News You Can Use
Paul Duke STEM High School educator honored at National Communication Association Convention
Paul Duke STEM High School’s Halie Waddell Rios received the Marcella E. Oberle Award for Outstanding Teaching in Grades K-12 at the National Communication Association’s (NCA) 108th Annual Convention in New Orleans.
Each year, the NCA honors the best in academic Communication, presenting awards for outstanding scholarship, teaching, and professional service. The awards recognize a wide range of contributions to the Communication discipline.
As an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) educator, Ms. Rios’ work reflects her enduring impact on international high school students. "Winning this award has provided me with a national platform to share the importance of fostering positive and productive communication in ESOL classrooms, " Ms. Rios said when asked about what this award means to her. "It is exciting to know that we are getting recognized for empowering our students to use their voices to solve problems, self-advocate, and make a difference in their communities," she added. Ms. Rios has shown a deep commitment to students who are learning-disabled, diverse, and underserved; it is reflected in her everyday acts. Even sharing an American-style meal, she says, is a teachable moment for her students as they learn to communicate in English.
Ms. Rios was among more than 30 Communication scholars honored at the NCA’s convention. With the theme, “Honoring PLACE: People, Liberation, Advocacy, Community, and Environment,” nearly 4,000 Communication scholars, educators, and practitioners gathered in the Big Easy Nov. 17-20.
For full program information: visit www.natcom.org/convention or contact B. Denise Hawkins at 202-534-1107 or bdhawkins@natcom.org.
Office of Family Engagement’s Holloway earns President's Volunteer Service Award
Shenée Johnson Holloway, Coordinator, Office of Family Engagement, received the President's Volunteer Service Award, presented on behalf of AmeriCorps and the Points of Light Foundation at the Global Chaplains Alliance (GCA)) Grand Gala and Awards Event on Saturday, Nov. 12. Ms. Holloway received a lapel pin, award certificate, and letter signed by President Joe Biden at the GCA event. “I am humbled and honored to be recognized,” Ms. Holloway said. “Serving this community allows me to give back while building up our collective legacy.”
As a Presidential Volunteer Service Awards certifying organization, Global Chaplains Alliance (GCA) helps to identify U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents who are using their time and talent to solve some of the toughest challenges facing our nation and recommend them for such honor.
For more information, visit https://www.globalchaplainsalliance.org/events/presidential-volunteer-service-awards
Image details, from left to right: Dr. Monica Dennis-Jones, President, Global Chaplains Alliance (GCA), presents Shenée Johnson Holloway to the audience as Dr. Delroy Lingo, Board of Directors for GCA, looks on. Photo credit: Brianna Mitchell
Parkview High School teacher and mentor publishes empowerment journal for teenage girls
Dearra Walters, English and Language Arts Teacher at Parkview High School recently published a guided journal, “Beautiful Girl, I Want You To Know” with the objective of guiding young girls and women on their journeys of self-discovery.
As a high school educator and mentor, Ms. Walters realized that many teenage girls are growing up aimlessly. Many do not receive the empowerment needed to prepare them for their future. "Beautiful Girl, I Want You to Know" helps teen girls sort out those clouded thoughts revolving around friendships, boys, self-worth, and so much more. On each page, Ms. Walters shares personal experiences coupled with timeless advice. When asked what she wants the reader to get from her book, Ms. Walters confidently explained, "I want readers to take the time to decipher who they are and what they are capable of as they follow the destiny for their life through short memoirs and guided journals." “Beautiful Girl, I Want You To Know” is available now at BarnesandNoble.com.
Winn Holt Elementary and Central Gwinnett JROTC March in Veteran’s Day Parade
This past Veteran’s Day, Winn Holt Elementary School’s Kindergarten students, alongside Central Gwinnett High School’s JROTC cadets, marched as a show of gratitude for all of the sacrifices veterans in their community have made. Led by Colonel Milner, Central Gwinnett High School’s JROTC instructor, the students paraded through the hallways showing off their signs, flags, and handmade hats. Every student in the building lined the hallways and waved flags in support. The students were thrilled to see the high schoolers and members of the community in their uniforms. To view images of the event, click here.
American Ed Week at Cooper Elementary School
Parents at Cooper Elementary School experienced a day in the classroom alongside their children as the school celebrated American Education Week. Parents were invited to sign up for an instructional block to observe their child's teacher and take notice of the great things going on in the classroom. After the 45-minute classroom observation, parents attended a 'debriefing' and engaged in Parent Development, where they learned on-line and off-line activities to make learning come alive for their children at home and in the community. Cooper's Instructional Coaches delivered the PD and gave parents the opportunity to leave encouraging words for their student's teacher before completing the day.
