With BRANCH OUT!, a student's school ID doubles as a GCPL library card.
‘Totally cool’ partial eclipse visible in Gwinnett
On Aug. 21, students in Gwinnett schools were able to view the partial eclipseeclipse through certified solar glasses, pinhole projectors, and other specially made eclipse viewers.
65+ Gwinnettians get free pass for sports, fine arts events
If you are 65+ and a resident of Gwinnett County, we’ve got your ticket to GCPS fine arts and athletic events. And, it’s free!
Parent Mentors share advice for families of students with special needs
Parents of students receiving special education services in Gwinnett are invited to attend a back-to-school session on Tuesday, Aug. 22.
Gwinnett County Transit needs your help to plan its future!
If you live and work in Gwinnett County, you are aware that decades of successful growth and development have led to unprecedented traffic congestion in our community. The county has rapidly changed, and its residents have diverse transportation needs and challenges. A robust, high-capacity transit system may be part of the response to these transportation concerns, so the County needs your help to identify how we should invest in this system for future success.
Gwinnett County Transit is embarking on its first-ever comprehensive system review, called Connect Gwinnett: Transit Plan. For this effort, the planning team will be at local events throughout the county to gather input. Community members also can take part in an online survey to share feedback on how to enhance the current transit system in the short term and what Gwinnett’s long-term transit future should look like.
So, get involved! Visit www.ConnectGwinnettTransit.com to learn about upcoming events and other project information. And, share your opinions and insights by taking an online survey by the Aug. 31 deadline.
Mentoring program expands, seeks male and female volunteers
Studies show that successful mentoring programs help students develop social skills, improve their school achievement and graduation rates, build character, and many other benefits. Now in its ninth year, GCPS has served young men with its Community-Based Mentoring Program. Starting in January, the district will expand the program to serve female students as well. The district is seeking both male and female mentors for the coming year. Prospective mentors can learn more about how to become a mentor and find an application online.
Check out this video about Mentoring the Promise from GCPS TV.
District launches rapid notification system
GCPS will use SchoolMessenger to communicate information related to districtwide events, including key school dates and school closings due to inclement weather.
Café Gwinnett plans nutritious year ahead!
Cafe Gwinnett is gearing up for an exciting and nutritious new school year!
GCPS preparing for (near) total eclipse of the sun
On August 21 North America will be treated to an eclipse of the sun. Find out how GCPS is preparing.
New faces in new places for 2017-18
Thirteen GCPS schools will have a new leader at the helm this school year:
Christine Knox, Anderson-Livsey ES principal
Dr. Lesley Pendleton, Berkeley Lake ES principal
Shane Orr, Central Gwinnett HS principal
Dr. Craig Barlow, Gwin Oaks ES principal
Lisa Marie Johnson, Head ES principal
Kara Dutton, Jackson ES principal
Grelauris Calcaño, Lawrenceville ES principal
Dr. Tonya Burnley, Magill ES principal
Dr. Rodriguez Johnson, North Metro Academy of Performing Arts principal (charter)
Melanie Lee, Norton ES principal
Dr. Kelli McCain, Partee ES principal
Gretchen Runaldue, Peachtree ES principal
Rachel Ernst, Starling ES principal
GCPS calendar at your fingertips
August 7, the first day of school, is a red-letter day, of course, but what other dates need to be on your radar? Look for other important dates during the school year on the 2017-18 Student Calendar available on the GCPS website.
Help your student 'power up' with BYOD
In Gwinnett County Public Schools, more and more instructional activities can be enhanced when students bring their own personal devices (cell phones, tablets, laptops, etc.) to class as part of GCPS' Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) initiative. BYOD allows students to "power up" their learning and safely expands the walls of our classrooms to increase learning opportunities. Check out this comparison chart that looks at features for various personal devices and recommended uses by school level.
