Panther Press
New Prospect Elementary School Newsletter
Nurture~Personalize~Engage~Succeed
NPE's Priority is Safety
It is with a heavy heart that I write my message this week. This has been a difficult week as a country, but specifically as a school leader. The event at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School has made us all experience a variety of feelings due to the senseless act of violence.
Safety will be and continues to be the priority at Fulton County and New Prospect Elementary. The administration team met this morning followed by a whole staff meeting this afternoon to revisit our current safety practices and procedures and reflect upon how we can make improvements for the betterment of our students.
Next week and the week after, we will be having two hard lockdown drills with students. The students will know that these are drills. Over the announcements, the students and staff will hear “Hard Lockdown Drill”. Teachers will be talking to our students about the importance of practice on Tuesday before any drills take place. I will also send out a messenger during the drill to let you know that we are practicing. Please reinforce the importance of practicing in the best you can with your children at home. I know that this is not an easy thing to discuss with your elementary students, but the more prepared we all are, the more confident we will all feel. Ms. McLeod has provided us with some tips below!
For more information from Fulton County click here: http://www.fultonschools.org/en/Documents/FCS_statementSafetySecurity.pdf
As always, let me know if you have any questions.
Thank you for everything you do to support us here at NPE!
Amy Lemons
Principal
Tips about Talking to Children About Violence
High profile acts of violence, particularly in schools, can confuse and frighten children who may feel in danger or worry that their friends or loved-ones are at risk. They will look to adults for information and guidance on how to react. Parents and school personnel can help children feel safe by establishing a sense of normalcy and security and talking with them about their fears.
1. Reassure children that they are safe. Emphasize that schools are very safe. Validate
their feelings. Explain that all feelings are okay when a tragedy occurs. Let children talk
about their feelings, help put them into perspective, and assist them in expressing these
feelings appropriately.
2. Make time to talk. Let their questions be your guide as to how much information to
provide. Be patient; children and youth do not always talk about their feelings readily.
Watch for clues that they may want to talk, such as hovering around while you do the
dishes or yard work. Some children prefer writing, playing music, or doing an art project as an outlet. Young children may need concrete activities (such as drawing, looking at picture books, or imaginative play) to help them identify and express their feelings.
3. Keep your explanations developmentally appropriate.
-Early elementary school children need brief, simple information that should be
balanced with reassurances that their school and homes are safe and that adults are
there to protect them. Give simple examples of school safety like reminding children
about exterior doors being locked, child monitoring efforts on the playground, and
emergency drills practiced during the school day.
4. Review safety procedures. This should include procedures and safeguards at school and at home. Help children identify at least one adult at school and in the community to whom they go if they feel threatened or at risk.
5. Observe children’s emotional state. Some children may not express their concerns
verbally. Changes in behavior, appetite, and sleep patterns can also indicate a child’s level of anxiety or discomfort. In most children, these symptoms will ease with reassurance and time. However, some children may be at risk for more intense reactions. Children who have had a past traumatic experience or personal loss, suffer from depression or other mental illness, or with special needs may be at greater risk for severe reactions than others. Seek the help of mental health professional if you are at all concerned.
6. Limit television viewing of these events. Limit television viewing and be aware if the
television is on in common areas. Developmentally inappropriate information can cause
anxiety or confusion, particularly in young children. Adults also need to be mindful of the content of conversations that they have with each other in front of children, even
teenagers, and limit their exposure to vengeful, hateful, and angry comments that might be misunderstood.
7. Maintain a normal routine. Keeping to a regular schedule can be reassuring and
promote physical health. Ensure that children get plenty of sleep, regular meals, and
exercise. Encourage them to keep up with their schoolwork and extracurricular activities but don’t push them if they seem overwhelmed.
Suggested Points to Emphasize When Talking to Children
-Schools are safe places. School staff works with parents and public safety providers (local police and fire departments, emergency responders, hospitals, etc.) to keep you safe.
-The school building is safe because … (cite specific school procedures).
-We all play a role in the school safety. Be observant and let an adult know if you see or hear something that makes you feel uncomfortable, nervous or frightened.
-There is a difference between reporting, tattling or gossiping. You can provide important information that may prevent harm either directly or anonymously by telling a trusted adult what you know or hear.
-Although there is no absolute guarantee that something bad will never happen, it is
important to understand the difference between the possibility of something happening
and probability that it will affect you (our school community).
-Senseless violence is hard for everyone to understand. Doing things that you enjoy, sticking to your normal routine, and being with friends and family help make us feel better and keep us from worrying about the event.
-Sometimes people do bad things that hurt others. They may be unable to handle their
anger, under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or suffering from mental illness. Adults
(parents, teachers, police officers, doctors, faith leaders) work very hard to get those people help and keep them from hurting others. It is important for all of us to know how to get help if we feel really upset or angry and to stay away from drugs and alcohol.
