Last month, the State Board of Education approved adoption of Georgia’s new K-12 Mathematics Standards. During the current school year, teachers will receive training and professional learning, new resources will be developed, assessments will be aligned to the updated standards, and communication will be provided to parents to ensure a smooth transition when the new standards are implemented in future years. The new standards were drafted by Georgia math teachers with input from educational leaders, parents, students, business and industry leaders, and community members. “These new standards are Georgia-owned and Georgia-grown, clear, age- and developmentally appropriate, and remain laser-focused on the preparation students need for the future,” said State Superintendent Richard Woods. The Georgia Department of Education also plans to conduct a review of the K-12 English Language Arts (ELA) Standards.
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 Zoom session on Tuesday, Sept. 21, part of the Gwinnett County Parent Mentors Present” series. Parent Mentors Dawn Albanese and Jackie McNair will share their insights on “Starting the New School Year on a Positive Note,” with a focus on Parent Engagement, Effective Communication, Daily Routines, Self-Determination, Record Keeping, and Self-Care.
This monthly learning series is designed for families of children with disabilities, and presented by the Gwinnett County Parent Mentors in collaboration with GCPS' Special Education Department staff and community leaders and organizations. Spanish interpretation services are available.
Zoom sessions will be held on Sept. 21 from noon to 1 p.m., and again from 6 to 7 p.m.
To participate, register by noon on Sept. 20 at one of the links below. The Zoom link will be emailed to registered participants on Sept. 20.
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.
Questions? Contact Ms. Albanese by phone at (678) 301-7212 or by email at dawn.albanese@gcpsk12.org.
Tuesday, Sept. 14, is at-home learning day for GCPS students, planning day for teachers
A reminder for GCPS families… Tuesday, Sept. 14, is a scheduled Digital Learning Day (DLD) for all students. This is the first of six at-home asynchronous learning days this school year, providing additional planning time for teachers. On scheduled DLDs, students access lessons in eCLASS but do not have virtual class time with their teachers.
On scheduled DLDs, meals will be delivered along all bus routes countywide. Families should expect buses to run their routes from approximately 10:45 a.m. to noon, beginning at the first stops on the route.
GCPS News for Week of September 6, 2021
In this episode, parents of K-5 students are encouraged to participate in the Family Engagement Initiative to access resources to help their children at home… Several schools will be hosting walk-in vaccination clinics… Bus drivers will deliver meals during the September 14 Digital Learning Day… And all are invited to sign up for a Gwinnett County Public Library Card. Enjoy these stories and more in this latest edition of in5ive.
Labor Day is a school holiday
All GCPS schools and offices will be closed on Monday, Sept. 6, in observance of Labor Day. If you have questions about the student calendar, you can find a copy on the GCPS website.
Students seeking service academy nomination face October deadlines
U.S. representatives serving congressional districts that include Gwinnett County are accepting applications from high school seniors seeking a nomination to one of the country’s military service academies. Young people who receive an appointment to a U.S. military service academy receive military and leadership training while earning a college degree, with the federal government paying tuition, room, and board during the four-year program. Service academy graduates are commissioned as an officer in their respective branch upon graduation, and are obligated to serve on active duty in the U.S. military for a minimum of five years.
Members of Congress may nominate candidates for appointment to four of the five U.S. service academies—the U.S. Military Academy at West Point (Army), the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. (The U.S. Coast Guard Academy does not require a congressional nomination for appointment.)
Click the links below to learn more about the nomination process and upcoming deadlines in October for those seeking a nomination:
U.S. Congressional District 4, served by U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson
U.S. Congressional District 7, served by U.S. Rep. Carolyn Bordeaux
U.S. Congressional District 10, served by U.S. Rep. Jody Hice
Unsure of your congressional district? Click here to Find Your Representative.
‘Teaching Gwinnett’… Check out the latest podcast
Listen to the latest episode of “Teaching Gwinnett,” GCPS' podcast that tackles important, relevant, and timely topics that affect our students, staff, and families. In Episode 2, learn more about the district’s School of the Arts (SOTA) at Central Gwinnett HS with Principal Shane Orr and David Dubose, GCPS’ director of Fine Arts. They explain why SOTA is the place to be for students who are obsessed with street dance or play an instrument, love recording or illustrate graphic novels, dream of art installations or write their own music. The new fine arts school-within-a-school is where Gwinnett students can pursue their artistic vision, explore their creativity, and learn from industry professionals! Subscribe to “Teaching Gwinnett” on your favorite podcast platform today! The podcast is available on Anchor, Spotify, Google Play Music, Google Podcasts, Castbox, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Breaker, RadioPublic, and the Apple Podcast app!
GCPS News for Week of Aug. 23
In this episode of In5ive, GCPS TV’s news show, we have highlights from the recent Board meeting. Schools and programs receive gifts and grants, including 1,000 backpacks donated to Meadowcreek ES, funding to purchase 4,000 new books for the GCPS Explore Book Mobile, and a $50,000 grant awarded to five GCPS schools. And, follow along with our new superintendent as he continues to engage with staff, students ,and parents on his Look, Listen, and Learn tour. Enjoy these stories and more in the Aug. 23 edition of In5ive.
Share feedback on state math standards by Aug. 23
A reminder… Aug. 23 is the deadline to share your feedback on proposed K-12 Mathematics Standards with the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE). If approved, the standards will be implemented in the 2022-23 school year, following a year of teacher training. The State Board of Education is scheduled to vote on adoption of the standards at its August meeting. Online, learn more about the proposed K-12 Mathematics Standards, find a summary of changes, and share your feedback.
