Knight Messenger

Knight Vision: To share in the commitment of rigorous and high-quality instruction to meet the needs of every child.

Our 2022-23 school theme "TEAM KNIGHT...ALL IN!" is directly aligned with our continued vision and instructional expectations for Knight: to share in the commitment of rigorous and high-quality instruction to meet the needs of every child.

Knight Mission: To provide a positive, stimulating, and secure environment that empowers the individual to grow socially, emotionally, and intellectually in order to meet the challenges of an ever-changing world.

Knight Belief: We believe all kids can learn…

…and we will establish high standards of learning that we expect all students to achieve. It is our job to create an environment in our classrooms that engages students in academic work that results in a high level of achievement. We are confident that with our support and help, students can master challenging curricula, and we expect them to do so. We are prepared to work collaboratively with colleagues, students, and parents to achieve this shared educational purpose (DuFour, 1997a).

Thank you for supporting our PTA spirit night. Our Knight family had an awesome time at Skate Night! We raised over $1,100! We hope you will join us at the next Skate Night on Tuesday, March 14 from 5 - 7:30 PM.

Thank you, Knight family, for attending and participating in Math Around the World Night! Families enjoyed learning and playing math games together! We had a packed house, and no one wanted to leave!

Please SAVE the DATE for the annual Spring Parent-Teacher Conferences/Early Release Days. These will be held on Wednesday, March 1st, and Thursday, March 2nd. Students will be dismissed at 12:50 PM on both days. Conferences will be held in person or via Zoom. We understand the importance of frequent communication about grades and want to ensure you have the information you need about your child’s progress. We look forward to seeing you next month!

Current grades and other information for 2nd - 5th grade students can be accessed on the GCPS Parent Portal at any time during the school year. If you do not have access to the Parent Portal, please contact our office for assistance.

Also, I would like to remind you to contact your child’s teacher—at any time during the school year— if you have any questions about your child’s academic progress. Working together, we can better support our students!

Thank you ALL for your continued support! It is an honor to serve as your principal. Have a wonderful February!

If there is anything I can do to support you, please don't hesitate to reach out to me at 770-921-2400 or Toni.Ferguson@gcpsk12.org.

Your Proud Principal,

Dr. Toni Ferguson

Knight Elementary School

Parents, please take the time to review the Gwinnett County Promotion Criteria so that you and your child understand what is expected of them. If you have questions, please contact your child’s teacher.

The Gwinnett County Public Library is partnering with Gwinnett County Public Schools to provide online tutoring support to 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade Gwinnett students through Tutor.com. Students will need a library account to access the service. They will be able to sign on for individual tutoring sessions daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and for 24/7 “drop-off” support (uploading a document for tutor review/feedback to be returned at a later time).

Find all the information you need to take advantage of this program by logging into eCLASS. Look for the box pictured below!

The Synergy Parent mobile app, ParentVUE, is available for use. The app is available in the Apple App Store, as well as the Google Play Store. An active Parent Portal account is required to log in to ParentVUE.

• It will allow parents, who have a parent portal account, to view schedules, grades, see when assignments are due, view graduation requirements, find missing assignments, and view other important student information.
• If you have a Parent Portal account you will use the same log in username (email) and password that you use online.

In an effort to celebrate student success, in and out of the classroom, we will recognize a student from each grade level as a Shining Star each week!

Happy National School Counseling Week to our fabulous counselors, Michele Brown and Rupal Patel! Thank you for collaborating with staff to meet the needs of our students and families. Your hard work and dedication in helping make Knight the Place To Be is appreciated!

We are so excited to celebrate Black History Month with you! Our teachers have already discussed AKS-aligned social studies lessons, projects, activities, and virtual field trips/resources to celebrate Black History Month.

Students are invited to participate in the following activities during Knight's Black History Spirit Days!

• Tuesday, Feb. 21st- Unity Day- Wear Red, Black, & Green.
• Wednesday, Feb. 22nd- Cowboy/Cowgirl Day- Dress up in your cowboy/cowgirl hat and boots in recognition of black cowboys and the history and contributions of African Americans in the West.
• Thursday, Feb. 23rd- Historic Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU) Day- Wear HBCU attire/colors.

Wednesday, February 1

• Math Around the World Night 5 PM - 7 PM

Thursday, February 2

• College Awareness Day

Friday, February 3

• Digital Learning Day

Saturday, February 4

• Saturday Intervention 9:00 - 11:00

February 7 - 10

• Purchase $1 Candy Grams ~ Support the 1st Grade 100 Book Club

Wednesday, February 8

• 4th Grade Field Trip to the State Capitol

Thursday, February 9

• Virtual Federal Programs Family-School Partnership Advisory Council (PAC) Meeting 5:30-6:30 PM

Friday, February 10

• Are you ready for Super Bowl LVII!?! Wear your favorite NFL team jersey/shirt!
  
• School Council 7:30 AM

Saturday, February 11

• Saturday Intervention 9:00 - 11:00

Tuesday, February 14

• Valentine's Day/PJ Day ~ School Fundraiser $1
• Candy Grams Delivery

Wednesday, February 15

• Trickum MS Counselor & AP Visit to Knight 9:30 - 11:00

February 16 - 20

• Mid-Winter Break / NO SCHOOL

Wednesday, February 22

• 3rd Grade Field Trip to GA Aquarium
  
• APTT Night (1st Grade) 6 PM - 7 PM

Friday, February 24

• House Color Day
• PTA Presidents' Day Dance 6 PM - 8 PM

Saturday, February 25

• Saturday Intervention 9:00 - 11:00

Thursday, February 9, 2023

5:30-6:30 PM

All Families Invited to Attend

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://gcpsk12-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAqdu6uqj4qHNLXGI1O8HyJ7O11n5SciY2o

Sunday, February 12 is Super Bowl LVII! Students are invited to wear their favorite NFL football team shirt/jersey for NFL spirit wear day on Friday, February 10. Good luck to the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles fans!

