Tag Archive for: #granvillecountypublicschools

Granville County Public Schools

Granville Co. Public Schools Closed Thurs., Oct. 11

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-Information courtesy Granville County Public Schools

In anticipation of the arrival of Hurricane Michael, all Granville County public schools will be canceled for all students and staff tomorrow, Thursday, October 11.

The forecast of heavy rainfall, flooding, strong wind gusts and isolated tornados could make for dangerous conditions during the school day. Please be attentive to weather alerts about this powerful storm. We wish everyone a safe and uneventful day off.

Granville County Public Schools

GCPS to Use Technology to Help Improve Attendance During Flu Season

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-Press Release, Granville County Public Schools

As schools everywhere go back in session, all elementary schools in GCPS hope to stay one step ahead of illness this year, keeping more kids healthy and in school with the help of Kinsa Smart Thermometers. As one of the districts accepted into the Lysol + Kinsa FLUency health program, all GCPS elementary families will receive free Kinsa Smart Thermometers, priced at $19.99 retail, and will be able to see aggregated, anonymous information on any symptoms and illnesses going around the school through an accompanying mobile phone app.

This FREE product for families is made possible through a research grant. GCPS was invited to participate with one other school district in the country as part of a larger study on how school facility cleanliness can impact student health. Our team of five School Nurses will be charged with implementing and monitoring this program in all 9 elementary schools in our school district.

“Our top priority is keeping our students in class learning,” explained Superintendent Alisa McLean. “With this innovative program, we hope to see the trends affecting our classrooms so that we can help contain the spread of illness, increase attendance, and continue giving our students the education they deserve.”

The FLUency program, now in its 4th year, has already helped over 60,000 families, and 90 percent of participating school nurses believe FLUency kept them more informed of illnesses going around their school.

The deadline for elementary school families to order their FREE thermometer is Friday, October 26. No orders will be accepted after this deadline. The research grant will be renewed at the beginning of next school year for any new families who wish to participate.

Elementary school parents should be on the lookout for additional information coming soon via phone calls, emails, paper brochures, GCPS websites, and more!

Granville County Public Schools Public Hearing on Proposed Consolidation Oct 9

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— courtesy Granville County Public Schools

The Board of Education will meet on October 9, 2018, at 5:30 p.m. at JF Webb High School, to review information compiled by school system staff regarding the proposed consolidation of J.F. Webb High School and J.F. Webb School of Health & Life Sciences, as well as other topics. During this meeting the Board may hold a closed session pursuant to N.C.G.S. 143-318.11(a).

At 7 p.m. on October 9, the Board will hold a public hearing pursuant to G.S. 115C-72 on the proposed consolidation of J.F. Webb High School and J.F. Webb School of Health & Life Sciences. The purpose of this hearing will be for the Board to receive comments from the public regarding the proposed consolidation. Members of the public wishing to comment on the proposed consolidation are encouraged to attend this hearing. Procedures for the hearing, along with a copy of information provided to the Board regarding the proposal, will be made available to the public prior to the hearing via the school system’s website.

Granville County Public Schools

Granville Co. Public Schools is ‘WOW’ About Wellness

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-Press Release, Granville County Public Schools

This year, families in Granville County Public Schools may ‘CATCH’ their kids exploring healthy habits as a part of an expanded effort to use the Coordinated Approach To Child Health in all district elementary schools.  The C.A.T.C.H. program has been used in schools across the country to encourage good nutrition and physical activity among students. Stovall-Shaw Elementary School piloted use of the program during the 2015-2016 academic year.

Last year, the CATCH program expanded to Butner-Stem Elementary School and West Oxford Elementary School. This summer nearly 100 teachers and administrators received training on the CATCH program to enable every elementary school in the district to utilize the coordinated school health program. Granville County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Alisa McLean offered her perspective on the initiative, stating, “The CATCH program is so vitally important to our work in educating children. Increasing our focus on the health and well-being of our students will only help improve their academic success.  It’s a true win-win for everyone!”

The Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH) unites multiple school-based players to create a community of health. CATCH teaches children to identify healthful foods and increase the amount of moderate to vigorous physical activity they participate in each day. In-class lessons on nutrition and physical activity are supported by coordinated messaging throughout the school community, with the ultimate goal of changing the school environment and policies to support these healthy choices.

