SPECIAL EDUCATION PARENT SURVEY
As a means of improving results for children with disabilities, the Georgia Department of Education is required to survey parents of students receiving special education services. You are receiving this notice as the Parent/Guardian of a student receiving services in Gwinnett County and therefore, you are able to participate in this year’s survey process. This is an opportunity for your voice to be heard. The feedback you share will help guide local schools’ efforts to improve Special Education services and results for children and families. The survey is available on-line and can be accessed on the Georgia Department of Education website. You may enter the following direct link into your browser - https://survey.gadoe.org/SPEDParentSurvey or you may utilize the QR Code provided below: Survey responses must be submitted by May 31, 2022. If you do not have access to a computer or smart phone, you may contact the Georgia Department of Education, Special Education Help Desk at 404-657-9968 in order to complete the survey by telephone. We look forward to your responses, Dr. Nicole White Executive Director of Special Education and Psychological Services If you have any questions, please contact the GCPS Parent Mentor as indicated below. GCPS Special Education Parent Mentor: Dawn Albanese Dawn.Albanese@gcpsk12.org
COVID-19 Surveillance Testing
Routine COVID-19 testing (also called surveillance testing) can quickly detect individuals who are positive with COVID-19 and trace contacts who should quarantine. The testing, which is free and will be conducted on a weekly basis at the school, uses a short Qtip-type swab to collect a sample from inside the nose. This testing will allow GCPS to test, receive test results (within 24 hours), and notify individuals of a clinically significant reading. By participating, students and staff members can help to minimize the spread of the virus within our schools, which benefits us all.
Although participation in surveillance testing is not required for students or staff members, it is strongly encouraged. Participation will contribute to the success of this mitigation strategy and our schools’ ability to limit the spread of COVID and keep students learning in person.
Learn more about the COVID testing being offered to Norcross Cluster students and staff by reviewing our frequently asked questions.
Aneta Galazka (Math)
"I have never felt the need to hesitate to ask her a question, even if it’s in the middle of her lesson. She always responds in a polite manner and clearly explains the statistical reasoning for her answers to our questions. If it’s evident that you still don’t understand, she will continue to explain or use a different approach to help describe the answer to your question. Overall, I believe she deserves to be awarded teacher of the month because she cares for her students’ success both inside and outside of the classroom, is easily approachable, and makes statistics accessible to all students that are willing to try."
Zel Salesevic (Testing/SPED Clerk)
"She is Amazing! She works hard to make PDS SHINE in anything she does whether it's Testing, SPED/504, school events, etc. Her goal is to serve teachers, students, and families with excellence and she delivers each and every time. She has so much pride and passion in the work she does. She takes initiative and always looks to improve experiences. We are lucky to have her!"
Altruism & Service
Academic Excellence
Leadership
Perseverance
School Spirit
Innovation & Creativity
Respect for Others
CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2022!
We cannot believe how quickly the year has gone by and before you know it, you will be walking across the stage at graduation! Make sure everyone knows how hard you have worked to achieve one of the best moments of your life and announce your graduation with class. Below is the direct link to order you Official Paul Duke Stem Personalized Graduation Announcements, so don’t wait.
Not only will your announcements have your official school crest, they will also be personalized with your name in the text just like collegiate announcements. We also created packages to make ordering even easier, but you can always add more to them so no one is left out. Orders will begin to ship directly to your house by mid-March with plenty of time to send them out to all your friends and family members.
We are so proud of you and honored to celebrate this milestone with you!
Yearbook for Seniors
We finished the first month of the final semester! Only four more months to go before graduation!
We wanted to remind you that now is a great time to order your yearbook. We do NOT order extras and we expect to sell out. Make sure you get your copy today!
The price is currently $75 and you can order your copy at www.balfour.com.
SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CLASS OF 2022
We have a special opportunity ONLY FOR THE SENIORS this year. Since this senior class has been with us for all four years - we have a few copies left of some of the previous year's yearbooks and want to offer the books at a discounted rate.
- This deal will likely not happen in years to come.
- We will provide the books on a first come, first served basis while supplies last. Don't wait.
- YOU MUST HAVE PURCHASED A 2022 YEARBOOK TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS DEAL.
- The more you buy, the better the deal! Cost per book outside of this deal for each year is $75.
- 1 book - $45 (you save - $30)
- 2 books - $60 ($30 each - you save $90)
- 3 books - $80 (~$27 each - you save $145)
- Make the payments in MyPaymentsPlus and then see Ms. O'Connor in room 401/Marketing to select the year(s).
