Knightly News
Friday, September 30, 2022
Every Student, Every Day, Deserves to Learn, Lead, & Excel!
Message from Ms. Perkins ~ Simonton ES Principal
We are already looking forward to the next school year. Calendar options for the 2022-2023 school year are being shared to gather feedback. This is a great opportunity for you to share your opinion. All calendar options are included in the newsletter below along with the link to provide feedback. An email was also sent to all families.
Next week will be short. Students will report to school on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of next week. Students will be on fall break from Thursday, October 6, 2022 through Monday, October 10, 2022. Staff and students will return on Tuesday, October 11, 2022.
Enjoy the weekend and fall weather.
Simonton ES welcomes Mayor Still
It was an honor and privilege to have the Mayor of Lawrenceville visit our school! When visiting classes, Mayor Still was able to learn and hear about the curriculum being taught.
Ms. Taylor's 3rd Grade class
Students offer a sunny welcome!
Mrs. Aseltine's STEM class
Fall Conferences
Parents, you will see the following message as a pop-up alert on our Simonton website:
It is time for our first round of Conferences for the 2022-2023 School Year!
Please click the following link: Simonton Conference Schedule
Parents, you will need to select your child's teacher, register by putting in your information on the next page (Student's Name, Your name, Email Address), and then press "Submit". You will receive an email that contains a link which will take you to the screen where you can select your desired conference day and time.
You can simply click the link above or can visit our website at a later date to schedule your conference(s).
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.
Pics from last week's Fall Festival
Upcoming Event Dates
Saturday, October 1
- Saturday Intervention (K-5) ~ 9:00-11:00 am
Wednesday, October 5
- Pajama Day ~ Robotics Team Fundraiser
- Boy Scout Classroom visits and evening registration event ~ 6:30 pm
- No School ~ Fall Break (All GCPS Schools are closed)
Thursday, Ocotber 13
- PTA Spirit Night at Urban Air ~ 5:00-9:00 pm
Saturday, October 15
- Saturday Intervention (K-5) ~ 9:00-11:00 am
Monday, October 17 - Friday, October 21
- Book Fair
Wednesday, October 19
- Early Release ~ dismissal at 12:15 pm
Thursday, October 20
- Early Release ~ dismissal at 12:15 pm
Friday, October 21
- Fall Picture Make-Up Day
Saturday, October 22
- Saturday Intervention (K-5) ~ 9:00-11:00 am
Thursday, October 27
- Poetry Night ~ 5:00- 6:00 pm
Friday, October 28
- 5th Grade Fundraiser ~Twin Day
Saturday, October 29
- Saturday Intervention (K-5) ~ 9:00-11:00 am
Saturday, November 5
- Saturday Intervention (K-5) ~ 9:00-11:00 am
Simonton Spirit Wear has arrived!
If you placed an order for Simonton Spirit Wear, we are excited to announce that your order was delivered today!
Your student will be bringing the items home this afternoon.
2023-2024 Calendar Options
In Gwinnett County Public Schools (CPS), we aim to create a school calendar that fosters student achievement while at the same time meeting the needs of our students, families, and communities. We design our school calendar around requirements codified in state law (180 school days for students and 190 days for teachers). In addition, staff and community preferences drive the various breaks throughout the school year.
While it is still early in this school year, we are seeking your valuable input and feedback on the calendar options for the 2023-24 school year. The calendar options were built based on feedback we have received from students, staff, families, and our community from previous school calendars. In these options, you will find an option that is very similar to the current 2022-23 calendar, as well as options with different features like the removal of staggered start days, the removal of some or all digital learning days, and the addition of holidays that are inclusive of the rich diversity we have here in Gwinnett County.
Please use this link to review and then share your thoughts on the 2023-24 School Calendar options.
We value your feedback on the calendar options provided for the 2023-24 school year. Thank you in advance for taking the time to review these options and share your thoughts with us.
Explore Your Future with Career and Technical Education Event
The Academies and CTE Department is hosting a community-wide, K-12 career and education exploration experience open to all GCPS families on Saturday, October 15 from 9:00AM to 1:00PM at Discovery High School. If you have questions or would like to get more involved, please contact Brooke Shultis in the Academies and CTE office (brooke.shultis@gcpsk12.org; 678-301-7050).
What: Explore Your Future with Career and Technical Education
When: Saturday, October 15 @ 9:00AM to 1:00PM
Where: Discovery High School (1335 Old Norcross Road, Lawrenceville, GA 30046)
Who: All community members with students in Kindergarten to 12th grade are invited!
