#GOCOWLS

The weekly newsletter for Gwinnett Online Campus

Thursday, February 2, 2023

Principal's Message

Please mark your calendars, GCPS will be closed from Thursday, February 16 through Monday, February 20 for February break. Teachers will not be available for instruction or help with course content during this time. As always, students will have access to their courses 24/7. This is a great time to get caught up or work ahead if desired. Course work and labs will resume on Tuesday, February 21.



#CARE

#OnlineWeLearnSuccessfully

Grade 12: Important Graduation Information

It's an exciting time of the year as many families are beginning to prepare for the upcoming May 2023 full-time graduation. Students who meet all graduation requirements and pay their senior fees will be eligible to participate in the commencement ceremony at the Gas South Ballroom scheduled for Friday, May 26 at 6 p.m.


Students who plan to walk in the commencement ceremony must visit their MyPaymentsPlus account by Friday, February 17 at 11:59 p.m. to pay their senior fees (which includes a sizing selection form for the GOC approved gown).


While we CANNOT confirm all of the graduation details at this time since we are still in the planning phase, we ask that students and parents/guardians pay particular attention to their email inbox over the next few months as we will begin communicating on a regular basis with important information and updates as it becomes available.


Please click HERE if you have any questions.

Grades 6 & 8: On-Campus Scoliosis Screenings

According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, scoliosis screening is required for all students in grades 6 and 8 who attend public school in Georgia. Scoliosis screening can be completed by the students physician, the local health department or by a nurse at the local school. Parents, please take a moment to read this important Parent Scoliosis Screening Letter.

 

Scoliosis Screening will take place during the students on-campus learning lab according to the following schedule:

Grade 6

Tuesday, February 21

Grade 8

Thursday, February 23

Parents or guardians may choose to not have their student screened at the local school by selecting the opt-out portion of the Parent Scoliosis Screening Letter and returning it to Ms. Petra Ordini, Office of Student Services, no later than Wednesday, February 15.

 

Students without an opt-out form on file will be asked to participate in the screening event on campus.

Grades 4-12: Join Us for Gym Fun & Games!

Please join us for some gym fun and games according to the grade level lab schedule below. Please be mindful that students must sign-up by Monday, February 13 in order to attend this event.

Grades 4-6

Tuesday, February 21

1-1:45 p.m.


Click HERE to sign-up by Monday, February 13 to join us for an afternoon of fun and fitness.

Grades 9-12

Wednesday, February 22

1-1:45 p.m.


Click HERE to sign-up by

Monday, February 13 to join us for an afternoon of fun, fellowship and fitness as we play Volleyball.

Grades 7-8

Thursday, February 23

1-1:45 p.m.


Click HERE to sign-up by

Monday, February 13 to join us for

an afternoon of fun, fellowship and

fitness as we play Handball.


Please contact Ms. Sarah Sargent with questions.

Grades K-8: Spring Dance - Get Your Tickets Today!

Come join us on Friday, February 10 for our Springtime in Paris Dance for students in grades K-5 and 6-8.


Please be mindful that there will be NO tickets sold at the door the day of the event. Tickets for the dance at the current price ($14) will close on Sunday, February 5 at 11:59 p.m. Increased ticket prices will then go into effect until Tuesday, February 7 at 11:59 p.m.

Grades K-5 Dance

Friday, February 10

6-8 p.m.


  • Party Attire Dress Code


  • Light refreshments and desserts will be served


  • Students should have a significant adult in their lives with them for this event (for example: Mother/Son, Father/Daughter, etc)


  • Space will be limited, each student in grades K-5 should bring one adult guest only


  • Cost $14 per person on MyPaymentsPlus until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, February 5

Grades 6-8 Dance

Friday, February 10

1-3 p.m.


  • Party Attire Dress Code


  • Light refreshments and desserts will be served


  • Students are allowed to bring one non-GOC student as a guest (optional)


  • Cost $14 per person on MyPaymentsPlus until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, February 5

Everyone in attendance will be required to register and pay on MyPaymentsPlus including the parent/guardian for students in grades K-5 and the non-GOC guest for students in grades 6-8. GOC students must secure a pre-purchased admission ticket via their MyPaymentsPlus account for their guest prior to the event.


