Elephant Tracts 2/3/12

ELEPHANT TRACTS – GCSS NEWSLETTER 
2/3/2012
 
If you no longer want to receive the newsletter or know someone who would like to receive it and is not, please e-mail beverly.nordholz@gcssk12.net
 
Information on our students, faculty/staff, or graduates and any information that would be beneficial to the GCSS family is always welcome.  Please e-mail to beverly.nordholz@gcssk12.net.
 
ALL SCHOOLS
2/6 Superintendent’s Luncheon with 12 Enota Students
      School Board Work Session @ SBO 6:00
2/7 Progress Reports
      Goal 4 Work Group SBO Conference Room 8:30 am
2/8 Severe Weather Drill 9:00 am
2/11 Pay Period Cut-Off
        Tuition Payment Due
2/13 Time Sheets Due
2/21-22 MindSet (Crisis Intervention & Restraint) Training.  Contact Jimmie Minor
              jimmie.minor@gcssk12.netfor information.
 
FACULTY/STAFF BUDGET PRESENTATIONS
2/7 GEA 2:50
2/8 GMS 4:00
2/9 Mid-Year Retreat
2/15 GHS 3:45
                
COMMON CORE GPS STATE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING FEBRUARY SCHEDULE
Content Area                                       Audience                               Date                       Time
     Math                                      1^stGrade                     2/7/12                 10-12
     Math                                      7^thGrade                    2/7/12                  2-4
     ELA                                       9^th& 10^th                     2/15/12               10-12
     ELA                                       5^thGrade                    2/15/12                 2-4
     Math                                      2^ndGrade                   2/16/12                10-12
     Math                                      8^thGrade                    2/16/12                2-4
     Math                                      3^rdGrade                   2/28/12                 10-12
     Math                                      9^thGrade                   2/28/12                  2-4
      ELA                                      6^thGrade                   2/29/12                  10-12
      ELA                                      3^rdGrade                   2/29/12                  2-4 
 
CENTENNIAL ELEMENTARY
2/3 Chci-Fil-A $2.50
      Boosterthon 2^ndCollection
      Lit Art 4^thGrade 11:15
      Lit Art 5^thGrade 12:35
      Lit Art 3^rdGrade 1:30
2/4 Reading Bowl Competition @ Chesatee Middle School 9:30 am
2/7 Progress Reports
      Arts in School
      Fledge Flamingo 8:30 K12
2/8 CCGPS with Wiley
2/9 School Governance Council 8:00 am
      Tech Support/Creasman
      SpEd, Mpact Grade Level 2:50
       
ENOTA ELEMENTARY
2/3 3^rdGrade Arts in School 8-11
      Reading Bowl Pep Rally 2:00 pm
2/4 Reading Bowl Competition @ Chestatee Middle School 9:30 am
2/6 ACCESS Testing Continues for ESOL Students
      Superintendent’s Luncheon with 12 Enota Students 11:30 am
      Testing Accommodations Meeting w/Ms. Westbrook 3:00 pm
      Grade Level/Team Planning Meetings 3:00
2/7 Progress Reports Go Home
      Boosterthon Pep Rally for K-2^ndGrade in Gym
      Boosterthon Pep Rally for 3^rd-5^thGrade in Gym 1:15-2:00
      Leadership Team Meeting 3:00
2/8 K CCGPS Training @ CO
      Severe Weather Drill 9:00 am
      3^rd-5^thGrade Team Leaders Meet to Plan Parent Meetings
2/9 Core Leadership Team to System Retreat 2-4
      Action Team Meetings 3:00 pm
2/10 Arts in School 2^ndGrade in Gym 1:30 pm 
 
FAIR STREET ELEMENTARY
2/7 Progress Reports
2/10 Student Council Meeting Library 709 1:45 pm
           
GAINESVILLE ELEMENTARY
2/3 Doughnut Sale Begins
2/6-2/10 Good Touch/Bad Touch Program All Week
2/6 Leadership Meeting 7:20 am
2/7 Progress Reports Go Home
      Faculty/Staff Budget Presentation 2:50 pm
2/8 GAN Meeting During Planning
2/10 Perfect Attendance and Citizen of the Month Assemblies 8:15 am
2/16 Governance Council Meeting 12:00 noon
 
NEW HOLLAND ELEMENTARY
2/3 PLC K,5, 4
2/7 Leadership Meeting 2:45
2/8 ESOL/EIP/Connection PLC
      Faculty Meeting 2:45
2/9 PLC 3, 2, 1
2/10 PLC K, 4, 5
      
