Panther Press
New Prospect Elementary School Newsletter
July 13, 2021
Summer is not over yet!
Hello Panther Families!
Although summer is not over yet, we are getting closer and closer to the 2021-22 school year! I hope you have enjoyed a summer vacation filled with fun and exciting memories with your loved ones (and will continue to do so over the next couple of weeks).
We are thrilled to welcome all of you back to a new school year where learners grow, success is celebrated, and everyone matters. I personally cannot wait for school to start. I miss your kids so much and am very excited about this school year for so many reasons. I look forward to continuing to serve this amazing school and community!
In this summer issue of Panther Press, you will find a lot of “Save the Dates” for school events, new staff bios, and a very important PTA Survey. At the events, our priority is to continue to be COVID aware. We will try to spread people out by times and physically as much as possible while doing our best to get back to the amazing school that we were before the craziness.
Please reach out if you need anything from me in the coming weeks and see you soon!
Amy Lemons
Principal
Upcoming Events:
August 2nd-New Families Scavenger Hunt-10:00am
August 6th- Sneak Peek *Times based on Last Name
9:00- A-D
9:30-E-K
10:00-L-P
10:30-Q-Z
11:00-11:15-Virtual Meet the Teacher (for families who don't feel comfortable attending)
August 9th-First Day of School
August 20th-Back to School Bash-5:30-8pm
August 27th-Pep Rally (Wear House Colors)
September 6th-No School-Labor Day
September 9th-Curriculum Night
September 13th--22nd-Fall Bookfair
September 14th-Fall Picture Day
Want a voice in what happens at NPE?
We would like your help to make sure that we put our efforts into the things that our Panther family can get excited about.
Please fill out this 3 question survey so we can make plans for YOU!
Deadline to complete survey is Tuesday, 7/20.
Does your child have medical needs??
Does your child have any medical conditions or concerns that we should know about?
Please contact
Tracylynn Wagner, RN
Alpharetta Cluster Nurse
404-401-5546
Not too Late for Summer Reading
It’s not too late to log your summer reading on the Fulton Public Library’s Beanstack App! https://fultoncounty.beanstack.org/reader365
Your child can be entered to win prizes and will receive digital badges for reading entering books into Beanstack.
Also, check out the Fulton Summer Reading site for suggested books… and any book you and your child love is a great book for summer reading!
https://www.fcssummerreading.org/ and don’t forget to follow our media center on Twitter and Instagram! @NPEmediacenter
Mrs. Dennis, NPE METI
New Staff Members & Teachers
Margaret Mathas, Assistant Principal
Margaret Mathas is thrilled to be joining the New Prospect family as the Assistant Principal! She has previously served as the Assistant Principal and Student Academic Support Teacher at Shakerag Elementary School. Prior to that, she taught for ten years in both Fulton County, as well as the Plano Independent School District in Plano, Texas. She is passionate about elementary education, and throughout her experiences, she served as a classroom teacher in various classroom settings, spanning from kindergarten through 4th grade. Margaret has a passion for literacy instruction, teacher mentoring and coaching, and the implementation of PBIS for students, staff, and community members. She is so excited to join the NPES family and embrace our neighborhood school culture. Margaret is getting married this fall and is the dog mom to three adorable pups; Sadie, Lilly, and Daisy. She prides herself on her lifelong friendships and her strong bonds with immediate and extended family members. She looks forward to building the same personal and professional relationships with the students, staff, parents, and community members of NPES!
Kristy West, Instructional Support Teacher
My name is Kristy West and I am thrilled to be returning to New Prospect as the Instructional Support Teacher. I am going into my 20th year of teaching with Fulton County Schools. I grew up here in Alpharetta and attended Milton High School. After graduating from the University of West Georgia with a Bachelors and Masters degree in Special Education, I married my high school sweetheart. We have two beautiful daughters and spend most of our time watching their various sporting events. When we are not at the pool or soccer field, we love to travel and explore new places. I am excited to be back at New Prospect and looking forward to a wonderful year.
