District leaders and the School Board reviewed the 2022-23 calendar at the Dec. 16 Work Session. This approved calendar features a start date of Wednesday, Aug. 3, with in-person instruction for students in grades K, 1, 6, and 9, and students served in a small-group setting and digital learning for students in other grades. (In-person instruction begins Aug. 4 for all other grades.)

Public invited to give feedback on Board district

Once every 10 years, the U.S. Census counts every resident within the country. This information is used to adjust districts for elected officials at all levels of government—including Board of Education districts— to ensure equal representation. Members of the Gwinnett School Board have been working with redistricting experts to develop maps for consideration. Two maps have emerged from this work, providing two different approaches to the equitable distribution of citizens in each of the five districts in a balanced and fair manner. (This redistricting effort is focused on the electoral districts. It has nothing to do with school attendance zones.) As part of its process, the Board of Education is seeking input from the Gwinnett community regarding the proposed maps. The survey regarding the maps will remain open through 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 4, 2022. Both maps and a summary report of the feedback gathered will be forwarded to the Gwinnett Legislative Delegation for consideration. The Delegation could decide to use one of these maps or propose a different map for final submission to the Georgia General Assembly for approval by lawmakers.

This holiday season, GCPS joins the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in encouraging families to celebrate more safely as they gather with friends and family, especially for multi-generational gatherings with unvaccinated family members or those at a higher risk for severe disease. Getting vaccinated if eligible remains the best way to minimize COVID-19 risk and keep your family and friends safer, including children who are too young for the vaccine. Please click here to learn more tips for safe celebrations.

As of Jan. 4, 2022, Gwinnett County Public Schools will implement updated mask guidance based on community transmission as determined by the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH).

Masks will still be mandated on buses in compliance with federal mandates. Please click here to learn more.

At its November and December meetings, the Board made the following appointments:

GCPS encourages our community to learn more about COVID-19 vaccinations and take advantage of opportunities to get vaccinate. The district is working with health partners to host weekly vaccination clinics at high schools around the county during January. No appointment is necessary. Please click here to learn more about the clinic locations and schedules. Eligible students (ages 12-17) must be accompanied by a parent.

Getting an annual flu vaccine is the best way to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your community from flu. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends an annual flu vaccination for everyone 6 months of age and older. Young children, pregnant women, people 65 years and older, and people with certain chronic health conditions are among those at high risk for flu complications. Please click here to learn more about fighting the flu.

Find the latest information on COVID-19 protocols, mitigation strategies, case rates, and other important information related to GCPS’ response to the pandemic on the COVID-19 Information Hub. The district recently rolled out a COVID-19 Dashboard that gives a rundown of stats as well as a visual representation of reported and active cases, including confirmed and probable cases and close contacts. Data can be filtered by date, cluster, level, and school.

If you have a senior in the family, you can start making plans for graduation! District officials have released the graduation schedule for Gwinnett’s 24 high schools, which are scheduled May 23-30.

GCPS will host a Special Education Virtual Teacher Career Fair on Sat., Jan. 29, from 9 a.m. to Noon. Contracts of Employment for the 2022-23 school year will be offered! Please click here to register and learn more about incentives for qualified, newly hired Special Education teachers.

GCPS invites our families of students in K-5 grades to sign up for AKS at Home virtual sessions in English/Language Arts or Mathematics. The sessions present key skills K-5 students will learn during the 3rd nine weeks of the school year. Please click here to learn more and to register.

“Teaching Gwinnett” is a Gwinnett County Public Schools podcast that tackles important, relevant, and timely topics that impact the school district's more than 200,000 students and staff. The newest episode features an engaging conversation with Rebecca Carlisle and Katie Blum, the 2020 and 2021 GCPS Teachers of the Year, respectively. Listen to episodes on the GCPS website or on your favorite podcast platform.

During Winter Break, when school meals are not available, we know that some families in our community may need food assistance. Others may need help to provide holiday gifts, pay bills, or find temporary housing. Please click here to learn more about community resources that may be of assistance if you or someone you know needs support.

We invite you to view Superintendent Dr. Calvin J. Watts’ holiday message. May the break next week provide the time you need to relax and rejuvenate. Best wishes for a safe and happy holiday season!

Supporting our students is a worthy investment and touches their academic and postsecondary future. Please consider a year-end, tax deductible donation to the GCPS Foundation Fund. Please visit the Foundation's website and click on the "+ Donate" link.