The Parsons Happenings
Friday, April 24, 2020
Quarantine Tunes: Click below to enjoy!
You are doing a great job!
We are all doing our best. Whether that’s keeping up with work demands while at home, educating our kids while they are out of school, caring for others ‘virtually’ or simply taking care of more responsibilities while trying to create a ‘new normal’ in a time of uncertainty. You are doing a great job!
You’ve heard the word resilience, but maybe you’ve never really thought about what it means. Chris Peterson, one of the founders of Positive Psychology, said it best when he described resilience as the ability to ‘struggle well’. We are more apt to thrive when we embrace the life lessons in our challenges, examining with curiosity, the patterns in our struggles. We can cope...with hope.
This is a time to do a few things we normally don’t prioritize:
REFLECT
Use this time to reflect on what you’re doing well. It may not feel like you’re having many successes each day. You may feel lost or hopeless at times. But, if you spend some time each day reflecting on the small victories (completing a task for work or getting a load of laundry done), you’ll find that you’re making it work.
BE GRATEFUL
Aside from celebrating the small accomplishments, recognize things for which to be grateful. Do you have food in the refrigerator? Are you healthy? Can you connect with your family and friends via phone or computer? Did you smile at least once today?
COMMIT TO SELF-CARE
Self-care doesn’t mean you should take a bubble bath or get a massage. It means you should do the things that bring you joy and give you energy. Do you like to cook? Enjoy exercising? Play an instrument? You may find there is more time for you to focus on things you’re passionate about or start something new.
BE PRODUCTIVE
Even though you may not be accomplishing all the things on your ‘to do’ list, make sure you’re getting done what you can so you can feel a sense of purpose each day. Don’t push yourself (see the second point in self-care), but try to set realistic expectations of yourself.
GIVE GRACE
The main thing to keep in mind during all of this—give yourself a break. You are doing the best you can with the situation at hand and putting pressure on yourself to ‘do better’ can make challenging times even more difficult. And, make sure to give grace to those who may be having a hard time being productive while juggling various challenges of their own. Everyone manages stress differently. None of us know what the other person is going through, so be kind.
I know this is a hard time for parents who are working from home and supporting their students with digital learning. We are here for you, so please do not hesitate to reach out for support or to offer us feedback. We are in this together!
Proud to be Your Principal,
Mrs. Clark
laura.j.clark@gcpsk12.org
678-957-3050
Not Attending Parsons Next Year?
If your child is attending Parsons or Hull MS next year, you do NOT need to fill out the form below. If you are moving and your child will not be attending Parsons next school year, please complete the form at the link below for each of your children. This includes 5th graders who will NOT be attending Hull MS. Please submit this form by Friday, May 1.
Attention all families...We are going to have a Virtual Talent Show!
Click the link below if you are interested in participating.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeDjRcq18Gnz_RSwh63Y4VcAYDxGO7MLHAcTUYzADV_OeWxbg/viewformRising 6th Graders going to Hull MS
Hull MS has gone ahead and made the decision to cancel Jumpstart (and their other camps scheduled for this summer). They are hoping to be able to reschedule for before school starts, but with so much yet to be determined, there are currently no definitive plans. If any families had already registered for Jumpstart, their bookkeeper is beginning the process of reimbursing them and they should receive their payments soon.
Shout out to our 5th graders!
Thanks to everyone who donated books for the 2nd Annual Fifth Grade Book Drive! We collected 164 books. The books were put directly in the hands of children who needed them.
Kindergarten Online Registration
WHO:
Rising kindergarten children who will be five years old on or before September 1, 2020 and their parents or guardians
WHAT:
Register for the 2020-21 school year
WHEN:
Beginning April 7th, complete online registration on the Parsons website. Once we have reopened, we will plan activities to welcome and introduce our new kindergartners to Parsons Elementary. Please check our website for updates on these activities.
WHERE:
Visit the website to register online. If you’re not sure if your child will attend Parsons, visit the county's "School Look-up" online at GCPS SchoolLocator. Be careful, Zillow is not always correct!
WHY:
Completing online registration will help your child’s teacher be ready to welcome your new kindergartner on the first day of school which is Wednesday, August 5, 2020.
HOW:
New this year, much of the registration process, including the uploading of documents needed for registration, will be completed online. Most document attachments (PDF, JPG, DOC, PNG, etc.) are compatible. The file-size limit is 2 MB. Families that are unable to obtain the required immunization and/or screening documents due to the COVID-19 situation will be given additional time to obtain those documents, but should go ahead and begin the online registration process.
NEED HELP?:
Contact our registrar, Raiya Troshin. She can even set up a video chat if needed. raiya.troshin@gcpsk12.org
Dual Language Immersion Parent Zoom Meeting
Are you interested in the Korean Dual Language Immersion (DLI) Program at Parsons ES? Click the flyer below to find out more.
DLI Parent Zoom Meeting- May 4th at 6:00 pm (Virtual)
Need Help with Schoolwork? Tutor.Com is available!
