Throughout January and February, GCIT's Student Council has been working on two separate fundraisers for both the Children's Miracle Network and Spreading the Magic. Both organizations support sick and injured children through community outreach, medical research, and hope. Jezreel Konstantinos, Gabriella Knestaut, Marquis Cooper, Nicholas Costantini, Shannon Livewell, Sayda Dunlap, and Ryan Shriver, as well as countless other Student Council volunteers have been pivotal in putting together the resources and people during this very rewarding experience.

Student Council is selling icons at lunch for the Children's Miracle Network and during the month of February selling bracelets at students' lunches for Spreading the Magic.

The 9th grade Academy of Information Technology & Digital Communications students have been working very hard in their first year at GCIT. They have been learning about computer hardware basics, identifying Windows operating system functions, understanding the basics of system/utilities software and application software, discovering Internet and network basics, computer safety, and how to use email professionally.

So far the students have taken two of the three tests to earn the Internet and Computing Core Certification (IC3). The first test was Computing Fundamentals, in which all 24 students passed. The second test was Living Online, in which 23 passed.

Next up, the IT & DC students will be taking their final IC3 test, Key Applications, in June. This will test their knowledge of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access. Those students who pass all 3 tests will become IC3 certified and have the opportunity to use that certification for college credit.

Congratulations to Samantha Schaffer, who won a $5,000.00 scholarship to Peirce College in Philadelphia.

Samantha graduated from Gloucester County Institute of Technology in June 2010. Since she started taking classes at Gloucester County College when she was 15, she graduated GCIT a full year early while transferring 24 credits to Peirce in the process.

Samantha is also CompTIA A+, Network + and Cisco CCENT certified. At Peirce College she is majoring in Networking, Administration and Security.

Girls Circle 

Girls Circle is a female-specific support group that meets after school at GCIT for eight week cycles. SBYS is currently recruiting for the next group, which will begin January 2011.

The goal of the group is to enhance self-esteem, learn about healthy choices and relationships, and to explore female-specific issues in a safe and confidential environment. If you are interested in joining our next group, please contact Ms. Fornes-Howey or Ms. Glazer in the SBYS office.

The Branch
The Branch is a teen drop-in group held every Thursday at GCIT when school is in session. It is open to all Gloucester County high school teenagers. The group is for teens, facilitated by trained teen leaders with adult staff present.

Topics of discussion include communication skills, enhancing self-esteem, drug and alcohol education, stress reduction, and more. The group meets in the Media Center, 2nd floor of the 100 wing. Sessions will begin promptly at 3:30 pm and end at 5:00 pm. For more information, please contact a SBYS counselor.

The New Image Salon

The Salon is now open for business for the 2010-2011 school year. It is located on the GCIT campus in the 100 Wing and offers a full range of services at affordable prices.  All services are performed by junior and senior cosmetology students, under the supervision of an instructor.

To view a price list of services, click here.  To schedule an appointment, please call 856-468-1445 X 2875.

The Senior Drama students at GCIT will be performing The Importance of Being Earnest, by Oscar Wilde on February 9-12, 2011, at 7pm in the GCIT Theater. The Saturday evening performance on February 12th begins with a 5pm dinner prepared by the GCIT Culinary Arts Department, under the direction of Chef James Angarola.

A gift basket raffle will take place during the shows. The gift baskets will be along the themes of this 1890's Victorian comedy. Proceeds from the raffle will benefit the students in the drama department.

As the parent of a school-aged child,  you've no doubt heard about No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and would like to understand what it means−especially the benefits it offers to you and your child. NCLB is a law that was passed by Congress, with strong support from both political parties. When President Bush signed NCLB into law in 2002, he called it "the cornerstone" of his administration. It is a somewhat complex law about federal support for education from kindergarten through 12^th-grade

To read more about "The Importance of NCLB," click here...