GCPS accepting applications for GEMS Oversight Committee

Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) invites parents and guardians, 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 GCPS’ Academic Knowledge and Skills (AKS) standards.

The next meeting is tentatively scheduled for Nov. 1, 2022. After the review, the committee will recommend revisions and additions to Dr. Calvin J. Watts, the district’s 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 Friday, Aug. 12.

Want to Change Lives? Be a GCPS Paraprofessional

Paraprofessionals in Gwinnett County Public Schools provide support to the instructional program within an assigned classroom. Specific responsibilities include assisting in the supervision, care, and instruction of special needs students in the regular education classroom, special education classroom, community, and assisting in implementing plans for instruction, monitoring student behavior during the non-classroom time, providing information to appropriate school personnel, and attending individual Education Program (IEP) meetings. Experience is preferred in a licensed child care environment.

If this appeals to you, this is your chance to start a career with Gwinnett County Public Schools. Join Team GCPS and follow your passion to start a career as an educator!

• Education Management and Staffing Solution (ESS) invites you to our hiring event for Paraprofessionals for Gwinnett County Public Schools on June 8, 2022, from 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. at 437 Old Peachtree Rd. NW, Building 100, Suwanee, Ga., 30024. 

• You are invited to meet with us and learn more about joining Team GCPS! Perks include permanent full-time positions, health benefits, 401K, bonus programs, and competitive weekly pay!

• If you have any questions, please contact ESS Gwinnett Account Managers Kandee Stephens at 407-707-5399 kstephens@ess.com or Nathalie Joseph at 678-708-7699 njoseph@ess.com

Requirements and Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent and passed the Parapro Assessment (prior to March 1, 2007) or

• Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators® (GACE®) Parapro Assessment or

• In lieu of assessments: 60 semester or 90 quarter hours from a Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) approved college or university are required.

Degree and transcript from a country outside the US?

• List of Accredited Agencies for Foreign Credential Reports. Once you receive your credential report, please upload the report to your online application.

Please come out and join us and get your application started today! 

To work as a Paraprofessional in Gwinnett County Schools, Please Apply Today at www.ESS.com

Digital Summer Learning Support available

Students can keep their skills sharp this summer with self-paced, digital support opportunities! On the Digital eClass page, GCPS elementary and middle school students will be able to select one or more digital platforms for at-home practice between June 6 and July 12. These digital tools are the same ones students use at school and are a great way to keep students connected and learning at their own pace during the summer! Learn more about Digital Summer Learning Support online.

Summer is here!

The 2021-22 school year is in the books! We hope our students, families, and employees have a chance to have enjoy time with family and friends this summer. Watch for a wrap-up slideshow with some images from the end of the year. Happy summer and we look forward to seeing you next school year!

Celebrating the Class of 2022!

Help us celebrate our seniors with this special issue of Communiqué, featuring written and spoken-word reflections, performances, photography, and visual art pieces representing each of our high schools. In the issue, you’ll meet our valedictorians and salutatorians and other high-achieving students. We’ve pulled together just a few of the scholarships and awards garnered by members of the outstanding group of students that make up GCPS’ Class of 2022. (With more than 13,000 seniors on-track for graduation, just a list of names would take more than 89 pages!) Of course, many more students earned prestigious honors and scholarships that are not part of this issue. They are being celebrated in their school communities.

We wish our graduating seniors the very best as they head into their future!

May 27 registration deadline nears for HS summer classes

Registration closes May 27 for HS summer classes through Gwinnett Online Campus (June 6–30) and face-to-face classes at Archer HS, Berkmar HS, and Lanier HS (June 13–July 7). To address COVID-related learning gaps, GCPS will pay for up to two summer classes for HS students needing to retake a class previously failed. GCPS students taking a course for the first time pay $250 per course. Rising 9th graders may take Health and/or PE at Berkmar HS, online, and through some Community Schools. Summer school graduation is set for July 8.

View graduation ceremonies online

If one of your favorite seniors is graduating from a GCPS school, but you don’t have a ticket, make plans to watch a live stream of the ceremony. Ceremonies scheduled for Gas South Arena can be viewed at the scheduled date and time online. For graduation ceremonies planned for the Convention Center Exhibit Halls, find event info and a live stream link on the Gas South website. A handful of other schools hold graduations in another location. Phoenix HS’ graduation ceremony will be streamed at 10:30 a.m. on May 23. A few schools planning on-campus ceremonies will live stream their events as well, including Brookwood HS, Central Gwinnett HS, Gwinnett Online Campus, Mill Creek HS, and Parkview HS. Find dates, times, and locations for graduation ceremonies online.