GMS
2/4 Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl @ Chestatee Middle School 10:00 am
2/6 Winter Sports Banquet in Cafeteria 6:00 pm
2/8 Faculty/Staff Budget Presentation 4:00 pm
2/9 Soccer vs. CW Davis @ Allen Creek Girls 5:00 Boys 6:00
2/11 Baseball Picture Day @ Ivey-Watson 10:00 am
 
GHS     
2/3 Final Deadline to Order Yearbooks With Name Imprint
      Regional Wrestling Tournament @ Chestatee High School
2/4 Regional Wrestling Tournament @ Chestatee High School
      Academic Bowl State Finals @ Flowery Branch High School 8:00 am
       JV Basketball @ East Hall Girls 3:00 pm Boys 4:30 pm
       Varsity Basketball @ East Hall Girls 6:00 pm Boys 7:30 pm
2/6 Balfour Taking Graduation Announcement Orders, Ring Payments or Orders,
              Letter Jacket Orders During Lunches in Lobby
2/7 Progress Reports
      JV Boys Basketball @ Monroe 4:00 pm
      Varsity Basketball @ Monroe Girls 6:00 Boys 7:30
2/8 Severe Weather Drill 9:00 am
2/9 LIFESOUTH Blood Drive GHS Horseshoe 9-4
      NJROTC Varsity Air Riffle @ Duluth
      Georgia Thespians State Conference Columbus, GA
      Varsity Soccer Clarke Central @ Bobby Gruhn Field Girls 5:30  Boys 7:30
2/10 Varsity Wrestling Sectionals @ West Laurens High School
        Georgia Thespians State Conference Columbus, GA
2/11 Varsity Wrestling Sectionals @ West Laurens High School
        Georgia Thespians State Conference Columbus, GA
        ACT 8:00 am
        Varsity Baseball Picture Day @ Ivey-Watson 9:00 am
        JV Baseball Picture Day @ Ivey-Watson 11:00 am
2/15 Faculty/Staff Budget Presentation 3:45
 
Directions to:

AllenCreekSoccer Complex-Go 129 S.  past Burger King & Cargill.  Cross I-985. Go to second light after you cross the bridge.  Turn right on Monroe Drive .  Complex will be approximately one mile on left.

Chestatee High School-Go Highway 60 N. over bridge.  Go to first light past Ingles.  Turn left on Ledan Road.  Go to intersection of Sardis Road and go left again.  School will be on right on Sardis Road.

ChestateeMiddle School– From Lakeshore Mall, go 4.7 miles.  Turn right onto Sardis Road.  Go .8 miles.  Turn left onto Fran Mar Drive.  2740 Fran Mar Drive.

Duluth High School–I-85 N.  Exit at Highway 120 and travel west.  At Buford Highway (U.S. 23) turn right.  Next traffic light is Brock Road .  Turn left.  Cross railroad tracks.  School will be on the left.

East Hall High School - Go Jesse Jewel Parkway .  Go under I-985.  Road changes into Old Cornelia Highway.  School will be approximately 2 miles on your right.  Baseball & football fields are approximately on mile down Old Cornelia Highway on the opposite side of the road as the school.

Flowery Branch High School-Take 985 South to Spout Springs Road exit.  Turn left at the end of the exit ramp.  Go 2.5 miles.  School is on left hand side of road.  6603 Spout Springs Road.

Ivey-Watson Baseball Field – Go Highway 53 West past the mall and Publix. You will pass McDonald's on your left. There will be a BP Station on the right. Turn left onto Lanier Valley Road. Continue to the entrance to Lanier Pointe Park.  Ivey-Watson is the first field on the left after you enter the park.

Monroe-Area: Go 985 S. to Exit 16.  Turn left onto Winder Highway (Ga. 53).  Go 4.3 miles.  Turn right onto Old Winder Highway (GA-211).  Go 14.2 miles and turn right onto Horton St.  Then turn left onto W. Mat St. (US-29 GA-8.  Go 1.5 miles and turn slight right onto GA 11/Winder-Monroe Highway.  Go 11.9 miles and Turn right onto Double Springs Church Road, SW.  Go .8 miles.  School is at 300 Double Springs Church Road, SW., Monroe, GA.

Reminder

The Gainesville City Board of Education will have a board work session on Monday, February 6, 2012, at 6:00 p.m. at the School Board Office.  The board agenda is located on the district website under School Board Governance and will be available for public viewing on Friday at 4:00 p.m.

Registration Information 2012-13
 
School registration and choice enrollment for Gainesville City Schools for the 2012 – 2013 school year will take place from January 9, 2012 – February 24, 2012.
 
