Watch the CTE awards ceremony on the GCPS TV app, available for Apple, Android, Amazon Fire, and Roku devices; or go to www.gcpstv.org and click “watch live.”
Spring forward this weekend
Remember Daylight Saving Time begins this weekend so advance your clock an hour before you go to bed on Saturday. You don’t want to be late for school on Monday!
Check out the latest episode of In5ive: Week of March 7
In the latest episode of In5ive from GCPS TV, our outstanding students showcase their talents in the 2022 Gwinnett County Science, Engineering + Innovation Fair. We congratulate Trickum MS on winning the grand championship at the FIRST LEGO League competition. And, we celebrate Jones MS’ Maile Steimer, our 2022 Media Specialist of the Year. Enjoy these stories and more in this latest edition of in5ive!
Welcome back!
Keeping schools safely open for in-person instruction remains our top priority and there is no change to our scheduled reopening for students on Thursday, Jan. 6.
Parent Mentors share advice for families of students with special needs: ‘Reducing Parent/Caregiver Fatigue’
Parents of students receiving special education services in Gwinnett are invited to attend an informational Zoom session on Tuesday, Jan. 18, part of the Gwinnett County Parent Mentors Present” series. Parent Mentor Dawn Albanese will share her insights on “Reducing Parent/Caregiver Fatigue,” with a focus on strategies to help create balance in the lives of parents and caregivers of children with special needs. The session will cover the importance of self-care and prioritizing wellness to ensure that parents and caregivers can be their most effective for their children.
This monthly learning series is designed for families of children with disabilities, and presented by the Gwinnett County Parent Mentors in collaboration with GCPS' Special Education Department staff and community leaders and organizations. Spanish interpretation services are available.
Zoom sessions will be held on Jan. 18 from noon to 1:30 p.m., and again from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Click the link to register for the noon session
Click the link to register for the 6 p.m. session
Parent Mentors are parents who work within GCPS' special education department, providing information and support to other families who have children served in special education. Mentors Dawn Albanese and Jackie McNair have first-hand knowledge of raising a child with special needs as they both have a child who has been served or is being served in GCPS.
Questions? Contact Ms. Albanese by phone at (678) 301-7212 or by email at dawn.albanese@gcpsk12.org.
in5ive Week of December 20, 2021
We bring you the latst news and information from Gwinnett County Public Schools.
GCPS to host virtual fair for special education teachers on Jan. 29
Georgia's largest and best school system is looking for special education stars to join its award-winning team!
Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) will host a Virtual Special Education Teacher Career Fair on Saturday, Jan. 29, from 9 a.m. to noon. Contracts of employment for the 2022-23 school year will be offered!
Those eligible to attend must be certified (or will be by July 2022) in any field of Special Education. Interviews will be held to fill the following positions:
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Emotional and Behavioral Disorders (EBD)
Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD)
Intellectual Disabilities (ID)
Interrelated Resource (IRR)
Physical and Health Disabilities/Orthopedic Impairment (OI)
Visual Impairments (VI)
Deaf or Hard of Hearing (DHH)
Speech-Language Impairments (SLP)
Interested in attending the Career Fair?
1. Complete the online application and receive your unique Applicant ID Number.
2. Register to attend the fair, using your Applicant ID Number.
Registration will close on Jan. 28, or when all interview times have been filled. Please note that a request to participate does not guarantee an interview. Only those candidates who have received interview confirmations will be given access to the virtual career fair platform. For additional information or questions, email us at gcpsteach@gcpsk12.org.
Join the team and earn a hiring incentive!
GCPS is offering hiring incentives* for qualifying, newly hired special education teachers who are hired for the 2022-23 school year and not previously hired for a full or part-year in GCPS:
· $4,000 for special education teachers in the fields of IRR, SLD, Mild ID, ASD-IV, SDD, and Pre-K
· $5,000 for special education teachers in the fields of ASD-I, ASD-II, ASD-III, DHH, EBD, OI, VI, SID/PID, and MOID
· $4,000 for speech-language pathologists
*Total amount of incentive payment is subject to change based upon hire date.
GCPS meal service returns Jan. 6
During Winter Break, the school district does not provide school meals. GCPS will resume meal service on Thursday, Jan. 6. During 2nd semester, breakfast and lunch will continue to be offered for all students at no charge under a federal waiver. Starting Jan. 6, meals also will be available for pick-up at schools for students who are in the district’s digital learning program.
