December 2016
Weisinger Selected for Childers Education Award
Rachael Weisinger, an English teacher at Travelers Rest High School, has been named a recipient of the 2016 Childers Education Foundation Teaching Excellence Award from Furman University. She received a $1,500 award during a conferral ceremony and special reception December 7.
In her first semester of teaching, Weisinger was named Travelers Rest High’s Teacher of the Month. She also led the high school newspaper’s transition from a print product to an online edition and produced a large-scale fund-raiser for the newspaper.
Teena Mitchell Receives Continuing Education Award
Teena Mitchell, manager of the Special Needs Bus Center at Waddell Road, recently received the Continuing Education Award from Thomas Built Buses. The award recognizes Mitchell’s accomplishments in school bus transportation and includes a $500 grant for continuing education courses that will help her train drivers who work with children with special needs.
Greenville County Schools transports more than 1,200 special needs students a day and employs about 250 special needs drivers, aides and administrators.
Great News! Graduation Rate Increases to 86.8%
The district’s four-year graduation rate increased in 2016 to 86.8 percent from 84.2 percent in 2015. Since 2012, the school district’s graduation rate has increased about 20 percent (14.4 percentage points). Thank you to all the teachers and support staff who remain focused on making student achievement our number one priority!
School Choice Lottery Window
Greenville County Schools’ Change in Assignment School Choice Lottery Window is available through Friday, December 16 where parents can submit a choice form for up to three schools for their child at their number one choice school. Choice forms are available at every school (except magnet schools) and must be completed and submitted at the number one choice school. Complete details including Change in Assignment Lottery Process.
Grants for Teachers
Looking for a way to fund a special classroom project? Check out these grant opportunities.
AIAA Foundation Classroom Grants – K-12 educators are eligible to apply for $250 grants for innovative aerospace activities. Funds can be used for aerospace technology, earth science, human exploration and development, space science, classroom math and science demonstration kits, classroom science supplies, math and science software, math manipulatives, and supplies for making flying objects or robotics programs. For more information, click here. Deadline: February 12, 2017.
NEA Learning & Leadership Grants – Individual ($2,000) and group ($5,000) grants are available for professional development and collegial studies. K-12 teachers and support professionals are eligible to apply. Funds may be used for fees, travel expenses, books, or other materials that enable applicants to learn subject matter, instructional approaches, and skills. Preference given to members of the National Education Association (NEA). For more information, click here. Deadline: February 1, 2017; notification in April.
Technology Grants – DirectStarTV, LLC is offering three $1,000 grants to K-12 educators for the deployment of technology in the classroom. Those interested in applying must submit an essay on the impact of technology on their students. The top three submissions will feature innovative and beneficial uses of technology. For more information, click here. Deadline: February 24, 2017.
Youth Garden Grants – Twenty award packages (valued at $750) and 15 2nd prizes (valued at $500) will be awarded that include plants, seeds, gardening supplies, and the KidsGardening.org curriculum. Applicants may propose either a new garden or the expansion of an existing garden. For more information, click here. Deadline: December 15, 2016; notification in January 2017.
Employee Discounts
Bon Secours Wellness Arena – Discount tickets are available for Disney on Ice, Monster Jam, the Swamp Rabbits, and the Harlem Globetrotters. Use code GCSD. See flyer for details.
Carowinds Holiday Ticket Offer – Carowinds is offering discounted tickets or bundles to use during the holidays or give as gifts. Visit www.carowinds.com/save. Enter Username Greenville1 and Password Tickets.
Golden Apple Rewards - Visit www.goldenapplerewards.com for a complete list of discounts. Be sure to check out Who's New and Limited Time Offers!
Have a Safe and Happy Winter Break!
December 19-30 - Winter Break (December 19-20 are Required Leave Days for 12-Month Employees). Schools and offices reopen on Monday, January 2, 2017.
Monday, January 16 - Schools and offices closed for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day