Principal's Post
Montgomery Elementary 2023-24: Vol. 3
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Dear Montgomery Famiiles,
As we begin this new academic year, I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you for contributing to such a fantastic start. The enthusiasm, dedication, and collaborative spirit displayed by our students, parents, teachers, staff, and administrators have truly set the tone for a promising year ahead.
The energy and excitement I've witnessed during the first week of school has been truly inspiring. From the lively classrooms to the bustling hallways, it is evident that our community is committed to fostering a positive and nurturing learning environment. Our students' thirst for knowledge and their eagerness to engage in both academics and extracurricular activities remind us all of the power of education.
I would like to extend a special thank you to our dedicated teaching faculty for their tireless efforts in preparing engaging lessons and creating meaningful learning experiences. Their passion and commitment shine through, and it is clear that they are making a lasting impact on our students' lives.
Furthermore, I want to acknowledge the invaluable support of our parents and guardians. Your active involvement and unwavering support contribute significantly to the success of our school community. Your partnership is truly appreciated and makes a profound difference in the growth and development of our students.
As we move forward in this academic journey, I am confident that together we will continue to uphold the values of excellence, respect, and collaboration that define Montgomery. I am excited to witness the achievements and growth that this year will undoubtedly bring.
Once again, thank you for making this beginning so remarkable. Let us continue to work hand in hand to provide our students with a nurturing, challenging, and inspiring educational experience.
With Mustang Pride
Dr. Lori M. Bolds
Week-At-A-Glance
- Specials ~ Day 1
Tuesday, August 15, 2023
- Specials ~ Day 2
Wednesday, August 16, 2023
- Specials ~ Day 3
Thursday, August 17, 2023
- Specials ~ Day 4
- PTO Exec Board Meeting ~ 9:00am
- Principal Advisory Council (PAC) meeting ~ 3:30pm (virtual)
Friday, August 18, 2023
- Specials ~ Day 5
Welcome Our New Staff Members!
Kilometer Kids
Kilometer Kids Run Club
Come Run with us this Fall! We are so excited to kick off our Fall season of Kilometer Kids Run Club in just a few weeks! Details about the program are below.
What: Kilometer Kids running program, 10-week session
When: Thursdays 2:30-3:30 (at afternoon dismissal, students will meet their coaches in the cafeteria and then head down to the field.)
Dates: Thursday, September 7th - Thursday, November 9th
Where: Montgomery Campus
Who: Students in 1st - 5th grade (Kindergarten for coaches’ kids only)
Cost: $5
Sign up: Use this link to register your student. After you have signed up, please use this link to pay the $5 dues.
Coaches: We still need a few coaches to make this program a success! You don't need to be an avid runner or have coaching experience. Kilometer Kids provides great resources and you will be with many other MES parents. Also, if you are a coach, your kindergartner can participate! If you have an interest in coaching this Fall, please sign up here or for questions email: ericarobinson07@gmail.com or faithdavidson@yahoo.com. We also need alternate coaches if that is a better fit with your schedule.
Great Things are Taking Place at Montgomery!!!
Ms. Jamie, Ms. Mottern, & Ms. Carter can't wait to greet their 2nd grade students!
Kindergartner Thomas takes a minute to pose for a picture with Ms. Nayar
5th grader Charlie and his family meet his teachers during the Back to School Fair
Detective Terrence Smith stops by to introduce himself to the admin team. He will be serving Montgomery this year.
Kindergartners Imogen and Carter pose for a pic on their way to the front office
Dr. Bolds & 2nd grader Annalise catch up before the day begins
Student Placement
A great deal of time, effort and thought has gone into the process of student placement for the 2023-2024 school year. Proper placement of students to ensure academic success is our top priority at Montgomery Elementary School. As such, classes are deliberately grouped heterogeneously to include a full range of aptitudes, abilities and learning styles based on teacher input, student achievement data, services required, discipline records, etc. Our class lists are structured to provide equitable class sizes at each grade level. Moving students is difficult without causing imbalances and inequities. Therefore, a request for a homeroom change is not optional as class sizes have been balanced and each student has been assigned to an excellent teacher who will provide an optimal classroom experience. Our teaching staff is phenomenal and is well-prepared to teach your children.
