Knightly News
Friday, September 2, 2022
Every Student, Every Day, Deserves to Learn, Lead, & Excel!
Message from Ms. Perkins ~ Simonton ES Principal
Join us on Wednesday, September 7, 2022, for our first PTA spirit night. The fun will begin at 5:00 pm at Stars and Strikes in Dacula. Bring the whole family out for great food, bowling, and video games. Be sure to mention Simonton Elementary School.
Congratulations to Mrs. Shannon Foster who will represent Simonton ES as the 2022-2023 Teacher of the Year. She supports students in our Pre-K program and demonstrates every day what excellent teaching should look like. We look forward to celebrating her all school year.
All GCPS school buildings will be closed on Monday, September 5, 2022. We can't wait to open our door to all of our students on Tuesday, September 6, 2022.
Have a wonderful holiday weekend!
Simonton ES Local School Council
We invite parents to join us for our Simonton ES Local School Council meeting. Local School Council meetings will be held four times during the school year. Meetings will take place in person at the local school.
The purpose of the Council is three-fold:
I. To help the local board of education develop and nurture participation.
II. To bring parents and the community together with teachers and school administrators to create a better understanding of and mutual respect for each other's concerns.
III. To share ideas for school improvement.
We have rescheduled our first meeting to encourage more parents to join us.
Meeting Dates: September 23, 2022, December 2, 2022, March 3, 2023 and May 5, 2023
Meeting Time: 9:00 am
Location: Simonton ES
Our first meeting will take place on Friday, September 23, 2022 at 9:00 am.
Draft Agenda Items
Welcome/Introductions
Local School Council Orientation
Election of Officers
- Early Intervention Program
- Simonton ES Strategic Goals
- Simonton ES Student Enrollment
- GCPS Blue Print
- Simonton ES Safety Plan
- Simonton ES Discipline Report
If you are interested in attending the Simonton ES Local School Council meetings please click on the link below.
PJ Day was so fun!
Upcoming Event Dates
Monday, September 5
- Labor Day ~ No School
Wednesday, September 7
- PTA Spirit Night at Stars & Strikes ~ 5:00-9:00 pm
Friday, September 9
- Progress Reports emailed to parents
Thursday, September 15
- PTA Fundraiser Kick-Off
Friday, September 16
- Digital Learning Day #1
Tuesday, September 20
- Fall Picture Day
Friday, September 23
- PTA Fall Festival ~ 5:00-8:00 pm
- Simonton ES Local School Council Meeting ~ Rescheduled
Saturday, September 24
- Saturday Intervention (K-2) ~ 9:00-11:00 am
PTA Spirit Night at Stars and Strikes!
Wednesday, September 7, 2022 ~ 5:00 - 9:00 pm
Readers Rally
Readers Rally is starting again at Simonton! This club is for our fourth and fifth grade students who love to read. The club reads 10 books from a list and practices answering trivia questions from the books. In February, the team travels to Peachtree Ridge High School to compete against teams from other elementary schools in a quiz bowl! The Readers Rally club will meet on Wednesday mornings from 7:15-7:45 am. Please see your teacher or Mrs. Andrews in the media center for an application. All applications are due Friday, September 9th.
Media Committee
The Simonton Media Committee is comprised of teachers, parents and community members and serves to provide feedback on book selections and purchases for the media center.
For more information, please contact media specialist Jessica Andrews at jessica.andrews@gcpsk12.org
SagerStrong Stadium 3K Fun Run
📣📣 Exciting news! Thanks to a generous donation from Walmart, The Guide Project is connecting kiddos with special needs in our area with FREE tickets to the SagerStrong Stadium Fun Run… which includes getting pictures with the 2021 World Championship Trophy! All abilities welcome (inclusion at its finest!). If you’re interested, please contact DKeeler@sagerstrongfoundation.org and tell them The Guide Project sent you!
Are you.....Connected?
Check out Connected, the show that keeps you plugged in and connected to all that's happening in Gwinnett County Public Schools!
Parent Mentors Present: “Starting the New School Year on a Positive Note”
Who: Parents/Guardians of students receiving Special Education services
What: Parent Mentors Present: “Starting the New School Year on a Positive Note”
When: Tuesday, September 20, 2022, 9:30am – 11:00am or 6:00 pm-7:30pm
Where: In-Person registration link for 9:30am session: https://forms.gle/jXZzVeih6hyH9WH69
Zoom registration link for 6pm session: https://gcpsk12-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAkcemurD8rGdR_k6OKiRT6ACl__peUuKXC
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.
GCPS Blueprint for the Future
Blueprint for the Future: Building the Bridge from Empathy to Excellence is our district plan, outlining the transformational work of Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) over the next five years.