-Stay away from guns and other weapons. Tell an adult if you know someone has a gun.
Access to guns is one of the leading risk factors for deadly violence.
-Violence is never a solution to personal problems. Students can be part of the positive
solution by participating in anti-violence programs at school, learning conflict mediation
skills, and seeking help from an adult if they or a peer is struggling with anger, depression, or other emotions they cannot control.
NASP has additional information for parents and educators on school safety, violence
prevention, children’s trauma reactions, and crisis response at www.nasponline.org
©2016, National Association
Upcoming Events:
February 19th-President's Day-No School
February 22nd- Scream'n Nuts NPE Spirit Day! (All Day Long)
March 9- Digital Learning Day-We don't have School (more info to come)
March 12th-Make Up Day-We do have school!
March 16th-PTA SHAMROCKIN SHINDIG 6:00-8:00
March 20th-Panther Parent Prep-Preparing for the Georgia Milestones
May 10th-NPE Spring Showcase 5:00-7:30
Congratulations to our Teacher and Professional of the Year!
Congratulations to our Teacher of the Year, Diana Zarzour (4th Grade) and our Professional of the Year, Patrick Harrison (Custodian). Pictured above.
We are so excited to have them represent NPE! Ms. Zarzour will go on to the Northwest Fulton Competition for Teacher of the Year. Ms. Zarzour and Mr. Harrison will be honored at luncheon later this year! We would also like to congratulate our nominees this year.
These teachers were nominated for Teacher of the Year:
Kelly Beasley- 2nd Grade
Lawanda Estes – 3rd Grade
Lindsey White - Kindergarten
Allie Wilson – 3rd Grade
Diana Zarzour – 4th Grade
Mrs. Cathy Roth (Paraprofessional) and Patrick Harrison (Custodian) were nominated for Professional of the Year.
We are so proud of our Panther Staff!
Preparing for the Georgia Milestone Test
Tuesday, Mar 20, 2018, 07:15 AM
New Prospect Elementary School, Kimball Bridge Road, Alpharetta, GA, United States
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
What's happening in the STEM Lab?
Kindergarten
Our Kindergarten students are going on adventures with Ron the armadillo. Ron helps teach about gravity, friction, and forces. Students make hypothesis about how far they think Ron will go down the ramp and then they are learning to graph the data! Kindergarteners collecting DATA! Its great!
2nd Grade
2nd grade built Native American shelters. In Social Studies, they learned about the Creek and Cherokee tribes. So, in STEM they researched the types of homes they lived in and chose which one they wanted to build. Students created a blueprint and also compiled a list of materials they would need. If you have a chance come by and see them outside the Media Center.
3rd Grade
3rd graders became Treehouse masters by building treehouse models. Each group was given a region in Georgia to build their house for. Students had to include alternative ways to get electricity and water. We even got a retweet from Pete Nelson from the Treehouse Masters show. If you have a chance come by and see them outside the Media Center.
4th Grade
4th graders are seeing how it feels to be a teacher. They were given the challenge of making up an experiment to teach the 4th grade standards for light using our NeuLog Panda sensors. After they designed their experiment they tested it and made adjustments. Now they are testing each other’s experiments.
5th Grade
cancer researcher at Yale University. She took out an hour a day for 5 days to be able to talk to all of the 5th grade classes. Each student got a chance to ask her a question. I was so impressed with the levels of questions asked. It was so awesome to learn about STEM at work in a real lab.
NPE School Governance Council (SGC)
Elections for the parent/guardian and teacher positions on the School Governance Council will be held March 19th-March 23rd. Candidates interested in running for an elected position on the Council must complete a candidate declaration form and submit by February 23rd.
Candidate forms may be submitted electronically or by mail. To find out more information about School Governance Council at New Prospect, please view the “All About SGC” video below:
If you have any questions, please email Ms. McIntire at mcintire@fultonschools.org
Jump Rope For Heart
Only one week left for Jump Rope for Heart! All donations are due on Feb. 23rd! We have raised a total of $7,800 for the American Heart Association, we are getting closer to our goal. Thanks for your support! There is still plenty of time to register online and earn your free glow-in-the-dark wristband. Click here to register: http://www2.heart.org/goto/newprospect
We are encouraging online fundraising along with check donations made payable to the American Heart Association. If you receive just one online donation you can earn Charger and Jax instantly! Raise $40 online and add Disco to your monster collection! Contest: Send 10 or more e-mails/e-cards from your Jump Rope for Heart website and be entered into a drawing to win a Jump Rope for Heart prize bag! Good Luck and thanks for being Heart Heroes! And don’t forget to download the free App and bring your monsters to life! Search Jump/Hoops in the App store!
Thank you!
