January 7, 2010                                                              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

College Financial Aid Workshops – Greenville County Schools will host four College Financial Aid Workshops for parents.  Representatives from local colleges and universities will share valuable information on applying for various types of financial aid.  Information will also be shared concerning the J.E. Sirrine Scholarship.  Each workshop will begin at 7:00 and conclude at 8:30 p.m.  The dates and locations are as follows:

Thursday, January 28, Hillcrest High School

Thursday, February 4, JL Mann High School

Thursday, February 11, Greer High School

Thursday, February 18, Carolina High School

Audience: Employees, Parents.  Contact: Rob Rhodes, Guidance and Sirrine Scholarship Program, 355-3391.

Recertification Graduate Credit Courses Begin in January - Teachers that need recertification graduate credit classes (through College of Charleston) please click HERE for course information, dates, times and registration form.  This class is also for subs and retired teachers.  Classes will be held at Lifelong Learning, 206 Wilkins Street, starting in January through May.  Each class is $425, based on 25 attending. Mail your registration of $25 to Terry Culbertson’s attention to hold your seat.  No exams or tests...useful information for your classroom.  Audience: Teachers.  Contact: Terry Culbertson, Lifelong Learning, 355-6095.

AWARDS/APPLICATIONS/CONTESTS/GRANTS

ALL SCHOOLS

Fiskars Garden Grants - Online grant applications are now available for groups who wish to plant a community garden, conduct school beautification and/or provide agriculture/horticulture education. The two stage application process includes general application (electronic submission), after which applicant will receive an applicant number and project-specific application for Phase 2. Applicants are encouraged to be creative with the Phase 2 application, which will be mailed to the grantor. Click HERE for specific criteria and submission policies. Deadline: February 19, 2010.  Audience: Employees.  Contact: Lisa Finley, Research, Development and Evaluation Dept., 355-3113.

Get UR Good On Grants - Sponsored by Youth Service America and Miley Cyrus, one hundred $500 grants will be awarded to youth ages 5-25 for community projects planned for Global Youth Service Day, April 23-25, 2010.  Projects should address community needs such as poverty, education, environmental sustainability, etc.  First time visitors must take an eligibility quiz by clicking HERE.  Deadline: February 22, 2010. Click HERE to learn more.  Audience: Employees, Students.  Contact: Lisa Finley, Research, Development and Evaluation Dept., 355-3113.

MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS

Girls Going Places Entrepreneurship Award Program - Guardian Life Insurance is awarding between $1,000 and $10,000 to girls ages 12-18 who are exhibiting enterprising spirit by becoming entrepreneurs and taking the first steps toward financial independence. Money can be used to pursue an entrepreneurial project or to finance college. Middle and high school girls are eligible and must be nominated (self-nominations are prohibited).  Deadline: February 26, 2010.  Click HERE to learn more.  Audience: Middle and High School Educators, Middle and HS Girls.  Contact: Lisa Finley, Research, Development and Evaluation Dept., 355-3113.

HIGH SCHOOLS

2010 Bezos Scholar Program @ the Aspen Institute - Seven-day, all-expenses-paid scholarship for 12 top public high school juniors and 12 educators to attend the Aspen Ideas Festival planned for July 5-11, 2010.  Student/educator teams are to establish Idea Festivals in their school/community after attendance at the Aspen festival.  Aspen Festival is a “power-packed seven days of events and round table discussions with international leaders, acclaimed thinkers, policy makers, and creative artists.”  Student applicant must be a high school junior, GPA of 3.5, in AP or IB classes, scored well on PSAT/SAT/or ACT, and a U.S. citizen.  School must have at least 25% membership in Free & Reduced Lunch program.  Click HERE for detailed criteria and application.  Deadline: February 12, 2010. Audience: High School Educators, HS Juniors.  Contact: Lisa Finley, Research, Development and Evaluation Dept., 355-3113.

PARTNERSHIPS

NONE

NOTICES/REQUESTS

ALL EMPLOYEES

Pay Notification (All Employees) - Effective with the January 8, 2010 payroll, the District will no longer print direct deposit statements.  Employee pay information is available on the District’s employee portal.  From the portal menu, click “Online Pay Stub.”  You will access the information using your employee user id and password.  For questions regarding your employee user id or password, please contact the ETS Help Desk, 355-HELP.

January 8, 2010 Paycheck - Because it is the first payroll based on 2010 benefit deductions, including the new State Tobacco-Use Surcharge of $25/month, you may see differences in your net pay.  If you have specific questions concerning your pay, please e-mail Payroll.  This procedure will help us document, track and resolve issues timely.  We appreciate your patience through this transition.

Tobacco-Use Surcharge – Health Insurance Only - If your January 8 pay has a tobacco-use surcharge deduction and you and covered family members are not tobacco users, the State does not have record of your certification.  Please contact the Benefits Department, (e-mail Ouida Bennon or call 355-1188) to complete the certification form.  Once the form is processed and approved by the State, the surcharge deduction will stop the month following approval.

EMPLOYEE DISCOUNTS

ALL EMPLOYEES

Employee Discount Directory – The 2009-10 Employee Discount Directory is now available on the GCS website.  Go to Infoweb, then Downloadable Resources, then Employee Discount Directory.

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)

January 2010 — School Board Recognition Month. Theme: “School Boards Speak Out for Public Schools”

January 12-15 — Exams (Middle and High Schools)

January 13—15 — 5K and 1st Grade Registration for 2010-11

Friday, January 15—End 2nd Quarter

Monday, January 18—Martin Luther King Day (Holiday)

Tuesday, January 19 — Professional Development Day (AM District/PM Schools)

Thursday, January 21—Report Cards