We're Looking for Students to shine at the State of Our Schools 

 

Mark your calendars for Thursday, Jan. 23, 2014, when GCS will host the State of Our Schools at the High Point Theatre. This year's theme is "We Rise," and we are excited to announce that, for the first time, we will be auditioning students to perform the closing number. The song is called "Rise," by the McClain Sisters. Click on this YouTube link to see a video of the sisters performing the song.

 

We are looking for three to four VERY strong singers to perform the song live during the event, which includes more than 1,000 in-person guests. State of Our Schools is also broadcast on local TV stations, as well as on the GCS website and on GCSTV. PLEASE SHARE THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY WITH ALL STUDENTS AND STAFF.

 

Auditions will be held on January 7 at Grimsley High School beginning at 4:30 PM. January 8 will be utilized in the event more students register to audition than we can see on January 7. Singers should prepare two songs, including one to be performed a cappella and one with piano accompaniment. Students should bring their own piano sheet music and an accompanist will be provided. "Rise" is an option as an audition piece, but is not necessary. Performers will be selected that evening, and students should be prepared to spend a significant amount of time after they are selected to rehearse on their own and as a group, leading up to the Jan. 23event.

 

Please e-mail Nathan Street the names of students who plan to audition no later than Monday, January 6 so we may know how to prepare. If you have any questions about the audition process, please contact Nathan Street at 574-2645 or at streetn@gcsnc.com.

 

EMERGING LEADERS CONFERENCE

 

Join us on Saturday, Feb. 8 in Charlotte for the 2014 Emerging Leaders Conference.

Learn More

 

You don't want to miss this energizing, 

affordable conference!

 

kids.usa.gov

Making New Year's Resolutions with Your Child

 

With the ringing in of 2014, start a new family tradition. Try setting family resolutions or goals, and help your children come up with realistic and attainable personal goals for 2014. Perhaps a family resolution might be spending more time together or saving money for a vacation. Get the kids involved in brainstorming how to make those resolutions happen. Maybe your child needs to improve his math or reading skills. Work together to come up with a plan of action to help him reach his goal. To get your kids started on a New Year's resolution, check out the resources listed below.

 

• Environmental Resolutions

• Making New Year's Resolutions With Your Child

• Popular New Year's Resolutions

• Secrets to Staying Motivated

US Students Fall Behind Peers in Global Achievement Tests

Students in the United States lag behind their peers in global achievement tests, according to the results of the 2012 Program for International Student Assessment, released earlier this month. Math proved particularly challenging for American teens, who scored below the international average.

"We must invest in early education, raise academic standards, make college affordable and do more to recruit and retain top-notch educators," U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said of the rankings.

Educators, school administrators and parents alike can invest in students' educational achievement by investing in their health. After all, healthy students learn better. Consider this, researchers in Georgia found - during a three-year study of overweight, inactive 7 to 11-year-olds - that vigorous after-school exercise helped overweight kids to improve their overall ability to organize thoughts, prioritize tasks, manage time efficiently, make decisions and improve their mathematics performance. Read about the study and others that indicate a positive connection between sound nutrition, regular physical activity and academic performance in The Learning Connection. 

P.O.Box 8712, Greensboro, NC 27419