GIVE Center West features "Grow at GIVE" Garden Project
Recently, GIVE Center West had nearly 50 volunteers turn out to create a school garden and outdoor classroom. The event, known as the Big Dig, was made possible thanks to Ms. Shlawnda Calhoun, an English teacher who applied for and received grants from the ScottsMiracle-Gro and Whole Kids Foundations to fund the project. "We are forever focused on our scholars' personal and academic growth, so we envisioned a space where they could thrive and flourish,” Ms. Calhoun said.
The Big Dig was filled with intense labor and heartfelt fellowship to complete the first phase of “Grow at GIVE,” as the garden will be known. There are raised garden beds to ensure that students’ STEM education involves tactile learning with real-world applications. There is also a pergola that lends itself to communication and collaboration. Through these experiences and interactions, students will be able to practice environmental stewardship and unearth their latent leadership skills. They may even develop an interest in pursuing a career in agriculture or a related field.
Prior to the ribbon cutting, Principal Donna Bishop thanked parents and other stakeholders for their participation and remarked that the garden was not just about vegetables. She said, "We judge our harvest by the performance of our kids. Not just their performance on tests, but the decisions that they make and the future paths that they take. Let's continue to nurture and guide them together. Let's do all that we can to help them to blossom so that they can realize their potential and others can recognize their greatness."
GIVE Center West’s “Grow at GIVE” garden project was made possible with the help of community donations or services from various businesses like Simon Robson Concepts and Designs, and the Norcross and Peachtree Corners locations of Zaxby’s, Belk, HomeGoods, Bowlero, Chick-fil-A, and Publix. Additionally, we thank the many parent volunteers that came armed with their own shovels, rakes, and trowels. Also, Gardens for Growing Communities allowed the GIVE team to borrow additional gardening equipment as needed to make this project a reality.
Dec. 6 has been designated as a Digital Learning Day
Gwinnett County Public Schools has 52 schools that will be used for voting on Dec. 6 for the Runoff Election between Sen. Raphael Warnock and Herschel Walker for one of Georgia’s U.S. Senate seats.
To provide the highest levels of safety for all schools and students, and to allow GCPS principals, election board officials, and district support staff to provide the conditions for an efficient election, Dec. 6 has been designated as a Digital Learning Day.
On this specially scheduled Digital Learning Day, students will 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 to deliver 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. These delivered meals are provided at no cost to families and are available to anyone 18 years old and under.
2023-24 registration open for GSMST
Registration is now open for the Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology (GSMST) for all interested students who are currently in 8th grade during the 2022-23 academic year. The lottery registration process started Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022. GSMST accepts all qualified, eligible students as chosen by random lottery. [Students in 9th grade or above and students in 7th grade and below are not eligible to begin the lottery registration process.] The lottery drawing will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023. Prior to the lottery drawing, all qualified, eligible applicants will receive notification of their assigned lottery number. All lottery numbers will be drawn and posted in the order drawn. Students with numbers in the first 375 spots will be notified via USPS at the address entered on the application form. The remaining numbers will comprise the waiting list in the order drawn.
Information Nights for 8th Grade Families
The first informational meeting was held Nov. 15. Below are the dates for the remaining meetings for students interested in attending GSMST and their families. All meetings begin at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria at GSMST, and the information presented will be the same at all three meetings.
Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022 – Berkmar Cluster, Central Gwinnett Cluster, Collins Hill Cluster, Discovery Cluster, Duluth Cluster, Lanier Cluster, Meadowcreek Cluster, Norcross Cluster, North Gwinnett Cluster, Peachtree Ridge Cluster, Seckinger Cluster
Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023 – make-up meeting for anyone unable to attend the first two meeting dates
Bank of America Student Leaders application is now open
Since 2004, the Bank of America Student Leaders program has provided more than 3,500 community-minded high school juniors and seniors with tangible work experience, leadership development, financial education, and service. Every year, the program welcomes more than 300 students from nearly 100 communities into a paid eight-week summer internship with nonprofits in their local community like the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, local food banks, Habitat for Humanity, and more. They get first-hand experience in serving their communities and learn how nonprofits, governments, and businesses collaborate to meet local needs by participating in the national Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C. By connecting with each other, students learn about the experiences of others, diversity of thought, and how we can all work together to create a more just world.
This opportunity is available to high school juniors and seniors in the Atlanta area. To learn more and apply, visit www.bankofamerica.com/studentleaders. Applications are open through Friday, Jan. 13, 2023.
