Knightly News
Friday, January 13, 2023
Every Student, Every Day, Deserves to Learn, Lead, & Excel!
Message from Ms. Perkins ~ Simonton ES Principal
We had an amazing turnout for our 1st All Pro Dads breakfast of the school year. It was standing room only. Thank you to Mr. Williams and Mr. Sweets for leading our meeting. Our next meeting will be held in February and we will be moving to a larger location. We appreciate your patience and flexibility.
This week our 1st grade students had an opportunity to visit Aurora Theatre to view a production of Goldie Locks and the Three Bears. Next week our Kindergarten students will visit to see the same show. All of our students and teachers enjoyed the show and loved how engaging and interactive it was.
Report cards for students in grades K-5 went home today. Be sure to check your student's bookbag for your copy. The report card shows your child's progress for the 1st semester of school. Mark your calendars for January 25, 2023 and January 27, 2023 when we will recognize our students for their academic achievements, perfect attendance and demonstrating great citizenship.
Have a great weekend and stay warm.
Upcoming Events at Simonton
Monday, January 16
- No School ~ MLK, Jr. Holiday
Tuesday, January 17
- 3rd grade Vision & Hearing Screening
Thursday, January 19
- PTA Spirit Night at Sparkles ~ 5:00-9:00 pm
Friday, January 20
- 100th Day of School
- PBIS Celebration ~ Silent Disco
Wednesday, January 25
- 1st Grade Honor Ceremony ~ 8:30-9:15 am
- 2nd Grade Honor Ceremony ~ 9:30- 10:15 am
- International Night ~ 5:00-7:00 pm
Friday, January 27
- 3rd Grade Honor Ceremony ~ 8:30-9:15 am
- 5th Grade Honor Ceremony ~ 9:30- 10:15 am
- 4th Grade Honor Ceremony ~ 10:30-11:15 am
- Bus Safety Puppet Show (K-2)
Wednesday, February 1
- National Elementary Honor Society Induction Ceremony ~ 5:30-6:30 pm
Friday, February 3
- Digital Learning Day # 3
Saturday, February 4
- Saturday Intervention (K-5) ~ 9:00-11:00 am
All Pro Dad Meeting
Attention Kindergarten and 1st Grade Students Who Love LEGO!
We are now accepting applications for the Kindergarten and 1st Grade LEGO Discover team. We will meet each Thursday from 7-8am starting 1/19. Only 8 students can be on the team, so we will be accepting students on a first come, first serve basis. Additionally, there will be a required showcase on Saturday, March 25th from 9:30am-2pm. Please make sure your child can attend both the meetings and the showcase before filling out the form. Click here to complete the application. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Aseltine at stephanie.aseltine@gcpsk12.org.
Donations for the Clinic
Our clinic is in need of clothing donations. As you are cleaning after the holiday break, please consider donating items to our clinic. We can use donations of all sizes.
Semester 1 Grades
Grades for GCPS Milestones Benchmark Assessments, Semester 1 Final Exams, and Midyear Assessments will be finalized in January upon return from Winter break. When scores for these assessments are available, teachers will enter them, and the grades will be visible in ParentVUE and StudentVUE. As a result, final course grades for fall semester for students enrolled in high school will be finalized by Tuesday, January 10th. For elementary and middle school students, grades will be finalized by Saturday, January 14th. If you don't have a Parent Portal account, please contact your local school and they can provide you with the information needed to create an account
Simonton ES All Pro Dads Chapter
We are excited to relaunch our Simonton ES All Pro Dads chapter! All Pro Dads is a wonderful opportunity for fathers, grandfathers and any other positive figure in a child's life to partner with the school. Events and meetings focus on building a strong, healthy and postive relationship with your student.
Prior to Covid, Simonton had a robust and active chapter. Thank you to Mr. Reginald Williams and Mr. Jackie Sweets, who have volunteered to help restart our chapter.
If you are interested in volunteering, please click on the link below.
International Night
We are in need of parent volunteers and helpers. If you would like to create a display, share a talent or just help out, reach out to Mrs. Deb Saha at Debjani.Saha@gcpsk12.org.
5th Grade Family Life
AKS at Home Session 3
Session 3 for AKS at Home begins January 30th.
This is a virtual meeting via Zoom. Please visit the website provided to access the zoom link: https://www.gcpsk12.org/Page/26993
If you are unable to attend the meeting, a parent tip sheet and a recording of the meeting will be available on the county website following the completion of each unit: https://www.gcpsk12.org/Page/26993
See flyer below for more details...
SES ~ Building Construction
If you are visiting Simonton ES in the next few weeks you will see contractors working in the front atrium. The district is installing a vestibule, with shatter-resistant glass, at the front entrance. We are fortunate that no incidents have taken place at Simonton ES, as an additional safety measure, this upgrade is taking place in all GCPS schools. Please know we are not attempting to keep parents and families out, but our campus must be safe for students and staff while at school. We anticipate changes to the process for parent/visitor entry and student checkout and will send additional communication at a later date. The front entrance will be accessible while the construction is taking place.
Blueprint for the Future
The Blueprint is designed to ensure our Portrait of a Graduate becomes a reality. The Blueprint will also drive the intentional culture shifts that reflect the guiding vision of the Learning 2025 community of practice. Our Blueprint for the Future defines our strategic priorities in four areas: empathy, equity, effectiveness, and excellence.
Parent Mentors Present: “Preparing for the Annual GCPS Transition Fair”
Who: Parents/Guardians of students receiving Special Education services
What: Parent Mentors Present: “Preparing for the Annual GCPS Transition Fair”
When: Thursday, January 19, 2023, 9:30am – 11:00am or 6:00 pm-7:30pm
Where: In-Person registration link for 9:30am session: https://forms.gle/9BJdCn85qZ8LYq2L8
Zoom registration link for 6pm session: https://gcpsk12-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0qc-quqDgrE9FO7NzBbcVmmALV9k7Knr4D
Elementary Handbook Information for Students and Families
On August 18, 2022 the Gwinnett County Board approved Policy JCDI - Board's Theory of Action for Change to Improve Student Behavior and Outcomes (please see attached Policy). This Policy outlines our Board’s commitment to providing both consequences and interventions in order to improve student behavior outcomes.
The Elementary Handbook Information for Students and Families has been updated to include this new change. Please take a moment to read the new handbook and sign off in the Parent Portal indicating your have received a copy of the document. A copy of the document is attached to the newsletter and a link to the documents on the GCPS website is below.
Helpful Resources
Simonton ES PTA
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.
Family eTips
There is no such thing as safe tobacco use
Many parents believe that their kids are too smart to vape or smoke. But nearly five percent of middle school students use tobacco products, and e-cigarettes (vaping devices) lead the list. Vaping is not safe for children and young adults. Vapers are also more likely to become smokers, and life expectancy for smokers is 10 years shorter than for nonsmokers. Make it clear to your child that you do not allow tobacco use of any kind. https://tpitip.com/?13aP18608
Share a simple system for remembering reading
Studying with the R-C-R-C method can help children remember what they read. Teach your elementary schooler these four steps: 1. Read. Have your child read aloud. 2. Cover. Your child should put a piece of paper over the passage. 3. Remember. Ask your child to explain the reading. (If this is a struggle, try a shorter passage.) 4. Check. Your child should reread the material to verify recall accuracy. https://tpitip.com/?13aQ18608
What do you and your child have in common?
As children grow, their interests change. To maintain a connection, parents need to find new ways to talk, listen and connect with their kids. One good way is to find an interest you and your child share: making model rockets, biking, playing board games, baking, etc. Whatever it is, make time to do it together. Communication will flow easily when you both can share in and discuss an enjoyable activity. https://tpitip.com/?13aR18608
Sign here to encourage homework responsibility
Sometimes, kids "forget" to tell their parents about a school assignment. Usually, asking them to write down what they must do for each class solves the problem. But a few kids may then start erasing assignments from their notebooks. If this happens, ask your child's teacher to sign each day's assignments vertically across your child's writing. That way, there will be no mistake about what's due. https://tpitip.com/?13aS18608
Build social skills…one compliment at a time
Young children are naturally self-centered. But you can help your child grow out of this and learn to appreciate other people. Encourage your child to compliment at least one person at school each day. Explain that compliments should be sincere, so your child will have to look for positive things that friends and teachers do. Each evening, ask who your child complimented and why. https://tpitip.com/?13aT18608
Easier mornings start the night before
In many families, weekday mornings are often rushed and disorganized. To make yours more manageable, get ready the night before. Have your child lay out clothes, pack up schoolwork and put schoolbags by the door. Make sure your child gets enough sleep, too. Sleepy, crabby kids are hard on families and teachers, and they also can't learn well. Fuel your child's brain for learning with portable breakfast choices that can go out the door with your child. https://tpitip.com/?13aU18608
Teach your child how to find answers to questions
"How do you spell…?" "What’s a…?" "Where is…?" Students are full of questions. It's important that they learn how to find the answers for themselves in reliable sources. Keep a few basic reference books, such as an encyclopedia, a dictionary, an atlas and a thesaurus, on hand or bookmarked online. When your elementary schooler asks you a question, demonstrate how to use them. Your child will not only answer the question, but will also learn how to find the answers to others. https://tpitip.com/?13aV18608
SES Business Partners
Simonton Elementary School would like to thank our business sponsors!
Your support and partnership helps us fulfill our mission of having our students Learn, Lead, & Excel!
Mathnasium of North Lawrenceville
900 Duluth HWY, Suite 400
Lawrenceville, GA 30043
Phone: 678-756-1392
Stars and Strikes
Dacula, GA 30019
Phone: 678-965-5707
Kroger
2100 Riverside Pkwy
Lawrenceville, GA 30043
Phone: 770-962-0890
GCPS Flyers
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 School
Deputy Superintendent ~ Dr. T. Nakia Towns
Board Member ~ Mr. Steven B. Knudsen
Cluster Superintendent ~ Dr. Keith D. Thompson
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