Current K – 11 Students

• All students currently enrolled in grades K–11 must complete a preliminary enrollment form and provide the school with a copy of a current verification of address (i.e. lease agreement or electric, water, or gas bill) in order to be enrolled for 2012-2013.  The deadline for returning forms and residency verification is February 24, 2012.

 
Kindergarten and Newly Enrolled Students Grades 1-8

• Registration for Kindergarten and for new students enrolling in grades 1-8 will take place at the Wood’s Mill Registration Center.

City Residents:  January 17-February 10
Non-Residents:  February 13- February 24
 
                Parents should bring a birth certificate, immunization form #3231, ear,
                eyes, and dental certificate #3300, social security card (if available) and 
                residency verification (i.e.  lease agreement or electric, water or gas bill).
               
                Parents of non-resident students must complete a non-resident application 
                upon registration.  Tuition fees will be not be collected until acceptance is
                confirmed.  Parents (of non-resident students) will be notified on March 5,
                2012 of their status of acceptance.
 
Newly Enrolled Students Grades 9-12

• Registration for students enrolling in grades 9-12 will take place at Gainesville High School.

 
Pre-K Lottery Drawing                         

• Pre-K sign-up for the lottery drawing will occur on Monday, March 19, 2012 from 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the Wood’s Mill Registration Center.   The drawing will take place by April 1, 2012.

NEXT TUITION PAYMENT IS DUE ON FEBUARY 11, 2012.
SNP is proud to bring FoodPlay Productions to all the Elementary Schools. This is a fun-filled live theater show featuring amazing feats of juggling, music, magic, and audience participation to turn kids on to healthy eating and active living. This program integrates nutrition and health into reading, writing, science, and health!!
 
Presentations Schedule:
 

GainesvilleExploration Academy	Performance Times
Monday February 13, 2012	8:00 am 9:05 am
Fair Street IB World School
Tuesday February 14, 2012	8:00 am 9:35 am
New Holland Core Knowledge School
Wednesday February 15, 2012	8:30 am 9:35 am
CentennialArts Academy
Thursday February 16, 2012	8:30 am 9:35 am
EnotaMultiple Intelligences Academy
Monday February 163, 2012	1:15 pm
Wednesday February 15, 2012	1:15 pm

DO SOMETHING AMAZING-SAVE A LIFE
The GHS Student Council will sponsor a LIFE South Blood Drive on Thursday, February 9^thfrom 9:00 am to 4:00 pm in the GHS Horseshoe.  Teachers, parents, and community supporters are welcome anytime. Any student who wishes to donate must be on a sign-up sheet. Donors must be 17 or older, (16 year olds may donate with written parental concent), weigh 110 pounds or more and show I.D.  All donors receive a tee shirt and a cholesterol screening.
 
The UGA Young Scholars Program is a six-week summer internship for high school students interested in math, science, agriculture, or engineering. Through the program, young scientists are given the opportunity to study within an agricultural field, such as entomology, poultry science, genetics, etc., and learn about applied science in agriculture. Students work side by side with a mentor, with whom they will interact on a daily basis to develop a research project and create a presentation. At the end of the program, each participant presents their research and findings. One of the benefits of the program is that students will have the opportunity to earn money for six weeks during the summer working with animals, plants, insects, machinery, scientific lab equipment, etc.
Students who might be interested should come to the Guidance Office for more information.


The Princeton Prize in race relations recognizes high school age students who are helping improve race relations in their schools or communities. Help us identify young leaders who make our country more tolerant and inclusive day by day, school by school, community by community. Winners receive up to $1,000 and an invitation to Princeton University for an expense-paid weekend symposium on race. All students in grades 9 - 12 are eligible to participate.  All students are encouraged to come to the Guidance Office for more information. The application deadline is January 31, 2012.


Young Americans are coming to Gainesville High School on Feb 23-25.

The Young Americans company of 50 staff, singers and dancers present a 3 day workshop program filled with music, dance and fun!!  The college - age members of The Young Americans are from throughout the usa and other countries around the world.  The workshop is aimed at providing an experience that brings every student enjoyment and benefit.  The first 2 days of the workshop are filled with classes, staging and rehearsal exercises (the students are placed into grade groups for ease in teaching and learning on appropriate levels).  On the 3rd day, the students perform with The Young Americans on stage in a concert for the community, featuring the students and their personalities, talents, and newly discovered abilities.
The Workshop is open to 4 - 12 grade students from Gainesville City Schools and Lakeview.