During Winter Break, if you or someone you know needs food assistance, find links to available resources in our community.
Enjoy a safe and relaxing Winter Break!
Dec. 20 is the first day of Winter Break for our schools. Have a safe and relaxing Winter Break with your family and friends! We’ll see our students back in class on Thursday, Jan. 6.
Consider donation to GCPS Foundation in your end-of-year giving
As you consider your end-of-year giving and the impact of your charitable donations, please consider a donation to Gwinnett County Public Schools Foundation Fund, Inc., a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to providing financial resources to enrich and enhance education in Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS). Since its beginning in 2006, the Foundation has provided resources and support to improve the educational future of all students. As a donor, you have a number of choices when you decide to give to the Foundation. You can make a one-time contribution or elect to give a recurring monthly donation. You can give to support a scholarship fund or to a district-level program like the Community-Based Mentoring Program or the GCPS Book Mobiles. You can designate your gift to an established fund for a school or cluster, or, you can contribute “where the need is greatest.” Whatever you give and however you designate your gift, know that your donation to the GCPS Foundation is appreciated and will make a difference for Gwinnett County schoolchildren and staff members!
Find resources, food assistance during Winter Break
Our schools and students benefit from a caring and supportive community.
Circle these dates on your December calendar
Your December calendar probably already has a few notations for special events and celebrations with family and friends, but don’t forget these important dates on the school calendar…
High school students will be released from school early on the last three days of the semester—Dec. 15, 16, and 17— as they take final exams. Elementary and middle school students will follow their regular school schedule those days. Friday, Dec. 17, will be the last day of classes for students and most staff members.
All schools and offices will be closed from Thursday, Dec. 23, through Monday, Jan. 3. Students return to school on Thursday, Jan. 6, but district offices reopen on Tuesday, Jan. 4, and their teachers report back to work for professional development on Wednesday, Jan. 5.
GCPS News for Week of Dec. 6
In this episode of In5ive, GCPS TV’s news show, members of the community find out what it’s like to be Principal for a Day, state awards are presented to three GCPS art teachers, and we learn more about the process of re-drawing the districts of Board members. Enjoy these stories and more in this latest edition of in5ive.
GCPS seeking applicants for new Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council
Gwinnett County Public Schools’ Superintendent Dr. Calvin J. Watts announced Dec. 3 that an online application is now available for students wishing to serve on the new Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council. This new Student Advisory Council is a unique opportunity for middle and high school students to share feedback, experiences, and perspectives on a variety of issues affecting students, schools, and communities with Superintendent Watts. The goal for the Council’s membership is that it will be comprised of two students representing each Gwinnett middle and high school.
Superintendent Watts is excited to launch this new advisory council. He says, “We know that our schools are filled with leaders and we have a number of groups that allow me to hear from many of those individuals, including our teachers, parents, and community leaders. However, there was one glaring omission… our students. Through the creation of the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council, I am looking forward to meeting and learning from our students. Through this Council, students will be able to voice their ideas, share suggestions for improving our schools and the district, and to act as thought leaders as they build their leadership capacity.”
Potential applicants for the Student Advisory Council are students who are concerned about the needs of all students and have a desire to ensure Gwinnett County Public Schools is focused on improvement. In addition, Dr. Watts is seeking students who will express views and opinions honestly, openly, constructively, and respectfully; who work collaboratively with others; and who have a willingness to offer suggestions and input on areas for improvement on a wide range of topics (such as educational equity, curriculum, educational programming, facility usage, school climate, etc.).
The Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council will meet three times during second semester:
Saturday, Jan. 22—8:30 to 10 a.m. for Middle School and 10:30 a.m. to noon for High School
Both meetings will take place in the Training Center at the J. Alvin Wilbanks Instructional Support Center (ISC), located at 437 Old Peachtree Rd., NW, in Suwanee.Monday, March 14—4 to 5 p.m. for High School and 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. for Middle School
This meeting will be a virtual meeting held on Zoom.Saturday, May 14—8:30 to 10 a.m. for Middle School and 10:30 a.m. to noon for High School
These meetings will be held in person in the Training Center at the ISC in Suwanee.
Students will find the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council application in the Student Portal. The application includes four short questions about the applicant’s interest in serving, ideas for improving the school experience for students, and challenges facing students and schools. In addition, the application outlines the expectations for those wishing to serve. The deadline to complete the application is Monday, Dec. 20, 2021. All students selected to serve will be notified by Friday, Jan. 7, 2022.
