December Newsletter 2017
Chestatee Elementary School
A Letter From Dr. Tennies, Our Principal
Dear Families,
Have you heard our good news? Chestatee has a 5-star climate rating! This information, recently published by the Georgia Department of Education, highlights a strong performance at our school and is the highest possible rating. Achieving this standard reflects the exceptional interactions within the school and community and the work of our students and teachers. The rating is derived from four areas: attendance, survey information, discipline, and safety. Here are some frequently asked questions regarding the rating. exceptional
What is the School Climate Star Rating?
In response to the compelling body of research that underscores the importance of school climate, Georgia is the first state in the nation to include school climate as an early indicator in its academic accountability system, the College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI). State law (O.C.G.A. § 20-14-33) requires the development and use of a "star rating" to address school climate. The School Climate Star Rating is a diagnostic tool to determine if a school is on the right path to school improvement.
How is the School Climate Star Rating calculated?
The School Climate Star Rating is calculated using data from the Georgia Student Health Survey 2.0, Georgia School Personnel Survey, Georgia Parent Survey, student discipline data and attendance records for students, teachers, staff and administrators. The School Climate Star Rating provides school-level data on the following components:
1) Survey – a measure of student, teacher, and parent perceptions of a school’s climate. We encourage all parents and teachers to take the survey. In February, students in grades 3rd, 4th and 5th grade will take a student survey during a pathway class.
2) Student Discipline – a measure of student discipline
3) Safe and Substance-Free Learning Environment – school discipline incidents and student survey responses regarding the school environment.
4) Attendance – the average daily attendance of teachers, administrators, and staff members and the percentage of students with less than six unexcused absences.
Each of the four components gets an equal value.
How do I contribute to the rating?
Take a moment to complete our parent survey. Your opinion helps form our rating for next school year. Provide feedback for our School Climate Survey by clicking HERE. Thank you for your time!
Kindly,
Dr. Polly Tennies
Great Things Happening at the "T"!
Spelling Bee Champ!
Below are a few pictures as students were leaving the building. The excitement shows on their faces! Watch for more pics in next month's newsletter!
Did you know???
Have you heard about our Chromebooks?
Thank you to our Veterans!
What an amazing celebration for our Veterans!
Watch here if you weren't able to come!
What is AST?
EIP
Title 1
ESOL
What's Coming up at the "T"?
Santa Shoppe
Pathways to Success!
Fake Snow Day is Coming!
Big Thinkers Science Exploration
This year Big Thinkers will be presenting the show Phenomenal Physics! Students will be amazed as we explore the whirring world of physics!
- Defy gravity making water levitate!
- Gain a new perspective about inertia with some “skate board science.”
- Observe awesome flashes of heat as we convert energy from potential to kinetic.
This PHYSICS show is PHABULOUS!!!
Winter Break: December 22-January 7
We are excited to see how much we can learn in the new year!
Winter Dance
What's New at the "T"?
“Math is different today than when I grew up!”
“I can’t help my child at home with this math!”
“I don’t get the way you teach math today!”
“Why do kids have to learn math the long way when our way is easy and fast?”
Have you ever asked any of these questions?
We have a resource for you! Checkout our new T Academy!
T Academy provides videos on how to help your child with math.
Click here to access this amazing resource!
If you have ideas for videos needed, email Meg Killingsworth at mkillingsworth@forsyth.k12.ga.us!
A Few Words From our Family Engagement Coordinator
A Word from Our Family Engagement Coordinator
December is one of my favorite months. It’s all about family, fun, fellowship, and giving. When I think of my favorite memories from Christmases in the past, they rarely involve the perfect gifts. My favorite memories center around the time spent with loved ones. When I ask my own kids about favorite memories, they usually respond with favorite activities we have done together.
Author, Rick Warren says, “Love is spelled, T-I-M-E.” This is a busy season!
Here are 11 “gifts of time” my family enjoys doing together. Maybe yours will too!
1. Read an extra bedtime story.
2. Snuggle an extra 5 minutes at bedtime.
3. Bake cookies and/ or decorate them.
4. Make a craft together.
5. Write a note to your child. Leave it for a surprise.
6. Come have lunch at school.
7. Play a game… card games or board games are big hits in our home!
8. Write a letter or send a card together to a loved one.
9. Have a picnic at the park together.
10. Go for a walk, or ride bikes or scooters.
11. Visit a playground….. Central, Lanier Land, or even Chestatee!
Wishing you and yours a very happy holiday season! Come by and see me soon!
Sincerely,
Meg
Meg Killingsworth
Family Engagement Coordinator
Chestatee Elementary School
770-887-2341 ext 722302
Students learned all about digital citizenship on November 10th.
Here is more information for families about this important topic!
Respecting Creative Work Parent Tip Sheet grades K-5
Help children file share safely and legally
Complaint Procedures for Federal Programs
Should you have any grievances with our federal programs at Chestatee, the complaint procedure is located in our Family Resource Room and posted on our website here.
Don't Forget....
Box Tops/ Soup Labels
Remember if you full up a box tops page, Ms. Donna has a prize you can earn!
Kroger and Publix will donate money too...
Publix Partners key-ring cards are available in the front office for to you scan every time you buy groceries at Publix. Publix will donate a certain percentage of their profits to Chestatee as well!
See Ms. Donna in the front office for one of these cards, or send a letter with your child asking for one, and we will send one home for you!
We love our Partners in Education!
Chestatee Elementary School
Email: chestateees@gmail.com
Website: http://www.forsyth.k12.ga.us/site/default.aspx?domainid=260
Location: 6945 Keith Bridge Road, Gainesville, GA, United States
Phone: 770-887-2341
Facebook: facebook.com/ChestateeES
Twitter: @chestateees