GCPS News for Week of November 8, 2021

In this edition, Peachtree Elementary has something to celebrate . . . Central Gwinnett High and the School of the Arts lends a magic touch . . . Representatives from Brookwood High and Berkeley Lake Elementary take a State seat . . . and the new COVID-19 dashboard is available as well as vaccinations for kids 5-11. Enjoy these stories and more in this latest edition of in5ive.

School Psychology Week: Let’s get in GEAR!

During the week of Nov. 8-12, schools throughout the country are celebrating National School Psychology Awareness Week to highlight the important work school psychologists and other educators do to help all students thrive.  This year’s theme—“Let’s Get in GEAR”—emphasizes how our school psychologists:

• Promote positive growth;

• Engage in best practices to support our students and families,

• Advocate for mental health resources and learning supports for our students; and

• Help our school communities and those they serve to rise together.

Our school psychologists are skilled at assisting students and staff in growing and working together while shifting into different gears to meet the demands of school and life. This theme has a particular resonance this year as our school psychologists work to help students, families, and school staff emerge from the challenges of the past year and a half. When we “get in gear” by taking a small positive action, we can create momentum for positive change!

Thank you to our school psychologists… Helping children thrive. In school. At home. In life.

#ThankASchoolPsychologist

Tuesday, Nov. 9, is at-home learning day for GCPS students, planning day for teachers

A reminder for GCPS families… Tuesday, Nov. 9, is a scheduled Digital Learning Day (DLD) for all students. This is the third at-home asynchronous learning day of the school year (and the last one this semester), providing additional planning time for teachers. On scheduled DLDs, students access lessons in eCLASS but do not have virtual class time with their teachers.

To ensure that students have a nutritious breakfast and lunch to fuel their learning, our bus drivers will be on the road and at every bus stop to deliver meals prepared by School Nutrition Program staff. Families should expect buses to run their routes from approximately 10:45 a.m. to noon, beginning at the first stops on the route. Like meals served at school, these delivered meals are provided at no cost to the student under a federal waiver.

Remember… While breakfast and lunch will be provided at no charge for all GCPS in-person and digital students this school year, it still pays to complete the Free and Reduced-price Meal Application as confirmed eligibility establishes additional benefits for the student and provides additional federal funds for the school.

Remember 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!

Parent Mentors share advice for families of students with special needs: “Navigating the Holidays”

Parents of students receiving special education services in Gwinnett are invited to attend an informational Zoom session on Tuesday, Nov. 16, part of the Gwinnett County Parent Mentors Present” series. Parent Mentor Dawn Albanese will share her insights on “Navigating the Holidays,” including tips and ideas on making the holiday season more enjoyable and less stressful for everyone.

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 Nov. 16 from noon to 1 p.m., and again from 6 to 7 p.m.

• Click the link to register for the noon session

• Click the link to register for the 6 p.m. session

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. Mentors Dawn Albanese and Jackie McNair 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.

GCPS News for Week of Oct. 25

In this episode of In5ive, GCPS TV’s news show, find School Board news, tag along for a lawmaker’s visit to Summerour MS, check out the grant-funded sensory room at Mountain View HS, take a look at digital citizenship in GCPS, see how student-athletes are preparing for the basketball season, look ahead to Read for the Record, congratulate TOY semifinalists, and find more news and information.

Last chance to celebrate a TOP teacher or administrator!

The Teach On Project is looking for nominations of outstanding teachers and school leaders for the 2021-22 Teach On Project Awards! The organization is looking for educators who have had a positive impact on students’ self-esteem and their academic achievement and who collaborate with their community to support students. The deadline to nominate is Oct. 31. (You will be asked to create an account in order to make a nomination.) Staff members also can self-nominate by submitting a video of their classroom or a professional development session by Nov. 1. In the next round, nominees/applicants complete an essay and submit a grant proposal for a project for their school or classroom. Each award winner receives $7,500—funding for a school project ($3,500), funding for professional development ($1,500), and a personal stipend ($2,500). Nominees must be teachers or school-based administrators with at least two years of experience in GCPS, including the 2019-20 school year.

Fall is a great time to hit the road as a school bus driver!

Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) is now hiring drivers!

There is no better time than the fall to start driving a school bus, and the GCPS Transportation team will be hitting the road—and the internet highway—to meet and hire prospective drivers this fall. Come by to see us, and make sure to tell your friends, too!

Want to Be Notified of GCPS Driver Job Fairs? Text @drive4gcps to 81010.

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.

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.

Wednesday, Oct. 20, is at-home learning day for GCPS students, planning day for teachers

A reminder for GCPS families… Wednesday, Oct. 20, is a scheduled Digital Learning Day (DLD) for all students. This is the second at-home asynchronous learning day of the 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.

To ensure that students have a nutritious breakfast and lunch to fuel their learning, our bus drivers will be on the road and at every bus stop to deliver meals prepared by School Nutrition Program staff. Families should expect buses to run their routes from approximately 10:45 a.m. to noon, beginning at the first stops on the route. Like meals served at school, these delivered meals are provided at no cost to the student under a federal waiver.