Krista Gipson, School Psychologist
My name is Krista Gipson and I am very excited to be a part of the New Prospect family. I have most recently served as the school psychologist for Taylor Road Middle School and Chattahoochee High School. Previously I worked in Forsyth County in elementary, middle and high schools. I am married and have two daughters (upcoming 9th and 11th graders at CHS). I am also a proud cat mom. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, nature walks and photography.
Emma Calhoun, Kindergarten
My name is Emma Calhoun, and I'm thrilled to be joining New Prospect this fall! I recently graduated from Kennesaw State University, and I was fortunate enough to participate in the First STEP internship through Fulton County for my student teaching. Outside of school, I read all the time! I read at home, at the park, in the library, or anywhere that I can catch a few quiet minutes. I also love spending time in the water- particularly the ocean. Although this is my first time teaching kindergarten, I know it's going to be a great year!
Tia Lew, 5th Grade
My name is Tai Lew, and I am so excited to be a part of the New Prospect team this coming school year! I am originally from South Korea but have had the opportunity to live and teach abroad in China and Mongolia, and across the United States in Illinois and most recently in Orange County, California. I relocated to Alpharetta this summer and have been enjoying its beautiful parks with my wife and son, Diana and Noah. I began teaching as a preschool teacher and have since also taught Kindergarten and grades three and six. I love spending time with students and supporting them in their intellectual pursuits, as well as in their growth as a productive citizen and unique individual. Outside of school I love being outdoors, playing the guitar, and exploring new places. I’m so excited to be a part of this wonderful learning community and cannot wait to start this new year!
Michael Fernandez, 5th Grade
My name is Michael Fernandez and I am thrilled about becoming a New Prospect Panther! I’m a native Georgian from Marietta, graduated from UGA, and have been teaching for 5 years. I have taught 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade in the past, and have a love for middle-grades literature. I enjoy building relationships with students and joking around in order to create a positive atmosphere of laughter and learning. Also, I am joining my wife, Katie Fernandez, at New Prospect and couldn’t be more excited! Outside of school, I enjoy working out, watching movies, reading, and taking unintentionally long naps. I’m looking forward to sharing dad jokes and bad puns with everyone this year!
(Why do nurses always carry red crayons? In case they have to draw blood!)
Teresa Howell, 4th & 5th Grade Special Education
Teresa B Howell has over 16 years of special education experience. She is a graduate of North Carolina Central University with degrees in BA/Psychology, MAT/Special Education with Learning Disabilities and MSA/School Administration. She is a National Board Certified Teacher and is one year away from receiving her Doctorate in Curriculum and instruction. She decided last year to put school on hold to pursue her part time love for the arts and entertainment industry. From teaching a plethora of curriculums, training other Sped teachers on how to implement reading strategies to Sped administration, she has been involved in all levels of Sped within the state of NC public school system. She uses her free time to write books(Author of 5), stage plays for large theater productions, and produces small films and documentaries. Although she continues to make strides in the entertainment industry, she continues to have a great passion and love for children with special needs. She enjoys pushing students to work at their highest potential and is excited about her upcoming school year at New Prospect Elementary School.
Other New Prospect Changes
Staff Leaving/Retiring From New Prospect: Mrs. Megan Boegel, Mrs. Ayat Soluiman, Mrs. Valerie Kassel, Mr. Kevin Pham, Mrs. Susan Bohnet, Mr. Tony Pape, Mr. Gil Rodriguez, Mr. Kevin Delong, Mrs. Sandra Durham, Mrs. Stephanie Haga
Mrs. Ashley Loftus (former EIP)-promoted to K-2 Literacy Coach
Mrs. Heather Alterman (former 4th grade teacher)-Part Time K-2 EIP Teacher
Mrs. Cindy Heibel (former front desk PA II)-promoted to Data Clerk
Mrs. Robin Levy(former clinic assistant)-promoted to Front Desk PA II