During the week of Nov. 11–15, schools celebrate National School Psychology Awareness Week to highlight the important work school psychologists and other educators do to help all students thrive.
2019 Read for the Record: Thank you, guest readers!
Guest readers from the community, parents and grandparents, and district-level staff visited young students in our elementary schools to read this year’s Read for the Record selection.
Veterans Day 2019: We thank you for your service
The 11th day of the 11th month at the 11 hour… The day that marked the armistice between the Allied Nations and Germany at the close of World War I became known as Armistice Day. Now referred to as Veterans Day, Nov. 11 is the day we honor and thank all the men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces.
One way we can honor our veterans for their service is through the gift of listening, particularly to the stories of our older veterans. The Veterans History Project (a project of the American Folklife Center of the Library of Congress) “collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war.”
Learn more about veterans who broke new ground and boundaries, on and off the battlefield, in this collection of stories from Veteran Changemakers, gathered by the Veterans History Project.
As you gather with family and friends over the next few months for holiday celebrations, consider how you can help your loved ones tell their stories.
Volunteers on ‘bed build’ project provide good night’s sleep for kids
On Oct. 26, staff and families from Baggett ES and Lilburn ES, community volunteers, Lowe’s Home Improvement, and the non-profit, Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP), teamed up to build more than 100 bunk beds for local families and hurricane victims in Florida.
Parent Mentors invite families to learn about early language intervention strategies
Parents of students receiving special education services in Gwinnett are invited to attend an upcoming informational session on Tuesday, Nov. 19, part of the Gwinnett County Parent Mentors Present” series. Debra R. Cox, a GCPS speech-language pathologist, will present “Early Language Intervention Strategies.” The session will focus on ways for families to help improve their child’s communication skills. Spanish interpretation services will be available.
This monthly learning series is designed for families of children with disabilities, and presented by Gwinnett County Parent Mentors Dawn Albanese and Jackie McNair in collaboration with GCPS' Special Education Department staff and community leaders and organizations. The session is scheduled for 9:30 to 11 a.m. in the Central Gwinnett Room (Room 2.111) in Building 200 at the J. Alvin Wilbanks Instructional Support Center (ISC), located at 437 Old Peachtree Road, NW, in Suwanee.
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 both have a child who has been served or is being served in GCPS.
To RSVP for the meeting, contact Ms. Albanese by phone at (678) 301-7212 or by email at Dawn_Albanese@gwinnett.k12.ga.us by 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 18. For more information regarding the Georgia Parent Mentor Partnership, go to www.parentmentors.org.
Gwinnett’s ACT averages continue to outperform state, nation
The ACT is a college-entrance exam that assesses students’ general educational development and their ability to successfully complete college-level work.
Remember Nov. 10 deadline for AP exam registration
College Board, which administers the Advanced Placement (AP) program, has moved up the registration deadline, and GCPS AP students have until Nov. 10 to register for optional AP exams for all first semester courses. (Students taking single-semester AP courses in the spring will have a later deadline.) GCPS pays the registration fee for the first AP exam for all Gwinnett students currently enrolled in an AP course. The student is responsible for the $10 non-refundable registration fee. Each additional exam registration is $94. Students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch pay only the $10 fee for any exams for which they register. Gwinnett students register and pay for AP exams on MyPaymentsPlus and must confirm that they will pay a $40 cancellation fee per exam if they miss or skip an exam. In Gwinnett, AP exams for 2019–20 are scheduled between May 4 and May 15. Students who pass an AP exam with a 3 or higher on a 5-point scale can earn college credit or exempt certain college courses.
GCPS News for Week of Nov. 4, 2019
Take a few minutes to catch up on your district news in In5ive for the week of Nov. 4. In this episode… Gwinnett’s “Great Days of Service” found volunteers from Baggett ES and Lilburn ES building more than 100 beds for hurricane victims. Meadowcreek HS volunteers partnered with a local business to complete a campus beautification project. And student carpenters from Maxwell HS of Technology constructed 200 mini-library kits that are sure to promote reading throughout Gwinnett. Enjoy these stories and more in this latest edition of in5ive.