Check out the latest episode of In5ive

Pros from the film and music industry mentor students at School of the Arts . . . GCPS seniors attend Future Teacher Signing Day . . . Several events are taking place in the month of May . . . and we recognize our Class of 2022 Valedictorians. Enjoy these stories and more in this latest edition of in5ive.

Help us celebrate #TeamGCPS

Now, more than ever, your thanks, encouragement, and celebration of GCPS staff members is a meaningful way to show how much our community values public education and appreciates those who have helped our students this school year.  On the Team GCPS web page, families can find two ways to send employees a special note of appreciation as we approach the end of the school year:

• Say thank you with an eCard! Select one of five designs and complete the eCard submission form.

• Send a handwritten note! Download printable thank you sheets.

Celebrate with social media: Share a “Thank You!” post on your social media accounts, using these hash tags… #TeamGCPS, #ThankATeacher, and #ThankAGCPSTeacher.

Parent Mentors share advice for families of students with special needs: ‘Parenting with Humility and Humor’

Parents of students receiving special education services in Gwinnett are invited to attend an informational Zoom session on Tuesday, May 17, part of the Gwinnett County Parent Mentors Present” series. School Psychologist Lori Draper of GCPS’ Special Education Department will present “Parenting with Humility and Humor.” In this session, the presenter will focus on the important job of parenting with humility and humor.  Participants will learn about parenting styles and their impact on children as well as how to empower children to become responsible individuals.   

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 May 17 from noon to 1:30 p.m. (live) and again from 6 to 7:30 p.m. (recorded).

Please register using the appropriate link below. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

• Click the link to register for the noon session

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

A Parent Mentor is a parent who works within GCPS' special education department, providing information and support to other families who have children receiving special education services. Parent Mentor Dawn Albanese has first-hand knowledge of raising a child with special needs who receives special education services in GCPS.

Questions? Contact Parent Mentor Dawn Albanese by phone at (678) 301-7212 or by email at dawn.albanese@gcpsk12.org.

Spring Essentials 2022 coming your way!

Watch for the spring issue of Essentials in your mailbox! The issue focuses on the district’s future—from our strategic planning process and the development of our Portrait of a Graduate to progress on capital projects and technology improvements. The issue also includes a look at GCPS’ collaborative work through the Learning 2025 network to provide the student-centered, equity-focused, and future-driven education that will ensure each and every child can learn, grow, and thrive.

ICYMI: Find Virtual Transition Fair recording online

Click the list to go to the web page with videos.

Students with disabilities, their families, and educators have access to a recording of the 2022 Virtual Transition Fair through May 25. The recording includes virtual presentations from local agency representatives regarding various options available for school-aged students as well as transitional services to post-school activities and employment. Topics include Day Programs, Community Living Supports, Recreation and Leisure, and Vocational and Career Services.

Join Team GCPS and drive student success!

Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) is now hiring full-time and part-time bus drivers!

The GCPS Transportation team will be hitting-the-road (and the internet highway!) during the months of April and May, recruiting bus drivers to join Team GCPS. Come by to see us, and make sure to tell your friends too. Our drivers enjoy competitive wages—from $17.98 to $25.48 per hour and between six and eight work hours each day 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, and training is provided throughout the summer, so now is the perfect time to apply and start training!

Retired and looking for a way to make some extra money while investing in the next generation? TRS and PSERS retirees are able to drive with Team GCPS on a part-time substitute basis, without affecting existing retirement benefits.

Applicants must be 21 or older, have a good driving record, and have a high school diploma or GED.

Upcoming Bus Driver Career Fairs

• Wednesday April 27, 2 p.m.—Virtual Bus Driver Job Fair, registration required  

• Wednesday April 27, 3-6 p.m.—Peachtree Ridge HS, located at 1555 Old Peachtree Rd NW, Suwanee

• Saturday, April 30, and Sunday, May 1, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.—Repticon Reptile Show – Gwinnett County Fairgrounds, located at 2405 Sugarloaf Pkwy. in Lawrenceville

• Saturday, April 30, 2.-8 p.m.—Grayson Day Festival, located at 475 Grayson Pkwy. in Grayson

• Monday, May 2, 3-6 p.m.—Meadowcreek HS, located at 4455 Steve Reynolds Blvd. in Norcross

• Tuesday, May 3, 1:30 p.m.—Virtual Bus Driver Job Fair, registration required  

• Wednesday, May 4, 3-6 p.m.—Norcross HS, located at 5300 Spalding Dr. in Norcross

