Mountain View HS’ Dancing Bears inspire in robotics competition

In this Focus Moment video from GCPS TV, meet the Dancing Bears, a FIRST LEGO League (FLL) team made up Mountain View HS students with intellectual disabilities. The Dancing Bears recently competed in FLL super regionals for, a robotics competition built around theme-based Challenges. Check out their award-winning performance!

GCPS News for Week of Feb. 17, 2020

Take a few minutes to catch up on your district news in In5ive for the week of Feb. 17. In this episode… A display of good sportsmanship by Coleman MS students who supported a fellow cheerleader at Hull MS, digital learning at Dacula HS, STAR honors for a student and staff member at Brookwood HS, team honors for North Gwinnett MS students, and calendar reminders. Enjoy these stories and more in this latest edition of in5ive.

We know you’ll ❤ the long weekend ahead!

Whether you’re looking forward to a staycation or a getaway with family or friends, enjoy the look weekend coming up!

Friday, Feb. 14, will be a holiday for Gwinnett students and school staff! Families extend their holiday weekend through Monday, Feb. 17, but teachers will be back at school for a planning and staff development day. Students return to school on Tuesday, Feb. 18.

Also, next week, families with students in grades K-8 should be aware of plans for early release on Feb. 19-20 for parent-teacher conferences. On those days, elementary and middle schools are dismissed 2½ hours early. Check out these seven tips for preparing for a conference with your child’s teacher.

Find remaining dates on the 2019-20 school calendar online.

Enjoy Masterworks Concert 2019!

Choruses and orchestras from Archer, Dacula and Grayson high schools recently showcased their talent, hard work, and dedication to their music in the biannual Masterworks concert. Enjoy this video in the artSTAGE series from GCPS TV! This student-centered fine arts series features music, dance, theatre, and visual arts programs and performances happening in schools across Gwinnett. Now celebrating its 14th year of production, artSTAGE is your ticket to the wonderful world of artistic performances in Gwinnett County Public Schools.

GCPS News for Week of Feb. 10, 2020

Take a few minutes to catch up on your district news in In5ive for the week of Feb. 10. In this episode… We have honors for students and staff, including top counselors, a national coach honoree, and a Duluth HS grad, plus calendar notes. Enjoy these stories and more in this latest edition of in5ive.

Quarry Crusher Run: Get to the bottom of it!

The countdown continues… less than two weeks until the Vulcan Quarry Crusher Run rocks Atlanta on Feb. 22! Sponsored by Vulcan Materials Company, the 3.7-mile route descends to the bottom of Vulcan’s Norcross quarry and offers a once-in-a-lifetime look inside a magnificent landscape. The best part? The race benefits our students! Vulcan will donate proceeds to the GCPS Foundation to support Meadowcreek HS, McClure Health Science HS, Radloff MS, Meadowcreek ES, and Boys and Girls Clubs of Gwinnett County.  The race is open to runners and walkers, ages 12 and older. Registration for the Quarry Crusher—from the top to the bottom of the quarry and back—costs $40, and a Double Crusher (7.4 miles) is twice the challenge for $50. Discounts are offered for teachers, students, active and retired military personnel, and first responders.  Learn more about the race and register online.

#QCRGivesBack #quarrycrusher #quarrycrusherrun #rockthequarry #goals #gwinnett #atlanta #ATL #runningmotivation #runhappy #gwinnettschools #Gateway85

Teens and families invited to Teen Safe Dating event hosted by Brookwood HS

Did you know that 1.5 million high school students nationwide experience physical abuse from a dating partner each year?

As part of Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, teens and their families are invited to attend “Teen Safe Dating” on Tuesday, Feb. 11, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Brookwood HS. The program will include a keynote speaker, breakout sessions, and vendors providing valuable information and resources. All are welcome to attend this communitywide event sponsored by the Office of Victim Services and Volunteer Services in the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice.

Registration for charter school closes Feb. 7

Feb. 7 is the open enrollment deadline for new students interested in attending New Life Academy of Excellence. Families can take a virtual tour online. If needed, a registration lottery will be held on Monday, Feb. 17.

Nominate outstanding music educators for GRAMMY recognition

In Gwinnett, our students have an opportunity to receive exemplary arts instruction by industry-leading fine arts professionals, including a host of dedicated music educators.

You can help recognize an outstanding music educator by nominating him or her for a 2021 GRAMMY Music Educator Award by the March 15 deadline.

The Music Educator Award brings attention to the work of thousands of music teachers across the United States. Every year, the Recording Academy GRAMMY Museum highlights the work of educators based on nomination from their communities. (Nominated teachers will receive an application to complete and return by March 31.)

The GRAMMY Music Educator Award recognizes educators who have made a lasting and significant contribution to the field of music education. In addition to honoring these teachers, the GRAMMY Museum distributes more than $50,000 each year in honorariums and grants to chosen educators and their schools.

Nominating a teacher isn’t just a chance to recognize an individual—it’s an opportunity to add your voice to the GRAMMY Museum’s advocacy for music education.

The GRAMMY Music Educator Award is supported by the National Association of Music Education Foundation, the National Association for Music Education, and the National Education Association.

Here are some need-to know facts about music education:

1.       Students in high-quality school music programs score higher on standardized tests compared to students in schools with deficient music education programs, regardless of the socioeconomic level of the school or school district.

2.       Schools that have music programs have significantly higher attendance rates than do those without programs (93.3% compared to 84.9%).

3.       Schools that have music programs have significantly higher graduation rates than do those without music programs (90.2% compared to 72.9%). In addition, those that rate their programs as "excellent or very good" have an even higher graduation rate (90.9%).

4.       The combined results of 30 studies indicate that music instruction is linked to significantly improved reading skills.

Source: GRAMMY in the Schools

GCPS News for Week of Feb. 3, 2020

Take a few minutes to catch up on your district news in In5ive for the week of Feb. 3. In this episode… a FIRST LEGO League team at Mountain View High is winning awards and inspiring others, a Brookwood High teacher is honored, GCPS students are experiencing the wonders of opera, schools are holding CTE open house events, and GCPS is expanding its social media reach to Pinterest! Enjoy these stories and additional calendar notes in this latest edition of in5ive.

Pin it!

Now you can find GCPS on Pinterest! Follow us at www.pinterest.com/Gwinnett_Schools for tips and resources on various education topics. Our first “boards” feature resources related to early learning and school readiness for children ages birth to 5 and content on digital citizenship. Return often as we build those boards and add others to support GCPS families.

South Gwinnett HS Design Lab: Students at work

Work-based learning students design and create high-quality custom t-shirts and promotional goods in South Gwinnett’ HS’ Design Lab. In GCPS TV’s “Focus Moment” about the Design Lab, learn how this student-run enterprise gives students real-world experience and insight to the ins and outs of running a business.