If you have questions or concerns, please email Lauren O'Connor at Lauren.OConnor@gcpsk12.org.
Have questions about how to prepare for senior year, applying for college, scholarships, etc? Here is your one stop guide to making sure you are prepared for both your senior year and life beyond high school!
GCPS Summer School
Gwinnett County Publics Schools will once again pay for up to two summer school classes for high school students needing to retake a class they previously failed. There are three summer school sites – Archer High School, Berkmar High School, and Lanier High School. For more information on this incredible opportunity, please visit https://www.gcpsk12.org/SummerSchool .
COLLEGE AND CAREER COUNSELING
College Admissions season is upon us. Here are the links that might take away some of the mystery behind how colleges make their admission decisions. Watch for new additions each week!
Georgia Tech's College Admission Brief Podcast - https://admission.gatech.edu/podcast
Georgia Tech's Admissions Blog https://sites.gatech.edu/admission-blog/
University of Georgia's Admissions Blog https://www.admissions.uga.edu/blog/
The University System of Georgia's (which includes 26 colleges and universities) Freshman Admissions Requirements - https://www.usg.edu/student_affairs/assets/student_affairs/documents/USG_Admission_Requirements_2022.pdf
The Care Team cannot thank the Paul Duke families for their donations that continue to come in for our toiletry drive. Because of your generosity, we are well stocked on everything except deodorant (boys especially)!!!
We have updated the Amazon Care Team list to reflect our current needs.
Much thanks on behalf of our students ❤️
BIRTHDAY SHOUT OUTS!
For only a $5 donation to the Counseling Care Team!
Form found in MYPayments Plus under School Fundraisers
Please congratulate this year’s PTSA Senior Scholarship recipients: Noah Budnitz: one of the top ten seniors this year and Founder and CEO of the Gwinnett Drone Club. He is also the Founder of the Paul Duke STEM Launchpad and a member of the Climbing Team. Noah receives a $750 scholarship. Candace Cang: receives a $1000 scholarship as the first place winner. She is also one of the top ten students in this year’s senior class. She has served on the Gwinnett Student Leadership Team, DECA, and the Paul Duke Chamber Orchestra. In addition, she is the Founder and President of Paul Duke’s first Asian American Association.
This year we have two winners of The Trailblazer Award. They are both very active in TSA and have participated in underclassmen orientation, club fairs and school tours. They participate in DECA and TSA. Each of these students will get a $250 scholarship. Congratulations to Ali Akbar and Rohan Pai.
The Paul Duke STEM PTSA Staff Member of the Year Award was awarded to Mr. Andrew Wright because “he makes challenging math courses, easy to understand and FUN” (yes, fun!). We would like to acknowledge two honorable mentions, Leslie Patel for arranging a dental day for students and families and Ashley Getz for supporting PTSA Reflections.
Time to Celebrate Our Teachers, Staff and Bus Drivers!
May 2 - May 6
It is time to celebrate our wonderful Paul Duke staff & teachers and shower them with gratitude - for who they are & all they do - especially in this season when education has required so much of them!
We would love your help to celebrate all 179 staff, teachers and bus drivers!
The PTSA will be providing meals and treats throughout the week but need your help with:
Thank you for helping to make this a great week for all of our staff!
If you have any questions, please contact us. We are happy to help!
Volunteers and Donations Needed for Exam Week Lunches
The last three days of exams, high schools do not have a lunch service. PTSA will be handing out brown bag lunches to fuel our students during this important time. Please consider donating side items or handing out items. It is an easy, short and rewarding volunteer opportunity.
Sign up to volunteer here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4AABAE22A13-mayexam
Sign up to donate items here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4AABAE22A13-mayexam1
PTSA VOLUNTEERING OPORTUNITIES
Are you interested in volunteering just an hour or two here and there or do you want a big project, there are plenty of ways to get involved in person or from home. Click here to sign up and receive volunteer opportunities as they arise.
STEM High School Recruiting Mentors for Internships & Problem Solving
Paul Duke STEM High School, located one mile from our Innovation Center, is looking for people working in STEM fields to help mentor, coach and inspire students by engaging them in real world projects. It is difficult for kids to imagine a career in STEM when they don’t know how to connect subjects they study in school with actual professions and careers. You can help. There is an immediate need both for internship mentors for individual students and for examples of actual company problems that teams of students can form consulting teams around to develop creative solutions. Doesn’t this sound more relevant and fun than typical classroom work?
Off-campus internships pair students with an outside mentor who welcomes the student into their workplace for a few months or the whole school year. Previous internships have included: video production, project management, app development, coding and advanced vehicle research.
