Findley Flyer 8/19/21
Engage-Connect-Grow
I can't believe that we are almost through the first two weeks of school. It has been a very busy two weeks. The students are happy to be back together seeing old friends, meeting new friends, making connections with teachers and staff, end engaging in learning.
Our counselor, Kate Hernandez, leads our character education program. Our first character word of the year is kindness. During the months of August and September, teachers will discuss the importance of showing kindness with their students. In addition, the administration will be visiting classrooms to read to the students about kindness.
Our teachers are looking forward to meeting you during their virtual curriculum nights next week. Look for more information on how to join the Teams meetings in their Friday newsletters.
Class placement is not final until after the 10 day seat count (which is tomorrow). If there are any changes due to enrollment, parents of the affected class/teacher change will be notified. These changes are a result of teacher allocations provided to us by the district. These allocations are determined by the number of students present within the first 10 days of the school year.
Camille Christopher
Principal
Engage-Connect-Grow
COVID-19 Reporting
- As a reminder, if your child is sick, please have him or her stay home.
- All FCS staff and students are required to report a confirmed positive case of COVID-19, a pending COVID-19 test result (regardless of the reason for testing), and a direct contact with person who is COVID-19 positive.
- FCS student/parents must use the Parent Reporting Portal to make the COVID-19 report.
- Reporting staff and students must wait for further guidance from the FCS Health Services Team, Talent Department, or public health officials after submitting a report. Do not report to work or school.
- The FCS COVID-19 Response Team will case investigate all reports in consultation with public health officials. Staff and students are required to cooperate with response team/public health department nurses and respond truthfully to all questions.
- The district will update positive COVID-19 cases once a week on the FCS website.
- FCS will continue to utilize the Closing Matrix to switch to remote learning for classes, schools or clusters if warranted. This approach allows the district to review the impact of positive COVID-19 cases at the local level, minimizing the potential disruption on instruction.
Important Dates
8/24-Curriculum Night for ESOL, PreK (PSE and Georgia PreK), Special Education, and TAG: 5:00 pm
8/25-Curriculum Night for Kindergarten (5:00-5:30), 2nd grade (5:30-6:00), and 4th grade (6:00-6:45)
8/26-Curriculum Night for 1st grade (5:00-5:30), 3rd grade (5:30-6:15), and 5th grade (6:15-7:00)
8/26-Spirit Night-City Barbecue
9/1-Walk to School Wednesday
9/6-Labor Day Holiday-Schools Closed
9/20-Late Start Day
Start with Hello Spirit Week-Kindness, Connection, and Unity
Carpool Procedure and Safety Reminders
Carpool –Arrival – Findley Oaks has two carpool lines – carpool line 1 in the front of the school and carpool line 2 in the back of the school. Line 1 is always open. Line 2 is open AFTER all the buses have arrived in the morning. After the buses have departed, we will put a sign up near the stop sign indicating, “Carpool Lines 1 and 2 are now OPEN”. At that time if you choose to drop off at carpool line 2, you may turn right at the stop sign, proceed around the circle and pull up to the red line by the Food Court doors. Staff members will be on hand to direct you and the students to the correct location. Please drop students off in the designated drop off zone only. Students may not be dropped off in the circle and may not enter the doors by the playground. As you leave this line you will turn left to exit the school property. Please be aware of traffic coming from the front of the school.
Please note: Cars should not be using the first right turn to access the carpool line. This is a buses only area. Please pull up to the stop sign and proceed to a carpool line. Line 2 closes at 7:39. If you are arriving after this time, please use Line 1 and sign your child in if you are late arriving. Safety is a top priority. After this time staff members are not available to monitor this area for arriving students.
When both carpool lines are open you have the option to use either line. If you need to enter the building, please use carpool line 1 and park in the front of the building. There is no parent parking area in the back of the building.
All school traffic should use the official school entrance connecting from Findley Road rather than Findley Chase Drive. Please remember to drive slowly on campus at all times. Whether you use carpool line 1 or 2 please form a single line. In the interest of safety, children are to enter and exit from the right passenger side doors only. Children are not to cross through the parking lot without an adult accompanying them. If your child needs assistance getting out of the car, please park in the front of the school and escort your child into the building. Cars should not park in the pickup or dismissal area along the front curb.
