The Falcon Flyer
SEPTEMBER 2023
Greetings Falcon Families!
We have completed the first month of the 2023-2024 school year and I sincerely hope that the year has gotten off to a great start for all of our Falcon families. Open House, Kindergarten Reimagined, and Curriculum Night were well attended, and we are looking forward to hosting monthly parent and family engagement opportunities.
To stay well informed throughout the school year, be certain to keep your Parent Portal account updated, sign-up to receive Remind messages, check your child’s red communication folder each week, listen to the Sunday messages, read The Falcon Flyer each month, visit the CJH webpage frequently, maintain an open line of communication with your child’s teacher, sign-up for a parent-teacher conference each semester, and attend all school events with pride.
At. C.J. Hicks, we want you to know that we value input from our teachers, staff, students, and families and we encourage you to let us know the areas where we are doing well and the areas where we can improve. By working together, we can ensure that C.J. Hicks is a great place for everyone to work, play, learn, and grow.
Dr. Erica Wakefall
LEAD | LEARN | LOVE | GROW
CJH PARENT INFORMATION GUIDE
GREETINGS READY FAMILIES!
We have gotten off to a very good start this school year. We have spent time practicing and learning our classroom rules, expectations, and routines, and the students are now becoming more comfortable in their new learning environment. Our new themes for the month of September are “All About Me”, “Apples”, “Leaves”, and “Fall”. Our book of the month is From Head to Toe by Eric Carle. This book introduces the basic body parts and simple body movements. The color of the month is red, the shape is square, and we will focus on the numbers 3 and 4.
We are so excited about having our very own Media Specialist, Mrs. Burdett, read a book to our students once a week during our story time session. Fall is a wonderful time of year for you and your child to take a walk and talk about what you see. You can talk about the changing weather and how the leaves are starting to change colors; you can even go on a leaf hunt and collect different types of leaves and explore them together. Remember, little moments make big memories!
Thank you!
The READY Team
GREETINGS PRE-K FAMILIES
We have had an awesome start to this school year making friends, learning rules, and establishing routines in our new classroom. We have practiced cutting, name writing and expressing our feelings. We also enjoyed the many science experiments and creative drawings we have done. Some things we are working on in class are identifying shapes, writing letters of the alphabet during journal, and reviewing numbers. Please take some time to read to your child each night, and practice name writing, counting, letter, and number recognition.
Thank you!
The Pre-K Team
GREETINGS KINDERGARTEN FAMILIES!
Thank you for all the support you have given us so far this school year. We ask that you continue to work with your child at home to read 20-30 minutes per day and study their sight words. Please take time to ask your students questions as you are reading with them each night. We are beginning to learn about asking and answering questions about fictional text in reading. We would also like to encourage you to practice counting to 100 by ones and tens daily to help our students master foundational math standards. Students are currently learning about shapes in math. This includes naming shapes, comparing shapes and sorting shapes.
Our students have been learning about movement in science. Ask your child about the different types of movement they have been learning in their school day. In social studies, students have learned about the importance of rules and why we have rules, US symbols and where they live. This week we have begun learning about the different jobs that people do in our community. We will also learn about how we can use money to purchase goods or services. GKIDS Readiness reports will be sent home as progress reports. Please keep in mind that this assessment measures the entry-level readiness skills of Kindergarteners. This assessment does not have the same expectations as the regular GKIDS assessment that will take place through the rest of the school year. Please ask your child’s teacher if you have questions or need additional resources to help support your child.
Thank you,
The Kindergarten Team
GREETINGS 1ST GRADE FAMILIES!
First grade is growing! Students are learning how to identify the different text features of a non-fiction text and they are continuing with asking/answering questions about a text in reading! In writing we are exploring narratives and “how to” writing. Students can share real experiences along with tell a reader how to do something like “how to brush your teeth”! In math, students are learning about building and expanding the relationship between addition and subtraction. In Science, our scholars are finishing up our unit on Magnets. Scholars are also learning about economics (goods, services, producers, consumers) in social studies. We appreciate all your support! If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your student's teacher. Please also remember to send your student with a dry snack daily.
Thank you,
The 1st Grade Team
GREETINGS 2ND GRADE FAMILIES!
Wow!! We have made it through the first month of school. We have completed the BAS testing and STAR testing. We are beginning to use what we have learned about our students to focus their learning. Please remember school starts at 7:35 am and attendance is very important.
In reading we are working on asking questions about what we are reading. We are steering away from ‘thin’ questions (Who are the characters?), and asking ‘thick’ questions (Why did the characters change from the beginning of the story?) In mathematics we are comparing three-digit numbers based on meanings of the hundreds, tens, and ones digits. In social studies we are finishing our Unit 2 on the regions of Georgia and moving into Unit 3 about Georgia first people. We are beginning the Stars unit in science.
We are enjoying getting to know our sweet students. I know they are enjoying having a laptop this year. Please remember that all devices need to return to school each day, charged and ready for a day of learning.