Principal Mary Ann Crews of Mt Energy Elementary School explains how these activities are implemented on a daily basis. “There may be some days when instead of children having free time at recess, our teachers may instead lead them through a structured yoga class, with a focus on mindfulness and core physical fitness. Other days there may be a 5 or 10 minute structured mini-lesson during recess. It is amazing the impact it has on how they feel during the school day.”

The Working on Wellness (WOW!) Coalition has been an integral part of the effort to bring the CATCH program to Granville County Public Schools. The WOW! Coalition brings together organizations and people to help kids stay healthy. The WOW! Coalition is one of ten North Carolina coalitions funded through Healthy People, Healthy Carolinas to implement and evaluate the impact of evidence-based interventions.

Healthy People, Healthy Carolinas is a bold initiative of The Duke Endowment, which aims to improve community health outcomes with a focus on nutrition, physical activity and prevention of chronic disease.  “Right before the start of the school year, we were able to train our teachers across all nine elementary schools. I have heard so many positive comments about CATCH – and not just how it is helping our students, but also our staff too. It’s starting to change the entire conversation at school about health, wellness, exercise and diet. It’s been wonderful”, says Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, Dr. Michael Myrick

The WOW Coalition has adopted the overarching goal of improving child health and well-being in Granville County, North Carolina, through health promotion efforts targeting nutrition and physical activity.  Poor nutrition, obesity, and physical inactivity have been connected to poor school performance as well as chronic conditions that impact health across the lifespan.

By targeting interventions during childhood, health-promoting behaviors are more easily adopted and maintained, thereby improving health across the lifespan and avoiding adverse health outcomes in adulthood.  One 5th grader described CATCH in this way, saying “I think it is good to know which foods are best for us. I also tell my mom about this and we try to do this at home too. Being healthy is good.”

Principal Courtney Currin offered her perspective on its impact on academics, saying, “CATCH makes a difference in the academic achievement and overall discipline of students.  We saw double-digit growth the first year when we implemented the program with our third graders!”

Want to get involved?  Consider joining the effort by attending one of the upcoming WOW Coalition meetings held at Granville Vance Public Health in Oxford on the 4th Wednesday of each month.

Granville County Public Schools

Granville Co. Finance Budget Committee to Meet Thurs., Sept. 27

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-Press Release, Granville County Public Schools

NOTICE TO PUBLIC AND PRESS

The Granville County Finance Budget Committee will meet Thursday, September 27, 2018, at 4:30 p.m. at the Granville County Public Schools Central Office, 101 Delacroix Street, Oxford, North Carolina.

The next regular scheduled Board meeting is Monday, October 1, 2018, at 6 p.m.

Granville County Public Schools

Granville Co. Board of Education to Meet for Work Session – Thurs., Sept. 27

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-Information courtesy Dr. Stan Winborne, Public Information Officer, Granville County Public Schools

NOTICE TO PUBLIC AND PRESS

The Granville County Board of Education will meet for a BOE Work Session on Thursday, September 27, 2018, at 5:30 p.m. at the Granville County Public Central Office, 101 Delacroix Street, Oxford, North Carolina.

The purpose of the meeting will be to receive information and discuss long-term planning options to address school facility needs and capacity in light of declining enrollment. The board will also meet in a Closed Session for Personnel/Attorney-Client Privilege in accordance with N.C. General Statute 143.318.11 (a)(6), 143-318.11 (a)(3), 143.318.11 (a)(5) and Section 115C-321 on this evening.

The next scheduled board meeting will be held Monday, October 1, 2018, at 6 p.m.

Granville County Public Schools

Granville Co. Public Schools Continues to Make Progress in Improving Student Achievement

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-Press Release, Granville County Public Schools

On Wednesday, September 5, 2018, the NC State Board of Education released standardized test data for all public schools across the state for the 2017-2018 school year. The results for Granville County Public Schools (GCPS) show that overall, the district continues to make progress in improving students’ academic success. Generally speaking, 15 schools met or exceeded growth: 7 of 19 schools “exceeded growth”, and 8 of 19 “met growth” as measured by the state.

Additionally, students’ proficiencies increased in 9 out of 17 EOG and EOC tested grade level and content areas. Furthermore, 9 schools achieved double-digit increases in proficiency in at least one tested area, and 4 schools experienced 20+ point gains in proficiency in at least one tested area.  Finally, our 12th-grade students across the district also outperformed other students from across the state by six percentage points on the ACT WorkKeys Assessment, which is designed to measure workplace readiness. GCPS students performed at 74.2% on the assessment while the state average was 68.2%.

