#GOCOWLS

The weekly newsletter for Gwinnett Online Campus

Thursday, March 16, 2023

Each year, to help improve our schools, GCPS collects feedback from our families, students, and staff members about their school experience. This year, the school district is giving Educational Effectiveness Surveys to get feedback on nine characteristics of high-performing schools. All GCPS families are invited to take part in the 2023 Educational Effectiveness Survey. Please click HERE to access the survey by the deadline of Sunday, March 19 at 11:59 p.m.

GRADES 9-12 ONLY!

There will be no on campus labs for students in grades 9-12 on Wednesday, March 22 due to SAT testing. Students in grades 9-12 that are not testing will have access to pre-recorded labs in their courses from home.

All other students in grades 4-8 will have on campus labs next week.

GOC will also have VIRTUAL LABS during the week of March 27-31 due to additional on-campus testing. Again, students will follow their grade level lab schedule from home unless they are testing on campus.

#CARE

#OnlineWeLearnSuccessfully

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, March 21

8-8:45 a.m.

Grades 9-12

No Roost & Boost due to

NO on Campus Labs

Grades 7-8

Thursday, March 23

8-8:45 a.m.

Grade 5: Child Lures Prevention Lessons

Ms. Barbara Santiago-Fecht, Counselor for grades 3-5, will teach the Child Lures Prevention lessons to 5th grade students on Tuesday, March 21 and Tuesday, April 11 during the students' Social Studies class.

More information about this important topic was emailed to 5th grade parents last week.

Please contact Ms. Barbara Santiago-Fecht with questions.

Grades K-5: Parents & Students - Ask a Counselor!

Ask a Counselor is an opportunity for students in grades K-5 to ask questions about making friends, succeeding in school, getting along with others, managing anxiety, and other things. Students, please click HERE to submit your question via a Google Form which is submitted directly to our grade K-5 Counselors. The counselors, Dr. Dana Edwards and Ms. Barbara Santiago-Fecht, will answer the questions, without naming the student who asked, during the Ask a Counselor videotaped segment. These segments will be shown on Fridays during the live K-3 counseling lessons and posted in the 4th and 5th grade course announcements.

Parents, we will also have an Ask the Counselor opportunity for you periodically. We’re here to help, so ask away!

Please contact Dr. Dana Edwards or Ms. Barbara Santiago-Fecht with questions.

Grade 12: 2023 Graduates

First, congratulations on being a potential GOC graduate of the Class of 2023. Please be mindful that students must pass all course and graduation requirements in order to qualify for graduation.

Second, it is MANDATORY that you take approximately 5 minutes to complete a Senior Exit Survey. Please click HERE for instructions on how to access and complete this quick survey.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter!

Please click HERE to contact your High School Counselor with questions.

Grade 8: What is a Carnegie Unit?

Carnegie Units are credits needed for graduation. A parent must accept the Carnegie Unit Credit at the end of the school year, indicating whether the credit for the course(s) taken will be for middle school credit or as a Carnegie unit towards high school graduation. Students may only earn credit for the whole year, one Carnegie credit for each course. If the state of Georgia mandates a Milestones End of Course assessment, the student must participate to earn the Carnegie credit. Both semester grades will be used to determine credit earned.

If the student successfully passes both semesters, a 'P' will be placed on the transcript, not a grade. A 'P' will equal 1.0 units of credit earned. Courses that earn a high school Carnegie credit in middle school will not be used in the high school's grade point average (GPA) calculation.

According to current Georgia Student Finance Commission rules for HOPE, courses that earn a high school Carnegie credit in middle school will not be used in GPA calculations for the HOPE scholarship.

For more information about high school credits, please visit GOC's website by clicking HERE or the Georgia Department of Education website by clicking HERE.

Please contact your Counselor with questions.

Grades 4-8: Geography & History Bees

Are you interested in testing your Geography or History skills? Do you like to compete with other people? Then you should consider competing in a Geography or History Bee!

Geography and History Bees are now hosted by International Academic Competitions. To learn more, please click HERE.

Registration and participation are easy and free! Interested students will need to register for and take an Online Regional Qualifying Exam. This is a 20-minute qualifying exam with 50 multiple choice questions, and this exam can be taken at home!

If students qualify in any of the subject areas, they will be eligible to register for the North Georgia Regional Finals, which will be held on Saturday, April 15 at Commerce High School, in Commerce, Georgia. If you qualify, please click HERE to register for this competition by the Sunday, April 2 deadline. Again, students may only register for the North Georgia Regional Finals if they qualify on the Online Regional Qualifying Exam.