North Gwinnett HS’s McLaren takes home gold in international powerlifting contest
Last month, Dale McLaren, a 12th grade language arts teacher at North Gwinnett HS, took home the gold. Mr. McLaren won his weight class (93kg) and was named best lifter for his age group (40-49) in the Equipped Powerlifting category at the International Powerlifting Federation’s Men's World Masters Powerlifting Championships in Potchefstroom, South Africa. Competitive Powerlifting involves athletes competing in three specific disciplines— Squat, Bench Press and Deadlift— each designed to measure different areas of human strength. In “equipped” powerlifting, competitors can wear squat/deadlift suits and knee wraps. Congratulations, Mr. McLaren!
Tuesday, Nov. 5, is Election Day!
If you live within the city limits of most Gwinnett municipalities, Tuesday, Nov. 5, is Election Day for you! (Duluth and Rest Haven are the exceptions.)
While no county or state issues are on the ballot Tuesday, municipal elections will be held in the following cities:
Registered voters who live in the city limits (and haven’t early voted or voted by absentee ballot) are encouraged to vote at their municipal polling place between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Election Day. Check your ballot status and find your municipal polling location on the Secretary of State’s (SOS) website at MVP (My Voting Page). Check the links above to find more information about your city’s ballot.
Time to ‘fall back’ as Daylight Saving Time ends
Remember, Daylight Saving Time ends this weekend so set your clock back one hour before you go to bed on Saturday! (Otherwise, your kids will be at the bus stop by themselves for an hour!)
Creative Leadership Institute generates ideas, excitement
Recently, teachers and administrators from around the district gathered at Discovery HS for the district’s first-ever Creative Leadership Institute. Facilitators from GCPS’ Department of Innovation and Program Improvement introduced participants to Design Thinking, a creative problem-solving approach to generate a range of solutions and test those solutions before full implementation as we prepare our students for their future.
Jones MS student artists produce ‘scary good’ skeleton scarecrow for exhibit
The Jones MS Art Club won 1st place in the Atlanta Botanical Garden “Scarecrows in the Garden” exhibit.
GCPS News for Week of Oct. 28, 2019
Take a few minutes to catch up on your district news in In5ive for the week of Oct. 28. In this episode… Students at Trip ES were treated to a visit from French author and illustrator Remi Courgeon. Basketball Media Day was a great success at Norcross HS. Sweetwater MS’ Shana White was one of 10 in the nation to be awarded a year-long fellowship. And, more than 5,000 9th graders met with local employers during Career Connections 2019. Enjoy these stories and more in this week's edition of in5ive.Enjoy these stories and more in this latest edition of in5ive.
Annual Child Find meeting on Nov. 1 aids families with children with disabilities
Each year, GCPS conducts a meeting for the families of children with disabilities (birth to age 21) who are currently enrolled in private or home school programs in Gwinnett County, and 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 on a drop-in basis for Friday, Nov. 1, 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 with questions and those who are not able to attend the event may contact the following representatives from the Department of Special Education and Psychological Services:
Jackie McNair, Parent Mentor— (678) 301-7149, Jackie_McNair@gwinnett.k12.ga.us
Dawn Albanese, Parent Mentor— (678) 301-7212, Dawn_Albanese@gwinnett.k12.ga.us
Becca McCleskey, Office of Compliance— (678) 301-7104, Becca_McCleskey@gwinnett.k12.ga.us
College Board changes process for AP exam registration
A change in the registration process for AP exams means an earlier deadline for students who are taking AP courses and are planning to take the exams in the spring.
Gwinnett students make ‘Career Connections’ with area employers
More than 5,000 9th graders connected with Gwinnett County businesses to learn about various career options beyond high school and college.
Parent Mentors invite families to learn about the impact of raising children with special needs on a marriage
Dr. Ken and Vanessa Reed will present “The Marriage Puzzle: Connecting Marriage and the Impact of Raising Children with Special Needs.”
GCPS News for Week of Oct. 21, 2019
Take a few minutes to catch up on your district news in In5ive for the week of Oct. 21. In this episode… GCPS TV captured the surprise announcement at Collins Hill HS honoring Principal Kerensa Wing as National Principal of the Year. There’s news that Laura Ross of Five Forks MS is a finalist for National School Counselor of the Year. Find a salute to our Transportation professionals during National School Bus Safety Week. And cameras were rolling when six teachers learned they were finalists for the 2020 GCPS Teacher of the Year. Enjoy these stories and more in this latest edition of in5ive.
Collins Hill HS’ Kerensa Wing named 2020 National Principal of the Year!
On Monday afternoon, Kerensa Wing was announced as the 2020 National Principal of the Year during a surprise ceremony at her school.