Remember… While breakfast and lunch will be provided at no charge for all GCPS in-person and digital students this school year, it still pays to complete the Free and Reduced-price Meal Application as confirmed eligibility establishes additional benefits for the student and provides additional federal funds for the school. Complete the application by Oct. 21 to ensure your school receives additional support.

And for our elementary and middle school families… remember that Thursday, Oct. 21, is an Early Release Day and students will be dismissed 2.5 hours earlier than normal.

National School Lunch Week: Wild about lunch in GCPS cafeterias!

We’re Wild About School Lunch and we’re wild about our cafeteria staff! Gwinnett County Public Schools’ award-winning school nutrition program (SNP) plays a critical role in ensuring students have access to tasty and nutritious meals every school day. Based on strict federal guidelines, every school lunch served in our cafeterias contains fruits and vegetables, whole-grains, lean protein, and low-fat dairy to help feed students’ bodies and fuel their minds. (You can check out a couple of recipes here.) Gwinnett cafeterias serve many of the brands families use at home, such as Tyson, General Mills, Kellogg’s, and Land O’ Lakes. In addition, students are served a variety of fruits and vegetables, many locally grown, through GCPS’ Farm to School program.

If you need a job but want to be home when your kids are home from school, join the Spur Team in GCPS’ School Nutrition Program (SNP)! Learn how you can use your skills in the kitchen to help support your family!

“National School Lunch Week is a great time to remind families about all the benefits of our lunch program, and the appealing choices we offer,” says Ken Yant, GCPS’ director of School Nutrition. “Despite a lot of challenges this year, our Café Gwinnett staff members are going above and beyond to make sure our students get healthy meals at school.”

During National School Lunch Week (Oct. 11-15), take a moment to thank GCPS’ 1,100 food service professionals for their dedicated work in providing lunches (and breakfast) in 135 school cafeterias!

#thankSNPstaff #WildAboutSchoolLunch

It’s More Than a Meal… While breakfast and lunch will be provided at no charge for all GCPS in-person and digital students this school year, it still pays to complete the Free and Reduced-price Meal Application by Oct. 21 to help your school and your family. Confirmed eligibility establishes a number of benefits for individual students and helps secure additional federal funding (Title I) to support students and their education. Learn more online.

in5ive Week of October 11, 2021

Meadowcreek High recognizes the vibrant Hispanic culture during National Hispanic Heritage Month . . . a VIP tour takes place at the district’s new School of the Arts… International Peace Day is celebrated at Hull Middle… and Burlington Stores donated $5,000 to Britt Elementary. Enjoy these stories and more in this latest edition of in5ive.

Enjoy the break… Oct. 7-11

Cooler temperatures, trees bright with changing leaves, and pumpkin spice added to everything… it’s time for Fall Break for students and school staff in Gwinnett County Public Schools! GCPS schools will be closed on Thursday and Friday of this week, Oct. 7 and 8, and next Monday, Oct. 11. Students and all staff will be back to school—in-person or online—on Tuesday, Oct. 12. Have fun, be safe, and stay well during your break!

Parent Mentors share advice for families of students with special needs

Parents of students receiving special education services in Gwinnett are invited to attend an informational Zoom session on Tuesday, Oct. 19, part of the Gwinnett County Parent Mentors Present” series. Parent Mentor Dawn Albanese will share her insights on “Effective Communication Skills 101,” with a focus on building relationships, verbal communication skills, non-verbal communication skills, written communication skills, and virtual meeting etiquette. 

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 Oct. 19 from noon to 1 p.m., and again from 6 to 7 p.m.

• Click the link to register for the noon session

• Click the link to register for the 6 p.m. session

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. Mentors Dawn Albanese and Jackie McNair 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.

Essentials is headed to your mailbox

Watch for the fall issue of Essentials in your mailbox! The issue focuses on the ways we are meeting our students’ needs—supporting their social-emotional well-being and working to close learning gaps—as well as an update on current COVID-19 information for families.

SHINE as a GCPS paraprofessional!

Do you have what it takes to SHINE as a paraprofessional in a special education classroom in Gwinnett?

Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) is hiring… If you can see yourself in the classroom, we want to see you at our next virtual Q&A! On Tuesday, Oct. 12, GCPS will hold a virtual information session for special education paraprofessionals and substitute teachers from 4 to 5 p.m. Register for the session and we’ll see YOU at 4 p.m. on Oct. 12!

Paraprofessionals provide support within an assigned classroom with specific responsibility for assisting in the supervision, care, and instruction of students with special needs… in the regular education classroom, the special education classroom, or the community. Our paraprofessionals assist in implementing plans for instruction, monitor student behavior during non-classroom time, and attend individual Education Program (IEP) meetings.

Considering a career in education? Prospective teachers can gain on-the-job experience while getting paid. Student or parent of school-aged children? Part-time positions (20 hours) are available, with benefits and training provided. Pay range is $16,930 - $36,280 (full-time). GCPS paraprofessionals may qualify to pursue teaching certification while they work through a unique partnership with Georgia Gwinnett College.