Thank you,
The 2nd Grade Team
GREETINGS 3RD GRADE FAMILIES!
We hope this letter finds you well and that your children are settling into the new school year with enthusiasm. We wanted to take this opportunity to keep you informed about what’s happening in our Third-Grade classrooms and to provide some important reminders for the month of September.
Academic Standards:
This month, our focus in the classroom will be on several key academic standards. These standards include Multiplication in Math, learning about Georgia Regions in Science, and Understanding Informational Text in Reading. In Writing we will finish narrative writing and start on opinion writing, and in social studies we are learning about the American Indians. We are excited to engage your child in meaningful learning experiences that align with these goals. Please encourage your child to stay engaged in class discussions, complete homework assignments, and ask questions when they need clarification. Together, we can help them reach their academic potential.
Daily Reminders:
To ensure a successful and productive month, here are some important daily reminders for both students and parents:
Attendance: Please make sure your child attends school regularly and arrives on time. Consistent attendance is essential for their academic progress.
Homework: Encourage your child to complete their homework assignments promptly. If they ever struggle with a particular assignment, don’t hesitate to reach out for assistance. All assignments will be on Canvas.
Communication: Open lines of communication between home and school are vital. If you have any concerns or questions, please feel free to contact us via email or on Remind. Also, Red folders will be sent home every Wednesday. Please review all material inside and send it back signed on Thursday.
Healthy Habits: Encourage your child to get enough sleep, eat a balanced diet, and engage in physical activity. These habits contribute to their overall well-being and readiness to learn.
Thank you for your continued support in your child’s education. We are looking forward to a productive and rewarding month of learning and growth. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your student's teacher. Together, we can make this school year a success for your child.
Thank you,
The 3rd Grade Team
GREETINGS 4TH GRADE FAMILIES!
The year has started off well. We have been enjoying getting to know all of the students. Please help us by reminding students of our RISE (Respect, Integrity, Safety, and Empathy) expectations daily.
We have taken our first math and science CUA. Within the month of September, the students will take Social Studies, ELA, and another science CUA. To help our students be successful, please encourage them to study their interactive journals where they will find notes and activities completed in class.
What’s Next? Below we have our upcoming standards in each subject.
- Math - Patterns, Prime and Composite numbers, Factors and Multiples, and Multiplication and Division.
- Science - The Water Cycle
- Social Studies - Continuing the American Revolution
- ELA - Opinion Writing, Main Idea, Point of View, and Ordering Adjectives
- Red communication folders will be sent home Wednesday. Please be sure to view, review, and send specified items back within the folder each Thursday.
All students were given agendas to utilize to write down their homework daily. Please be sure to check it daily to view homework assignments and any notes written by your student’s teacher. Homework is assigned Monday – Thursday. Students are to read nightly for 35 minutes. We look forward to working with you and your student this school year. Please feel free to contact us via Remind or email.
Thank you,
The 4th Grade Team
GREETINGS 5TH GRADE FAMILIES!
Thank you all for a great start to the school year. Our instructional day begins promptly at 7:35 am and attendance is very important. Please encourage your student to get a good night’s rest so that they are ready for a full day of learning.
We have been very busy this past month. The students have been learning many new concepts and reviewing some previously learned concepts. We have been working on various comprehension skills in reading (Point of View and Theme). In math we have worked on place value and order of operations. Please encourage your student to do his/her best on all assignments.
Please also encourage your student to read at least 35 minutes every night and to complete all assigned homework and return it the next day. With your help, we look forward to a great school year.
Thank you,
The 5th Grade Team
The CJH Front Office is open Monday through Friday from 7:00 am - 3:00 pm. The dedicated front office staff members look forward to assisting you throughout the school year.
We will always be happy to meet the clinic needs of our students. Please contact our school nurse, Mrs. Berlinda Alexander, if you have any questions regarding the clinic.
RCPS participates in the National School Lunch and Breakfast programs and offers free or reduced-price meals to eligible students. Please contact our cafeteria manager, Mrs. Kimberly Barrett, if you have any questions regarding school meals.
Effective, Thursday, September 14, 2023, students with over $10.00 in negative balances will receive alternate meals. Students who were approved last school year are required to complete the application prior to Thursday, September 14, 2023, to maintain their eligibility status. Parents can apply via paper application or online at MySchoolApps - Getting Started. Applications are available in English and Spanish.
CJH Cafeteria Manager
Mrs. Kimberly Barrett
We look forward to supporting our students and families throughout the school year. Please contact our Parent Liaison, Mrs. Dawn Smith, if you have any questions about school policies and procedures.
Mrs. Dawn Smith
C.J. Hicks Elementary School
Email: cjhes@rockdale.k12.ga.us
Website: cjh.rockdaleschools.org
Location: 1300 Pine Log Rd NE, Conyers, GA, USA
Phone: 770.483.4410
Twitter: @CJHicksElem