As a school community, we will work together to make teaching and learning our primary focus and embrace new experiences that will allow our students to become global citizens. Also, please keep in mind that all student placements are to be considered tentative during the first ten days of school due to unforeseen changes in enrollment. Should we encounter unexpected fluctuations in enrollment, teacher or class assignments may change. We will closely monitor classes that are currently at risk of not meeting or exceeding state guidelines for minimum/maximum class size. In the event that this occurs, we will communicate with parents and move quickly to make necessary adjustments to minimize the transitional impact on students.
Thank you so much for being positive with your child and helping him or her understand that it is impossible to place all students with a preferred best friend or teacher. ALL of our staff members work hard to make school a positive experience for our students. Montgomery is eagerly looking forward to enriching your child’s life. Thank you for understanding that it can take a few weeks for a child to acclimate to a new grade, peer group and teacher. Your commitment to ensuring that Montgomery remains a celebrated and successful school is greatly appreciated.
2nd grader Ben is still smiling after a long day
5th graders Mercer, Hudson, Myles, and Charles can't believe they are our "Senior Mustangs!"
2nd graders Connor and James are best buds
Kindergartner Sebastian bonds with Assistant Principal Ms. Brooks over their love of squirrels
SCHOOL SAFETY
School Safety is top of mind for me, the staff, and I know for you as well.
Every precaution will be be taken to ensure the safety of your child during school hours. One safety measure practiced are safety drills (fire, tornado, and intruder), which are conducted throughout the school year. Fire drills are held once every month. Tornado drills are held twice a semester, Intruder (Lockdown) drills are held three times a semester. Schedules, exits, and procedures are a part of these important drills to keep our students and staff safe in the event of an emergency. The administrative team and all staff members will be in position to aid in a safe, quick evacuation. Routes of exit are posted in each room of the building. Our number one priority is the safety and security of students and staff.
During the school day, we ensure the following safety measures are taken:
- All classroom doors remain closed and locked at all times.
- Exterior doors remain locked at all times and are not propped open for any reason.
- Exterior doors will not be opened for visitors.
- All visitors must come to the front of the school to receive assistance.
- All visitors must press the entry button outside the front door and show photo identification. The front office staff will assist all visitors from this point.
- If a visitor does not have an appointment with staff, is not checking out a student, or is not receiving assistance from the front office, they will not be allowed inside the school.
- If parents would like to drop off items for their child, they will utilize the black cart outside the front door and complete a drop off slip. Front office staff will retrieve the items off the cart and ensure your child receives the item.
- Students are monitored by staff members in all areas of the building, on the playgrounds, and the field.
- Outside of traveling with their class to other parts of the building, students will travel in pairs when leaving their class independently to go to the restroom, nurse, or front office.
- Every classroom is equipped with a telephone and a call button in the event of an emergency.
- For afternoon dismissal, students are only dismissed from when their name appears on the dismissal spreadsheet and/or their bus is called.
- Staff are strategically stationed throughout the building and campus to ensure students arrive and depart safely from school.
- NEW THIS YEAR: each staff member at Montgomery will have a crisis alert badge that they will wear daily. In the event of an emergency, staff will press a button on this gadget to alert administration that they are in need of help or assistance.
Our school resource officer does stop by the school on a consistent basis and walks the building and grounds to ensure that order is maintained. As an added safety measure, we have developed and maintained a partnership with Brookhaven Police. They patrol our campus, develop relationships with students and staff, and ensure we are safe,
In the event of an emergency, we will communicate with all parents via School Messenger. Please be sure you are connected and signed up on your mobile phone. It is important that parents read all messages from the school thoroughly and follow next steps as outlined.
Safety will always remain our top priority. We appreciate your partnership and collaboration as we work together to maintain a safe learning environment for all students and staff.