From Mrs. Bercher in the Media Center
Celebrate Dr. Seuss! March 2 is nationally recognized as Read Across America day and the birthday of Dr. Seuss. Here are some great Dr. Seuss resources to share at home with your child:
- From the Launchpad:
- Choose MackinVia databases: Biography.com, PebbleGo,
- Choose MackinVia ebooks: 3 kid-friendly biographies and 3 of his books
- BrainPop: Scroll down the page until you see BrainPop, Jr. There’s a lesson on Dr. Seuss
- Destiny: This is the Media Center Patron Catalog: Click Catalog; then choose “Webpath Express” on the left. Enter Dr. Seuss and you’ll see lots of resources.
- GALILEO: Scroll down to the bottom & confirm that you’re on the GALILEO Kids (K-5) level; then search for Dr. Seuss.
- Safari Montage: There are four videos: the Cat & the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, Sneetches, the Lorax
Overdue Books: We have hundreds of overdue books! Please ask your child to locate their overdue library books and return them promptly to the media center. If books are turned in late, we do not charge a fine; however, if books are lost, the replacement cost of the book is charged.
Six Flags Read to Succeed Program: 50 students have turned in completed reading logs so far! I’ve extended the deadline to 2/28, so please start reading! Each student who reads at least 6 hours earns a free Six Flags ticket. All reading logs must add up to 6 hours (360 minutes). Send your reading logs to Mrs. Bercher in the Media Center. Tickets will be awarded around May 15th.
Public Comment at SGC Meetings
New Prospect's School Governance Council meets one morning each month in the front office conference room; our next meeting is February 21st @ 7:15 am. We will be discussing the Strategic Plan for 2018 and beyond. We will be asking for staff, parent, and community input on the strategic plan form on the next Panther Press (starting after our January meeting).
Donations for CHOA
Girl Scout Brownie Troop 1851 is working on finishing their badge for “It’s Your World, Change It!” and they have decided to help Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA) for their final project.
CHOA has requested our help gathering hygiene supplies for children 3-21. They are in critical need of several items. Brownie Troop 1851 intends to use their profits from cookie sales to purchase items for these children, but they are also looking for donations from community members.
We are reaching out to see if you are willing to help our efforts. Listed below are the items needed. We are also accepting monetary donations to purchase items as a troop for donation.
•Shampoo for boys/ shampoo for girls
•Conditioner
•2 in 1 shampoo and conditioner
•Body wash for boys (they have used suave for men, dove for men, axe, etc. for
the teens)
•Body wash for girls
•Hair bows/hair ties
•Combs
•Mini (travel size) deodorant - MUST be travel size
•Detangler spray/gel
**All of the items are for children aged 3-21 years old. Baby wash is a stock supply item so it IS NOT needed.
**The size and brand of product does not matter with the exception of the deodorant. The deodorant MUST be travel size since it is not shared.
Because CHOA’s need is urgent, we are asking for all donations by Friday, February 23, 2018. Thank you for your support of our Girl Scout Troop and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. There is a bin in the entrance of the school.
Transportation & Absence Notes
No Student is allowed in the school until 7:10 am. There is no supervision until that time.
We have had a lot of students who are tardy to school. Please make sure your children are here before 7:40.
New Prospect Elementary School
From Mrs. McLeod-School Counselor
Dear Parents and/or Guardians,
We all share a common and critical goal for our children to be safe and protected from all things harmful. In support of this goal, elementary school teachers and counselors will soon present annual lessons to students designed to increase their personal safety and protection. The Think First & Stay Safe™ program is a research-based program that teaches specific personal safety education by way of interactive classroom lessons. Think First & Stay Safe™ enables students to take an active and necessary role in protecting themselves from harassment, abduction, bullying, exploitation, and various forms of abuse (physical, sexual, emotional). The Health Advisory Committee reviewed and approved this program and selected components will be implemented through the elementary health curriculum by teachers and schools counselors.
Due to the importance of this topic, I want you to know when and how you may preview Think First & Stay Safe™ materials and when classroom teachers/counselors will be presenting this information to your child's class. Please contact your child’s counselor, Christina McLeod at mcleodcr@fultonschools.org to schedule a preview or if you have any questions. The materials will be available for preview from 2/26/-2/28. During the month of March, Think First & Stay Safe™ prevention lessons will be implemented for all K-5 students
If you prefer that your child not participate in the Think First & Stay Safe™ program, please email mcleodcr@fultonschools.org by March 1, 2018.
Panther Parent Prep Classes
We were fortunate to have Tracy McConaghie, LCSW, from McConaghie Family Counseling sharing her expertise in this interactive workshop.
Please click here to watch the recording of the session: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AX5_x60HRGeTLyApX3rd8YNetiZ-GNcE/view?usp=sharing
Our next Panther Parent Prep is on March 20th at 7:15 a.m. The topic is Preparing for the Georgia Milestones. Please RSVP below to come to this fantastic event!