GCPS is committed to maintaining a safe, clean, and beautiful environment. Behind the scenes, a dedicated team of maintenance professionals works tirelessly to make this a reality—addressing more than 80,000 tasks a year. Learn more about the professionals on GCPS' Grounds and Building Maintenance teams.

It is never too early for students to start discovering their career interests. Focusing on our K-12 Computer Science for All (CS for All) initiative, students at every level have access to Computer Science (CS) through extracurricular activities, competitions, and courses like FIRST LEGO ® League, VEX Robotics, and other CS clubs. Learn more about how CS for All prepares students for their future.

The School Nutrition Program is excited to announce that there are many new menu and USDA Smart-Snack compliant ala carte items that will be offered this school year. Some of the new menu items include:

• Subs
• Sandwiches
• Wraps
• New veggie sides such as Parmesan Carrot Fries and Charro Beans

New à la carte items include:

• Smartfood White Cheddar Popcorn
• Whole Grain-Rich Chocolate Chip Rice Krispies Treats

In all, 135 GCPS school cafeterias will offer breakfast and lunch daily. Families are encouraged to complete the free/reduced-price meal application as soon as possible and also take advantage of using the NutriSlice app, which provides weekly online school menus. Learn more about GCPS' School Nutrition Program.

Ensuring school safety is everyone’s responsibility— staff, students, parents, and the entire community. Please report any safety concerns you may have to your school principal. In addition, ask your local school about its safety plan.

One important role you can play in keeping schools safe is to tell someone about illegal behavior or concerns you may have. We have 3 ways to contact us without disclosing your identity:

• Go to www.p3campus.com/5105 and complete the tip form.
• Download the GCPS Tips app for your Apple or Android device and use it to communicate with school leadership anytime you become aware of something you think they should know about! You do not have to provide your name.
• Call or text 770-822-6513 to make a report. You do not have to give your name when providing information via this confidential tip line.

If you believe someone may be considering self-harm, if you think someone may be carrying a weapon, drugs, or alcohol on school property, or if you believe that you or someone you know have been the target of violence or threat of violence or have witnessed violent or threatening conduct by another person, please let us know using any of the available resources.

GCPS periodically conducts Digital Learning Days (DLDs) when school buildings must be closed on a scheduled school day. Individual local schools also periodically schedule Digital Learning Days as part of specific school initiatives. On a called Digital Learning Day, teachers continue instruction via their online course pages and other digital resources, and students are expected to participate in and complete instructional activities with these resources. Schools and teachers will communicate the specific expectations for completing and submitting activities and work. Any students who are unable to participate should work directly with their teachers on alternative activities and assignments.

In addition, the school district has four Digital Learning Days built into the 2024-25 school calendar—September 20, November 5, February 7, and March 14. On these four planned DLDs, all students will learn from home, completing assignments at their own pace. Students should plan ahead to ensure they have their district-issued devices at home for planned DLDs.

Please click here to learn more about Digital Learning Days in GCPS.

The Office of Family Engagement's Engage, Equip, Empower Series presents Universal Screeners: i-Ready & MAP Family Night presented by Miranda McLaren, Executive Director for the Office of Accountability and Assessment on Tuesday, August 27 virtually from 5:30–6:30 p.m.

During this session, GCPS families of students in grades K–9 will receive information about the i-Ready and MAP Universal Screeners, find out how they will help identify students' strengths and areas of need, and how they support instruction for all students. You can join the meeting at: https://gcpsk12org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUkdO6qqjotGN2Rvsl1xxb3PwR9wY4vpl51

The application for the 2024-25 SSAC will be available in the Student Portal from August 7–28, 2024. Two students from each middle and high school will be selected based on their completed applications. Alternate members from each school will also be identified. We will notify students selected to serve on the Superintendent's Student Advisory Council via student email on or before September 11. Learn more about SSAC!

The GCPS Facility Planning and Construction team took advantage of the summer break to make updates and improvements to GCPS schools across the county. These improvements are essential to ensure that our schools and workspaces are in top condition, providing the best possible learning environment for our students, staff, and community. Check out the completed projects in clusters across the district.

Calling all GCPS juniors and seniors! The United States Senate Youth Program is accepting applications for delegates to attend Washington Week in Washington, D.C the week of March 1-8, 2025. Delegates receive a $10,000 college scholarship! Interested? Learn more and apply today: www.gadoe.org/USSYP

The Gwinnett County Public Library and Gwinnett County Public Schools joined together to form a partnership which expands the amount of digital and print resources available to GCPS students. This includes access to all 15 library branches and all digital resources. Another advantage is that Branch Out accounts do not incur late fees. For access to the student account, go to www.gwinnettpl.org and log in using the student ID and birthdate (MMYY).

We can all help prevent suicide. The 988 Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States.

988 Fast Facts

• 988 is confidential, free, and available 24/7/365, connecting those experiencing a mental health, substance use, or suicidal crisis with trained crisis counselors.
• Access is available through every landline, cell phone, and voice-over-internet device in the United States, and call services are available in Spanish, along with interpretation services in over 150 languages.
• The 988 dialing code is available for call, text, and chat.

You can learn more about 988 and access resources at 988lifeline.org.

• Board meeting and work session (July 25)
• Board Meeting recordings
• GCPS News
  
• Student Calendars
  
• Teaching Gwinnett podcast

And much more at www.gcpsk12.org!

• Keep Connected with news from GCPS TV… the next episode airs August 22!
• The next regular Board Meeting is August 15. (Online, find links to sign up for the public comment sections of the meeting.)