News You Can Use
Dacula Middle School 8th grader receives REACH Scholarship
Dacula Middle School (DMS) 8th grader, Hanna Abebe, has been awarded a $10,000 scholarship from REACH Georgia. DMS counselors and administrators were joined by Hanna's family, friends, and teachers to celebrate her amazing achievement and witness Hanna and her mother sign her commitment papers for furthering her education.
REACH Georgia is the State’s first needs-based mentorship and college scholarship program. The program's mission is to ensure that Georgia’s academically promising students have the academic, social, and financial support needed to graduate from high school, access college, and achieve postsecondary success. Beginning in the 8th grade and through high school, REACH Scholars are paired with a mentor and an academic coach.
Berkmar Middle School held its first community food drive of the school year
Berkmar Middle School teamed up with the Atlanta Community Food Bank and community volunteers to provide food to nearly 200 families in the Lilburn area. “We are so pleased with our very first food drive,” shared Berkmar Middle’s Pilar Silva, Parent Involvement Coordinator. “Having so many volunteers come out to support our school and community makes my heart glad.” Dr. Kaneshia Dorsan, the Principal at Berkmar Middle, is humbled by the generosity of her school community. “Today, I am extra proud of our school. Seeing the smiling faces of our families and communities is such an awesome feeling and knowing that we contributed to those smiles is amazing. We are so thankful to members of the Atlanta Community Food Bank for their partnership.” Berkmar Middle will host another food drive on Friday, November 18.
Dr. Calvin J. Watts reads to Annistown Elementary School 1st graders
Gwinnett County Public Schools’ Superintendent Dr. Calvin J. Watts stopped by Annistown Elementary School recently to read to students. Dr. Watts read "Amy Wu and The Patchwork Dragon" to 1st graders at the school as part of Jumpstart's Read for the Record global movement. Dr. Watts was joined by Dr. Alexis Simmons; GCPS School Resource Officers Dale Casey and Jonathan Simms (Shiloh Cluster), and Dr. Melissa E. Walker, Cluster Superintendent.
Jumpstart’s Read for the Record is a global movement to raise awareness around the critical importance of early literacy and increase access to high-quality children’s books. Each year, Read for the Record brings together millions of adults and children as they read the same book on the same day, building an intergenerational community through reading.
Myesha Jenkins, one of this year's Teacher of The Year (TOTY) finalists, remembers Dr. Watts' visit to her classroom during the 2011-12 school year, when he read to her 4th grade class. "This was my first year of teaching... My class was one of the classes Dr. Watts read to on that day. When Dr. Watts was named Superintendent, this memory came to my mind,” she said as she reminisced about the program’s impact on her and her students.
Fall fun throughout GCPS
Fall festivals, Trunk or Treats, Costume Parades, and Fall Carnivals are just a few of the ways that our schools have connected with their students, families, and communities this fall. Peachtree Ridge High School held its largest Trunk-or-Treat to date and Meadowcreek High School hosted an International Night with delicious foods from different countries, as well as professional Aztec Dancers, La Danza Azteca San Jose. Baggett Elementary School held a Fall Festival where families had an opportunity to participate in field games, and enjoy great food and wonderful music together. Phoenix High School celebrated for an entire week, and included a voter registration table at its event. Check with your local school for their upcoming events.
November 8 is a Digital Learning Day (DLD) and GCPS will be delivering FREE meals to bus stops
DLD FREE Food delivery starts at 10:45 a.m. at your local school bus stop!
November 8 is a scheduled Digital Learning Day (DLD) for all GCPS students. On scheduled Digital Learning Days, all GCPS 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 delivering meals prepared by the 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, November 8. These delivered meals are provided at no cost to families and are provided to anyone 18 years old and under.
For more information about student meals, to apply for free or reduced-priced meals, our school calendar, and more, please continue to check your email regularly and visit our website, www.gcpsk12.org often.