 Forms can be found at each school.  $57 total -  $47 plus $10 for a t-shirt
checks should be made payable to ghs theatre friends


 For more information about The Young Americans visit www.youngamericans.org.
 
The Beulah Rucker Museum and Brenau University's WBCX Radio will present African American Places of Hall County, beginning February 1st and running through February 29th in observance of Black History Month. 
 
As a follow up of the series, African American Achievers of Hall County Georgia, these are vignettes of historical establishments, recreational facilities, schools, or churches that no longer exist, but served as an integral part of the success of African Americans in the early years.  You can listen for these individual sites each day in the month of February,  multiple times daily on 89.1, WBCX-FM. Listeners will be surprised at what once stood in places that they pass on a daily basis.  February is traditionally celebrated as "Black History Month" and this 29 part series will celebrate the month, and honor these former places that was once in the African American community.
 
The vignettes will air multiple times daily, at 9:00 am, 12:00 noon, 2:00 pm, 6:00 pm and 9:00 pm.   The series was produced by Rojene Bailey, Volunteer Executive Director of the Beulah Rucker Museum, and researched by Linda Rucker Hutchens and Ella J. Wilmont Smith, authors of the Black America Series, "Hall County Georgia."  WBCX is located at 89.1 on your FM dial.
 
Additional programs offered in recognition of Black History Month by the Beulah Rucker Museum are "Movie Night At The Museum."  Each Tuesday evening in February we will show videos on the history of Gainesville and Hall County, and The African-American Journey and Experience to this country from 1450 through 1865. This is a great opportunity for the entire to learn some history of Gainesville, and African-American history in general. You will see documentaries on the Underground Railroad, The Tuskegee Airmen, and even local African American History on Palmour Street, and our namesake, Beulah Rucker...This is the perfect outing for the family, students, or anyone that wants to learn about the rich African American History......
 
The showings are free to the public on a first come first serve basis and seating is limited. You may also reserve your seat by emailing rojene@charter.net. Show times are 7 pm each Tuesday in February. The Beulah Rucker Museum is located at 2101 Athens Highway.... Movie Night at the Museum is every Tueday night,  February 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th.
 
For additional information, email Rojene at rojene@charter.net, or visit the web site at www.brmuseum.org.


Students in grades K-6 who participate in the online program Read to Succeed can earn a free ticket when they complete six hours of non-school-related reading.  Teachers with 10 or more students who complete the program also can earn free tickets.  Register at discoveryeducation.com/readtosucceed.  The deadline for registration is March 1, but teachers should register early to give students enough time.

Please consider joining the Gainesville Booster Club.  The Booster Club provided approximately $10,000 in funds last school year to the GCSS classrooms and sports that were not sanctioned by GHSA.  The membership drive is the sole source of fundraising for the club. The club needs your support.  For additional information, e-mail Karen.jackson@gcssk12.net
 
Balfour will be at Gainesville on Monday, February 6^th during lunch.  If students have not ordered Graduation Announcements and would like to do so, they can take care of it then.  Also, if they would like to order a class ring or letter jacket they may take care of those as well.  Finally, if they have already ordered a ring and would like to make a payment or finishing paying for it, that would be a great opportunity to do so!                                                                                                 
 
J. Geyer Advertising (located across the street from the high school) has letter jackets for sale with a 2 week turn-around.  For additional information contact  Lisa Geyer @ (770) 718-0062 or lisa@jgeyer.com.
 
The Boys & Girls Club is offering free membership for all high school students this school year. Please contact the Boys & Girls Club for more information.
 
The Hall County Quilt Guild is sponsoring the 2012 Chicken Festival Quilt Show and Contest for students grades 5-12.  The Show will be April 28 at the Georgia Mountain Center.  Students are encouraged to create a quilt wall hanging 20 inches by 20 inches.  The quilt must represent the quilter as a chicken.  For ex., a quilter who is a bus driver makes her quilt of a chicken driving a school bus or a student makes his/her quilt pertaining to school.  There will be prizes given to each age group and to the viewer’s choice.  The deadline is April 1, 2012.  For more information or questions contact:  Judy Wangemann @ 770-534-5861 or jartwang@yahoo.com.
 
The Gainesville Middle School Robotics Team, the Robopachyderms, finished 6^th in the State Championships.  This is their first year to compete.  They also won the award for best mechanical design.  The team is headed by Dawn Watkins.
 
The GHS Wrestling Team completed their season with a victory over White County and Riverside this past Wednesday night to conclude the regular season with a 19-9 record.  The future looks bright for GHS wrestling under Coach Ski and his able assistants.
 
