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-Press Release, Granville County Public Schools

Happy Holidays from GCPS to the Granville community!  It certainly is an exciting time of year, and not just for the holiday cheer and goodwill, but also for the amazing things going on in our public schools!

In case you haven’t heard, GCPS is “On the Move!” Our educators have been hard at work since July and August helping our students have what is shaping up to be a stellar year!  From academics to character development, extra-curricular, athletics, the Arts, and community engagement, our students are truly worthy of our community’s pride and joy!

Just a few of the academic highlights thus far include a huge push with literacy, a renewed focus on math and science standards, and a deeper dive into student performance data. This year is 20/20 for everyone – meaning each student is expected to have a minimum of 20 minutes of uninterrupted reading each day, and as such, every elementary school student will receive a winter book selection to take home with them over the break.

Research shows that text-rich environments at home are a great way to boost reading comprehension and can encourage a lifelong love for reading. We hope every child will take some time to unplug and read! Superintendent McLean is excited about the district’s “20/20 Vision” with a focus on reading for all.

As a follow up to our Day of Caring in November, our staff has been continuing their efforts to encourage positive character traits in our students through special holiday appreciation events, food drives, coat drives, and other community support efforts.

Our students have also been involved in anti-bullying campaigns and been helping spread the word on preventing the use of drugs, alcohol and vaping. And as always, safety is a top priority, with “See Something, Say Something” being our motto each and every day – for everyone!

This past fall was a great season of extra-curriculars and athletics, with several teams making the state playoffs!  Perhaps more importantly though, several programs were recognized for their excellent sportsmanship on and off the field. As winter sports kick off, we hope you will come out and support our students at their athletic events. It is an exciting time for basketball, wrestling and of course, cheerleading!

And, let’s not forget our Career and Technical Organizations, who have been competing for awards across the state and nation! From local robotics build-offs, to business plan competitions in Tennessee, to FFA projects in Indiana – these students have been ON THE MOVE!

It is so important that our students not only thrive academically, but that they are also exposed to a variety of experiences to help broaden their perspectives beyond our county and help prepare them for the world.

Finally, you may have missed seeing the recent winning selections of the Holiday gift card contest. Four students were selected as this year’s winners from dozens of entries from across the district at all grade levels. Also of note are the many holiday performances, choral recitals, and marching bands in local parades. Stop by any school and you will see our children’s creative spirits on display in some form or fashion!

So, while the staff in our schools prepare for a well-deserved break, preparation at the district level continues to look ahead: January will begin with a regular Board of Education meeting to be held on January 6, but in a NEW location! For the first time, the Board will hold its meeting at the Mary Potter campus in the media center.

Superintendent McLean notes, “We are very fortunate to have such an amazing team of educators across our district. No matter their role in helping educate our students, GCPS employees are simply the best. I also look forward to working with the new chair and vice chair as we continue our focus on academic achievement and performance overall. The holiday season is always a wonderful time to reflect on all we have to be thankful for, and we should celebrate the commitment we all have for the children of our community. It is a true blessing.”

Newly elected Board Chairman, David Richardson offered his thoughts, stating, “While it is my goal to always be improving, we also need to take time to stop and be appreciative of the accomplishments of our people. I for one, am grateful for all of the hardworking and talented educators we have that dedicate their lives to the children in Granville County. It is sometimes easy to take them for granted, and I hope that members of the community will take some time to join me in extending a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to each and every one of them for all they do every day. They deserve our appreciation and I wish them all a restful and joyful winter break.”

All students and staff will report back in the new year on Friday, January 3, 2020. We look forward to seeing everyone then! After all, GCPS is ON THE MOVE!