
Ed Briefs
for those who teach and those who support teachers

March 7, 2024
Coffee with Calvin
In this episode of Coffee with Calvin, Dr. Watts visits Meadowcreek and Peachtree Ridge high schools to learn more about the wide array of sports and activities offered in GCPS, including Girls Wrestling and Esports.
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.
Resourcefulness
GCPS students and staff innovate by translating original thinking into viable solutions. They use their imagination to transcend traditional rules and patterns to create new ideas and approaches to problem-solving, and embrace learning from diverse sources and experiences to use resources creatively and efficiently.
In March, we'll focus on Resourcefulness in the Mountain View and Seckinger clusters.
Slam the Scam Day is March 7
On National Slam the Scam Day and throughout the year, you can get the tools to recognize government benefit-related scams and stop scammers from stealing your money and personal information.
Help protect your loved ones and people in your community this Slam the Scam Day by:
- Educating them about government imposter scams. Let them know they shouldn’t be embarrassed to report if they shared personal information or suffered a financial loss. It is important to report the scam as quickly as possible.
- Sharing our Scam Alert fact sheet and helping educate others about how to protect themselves.
March is Art in Our Schools Month
Gwinnett’s best young artists will be in the spotlight through March 21 at the J. Alvin Wilbanks Instructional Support Center (ISC) during the Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) Tapestry event. GCPS’ annual celebration of the arts takes place at the school district’s headquarters, which is located at 437 Old Peachtree Rd. NW in Suwanee. The ISC’s lobby area will be transformed into the state's largest art museum filled with paintings, drawings, three-dimensional art, mixed media, pottery, jewelry, and two-dimensional art— all created by Gwinnett students.
Solar Eclipse Across America on April 8, 2024
Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) will operate on a normal school schedule on April 8, 2024. To help ensure safe viewing for our students and a safe dismissal of students, GCPS will take all precautionary measures to make this exciting experience safe, educational, and enjoyable.
Calendar Notes
Spring Break
April 1-5 is Spring Break for students and 180-, 181-, 185-, 190-, 193, 200-, 210-, 220-, and 230-day staff. April 5 is a holiday for all staff.
Area Board Meetings in March and April
- March 12 – District III, Dr. Mary Kay Murphy, at Duluth HS
- March 14 – District IV, Dr. Adrienne Simmons, at Shiloh HS
- March 19 – District V, Dr. Tarece Johnson-Morgan, at Meadowcreek HS
- March 26 – District I, Karen Watkins, 2024 Vice Chair, at Grayson HS
- April 8 – District II, Steven B. Knudsen, 2024 Chair, at Mill Creek HS
Save the date: Spring into Health Saturday, March 9
Norcross High School is hosting GCPS' Spring into Health Saturday event on March 9, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and you're all invited! This event is your ticket to an awesome day filled with fun activities and valuable resources right here in Gwinnett.
Join us for a day of excitement and discovery as we come together as a community to learn, have fun, and explore everything our area has to offer. From cool educational opportunities to important health services, there's something for everyone!
Don't miss out on the chance to connect with local organizations, enjoy entertainment, and participate in engaging workshops. Keep your eyes open for information booths, games, food trucks, and resources that will help you get involved and learn more about our amazing community.
Better your Workflow with the Explore Tool in Google
The Explore tool in Google Slides, Docs, and Sheets can help improve your workflow and save you time! The Explore tool can help you research, mention individuals, link other Google Drive files, and so much more without ever leaving the Google file you are working in. Check out this episode of GCPS Tech Tips to learn more!
The GCPS Foundation Needs Your Help!
GCPS Faculty and Staff, we need your help! Students have written their essays, verified their scores, and submitted their scholarship applications. And now we need your help reviewing student applications! The process is super simple, and we would be so grateful for your participation and input! If you’re interested in being a GCPS Foundation Scholarship Reviewer, fill out this form for more information and next steps. Thank you!
2024 Bus Managers and Monitors of the Year
On March 5, GCPS celebrated the 26th Annual Bus Manager and Bus Monitor of the Year Awards. Celebrated at the banquet were (pictured left to right) Monica Mau, Regular Education Bus Manager winner; Laura Howell, Special Education Bus Manager winner, and Stacy Welch, Special Education Bus Monitor winner. Auto Diesel Master Mechanic Ronnie Alston was honored as Fleet Technician of the Year.
Championing Reliability and Safety: GCPS Transportation Shines in Cold Weather Preparedness
Extremely cold temperatures present challenges for the GCPS school bus fleet, potentially causing a higher rate of mechanical issues on school bus start-up. This can be exacerbated if the cold weather occurs during a period of inactivity for the buses, for example, over a long weekend. The GCPS Transportation and Fleet Maintenance department takes proactive measures to ensure the smooth operation of school buses and the safe and timely delivery of students through the use of its “early start” protocol.
Reminders
SAVE THE DATE: Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports on March 19
GCPS invites all families to attend a virtual “Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS) Family Night” led by the Director of the Office of Behavior Supports and Interventions on March 19, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. During this session, GCPS families of students in grades 6-12 will receive information about the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports program components, and how families can help connect with schools and use positive interventions and supports at home. Interpretation will be provided in Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, and Chinese. Online registration is now open.
March is Social Work Month, and this week is School Social Work Week!
Social workers support teaching and learning to help ensure that #EachAndEvery student remains in school, graduates, reaches their fullest academic potential, and grows socially and emotionally.
It is Tax Time Again!
Keep an eye out for important tax forms from GCPS as you prepare your 2023 tax return. The GCPS Payroll department generated 31,588 W-2s for tax year 2023. More than 20,000 W-2s were printed and mailed out on January 23 to those employees who have not opted to go ‘paperless,’ and the balance were distributed electronically to individuals who had previously completed the “W2 Electronic Consent” agreement. Electronic copies of the W-2 form for this year and prior years are available on the Employee Portal under About Me > W2.
The Payroll department also issued 1095-Cs to all eligible employees. As a reminder, the 1095-C is provided to all employees eligible for healthcare coverage through their employer. The sending of the 1095-C is a requirement of the Affordable Care Act. However, you do not need to have received your 1095-C to file your taxes. Questions about your W-2 or 1095-C? Email Payroll.Support@gcpsk12.org for assistance.
Planning to retire in 2024? Here are some things to consider.
When you are preparing to retire, it is important to contact the Retirement Services Department at 678-301-6100 to schedule an appointment as soon as possible prior to the date your pension is to begin. You must file a written application with the Gwinnett Retirement System for benefits no later than seventy-five (75) days before retirement benefits begin.
We want to share your good news with our community!
Want to share a success story about your school or department with the entire GCPS community?
Are you looking for a way to celebrate an honor and recognize a teacher, student, or team member for their work? Do you want to share an achievement, upcoming event, or opportunity?
Do you have GCPS Good News to share? Let us know through this online form.
In Case You Missed It...
- Board meeting and work session (February 8)
- Connected (February 22)
- GCPS Links (February 15)
- Coffee with Calvin (February 1)
- News Releases
- Student Calendars
- News You Can Use
Looking Ahead in GCPS...
- Keep Connected with news from GCPS TV… the next episode airs March 14!
- The next regular Board meeting is March 21. (Online, find links to sign up for the public comment sections of the meeting.)
- Watch for the next issue of GCPS Links on March 21!