Feb. 19 is deadline to register to vote in upcoming Special Election

One of our most important civic responsibilities is participation in the electoral process. The next opportunity to vote in Gwinnett County is the upcoming Special Election on March 19 when voters will go to the polls to consider expansion of the County’s transit options through a contract with MARTA. Voter approval would also mean the establishment of a one-cent sales tax to pay for the transit improvement and expansion.

The deadline to register to vote in Gwinnett County (or make changes to an existing registration) is Feb. 19. Citizens can register by mail, online, or in many public buildings, including Gwinnett schools and the J. Alvin Wilbanks Instructional Support Center in Suwanee.

On the Georgia Secretary of State’s website, log on to My Voter Page for voter registration status, mail-in application and ballot status, polling locations, and more. (Go mobile for election info and registration with the GA Votes app, available for Apple and Android.)

Here are four ways to vote in the Special Election— three in-person options and one by mail:

• Advance voting at the county’s election headquarters (located 455 Grayson Highway, Suite 200, in Lawrenceville)—Feb. 25-March 15, seven days a week, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• Advance voting at seven satellite locations around the county— March 4-15, seven days a week, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• Election Day voting— Tuesday, March 19, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., at assigned polling locations only

• Absentee voting— Apply for an official absentee ballot through March 15. A completed application must be received before an absentee ballot can be issued. To request an application by mail or fax, visit www.gwinnettelections.com, or contact the Voter Registrations and Elections Division at (678) 226-7210.

Call the Gwinnett County Office of Elections at (678) 226-7210 with questions, or visit www.gwinnettelections.com.

Feb. 22 is deadline to apply for Washington Youth Tour

Sophomores and juniors living or attending school in the service area for Jackson Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) have until Feb. 22 to apply for the Washington Youth Tour. The Washington Youth Tour brings together more than 1,500 high school students from around the country for a week-long leadership experience in the nation’s capital. The tour is sponsored by regional electric cooperatives and each electric co-op sends four delegates on the all-expenses-paid trip which is set for June 13-20 this year. Jackson EMC and Walton EMC serve schools and homes in Gwinnett. (The application deadline Walton EMC closed earlier this month.) Learn more about the WYT experience from recent participants representing Jackson EMC and Walton EMC.

Attend upcoming open house events for CTE programs

High school students interested in exploring careers through hands-on learning can check out two specialized career and technical education (CTE) programs at upcoming events. 

• Maxwell HS of Technology: Maxwell offers half-day programs in 17 cutting-edge programs. Maxwell’s Open House is scheduled for Feb. 21 between 5 and 7 p.m. at the school, and informational visits will be held at GCPS high schools through mid-February. Online registration is open and accessible via the Student Portal. A lottery for Maxwell class placement will be conducted on March 12. (The registration site will close March 7-12 to prepare for the lottery, reopening on March 13 to accept students for open programs).  Students will be notified of class placement for 2019-20 by the end of March. In addition, Maxwell is offering an exciting dual-enrollment opportunity for students interested in Law Enforcement or Allied Health. Eligible students can earn both high school and college credit through a partnership between Maxwell and Gwinnett Technical College. Tuition and mandatory fees are covered by the program and have no impact on a student’s future award under HOPE.

• Grayson HS Technical Education Program: Grayson offers 11 career pathways to explore through its half-day programs. A Winter Open House was held on Feb. 7 from 5 to 7 p.m.  Online registration for the Grayson HS Technical Education Program is open, with informational visits scheduled at GCPS high schools through mid-February. Online registration is open and accessible via the Student Portal. A blended schedule allows students to learn in face-to-face classes, online sessions, and off-campus learning opportunities. With careful planning, students can pursue two pathways with a full-day commitment.

Focus groups to be held on Strategic Priorities for 2020-2030

Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) is inviting all stakeholders— students, parents and guardians, employees, and community members— to register to participate in upcoming focus groups. Registrants selected for focus groups will give feedback that will be used in the development of its Strategic Priorities for 2020-2030. Focus groups will be held Feb. 19-21. Interested stakeholders should register for the focus groups by Feb. 11.  Learn more online.

Mark your calendar for GCPS’ Feb. 12 job fair for substitutes

GCPS’ Substitute Teaching Job Fair is set for Tues., Feb. 12, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Meadowcreek HS (4455 Steve Reynolds Blvd. in, Norcross). At the event, learn more about being a Gwinnett substitute and complete an online application. All applicants are required to have at least 60 semester or 90 quarter hours of college credit, but teacher certification is not required for substitutes. Compensation ranges from $91 a day up to $101 per day for long-term subs (10 consecutive days in the same classroom). Apply today at www.GCPSjobs.org. Follow us on Twitter @gcpshr.

2019-20 registration window opens for Online Campus

Full-time students who will be in grades 4-12 next year can register for Gwinnett Online Campus (GOC) during the month of February on a first-come, first-served basis. An informational meeting is set for Feb. 27, 6:30–7:30 p.m.

Families are encouraged to sign up for an open house and tour of the school’s campus on the following dates:

• Tues., Feb. 12, 10-11 a.m. (Grades 9-12)

• Wed., Feb. 13, 10-11 a.m. (Grades 4-6)

• Thur., Feb. 14, 10-11 a.m. (Grades 7-8)

The registration process is not complete until all required documents are presented to the school office. The school registrar is available Monday-Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

In videos, families can get an introduction to the school and learn more about the unique learning environment at GOC.  A video also provides important things to consider before enrolling at GOC and gives families a glimpse at a day in the life of an Online Campus student.

Currently, there are openings for students in grades 4-12. Once a grade level is full, a waiting list will be established. To secure a space, families are encouraged to register as soon as possible. GOC does not offer mid-year enrollment.

If this looks like a good opportunity for your student, find answers to Frequently Asked Questions, learn about the benefits of online learning, and view a demo course online.

JROTC offers leadership lessons to cadets

What does Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) bring to mind? In this GCPS TV video, see how this four-year progressive program supports leadership development for students in 14 Gwinnett high schools.

GCPS’ 2019 Science Fair needs you!

A districtwide event like the upcoming 2019 Gwinnett Science, Engineering + Innovation Fair on Feb. 22 takes support from our community. Ready to help? Contact the event’s planning team if you’d be willing to serve as a judge or have an interest in sponsoring the event. Our staff and students thank you for being part of the Fair! Create! Inspire! Explore! Innovate!

Last chance to snag an invitation to Jan. 26 Special Education Teacher Career Fair

It’s your last chance… If you’re a special education teacher and you’re interested in teaching in Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS), you’re running out of time to register for GCPS’ invitation-only job fair on Jan. 26. You have until Jan. 23 to register online for the GCPS Special Education Teacher Career Fair. Candidates eligible to attend must be certified (or will be by July of 2019) in any field of Special Education. The school district will be offering contracts at the job fair for the 2019–20 school year!