Simonton Parent Newsletter
Friday, April 2, 2021
Every Student, Every Day, Deserves to Learn, Lead, & Excel!
A Message From Ms. Perkins:
Come out to Culver's for our PTA Spirit Night on Monday, April 12, 2021. As you drive through to order your meal be sure to mention Simonton ES. 10% of your purchase will be donated back to our school. I will be there between 5:00 - 6:00 pm to greet our families.
As many of you are aware the district will be replacing our current CEO/Superintendent, Mr. J. Alvin Wilbanks. I encourage you to participate in any and all opportunities made available to parents and community members to provide input. The next GCPS school board meeting will be held Thursday, April 15. 2021. If you go to the GCPS website you will see the link to join the meeting virtually. We will keep you abreast of updates and information as it made available.
Be safe and have a wonderful spring break.
Spring Break is next week (April 5-9)! Enjoy and be safe!!
Spring Break Guidelines:
Congratulations to Alan B. in Mrs. Zerouali's Class!!
Opt-out Deadline is April 4th
While all students will be scheduled for in-person instruction for the fall as the default, the district will offer families the opportunity to opt out of in-person learning, allowing their children to participate in a modified digital learning option. This modified version—which will have digital students learning from digital teachers, some of whom may be at a different location including Gwinnett Online Campus—is intended to eliminate the need for teachers to teach concurrently.
Synergy SIS Scheduled Server Maintenance
Synergy SIS and Gradebook will not be available from 8:00 PM on Friday, April 2, 2021 to 6:00 AM Saturday, April 3, 2021 due to server maintenance.
A Glance Ahead:
April 5th-9th ~ Spring Break
Monday, April 12
- PTA's Spirit Night at Culver's
Saturday, April 17
- Saturday Intervention
- STEM Camp (11:30 am -2:10 pm)
Thursday, April 22
- GMAS begins (please see schedule attached below)
Saturday, April 24
- STEM Camp (9:00 am- 12:00 pm)
Do you have a child who will be in Kindergarten next year?
PTA Events
Culver's Spirit Night
5:00-8:00 pm
March Madness
Form can be downloaded below...
Our Character Word for the month of April:
GMAS Testing Dates
Parent Involvement Survey:
If you are a parent of a student with an Individualized Education Program (IEP), please take a moment to complete the following survey sent out by the Georgia Department of Education: https://survey.gadoe.org/SPEDParentSurvey/Pages/ParentSurvey.aspx
Special Note for Parents of Students with an IEP
On Monday, March 22, you received information regarding the 2021-2022 School Year. While all students will default to in-person learning, you will have the option to opt-out of in-person instruction for your child by completing a form in the Parent Portal. If your student is currently receiving services through an Individual Education Program (IEP), the Georgia Department of Education has issued guidance calling for an IEP Team meeting “to discuss and consider a student’s educational placement, which includes discussion and consideration of the location of those services and any potential harmful effect on the student or on the quality of services that the student needs, in accordance with IDEA.”
For this reason, should you select digital instruction for your child for the 2021-2022 School Year, your student’s case manager will contact you to schedule an IEP meeting to discuss the appropriateness of instruction through the digital platform.
Mystery Science Videos:
Rising 6th-9th grade GCPS students are invited to spend a week at Grayson Tech!
Join us for an exciting week of fun-filled career exploration!
When?
- June 1-4
What time?
- Choose the morning session (8:00 - 11:00 a.m.), afternoon session (12:00 - 3:00 p.m.), or all day (8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.)
How much does it cost?
- Each session is $75.00 or $150.00 for the entire day.
- Choose one camp session for $75 half-day/all week or choose two camp sessions for $150 all day/all week.
- Some programs may require additional fees.
When can I register?
- Registration begins March 28, 2021 on MyPaymentsPlus.
Programs:
- Criminal Investigations
- Culinary Arts
- Cybersecurity (PM only)
- Entrepreneurship
- Graphic Design
- Information Technology (AM only)
- Music Technology
- Photography
- Sports Medicine
- Veterinary Science
Family Engagement Tips:
Parents of elementary schoolers sometimes think they don't have to worry yet about preventing drug and alcohol abuse. But the actions you take now can help protect your child. Discuss the dangers of drugs and alcohol, and establish firm family rules about their use. Help your child set and work toward personal goals and feel good about progress. And always know where your child is and with whom. http://niswc.com/17ccC326428
Give your child a chance to be a news expert
For some students, learning about current events is a challenge. It isn't easy to read and remember so many different topics. You can help by asking each member of your family to choose a different news story to follow for three or four days. Your child can become the family expert on her topic by reading articles and watching news items. Then, at dinner, take turns sharing what you've each learned. http://niswc.com/17cdC326428
Enlarge your child's vocabulary with a few big words
Your child's vocabulary may be filled with short, simple words. But you don't have to speak to him in small words. Expand his vocabulary by using some "big" words occasionally. Children naturally mimic the adults around them, so to teach your child a new word, use it often. Define it. Use it in another sentence. Relate it to words your child already knows ("This book is so interesting; it's captivating!"). http://niswc.com/17ceC326428
Use a weather project to build graphing skills
Help your child practice graphing by making a weather chart. On an April calendar, have her write down (or draw a picture of) each day's weather. At the end of the month, she can count the number of sunny, rainy or cloudy days and make a simple bar graph. Help her use her graph to answer questions, such as, "Were there more sunny or rainy days?" and "Which conditions happened least often?" http://niswc.com/17dAC326428
Model attentive listening, now and later
You want your child to listen attentively in class. When you listen attentively to him, it helps him learn by example. But it can be difficult to give your undivided attention when you're trying to get dinner on the table, the dog is barking and a delivery truck has just arrived. If your child is trying to talk to you in a setting that makes it hard to listen, set a time to talk later, when things are calmer. Then follow through. http://niswc.com/17dBC326428
Brighten a rainy day with an alphabet challenge
If April showers have your child bored indoors, challenge her to put her room "in ABC order." If your child is young, ask her to pick a letter and find an object in her room that starts with that letter. Then she can find an object for each letter of the alphabet. If your child is older, she can write down names of several items for each letter in alphabetical order. Set a time limit to make it exciting! http://niswc.com/17dCC326428
Foster learning in easy ways
You don't have to be a teacher to make a difference in your child's education. Here are a few simple, meaningful ways to be involved: Put an encouraging note where your child will find it. Administer discipline with kindness and consistency. Accept that your child's best efforts are more important than his grades. Then celebrate his progress together, and tell your child you love him every day. http://niswc.com/17dDC326428
Traveling outside the US?
CDC recommends that all international travelers get tested 3-5 days after returning AND self-quarantine at home for 7 days after travel.
- Travelers who test positive must isolate based on current guidance for a confirmed case.
- Even travelers who test negative should self-quarantine at home for the full 7 days. In other words, students and staff who travel outside the U.S. will not be able to return to school or work for at least 7 days after their return to the U.S.
- Travelers who choose not to be tested should self-quarantine at home for a full 10 days after travel.
- During self-quarantine, monitor for symptoms. If symptoms develop, seek testing immediately & follow guidance for a suspected case.
**Please see the attached document.
2021-2022 GCPS School Calendar
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
Superintendent- Mr. J. Alvin Wilbanks
Assistant Superintendent- Dr. Terry Watlington
Board Member- Mr. Steven B. Knudsen
Principal- Tamara G. Perkins
Assistant Principal- Daphne Miles
Assistant Principal- Emily Young
Website: gcpsk12.org/SimontonES
Location: 275 Simonton Road Southeast, Lawrenceville, GA, USA
Phone: (770) 513-6637