GCPS LINKS

A high school oceanography teacher who encourages students to use their voice and love science is the 2025 Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) Teacher of the Year (TOTY). On December 7, Gwinnett County Public Schools announced Jenna Cloninger of Central Gwinnett High School as the recipient of the school district’s highest teaching honor.

Michelle Ruhl of Sugar Hill Elementary School was named 2025 Elementary School Teacher of the Year and runner-up in the 2025 TOTY competition. Michael Payen of Five Forks Middle School was named 2025 Middle School Teacher of the Year.

Why is Jenna the 2025 TOTY? GCPS’ TOTY program is aligned with the state and national Teacher of the Year programs, with our naming convention— 2025 Teacher of the Year. The educator named district TOTY will officially serve from July 2024-June 2025 and will apply to be the state TOTY in the fall of 2024.

Each month of the 2023-24 school year, we will spotlight one of our strategic priorities or Portrait of a Graduate competencies by sharing the stories of two clusters—highlighting their classrooms, notable events, community insights, achievements, community service projects, student organizations, volunteer efforts, and more.

Stay tuned this month as we showcase Equity in the Norcross cluster and GCPS Special Entity schools.

You still have time to respond to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Budget Development Survey by December 18. Your participation is one of the first steps in the budget development process for FY25 (the 2024-2025 school year). Please continue to watch the Board Work Sessions for more information about FY25 budget development.

Recently, our partners at the American Heart Association (AHA) surprised students and staff at the district's Top 10 Schools. Learn more about our partnership and see the full list of the AHA Top 10 Schools in Gwinnett County.

Make a difference in your community! Did you know: 1 out of 3 young people in America are growing up without a mentor. By becoming a mentor, you have an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of Gwinnett County students.

With a mentor, mentees are 52% less likely to skip school, 78% more likely to volunteer regularly in their community, and 130% more likely to hold a leadership position in a club or sports team. Please visit this link to learn more about the GCPS Mentoring Program and to apply to become a mentor.

GCPS' Facility Planning and Construction Department recently visited the Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology (GSMST) to discuss its work and ongoing district projects with students. The presentation focused on the future of instructional design, highlighting the connection between ideas and tangible vision, and addressed financial, safety, and structural considerations in educational space planning. After the session, students toured a designated school space earmarked for redesign, had a Q&A with Team GCPS professionals, and shared their future pursuits and aspirations.

Registration for the 2024-25 school year is now underway for some GCPS schools and programs! Each year, a few special GCPS schools, programs, and a local charter school conduct activities during the winter to register students for the upcoming school year. That process has started for one school, with additional events planned through February for the other schools and programs.

Gwinnett County Public Schools recently adopted school calendars for 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 after seeking input from families and staff. The decision came after offering all students, staff, and parents the chance to vote on four calendar options, two of which accommodated various religious holidays. Despite the majority choosing a calendar similar to the current one, acknowledging and respecting diverse holidays is a priority. The district remains committed to cultural sensitivity and engagement with the community. Although the new calendar doesn't add days off for religious observances, GCPS maintains policies for excused absences during such holidays, ensuring respect and support for students observing them.

Students stay home during the weeks of December 18 through January 3, and return to school on Thursday, January 4. Buses will not be distributing meals during this time. Visit this link if you or someone you know needs help with basic needs (including food, personal care items, clothing, shelter, utilities, etc.). Or visit this website to receive holiday help or support families in your community.

There are 57 student scholarships available on the Gwinnett County Public Schools Foundation website and the application deadline has been extended to December 31 (unless otherwise stated on the application). Scholarships are available for students regardless of field of interest, student background, or financial need! Visit the Foundation Student Scholarship webpage to apply for a scholarship tailored to your exact need!

This December, the “CharacterDares” for your family involves forgiveness, helping others, taking a walk, and gratitude! Do you have what it takes to be CharacterStrong?

These restorative parenting tips can be incorporated into your parenting practices. Parenting is tough, but it is definitely easier when we all work together.

Customizing your Chromebook settings can set you up for success when using your Chromebook during school. Check out this episode from GCPS Tech Tips for tips and tricks on how to navigate the settings on your chromebook.

This holiday season, stay alert to the increasing threats from scammers. We want to draw your attention to the dangers associated with QR codes and gift card scams and provide valuable information on protecting yourself and your loved ones.

Because QR codes have become increasingly common, they are prime targets for scammers. Tactics such as covering QR codes on parking meters or sending deceptive QR codes via text or email create urgency, pressuring individuals to scan without careful consideration. Scanning a fraudulent QR code can lead to spoofed websites, enabling scammers to steal personal information or install malware. In addition, with millions of dollars spent on gift cards during this gift-giving season, be aware of scammers tampering with gift card barcodes. Watch out for stickers covering gift card barcodes, which may be linked to a scammer-controlled account. Visit this link to learn more about how to stay cybersecure during the holiday shopping season.

• Superintendent's Holiday Message (December 13)
• Board meeting and work session (November 16)
  
• Connected (December 7)
  
• GCPS Links (November 16)
  
• Coffee with Calvin (November 30)
  
• Board Meeting recordings
  
• News Releases
  
• Student Calendars
  
• Teaching Gwinnett podcast
• En Familia Con GCPS podcast
• News You Can Use
  

And much more at www.gcpsk12.org!

• Keep Connected with news from GCPS TV… the next episode airs January 11!
• The next regular Board Meeting is January 18. (Online, find links to sign up for the public comment sections of the meeting.)