Online, learn more about BYOD and eCLASS, Gwinnett's digital Content, Learning, Assessment and Support System. See how technology is incorporated in the classroom to enhance achievement with these video tours at Twin Rivers MS and in the Dacula Cluster.
(GCPS encourages students to take advantage of the school system’s BYOD policy, but participation is not required. Ask your child’s teacher about use of personal devices in class or go to the school system’s website for more about BYOD in GCPS.)
Serve on curriculum committee
Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) is inviting parents, community members, and school district employees to apply for the GEMS Oversight Committee, a group of community and school system representatives charged with the annual review of the Academic Knowledge and Skills (AKS) curriculum. The next meeting is scheduled for Nov. 2, 2017. After the review, the committee recommends revisions and additions to CEO/Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks for adoption by the Gwinnett County Board of Education.
Committee members serve three-year terms. Completed applications should be returned by Aug. 25, 2017, to the attention of Jadd Jarusinski, director of Instructional Resources and Support, at the J. Alvin Wilbanks Instructional Support Center, located at 437 Old Peachtree Rd. NW in Suwanee. The downloadable application can be found on the GCPS website. On the GCPS Home Page select "GEMS Application" from the I Want To... Apply For... drop down menu.
Welcome back!
The countdown to First Day has begun! School supplies and clothes purchased. Registration completed and open house attended. All the vacations, family outings, pool time, and summer camps we could squeeze into the last 10 weeks.
And come Monday, August 7, Gwinnett families will be sending some 180,000 students to school for the first day of the 2017-18 school year.
In Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS), we believe in the power of public education and in the promise found in each and every student. We look forward to having the best first day of this new school year… a year filled with Promise. What is your promise?
#BestFirstDay #Ibelieve #BelieveGCPS #PromiseGwinnett
What’s new for the 2017-18 school year?
Here are a few highlights for the coming year…
Safety first!
Know bus rules to keep kids safe… on the road, at bus stops, and in crosswalks.
Meadowcreek’s Welch among finalists for national honor
Dr. Tommy Welch, Meadowcreek HS principal and the 2017 Georgia Principal of the Year, is one of three finalists for the 2018 NASSP National Principal of the Year!
It's a bus! It's a library! It's GCPS' new Book Mobile!
This summer, the GCPS Book Mobile will travel in the Meadowcreek Cluster each week, checking out school library books to students who may not have easy access to the public library.
Statewide partnership committed to halt of ‘summer slide’
A statewide partnership has launched a campaign to stress the importance of keeping kids learning, safe, and healthy this summer. GeorgiaSummer.org highlights the importance of summer access to healthy meals, safe environments, and books and educational opportunities for children.
On the site, parents and children can access a toolkit full of links to reading resources and summer activities as well as a mapping tool for finding free meals this summer for children who might otherwise go hungry. (Most summer meal sites are located in schools, community facilities, worship centers, and apartment complexes.) The Look Again campaign reminds families and caregivers of the dangers of leaving children unattended in a vehicle, especially during hot weather.
Public and private partners across the state include Get Georgia Reading, Georgia Department of Education, Bright from the Start, Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning, Georgia Public Library Service, Georgia Public Broadcasting, and Clear Channel Outdoor Americas-Atlanta Division.
Sports Hall of Fame inducts Class of 2017 in May 19 event
On May 19, friends, family, and Gwinnett sports fans gathered at the 8th annual induction ceremony for the Gwinnett County Sports Hall of Fame. The Class of 2017 inductees are Tony Akins (Berkmar HS, basketball), Coach Jack Britt (the old Grayson and Lawrenceville high schools), Chad Hall (Wesleyan School, football), Kyle Maynard (Collins Hill HS, wrestling), and Courtney Puckett Oro (Providence Christian Academy, gymnastics). Head Coach Dan Quinn of the Atlanta Falcons was the keynote speaker for the ceremony to honor the five elite Gwinnett County inductees. All proceeds from the event benefit the student scholarship fund of the Gwinnett County Public Schools Foundation Fund.