5th grader Alex rings the bell for the walkers
Ms. Mistretta has her crocheted animals on display
Mrs. Short enjoys the "Born To Teach" mug the admin team gave the staff
***UPDATED BUS ROUTES***
UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE!
Bus routes have been updated.
Bus routes can be found on the district website or by clicking on the "MES Bus Routes 23-24" button below.
https://www.dekalbschoolsga.org/bus-routes/
***The times you see listed on the bus routes are for the morning only. Buses will leave campus each day at 2:30pm. Please be aware that buses may depart campus a little later the first few days of school as we ensure that students are accounted for and on the correct bus. Also, students who are picked up first in the morning will be dropped off last in the afternoon. An adult must be present at the bus stop to meet students in grades Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st & 2nd grade.
If you have any questions related to DCSD school buses, please contact our school counselor Mrs. Sandra Edwards: sandra_edwards@dekalbschoolsga.org
Carpool begins at 7:15am. Please wait for the front doors of the school to be opened before having your child exit the vehicle or pulling off. In an effort to make carpool more efficient, we have changed the location for students to enter the building.
- 2nd graders (students in Ms. Brown/Mrs. Nichelson's homeroom), 4th graders, & 5th graders can be dropped off at the Lower Level of MES off Oconee Pass (back of the school near the gym)
- Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st graders, 2nd graders (students in Ms. Carter, Mrs. Pilger & Ms.Whaley's homeroom) and 3rd grade students can be dropped off at the Main Building (main entrance facing Ashford Dunwoody Rd.)
- Get in the carpool line by 7:10am to ensure that you get through the line quickly.
- Students should exit from the right side of the vehicle.
- MES staff will assist students with removing their instruments. Please stay in your vehicle.
- Do not block the driveway of our neighbors when bringing your child to and from school.
- Do not park in the handicap spots or the reserved spaces in the front of the building, unless you have an appointment or need to drop off a project.
- Do not park on the opposite side of the street and send your child across the street alone.
- Do not drop off your child in front of the school.
THANK YOU FOR HELPING US TO KEEP OUR SCHOOL AND CHILDREN SAFE!
Bus Transportation
Please be advised of potential bus delays and route adjustments during the first few weeks of school. The MES staff will make every effort to minimize issues related to transportation and will do our best to ensure the safe ridership of our students. Should there be a need to request additional buses, we will move quickly to do so. In the event that a bus is overcrowded on the first day, we will request that a second route be made, which will result in a delay in the time your child may arrive home. In this case, please wait for your child at your designated stop rather than calling the school. Any changes, other than the above mentioned, will be communicated to parents quickly via School Messenger. Our priority is to get students home safely rather than quickly, so please be aware of this potential issue and remain flexible as we work through it.
Dismissal
Please make sure that you have communicated your child’s dismissal plan to the teacher. Any unexpected changes in dismissal must be communicated in writing to your child's teacher. Please do wait until the last minute to notify your child's teacher of any changes. Waiting until the last minute to communicate an unexpected change in dismissal increases the likelihood of failed communication and could result in a student being sent home the wrong way.
Walkers
All walkers are dismissed through the walker door (2nd set of doors) located at the front of the main building. Parents are required to wait outside as students are dismissed. Students are not allowed to leave the school without an adult. This is to protect the integrity of our Safe School Dismissal Plan.
DO YOU NEED A HANGTAG FOR CARPOOL?
If you will be picking up your child from school, you will need to use the MES Carpool Form. Please download the MES Carpool Form below, fill out the required information, and place it on the passenger side of your dashboard.
If you have questions, please contact Ms. Nsele at Moiya_Nsele@dekalbschoolsga.org if you have any questions or need assistance.
Bus Rules / Reminders / Routes
- Students will only be allowed to ride the bus and be dropped off at his/her designed address.
- Students are not permitted to change bus routes for "play dates".
- All changes to bus stops must be approved by the Transportation Department, not the local school.
