News You Can Use
Coleman Middle School awarded a $10,000 grant to improve educational spaces
Coleman Middle School was one of nine schools to receive the Saint-Gobain North America 2022 Sustaining Futures, Raising Communities donation to improve educational spaces on their campus.
Saint-Gobain North America is a worldwide leader in light and sustainable construction, which has a CertainTeed ceiling production facility in Norcross. A combined $250,000 was made available to schools in Georgia, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania as part of the program. “Our 2022 Sustaining Futures, Raising Communities contest is part of our ongoing effort to invest in the future success of students in our communities and to instill the passion we all share for STEM among today’s youth,” said Mark Rayfield, CEO of Saint-Gobain North America and CertainTeed in a news release.
Coleman Middle intends to use its winnings to purchase new STEM learning education tools, including SPIKE Prime Robot Sets. School administrators, staff members, faculty, and students received the prize money on Nov. 18 at the CertainTeed plant in Norcross.
— Mountain View High School in Lawrenceville was a Gold Level finalist and Bay Creek Middle School in Grayson was a Silver Level finalist.
Peachtree Ridge High School NJROTC present colors at GGC’s Fall commencement ceremony
The Peachtree Ridge High School NJROTC team, under the instruction of Commander James Melton and Senior Chief Mark Vincent, presented the colors at GGC’s fall commencement ceremony on Dec. 1 at the Gas South Arena. For images of the event, click here.
Outdoor classrooms expanding student learning
Norcross Elementary School and Summerour Middle School are proof that learning doesn't just happen in the classroom. Recently, BeeCity USA made a special stop in these schools to highlight the amazing work the schools are doing to educate students in their dedicated outdoor classrooms. Here, students learn about pollinators, raised gardens,and planting and gardening with the environment in mind. Summerour Middle School features a learning experience that goes beyond an outdoor classroom and has an extensive Outdoor Learning Center, created along the back of the property and incorporating parts of the adjacent woodlands. To learn more about these outdoor classrooms and see pictures, click here.
Beta Lambda Lambda Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. hosted STEM day at Snellville Middle School
The Beta Lambda Lambda Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. hosted a STEM day partnering with Snellville Middle School. More than 30 volunteers and a NASA engineer from the fraternity donated 150 solar-powered car kits for pairs of students to build and race using the engineering process. For images, click here.
Collins Hill High School distributes coats, food, shoes, and toys to 500 families in Gwinnett County
Emerald Care International partnered with the Black Student Union (BSU) at Collins Hill High School to provide much needed support to more than 500 Gwinnett County families. In an effort to uphold Gwinnett County Public Schools’ Blueprint for the Future’s pillar of Empathy, BSU students distributed toys, clothes, winter coats, shoes, boots, electronics, health and beauty products, cleaning supplies, and food to more than 500 families who needed extra love and support during the holiday season. Through donations from Amazon ATL, Walmart, Essendent, Lunii, Burlington, and Toys for Tots, the Collins Hill High students provided a winter wonderland experience to the families featuring music from the Collins Hill High’s Orchestra and Chorus. The event also featured “kid friendly” activities, raffles for a 55-inch flat screen TV, Keurig Machines, computer monitors, and a special visit from Santa Claus!
Crews Middle School Junior Beta Club hosts 3rd Annual Canned Food Drive
Crews Middle School's Junior Beta Club recently hosted its 3rd Annual Canned Food Drive to benefit the SE Gwinnett Co-Op. Students collected, sorted, and packed non-perishable food and personal hygiene supplies. In total, the school collected more than 2,500 individual items, including 2,200 pounds of food. Click here for images
Parent Mentors share advice for families of students with special needs on Preparing for the Annual GCPS Transition Fair
On Thursday, Jan. 19, Gwinnett County Parent Mentors, and GCPS’ Special Education Department, will host “Preparing for the Annual GCPS Transition Fair.” The informational session will help parents navigate the upcoming GCPS Transition Fair to maximize access to resources that are appropriate for their child’s needs. Gwinnett Parent Mentors will host two sessions on Jan. 19.
9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. In-person Session at the J. Alvin Wilbanks Instructional Support Center, 437 Old Peachtree Road, NW, Suwanee, GA 30024, Building 200, Parkview Room 2.148 Click the link to register for the 9:30 a.m. session. Click here to register for in-person.
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Virtual session via Zoom - After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Click the link to register for 6:00 p.m. virtual session
Questions? Contact Parent Mentor Dawn Albanese by phone at (678) 301-7212 or by email at dawn.albanese@gcpsk12.org
Families of K-5 students invited to session 3 of virtual AKS at Home sessions to support their child’s learning
Parents and caregivers are important education partners in their child’s education. With the school district’s quarterly AKS at Home initiative, families of students in grades K-5 are able to learn ways to help their children practice the key skills they are learning in language arts and math through live, grade-specific Zoom sessions, recorded sessions, and helpful tip sheets.
The next round of live virtual K-5 sessions is planned for January 30-February 1 to support learning in the 2nd semester of the year. (See the schedule below.) Each nine weeks, the district rolls out new Zoom sessions and tip sheets to support a key concept for each elementary grade level in the content areas of language arts and mathematics. Sessions are hosted by Parent Instructional Coordinators who staff Family Engagement Centers in the district’s Title I schools and work with teachers throughout the district. Interpretation will be provided in Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese, and Chinese. The sessions are open to all GCPS families.
Register for the grade-specific Zoom sessions on the AKS at Home webpage.
UPCOMING LIVE VIRTUAL SESSIONS (Jan. 30-Feb. 1)
We invite our families to join us for a virtual session to learn more about how they can help their children with key skills they will learn during the 2nd semester of the school year.
Language Arts
Monday, January 30, 12:15-1:15 p.m. (Register)
Mathematics
Monday, January 30, 1:30-2:30 p.m. (Register)
Language Arts
Monday, January 30, 9:00-10:00 a.m. (Register)
Mathematics
Monday, January 30, 10:15-11:15 a.m. (Register)
Language Arts
Wednesday, February 1, 12:15-1:15 p.m. (Register)
Mathematics
Wednesday, February 1, 1:30-2:30 p.m. (Register)
Language Arts
Wednesday, February 1, 9:00-10 a.m. (Register)
Mathematics
Wednesday, February 1, 10:15-11:15 a.m. (Register)
Language Arts
Tuesday, January 31, 9:00-10:00 a.m. (Register)
Mathematics
Tuesday, January 31, 10:15-11:15 a.m. (Register)
Language Arts
Tuesday, January 31, 12:15-1:15 p.m. (Register)
Mathematics
Tuesday, January 31, 1:30-2:30 p.m. (Register)
