Virtual Science Field Trip to Copper Mine in Arizona  

  

Stacy MacLeish's 6th grade team at Gainesville Middle School recently
participated in a virtual field trip to a copper mine in Arizona. Students
had the opportunity to ask questions and interact with hosts at the mine.

This experience was in support of the 6th grade Science standard that
requires students to investigate the scientific view of how the earth's
surface was formed by explaining the effects of human activity on the
erosion of earth's surface and describing methods for conserving natural
resources such as water, soil, and air. Students also wrote argumentative
essays that will be sent to the mining industry and an environmental
agency.

  

This experience is a wonderful example of how our teachers are
using technology to reach outside their classroom walls, providing

real-world examples of how standards are relevant, and helping students
make connections between content areas. It is also a great example of
teacher collaboration, as Gainesville Middle School's Media Specialist,
Lee Ann Pittman, helped coordinate and schedule the virtual field trip.

Inclement Weather Announcements
     

In the event of inclement weather or emergency situations, school may be cancelled if it is deemed unsafe for students, employees or the community.  Individuals will be notified by multiple media including local television, radio and online news outlets.  The information will be posted on the school webpage at www.gcssk12.net.  Additionally, a "Have You Herd?" eNewsletter will be sent.

  

The District also uses an automatic telephone call system that will notify you about special school events as well as about school closings.  The number the system calls is the one parents have indicated you wish the district/school to use.  Therefore, it is of the utmost importance for us to have on file your current preferred phone number.  If you change number, please let your child's school know immediately.

Parents: Please Provide Your Input 

All parents of students in a Gainesville City Public School are encouraged to complete an online survey from the Georgia Department of Education, the "Georgia Parent Survey," regarding the climate of their child's school.

 Data from the survey will be used to calculate the School Climate Star Rating on the College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI), Georgia's new accountability system that rates schools and school districts on a 100-point scale. The data will be combined with that from the Georgia Student Health Survey II and the Georgia School Personnel Survey to determine each school's Climate Star Rating.

 

School climate refers to the quality and character of school life as it relates to norms and values, interpersonal relations and social interactions, and organizational processes and structures, according to the National School Climate Center. School climate sets the tone for all the learning and teaching done in the school environment and it is predictive of students' ability to learn and develop in healthy ways.

 

The online survey has 20 questions and can be completed in five to 10 minutes. Responses are anonymous and are submitted directly to the Georgia Department of Education for analysis. Data collected will not be available to the public or posted online.

 

Parents have from now until January 31, 2015 to complete the survey by clicking here.