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Gaston County Schools Showcase and Parent Fair
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WHAT: Gaston County Schools Showcase and Parent Fair
WHEN: Saturday, February 3 from 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
(drop in at your convenience)WHERE: Stuart W. Cramer High School, 101 Lakewood Road, Belmont
WHO: Open to all families in Gaston County
WHY: It’s an opportunity to find out what our schools have to offer
ABOUT THE SHOWCASE
The Gaston County Schools Showcase and Parent Fair is a new event that builds on our School Choice Fair concept and includes all 56 of our schools.At the Showcase, students, parents, and community members can:
- Meet representatives from each school
- Learn about our 22 magnet school and academy options for students
- Attend information sessions that feature a variety of topics
- Enjoy a full schedule of student performances that highlight the fine arts
Plus, parents can register their child(ren) for our choice schools as well as kindergarten and pre-kindergarten. It’s free to attend the Showcase, and lunch will be available.
The Showcase is open to all families in Gaston County Schools as well as families who have children in private, charter, virtual, and home schools. It's an opportunity for all students and parents in our community to find out what our 56 schools have to offer for students and families.Parent Information Sessions
The schedule is listed below with the session times. Below is a list of the topics.- AIG (Academically and Intellectually Gifted)
- Career and Technical Education
- College and Career Planning
- Curriculum
- English as a Second Language (ESL)/Multilingual Learners
- Exceptional Children
- Student Testing and Accountability
- Support Services for Students
- Technology
Information Tables
Our central-level departments and partners in education will have tables set up to provide important information for parents. Below is a list of the topics and colleges.- AIG (Academically and Intellectually Gifted)
- Athletics
- Career and Technical Education
- Exceptional Children
- Fine Arts
- Human Resources
- Kindergarten and Pre-Kindergarten
- School Safety
- Belmont Abbey College
- Gardner-Webb University
- Gaston College
What’s for Lunch?
Available in the cafeteria from 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. You may select one meal option; options include hot dogs, pizza, salad, BBQ sandwiches, turkey sandwiches, ham sandwiches, and chicken tenders.
Live Radio Broadcast
Gaston County radio station, Carolina Country WCSL 92.9 FM, will conduct a live broadcast from the Showcase until 2:00 p.m. The station will have prize giveaways and "Extra Large Marge, the Pink Cadillac" will be on display.
Safety Screenings
Safety on our school campuses is a priority for Gaston County Schools. We will have metal detection screenings in place as attendees enter the school for our Showcase. We discourage attendees from bringing bags into the building as they will be searched, thus slowing down the entrance process.Inclement Weather
If we have to postpone because of the weather, the Showcase will be held on Saturday, February 24. - Meet representatives from each school
Promotional Video
WCSL Radio Commercial
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Listen to our Showcase and Parent Fair commercial that is airing on WCSL Radio.
iHeart Media Radio Commercial
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Listen to our Showcase and Parent Fair commercial that is airing on iHeart Media Radio.
Student Performances
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We have 21 outstanding student performances for everyone to enjoy. The performances will take place in the auditorium.
Band Performances – 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.● Stuart W. Cramer High School
● Pleasant Ridge Elementary School
● York Chester Middle School
● W.C. Friday Middle School
● Stanley Middle School
● East Gaston High School
Special Presentations – 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.
● W.A. Bess Elementary School – song/dance● Grier Middle School – cheerleaders
● Springfield Elementary – school pledge
● East Gaston High School – cheerleaders
● Rankin Elementary – drama
● McAdenville Elementary and Catawba Heights Elementary – drums
● South Point High School – Navy JROTC exhibition drill
● Bessemer City Middle School – drumline
● Forestview High School – cheerleaders
● Hawks Nest STEAM Academy – drama
Chorus Performances – 3:00 - 4:00 p.m.
● Woodhill Elementary School
● Bessemer City Central Elementary School
● Sadler Elementary School
● Carr Elementary School● Pinewood Elementary School
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DID YOU KNOW?
We offer 22 magnet school/academy program options for students
Click here for information about the dynamic magnet school/academy program options that are available in Gaston County Schools.
We are accepting applications now, and you can submit an application for your child(ren) online.
The deadline to submit an application is Friday, March 8 at 5:00 p.m.
Parents attending the School Showcase on Saturday, February 3 will have an opportunity to register for our magnet schools and academy programs. Parents who complete the application process while at the Showcase will be able to enter a drawing for gift card giveaways.
SCHEDULE: Parent Information Sessions (click times below for session details)
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Parent Information Sessions: 11:15 - 11:45 a.m.
Topic: Curriculum - Grades 6-8
Title: “A Day in the Life of a Middle School Student: Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Grades”
Location: Library
Presenter: Kathleen D’Avria, director of secondary instructionTopic: Curriculum - Grades K-2
Title: “A Day In the Life of an Elementary Student: Kindergarten, First, and Second Grades Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum”
Location: Distance Learning Lab
Presenters: Anarah Henderson and Tyler West, executive directors for elementary schoolsTopic: Exceptional Children
Title: “The EXCEPTIONAL Supports Offered to Children with Disabilities in Gaston County Schools”
Location: Activity Room
Presenters: Stacy Huffman, executive director for exceptional children, and Kalisa Norman and Dana Lutz, coordinators for exceptional childrenTopic: Career and Technical Education
Title: “What Career Education, Certifications, Work-based Learning, and Free College Opportunities are Available to Your Child in Grades 5-12?”
Location: Room 114
Presenters: Brett Buchanan, Gaston County Schools director of career and technical education, and Joy Morrow, Gaston College director of apprenticeship and work-based learning -
Parent Information Sessions: 12:00 - 12:30 p.m.