Students pay $1 to wear pajamas to school on Tuesday, February 14!

All pajamas worn must be school appropriate.

ARRIVAL

Car Rider

• Students will begin entering at 8:20 am.
• Drop off ends promptly at 8:50 am.
• Students arriving after 8:50 am will need to be checked in at the front desk by a parent/guardian.
• Morning announcements will begin at 8:50 am.

Bus Rider

• Buses will unload at 8:20 am.

Day Care

• Students will enter the building beginning at 8:20 am.

VISITORS TO THE SCHOOL

• Please contact the Parent Center from 9:00am - 3:00pm at 770-806-3887 if you are interested in volunteering.

DISMISSAL

Car Rider

• Students will be released starting at 3:20 pm.
• Pick up ends promptly at 3:50 pm.
• Students not picked up after 3:50 pm will need to be checked out at the front desk by a parent/guardian with a photo ID.

Bus Rider

• Buses will load at staggered times based upon their arrival.

Day Care

• Students will be released starting at 3:20 pm.

CHANGE OF TRANSPORTATION: If your child needs a temporary alternate transportation route for the afternoon, please call the front office prior to 10 AM.

• Parents/families are welcome to enjoy lunch with their child(ren).
  
• After checking in the office with an ID and securing a visitor badge, parents/families will meet their child(ren) at the entrance to the cafeteria.
• Please allow your child to follow his/her normal routine in the cafeteria line. Feel free to bring a lunch with you or to purchase lunch at the salad/potato bar ($3.75).
• Parents/families will utilize the bistro tables in the hallway outside the cafeteria.
• When leaving the cafeteria, parents should not escort students back to the classroom. Parents must sign out before leaving.

Many thanks to all visitors for utilizing our Visitor Management System (VMS) and for submitting identification through RAPTOR. This increased security means that visitors have been screened prior to entering the rest of the building.

A vestibule is being constructed in our front lobby as an additional security measure. Visitors to the school will be buzzed in with our video system and will then be allowed to enter the vestibule. Your ID will then be checked, and once you are cleared you will be able to enter the building.

GCPS schools have established reasonable and precautionary practices within the school to minimize the risk of infection and/or spread of COVID-19 and Monkeypox.

Guidance is subject to change based on updated recommendations from CDC/Department of Public Health and will be communicated to local school Health Response Team members.

• Provide opportunities for regular handwashing.
• Implement the custodial schedule/processes to clean high-touch areas during the school day. ​​​​​​​
• Communicate and follow COVID-19/Monkeypox criteria for return to work/school in consultation with county nurses.
• As of August 18th, masks are strongly recommended, but optional for staff in all GCPS facilities. In addition, mask coverings are OPTIONAL for students and visitors. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Action Items for School Plan

• Ensure each common area and classroom will have hand sanitizer available for use.
• Continue to provide ample time for restroom and handwashing opportunities.
• A custodial schedule is being utilized to ensure the cleaning of high-touch areas throughout the school day.

*Protocols for reporting COVID-19/Monkeypox contact exposure will be followed and reported immediately to administrators/district health officials. Please see additional information regarding Monkeypox procedures and CDC Guidelines from GCPS.

* In addition, if you or anyone in your home is sick and has tested positive for COVID-19/Monkeypox, please contact our clinic coordinator, Majonna Garcia, immediately.

Knight PTA's ultimate goal is to benefit our children and support their learning experience. Membership is an opportunity to connect with other parents and to support our school. Our goal is one membership for each student. Membership is only $5 per person! Please join at:

https://knightelementaryschoolpta.memberhub.com/store#.

Membership is $5 per individual adult (not per household or per student as GA PTA does not allow household memberships).

Thank you for supporting PTA!

Knight Elementary (KES) PTA Officers for the 2022-23 school year!

Co-President ~ Vanessa Estremadoyro

Co-President ~ Jocabed Montoya

Vice President ~ Kelly Morgan

Secretary ~ Denise Carter

Treasurer ~ Cherie Peck

If you are interested in volunteering to help support KES PTA and Knight Elementary, please send an email to knightelementarypta@gmail.com.

Order your 2022-2023 Knight Elementary Yearbook TODAY! Don’t Delay, Order Today! Price is $35. Order online at http://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A09859970.

Be sure to visit the GCPSWebsite for updates.

Please feel free to contact Ms. Sindy Amador, sindy.amador@gcpsk12.org, or Ms. Kelli Sheffield, kelli.sheffiled@gcpsk12.org, in our Parent Center. You can also reach them by phone from 9 AM - 3 PM at 770-806-3887.

Please visit the Knight website often for information and updates on KnightESHomepage. Thank you for your generosity and support as we continue to ensure learning for all students at Knight Elementary!

Principal- Dr. Toni Ferguson

Assistant Principal- Mr. Michael Cunningham, Grades K, 1 & Special Needs

Assistant Principal- Ms. Nicole Charloff, Grades 2 & 3

Assistant Principal- Ms. Beth Wilson Grades 4, 5, Special Needs & Specials

Counselors- Ms. Rupal Patel (Grades K-2) & Ms. Michele Brown (Grades 3-5)

Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

All visitors must check in at the welcome desk and please be prepared to provide some form of identification upon request.

Students should arrive between 8:20 AM- 8:50 AM

Morning announcements and the tardy bell ring at 8:50 AM

Dismissal bell rings at 3:20 PM

• If you are checking out your child early from school, please do so on or before 2:30 PM. This leaves our bus lanes open for bus arrivals. Also, please remember that a picture ID is required for all student check-outs. Thank you!