Simonton ES Parent Newsletter
April 24, 2020
EVERY STUDENT, EVERY DAY DESERVES TO LEARN, LEAD AND EXCEL
Message from Ms. Perkins
Friday Virtual Dance!
Wednesday, April 22, was Earth Day
Here are a few activities that you can do at home to celebrate Earth Day:
1. Complete an online Earth Day scavenger hunt to learn about the ways we can all help protect the environment. The websites included in the hunt are filled with facts that will engage your students as they practice their reading, information gathering and search skills. The thrill of the hunt will lead them through compelling information about our planet and the ways we can all make a difference.
- Download the Earth Day Scavenger Hunt Printable
- Go to this link to get started.
- Read carefully to find the answer to each question at the link provided.
2. 33 Great Children's Books for earth day.... click here: https://www.weareteachers.com/best-earth-day-books-for-kids/
3. 30 Earth Day Crafts and Activities Using Recycled Materials.... click here: https://www.weareteachers.com/earth-day-crafts-classroom-activities/
STUDENT LUNCH
Zoom for Chromebooks
STORY TIME WITH MS. PERKINS
Grab your lunch or a snack and join Ms. Perkins as she shares one of her favorite stories!
Saturday, April 25, 2020
11:00 am ~ Pre-K & Kindergarten
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83553863374?pwd=ekpkOW52elhJSGorTzNBSlh2V1hrZz09
Meeting ID: 835 5386 3374
Password: 1k39n8
11:45 am ~ First Grade
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81328409170?pwd=d2VnZGwrVnNpT2NzdVVkbEljb0xidz09
Meeting ID: 813 2840 9170
Password: 6jrB6k
12:30 pm ~ Second Grade
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84935973449?pwd=N2l3RW1LMmhCeEY0Zjl6NTFoU2xRdz09
Meeting ID: 849 3597 3449
Password: 7czrFy
**3rd-5th Grade Storytime will be Saturday, May 2nd.
You can also find the link on the Simonton ES eCLASS landing page or your teacher's course page for the link to your grade level's story time.
LOCAL SCHOOL COUNCIL
Simonton Elementary School
Local School Council
Join us for our last Local School Council meeting for the school year. This is a great opportunity to learn about Gwinnett County Public Schools and Simonton ES. We will hold the meeting virtually on Friday, May 8, 2020 at 10:00 am.
Link to the Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86277177638?pwd=RldQbHZqdlRHZExMT3A0TnZVaXlIQT09
Meeting ID: 862 7717 7638
Password: 4RPJm2
NATIONAL FIELD DAY
Simonton Elementary School will be participating in the OPEN National Field Day event on Friday, May 8th!
Field Day is an important tradition at our school. It is a significant day for our students and our staff, and we feel that in these incredibly challenging times this national event is a unique way that we can stay connected as a community and support one another in a fun and meaningful way.
All #NationalFieldDay events are designed to be done indoors or outdoors using common household items. You won’t be asked to purchase any specialized equipment or supplies.
Here’s how it will work:
- Our school is now registered as a participant in this event. Families can choose to register as well, but it’s not a requirement. (We encourage all families to take a minute and register.)
- The event website is www.openphysed.org/nationalfieldday.
**Please open the following document to continue reading a letter from Simonton's PE teacher.
Family Engagement Tips
If a relative has a birthday coming up, help your child make a birthday scrapbook. He can research the birthday person by writing or emailing other relatives for stories, quotes, memories and photographs. Then he can decide which material is most important, design a layout and write photo captions. The recipient will treasure a handmade gift, and your child will gain research and writing skills.
Sharpen spelling with a grocery list
To help your child sharpen her spelling skills, ask her to write your grocery list. Name the items you need, and challenge her to sound the words out on her own before you help with spelling them. When you bring the groceries home, can she match the words on the list with the words on the items on the shelf? She'll learn to spell, and she'll feel competent every time you ask her to make a list you can take to the store.
Pop some popcorn for tasty math practice
Grab some popcorn and improve your child's math skills! Ask your child to estimate how many popped kernels will fill a drinking glass. Then count. Refill the glass with popcorn and ask him to find three things that are lighter and three things that are heavier. Then weigh the items to check. Finally, have your child estimate how many popped kernels will fill his favorite popcorn bowl. Count and enjoy!
Specific questions keep communication flowing
If you worry about whether you'll be able to talk to your child when she's a teen, you're not alone. Worrying won't help, but good communication habits will. One helpful way to get a quiet child to talk is to ask specific questions, such as "What was the best thing that happened today?" Start with questions that aren't threatening, like "What do you think of this picture in the catalog?" Try it when you're relaxing together.
Use pictures to encourage creative writing
To strengthen your child's imagination and writing skills, have him write a story based on pictures. Together, cut out interesting, unrelated pictures from magazines. Have your child choose four or five and tell you a story that links them together. (How will he connect the tiger to the rocket?) Then, have him write his story down. For variety, scramble the picture order and ask him to tell a new story.
Help your child watch and learn during TV time
In real life, problems don't always get resolved in 30 minutes the way they often do on TV. But watching a TV program with your child can lead to a discussion about ways to solve problems in real life. After you watch a program together, turn off the set and talk. Was that the best way to solve the problem the characters faced? What else does she think they could have done? Has she ever faced a similar situation?
Play a simple game to build pattern recognition skills
Pattern recognition is an important math skill. To help your child practice, play Guess the Pattern. Provide the first three numbers in a simple pattern (1, 3, 5), and ask your child to tell you what comes next (7). Allow a few guesses, then supply the answer. Take turns giving each other patterns. Start with simple ones, and increase the challenge as your child gets older and learns more math.
GCPS DIGITAL LEARNING DAY UPDATE 2
TITLE 1 PLANNING MEETING VIDEO LINKS:
Video (in English): https://www.powtoon.com/c/bMPsnpqzf51/1/m
Video (in Spanish): https://www.powtoon.com/c/eQ6KVZxKAM1/1/m
**Click below to download the attached flyer. The RSVP for this meeting is linked at the bottom.
STUDENT ITEMS
SIMONTON ELEMENTARY- WHAT WE STAND FOR
Vision
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: http://gcpsk12.org/SimontonES
Location: 275 Simonton Road Southwest, Lawrenceville, GA, USA
Phone: (770) 513-6637