Open the attached document to read more.
Emergency Procedures
At all times, the safety of all students is of utmost importance. Fire, tornado and emergency lock down drills are held at intervals throughout the school year. Emergency instructions are posted in each classroom. The children will practice walking quickly and quietly to designated areas. If a child is injured on the playground, we also have procedures that are followed, and 911 is called as needed. Please be sure a current phone number is available so that we can reach you in an emergency. During an emergency, it may be necessary to transport your child by bus to another location. During inclement weather, students will remain at school until the county gives permission for dismissal.
GCPL's Book Recommendation for Kids
From the GCPL newsletter,
"Dash's mom helps him find a way to manage his big feelings"--
About the author:
Gibson Frazier has been named one of the best off-Broadway actors by both The Village Voice and Time Out New York . He is a founding member of the Los-Angeles-based theatre company, Buffalo Nights. He is the father to his own kid with a larger-than-life personality
Helpful Resources
Student Dress Code
Student dress should not cause any distraction from the instructional program. Students are encouraged to dress appropriately for the school setting, suitable to weather conditions, and in good taste. Short skirts, short shorts, or halter tops/crop shirts are not considered appropriate dress for school. Hats, bandanas, and sweatbands should not be worn in school. Students should not wear any clothing that advertises alcoholic beverages, drugs, or violence. Students should wear shoes that allow for safe play at outside time and PE class. All shorts/skirts should come to the student’s knee.
Family Engagement e-Tips
Your child needs your time more than screen time
Too much of the wrong kinds of screen time isn't good for kids. And when parents focus on screens too much themselves, their children miss out on important family time. So turn off your devices and play board games with your child. Plant an herb garden together. Take a walk and look for unusual things. Try foods from a different country (and find the country on a map). Create a secret code. You'll be helping your child think and learn. https://tpitip.com/?12hc18608
Try a kitchen timer to motivate your child
Kids hate to be told what to do. Nagging, arguing and scolding don't usually motivate them. But a kitchen timer can. When you want your child to do something, set the timer. Say, "Let's see if you can pick up your toys before the timer goes off." A timer also works to enforce a time limit: "When the timer rings in 15 minutes, it will be time for bed." https://tpitip.com/?12hd18608
Attendance is critical for your child's success
Children who miss school regularly fall behind and score lower on tests. They can have a hard time making and keeping friends. And frequent absences in elementary school can set a pattern that makes a child more likely to drop out of school later. Make school attendance a family priority. Don't let your child skip school for reasons other than illness or emergency. If your student regularly resists going to school, or your family is facing attendance obstacles, let the teacher or school counselor know. https://tpitip.com/?12he18608
Organize three things to make mornings easier
For some kids, getting out the door in the morning with everything they need is a challenge. To help your child overcome it, tackle three areas: 1. Time management. Block out regular times for study, play and getting organized. 2. School items. Put a big box in a noticeable spot. School belongings go in it when your child gets home. As assignments are completed, they go in it, too. 3. Evenings. Together, lay out clothes, make a lunch and pack the backpack so it's reading to go in the morning. https://tpitip.com/?12iA18608
Set the stage for a productive study routine
Just as a bedtime routine prepares kids to sleep, a schoolwork routine can help them prepare to study. Start your child's routine with an announcement that study time is about to begin. Offer prompts on what to do: "Put your toys away." "Clear the table." "Get out your schoolwork." To set the stage, bring a glass of water or school supplies to the table. https://tpitip.com/?12iB18608
Make reading time fun and frequent
As Mark Twain once noted, a person who doesn't read books has no advantage over a person who can't read them. To motivate your child to read, set bedtime a little earlier and allow your child to keep the light on to read for a while. On weekends, take the whole family to the library to browse, then go out for a yummy treat. Plan regular family reading times, too, where you turn off digital devices and read a favorite book together. https://tpitip.com/?12iC18608
You have what it takes to help your child learn
Research makes it clear: All parents, no matter what their own level of education, can help their children succeed in school. To do it, set realistically high goals for your child. Then stress the importance of persistence, and praise your student's effort and progress. Establish reasonable rules and uphold them consistently. Make it a point to keep in touch with your child's teachers. And every day, spend time with your child, talking, listening and sharing your values. https://tpitip.com/?12iD18608
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's Assistant Principals
Mr. Nicholas Gilmore
Assistant Principal ~ 2nd Grade, 5th Grade, ESOL, Gifted and Testing
Dr. Joe Sanfilippo
Mrs. Amy Steinberg
Assistant Principal ~ 1st Grade, 4th Grade, Title I, EIP and Title IX Investigator
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