April 2, 2009                                                        ebulletinboard Archive

ebulletinboard is sent every other week to all employees and provides information about events, workshops, and other matters of interest. Principals and other location supervisors should post one copy for employees who do not have e-mail.  Editions are archived for reference.

EVENTS/WORKSHOPS

ALL EMPLOYEES

GCS Employee Appreciation Day At Fluor Field (Saturday, April 25) – Employees and their families are invited to a fantastic day of great food, activities for all ages, live music, face painting, and much more! Local business and community partners have generously sponsored “Employee Appreciation Day” for Greenville County Schools employees and your families at  Fluor Field in downtown Greenville on Saturday, April 25 from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. Come for a few hours or all day! Show your school or district ID, or your Employee Pass at the gate. Special events and activities are planned every hour for kids from age 2 to 92. Plus, hear live music performed by your colleagues! Schools and departments will be honored on a “Wall of Fame” display, and health checks will be conducted on-site. Mark your calendars for this great family-friendly event at Fluor Field!  Audience: All Employees.  Contact: Bill Utsey.

ALL TEACHERS

Renewal Credit Hours Through State PTA Convention—The SDE Office of Federal and State Accountability is partnering with the South Carolina Parent Teacher Association (SCPTA) to provide a unique opportunity for public school teachers to earn certificate renewal credit.  Teachers may attend the SCPTA Annual Convention in Greenville on Saturday, April 25, 2009 at Wade Hampton High to earn four renewal credit hours. The four one-hour sessions in the Teacher Connections track are designed to provide strategies, resources and information that will strengthen parent and family outreach efforts.  The cost is $50 if received prior to April 4. The cost is $70 after that date. Some school PTAs may assist with registration costs.  If interested, please follow the registration process as outlined on page 6 of the convention information packet.  Audience:  Teachers.  Contact: Karen Williams, Education Associate, State Department of Education – Office of Federal and State Accountability, 803-734-0588.

Lifelong Learning Courses Offered - Lifelong Learning at Isbell Lane will offer Summer, 2009 Graduate classes  and State Department Recertification Computer Classes for all teachers holding a valid SC teaching certificate.  The graduate classes, Developing an Understanding of the Impact of Socio-economics on Student Achievement and Strategies for Working with At-Risk Boys, are offered through the College of Charleston. All classes will be held at Lifelong Learning's new location at 61 Isbell Lane, the former JL Mann High School.  For more information visit Lifelong Learning’s website.  Audience:  All Teachers.  Contact: Terry Culbertson, ext. 6095 or Debra Ellenburg, ext. 6093, Lifelong Learning.

AWARDS/APPLICATIONS/CONTESTS/GRANTS

ALL EMPLOYEES

Employee of the Year Awards (Deadline to Submit Nominations is Wednesday, April 15) - We are seeking outstanding employees to be nominated for Employee of the Year Awards sponsored by Greenville Federal Credit Union. Categories include:

· Principal

· Asst. Principal or Administrative Assistant

· Professional Staff - all district-level professional positions

· School Support Staff - i.e., secretary, clerk, aide, nurse

· Other Support Staff - i.e., secretary, clerk, etc. at other locations

· Operations Staff - i.e., maintenance, operations, transportation, food service, plant engineers, custodians (all hourly staff)

· Emerging Teacher - one elementary and one secondary (second or third year teacher)

Winners receive $500 and their school or department will also receive $500. Winners (except Emerging Teachers, announced at TOY breakfast in August) will be announced at the Salute to Education Banquet on May 21.  Audience: All Employees.  Contact: Susan Clarke, Communications Department, ext. 8874.

ALL TEACHERS

EIA Teacher Awards - The State Department of Education’s online application for the 2009-2010 EIA Teacher Awards is now available. Please note that the deadline for receipt of the online application has been changed to Noon, Thursday, April 30, 2009. To access the application, each individual teacher applicant (up to $2,000) and lead teacher (for a unit award) applicant ($4,000-$6,000) must have an account on the SCDE Web site. Access to the SCDE Website has changed and even if you previously had an account, you may not have access now. Should applicants have problems logging in, please contact Jeff McCoy.  Erin Tully and Jacquelin Lewis will check the grants to ensure grant requirements are met and that all budget items are in the appropriate category. If you plan to submit a grant, please have a final draft emailed to Erin Tully by Wednesday, April 15.  Audience: Teachers, Guidance Counselors, Media Specialists, Speech Clinicians.  Contact: Erin Tully, Grants Specialist, ext. 3113.

