Labor Day is a school holiday

All GCPS schools and offices will be closed on Monday, Sept. 4, in observance of Labor Day. If you have questions about the student calendar, you can find a copy on the GCPS website.

ES parents invited to special education workshop

Parents of children with disabilities (Pre-K to grade 5) are invited to participate in a four-session workshop, entitled “Parents Engaging in Early Childhood Education.” The workshop is designed to nurture and develop engaged parents, helping them to positively support their child’s academic success, with an emphasis on increasing literacy skills. Participants will learn:

• How to be a team member in their child’s individual education program (IEP);
• Creative ways to make learning fun and engaging for their child; and
• Ways to support their child’s early literacy development.

Parents are encouraged to attend all four sessions to receive the most benefit from the workshop. Sessions are scheduled for Monday, Sept. 11, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Wednesday, Oct. 4, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Monday, Oct. 23, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; and Tuesday, Nov. 7, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The sessions will be presented by Gwinnett County Parent Mentors Dawn Albanese and Jackie McNair in collaboration with GCPS educators and community members. 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. The mentors have first-hand knowledge of raising a child with special needs, as they each have a child who has been served or is being served in GCPS. 

Space is limited for the workshop, so please respond no later than Sept. 5. To RSVP, contact Ms. Albanese by phone at (678) 301-7212 or by email at dawn_albanese@gwinnett.k12.ga.us. For more information regarding the Georgia Parent Mentor Partnership, go to www.parentmentors.org.

Nominate a GCPS educator for AJC Celebrating Teacher Awards

OK Gwinnett... we know GCPS has the best teachers! Here is your chance to recognize them! The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, along with Kroger and Mercer University, is sponsoring  a new community recognition program to make sure the “best of the best” in the classroom get the recognition they deserve.

Selection of the winners of the AJC Celebrating Teachers Awards will be based on how nominees went above and beyond to educate, inspire and encourage students during the 2016-17 school year.

You can nominate a K-12 teacher by submitting your nomination by Sept. 4.  Winners will be honored at an awards event in the fall.

GaDOE seeks student advisors

Middle and high school students are invited to apply for a spot on State School Superintendent Richard Woods’ 2017-18 Student Advisory Council. Selected students will meet with Superintendent Woods to discuss the impact of state policies in the classroom and other issues related to education during council meetings at the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) offices in Atlanta. Middle school advisors will meet Oct. 3, Jan. 17, and April 10, and the high school council will meet Oct. 4, Jan. 18, and April 11. Applications are due by 5 p.m. on Sept. 1, and should be emailed to students@doe.k12.ga.us. Selected students will be notified via email.

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.