GCPS CONNECTED

In this episode of Connected, we share ways you can be involved in supporting GCPS students and community throughout the month of May. These opportunities include: participating in public hearings on the FY26 GCPS Budget, attending the Gwinnett County Sports Hall of Fame banquet, choosing summer reading books from the GCPS Book Mobile, and more!

Learn more about all the 14th Annual Gwinnett County Sports Hall of Fame inductees here, and get your tickets to the May 19th Banquet.

The Blueprint in Action focus for the months of April and May is Safe and Welcoming Schools. During these months we will be spotlighting how our schools are prioritizing safety and welcoming students and families.

As the end of the school year approaches, GCPS reminds all students, staff, and families that every visitor to a school must enter through the security vestibule, show proper photo identification, and be screened before entering the school. Visitors entering for professional reasons must meet with the principal or the principal’s designee before entering for a meeting. Learn more about security vestibules in GCPS.

As 2025 National Teacher Appreciation Week comes to a close, we would like to say one more time—THANK YOU!

Thank you, Team GCPS teachers, for your daily commitment to our students, and your dedication to teaching and learning. You ensure that each and every student feels welcome, safe, accepted, valued, and prepared for the future. Please visit this link to see messages from the district's Teacher of the Year Finalists.

The First Public Hearing on the FY2026 Budget will be held May 8 at the Instructional Support Center, 437 Old Peachtree Road, NW, Suwanee, GA 30024. The Public Hearing will begin at 6 p.m. in the Board Room. Those wishing to speak at the public hearing can sign up in person between 5 p.m. and 5:59 p.m. at the table outside of the Board Room. Speakers at the Public Hearing will have three minutes in which to address the Board. Learn more about the FY2026 Budget on the GCPS website.

Kindergarten registration for the 2025-26 school year is open to children who will turn 5 on or before September 1. Registration is easy! Please visit this link to learn more.

DLI Rising Kindergarten application closes on May 9

The 2025-26 Dual Language Immersion (DLI) Rising Kindergarten application form will close on Friday, May 9. In the DLI elementary school program, students spend half of the school day learning in English and the other half learning content areas in the target language (Spanish, French, or Korean). The program launches with kindergarten students, then builds by one grade level.

If you have a senior in the family, it's time to celebrate! The Class of 2025 graduation schedule is posted online. Graduation ceremonies are scheduled May 15 through May 26.

Help us celebrate the Class of 2025!

Share photos of your graduating senior on social media using the hashtag #GCPSClassof2025.

• The Brookwood High School Swim program wins big at the State Championship!

• Peachtree Ridge High School Dance team earns State Championship

• GCPS educator recognized by Georgia Marketing Educators Association

• Four GCPS schools clinch top honors, qualifying for VEX Robotics World Championship

• Gwinnett counseling programs earn national designation

This summer, make sure the fun times include water safety at the pool, on the beach, and in the lake. Safe Kids Gwinnett urges parents and caregivers to actively supervise their children when they are in or near water at all times.

The Gwinnett County Police Department (GCPD) will offer a once-a-month program giving youth, grades 9 through 12, the opportunity to connect with police officers. The interactive sessions will focus on a variety of safety and security topics that will teach youth how to safely navigate different scenarios. Each class will run from 6-8 p.m. at the GCPD Training Center and police precincts across Gwinnett County. Registration is required, and seating is limited. Classes are for youth only.

Register here for the drug awareness and drowning prevention session that will take place on Tuesday, May 13 in Buford. Don't miss out on this valuable opportunity to learn, grow, and connect with local police officers.

For more information about the Badges and Youth Education Program, please email PDCommunityAffairs@GwinnettCounty.com.

Many students are experiencing hard feelings, yet don’t know how to open up about them.

Talking to someone about how they’re feeling and reaching out to a friend in need are the best ways to prevent suicide and self harm.

The National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 9-8-8 connects individuals experiencing mental health-related distress with suicide prevention and crisis resources. In Georgia, 9-8-8 calls are answered by the Georgia Crisis and Access Line 24/7/365.

• Board meeting and work session
• Connected (April 24)
• GCPS Links (May 1)
• News Releases
  
• Student Calendars
  
• And much more at www.gcpsk12.org!
  

• The next regular Board meeting is May 15. (Online, find the link to sign up for the public comment sections of the meeting.)
• Public hearings on the FY2026 Budget will take place on Thursday, May 8 and Thursday, May 15 at the J. Alvin Wilbanks Instructional Support Center.
• The 2025 Gwinnett County Sports Hall of Fame event is scheduled for Monday, May 19 at Gas South.