PARTNERSHIPS

NONE

NOTICES/REQUESTS

ALL EMPLOYEES

Change Your Password Today! Your GCS network password is the key you use to access district information. If criminals or other malicious users obtain your password they may gain access to your e-mail, confidential student data, or pose as you in online transactions. In many cases you would not notice these attacks until it was too late. Effective July 1, 2009 the district will deploy a comprehensive password policy that will require strong passwords with a minimum length of 6 characters and passwords will automatically expire after 120 days. To change your password today, click HERE to visit the Employee Information portal and after logging in select Password in the upper right hand corner.  To learn more about strong passwords click HERE to visit Microsoft’s Strong Passwords web page.  Think you have a strong password – click HERE to try Microsoft’s Password Checker.  Audience:  All Employees.  Contact: Bill Brown, ETS, ext. 3111.

EMPLOYEE DISCOUNTS

ALL EMPLOYEES

Sears – You may purchase many items at special pricing including Kenmore appliances, lawn and garden, exercise equipment, televisions, and mattresses. The program features Preferred Affiliate Pricing at 10-20% below department store pricing. Employee Pass is required for identification. GCS Employee Rewards Account Number is #CU080697.  Audience: All Employees.  Contact: Eric Leigh at 864-809-3757 or Christine Lancianese at 864-234-1188.

Kohl’s Value Added Business Partner Event – You can become a Value Added Business Partner to receive 15% off purchases below $100 and 20% off purchases $100 and more from April 9 – 11. Show your Employee Pass to receive the discount. Audience: All Employees.  Contact: Scott Nicholson at 228-2179.

JB's BootCamp & Personal Training Studio, Woodruff Corporate Center on Woodruff Road, 225 Adley Way - All GCS employees receive a $5 discount off the monthly gym membership of $25/month (no contract required) and a 10% discount on all personal and group training services.  Employees invited to an Open House on Saturday, April 11 for a free workout, massages, chiropractic adjustments, food, and door prizes.  As part of the Open House, they are requesting donations of pajamas, underwear, baby diapers, and toiletries for Safe Harbor.  Audience: All Employees.  Contact: Jabecca Banks at 313-7943.

The Eagle Zone Golf Improvement Center at 8000 Pelham Road and Carolina Springs Golf Club at 1680 Scuffletown Road are offering GCS employees a special one-time offer, good through April 30, 2009.  Eagle Zone only - $35/mo individual, $55/mo family with one-year commitment; Eagle Zone + Carolina Springs, $90/mo individual, $125/mo family with one-year Eagle Zone + six-month Carolina Springs commitment. Show your Employee Pass to receive special rates. Audience: All Employees.  Contact: Belinda @ 864-921-4576.

MISCELLANEOUS

ALL EMPLOYEES

The Schools Channel (Charter Channel 99, 24 hours a day, and Channel 14, 5:30-8:30 a.m. and 3:30-6:30 p.m. daily) –   Click HERE to learn more about the Schools Channel programs and TV schedule.

Employment Opportunities – Click HERE for our web-site link to GCS Employment Opportunities.

CALENDAR (IMPORTANT DATES REMEMBER)

April 6-10 — Spring Break (Schools and Offices Closed). 12-month employees will be required to use vacation or personal leave days for April 6 and 7.

Monday, April 13 — Makeup Day #2 — ATTENDANCE DAY

Wednesday, April 15 — Salute to Education High School Honor Students, Staff Recognition and Employee of the Year Nominations are due.

Friday, April 17 - Deadline for supervisors to submit a termination of employment form to Human Resources IF an employee wants to participate in the 2009 Retirement Celebration event and meets the qualification guidelines.

Saturday, April 25 (11:00 a.m.—5:00 p.m.) — Employee Appreciation Day at the Greenville Drive Stadium, Downtown Greenville

Wednesday, May 6—Deadline for Salute to Education Ticket Orders

Thursday, May 21 (6:30 p.m.) - Salute to Education Banquet, Carolina First/Woodside Conference Center

Thursday, May 28 (6:30 p.m.) - Retirement Dinner, Embassy Suites