Topic: Curriculum - Grades 9-12
Title: “High School: The Road to Graduation”
Location: Library
Presenter: Kathleen D’Avria, director of secondary instructionTopic: Curriculum - Grades 3-5
Title: “A Day In the Life of an Elementary Student: Third, Fourth, and Fifth Grades Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum”
Location: Distance Learning Lab
Presenters: Anarah Henderson and Tyler West, executive directors for elementary schoolsTopic: Academically or Intellectually Gifted (AIG)
Title: “Giftedness – Possibilities Beyond the Ordinary”
Location: Activity Room
Presenters: John Stone and Steven Loudon, AIG instructional specialistsTopic: Career and Technical Education
Title: “What Career Education, Certifications, Work-based Learning, and Free College Opportunities are Available to Your Child in Grades 5-12?”
Location: Room 114
Presenters: Brett Buchanan, Gaston County Schools director of career and technical education, and Joy Morrow, Gaston College director of apprenticeship and work-based learning -
Parent Information Sessions: 12:45 - 1:15 p.m.
Topic: College and Career Planning
Title: “Guiding Our Future: Supporting your Child’s Journey and Fostering their Well-being in Gaston County Schools”
Location: Library
Presenters: Dr. Sarah Rector, director of Gaston Blended; Radha Patel, director of counseling and mental health services; and Shenice Bailey, mental health coordinatorTopic: Technology
Title: “Digital Footprints and Online Safety: A Guide for Parents and Students”
Location: Distance Learning Lab
Presenters: Heather Spicola and Kyle Wood, instructional technology facilitatorsTopic: English as a Second Language/Multilingual Learners
Title: “Success Speaks Many Languages: Multilingual Learners in Gaston County Schools”
Location: Activity Room
Presenters: Dr. Vera Woolard, coordinator of English as a Second Language (ESL), and Lisa Jordan, facilitator of English as a Second Language (ESL)Topic: Support Services for Students
Title: “Building Success Together: The Role of Attendance and its Impact on Student Learning”
Location: Room 114
Presenters: Dr. Bobbie Mills, director of social work, and Justine Bartlett, McKinney-Vento liaison -
Parent Information Sessions: 1:30 - 2:00 p.m.
Topic: Curriculum - Grades 6-8
Title: “A Day in the Life of a Middle School Student: Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Grades”
Location: Library
Presenter: Kathleen D’Avria, director of secondary instructionTopic: Curriculum - Grades K-2
Title: “A Day In the Life of an Elementary Student: Kindergarten, First, and Second Grades Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum”
Location: Distance Learning Lab
Presenters: Anarah Henderson and Tyler West, executive directors for elementary schoolsTopic: Exceptional Children
Title: “The EXCEPTIONAL Supports Offered to Children with Disabilities in Gaston County Schools”
Location: Activity Room
Presenters: Stacy Huffman, executive director for exceptional children, and Kalisa Norman and Dana Lutz, coordinators for exceptional childrenTopic: Student Testing and Accountability
Title: “Assessments in Education: A Guide for Parents”
Location: Room 114
Presenters: Dr. Rebekka Powers, chief accountability officer, and Michael Foust, director of testing -
Parent Information Sessions: 2:15 - 2:45 p.m.
Topic: Curriculum - Grades 9-12
Title: “High School: The Road to Graduation”
Location: Library
Presenter: Kathleen D’Avria, director of secondary instructionTopic: Curriculum - Grades 3-5
Title: “A Day In the Life of an Elementary Student: Third, Fourth, and Fifth Grades Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum”
Location: Distance Learning Lab
Presenters: Anarah Henderson and Tyler West, executive directors for elementary schoolsTopic: Academically or Intellectually Gifted (AIG)
Title: “Giftedness – Possibilities Beyond the Ordinary”
Location: Activity Room
Presenters: John Stone and Steven Loudon, AIG instructional specialistsTopic: Support Services for Students
Title: “Building Success Together: The Role of Attendance and its Impact on Student Learning”
Location: Room 114
Presenters: Dr. Bobbie Mills, director of social work, and Justine Bartlett, McKinney-Vento liaison -
Parent Information Sessions: 3:00 - 3:30 p.m.
Topic: College and Career Planning
Title: “Guiding Our Future: Supporting your Child’s Journey and Fostering their Well-being in Gaston County Schools”
Location: Library
Presenters: Dr. Sarah Rector, director of Gaston Blended; Radha Patel, director of counseling and mental health services; and Shenice Bailey, mental health coordinatorTopic: Technology
Title: “Digital Footprints and Online Safety: A Guide for Parents and Students”
Location: Distance Learning Lab
Presenters: Heather Spicola and Noelle VanDerMeid, instructional technology facilitatorsTopic: English as a Second Language/Multilingual Learners
Title: “Success Speaks Many Languages: Multilingual Learners in Gaston County Schools”
Location: Activity Room
Presenters: Dr. Vera Woolard, coordinator of English as a Second Language (ESL), and Lisa Jordan, facilitator of English as a Second Language (ESL)Topic: Student Testing and Accountability
Title: “Assessments in Education: A Guide for Parents”
Location: Room 114
Presenters: Dr. Rebekka Powers, chief accountability officer, and Michael Foust, director of testing
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"Sometimes, parents look beyond the school district in their community for educational choices. Our traditional public schools continue to offer quality academics, athletics, fine arts, extracurricular activities, and support programs for students. We have more options and more resources, which often results in more possibilities for students. We hope parents will check us out, talk with us, and give us an opportunity to provide an outstanding education for their children."
Bridgette Best, principal of Pleasant Ridge Elementary School and chairman of the Showcase planning committee