Recent internships include:
The President & COO of Peachtree Corners-based audio visual company Avyve served as a mentor and taught a student about his industry and skills crucial for business success – task management, managing the checks and balances between company departments and more. Additionally, each Friday, the student moved around the company to learn and assist with different departments. Click here for more on this internship example.
Curiosity Lab connected a student with a Kennesaw State University computer engineering professor to work together on vehicle-to-everything technology.
“When we are looking for mentors, the most important thing is their willingness to work with our students – 17- or 18-year-olds who may not have ever worked in a corporate environment before,” said Dr. Jonathon Wetherington, principal of Paul Duke. “We are looking for people who can speak frankly with students, mentor and guide them and provide them with tasks that fit their skillset and age.”
He also said that it was very common for student interns to spend much of their Fridays at the internship site working with their mentor, allowing them to view more of the office activity and participate more than if they only went to their internship after the school day ended.
For the SEE Consultancy, Paul Duke asks community organizations to pitch some of their lingering and large problems to students. Students then form consultancy teams and spend time building proposals to help solve these authentic issues. In the 2020-2021 school year, Paul Duke received pitches from MARTA, the City of Norcross, Molecula, Curiosity Lab and the Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources.
For example, the Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources asked, “How might we source and mitigate the unexplainable algal bloom in Ozora Lake in Tribble Mill Park to allow more recreational use and promote watershed health?” Check out the students’ video to learn how they approached this problem.
“We often put multiple student teams on the same consultancy project, and those teams will take a divergent approach and explore different ways of tackling the problem,” said Wetherington. “One path may be something the company has already thought of, but the other path is brand new. It's a great way to get some different perspectives, particularly for a small organization or those interested in hearing from a younger generation.”
Paul Duke is always on the lookout for people and organizations interested in becoming mentors or participating in the consulting challenges. More information is available on Paul Duke's website. Those interested in participating and helping students grow their skillsets and potential can apply via this link, too.
If you have any questions, contact SEE Coordinator Laura Calkins at laura.calkins@gcpsk12.org or 470-323-3602.
COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITY
Are you planning on doing some community services but don't know where to start?
Contact Ms. Dobbs in the Parent Center or email at olaya.liranzo@gcpsk12.org
We need students who:
*Love their community
*Have a passion helping others
*Bilingual preferred but not required
REGISTER TO VOTE
Hey Trailblazers! Are you registered to Vote?
If you are 17 ½ or older.
Register or check you status here:
FOOD FINDER
To receive assistance with food, visit foodfinder.us
RENTAL ASSISTANCE
Congress set aside a significant amount of money to help renters and landlords. The state of Georgia’s Department of Community Affairs (DCA) has a website where you can apply for rental assistance.
FOOD PANTRY
May 10 & 24 – Starting by 10:00 a.m.
Starting by 10:00 a.m. (until supplies run out)
Lilburn Branch (4817 Church St NW, Lilburn, GA 30047)
PARENT PORTAL
Please contact Ms. Dobbs if you need assistance at
470-323-3625
GA PARENT MENTOR PROGRAM
Gwinnett County Public School System’s (GCPS) Parent Mentors help provide parents of students with disabilities information, guidance, and resources to support students.
For more information click here
MYPAYMENTS PLUS
must be signed through MyPaymentsplus account.
You can support Paul Duke STEM PTSA and our school by shopping at Kroger!
Simply visit http://www.kroger.com. Once logged into your Kroger account, search for Paul Duke Stem HS PTSA either by name or SI217 and then click Enroll. New users will need to create an account which requires some basic information, a valid email address and a rewards card. If you do not have a Kroger rewards card, please visit the customer service desk at any Kroger. The closest Kroger to Paul Duke STEM High is at 3455 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard
Paul Duke STEM and our PTSA are now on AmazonSmile! Already shopping on Amazon? Switch to AmazonSmile, a website operated by Amazon with the same products, pricing, and shopping features as Amazon.com and our school receives 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases. Go to smile.amazon.com or click here to register PTA Georgia Congress (our charitable arm). Thank you and happy shopping!
Click here to view a video on how to add an Amazon Smile "app" to your phone
Friends of PDS Sponsorship ($100 Donation)
Blue Partner ($500 Donation)
Platinum Partner ($2,500 Donation)
About us
Email: olaya.liranzo@gcpsk12.org
Website: https://www.gcpsk12.org/PaulDukeStemHS
Location: 5850 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, Norcross, GA, USA
Phone: 470-323-3600
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaulDukeSTEM