Knightly News
Friday, August 26, 2022
Every Student, Every Day, Deserves to Learn, Lead, & Excel!
Message from Ms. Perkins ~ Simonton ES Principal
Curriculum Night
Thank you to everyone who came out to our two Curriculum Night sessions!
Upcoming Event Dates
Monday, August 22- September 2
- Book Blast Fundraiser
Tuesday, August 23- Tuesday, September 6
- i-Ready Diagnostic Testing (ELA & Math) for 1st- 5th graders
Thursday, September 1
- 5th Grade Pajama Day Fundraiser ($1.00)
Friday, September 2
- Local School Council Meeting ~ 9:00- 10:00 am
Monday, September 5
- Labor Day ~ No School
Wednesday, September 7
- PTA Spirit Night ~ 5:00-9:00 pm
Friday, September 9
- Progress Reports emailed to parents
Friday, September 16
- Digital Learning Day #1
Tuesday, September 20
- Fall Picture Day
- PTA Fall Festival ~ 5:00-8:00 pm
Simonton ES Local School Council
We invite parents to join us for our Simonton ES Local School Council meeting. Local School Council meetings will be held four times during the school year. Meetings will take place in person at the local school.
The purpose of the Council is three-fold:
I. To help the local board of education develop and nurture participation.
II. To bring parents and the community together with teachers and school administrators to create a better understanding of and mutual respect for each other's concerns.
III. To share ideas for school improvement.
Meeting Dates: September 2, 2022, December 2, 2022, March 3, 2023 and May 5, 2023
Meeting Time: 9:00 am
Location: Simonton ES
Our first meeting will take place on Friday, September 2, 2022 at 9:00 am.
Draft Agenda Items
Welcome/Introductions
Local School Council orientation
Election of Officers
- Early Intervention Program
- Simonton ES Strategic Goals
- Simonton ES Student Enrollment
- GCPS Blue Print
- Simonton ES Safety Plan
- Simonton ES Discipline Report
If you are interested in attending the Simonton ES Local School Council meetings please click on the link below.
Book Blast Fundraiser
Our Book Blast Fundraiser will continue into next week!
We congratulate the following students who have won the Treasure Chests so far:
Connor H. (Mrs. Shoemake's class)
Nylah S. (Ms. Mattingly's class)
Fonte W. (Mrs. Shoemake's class)
Zeri A. (Mrs. Pace's class)
GCPS Device 1:1 Initiative
Per the Handbook Information for Students and Families, if a GCPS technology resource is assigned to a student and taken home, it is the parent's responsibility to monitor the use of the device to ensure the student is following the Student Conduct Behavior Code and to ensure that the device is returned in the condition in which it was received. When using GCPS technology or network access, students are expected to follow the Student Conduct Behavior Code, including respecting others' privacy. Online student accounts to be used for legitimate educational purposes will be subject to monitoring and review, including review of text and attachments that are related to that student or students. At NO TIME should a student consider GCPS email, networked applications, or account or technology access private or confidential in any way.
While the school district does maintain Internet filters, there may be times when a student may accidentally or purposefully discover inappropriate materials online. Gwinnett County Public Schools DOES NOT CONDONE the use of such materials. Inappropriate use of any GCPS technology resource or network access is a violation of the Student Conduct Behavior Code.
- K-2 student devices will be kept at school and sent home on Digital Learning Days.
- Students in grades 3-5 will have the ability to take their devices home each day.
- Students are to care for devices and return them to school each day.
- Students will need devices to complete assessments and assignments in school.
- Students will need the devices to participate in small group instruction.
- Devices are to be kept in a protective sleeve as they are carried between home and school each day.
- A limited number of devices are available in the school. Your student may not have access to instruction or assessments if they leave their device at home.
Chromebooks Issued to Students Who are Transferring
As a reminder, any student transferring schools or withdrawing should return all items issued to the school they are leaving upon withdrawal. Any student transferring should return their GCPS issued technology. Once enrolled at a new GCPS school, the student should be issued a GCPS Chromebook and associated technology by the new school.
GEMS Oversight Committee Applications
Gwinnett County Public Schools is inviting parents and guardians, community members, and school district employees to apply for the GEMS Oversight Committee, a group of community and school system representatives charged with the annual review of the Academic Knowledge and Skills (AKS) curriculum standards. The next meeting is tentatively scheduled for Nov. 1, 2022. After the review, the committee recommends revisions and additions to the Superintendent for adoption by the Gwinnett County Board of Education. Committee members serve three-year terms.
Simonton Spirit Wear
2022-23 GCPS by the Numbers
If you’ve wondered how GCPS stacks up when it comes to statistics, wonder no more! You probably already knew GCPS has the largest student enrollment of any school district in Georgia, but did you know our students and their families speak nearly 100 different languages at home and our cafés served 16.3 million servings of locally grown produce last year?
Check out GCPS by the Numbers for the 2022-23 school year.
Simonton ES PTA
*Movie and snack celebration (Parents must be members)
*Fall Festival
*Halloween Hair Day
*Winter Holiday Shop
*Sprit nights
Print the attached membership form and return it to the Simonton ES PTA. Sign up for a membership and volunteer to support an event! Contact the Simonton ES PTA at Simontonespta@gmail.com for more information.
GCPS Blueprint for the Future
Blueprint for the Future: Building the Bridge from Empathy to Excellence is our district plan, outlining the transformational work of Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) over the next five years.
Open the attached document to read more.
Helpful Resources
Title IX
If you believe you are being mistreated by school employees on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin or handicap, please contact Joe Sanfalippo (Title IX Coordinator for Simonton ES) or Amy Steinberg (Title IX Investigator for Simonton ES) and inform them that you have a complaint about the manner in which you or your child were treated and why.
Family Engagement e-Tips
Have your child do the math for a sweet summer treat
Make "ice cream-in-a-bag" on a hot summer day together, and your child will get some measuring practice along with a treat. Have your child measure one half-cup of milk, one tablespoon of sugar and one quarter teaspoon of vanilla and seal them into a zip-top sandwich bag. Put the bag into a gallon-size zip-top bag, along with crushed ice and eight tablespoons of rock salt. Seal and shake until you get ice cream! https://tpitip.com/?12hV18608
Reinforce responsibility and follow it with fun
Kids who learn responsibility at home are more responsible at school. To instill a sense of responsibility, avoid doing things for your child that your child can do independently (that goes for schoolwork, too!). Assign your child some household chores, including picking up items after using them. List them on a chart so your student can check tasks off after completing them. Also list some fun activities to choose from after the work is done. https://tpitip.com/?12hW18608
Think about discipline before your child misbehaves
No child behaves perfectly all the time. But good behavior in school makes it easier for everyone to learn. Decide in advance how you will handle your child's misbehavior, and explain rules and consequences up front. Sometimes, it's possible to distract children before they misbehave. And when you want to see a change in behavior, explain what you want to see and offer specific praise and attention when your child complies. https://tpitip.com/?12hX18608
Fill your home with words for your child to read
Reading with your child doesn't always have to involve books. You can help your beginning reader learn in lots of ways. For example, label furniture and household items with sticky notes (chair, table, sink, etc.). Go around the house and read the labels together. Then collect the labels and ask your child to place each one on the matching item.
A short note can ease first-day jitters
Even children who are excited about the first day of school can be worried about it, too. One common worry is, "Will my teacher like me?" Ease these fears by writing a note introducing your child to the teacher. You can include all the things your child wants the teacher to know, like "Jackie can count to 100." Read the note aloud to your child. Then send it to school to start productive teamwork with the teacher. https://tpitip.com/?12hZ18608
Celebrate achievements with a special photo
Setting goals is an effective way to motivate your child, in school and at home. Sometimes reaching a goal feels so good, it's all the reward students will need to keep going. But when your student reaches a tough goal, it's time to celebrate! One way is to take a picture of your child reaching the goal. Frame it and put it by your child's bed. Seeing themselves as achievers is a great way for students to start the day! https://tpitip.com/?12ha18608
Promote safety on the way to school
Whether your child walks or bikes to school or just to the bus stop, ensuring safety along the way is vital. Choose a route with the fewest street crossings. Then walk it with your child. As you go, role-play situations your student might face. What can your child do if a large dog is in the path? If possible, arrange for your student to walk with a friend or family member each day. And be sure your child knows never to talk to or ride with strangers. https://tpitip.com/?12hb18608
SIMONTON ELEMENTARY- WHAT WE STAND FOR
Vision
Simonton is committed to dynamic high quality instruction resulting in a passion for learning, leading and excelling.
Core Belief
Every Student Every Day, Deserves to Learn, Lead, and Excel
Commitments
We commit to giving our students a fresh start every day.
We commit to preparing quality and engaging lessons that will prepare our students to be successful in school.
We commit to teaching, modeling and holding our students accountable for appropriate school behavior.
We commit to providing our students with a structured and safe learning environment.
We commit to a great year of learning, leading, and excelling
Simonton Elementary's Assistant Principals
Mr. Nicholas Gilmore
Assistant Principal ~ 2nd Grade, 5th Grade, ESOL, Gifted and Testing
Dr. Joe Sanfilippo
Mrs. Amy Steinberg
Assistant Principal ~ 1st Grade, 4th Grade, Title I, EIP and Title IX Investigator
Simonton Elementary School
Deputy Superintendent ~ Dr. T. Nakia Towns
Board Member ~ Mr. Steven B. Knudsen
Principal ~ Ms. Tamara G. Perkins
Assistant Principal ~ Mr. Nicholas Gilmore
Assistant Principal ~ Dr. Joe Sanfilippo
Assistant Principal ~ Mrs. Amy Steinberg
Website: https://www.gcpsk12.org/SimontonES
Location: 275 Simonton Road Southeast, Lawrenceville, GA, USA
Phone: 770-513-6637
Twitter: @SimontonPride