What’s ahead for the new school year in Gaston County
“Big 50 Anniversary” celebration is a highlight for the upcoming school year
of Schools W. Jeffrey Booker.
“Everyone in the Gaston County
Schools family is anticipating
another productive and successful
year that will give us plenty
of reasons to celebrate the
accomplishments of our schools,
our students, and our teachers.”
It is back-to-school time
in Gaston County! When the
morning bell rang on Monday,
August 27, approximately 32,000
students (pre-kindergarten
through high school) walked
through the schoolhouse doors
in neighborhoods across Gaston
County to start the 2018-2019
academic year.
This year, Gaston County
Schools has more than
1,900 classroom teachers –
approximately 150 of them are
first-year teachers. The new
teachers are participating in
the district’s Teacher Induction
Program for Success (TIPS), which
is designed to ensure educators
thrive in their new career.
The 32,000 figure includes
more than 2,100 seniors in the
Class of 2019, who are already
looking ahead to life beyond
graduation, and more than
2,000 kindergarteners, who are
beginning their K-12 education
journey.
Leading up to the first day,
schools conducted orientation/
open house programs for students
and parents, employees were
involved in staff meetings and
professional development,
teachers spent time preparing classrooms, lessons, and activities, and school
personnel took care of last-minute details to ensure a smooth opening of
school.
“Our schools are ready and excited about the new year, and we are
so pleased to welcome our students back to school,” said Superintendent
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4 • September/October 2018 • Parent Teacher Magazine
Back-to-school information
about registration, health
requirements, report cards,
orientation and open house
programs, parent conferences,
athletics, inclement weather
procedures, and more is available on the school district website, www.gaston.
k12.nc.us.
Below is some additional information for parents and the community.
▪ New principals at 16 schools
Sixteen schools have principals that are new to the school for the 2018-2019
year: H.H. Beam Elementary – Darice Irby; W.B. Beam Intermediate – Todd
Dellinger; Bessemer City High – Sheila Wyont; Bessemer City Middle – Jessica
Mellon; Bessemer City Primary – April Conley; Brookside Elementary – Chad Hovis;
Cramerton Middle – Jessica Steiner; Gaston Early College High – Josh Allen; Grier
Middle – Mitchell Allen; Holbrook Middle – Audrey Hovis; Hunter Huss High – Bryan
Denton; Pinewood Elementary – Tyler West; Sherwood Elementary – Kristie Gornto;
Tryon Elementary – Meghan LeFevers; Warlick Academy – Judy Moore; and Woodhill
Elementary – Loretta Reed.
▪ 50th anniversary celebration
This school year, Gaston County Schools is celebrating its “Big 50
Anniversary” with a number of special events and activities to mark the
occasion. Gaston County Schools was formed in 1968 with the consolidation
of the county schools with the Gastonia city schools and the Cherryville city
schools. The celebratory events include a history exhibit, parade, birthday
party, school reunions/open houses, employee talent show, history highlights
on social media, special programming on Spectrum Cable Channel 21 (the
school district’s education access channel), and much more. The district
kicked off its 50th anniversary celebration on Wednesday during the annual
Back-To-School Convocation for teachers and employees.
▪ The emphasis is on academics, technology
Like every other year, the emphasis is on academics and student
achievement. Much time and energy have been put into enhancing our
academic programs at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, which
is yielding positive results. Through Career and Technical Education, students
are learning how to be prepared for life after graduation, whether it’s going
to college or into the workforce. Programs such as our Career Signing Day,
Career and College Promise with Gaston College, and “Students@Work” and
“Educators in the Workplace” with the Gaston Regional Chamber are helping
students to make connections between school and “the real world.” To further
enhance academics, the district will continue its efforts to provide up-to-date
technology for students and teachers to use in their classrooms with the goal
of achieving a 1:1 student-to-device ratio. The current student-to-device
ratio is 1:1.2.