If students are interested, they can also register for the Science Bee offered by this organization if they qualify. The North Georgia Regional Finals for Science will be held at Commerce High School on the same day.

Students may only register for the North Georgia Regional Finals if they qualify on the Online Regional Qualifying Exam.

Please contact Mr. Zain Malik with questions.

Grades 4-12: Get Your Game Face On - It's Time to Lead

Student Leadership Team Members and all other interested students, please come join us for a Leadership Workshop on Wednesday, March 29 from 1-3 p.m.

This workshop will offer lots of fun activities geared to get you ready to lead. Please wear your favorite jersey or your SLT jersey! This is a great opportunity to join your friends for leadership, fun and snacks.

If you are interested in attending this event, please click HERE to RSVP.

Please contact Ms. Hope Campbell with questions.

Grades K-12: Spring Musical Cast & Crew Calendar and Ticket Sales

Please contact Mr. Miro Gomez with questions.

Grades K-12: Spring Musical Toy Donation Drive

SWAG (Students Working Around Gwinnett) will be hosting a Toy Donation Drive on Thursday, March 23 and Friday, March 24 during the Spring Musical, Mary Poppins Jr., at GOC. By bringing in new/lightly used toys, you can help decide what characters will get a Spoonful of Sugar after the show!!

Grades 4-12: In-Person Club & Activities Friday

We hope to see everyone at our next in-person Club and Activities Friday scheduled for Friday, March 17. Doors will open 15 minutes prior to the start of the event.

Please remember to wear GREEN to show your school spirit!

If you have not yet submitted an RSVP for this event please click HERE by tonight, Thursday, March 16 at 11:59 p.m.

Also, students who wish to participate in the Art Rich Experience must register and pay on the student's MyPaymentsPlus account by tonight, Thursday, March 16 at 11:59 p.m. If you do not register and pay for this event your name will not be on the list to participate in this Art Rich Experience.

For those that don't participate in the Art Rich Experience, there will be other activities on campus during this time including SLT Focus Groups, Gamer Group, Rec Games and Study Group in the Connect Center.



Mark your calendar for our last Club Friday of the school year which will be held on Friday, April 21.

Please contact Ms. Hope Campbell with questions.

Grades 4-12: Club & Activities Friday - Art Rich Experience

The Art Department will be offering a fun and creative class about texture painting during Clubs & Activities Friday scheduled for Friday, March 17 from 9:45-10:45 a.m. Come create an original work of art as you experiment with texture and color mixing.

Students who wish to participate in this event must pay a $5 participation fee by visiting the student's MyPaymentsPlus account. Also, please be sure to RSVP for this event by clicking HERE.

Please email Ms. Nola Bryant with questions.

Grades 4-12: Virtual Gaming Tournament - Last Chance to Sign-Up!!

Last chance to sign up for GOC's Virtual Gaming Tournament and Social on Friday, March 17 from 1-3 p.m. Please click HERE by Thursday, March 16 at 11:59 p.m. to RSVP for this event. A link will be sent to all those that have submitted an RSVP for this event by the deadline.

In addition to gaming, there will be time to check in with our counselors and find out more about getting connected at GOC.

Please contact Mr. Mike Mouton or Ms. Hope Campbell with questions.

Grades 9-12: Prom/Spring Dance

Students in grades 9-12, please mark your calendar to save the date for GOC's Prom/Spring Dance scheduled for Friday, April 21 from 7-10 p.m. The theme will be Met Gala - A Night in Paris and will be Semi-Formal/Formal attire.

This year our venue will be 550 Trackside in Downtown Lawrenceville. Please note the date and venue change due to issues with the original location.

Please visit the student's MyPaymentsPlus account by Friday, March 31 to take advantage of early bird ticket pricing ($50 per person). Students may purchase one additional guest ticket (for a similar age peer) to accompany them to this event. Prices will increase soon so please get your tickets now!

Student's, please check your GCPS email to participate in a survey to submit your nominations for Superlatives, Prom Court and song requests.

Please contact Ms. Hope Campbell with questions.

Grades 9-12: Donations for a Dinner Drawing -Prom/Spring Dance

Are you heading to the Prom/Spring Dance in April? SWAG is offering an opportunity for students to win a complimentary dinner on the Square in Downtown Lawrenceville for you and your guest on Friday, April 21 before the Prom/Spring Dance. In order to be eligible to win, students must have purchased their Prom/Spring Dance ticket by the drawing.