Team members are:

Jonathon Merritt
Max Sumner
Billy Jackson
John Wagner
Jett Bishop
Michelle Razo
Sidney Cochran
Pratyusha Karnati
Leita Williams
Thomas Alexander
 
The results of the Gainesville City School Spelling Bee:
 
Julie Mai-Centennial-Elementary Winner
Maddie Cole-Enota- Elementary Runner-Up
Curt Beccue-8th Grade- Winner
David Davenport-7th Grade- Runner-Up
 
Curt Beccuewill go on to represent our system in the Regional Spelling Bee at North Gwinnett High on February 25.
 
Both bees were amazing!  The middle school bee had 14 (!) last rounds!  The students did an amazing job and we are so very proud of all of them. http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/section/6/article/62722/
 
GHS 2012 Seniors of Distinction are:
(All Have At Least a 4.0 GPA)
 
Joy Bauerband
Logan Brown
Charlie Bryant
Ashlee Joi Colbert
Abigail A. Cooley
Stefanie Nicole Darby
Luis Fajardo
Ryan Cooper Griffith
John Ezekiel Henderson
Isaac B. Hopkins
Patrick M. Kelley
Khalil Stefon Larkin
Crysal A Lipscomb
Jacob Evan McConnell
Ellie Nwefo
Cody Jamal Stephens
Carmen Rae Torrey
ThuyHanh Thi Tran
Rebecca Turner Webster
Kole Alexander Wheeler
Madyson Lucille Wuest
 
GHS Players Signing on National Signing Day:
 
Football
 
Royal Freeman – Dean College
 
Joseph Haley-Faulkner University
 
JJ Johnson– Fort Valley State
 
Jeremiah Ledbetter – Hutchington CC
 
Baseball
 
Ryan Griffith –Furman
 
David Gonzalez – Georgia
 
Stephen Mason – Georgia Perimeter
 
Basketball
 
Rebecca Webster – Sanford
 
Soccer
 
Liza Carpenter – Young Harris
 
Aiden Riesing – Georgia Southern
 
Volleyball
 
Katelyn Whelchel - Reinhardt
 
The GMS 8th grade Girls Basketball Team won the Hall County Championship. Their record for the 2011-12 year was 10-2 and they were undefeated in the tournament.  They beat East Hall Middle 41-16 for the championship.  --Go Big Red! 
Team members are: Taylor Hawks, Dallas Robson, Bessie Winston, Tanai Watson, Heidi Vandiver, Alexis White, Patience Thurmond, Kia Gomez, Cori Griffith, Sally Callahan and Jasey White.  They were coached by Mahagony (Husdon) Caldwell.

Two GHS Visual Artists have been invited to exhibit artwork in the lobby of the GA Department of Education building in Atlanta. Bryan Castillo and Bianca Leija drawings will be displayed for about a month.
 
On Saturday, January 28th, 49 students from Gainesville High School attended a college recruitment fair and the Honda Battle of the Bands. The trip was a tremendous success as the students were able to get information on various colleges and universities and witness the impeccable showmanship of 8 of the best bands in the nation. The students who attended represented their high school, their families, and their community in the most positive way. Our students are truly among the best of the best and it is an honor and a privilege to share with them in this very enriching experience…… From GHS Counselor Michael Jackson.
 
The Times Athlete of the Week Honor Roll:
 
Lance White-19 Points in Walnut Grove game.
 
Shaquan Cantrell-14 points with 10 rebounds in win over Johnson.
 
UNC Asheville Director of Athletics Janet R. Cone has announced the hiring of Elizabeth Lykins as the Bulldogs women’s swimming coach. Lykins comes to Asheville from Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, Fla. where she has served as an assistant coach for the past five seasons. She will revive a Bulldog swimming program that competed from 1972-1976.  Her mom is GHS staff member Sandra Lykins.
 
Gainesville High School grad Micah Owings has signed a one-year contract to play for the San Diego Padres.  The deal was announced Thursday.  Owings was 8-0 with a career-best 3.57 ERA in 33 games, including four starts, for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2011.


Deshaun Watson Commits to Clemson
http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/section/196/article/62706/
 
GHS Girls and Boys Defeat Lanier
http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/section/28/article/62648/
 
GHS’s Rebecca Webster is Times Athlete of the Week
http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/section/28/article/62600/
 
Honoring Teachers of the Year
http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/section/6/article/62540/
 
GCSS Teacher of the Year Judy Bowers Uses Music, Sign Language
http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/section/6/article/62536/
 
GHS Boys & Girls Sweep Walton
http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/section/28/article/62510/