The Parsons Happenings
December 2, 2022
In this edition...
Message from your Proud Principal
Principal for a Day
December Holiday Dress Up Challenge
Digital Learning Day Added to Calendar
Don't Forget Your Device...and Headphones too!
Winter Holiday Parties-Admin. requesting no student checkout following parties
Warming Stations
Gingerbread House Contest and Lighting of the Tree
Department of Community Services Special Events Calendar
Free and Reduced Lunch Application
Free Groceries Opportunity
Care Closet
Coding Club
Gwinnett County Public Library Events Calendar: Suwanee Branch
Parsons on Social Media
Calendar of Events
PTA News
E-PLEX Winter Camp
Business Partners
Message from your Proud Principal
It has been such an amazing week! I was welcomed back to Parsons with big smiles, lots of hugs, and extra love. This entire week has been one big LOVE BURST for me and the reminder of what a wonderful school community we have. I want to thank each of you for your thoughts and prayers while I was out on leave caring for my mother. I am blessed to say that my mother is cancer free and recovering each day from undergoing "Whipple" surgery.
Just a reminder that Tuesday, December 6th, is Voting Day and our students will participate in a DLD day from home. Teachers will have lessons posted on their eClass page for students to log in and complete. I encourage you to vote and share the reason for run off voting with your children. One of our most important rights is to be able to vote and this is such a great, real life learning opportunity for our students.
As a kid, a mom, and educator, the holiday season has always been one of my favorites. Be sure to check out our holiday dress up challenge which makes the last few weeks before Winter Break more fun. I hope you have a wonderful weekend making great memories with your kiddos!
Blessed to be your principal!
December Holiday Dress Up Challenge
Digital Learning Day Added to Calendar
December 6th has been designated a Digital Learning Day for GCPS. Gwinnett County Public Schools has 52 schools that will be used for voting on December 6th. To provide the highest levels of safety for all school students and students and to allow GCPS principals, election board officials, and district support staff to provide the conditions for an efficient election, December 6th has been designated as a Digital Learning Day.
On this specially scheduled Digital Learning Day, students will access lessons in eCLASS but will not have virtual class time with their teachers. To ensure that students have a nutritious breakfast and lunch to fuel their learning, our bus drivers will be on the road and at every bus stop to deliver meals prepared by the School Nutrition Program staff. Families should expect buses to run their routes from approximately 10:45 am until 12:00 pm, beginning at the first stops on the route. These delivered meals are provided at no cost to families and are available to anyone 18 years old and under.
Don't Forget Your Device...and Headphones Too!
Please make sure that students bring their fully-charged GCPS Chromebook to school every day. Most of our K-2 students keep their devices in the classrooms, however, many of our 3rd-5th grade students take their devices back and forth from home to school.
End-of-the-semester assessments for grades 1st-5th grade students will take place Dec. 5th - Dec. 16th. These tests will be taken online with student-assigned GCPS Chromebooks. Please make sure that students come to school each morning with their fully charged GCPS Chromebook and their charger.
Please make sure that your child also has headphones. Teachers use many programs that require headphones each day. You can purchase headphones and send them to school or you can purchase them on MyPaymentsPlus.
Winter Holiday Parties - Admin requesting no student checkouts following parties
We are excited to let you know that we will once again have our December Holiday parties with parents allowed to come into the building! We have the grade level party dates on the calendar as follows:
12/13
1:00 to 2:00 pm ~ Kindergarten
1:30 to 2:30 pm ~ 1st Grade
12/14
12:30 to 1:30 pm ~ 2nd Grade
1:30 to 2:30 pm ~ 3rd Grade
12/15
2:00 to 3:00 pm ~ 4th Grade
1:00 to 2:00 pm ~ 5th Grade
Parents, you should be hearing from your room parent soon about your Holiday Party details and how you can participate.
School administration highly discourages any student checkouts after holiday parties due to the shear volume of parents coming and going during these times. It is important for us to maintain our safety processes and large volumes of check outs, on top of the large volume of parents checking in to attend the party, would be time consuming and create long lines. Thank you for understanding.
Gingerbread House Contest and Lighting of the Tree
With the holiday season quickly approaching, the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse has announced a Gingerbread House Contest will be part of the annual Lighting of the Tree festivities this year and they are introducing two new holiday events: Brunch With Santa and a Holiday Open House.