Letter grades assigned by the state fluctuated slightly compared to previous years.  The following graph shows letter grade distribution for all schools since the state began assigning letter grades:

 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18
A  –  0 A  –  1 A  –  1 A  –  1  A  –  1
B  –  2 B  –  1 B  –  3 B  –  4 B  –  4
C  –  9 C  –  8 C – 10 C  –  9 C  –  7
D  –  6 D  –  6 D –  6 D  –  4 D  –  6
F – 2 F – 3 F – 0 F – 0 F – 0

As reported by the NC Department of Public Instruction, “school grades continue to correlate closely with the poverty levels of schools. Among schools where more than 81 percent of students come from low-income families, 69 percent of the schools received a D or F.”  This correlation also held true for all of the schools in Granville County that received a letter grade of “D”.

Superintendent McLean provided her perspective on the results, “While I am certainly pleased to see many positive areas in this data, there is still much room for improvement. Our goal is for every student to experience significant growth in every area. We believe that ALL students are capable of reaching their full potential, and we will not rest until this goal is achieved.”

With changes in school leadership and modified instructional supports in place, academic improvements are expected in the coming school year. For additional information, please visit the NCDPI Accountability website, which provides detailed data.

https://www.ncpublicschools.org/accountability/reporting/

Granville County Public Schools

Granville Co. School Superintendent Addresses the Community; Announces Important Dates

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-Press Release, Granville County Public Schools

Superintendent Dr. Alisa McLean’s Message to the Community:

Dear Community,

The beginning of a new school year always creates a sense of excitement, hope, and great anticipation for students, families and educators. This year has been no different and we are all energized as the result of it. We are even more elated by the wonderful students who have reported to our schools! Granville County Public School System is excited to launch into the 2018-19 school year with our amazing educators and students! While we have now completed the first week of school for traditional students, several of our schools began earlier this summer and are well underway. This is the first year Granville County Public Schools offered a year-round calendar option to parents/guardians and pupils have been in session since mid-July. As usual, our GCPS Early College began classes early August, as it operates on the VGCC calendar. This is also the first year for our Granville Academy whereby students receive instruction through a blended model of learning. The GCPS Board of Education and I are thrilled such options for students and their families are alive and well in our school district!

This year, we could not be more excited about the opportunity to work with every child who reports to our schools. In fact, our motto, which is “Committed to Excellence and Achievement for All,” is not just food for thought; it is our Call to Action and one we take seriously. Through standards-based teaching, layered with character building and the use of the Multi-Tiered System of Support, we aspire to individualize our approach to ensuring all students reach his/her full potential.

In our effort to strengthen home, school and community relationships this year, we have the following district-wide Impact Dates. Individual schools will be forwarding more information, as we get closer to each date. We welcome our families and our community to join us.

GCPS 2018-19 Impact Dates:

Grandparents Day September 14, 2018

All School Day

 All Schools
Strategic Plan Community Day September 18, 2018

6:30 – 8 p.m.

 Masonic Home for Children
Safety Summit October 13, 2018

9:30 – 11 a.m.

 Northern Granville Middle School
Day of Service/Caring November 2, 2018

All School Day

 All Schools
Night of Kindness April 23, 2019

6:30 p.m.

 South Granville High School
Evening of Excellence May 3, 2019

TBA

 South Granville High School
Granville Early College Graduation May 17, 2019

7 p.m.

 VGCC Civic Center
South Granville High School Graduation June 15, 2019

9 a.m.

 SGHS
Granville Central High School Graduation June 15, 2019

1 p.m.

 GCHS
Granville Academy Graduation June 15, 2019

4 p.m.

 Board of Education
JF Webb High School Campus & JF Webb HLS Graduation June 15, 2019

7:30 p.m.

 JFWHS

After reuniting with all GCPS educators at Convocation 2018 and with families at Open House, the energy was so positively elevated that I know the 2018–19 school year is going to be extraordinary! Our teachers and staff are ready, willing and well able, regardless of the school. In fact, if last year’s honors, accolades and student outcomes are any indication, our educators in Granville County Public Schools are definitely “On the Move” and we will keep forging ahead in our work with students, regardless of their needs. Our school leaders and educators are second to none. In fact, we all stand ready to move the academic needle and the real-life experience barometer to the next level for every pupil in our care. Further, our schools are without a doubt “Keeping the main thing; the main thing” by making certain our students’ safety and needs are our top priorities. We want everyone safe, every day.  As such, we are pleased to share that ALL of our schools now have buzzer systems for entrance, safety hotline numbers posted and routine air quality checks, just to name a few of the safety measures.

