Simonton Parent Newsletter
Thursday, March 12, 2020
Every Student, Every Day, Deserves to Learn, Lead, and Excel!
No School tomorrow!!
The SES 2020 Yearbook is now on sale!!
Leadership Summit:
Students in 1st- 5th grades will continue to take District Assessments next week.
Next Week:
- St. Patrick's Day
Wednesday, March 18
- Ms. D's Kindergarten visit
- Conversational English Class ~ 10:00-11:00 am
Thursday, March 19
- PTA Spirit Night @ Sparkles ~ 5:30- 8:30 pm
Friday, March 20
- Career Day
Saturday, March 21
- Honor Chorus ~ 3:00 pm
A Glance Ahead:
- PBIS Celebration - Bookmobile
Tuesday, March 24
Wednesday, March 25
- SPED Special Olympics Field Trip ~ 9:30- 10:30 am
- Conversational English Class ~ 10:00- 11:00 (Parent Center)
Thursday, March 26
- Field Day (Grades K-2) ~ 9:00 am- 2:00 pm
- PTA Spirit Night @ Urban Air ~ 4:00- 8:00 pm
Friday, March 27
- 1st grade zoo field trip
- Field Day (grades 3 & 4) ~ 9:00 am- 2:00 pm
- School Tour ~ 10:00 (open to the public)
Upcoming Events:
GCPS 2020 Elementary Honor Chorus
3:00 pm
Join us at Hebron Church next Saturday.
202 Hebron Church Rd.
Dacula, GA 30019
Conversational English Class
Urban Air
Location:
1200 Scenic Hwy Suite G
Lawrenceville, Ga 30045
Field Day is almost here!
Grade 3 & 4 ~ Friday, March 27
Grade 5 ~ Friday, May 1
Lego Robotics Crash Course:
Our first meeting was held last week, so there are 7 more to go.
We will be meeting Friday mornings from 7:00- 8:00 am.
There is a $10.00 club fee for membership.
PTA's Read-a-Thon Reminder:
Easter Egg Hunt-
COVID-19 Update for GCPS Families-
Health officials say the risk to Americans currently is very low but expect more cases in the U.S. If COVID-19 is confirmed locally, officials will notify GCPS and provide guidance. GCPS is updating response plans based on direction from the CDC and state and county health officials. Click here to learn more about COVID-19 and resources to keep families healthy.
Coronavirus STUDENT Enrollment/Attendance Guidelines:
(March 5, 2020)
The guidelines and questions below should be used for students enrolling, or who have recently enrolled, from outside the United States or students returning from travel outside the United States to identified Level 3 areas experiencing widespread or ongoing community spread of COVID-19. (Level 3 Travel Health Notice – As of March 5, 2020, includes China, Iran, South Korea, and Italy.)
These guidelines are subject to change as we receive updated information from the CDC and the Georgia Department of Public Health.
Has the student traveled outside the United States to an identified Level 3 area?
- If no:
The student should be enrolled and should begin attending school.
- If yes:
How long ago did the student leave the affected area?
- If more than 14 days — The student should be enrolled and can begin attending school.
- If less than 14 days — The student should wait 14 days from the time he or she left the identified Level 3 area before physically attending school.
- If the student is a new student… The student should be enrolled and allowed the opportunity to participate in digital learning from home until the end of the 14-day period. Absences will not be counted against the student during this time.
- If the student is a recently enrolled or current student… For students who traveled to a Level 3 area within the past 14 days and who have been attending school since their return, the school should contact the parent(s) or guardians(s) and communicate that the student should not return to school until 14 days from the time he or she left the identified Level 3 area.
NOTE: Any student who experiences flu-like symptoms must be fever-free without the aid of medication for 24 hours before attending school.
Scenario 1:
Student is enrolling or returning today, March 5, and left South Korea on Thursday, February 27. (Less than 14 days)
Action
1. Student would be enrolled, however they would not be able to attend school until Friday, March 13.
2. Absences will not be counted against the student during this time.
3. Student will be allowed the opportunity to complete and participate in digital learning from home.
4. If the student experiences flu-like symptoms, he/she must be fever-free without the aid of medication for 24 hours before attending school.
