is a partnership between Guilford Education Alliance, GCS and Welfare Reform Liaison Project to supply donated materials to teachers in GCS classrooms. 

On the same night, the Greensboro Grasshoppers will present a $10,000 check to Guilford Education Alliance for the purchase of school supplies from Walmart stores, which is partnering with WFMY News 2 on the Tools for School campaign. All supplies will go to the Teacher Supply Warehouse. For more information, please call the Guilford Education Alliance at 841-4332.

Be the Change. Be a GCS Volunteer

In 2009-10, GCS volunteers recorded more than 345,000 volunteer hours. At the national average of $20.25 per hour, this represents a donation of $7 million; however, the real value of a volunteer is priceless.

There’s no better way to support school communities than by sharing your special talents and knowledge with students, teachers and staff. The need for volunteers is unique to each school, but the need for volunteers and community partners is shared.

What kinds of things can volunteers do? Here are some examples. If you are interested in volunteering at a school, please register here or call Cecilia Adams, manager of community relations, at 370-8355.

Know a great GCS volunteer? Nominate them for Volunteer of the Month!

The success of Guilford County Schools is due much in part to its volunteers, and you can help us say thank you. Send us a nomination for GCS Volunteer of the Month. The GCS Volunteer of the Month receives a certificate of recognition from the Guilford County Board of Education and a $25 gift card from American Express. Additionally, the volunteer’s picture is on display at the school and district central offices. To nominate your favorite GCS volunteer, click here. For more information, contact Cecilia Adams, manager of community relations, at 370-8355.

New Hours for the Teacher Supply Warehouse

All GCS teachers have a great opportunity to shop for free supplies at the Teacher Supply Warehouse, and this year, it’s open an extra day each week. New warehouse hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 2:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. Click here to register, get directions and find out what you need to bring with you.

The Teacher Supply Warehouse is a partnership between Guilford Education Alliance, Guilford County Schools and Welfare Reform Liaison Project. For more information on shopping, please contact Cecilia Adams, manager of community relations, at 370-8355. To donate, please call the Guilford Education Alliance at 841-4332.

GCSTV 2

The district ’s television channel broadcasts throughout Guilford County on Time Warner Cable channel 2 and LIVE on the GCS website.

The Latest News from GCS:

GCS Newsbreak-Back to School
The first day of a new school year is always exciting and eventful. From the bus garage to breakfast, see some of the events on this program that is broadcast daily at 9:02 a.m., 6:32 p.m. and 7:25 p.m.

GCS Newsbreak-Back to School
Back to School is sure to be exciting for students at GCS’ two newest schools. This Newsbreak is broadcast daily at 8:43 a.m., 11:14 a.m., 6:43 p.m. and 7:49 p.m.

An Interview with the Superintendent
GCS Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green talks about the goals for the 2010-11 school year. This program is broadcast daily at 8:31 a.m., 11:01 a.m., 7:36 a.m. and 9:01 p.m.

GCS Newsbreak-Back to School
With the start of a new school year, all sixth-graders must have a Tdap vaccination before attending classes. See the details of the requirement. This Newsbreak is broadcast daily at 8:28 a.m., 2:57 p.m. and 7:55 p.m.

GCS Newsbreak-Back to School
Bus stops have changed for the new school year. Find out how you can locate your bus stop. This Newsbreak is broadcast daily at 12:35 p.m.

GCS Newsbreak-Back to School
Parents and students have an option on military recruiting at high schools. This Newsbreak is broadcast daily at 8:30 a.m.

GCS Newsbreak
2010-11 Operating Budget, GCS Proficiency Gains and First Day of School at Oak Hill Elementary. This Newsbreak is broadcast daily at 3:30 p.m.

GCS Newsbreak
The Guilford County business community recognizes International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement students for their hard work at the Cool to Be Smart celebration. See how one student reacts to winning a new car! This Newsbreak is broadcast daily at 1:30 p.m. and 6:42 p.m. daily.

Honoring GCS Retirees
Honoring more than 120 years of service among four people, this video is a tribute to all GCS retirees for their loyal service. It was featured at the recent annual retirement luncheon this summer. This video is broadcast at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. 

Preliminary EOC/EOG scores show gains for the 2009-10 school year. 

Superintendent’s Media Briefings
See previous Media Briefings, during which Superintendent Green and others address topics important to GCS and answer reporters’ questions on a variety of topics.

Building Futures-Construction Update
See the plans and progress already made on upgrades and renovations on campus at Alamance Elementary. This program is broadcast at 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Ragsdale Construction Delay Temporary
GCS will complete promised bond work at Ragsdale High
This Newsbreak is broadcast daily at 7:27 a.m.

On Stage 2010
Watch this showcase of talent from GCS sponsored by the Guilford Education Alliance broadcast nightly at 8:14 p.m.

ExiTotal
Watch this primer designed to help Spanish-speaking parents and their children be successful in school and in life. This program is broadcast mornings at 7 a.m.

Space Shuttle/ISS Downlink to GCS
Watch this historic event from Eastern High during which GCS students talk directly with the astronauts of Space Shuttle Mission STS-131 while docked at the International Space Station.   GCSTV 2 partnered with WFMY News 2 broadcast this event live. See encore presentations daily at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. on GCSTV 2 and on demand.

GCS Newsbreaks and other GCS video productions are also available on YouTube. 

GCSTV 2-LIVE
Watch our live broadcast now streaming on the World Wide Web.

Guilford County Board of Education
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 at gcsnc.com. See them here.

Also on GCSTV 2:

GCSTV 2 Programming Guide
Find out what else is showing on GCSTV 2 here: GCSTV 2 Programming Guide

Showcase Your Talent on GCSTV 2
GCSTV 2 is accepting student-, faculty-, staff- or parent-produced programming. See the details for submissions here or watch the video.

GCSTV 2 & ABC-45
GCS continues its partnership with ABC-45 television to share current news and feature stories about our district. These Newsbreak segments are broadcast on ABC-45 (Cable Channel 7) during “Good Morning America” each Wednesday and Friday at 7:25 a.m. and 8:25 a.m.

For more information, please contact Leonard Simpson, broadcast production manager, at 370-8167.