Sweetwater Middle School News
October 5, 2020
Translation Information
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National Hispanic Heritage Month
National Hispanic Heritage Month, which begins each year on Sept. 15, celebrates U.S. Latinos, their culture and their history. Started in 1968 by Congress as Hispanic Heritage Week, it was expanded to a month in 1988. The celebration begins in the middle rather than the start of September because it coincides with national independence days in several Latin American countries: Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica celebrate theirs on Sept. 15, followed by Mexico on Sept. 16, Chile on Sept. 18 and Belize on Sept 21. National Hispanic Heritage Month ends on October 15th.
A Message from Principal Johnson
September Students of the Month
6th Grade
Riley Team
Vy Huynh
Huynh Do
Edley Team
Zaira Avila-Jaramillo
Aariz Waheed
R. Brown Team
Monica Feliz Villilo
Ali Rodriguez Cruz
Miller Team
Gloria Chavez-Perez
Abreon Williams
Nelson Team
Geovana Ramirez
Jonathan Garcia
D. Brown Team
Quenya Greer
Ja'hill Bates
7th Grade
Alexander Team
Kiaraliz Heredia
Yakubu Mohammed
Romo Team
Eric Williams
Raisa Haque
Kareem Clarke Team
Issa Barnes
Quenya Greer
Farrar Team
Genesis Barrientos Rivera
Baylen Macle Soto
Clark Team
Patricia Dang
Kai Allen
Steam Team
Jordan Ochoa
Maria Franco
8th Grade
GEAR UP
Marlyna Herrea Vasquez
Jaime Conde Acosta
DREAM TEAM
Kaily Solorzano Juarez
Tosan Eyoyibo
STEAM
Camila Isaza
John Moe
MASTERMINDS TEAM
Dayanra Matamoros Mata
Gabriel Solorzano Gil
DISTINGUISHED TEAM
Patricia Castro Reyes
Juan Santana
We Need your help
We really need your assistance with completed the applications for Free and Reduced Lunch. Our school receives funding based on the number of students that qualify for the program. With those funds, we are able to buy more technology, allocate for additional staff, and other intervention programs for our students and teachers. More information is provided below in the Parent Center Section.
Thank you for supporting SMS!!
This Month at Sweetwater
Student Holiday - 10/12 ( No School)
Early Release Days - 10/21 & 10/22( Teams will be contacted parents to set up virtual time slots)
Interim Exams - 10/26 - 10 - 29 All subject classes
Virtual Coffee with the Principal - 10/27 8:10 am - 9:00 am
Please Review the current Promotion Criteria!
The Counselors' Corner
Greetings from the SMS counseling department. Middle School is an exciting yet challenging time for students, their parents, and teachers. COVID-19 has made this time even more challenging. As a result, this school year our focus will be social-emotional learning delivered through classroom lessons, Advisement, and small groups to support students who may have been negatively impacted by the pandemic. In addition to supporting your student(s), we are here to support you as well. Please reach out to your student's grade level counselor if you need assistance.
Chandra Williams, 6th grade - 770-806-8937, Chandra.Williams@gcpsk12.org
Donna Jackson, 7th grade - 770-806-8943, Donna.Jackson@gcpsk12.org
Joseph Genaro, 8th grade/Gear Up - 770-806-8936, Joseph.Genaro@gcpsk12.org
Andrea Ellis, Counseling intern
From the Parent Center
Happy October Sweetwater Middle School Parents,
Even though, we are operating on a hybrid schedule (digital and F2F), there are still items we need to complete to make sure our school runs smoothly. First is the free and reduced lunch application. If your child eats free or reduced lunch, and you want him/her to continue to eat free or reduced lunch in 2021, you must fill out the application. You can come to the school and fill out the application, or you can fill it out on line. Here is the link if you would like to fill it out on line. Lunch Application
Second, everyone needs to sign up for MyPaymentsPlus. Once you sign up for MPP, you will need to acknowledge that you have read the Title I documents. If you have trouble signing up for MyPaymentsPlus, you can come to the Parent Center to receive help. Here is the link for MyPaymentsPlus.
Third, please make sure you have signed up for the Parent Portal. This is the best way to monitor your child’s progress. You can also communicate with your child’s teachers through the Parent Portal. Attached is the link for the Parent Portal Application in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Please complete the application and send it back to the school or email it to June.Harris@gcpsk12.org.
Fourth, we know that technology is a struggle for parents as they try to help their students through Zoom, E-Class, and G-Suite. We have designed a Parent Technology Institute that will help parents learn how to maneuver in Zoom, E-Class, and G-Suite. Parents can sign up for technology classes using the Signup Genius link. Parent Sign-up
Finally, as we continue to work through this pandemic, it is important to know there are agencies willing to help families that are struggling during this time. Below is a list of organizations that will help with rent, food, and medical attention.
Parent Resources
News from the Connections Department
Sweetwater Middle School
Email: june.harris@gcpsk12.org
Website: https://www.gcpsk12.org/SweetwaterMS
Location: 3500 Cruse Road Northwest, Lawrenceville, GA, 30045
Phone: 770-923-4131
Twitter: @Sweetwatermidd2