Tutor.com is now available to help your child with schoolwork. Tutor.com provides a live tutor and allows students to submit work such as papers and math problems for assistance and guidance.
Students must have a Gwinnett County Public Library Branch Out account (GCPS-GCPL partnership). Students will sign in with their student number and Branch Out password (4 digit birthday, ex. March 6 is 0306). Most of our students already have a Branch Out account. If your child does not have an account, you can request one HERE.
To access Tutor.com please visit the eClass Landing page and click on the Tutor.com image. On the eClass Landing Page you will find a direct link to log in, directions for how to access, and a how-to-use video.
Georgia Special Needs Scholarship/SB10
Parents of students receiving special education services in our school district have the option to exercise public and private school choice. Under a state law passed by the Georgia State Legislature in 2007, parents of students who receive special education services may request to transfer their child to another public or private school in Georgia if their child has an IEP and has been enrolled for a full academic year in a Georgia public school.
Letters explaining the program, as well as the transfer request forms are posted on the Gwinnett County Public Schools Special Education website for parents to view and download on this link.
National Field Day: May 8th
Digital Citizenship Highlight
You might have felt a wide range of differing emotions over our stretch of time at home. It's okay if you haven't been enjoying this time. It's okay if you haven't developed some new skill or talent or gotten in the best shape of your life. It's okay if some or even all of the days have been tough. It's okay to feel discouraged and disappointed.
The reality is that there are many people who are suffering right now. If you are fortunate to not be, what role can you play for others right now? How as a family can you make decisions to support and uplift your neighbors? What small or large acts of kindness can you perform?
What words of encouragement can you offer to others? If you'd like, take some time as a family to fill out the attached sheet. And if you're willing to share your words with others, please email them to me (mona.vosough@gcpsk12.org) and perhaps we can share our words of encouragement with our Parsons' family!
Conversation Starters
- What are some things you can do to make a difference in the world?
- If you could design your own playground, what kinds of things would you want to play on?
- What's the strangest dream you've ever had?
- If you had to change your name, what would your new name be?
- Can you remember a time when you had a really good day?
- Make up a song about your favorite teacher!
This month, we've been learning about Habit 6: Synergize and starting next week, we'll be learning about Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw! These are two great habits for us to practice during our time at home with family. Check out our guide for more information on how you can use Synergize (working together) and Sharpen the Saw (finding balance in our lives) with your family!
Parsons' Virtual Media Center is Open
Please encourage your students to visit the 'Virtual' Media Center (eCLASS page) as though you were walking into the actual Media Center. Mrs. Ripley and Mrs. Britt will continue to have services such as helping students find just the right eBook, discussions about books, a Virtual Makerspace, Virtual Field Trip options, the eBook Library, and Lunch Bunch Live with 4th and 5th grade Lunch Bunch members. Instead of being just a few steps away, the Media Center is now just a click away!
We hope all our Parsons' Lion Cubs will visit daily.
PTA will vote on the 2020-2021 Board on May 1 at 10:00AM zia Zoom session. Zoom details will come out in an email next week.
2020 Nominating Committee Report
Co-Presidents, the Parsons Elementary PTA Nominating Committee submits the following Board nominees for the 2020-2021 School year:
Co-President: Katherine Johnson
Co-President: Mabel Goldsmith
Co-Vice President: Jessica Woo
Co-Vice President: Greta Aramburu
Treasurer: Jessica Vela
Secretary: Jennifer Gore
Signed and Dated,
Jennifer Yoon 4/10/20
Qiong Ly4/10/20
Nicole Lee4/10/20
Book Mobile 5K 2020 Update
Book Mobile 5K Supporters,
Due to the current health crisis, we will not be able to gather in Peachtree Corners for the May 2, 2020 Book Mobile 5K. Our world and the way we work, live and play in it, has dramatically changed, and events like our 5K are forced to change as well.
What hasn’t changed is the need to put books in kids’ hands! So, rather than cancel or postpone the 5K, our event is going virtual!
What does this mean?
- We won’t gather at Pinckneyville Middle School on May 2nd.
- Each participant will run where and when they can do so safely, even on a treadmill.
- On May 2, registrants will receive a short form to complete. A self-reported time will be optional.
- Whether you were able to run the full 5K or complete a .5 mile fun run, you will receive a Book Mobile race day shirt in the mail.
- Everyone who completes the form will be entered in a drawing for great prizes – Stripers tickets, Fox Theater tickets, and more!
- Your school can still win a free Book Mobile visit by having the most registrations!
We encourage runners to post pictures on social media using #bookitforthebus and tagging @gcpslibraries. Let’s connect by encouraging each other to support this program.
Thank you to the sponsors, registrants and volunteers who have made our event a success in the past. Please register for this year’s virtual event at bookmobile5k.com, and we look forward to seeing you in person on May 1, 2021! Register Here!
Proud Principal Laura Clark
Email: laura.j.clark@gcpsk12.org
Website: https://www.gcpsk12.org
Location: 1615 Old Peachtree Road Northwest, Suwanee, GA, USA
Phone: 678-957-3050