Students Receive Courtside Education at ACC Women's Basketball Tournament
Partnership Combines Academics with Thrill of March Madness.



Feb. 28, 2007

By Haley Henderson
Guilford County Schools

Greensboro, NC - March Madness is coming to Tournament Town and on March 1 and 2, a local partnership will merge that madness with academics. For those two days, more than 6,000 enthusiastic students--representing 43 Guilford County schools--will join thousands of other passionate Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) fans as the Greensboro Coliseum hosts the 30th Annual ACC Women's Basketball Tournament.

Through a collaboration between GCS, the ACC and the Greensboro Coliseum, the ACC School Partnership allows children to combine the up-close sights and sounds of March Madness with academics.

Students attending the game have participated in the school day program's educational component throughout the year. It includes teacher-developed curriculum relating to the ACC and/or the Women's Basketball Tournament in the fields of physical education, science, social studies, math, language arts, technology and character development.

Elementary school students from across the county will enjoy the opening game of the tournament on Thursday, March 1 featuring Florida State and Wake Forest. The game tips off at 11 a.m. and airs locally on Fox Sports Net South. Students from Alamance Elementary will sing the national anthem.

Middle school students from across the county will attend the first quarterfinal game on Friday, March 2 when NC State faces the winner of the Florida State-Wake Forest game. That game tips off at 11 a.m. and airs locally on Fox Sports Net South. Students from McIver Education Center will perform the national anthem.

About Guilford County Schools
Guilford County Schools is the third largest school district in North Carolina serving more than 70,000 students at 115 schools. With approximately 9,700 employees, the district's mission is to graduate responsible citizens prepared to succeed in higher education or the career of their choice.

Guilford County Schools is a national leader in providing specialized schools and instructional programs designed to meet the educational needs of a culturally diverse citizenship. For more information, visit the district's Web site at www.gcsnc.com.

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