Parents, if you would like to help with donations or with the dance the day of the event, please reach out to GOC's Parent Advisory Committee. Please be sure to add their email address (gwinnettonlineparents@gmail.com) to your address book to prevent emails from going to spam.

Please note that the Spring Dance for grades 9-12 is scheduled for Saturday, April 22 at Laundry Events in Downtown Lawrenceville. More information to come.


Please contact Ms. Hope Campbell with questions.

Grade 6: JA Biztown Update

Students in grade 6, have you returned your permission slip for JA Biztown? If so, please plan to attend a special on-campus meeting scheduled for Friday, February 3 from Noon-1:30 p.m.


This will be a time to make sure we are prepared for our JA Biztown field trip scheduled for Friday, March 3.


Please contact Ms. Jenny Cooper with questions.

Grades 6-8: Naviance Career Lessons

During the months of January-March your GOC Middle School Counselors will be presenting Naviance Career Lessons. We will teach the lessons during the Social Studies Learning Lab time slot. Be on the look out for announcements in your S.S. classes for the days we will be there. We look forward to seeing our students and sharing important information.

Please email your Middle School Counselor, Ms. Teshia Dula or Ms. Nikki Johnson with questions.

Grades K-12: Coping Skills for Students

Teaching children coping skills will help them manage difficult emotions and the effects of stress and gain resilience. It will assist them as they grow into adolescence and young adulthood and face more complex challenges.


The Children's Healthcare of Atlanta has created valuable tools for parents to use with their children. Please click HERE for more detailed information.


Please contact your student's counselor with questions.

Grades K-12: Random Acts of Kindness Month

Please celebrate Random Acts of Kindness month with GOC!

Grades 4-12: Roost & Boost

Come join us for Roost and Boost where you can connect with a content teacher to receive support with specific subject areas. This is an in-person academic assistance session, where a teacher from each content area (math, language arts, science, and social studies) will be available to provide academic support to students. All students are welcome and may choose which content area to attend but are strongly encouraged to attend a targeted content area if they receive a personal invitation from a teacher.

Grades 4-6

Tuesday, February 7

8-8:45 a.m.


Grades 9-12

Wednesday, February 8

8-8:45 a.m.


Grades 7-8

Thursday, February 9

8-8:45 a.m.

Grades K-12: PAC Off-Campus Event - Sparkles Skating

Please join our PAC (Parent Advisory Committee) for an upcoming off-campus family event at Sparkles Family Fun Center, Gwinnett on Friday, February 3 from Noon-4 p.m. This is not a drop off event; every student should have a parent or guardian accompany them to this event. The venue offers special pricing for homeschool skate days each month for $5 admission which include skates. Click HERE to RSVP.


Please contact GOC's Parent Advisory Committee with questions. Also, be sure to add their email address (gwinnettonlineparents@gmail.com) to your address book to prevent emails from going to spam.

Grades K-12: Purchase Your 2022-23 GOC Lookbook

We have some exciting news! GOC will have our version of a yearbook again this year called The GOC Lookbook!

 

We have a group of students who have been working with one of our teachers on designing and publishing our Lookbook since August, and we are happy to announce that they are now available for you to purchase. Our GOC Lookbook will capture full-time students on campus in grades K-12, including classroom shots as well as pictures from clubs and activities throughout the school year. We hope this will be a book that your student can keep as a memory of their year at Gwinnett Online Campus. The GOC Lookbook will not include individual portraits of students.


Please note that the GOC Lookbook can only be purchased by the deadline of Friday, March 31. We will NOT have extra or additional copies for sale when the books are delivered.

 

Please click HERE for instructions on purchasing your very own 2022-23 GOC Lookbook.

Grades 5, 8 &12: GOC Lookbook - Purchase an Ad

Are you a parent/guardian of a student in grades 5, 8 or 12? If you have a student in one of these milestone grades and would like to honor your student with a personal and customized ad in our 2022-23 GOC Lookbook, please click HERE for

instructions to purchase your ad by our deadline of Friday, March 3.