• Thursday, May 5, 1:30 p.m.—Virtual Bus Driver Job Fair, registration required  

• Friday, May 6, 6-9 p.m.—Food Truck Friday – Fridays ‘N’ Duluth, located to 3137 Main St. in Duluth

• Tuesday, May 10, 3-6 p.m.—Berkmar HS, located at 405 Pleasant Hill Rd. in Lilburn

• Wednesday, May 11, 3-6 p.m.—Shiloh HS, located at 4210 Shiloh Rd. in Snellville

• Thursday May 12, 3-6 p.m.—Discovery HS, located at 1335 Old Norcross Rd. in Lawrenceville

• Tuesday May 17, 3-6 p.m.—Collins Hill HS, located at 50 Taylor Rd. in Suwanee

Watch for additional transportation career fairs in May and June.

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

Interested in joining the team?

Apply today for posting #72988! Driversmust 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 driver. For additional information call 678-225-7670.

2022-23 registration continues for special schools

Registration is ongoing for the district’s specialized career and technical education programs and our online learning school for grades K-12:

• Grayson HS Technical Education Program: GCPS students can register via the Student Portal. Local school counselors can help students determine if the Grayson program is a good fit. Click here to take a video tour of the facility and its programs.

• Maxwell High School of Technology: Registration for the 2022-23 school year is available via the Student Portal. Students in grades 9-11 who attend one of the district’s seven College and Career Readiness Academy high schools may register if they have earned a minimum of four high school credits at the time of registration. Registration is open to rising juniors and seniors at non-Academy schools who have earned eight or more credits at the time they register.

• Gwinnett Online Campus (GOC): GOC is the online option for GCPS students in grades K-12. Watch a virtual information session and check out these FAQs. Learn more about registration online.

Give feedback on proposed supplemental instructional materials

Staff, families, students, and community members are invited to review and provide input on supplemental resources to support early learning, career and technical education, K-5 Language Arts/Social Studies, Georgia History (Grade 8), and U.S. History (Grade 11), starting April 25. The public review of all resources will run through May 6.

Supplemental resources are used to support core instructional materials in the teaching and learning of the Academic Knowledge and Skills (AKS) standards, or to support a districtwide initiative or priority in a non-instructional capacity. Before implementing supplemental resources for classroom use, Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) holds an extensive review involving a variety of stakeholders.

The materials for review will be on display at the J. Alvin Wilbanks Instructional Support Center (Bldg. 100), located at 437 Old Peachtree Rd., NW in Suwanee, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. during a two-week period—April 25 to May 6. For an after-hours opportunity, please contact 678-301-6828. The display will give instructions for reviewers to leave feedback using an online evaluation form. Online, find a list of the materials available for review.

For more about the supplementary materials review process, contact the Office of Instructional Resources and Support at 678-301-6828.

GCPS announces graduation schedule for Class of 2022

If you have a senior in the family, you can start making plans for graduation! District officials have released the graduation schedule for Gwinnett’s 24 high schools. Graduation ceremonies are set for May 23-30.

Tutor.com offers academic support for students

Our students have the academic help they need, no matter the hour, with Tutor.com. Live, online tutoring support is available daily from noon to 10 p.m. through GCPS’ partnership with Gwinnett County Public Library. In addition, students can receive “drop-off support,” 24-7, by uploading a document for tutor feedback that will be reviewed and returned at a later time. Help is available in core subjects of language arts, math, science, and social studies as well as Advanced Placement courses, SAT/ACT prep, and study skills coaching, with support in Spanish and by phone once a user has logged in. For access, students can use their GCPL library card number or their GCPS student ID and birthdate through the Branch Out program.

Focus Moment: Conference shares information, resources with Hispanic families

GCPS’ Hispanic Mentoring recently hosted Rompiendo Barreas, a parent empowerment conference for Spanish-speaking families that shared important information from GCPS and community resources. With more than 200 in attendance, the event was an exciting way to welcome families into schools and involve then in their child’s education. Learn more about the conference in this Focus Moment from GCPS TV.

Focus Moment: Building knowledge and skills with FIRST LEGO League

Who doesn’t love LEGOs? But those interconnecting plastic bricks in toy boxes everywhere are much more than toys! In this Focus Moment from GCPS TV, see how students across the district are learning coding and the basics of robotics with these literal building blocks.

Check out the latest episode of In5ive: Week of April 18

In the latest episode of In5ive from GCPS TV, find highlights from the Board’s recent meeting… exciting news for two students headed to Washington, D.C.… a unique partnership preparing students for future careers… and a visit from NASCAR champ Kyle Larson. Enjoy these stories, calendar highlights, and more in this latest edition of in5ive.