- Please be patient during the first few days of school as our bus drivers will still be solidifying the students on each route. In the event that a bus is going to be unusually late, we will notify parents via School Messenger . (Please make sure that you are signed up for the School Messenger).
- Students should be told that if they do not see their parent/guardian at the bus stop, they should not get off the bus. The student should tell the driver that they do not see their parent / guardian and the driver will bring the student back to the school.
FALL 2023 PRINCIPAL'S ADVISORY COUNCIL (PAC) ELECTIONS
The candidate declaration window for Fall 2023 Principal Advisory Council (PAC) elections will be open through 5:00pm, August 25, 2023. Complete the appropriate candidate declaration form using the links below to run for a position on your school's PAC.
PARENT REGISTRATION: https://www.bigpulse.com/179344/register
PARENT REGISTRATION (ADDITIONAL LANGUAGES): https://form.jotform.com/230888535249165
Principal Advisory Councils (PACs) bring parents, school employees, students and community members together to create a better understanding of and mutual respect for each other's perspectives and share ideas for increasing student achievement and performance.
What is the role of the Principal Advisory Council (PAC)?
- Act as a link between the school and the community
- Encourage the engagement of parents and other stakeholders within the school community
- Work to increase student achievement through transparent operations and shared best practices
- Review the Continuous School Improvement Plan and monitor progress toward goals
- Participate in the selection of the school principal
To learn more about the work of Principal Advisory Councils, visit: http://www.dekalbschoolsga.org/principal-advisory-councils.
2023-2024 AFTER SCHOOL EXTENDED DAY PROGRAM @ MONTGOMERY ES
Montgomery will offer our After School Extended Day Program (also called ASEDP) on school days during the 2022-2023 school year. Enrollment is limited and determined through a lottery. Some details about ASEDP:
- ASEDP runs Monday through Friday from 2:30pm to 6:00pm. (The program is closed on days the school district is closed).
- Students have snack, recess, activities, and complete homework.
- MES teachers and faculty members run and staff the program.
- There is no “late” bus for transportation home from ASEDP. Parents must pick up their children from the program.
- Funds from this program come back to MES and are used for instructional materials and online tools for students in addition to building improvements.
For more information about Montgomery's After School Program, please click on the link below.
https://sites.google.com/dekalbschoolsga.org/asedp/home
Please contact our ASEDP co-directors if you have questions:
Ms. Kathryn Wootten: Kathryn_Knecht-Wootten@dekalbschoolsga.org
Mrs. Kristen (Whaley) Scrampfer: kristen_a_whaley@dekabschoolsga.org
SCHOOL UNIFORMS ARE HIGHLY ENCOURAGED
2023-2024 FAMILY HANDBOOK
A comprehensive family handbook was developed over the summer that outlines our school policies and procedures.
In addition to everything included in the parent/student handbook, I want to point out several updates for this school year.
- Parents and guardians should try to avoid dropping off items late to the school (i.e. lunch boxes, instruments, homework, projects, water bottles, etc). This greatly interrupts instructional time, teachers teaching, and students learning. Students should bring all items they need to school when they arrive each day. We understand there will be times when students forget items, but please know that if students forget their water bottles at home, water is provided at school. If they forget their lunch, a school lunch will be provided. We want to instill responsibility and independence in all of our students. In the event of an emergency or a medical need, parents are free to bring medications to the school nurse
- No outside vendor/fast foods or deliveries can be brought in for students (i.e - Chick Fil-A, McDonalds, etc). Students should bring in a lunch packed from home if they are not eating school lunch. If students forget their lunch, we have a very nutritious lunch being provided daily in the cafeteria. Our goal is to always support our school lunch program.
- Parents are not able to eat lunch with their students at this time. We are still exploring ways to allow parents in for lunch. However, space is extremely limited at this time. If you have any suggestions, please email Dr. Bolds.
***Please download the handbook using the attachment below and save it to refer to throughout the school year.
MEDICATION FORMS
We recently learned that our school nurse, Pamela Black, will not be returning this year. We sincerely thank her for her commitment and dedication to the students at staff at Montgomery Elementary. We are working with our Cluster Nurse, Danielle Dautrieve-Sanford, to ensure that the medical needs of our students are being addressed.