Scenario 2:
Student enrolled or returned last Wednesday, February 26, and left Italy on Monday, February 24. (Less than 14 days)
Action
School should call parents and communicate that:
1. The student will be unable to return to school until Tuesday, March 10.
2. Absences will not be counted against the student during this time.
3. Student will be allowed the opportunity to complete and participate in digital learning from home.
4. If the student experiences flu-like symptoms, he/she must be fever-free without the aid of medication for 24 hours before attending school.
Scenario 3:
Student enrolled or returned on Monday, March 2, and left Iran on Thursday, February 13. (More than 14 days)
Action
1. Student should be enrolled, and can begin attending school.
2. However, as with any student, if the student experiences flu-like symptoms, he/she must be fever-free without the aid of medication for 24 hours before attending school.
Pi Day
What does Pi Day celebrate?
Pi Day celebrates the number pi, also written with the Greek letter π.When is Pi Day celebrated?
March 14th. This is because the number π starts out with 3.14 and March 14th can be written 3-14.
Pi is defined as the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter. The circumference is the distance around a circle and the diameter is the distance across a circle. By using Pi you can figure out the circumference if you know the diameter using this equation:
C = π * D
Where C = circumference and D = diameter.
History of Pi Day
Historians believe that a number close to Pi was first used to figure the circumference of a circle around 4,000 years ago by the Babylonians. Around 200 BC the Greek mathematician Archimedes continued to work on getting a more accurate number for Pi. In the 1600s, mathematicians such as Isaac Newton used math called infinite series to get even more accurate numbers. The Greek letter π was first used as the symbol for the number by Swiss mathematician Leonhard Euler.
The first organized Pi Day was in 1988 at the San Francisco Exploratorium. Physicist Larry Shaw had the idea to celebrate the day by marching around a circle and then eating some pies. They still have the celebration today.
In 2009 the US government recognized the day as National Pi Day.
Public Library March Calendar:
Weekly Parent Engagement Tips:
Daily math practice doesn't have to be all work. Playing "reverse tic-tac-toe" is a fun way to help your child build skills for math success. In this version of the game, instead of trying to get three X's or O's in a row himself, your child tries to force you to do it. In order to win, he will have to think and plan ahead (both important skills for solving math problems).
To prevent prejudice, be a model
When teaching your child to view others without prejudice, your actions speak louder than words. Keep in mind that physical differences don't have to be the way you identify people: "the man in the blue shirt" works just as well as "the man in the wheelchair." Avoid generalizing and speak of people as individuals. Explain to your child that differences exist, but they don't make anyone less worthy of respect.
Create a time line of your child's lifetime
A time line is a graphic way to help your child connect world history to her own personal history. To make one, stretch a roll of paper along the floor. Have your child draw a line horizontally across it. Above the line, she can write important dates in her life, chronologically from left to right. Below the line, help her do the same with historic events that have occurred since her birth.
Eliminate supply hunts at homework time
If statements like "I can't find a ruler" and "I can't do my social studies until I find my colored pencils" are common delay tactics at homework time, help your child create a homework tray. Collect tape, glue, rulers, pencils and other supplies and put them in a tray tote or a basket. The container is off limits unless your child is doing homework. With everything in one place, your child can't waste time hunting.
Strengthen writing skills and family ties with a newsletter
Are your relatives far away? Your child can keep everyone updated on family activities and improve his writing skills at the same time by putting together a family newsletter. Have him write letters or emails to ask relatives for news, family stories and photos. Then he can use a computer at home or at the library to compile their replies. He'll gain typing, writing and layout skills, and the joy of keeping the family connected.
Simonton Elementary School ~ What we stand for:
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
Assistant Superintendent- Dr. Terry Watlington
Board Member- Mr. Steven B. Knudsen
Principal- Tamara G. Perkins
Assistant Principal- Daphne Miles
Assistant Principal- Nicole Tomlinson
Assistant Principal- Emily Young
Website: gcpsk12.org/SimontonES
Location: 275 Simonton Road Southeast, Lawrenceville, GA, USA
Phone: (770) 513-6637