Ed Briefs

In this episode, Dr. Watts chats with David DuBose, Director of Fine Arts at GCPS and visits Burnette Elementary School to see art and music classes firsthand.

Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims across the world. During this time, individuals fast from dawn to dusk with the objective of developing God-consciousness, or Allah's awareness ("Taqwa" in Arabic). It is a special time to reset and start anew. Many of our co-workers, students, and their families will be fasting between March 22 and April 20 this year, and can really use our understanding, encouragement, and support. Here are some ways that teachers can help support students during this special time.

We have created this folder with social media images, posts and instructions for Kindergarten registration for your convenience. To learn more about Kindergarten registration, please click here. Let us know if you have any questions, suggestions, or ideas!

Saturday, April 22, is Earth Day! Working together, we can #InvestInOurPlanet by dedicating our time and energy to cleaning up waste, planting trees and gardens, learning about climate change, volunteering in our communities, and more. If your class or school is planning an activitiy for Earth Day, click here to let us know.

Some people are so patient with themselves and others that they never seem bothered. Whether it's waiting for an extra hour for pick-up or getting caught up in gridlock traffic, patient people don’t appear to be fazed. Are you one of those people? If not, that’s okay. We can learn how to be more patient—with ourselves, with others, and with life.

Here are three tips to strengthen your self-awareness and grow patience over time:

1. Create a List of Your Trigger Points— Think about the times when you feel most impatient throughout the day. When does your patience level run low - in the morning, at the end of the workday, or right before lunch? When you know what ignites your stress, you can also identify your trigger points.

2. Create a Plan to Cope with Your Trigger Points— Knowing what tests your patience can be key to creating plans on how to avoid your impatience triggers or lessen their impact. If your patience runs thin when you’re hungry, try not to schedule meetings around that low energy time of the day or keep snacks handy.

3. Reframe the Trying Situation— Use positive self-talk and try looking at a negative situation through a different lens. If you are in a not-so-great situation (having your computer crash during a lesson), try viewing things from a more positive angle (having the opportunity to try a new student-led strategy). When you can reframe a negative to a positive, you’ll accept the situation with a more patient attitude.

For more insights on patience, here is one of many resources!

This training is open for Spanish/English bilingual school personnel with a working knowledge of academic language who currently serve or want to serve as school-wide interpreters. Please note that when signing up for the Interpreter/Translator Training for Local School Staff course, you are making a commitment to attend all four sessions for that section. All sessions will take place in person at the International Newcomer Center in Lawrenceville. If you are off-contract on the dates of the training, you will receive a daily stipend for attending.

Section 54175

• June 7 and 8, 2023— 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
• September 8, 2023— 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
• February 9, 2024— 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Section 54177

• July 20 and 21, 2023— 2023, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
• September 22, 2023— 2023, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
• March 22, 2024— 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

1. Register in PD&E. Choose Course #30893, Section #5417 OR #54177 (based on date preference)

2. Download the application from PD&E, print it and fill it out. The completed application must have a principal's signature.

3. Submit your application. Scan and email or courier the original to Michelle Moody, International Newcomer Center by the deadline on May 5, 2023 .

You only need to sign up for one section, as both sessions are exactly the same.

If you have any questions or for further information, contact Michelle Moody, Language Services & Parent Outreach Manager, at (770) 277-4418.

On Saturday, May 6, at the J. Alvin Wilbanks Instructional Support Center, GCPS will host the Book Mobile 5K and Fun Run. The event will raise funds to purchase new books for the Book Mobile program, putting books in students’ hands. Please click this link to register.

Register by April 30 for $28. If you register May 1 through race day, the cost is $30. Families can register for the $90 family discount price. There will be a Fun Run after the 5K for $18.

If you can't make it to the ISC, you can participate in the Virtual Run—same pricing as 5K, plus $5 for shipping your shirt to you.

On Monday, March 27, the GCPS Business and Finance department presented the FY24 Superintendent’s Recommended Budget to the Board of Education in the first of two Board Budget Work Sessions. The work session, which was livestreamed and is available for viewing on GCPSTV, provided the first interactive opportunity for our Board of Education and CEO/Superintendent Dr. Calvin J. Watts to publicly discuss the proposed budget for the coming fiscal year. The highlights of the FY24 Superintendent’s Recommended Budget include:

• A salary step increase for all eligible employees
• A $3,000 increase for all employees paid on the teacher salary schedule
• A minimum 4.0% cost-of-living increase for all employees not paid on the teacher salary schedule; larger percentage increases in some positions to achieve a minimum starting salary of $15.00 per hour
• Investments in increased safety and security, including funding for staff and safety alerts, security vestibules, and fencing
• Funding for the construction of one new middle school, and the build-out of GIVE Center West

The second Board Budget Work Session and tentative adoption of the proposed budget is scheduled for April 27, 2023. The FY24 Superintendent’s Recommended Budget, the Budget Calendar, and Budget Presentation are available online.

Want to share a success story about your school or department with the entire GCPS community?

Are you looking for a way to recognize a teacher, student, or team member for their work? Do you want to share an upcoming event or opportunity?

Do you have GCPS Good News to share? Click here to let us know.

Celebrate the arts in GCPS in this Tapestry 2023 video.

In this video, learn more about the GCPS Transition Fair for families of students with special needs.

Watch and listen as elementary students from across the district come together to perform as two large ensembles for families and community at the 2023 Elementary Honor Chorus.

See highlights from Readers Rally 2023, when 86 teams from across GCPS compete in the largest in-person reading bowl in the country.

• Coffee with Calvin (March 3)
• Board meeting and work session (March 16)
• Connected (March 24)
• GCPS Links (March 17)
• News Releases
  
• Student Calendars
  
• News You Can Use
  

• Keep Connected with news from GCPS TV… the next episode airs April 14!
• The next regular Board meeting is April 27. (Online, find links to sign up for the public comment sections of the meeting.)
  
• Watch for the next issue of GCPS Links on April 21!