GREENSBORO, N.C. -- As thousands of students across the Piedmont Triad head back to school Monday, 450 Guilford County kids will break in the district's newest school.
George C. Simkins, Jr. Elementary School is located on E Lee Street in Greensboro and is the only new GCS school opening this year. Simkins was built by Guilford County Schools to alleviate congestion at some schools in the area. The school is drawing from Alamance Elementary, Sedalia Elementary and McLeansville Elementary.
It is named after the renowned civil rights leader who helped desegregate Triad public facilities,
The school colors are blue and orange, and the mascot is the shark. Reflecting the marine animal, the school's motto uses the acronym SWIM -- show respect, work for excellence, include everyone, make responsible choices.
GCS public relations specialist Nora Shoptaw said the school currently has 450 students enrolled but has a capacity to accommodate up to 700, as needed.
Shoptaw said each classroom at Simkins is equipped with a Smart Board and television, so the school can broadcast to students on a closed circuit from the new broadcast center.
Twenty of the 127 schools in GCS have returned to school already, but Shoptaw said the vast majority of the 72,000 will head back to class Monday.