In order to facilitate the loading and unloading of car riders, we ask that you follow the staff directions and pull as far to the front of the loading/unloading area as possible. If you are unloading in carpool line 1 please do not allow your student to get out of the car before you have reached the flagpole, as there is no supervision of that area. Please do NOT pull around other cars loading/unloading students. Please wait until the car in front of you moves and follow in a single line.
Please adjust your departure time from home on rainy days when there is a higher volume of cars and a longer wait time. Students entering the building after the bell rings will be marked as unexcused late arrival. If your child arrives late, please escort them into the building and sign them in.
Do not drop off or pick up students in the back of the school. All students should use the carpool line.
To ensure the safety of our students during afternoon carpool dismissal, we utilize a dismissal card system. All families will receive a dismissal pickup number during Meet and Greet or upon registration.
In order to pick up your child, the card needs to be visible to the carpool staff and placed on
the passenger side visor. If you misplace your carpool card, please come to the front office to get a new one.
Car riders will be dismissed at 2:20 p.m. Car riders will exit the building through the vestibule entrance near the media center. Once the dismissal process has begun, please do not pull around the cars waiting in line.
Please Sign-FCS Student Code of Conduct
Fulton County Schools is making its Student Code of Conduct & Discipline Handbook available online in PDF format (click the link below). Once you have read the electronic version and have reviewed the contents with your student(s), please take a moment to complete the Acknowledgement of Receipt Form by using the provided link below. All parents and student (over 10 years old) MUST sign this form found within your INFINTE CAMPUS PARENT/STUDENT PORTAL ACCOUNT. This form will be available AFTER Aug 2, 2021. If you would like a paper copy of the Handbook, you or your student can pick one up in your school's front office.
State Releases 2020-2021 Georgia Milestones Test Scores
The Georgia Department of Education (GaDOH) has released the 2020-21 Milestones test scores for the state of Georgia. The assessment is designed to provide information about how well students are mastering the state-adopted content standards in the core content areas of language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies.
The Georgia Milestones test measures students' performance in a typical educational environment. However, student participation rates dropped dramatically during the 2021-22 school year due to COVID-19.
In March, the Georgia Department of Education waived promotion/retention consequences tied to Georgia Milestones for the 2020-2021 school year and temporarily lowered the EOC course grade weight to .01%.
“Parents and guardians are encouraged to view results in the context of this unique school year,” said Chief Information Officer Dr. Emily Bell. “Although the district encouraged parents and students to take the milestones assessment, due to low participation, these results do not reflect a statistically relevant state of data.”
For those students who did take the test, parents can view results for their students in SLDS (Statewide Longitudinal Data System).
Here is a link for how to view assessments scores in Campus Portal.
Loading all the scores into the system takes some time, if you don’t see the scores under Assessments you can click on SLDS Portal (listed below the Assessment link) and the scores are available there.
Who do I Contact for Questions or Conerns?
- David Applegate- The Instructional Support Teacher (IST) coordinates programs and service delivery for special education students. He coordinates educational testing for students who are referred for special education services. Parents with questions about the special education process should contact the IST for information. applegated@fultonschools.org
- Cindy Lamb-The Assistant Principal who oversees student information (Infinite Campus, Parent Portal), grading, standardized testing, discipline. lamb@fultonschools.org
- Kate Hernandez-The School Counselor works with school personnel to foster a positive learning environment for children. The counselor assists parents in understanding children and in developing positive attitudes, techniques, and strategies essential for constructive child rearing. The counselor assists parents and children in obtaining special school and/or community services and helps conduct the SST and testing programs. hernandezk@fultonschools.org
- Colleen Greathouse-The Curriculum Support Teacher (CST) Parents with questions involving curriculum, class placement, and diagnostic placement assessments are invited to contact the Curriculum Support Teacher for information. greathousec@fultonschools.org
3. If further assistance is still needed, contact the Principal, Camille Christopher. christopherc@fultonschools.org
Check out the Findley Oaks Counseling Page!
Digital Citizenship
Technology plays a growing role in the lives of students, particularly during this time in which their education is increasingly reliant on technology. While students are often quite adept at using tech tools, navigating the online world can sometimes be more complicated. All K-5 students will participate in hands-on instruction at the beginning of the school year to develop strong digital citizenship skills. The lessons, developed by Fulton County Schools in partnership with Common Sense Media, lay the groundwork for students to successfully use technology to enhance their learning and their lives as they grow older. The school-based instruction is just one component to developing good digital citizens. Parents and guardians are encouraged to play an active role in their student’s use of technology at home. To that end, we ask that you take a moment to review the attached Acceptable Use Policy with your student. Fulton County Schools maintains an Acceptable Use Policy that applies to not just use of physical devices, but also use of the district's network and online platforms such as Office 365. Please sign and return the policy to your student’s homeroom teacher by September 7.
