Blue Devil Blast

Dr. Looney's Message

#TeamGCPS : We are celebrating the hard work and determination of our teachers and students today. We are very proud of our basketball teams, whose seasons have ended this week, and we are excited to cheer on our soccer club which begins tonight!

Covid Surveillance testing is now active within the Norcross Cluster Schools. If you are interested in opting your student in (every Thursday), fill out the form sent in the email and included below.

Job Fair next Saturday, February 5, from 10am - 12:30pm.

We will start our Black History Month activities next week.

Don't forget to reach out to our Parent Coordinator, Rosanna Carlson, if you need parent support.

Have a wonderful, blessed weekend.

The Coming Month

January 28 - Soccer @5:30pm @SummerourMS
January 29 - Western Conference Basketball Tournament
January 31 - National School Counseling Week Begins
January 31 - Club & Team Photo Day
January 31 - Western Conference Girls Semi-Finals
February 1 - Club & Team Photo Day
February 1 - School Council Meeting
February 1 - Western Conference Boys Semi-Finals
February 4 - Western Conference Championships
February 5 - Norcross Cluster Job Fair @ Summerour
February 5 - Soccer @10am @SummerourMS
February 8 - County Championship Games
February 10 - Soccer @5:15pm @SummerourMS
February 12 - Saturday Youth Academy
February 14 - Valentine's Day
February 17, 18, 21 - School Holiday for Students & Teachers
February 18 - Soccer @PinckneyvilleMS Time TBA
February 26 - Saturday Youth Academy

IB Learners are Communicators

February's IB Learner Profile is Communicator

IB learners understand and express ideas and information confidently and creatively. Many Communicators can do this in more than one language. IB learners work effectively and willingly collaborate.

86% in February

Have you kept up with the monthly Khan Academy goals? 72% complete by the end of January...but now it's almost February! February's goal is 86% complete by the end of the month.

Have your student stay in practice and work on Khan Academy daily. Short sessions every day will do wonders. We are giving incentives out each month. We also have a Khan Saturday Program - ask your math teacher to join!

AAP (Credit Recovery) Underway

If your child was selected for AAP, our no cost credit recovery program, it started last Monday @ 7:15am

How do you know if your child was selected?

We sent a letter home with the student on Wednesday
We also emailed a PDF copy of the letter home on Thursday

Round 1: Math and Social Studies Dates

January 21 - Sign Up closed
January 24 - February 7
7:15 am to 8:15 am

Round 2: Language Arts and Science Dates

Sign Up not open yet; letters will be sent as it approaches
February 8 - February 24
7:15 am to 8:15 am

Parents or guardians must provide transportation to the school; Students will need to be dropped off in the back or the building (car rider lane).

6th Grade

Parents, thank you in your continued support to help your child start off with a STRONG FOUNDATION for second semester!

Here are a couple of quick notes for 6th grade:

Please remember that your child has math homework to complete, using Khan Academy. They can access it on mobile devices, phones, tablets, or a computer. Please reach out to the math teacher for an update on their Khan Academy growth
Tutoring is available on each team this semester, and often in the morning. Please reach out to your child's teacher for details. Our hope for 6th grade is to establish a firm foundation in February, to set our kids up for success

Mr. Lenie George

6th Grade Assistant Principal

Lenie.George@gcpsk12.org

770-417-2494

Mrs. Pam Griswell

6th Grade Counselor

Pam.Griswell@gcpsk12.org

770-417-2491

7th Grade

7th Grade Upcoming Assessments

Math - Tuesday, 2/1

Thanks for all your support in ensuring students are Respectful, Responsible, Role Models!

Mr. Stacy James

7th Grade Assistant Principal

stacy.james@gcpsk12.org

770-417-2486

Mrs. Yunilda Valdez

7th Grade Counselor

yunilda.valdez@gcpsk12.org

770-417-2480

8th Grade

AAP (for credit recovery) began on Monday. It is be from 7:15 am to 8:15 am. Individual students who qualify for SS or Math were notified and signed up this week.

Students who qualify for session 2 (Language Arts or Science) will be notified as those dates approach.

Mrs. Christy Gray

8th Grade Assistant Principal

Christian.Gray@gcpsk12.org

770-453-2051

Mrs. Robin Blackwell

8th Grade Counselor

Robin.Blackwell@gcpsk12.org

770-417-2487

Mrs. Kimberly Blackshear

Gear Up/ Special Education Counselor

Kimberly.Blackshear@gcpsk12.org

770-797-2960

Upcoming Assessments

NAEP Assessment

January 31
Select students only
(Informational letters sent 1/14 for the 50 students selected)

Interim Testing

March 15 - Language Arts & Science
March 16 - Math & Social Studies

ACCESS Testing

ACCESS testing for our English Language Learners is about 3/4 complete...but not over yet. There are several parts to the test. Please ensure students are rested and ready on the day of the test.

G.I.F.T.S. Service Project Ends Monday

The G.I.F.T.S. mentoring program began taking donations on 12/6/2021 for Rainbow Village. Rainbow Village is an organization that helps abused & battered women along with their kids to give them a safe haven to live in.

Below is a PDF wish list of items that they particularly need, though this list is not all they would accept to run their safe haven.

Ms. Lakysha Smith, our clinic worker, is the point person. You can email her or any G.I.F.T.S. leadership with questions.

Collection is ongoing until 1/31/2022

More information about G.I.F.T.S. can be found on our clubs page