Unit 1: GCPS hosts virtual AKS at Home sessions to support learning for ES students
Families are invited to participate in the school district’s quarterly AKS at Home initiative.
GCPS plans meetings in BOE districts
This fall, the Gwinnett County Board of Education will go on the road, meeting once in each Board member’s district.
Drive student success…Become a GCPS school bus driver!
Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) is hiring bus drivers!
Our drivers enjoy competitive wages—from $17.98 to $25.48 per hour and between six and eight daily work hours for morning and afternoon routes—as well as excellent benefits, fully paid training, and a great work schedule. They follow the student calendar and enjoy the benefit of time off on student holidays as well as summers off with full pay! Prospective drivers don’t need to hold a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). Our Transportation Department trains and supports new drivers through the process! New drivers receive full pay throughout our award-winning and professional CDL training program.
Applicants must be 21 or older, have a good driving record, and have a high school diploma or GED.
If you are interested in learning more about opportunities with the school district’s Transportation team, make plans to attend one of these upcoming events. Transportation staff will be available to answer any questions and assist with the application process.
Want to Be Notified of GCPS Driver Job Fairs? Text @drive4gcps to 81010.
Interested in joining the team?
Apply today for posting #72988! Drivers must be 21 or older, have a good driving record, and have a high school diploma or GED. The Transportation Department will contact qualified applicants to schedule an interview. Check out this video to hear from a current driver. For additional information call 678-225-7670.
Back to School 2021: GCPS students are ready to SHINE!
Check out some “shining” moments from the first week of school.
Discovery HS hosts vaccination clinic on Wednesdays in August
Experts tell us no single tool is going to stop the pandemic. However, we can all do our part to slow COVID-19 transmission. The best protection from COVID-19—for yourself and others—will be a combination of strategies, including getting a COVID-19 vaccine if eligible, wearing a mask, maintaining distance when you can, staying home when ill, and washing your hands often. GCPS requires masks in all facilities and on our buses, and will continue to employ established mitigation efforts.
GCPS encourages our community to learn more about COVID vaccinations and take advantage of opportunities to get vaccinated. The district is partnering with the Gwinnett Health Department to host a weekly vaccination clinic at Discovery HS every Wednesday, 3–7 p.m. through the end of August. Georgians age 12 and older are eligible for the vaccine. For more on COVID vaccinations go to the health department website. This opportunity is available to anyone eligible for the vaccine, ages 12 and older.
Back to School 2021: What’s new for 2021-22 in Gwinnett schools?
See what’s new in schools across Gwinnett.
GCPS launches season 3 of ‘Teaching Gwinnett’ podcast
“Teaching Gwinnett”—a district-produced podcast hosted by Bernard Watson, GCPS’ director of media and community relations—is launching its third season!
The show features in-depth and informative interviews, like this one about how GCPS Transportation staff are working to keep kids safe on the ride to and from school and the challenges posed by COVID-19 over the last 18 months. Find the podcast on Anchor, Spotify, Google Play Music, Google Podcasts, Castbox, Overcast, Pocket Casts, iTunes, the Apple Podcast app, and the district website.
Subscribe today!
Attend Meet and Greet with new superintendent on Aug. 19
Students and their families, staff, and community members are invited to a Meet and Greet event with Dr. Calvin J. Watts, GCPS’ new superintendent, at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 19, prior to the School Board’s regular monthly meeting that begins at 7 p.m. The event will be held in the Board Room Lobby area of the J. Alvin Wilbanks Instructional Support Center, located at 437 Old Peachtree Road, NW, in Suwanee. Note that masks are required in this facility.
GCPS News for Week of Aug. 9
In this episode of In5ive, GCPS TV’s news show, we catch up with our new superintendent on his tour of schools, drop in on Summer Camp with the GCPS Mentoring group, learn about new items on the menu in our school cafeterias, and are reminded about school bus safety.
ICYMI… School Board approves FY2022 budget, drop in millage rate
Summertime brings the budget-setting process to an end for the upcoming school year. In case you missed it…
On June 17, the Board of Education adopted the FY2022 recommended budget in the expenditure amount of $2,4 billion, an increase of 0.4% from the FY2021 Total Budget. With growth in the local property tax digest for the eighth straight year and additional revenue from the state, GCPS was able to balance its budget, provide raises for its employees, and implement several improvement items. (At its July 15 meeting, the Board approved a budget amendment that bumped up the cost-of-living salary increase for all employees paid on the teacher salary scale from $1,000 to $2,000.)
The more robust property tax digest also allowed the district to recommend a lower millage rate than initially planned. In July, Board members approved a decrease in its debt service millage rate from 1.90 to 1.65. The maintenance and operations (M&O) millage rate remains at 19.70 mills. Combined, and as approved, the debt service millage and M&O millage sit at 21.35, a decrease from last year’s rate of 21.60. The lower millage rate of 21.35 mills will support the FY2022 budget, with the decrease in the debt service portion still providing the funds necessary to support the principal interest payments on the district’s long-term bond obligations. The decreased millage rate is expected to reduce property tax bills by about $5 for every $50,000 in home value.
Aug. 13 deadline approaches for GEMS Oversight Committee applications
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 Oct. 28, 2021. After the review, the committee recommends revisions and additions to the superintendent for adoption by the Gwinnett County Board of Education. Committee members serve three-year terms. Those interested in serving should complete the online application no later than Aug. 13.