Event Description:
Explore Your Future with Career and Technical Education is an open community event for each and every GCPS family with students in Kindergarten to 12th Grade. The event is on Saturday, October 15 at Discovery High School from 9AM to 1PM and will provide families rich encounters and hands-on experiences to explore Career and Technical Education course offerings, local employers and careers from all of the CTE career clusters, and Career and Technical Student Organizations such as DECA, FIRST Robotics, HOSA, FBLA, and more. Industry partners ranging from healthcare to information technology to manufacturing to construction and trades to arts and film and beyond will be represented! Students and families can learn more about the event and RSVP by visiting: https://sites.google.com/g.gcpsk12.org/explore-your-future/home
Annual AKS Public Review
Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) invites GCPS families, Gwinnett county residents, students, and GCPS staff members to participate in the school district’s review of the Academic Knowledge and Skills (AKS) curriculum Sept. 12 through Oct. 6. The public may review proposed standards online, offering feedback on AKS that have been developed to align the curriculum with the Georgia Standards of Excellence (GSE) and/or Georgia Performance Standards (GPS). Click here for a list of the courses with AKS under review. To review the AKS and provide feedback, please click here to begin. Comments will be accepted through Thursday, Oct. 6.
What: Annual AKS Public Review Opportunity
When: Now through Oct. 6
Spotlight: Digitial Citizenship
Join Common Sense Media Tips by Text!
Receive free text message tips about how to practice healthy media habits at home with your family.
Just text the word kids to this phone number: 21555
Answer a brief survey. And that's it! You'll receive weekly messages with tips and much more!
Visit the Common Sense Media Website
Offering reviews for what your kids are into (before they get into it) ~ Trusted ratings created with families in mind....
ATTENTION STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WHO LOVE STEM AND PROBLEM SOLVING!
The Gwinnett County Science and Engineering Fair wants you to submit a project that solves a real-world problem! If you watch THIS VIDEO and sign up in my Google Classroom, you will find out lots more about it! Simonton Elementary will be hosting the preliminary Science and Engineering Fair here at school. The top projects will go on to the Gwinnett County Science and Engineering Fair! Can't wait to see your amazing ideas!
Google Classroom - Click on the + - Click "Join Class" - Enter the Code: rgsgpv2
ParentVUE & StudentVUE Mobile Applications Updated
A recent application update requires you to delete and install the ParentVUE and StudentVUE mobile app from your device(s). This update ensures that you have the newest version of the app and will continue to receive updates. If you do not delete and reinstall the applications, your device may not connect properly and continue to receive updates.
You will use the same username and password to log in after downloading the app. If you are not using the app and want to learn more, visit our website for information.
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.
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.
Helpful Resources
Family Engagement e-Tips
Help your child make deposits in a 'word bank'
Young writers often have trouble thinking of words to write. Making a word bank helps your child think of words in advance. Say a common word and ask your child to write a list of words with similar meanings. For "said," for example, your child might write words like "whined," "shouted," "whispered," "yelled," etc. Your child can also make lists of words about a particular topic. Collect the lists in a notebook "word bank." When writing, your child can check the bank to find just the right word. https://tpitip.com/?12iZ18608
Take time out for family
How can you help your family find more time for togetherness in a fast-paced world? Call a family "time out." Stop and talk about what you'd like to do as a family and how to achieve it. Set specific goals, such as eating dinner together four times a week. Post goals where you will all see them. Childhood doesn't last forever, so make family time a priority now. You'll have time for other activities later on. https://tpitip.com/?12ia18608
Choice and charts help children take responsibility for chores
Chores teach kids about responsibility. To get your kids to pitch in, write weekly chores on slips of paper. If a job has to be done daily, write it on six slips. Put the slips in a jar. Then make a chart with each child's name down the side and the days of the week across the top. Have your kids take turns drawing jobs. Let them choose what day to do them and put their chores on the chart. One day a week, don't assign chores. Just write, "See what you can do to help." https://tpitip.com/?12ib18608
Set up a study routine to foster positive habits
To help your child develop positive study habits, establish a regular time for doing schoolwork at home. Turn off digital devices and minimize background distractions. At the start, make sure your child reads and understands assignment directions. To foster management skills, have your child estimate how long each assignment will take, and time how long it really takes. Then show support by doing your own work quietly nearby. https://tpitip.com/?12ic18608
Bedtime reading ends the day a special way
Finding time to read with your child can be a challenge. But with a little planning, bedtime reading can be one of the best parts of your day. Choose five books for the week and set them near your child's bed. Each day, say, "We'll read this book tonight. Tomorrow, we'll get to read another." This lets your child know that reading is an important part of your day, too. At breakfast, talk together about the book you read the night before. https://tpitip.com/?12id18608
For a great parent-teacher conference, do a little homework
Attending a parent-teacher conference, either in person or online, is one of the important ways you can work with the teacher to help your child learn. To prepare for your conference, make a list of things to tell the teacher about your child (interests, strengths, challenges, etc.). Make another list of things to ask about (grades, behavior, attitude, etc.). Be sure to ask your child for suggestions about what you and the teacher should discuss, too. https://tpitip.com/?12jA18608
Challenge your child to a writing game
Effective writing connects individual ideas into an overall whole. To help your child practice making these connections, get several index cards and have your child write the name of a different thing or idea on each. Next, draw four cards. Can your child use all the ideas in a single sentence? For example, if the cards said "toys," "trip," "sunny" and "teachers," your child might write, "On sunny days, teachers let students take their toys on school trips." https://tpitip.com/?12jB18608
SES Business Partners
Thank you to our business partners for supporting our school!
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
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