I also invite you to explore our digital citizenship platform for additional resources on a variety of topics relevant to elementary school students. You can access the information here: https://tinyurl.com/dcfindley
Please feel free to contact me with any questions you have regarding digital citizenship.
Amy Rubin
Media and Educational Technology Instructor
Student Absence Forms
Pre-approved absence forms must be submitted 5 days prior to the absence.
Participate remote absences must be requested prior to the start of the school day.
Student absence forms must be submitted within 5 days of returning to school from an absence.
Change of Dismissal Information
Changing Dismissal Method -- If a student has a need to leave the school in a manner different from his/her normal routine, it will be necessary for the student to bring a “Change of Dismissal” form from the student’s parent/guardian to the classroom teacher. This should be sent prior to the date of need or immediately upon arrival to school the day of the change. Change of Dismissal forms are provided on the Findley Oaks website or can be requested from the classroom teacher at any time. Please remember bus changes will be made on an emergency basis only.
If there is a need to change your child’s dismissal during the school day, please send an email to 160-DismissalFOE@fultonschools.org. Emails to the teachers and phone calls will not be accepted. Change of dismissal will not be accepted after 2:00 pm.
Provide Feedback on the New K-12 Mathematics Standards
The Georgia Department of Education posted new K-12 Mathematics Standards for a 30-day public comment period through August 23. If approved, the standards will be implemented in the 2022-23 school year, following a year of teacher training.
The draft standards and additional information can be found at the following links:
The State Board of Education is scheduled to vote on adoption of the standards at its August meeting.
Here Comes the Bus
PTA News
ORDER YOUR SPIRIT WEAR - DEADLINE EXTENDED TO AUGUST 25th!
Do Not Miss this Opportunity
Click here to order your Spirit Wear! We've got Spirit shirts and awesome new Falcon hoodies! This is one of the only opportunities to order Falcon Spirit Wear throughout the year.
City BBQ Spirit Night August 26
Your group: Findley Oaks Elementary School PTA
Your fundraiser date: Thursday, August 26
Your fundraiser location: City Barbeque Johns Creek
Your fundraiser code: FundA
Community News
Interested in Joining Cub Scouts?
Findley Oaks families with kids in grades K-5 are invited to join Cub Scout Pack 1143!
Our fall calendar is full of family activities including pack and den meetings. We will be planning a fun camping trip , Building and racing Pinewood derby cars, an overnight trip to the Zoo and many more family activities and adventures.
Check out information in the attached PDF.
If you are interested in joining Cub Scouts, please join us for our Scout Sign Up Night
Thursday Sep 2nd, Findley Oaks Cafeteria at 6:30 PM
For any questions or further information, please email our membership coordinator, Alka, at alkagambhir@hotmail.com.
Annual Girl Scout Troop Organizational Meeting
Johns Creek United Methodist Church - Chapel
11180 Medlock Bridge Road, Johns Creek, GA 30097
on
Sunday, August 22, 2021
from
3:30pm – 5:00pm
This year, we are moving forward with our safety protocol and meeting together with face masks and social distancing. We invite you and your daughter to come out and explore Girl Scouts. Our goal is to provide you with information about Girl Scouts, how to get started, and how to join. After attending our informational meeting, you can decide if Girl Scouts is a good fit for your family. Please encourage your friends to attend!
• Brief overview of Girl Scouts Levels, time commitment, financial investment.
• Form New Troops for younger girls! Don’t miss out!
• Place older girls in existing troops & receive troop update
Please complete the form via the link or FlowCode and RSVP via Evite.
1. Girl Scout Interest Form use link or FlowCcode
Girl Scouts Interest Form for Oakwood Circle
2. RSVP via Evite: http://evite.me/KGu4PNu5Dr
Oakwood Circle Service Unit
MISSION, VISION, AND MOTTO
Mission: Engage. Connect. Grow
Vision: To create a school community of engaged, connected, and growing learners.
Motto: From Tiny Acorns Grow Mighty Oaks