- Brunch With Santa or Breakfast With Santa: Children of all ages will delight in a yummy meal, make fun crafts, and share their wish list with Santa personally! Bring your little ones to hear Santa share a magical story and don't forget your camera for photos with ol' Saint Nick. Pre-register by December 2.
- Holiday Family Photos: Bring a camera and your photographer for a 30-minute photo session for holiday photos in one of our many beautifully decorated settings. Reservations are required. Don’t wait because prime dates will sell out.
- Holiday Open House: Visitors are welcome to enjoy self-guided tours of the beautifully decorated Courthouse, including the lovely Superior Court Ballroom, beautiful Blue Ready Room, quaint Intimate Wedding room, and Santa’s homey Living Room. Take photos with personal cameras and enjoy holiday treats with friends and family. Children can leave a letter for Santa in his mailbox.
We look forward to you joining us this holiday season!
Sincerely,
Lisa
Lisa Howell | Program Coordinator | Parks and Recreation
Department of Community Services | Gwinnett County Government
678.765.4664 | 2020 Clean Water Drive, Buford, GA 30519
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram or visit [www.gwinnettparks.com%20]GwinnettParks.com today!
Gwinnett Parks and Recreation is proudly accredited by CAPRA!
Department of Community Services Special Events Calendar
Free Groceries Opportunity
Peachtree Ridge CARE Closet
Join Coding Club (4th & 5th Grade)
If your child is interested in joining Coding Club, please complete the following application by January 3, 2023. The top portion of the application should be completed by the parent. The second section should be completed by the student.
Application
Grade Levels: 4th & 5th
Number of Students: 20
Meeting Day: Thursdays
Time: 7:45 am - 8:20 am (Drop off starts at 7:40, do not drop off early)
Sponsor(s): Misty Piper and Stacey Gist
Club Start/End Date: January 12, 2023- March 30, 2023
Meeting Dates:
January 12, 19, 26
February 2, 9, (No club on the 23rd)
March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Gwinnett County Public Library Events Calendar: Suwanee Branch
The GCPL hosts many events each month. Check out the programs in the flyer below.
Follow Parsons Elementary on Facebook and Instagram!
Monday, December 5, 2022
- Computer Science Education Week
- Holiday Dress Up Challenge ~ Mad about Plaid ~ Aren't you plaid winter break is about here? Wear your plaid to celebrate.
- K and 3rd Grades switch specials all week due to testing
- 7:30 am ~ Readers Rally
- 7:40 am ~ Art Club
- 9:00 am ~ PTA Meeting
- 9:00 am ~ DA Benchmark Testing
Tuesday, December 6, 2022
- Digital Learning Day ~ Special Addition
- Holiday Dress Up Challenge ~ United in the Principles of KWANZAA ~ Wear red, black and/or green to honor the celebration of KWANZAA.
Wednesday, December 7, 2022
- Holiday Dress Up Challenge ~ You light up our school ~ Wear holiday lights
- 7:45 am ~ Robotics Club
- 9:00 am ~ DA Benchmark Testing
Thursday, December 8, 2022
- Holiday Dress-Up Challenge ~ Slippin' into the holidays~ Wear your favorite slippers to school. (Bring shoes to wear outside).
- 7:45 am ~ Witzzle Pro (Melts' Room)
- 7:50 am ~ Pride of Parsons Chorus
- 3:30 pm ~ i9 Sports
- 6:30 pm ~ Pride of Parsons Chorus Concert
Friday, December 9, 2022
- Holiday Dress-Up Challenge ~ Tree Topper ~ Wear your favorite holiday hat, headband or tree topper
- 9:00 am ~ DA Benchmark Testing
- 10:00 am ~ School Council Meeting
- 10:15 am ~ Play 2 Learn
- 1:45 pm ~ Play 2 Learn
- 3:30 pm ~ Tech Club
What is PTA?
PTA is the Parent Teacher Association and we make a strong community for all of the children at Parsons. Join us for $7 on parsonses.memberhub.com/store to become a PTA member and we will be stronger together. If you have any questions about the PTA or volunteer opportunities to help our school community, please email parsonsespta@gmail.com.
The next PTA meeting is Monday, December 5 at 9:00 am in the PLR. All parents are welcome! Please come to hear about current and planned happenings at Parsons. We look forward to meeting you, hearing your ideas, and growing the Parsons community!
Proud Principal Laura Clark