Start the holiday season with a new job as a GCPS school bus driver!
Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) is now hiring drivers!
If you are looking for a new job, consider a spot behind the wheel of a GCPS school bus! Our Transportation team is hitting the road—and the internet highway—to meet and hire prospective drivers in December. Come by to see us, and make sure to tell your friends, too!
Want to Be Notified of GCPS Driver Job Fairs?
Text @drive4gcps to 81010.
Our drivers enjoy competitive wages—from $17.98 to $25.48 per hour and between six and eight daily work hours for morning and afternoon routes—as well as excellent benefits, fully paid training, and a great work schedule. They follow the student calendar and enjoy the benefit of time off on student holidays as well as summers off with full pay! Prospective drivers don’t need to hold a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). Our Transportation Department trains and supports new drivers through the process! New drivers receive full pay throughout our award-winning and professional CDL training program.
Upcoming Job Fairs…
Fri., Dec. 3, 9 a.m.—Virtual Bus Driver Job Fair, registration required
Fri., Dec. 3, 6:30-10 p.m.—Jolly Holly Day-Suwanee Town Center, located at 330 Town Center Ave. in Suwanee
Sat., Dec. 4, 2-7 p.m.—Deck the Hall 2021-Duluth Town Greene, located at 3167 Main St. in Duluth
Sun., Dec. 5, 2.-6 p.m.—Christmas in Grayson-Grayson City Park, located at 475 Grayson Pkwy. in Grayson
Tue., Dec. 7, 2 p.m.—Virtual Bus Driver Job Fair, registration required
Thu., Dec. 9, 10 a.m.—Virtual Bus Driver Job Fair, registration required
Sat., Dec. 11, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.—Sugarloaf Mills Mall Food Court, located at 5900 Sugarloaf Pkwy. in Lawrenceville
Sat., Dec. 11, Noon-7 p.m.—Merry Little Christmas-Lawrenceville on the Lawn, located at 210 Luckie St. in Lawrenceville
Interested in joining the team?
Apply today for posting #72988! Drivers must be 21 or older, have a good driving record, and have a high school diploma or GED. The Transportation Department will contact qualified applicants to schedule an interview. Check out this video to hear from a current driver. For additional information call 678-225-7670.
GCPS to host annual Child Find event on Dec. 3
Each year, GCPS conducts a meeting for the families of children with disabilities (ages 3-21) currently not served by GCPS who may benefit from support services available through the school system’s Department of Special Education and Psychological Services. This year, the Child Find meeting is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 3, from 9 a.m. to noon., in the Central Gwinnett Room (2.111) in Building 200 of the J. Alvin Wilbanks Instructional Support Center, located at 437 Old Peachtree Road, NW, in Suwanee. Families unable to attend are encouraged to contact GCPS with their questions about services for students with disabilities. Call or email Becca McCleskey with GCPS’ Office of Compliance at 678-301-7104 or contact Parent Mentors Jackie McNair (678-301-7149) or Dawn Albanese (678-301-7212).
Seniors, remember to apply for Foundation scholarships by Dec. 6!
The GCPS Foundation Fund, Inc., is accepting applications from members of the GCPS Class of 2022 through Dec. 6. Find links to applications in the Foundation Scholarship Catalog. A list of other scholarships and their application deadlines also is available online. Check out this recent story for college application resources.
GCPS News for Week of Nov. 22
In this edition of In5ive, the Board of Education met recently… something special took place at Central Gwinnett HS’ new School of the Arts… Meadowcreek ES staffers took a shopping spree… Duncan Creek ES celebrated their “3-peat”… and the district’s mask policy was updated for next semester. Enjoy these stories and more in this latest edition of in5ive.
Thankful for family, friends, and Thanksgiving Break!
All GCPS schools will be closed for Thanksgiving Break during the week of Nov. 22. Students will return to class on Monday, Nov. 29. Gwinnett’s district offices will be open next week, closing Thursday and Friday (Nov. 25-26) for the Thanksgiving holidays. Find a copy of the student calendar on the GCPS website. Have a safe, healthy, and restful holiday!
You’re invited to give feedback on proposed 2022-23 school calendar
As part of its calendar development process, GCPS has gathered feedback on calendar options for next school year.