If your child will needs to have medication administered at school, please download the form below and have your physician complete it. Only children who have a permission to carry form documented in the clinic can carry their medication. This form only covers medication such as an epi pen or an inhaler. All other medication is to be brought to the school by a parent or sibling 18 years or older with the documented medication on each form signed by a physician. Over the counter medication must also be documented on a form and signed by a physician. Otherwise, they are in violation of the handbook policy.
If you have questions, please contact Dr. Bolds at lori_m_bolds@dekalbschoolsga.org
SCHOOL MEALS
SCHOOL MEALS
Breakfast and lunch are served each day of school. Please review the flyer below for more information.
Breakfast and lunch menus can always be found on this website:
https://www.dekalbschoolsga.org/school-nutrition/menus/
***PLEASE NOTE: No outside vendor/fast foods or deliveries can be brought in for students (i.e. -Chick Fil-A, McDonald's, etc.). Students should bring in a lunch packed from home if they are not eating school lunch.
Please contact our Cafeteria Manager if you have any questions: Mrs. Sandra Carr at Sandra_Carr@dekalbschoolsga.org
WHO TO CONTACT WHEN QUESTIONS ARISE
Please review and save the list below so you are aware who to contact when questions arise.
Direct questions regarding the following items to the people below.
- Membership Toolkit - Mrs. Dawn Powell: info@montgomerypta.com
- Reporting your child's absence from school - email your child's homeroom teacher
- Changes in transportation - email your child's homeroom teacher
- Questions about school lunch - email our cafeteria manager, Mrs. Sandra Carr: Sandra_Carr@dekalbschoolsga.org
- General questions pertaining to your child's class - email your child's homeroom teacher
- Questions related to gifted eligibility - email our gifted liaison, Assistant Principal Ms. Moiya Nsele: Moiya_Nsele@dekalbschoolsga.org
- Questions related to school counseling - email one of our school counselors: Mrs. Sandra Edwards: sandra_edwards@dekalbschoolsga.org or Mr. Jamal Davis: Jamal_Davis@dekalbschoolsga.org
- Questions pertaining to After School Extended Day Program (ASEDP) - please contact the co-directors Ms. Kathy Wootten: Kathryn_Knecht-Wootten@dekalbschoolsga.org and Mrs. Kristen (Whaley) Schramper: kristen_a_whaley@dekalbschoolsga.org
- Questions pertaining to grades PreK - 2nd - email the grade level Assistant Principal: Ms. Moiya Nsele: Moiya_Nsele@dekalbschoolsga.org
- Questions pertaining to grades 3rd-5th - email the grade level Assistant Principal: Ms. Laura Brooks: Anna_Brooks@dekalbschoolds.org
- Questions pertaining to class schedules, progress reports, and report cards - email our Assistant Principal, Ms. Moiya Nsele: Moiya_Nsele@dekalbschoolsga.org
- Questions pertaining to districtwide assessments (MAP, CogAT, GA Milestones, ACCESS) - email our School Test Coordinator/Assistant Principal, Ms. Moiya Nsele: Moiya_Nsele@dekalbschoolsga.org
- Questions pertaining to schoolwide operations - email Dr. Bolds: lori_m_bolds@dekalbschoolsga.org
2023-2024 SCHOOL CALENDAR
Important Dates
August
23 Curriculum Night (Grades Pre-K -2nd Grade)
24 Curriculum Night (Grades 3-5)
25 Walk to School
25 Coffee & Conversation with Dr. Bolds (8am - cafeteria)
OPT-IN TO SCHOOL MESSENGER
Montgomery Elementary School
Email: lori_m_bolds@dekalbschoolsga.org
Website: montgomeryes.dekalb.k12.ga.us
Location: 3995 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Atlanta, GA, United States
Phone: (678) 676-7503
Twitter: @MESMustangPride