August 30, 2011                                                              ebulletinboard Archive

To help keep you informed about events, workshops and other matters of interest, ebulletinboard will be e-mailed on pay dates (August 15, 2011 - May 30, 2012) to all employees.  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 TEACHERS

National Teacher Town Hall Broadcast - The second annual NBC News Education Nation Summit will kick off with a live Teacher Town Hall broadcast on Sunday afternoon, September 25, hosted by Brian Williams.  The forum will provide a platform for educators to make their voices heard, brainstorm ideas and solutions for improving education, talk about what works in the classroom, and discuss challenges.   Approximately 300 teachers will join the program in-person, and millions more will be invited to participate via live chat with the ability to provide comments and feedback through the Education Nation website and social media platforms.  GCS educators are invited to participate via the live chat.  Details to come.  Click HERE to learn more about the Education Summit and Teacher Town Hall broadcast.  Audience: Educators.  Contact: Oby Lyles, Communications, 355-8870.

Lifelong Learning 2011 Fall Recertification Computer Courses - Lifelong Learning is pleased to offer computer courses for recertification this fall.  Click HERE for schedule of classes and registration form.  Audience: All Teachers.  Contact: Debra Ellenburg, Lifelong Learning, 355-6093.

ALL EMPLOYEES

Leave of Absence Information Session - A Leave of Absence Information Session will be held Thursday, October 6, at 4:00 p.m. in the Board Room at the Central Office.  Representatives from Human Resources, Payroll and Benefits will be present to answer questions on any type of Leave of Absence and to cover the processes for applying for a leave.  Registration for this event is on the Professional Development portal.  Audience: All Employees.  Questions: Renee Castor, Human Resources, 355-3982.

Troad 5K Run - The Troad 5K Trail and Road Run will be held Saturday, October 1 at 8:00 a.m. at the Roper Mountain Science Center.  The TROAD event is a premier 5K Trail and Road Experience at the Roper Mountain Science Center (RMSC).  A free Family Fun Run will follow the TROAD run at 9:30 a.m. at the Farm at Roper Mountain.  There is a $25 entry fee for the 5K race.  Click HERE to register and get more information.  Proceeds will benefit the science programs at RMSC.  Audience: All Employees.  Contact: Greg Cornwell, RMSC, 355-8905.

AWARDS/APPLICATIONS/CONTESTS/GRANTS

ALL TEACHERS

P. Buckley Moss Foundation for Children’s Education - The foundation is offering up to $1,000 grants to K-12 educators who wish to support a new or evolving program that integrates the arts into educational programming.  Click HERE for the grant application and instructions for submission on their website.  Deadline: September 30, 2011.  Audience: All Teachers.  Contact: Lisa Finley, Grant Writer, 355-3113.

Whole Kids Foundation School Garden Grants - The foundation is offering $2,000 grants to schools for the planning, construction, and/or operation of school-based gardens. In addition to funds, grantees will receive one year of garden support and mentoring from FoodCorps and access to a resource center providing curriculum, coaching, materials, and ideas. Click HERE for the grant application and instructions for submission on their website.  Grant awardees will be notified in February 2012.  Deadline: December 31, 2011.  Audience: All Teachers.  Contact: Lisa Finley, Grant Writer, 355-3113.

PARTNERSHIPS

NONE

NOTICES/REQUESTS

ALL EMPLOYEES

2011-12 School Year Calendar (REVISED 7/7/11)– Reminder that the 2011-12 School Year Calendar was revised in early July in response to concerns about the PowerSchool end-of-year schedule and having adequate time to compile and post grades and generate and print report cards.  The revision also resulted in several other changes.  Also, please note that the approved  2011-12 Budget resulted in the continuance of five required leave days for 12-month employees, which are noted in the Employee Calendar.  Click the follow links for the summary of changes to the calendar and revised student and employee versions of the 2011-12 School Year Calendar.  Audience: Employees, Parents, Students.  Contact: Your Supervisor.

Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect - Please be reminded that all Greenville County School employees are required by law or policy JGI to report suspected child abuse and neglect.  Click the following links for Protocol for Reporting Suspected Child Abuse, Business Day and After Hour Reporting and the Child Abuse Reporting Form.  Reporting forms may also be downloaded from InfoWeb or ordered from the warehouse without charge.  Audience: All School Personnel.  Contact: Kathy Barbee, School Social Work Services, 355-2079.

Mandated Child Abuse Reporting: Training on line - The following one hour training is offered at no charge by the SC Children’s Law Center.  Participants can earn one CEU hour toward recertification.  It is open to all school employees.  Register on the Portal.  Directions for accessing training are on the Portal under Social Work Department or mandated child abuse reporting.  Mandated Child Abuse Reporting Training will include:

· Who is a mandated reporter under SC law

· Responsibilities of mandated reporter

· Indicators of abuse & neglect

· Minimal fact interview

· How to make a report to SC DSS and law enforcement

Audience: All Employees.  Contact: Kathy Barbee, School Social Work Services, 355-2079.

EMPLOYEE DISCOUNTS

ALL EMPLOYEES

Carolina Cornea and Laser Center – Carolina Cornea and Laser Center is offering a free private LASIK dinner seminar for GCS employees on Tuesday, October 11, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. at their office located at 200 Patewood Drive, Suite B180, Greenville.  Anyone who attends the seminar will receive an additional $500 off the price of their LASIK procedure and a free pair of RayBan sunglasses.  Audience: All Employees.  Contact: For reservations call 286-3700 or 1-800-818-2777.

Imagine Center Fitness Facility – Imagine Center Fitness Facility (located off Haywood Rd. behind City Range and Babies R Us) is offering GCS employees either a one- or two-year agreement for $25/month (regularly $32/month) with no enrollment fee ($10 processing fee) and one free consultation with a personal trainer.  Additional household family members can join for $15/month.  Two-year memberships will get three free months (27 months for cost of 24).  The facility has three basketball courts, indoor track, women’s only area, cardio and weights, free childcare, free group fitness classes and more.  Open 24 Hours on Mon – Fri, and 6 am-10 pm Sat/Sun.  Audience: Employees.  Contact: Imagine Center Fitness, 770-1791.

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.

Healthy Living Tips:

· Consider the benefits to strengthening core abdominal muscles from regular use of the big exercise ball.  They go by various names: gym balls, gymnastic balls, Swiss balls, exercises balls, stability balls, or therapy balls.  They are inexpensive and can be used at home or work to strengthen abdominal muscles.

· Have you seen the new “food plate” recommended by the U.S.D.A.?  Click HERE to check it out.

CALENDAR (IMPORTANT DATES REMEMBER)

Monday, September 5—Labor Day (Holiday)

September 11-17 - National Arts in Education Week

September 12-18 - National Adult Education Week and Family Literacy Week

Monday, September 19 — Interim Progress Reports