SWAG (Students Working Around Gwinnett) will be offering an opportunity for students to donate items for the Gwinnett Co-Op. Our collection dates will be Friday, March 17 during Clubs & Activities Friday, before SAT testing on Wednesday, March 22, before the Wise Owl Summit on Wednesday, March 29 and during on-campus labs on Wednesday, April 12.

SWAG will be collecting the following new/unopened items for the Gwinnett Co-Op. Students will receive one raffle ticket for each item donated. The more you donate, the more chances to win! The drawing will be held the afternoon of Wednesday, April 12.

Students in grades K-8 are also welcome to make donations of hygiene items for the Gwinnett Co-Op through Friday, April 14.

Please contact Ms. Lindsey Woodward or Ms. Hope Campbell with questions.

Grades K-12: GOC Family Skate Night

Come out and support GOC and PAC (Parent Advisory Committee) at our Family Skate Fundraiser. All proceeds will go to support our GOC PAC and all the great work they do here at GOC. We had a great turn out in February and hope to see even more of our families in March.

Our next off-campus family event at Sparkles Family Fun Center, Gwinnett is scheduled for Tuesday, March 28 from 5-8:30 p.m. This is NOT a drop off event; every student should have a parent or guardian accompany them to this event. On school skate nights, the venue offers special pricing of $7 admission which includes skates. Non-skating parents are free. There is also a $15 Meal Deal which includes 1 large cheese pizza and 1 pitcher of your choice beverage.

Please click HERE to RSVP for this event.

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: PAC (Parent Advisory Committee) Meeting

Calling all parents!! We need your help to plan lots of fun student events here at Gwinnett Online Campus!

Please join us on Friday, March 17 from 10:45-11:45 a.m. for a parent volunteer meeting to discuss how you can help with upcoming events.



The PAC (Parent Advisory Committee) would like to reach out to the parents who are not already involved this year. To stay up to date on the upcoming events and other information for the rest of this year and next year, please complete and submit the Parent Information Form.

For questions and to RSVP for the in-person parent meeting, please email

GOC's PAC (Parent Advisory Committee).

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.

Grades 6-12: Science Research Club Meeting

GOC's Science Research Club will NOT meet on Friday, March 17 during Club & Activities Friday. We will have our final meeting in April where we will discuss the schedule and projects for next year.

Any students interested for next year can also attend the April meeting to get information. Please watch for more details in the upcoming #GOCOWLS.

Please contact Ms. Jennifer Barnes with questions.

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 4-5: Virtual Success Skills Counseling Lessons

Ms. Santiago-Fecht, GOC Counselor, will be hosting a series of 10 virtual counseling lessons focusing on the success skills of good character to real life situations starting Thursday, February 23 for 4th and 5th grade students. There will be 10 sport-themed lessons on the following topics: respect, responsibility, thankfulness, caring, self-discipline, cooperation, honesty, good citizenship and courage. Each week will focus on a different character skill and the last lesson will be a summary of all the character skills discussed.

Please watch for an email from Ms. Santiago with the link, dates and times for the 4th and 5th grade counseling lessons. Students do not need to attend all the lessons, but it is recommended.

Please contact Ms. Santiago-Fecht with questions.

Grades 8-9: Spring GOC College Bus Tour

The GOC Counselors are happy to announce that Gwinnett Online Campus will be offering a spring College Bus Tour for students in grades 8 and 9. The trip is scheduled for Thursday, March 30 and we will meet at GOC at 7 a.m. and return to GOC by 4 p.m. We have space available for 25 8th grade students and 25 9th grade students to participate on a campus tour of Georgia State University, Kennesaw State Marietta Campus with a drive through of KSU Main Campus!

We have limited spots available which will be filled on a first come, first serve basis via MyPaymentsPlus. Please plan to bring a sack lunch.

Please click HERE to register your student on their MyPaymentsPlus account. Once all spots are full, this item will not longer be available on MyPaymentsPlus.

Please contact your counselor Ms.Teshia Dula, Ms. Nikita Johnson, or Ms. Jessica Pompilus with questions.

Grades 6-8: Maxwell School of Technology Middle School Summer Camp

Grades 6-8: Grayson Tech Middle School Summer Camp

Grades K-12: Fort Yargo's 18th Century Market Faire

Fort Yargo will be hosting the 12th Annual 18th Century Market Faire from Friday, March 31 through Sunday, April 2. Students and families will get to venture back in time to the days of the Revolutionary War to see what life was like back before cell phones and indoor plumbing. There will be hands-on experiences and opportunities to shop in the 18th century market for toys and other items that would have been available back then.

For more information please click HERE.