Last year, we proudly prepared students for acceptances at colleges, universities, community colleges, the Naval Academy, various branches of the military, the workplace of choice and for programs that required certain certifications. Our athletic coaches prepared youngsters so well that we won conference, regional and state championships. Our Arts teachers have pupils showcasing all over and one group even had the opportunity to perform at the state capitol and another, for the Department of Public Instruction! The internship and apprenticeship opportunities in GCPS are so awesome that our students graduate with real job skills and credentials deeming them ready for specialized jobs in the workplace. This year, our district-wide emphases on literacy and student engagement are areas of focus that are designed to take us even higher.

So, to all of our students, parents, families & community….let’s continue striving to have an extraordinary school year! Please join us in moving ahead in every way possible! While we are far from perfect, we certainly commit to doing our best. Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank our numerous community partners, neighbors, businesses and friends for any role you may have contributed in helping us successfully open school. From the incredible beautification efforts on our campuses, to the individuals who helped with bulletin boards and other school tasks, your support is priceless!  Our district is grateful to have you, your talents, skills and time. Let’s stay “On the Move” as a school system and community. All will be needed on this journey. Please feel free to join us when you can.

Sincerely,

Dr. Alisa R. McLean, Superintendent

Granville County Public Schools

Granville County Public Schools

Granville Co. Board of Education to Meet in Called Session, Tues., Aug. 14

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-Press Release, Granville County Public Schools

NOTICE TO PUBLIC AND PRESS

The Granville County Board of Education will meet in a called meeting on Tuesday, August 14, 2018, 5:30 p.m. at the Board of Education Administrative Offices, 101 Delacroix Street, Oxford, North Carolina.

The board will also meet in a closed session for Personnel/Attorney-Client Privilege in accordance with N.C. General Statute 143.318.11 (a)(6), 143-318.11 (a)(3), 143.318.11 (a)(5) and Section 115C-321. The next scheduled Board Work Session for the Board of Education will be held on Monday, August 20, 2018.

Dywanda Pettaway, Clerk to Board of Education

Granville County Public Schools

Granville Co. Schools Parting With Chamber’s Teachers’ Breakfast; Will Hold Their Own

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-Press Release, Granville County Public Schools

Granville County Public Schools has a long, proud history of partnering with the Chamber of Commerce and the community at large to celebrate and support our newly appointed teachers at the beginning of each school year. Together, we have enjoyed many decades at the Annual New Teacher Breakfast, sponsored by the Granville County Chamber of Commerce, to welcome educators from far and wide to join our public school system and our communities. We have always enjoyed this exciting time of year together and are grateful for the generosity and outpouring of support for our staff and students.

This year, however, Granville County Public Schools staff recently learned that for the first time ever in the history of the Chamber-sponsored event, teachers and administrators from outside of our public school district would be attending and participating in the program for that morning, which was to be held in one of our elementary schools. This event would no longer be held to just support the educators of Granville County Public Schools but was to include a presentation to GCPS teachers from the leadership of a competing charter school that drains much-needed resources from our school district.

Charter schools are not part of the Granville County Public School system and are exempt from many of the requirements placed on public schools, including the requirements to provide meals and transportation, to employ only licensed teachers, and to accept and instruct any student who lives in the district.

This change in the nature of the event gave the Granville County Board of Education serious concerns about the message the event would send to our new GCPS teachers, in a time when recruiting and retaining qualified teachers is increasingly challenging for our public school system. After careful consideration and discussion, board members voted unanimously to not participate in the breakfast this year. This decision was a strong indication of support for our community’s public education system and sends a message that we fully declare our schools to be the first and best choice in education for all of the children of our county. The school system will instead sponsor a new teacher breakfast to welcome Granville County Public Schools teachers.

We hope that members of the community, local businesses, industry groups, and citizens will understand this need for our school board to take this position, and know that it does not reflect in any way on our tremendous gratitude toward their support of our schools and the prior support we have received from the Chamber. We are hopeful that over the next year we may be able to work with the Chamber to find a resolution to our concerns. Together, we can achieve excellence and achievement for all!