Grades 6-12: Spring Musical Rehearsals

We are thrilled to be starting rehearsals for GOC's Spring Musical "Mary Poppins Jr."! Upcoming rehearsals for the cast & select crew are as follows:

Tuesday, February 7

1-3 p.m.

Wednesday, February 15

1-3 p.m.

Please click HERE for a full list of rehearsal and performance dates.


Parents, if you are willing and able to volunteer, please click HERE to complete the SignUp Genius.

Please contact Mr. Miro Gomez with questions.

Grades 4-12: Student Leadership Team Meetings

SLT Members, Officers, and students interested in joining please plan to attend our upcoming February meetings.


Students should be prepared to work in the student garden, on our history month doors and meet to discuss upcoming events and initiatives.

Grades 4-6

In-person Meeting

Tuesday, February 7 

1-2:30 p.m.


Grades 9-12

In-person Meeting

Wednesday, February 8

1-2:30 p.m.


Grades 7-8

In-person Meeting

Thursday, February 9 

1-2:30 p.m.


Grades 4-12

Virtual Meeting

Friday, February 24

2-3 p.m.

(Virtual meeting on Kaltura Connect)

Please contact Ms. Hope Campbell with questions.

Grades 9-12: Social Lounge Meetings

Please join us for our next Social Lounge meetings scheduled from 1-2 p.m. on Wednesday, February 8 and Wednesday, February 22.


On Wednesday, February 8, we will be completing our door decoration project and on Wednesday, February 22 we will have our regular monthly meeting.


We had so much fun during our January meeting and we can't wait to see you all at both of the February meetings.

Please email Ms. Denise Billingsley with questions.

Grades K-12: Valentines for Veterans

The Salute to Service Activity Group is collecting Valentines for Veterans through Friday, February 10 at which time they will be delivered to local veterans in the Gwinnett County Community. We are hoping to have each family donate one or more letters to the collection. You may drop off your letters in the front office any time you are on campus.


We will also have a Valentine table set up during the dance on Friday, February 10 with valentine making supplies.


Please contact Ms. Laura Hunnings with questions.

Extracurricular Podcast

Make sure to check out the latest episode of Extracurricular, GOC's podcast about the amazing hobbies and interests GOC students, staff, and faculty members have outside of school. There are two episodes this week! You can listen by clicking on the links below or searching for Extracurricular on your podcast app.

GOC 6th grade student Santiago sits down with Mr. Lollis to talk about basketball, drawing and art, volunteering at the library, coding, hanging out over zoom, working out, playing piano, singing, running audio and projection at church, running his own businesses, swimming, and other sports. Click HERE to listen.

GOC Intern Madie sits down with Mr. Lollis to talk about working at the Owls Nest, being a college student, forensics, volleyball, surfing, singing, manicures, hanging out with friends, and the STRIVE program. Click HERE to listen.




If you are interested in sitting down to chat about a hobby or interest you have outside of school, please email Mr. Dan Lollis. He would love to have you on the podcast!

Grades 6-8: VIRTUAL Breakfast with Buddies

GOC's “Breakfast with Buddies” Program is an opportunity for students to enjoy breakfast from home with their school counselor every Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. to develop meaningful relationships with peers and caring adults! This connection may positively impact the student and their learning!


Please click HERE to reserve your spot for next WednesdayThe counselors will provide a participation link to those who have reserved a spot for this event.


For questions please contact your middle school counselor, Ms. Teshia Dula or Ms. Nikita Johnson.

Grades K-12: Box Tops for GOC

Help raise money for GOC by using the Box Tops for Education Program just by grocery shopping! Box Tops earnings add up, and the more people that participate, the bigger the impact we can make for GOC.


All you have to do is buy Box Tops participating products (like Cheerios, Betty Crocker, Progresso, etc.) and scan your grocery receipt on your device within 14 days. GOC earns $.10 for each Box Top eligible product.


To download the Box Tops for Education App please click HERE and use our referral code HF4U17RD to earn some extra money.


Please contact Ms. Tina Adams, GOC's PAC Representative, with questions. 

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