Sunday, May 19, 2013
Gwinnett County Public Schools salutes fine arts programs in its latest issue of Communique.
As the school year comes to a close, Gwinnett County Public Schools officials are taking the time to commend the district's arts programs and the students who bring them to life. More than 147,000 Gwinnett County students were enrolled in fine arts classes this year, officials said in the latest issue of Communique, an online magazine for the district's school community. That's more than 88 percent of the district's student enrollment. "At a time when shrinking budgets have squeezed out electives in some school districts, we feel both fortunate and resolute in ensuring that fine arts remain an important part of quality and effective education for Gwinnett County schoolchildren," Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks said in Communique. "If …
Friday, May 17, 2013
Gwinnett County Board of Education adopts $1.763 billion FY2014 budget and tentatively adopts 1.30 mills increase in tax millage rate.
After holding the line in the face of declining revenue in recent years, the Gwinnett County Board of Education anticipates having to raise the tax millage rate to fund the FY2014 budget. The school board adopted a FY2014 balanced budget totaling $1.76 billion, a decrease of $12.8 million or .7 percent from the FY2013 budget at its meeting Thursday (May 16) at the Instructional Support Center in Suwanee. The board also tentatively adopted an increase of 1.30 mills in the tax rate. Despite “a tremendous downturn in the economy we’ve been able to have the millage rate unchanged for some time,” Rick Cost, chief financial officer for Gwinnett County Public Schools, said. This increase includes .55 mills for maintenance and operations (General …
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Emma Reidy, Allison Fisher and Christina Valentini are among 15 students to be awarded scholarships from the Gwinnett County Public Schools Foundation Fund.
Each spring the Gwinnett County Public Schools Foundation Fund, Inc. coordinates a number of scholarships which are awarded to graduating seniors. Three Norcross High School students are among 15 Gwinnett County Public School Students to receive scholarships from the school district's Foundation. Students are invited to apply for the scholarships and are selected by committees made up of GCPS employees and community members. The winners are selected based on the student's essay, academic record and service to their community. Emma Reidy received a $2,500 scholarship from the Alton C. Crews Teaching Scholarship fund which is given to a graduating senior who is pursuing a career in education. Following is an excerpt from her winning essay: I…
Monday, May 6, 2013
Yonnatan Manmektew, along with 11 other seniors in Gwinnett County Public Schools, will receive a scholarship to cover his entire college tuition.
Gwinnett County school officials announced Monday that 12 students will have their college tuition paid in full through the Gates Millennium Scholars program. To date, it is the district's largest class of Gates Millennium Scholars. The 12 students are among just 1,000 chosen across the country. Representatives from the Gates Millennium Scholars Program will visit Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) this week to congratulate students and school counselors. The schools represented and seniors receiving scholarships are: Don’t miss any Norcross news. Subscribe to Norcross Patch’s free newsletter, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Eleven students from the schools will spend four weeks on the campus of Valdosta State University, where they will be able to study subjects of their choosing.
Eleven students from Meadowcreek High and Norcross High have been picked as finalists in the Governor's Honors Program (GHP). They are among nearly 100 Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) gifted and talented juniors and seniors who will spend part of their summer taking a rigorous, in-depth look at an area of their interest. Representing 14 of the district’s high schools, the Gwinnett students will learn from the most qualified Georgia high school teachers in this challenging and enriching program. Nearly 3,000 students from across the state were interviewed and auditioned over three weekends in January and February. From those nominees, 690 finalists were chosen to participate in the 2013 program. The finalists at the Norcross-area …
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
About 150 participated in the event on April 27.
In its annual "I See a Cure" event, Gwinnett County Public Schools participants raised about $4,000 for cancer awareness and research, according to organizers. The event was held April 27 at the Gwinnett County Public Schools district offices in Suwanee. Some 150 people attended. Funds from the event are forwarded to Gwinnett Relay for Life, and go to support the American Cancer Society. "Despite a few sprinkles in the beginning, the race went very well and we all had a great time running/walking to support Relay for Life," said Patrice Pendergast, GCPS recruitment coordinator and an event committee member. "We honored cancer survivors, those who are currently battling and those who have lost the battle," Pendergast added. Besides GCPS …
Friday, April 26, 2013
The Gwinnett County Public Schools district will split a $10,000 prize with Cobb County's Ford Elementary.
Gwinnett County Public Schools is among the nation's first school districts to be awarded a sustainability award from the U.S. Department of Education. The announcement came this week to coincide with Earth Day. In addition to Gwinnett County's honor, Ford Elementary in Cobb County was named a 2013 national Green Ribbon School. For their outstanding green principles, Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) and Ford Elementary will split $10,000 in award money from the Turner Foundation. "We are so proud that once again a Georgia school has been named a National Green Ribbon School,” said State School Superintendent John Barge. "We are equally proud of Gwinnett County Public Schools for being named as one of the first National Green Ribbon …
Monday, April 22, 2013
Gwinnett County's school board has approved amendments to a state contract. Now, the district must submit this request to the state Board of Education.
The Gwinnett County school board voted unanimously Thursday to amend a state education contract that gives the district more flexibility to increase student performance. Known as IE2, the "Investing in Educational Excellence" partnership requires schools to meet annual performance targets throughout a five-year period, but gives flexibility in accomplishing those goals. In 2009, the state approved Gwinnett County's IE2 plan, which uses integrated courses, among other things to reach targets. Since then a few things have changed, including the addition of more than a dozen new schools and the use of end-of-course tests for high schools. Now, Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) wants to add those 16 new schools and the use of end-of-…
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
The student art exhibition runs April 19-21 and will include eight pieces from Norcross High.
From Gwinnett County Public Schools: Among more than 100 art pieces on display during this year’s Atlanta Dogwood Festival this coming weekend, visitors will find many produced by Gwinnett County students. The Atlanta High School Art Exhibition features 107 pieces, of which 41 are the creations of Gwinnett County students. Several Norcross High School student creations earned high accolades from festival judges. Gwinnett students will be on exhibit at Piedmont Park during the Annual Dogwood Festival, April 19-21, 2013. Other Gwinnett County students with exhibits include: In all, art enthusiasts can view the creations by students from 11 Gwinnett schools, including: Keep up with what's happening in your community - sign up for the free …
Leaders met at Meadowcreek High School, where they tentatively approved the $1.8 billion budget for next school year.
The Gwinnett County Board of Education "tentatively" adopted a $1.8 billion budget for the 2013-2014 school year during a special called meeting Tuesday. Board member Louise Radloff made the motion to adopt the superintendant's recommended budget, which totals $1.76 billion. Board members then voted unanimously to approve it. The budget is a decrease of $12.8 million, or .7 percent, over the current year. Among the budget highlights are: There will now be two public hearings before the final adoption. The first public hearing is 7 p.m., May 9; the second public hearing is 6 p.m., May 16. Both meetings take place at the district headquarters in Suwanee. Final adoption of the budget is planned May 16, as well. The new millage rate will also …
