First-Grade Teacher Named GCS Employee of the Month

Sam’s Club recognizes Patricia Makar at McLeansville Elementary

                                                                    

"Greensboro, N.C. – Christy Pegues knew her daughter needed some extra help when she began her first-grade year at McLeansville Elementary this fall. Teacher Patricia Makar had a plan to get her reading on grade level, which she shared with Pegues on her daughter’s first day of class in late October. Eight months later, the young student is thriving along with her classmates, and the grateful mom showed her appreciation by nominating Makar for Employee of the Month.

On Monday, with tears in her eyes and surrounded by loved ones, Makar became the Guilford County Schools Employee of the Month for June 2015, sponsored by Sam’s Club. She says she’s always dreamed of becoming a teacher and feels especially driven to help students build their reading skills.

“Mrs. Makar is every parent’s dream teacher,” wrote Pegues in her nomination of the ninth-year teacher. “Because of Mrs. Makar's ability to be proactive and put her students’ needs first, my child is soaring in all areas of the curriculum with her peers.”

As Employee of the Month, Makar received a $50 gift card from Sam’s Club, which has given more than $6,000 to outstanding GCS employees since 2005. During the month of June, her photo will hang at the district’s central offices, at McLeansville Elementary and at the Sam’s Club on Wendover Avenue."

- A Press Release

City Kicks Off Annual “Be Greensboro” Campaign; Nominate a City Employee on a Job Well Done

"GREENSBORO, NC (June 2, 2015) – The City of Greensboro kicks off its fourth annual “BE: Greensboro” employee recognition campaign, which will run now through August 31. Greensboro residents are encouraged to send an e-mail to cogcc@greensboro-nc.gov or call the Contact Center at 373-CITY (2489) to nominate a City employee for going above and beyond the call of duty in providing excellent customer service.

The campaign is designed to encourage and recognize City employees for their service to the community. The campaign encourages employees throughout the organization to be excellent examples of City government by being compassionate, helpful, and committed to serving Greensboro’s residents.

“Our ‘BE: Greensboro’ campaign has served as a successful way to thank those outstanding employees who provide excellent customer service to our residents each and every day,” said City Manager Jim Westmoreland. “I personally want to thank our employees for their hard work and dedication in serving Greensboro residents.”

Monthly nominees will be recognized as the “Best of the Best” during City Council meetings and through the City’s website at www.greensboro-nc.gov/BeGreensboro."

- A Press Release

GCS Students Succeed in Stock Market Game

Brenda Vazquez Garcia and Ismelda Dominguez Romero,

from Smith High, who won third place in the state’s

yearlong Stock Market Game.

Teams from Smith High, Northern Elementary and Aycock Middle take top spots in state-wide competition

"Greensboro, N.C. – Guilford County Schools (GCS) students are learning financial responsibility and finding new ways to use what they learn in class through the North Carolina Council on Economic Education’s (NCCEE) Stock Market Game™ (SMG) Competition. This year, a team from Smith High won third place in the yearlong high school competition and two schools took first place in the competition’s 2015 spring section.

The SMG is a statewide, interactive, online stock market simulation that teaches students in grades four through 12 about the financial markets and investing while reinforcing concepts taught in economics, math, technology, social studies, business and language arts classes.  Additionally, the program fosters the 21^st century skills of integrating technology, research, teamwork, negotiating, communication, cooperation and financial literacy.  Students also learn the importance of saving and investing at an early age.  Students invest a hypothetical $100,000 in stocks that they research, select and track while working in teams.  Students compete for awards regionally and statewide.

The team from Smith High came in third place for the state’s yearlong competition. They earned $125,692.65, a return of more than 22 percent. Senior Brenda Vazquez Garcia and sophomore Ismelda Dominguez Romero participated as part of their Principals of Business and Finance class.

Teams from Aycock Middle placed first and third in the Middle School division and Northern Elementary placed first and third in the Capitol Challenge Elementary School division. The challenge paired general assembly members to SMG teams in their home districts. Teachers signed up student teams to compete with nearly 1000 registered teams across North Carolina to win this honor.

“The Stock Market Game helps students build a basic understanding of investing while also providing them with real world skills in subjects like math, economics, social studies, language arts, business and other subjects,” says Mia Carter, business teacher at Aycock Middle. “Students learn how to work in and make decisions as part of a team.”   

Sandy Wheat of NCCEE explained, “We sponsor the Stock Market Game in North Carolina because research has proven it to be a challenging, motivating and extremely educational program that instills understanding of economic and financial concepts while improving critical-thinking skills and math test scores for students.”

About Guilford County Schools

Guilford County Schools, the third largest school district in North Carolina, serves nearly 72,200 K-12 students at 127 schools. With approximately 10,000 employees, the district’s mission is to graduate responsible citizens who are prepared to succeed in higher education or the career of their choice. Guilford County Schools is a national leader in providing specialized schools and instructional programs designed to meet the educational needs of a culturally diverse citizenship. For more information, visit the district’s website at www.gcsnc.com."

- A Press Release

Truffles and Grape Pomace are Focus of A&T Field Day

"The raw beginnings of a gourmet meal are on the menu – make that the field – during the 14^th annual Small Farms Field Day at North Carolina A&T State University, Thurs., June 11, 8:15 a.m.-noon, at the University Farm, 3136 McConnell Road in Greensboro.

Researchers and agricultural experts will showcase agricultural technology and techniques, and this year’s amalgam of demonstrations also lends itself to the ultimate food destination: the table. Authentic American-grown truffles, organic vegetables, pastured pork, and grape pomace that can be infused in bread, ground beef and other foods are among the topics.

The free, rain-or-shine event is sponsored by The Cooperative Extension Program at A&T. It shows farmers and gardeners how to increase food productivity, maximize income and promote environmental stewardship. The general public is encouraged to attend as well. This year’s Field Day offers demonstrations of:

• Truffle farming
• Pastured pork and swine genetics
• Summer cover crops for organic and conventional growers
• Alternative farming for urban areas
• Solar energy and rain catchment systems

Poster discussions will feature animal production and human health, forest farming with medicinal plants, using vegetable oil to deter beetles from stored cowpeas, and the value-added promise of pomace from grapes. The pomace discussion augments the “loaf of bread, jug of wine and thou” offering, with information on how stems, skins and seeds from grapes can be used to enhance the nutritional value and shelf life of some foods, including bread. 

For more information or to register, call 336-285-4661or email ajgaines@ncat.edu."

- A Press Release

High Point Public Library to Host Free Health Fair

"HIGH POINT, NC (Wednesday May 20^th, 2015) On Tuesday, June 30, 10:00a.m - 2:00p.m  the High Point Public Library will host Health Fair in the lobby and in the Morgan Community Room on the first floor of the library.

Health professionals from Henry Dorn MD OBGYN & Associates, Brain Injury Association of NC, Mental Health Associates of the Triad, KinGap, and a number of other health services. Various screening will be providing blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, weight, and BMI. The event is free and open to the public, and the screenings are done on a first-come, first-served basis. No pre-registration is required.

The High Point Public Library is committed to  nurturing the joy of reading, sharing the power of knowledge, strengthening the sense of community and  enhancing cultural and  economic vitality.  The library, a department of the City of High Point, is located at 901 N. Main Street. For more information about the health screenings, contact Maxine Days at 336-883-3671.

This event is free and open to the public."

- A Press Release