Qualifying new employees hired on or after June 7 will be paid a $1,500 incentive for serving one full school year (2021-22) as a special education paraprofessional in GCPS. In addition, paraprofessionals who show proof of COVID-19 vaccination are eligible to receive an additional one-time incentive payment of $500.

How to apply… Applicants for parapro positions must complete an online application and meet one of the following criteria:

• Earned an associate’s degree or higher (any major, coursework completed with a grade of C or higher) from an approved college or university OR

• Completed two or more years of college coursework (at least 60 semester hours completed with a grade of C or higher) from an approved college or university OR

• Hold a high school diploma/GED AND pass the GACE Paraprofessional Assessment (Register online for the GACE assessment.)

Register online today! For additional information or questions, email us at gcpsteach@gcpsk12.org.

‘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 3, learn more about athletics in Gwinnett County Public Schools as we chat with a winning football coach and the district athletic director about championship football, GCPS’ successful girls’ flag football program, and more! 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 Sept. 20

In this episode of In5ive, GCPS TV’s news show, Cognia completes their special review of the district. Unity is promoted through the power of books at Burnette, Mason, and Parsons elementary schools. On the 20th anniversary of 9/11, Baldwin ES and Maxwell HS of Technology hold special remembrances. We are reminded of our COVID mitigation strategies. Two GCPS SROs receive a national award. And our school and local food pantries reap the benefits from the GCPS Annual Friday Night Food Fights. Enjoy these stories and more in this latest edition of In5ive.

GCPS to host virtual Q&A Sept. 28 for prospective paraprofessionals, substitutes

Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) is hiring… If you can see yourself in the classroom, we want to see you at our next virtual Q&A! On Tuesday, Sept. 28, GCPS will hold a virtual information session for special education paraprofessionals and substitute teachers. The virtual session will be held from 4 to 5 p.m. Register for the session and plan on joining us for the virtual Q&A on Sept. 28 at 4 p.m.

 Special Education Paraprofessionals

Do you have what it takes to SHINE as a paraprofessional in a special education classroom in Gwinnett?

Paraprofessionals provide support within an assigned classroom with specific responsibility for assisting in the supervision, care, and instruction of students with special needs… in the regular education classroom, the special education classroom, or the community. Our paraprofessionals assist in implementing plans for instruction, monitor student behavior during non-classroom time, and attend individual Education Program (IEP) meetings.

Considering a career in education? Prospective teachers can gain on-the-job experience while getting paid. Student or parent of school-aged children? Part-time positions (20 hours) are available, with benefits and training provided. Pay range is $13,301 to $36,280 (full-time). GCPS paraprofessionals may qualify to pursue teaching certification while they work through a unique partnership with Georgia Gwinnett College.

Qualifying new employees hired on or after June 7 will be paid a $1,500 incentive for serving one full school year (2021-22) as a special education paraprofessional in GCPS. In addition, paraprofessionals who show proof of COVID-19 vaccination are eligible to receive an additional one-time incentive payment of $500.

How to apply… Applicants for parapro positions must complete an online application and meet one of the following criteria:

• Earned an associate’s degree or higher (any major, coursework completed with a grade of C or higher) from an approved college or university OR

• Completed two or more years of college coursework (at least 60 semester hours completed with a grade of C or higher) from an approved college or university OR

• Hold a high school diploma/GED AND pass the GACE Paraprofessional Assessment (Register online for the GACE assessment.)

GCPS is conducting virtual interviews for paraprofessionals every Wednesday. Register online today! For additional information or questions, email us at gcpsteach@gcpsk12.org.

Substitute Teachers

If you’re looking for part-time employment with a flexible schedule, become a GCPS substitute teacher!

GCPS substitutes play a critical role in our students' education, making a difference in the lives of children every day! As a substitute, you can work in our schools on daily or longer assignments. You choose the assignments you want to accept and determine your own schedule! Compensation ranges from $130 a day up to $150 per day for extended assignments (10 or more days in the same classroom).

Work as a substitute can provide valuable experience for college students considering an education major, workers thinking of a career change, or those looking for the opportunity to teach when and where they want to work.

Substitute teachers who work at least 45 days during the fall semester (through Dec. 17) will be eligible to receive a one-time incentive payment of $500, above and beyond regular earned pay. Substitutes who work at least 45 days and show proof of COVID-19 vaccination will be eligible to receive an additional one-time incentive payment of $500.

How to apply… Applicants for substitute teaching positions must complete an online application, provide a reference, provide college diploma or transcripts (at least 60 semester hours or 90 quarters hours from an accredited institution), and complete GCPS Substitute Teacher Training Program (unless applicant has a valid or expired teaching certificate or has completed practicum or student teaching in GCPS). Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

If you think substitute teaching may be for you, complete an online application (Posting #62684) today! Learn more at GCPSjobs.org.Email substitutes@gcpsk12.org for assistance.