Norton News
Issue 3 - March 2023
First Semester Honor's Progams - Ms. Lee
We celebrated our students in January during grade level honor’s programs for their progress during the first semester of school. Congratulations again to those students who earned academic and/or behavioral achievements during the first half of the school year. I look forward to celebrating students again in May for their accomplishments during the second semester. We will also celebrate our fifth grade students in a special “Moving Up Ceremony”. More details regarding these events in May will be shared by the end of April.
Spring Break - Ms. Lee
Local School Council at Norton - Ms. Lee
Pathways Offered at South Gwinnett High School (13 Career and Technical Pathways)
- 3DE (Marketing)
- Culinary Arts
- Entrepreneurship
- Therapeutic Services/Allied Health and Medicine
- Nutrition and Food Services
- Law Enforcement Services/Forensic Science
- Legal Services/Application of Law
- Audio/Video Technology and Film
- Army JROTC
- Teaching as a Profession
- Cybersecurity
- Computer Science
- Engineering and Technology
Early Release and Parent Teacher Conferences - Mrs. Baldwin
Black History Month - Ms. Mohamed
Women's History Month - Ms. Mohamed
For Women's History Month we created a timeline outside of the front office to show the history of successful women. It started off with Sacagawea, a Native American who helped Lewis and Clark on their journey, and ended with Malala Yousafzai, who is an activist of women's education. A first-grade class walked to take a look at the timeline because they were learning about some of the women as well. In 4th grade, they were excited to see the Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton were on the board as they are also learning about the suffragist currently. Ms. Lee shared more about other women as well on the morning announcements to how that there are numerous strong leaders throughout history and still today.
Field Day at Norton - Mrs. Baldwin & Ms. Abrams
PBIS Updates & Wish List - Ms. Tate
Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports
Our school has developed a set of expectations or rules for your child’s behavior at school. We will teach these expectations to all of our students, and we will recognize students who meet them. The expectations will be the same for students in all areas of our school, including the playground, the lunchroom, the classroom, and on the bus.
Norton Expectations: Respectful, Responsible, and Ready Behavior (3R’s)
PBIS Acknowledgements/Rewards
Class Gotcha Cards: Classes receive gotcha cards for displaying 3R behaviors as a class. The class with the most gotcha cards at the end of month receives a reward.
Student Gotcha Cards: Individual students receive gotcha cards for displaying 3R’s behavior. Students can redeem the gotcha cards monthly at the PBIS store.
Golden Gotcha Cards: Individual students receive golden gotcha cards from the principal and assistant principals when caught displaying 3R behaviors. Names are randomly selected to receive a reward.
PBIS Store
Volunteers: The PBIS would love to have parent volunteers to run the store. The PBIS store is open for three days at the end of every month.
Wish List: Sweet Treats, Chips, squish mellows, fidget toys, pop it toys, hot wheels, and other items will be accepted as well.
Science Engineering and Innovation Fair
We are excited to share with you the success of our recent local 2023 Science Engineering and Innovation Fair held at Norton Elementary in January. Our students worked hard for weeks, conducting experiments, collecting data, and creating projects to showcase their knowledge and skills.
The local 2023 Science Engineering and Innovation Fair was a great opportunity for students to demonstrate their understanding of science concepts and to apply their knowledge in solving real-world problems. The range of projects presented were diverse and impressive, ranging from biology, chemistry, physics, technology, and environmental science.
The judges were impressed by the creativity and quality of the projects, and they had a difficult time choosing the winners. However, after much deliberation, they decided on the following students as the winners that went to the county’s Regional 2023 Science Engineering and Innovation Fair at the Gas South District Convention Center:
- Bryson Purnell – 5th Grade “Creating Music & Sound: DIY Guitar”
- Deborah Gutema – 5th Grade “Greenhouse Gas Repellent”
- Jenesis Beason and Amaya Sobers – 4th Grade “Slowing Down Pollution”
We also had several school winners that won 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place and received ribbons. Mrs. Taylor, Mrs. Sprauve, and Miss Head were our 1st place Classroom Project winners.
We were so proud of our students that participated in the Science Fair and commend them on their hard work, dedication, and passion for science. We would also like to thank the parents and teachers who supported and encouraged our students through this process.
Finally, we want to congratulate the winners as they moved on to the regional Science Engineering and Innovation Fair. They represented our school well and look forward to their continued success in their scientific endeavors.
Math & Science Night - Ms. Tate & Mrs. Brown
Student Council Updates - Ms. Teasley & Mrs. Green
For the months of November and December the Student Council held a Canned Food Drive to give back to those in the community. We held a contest throughout the school to encourage students to bring in non-perishable items. The Canned Food Drive was a huge success with over 1,500 cans being donated. This project turned into an ongoing project for Norton. We decided to start a Comet Care Closet at Norton that will be available for students and their families to get food if they need it for home. Since then, the majority of the student council work has been centered around getting the donated food organized in the Comet Care Closet in preparation to share the great news with our community. We are very excited to offer this to the families of Norton and to give back to our community. We will continue to accept donations to keep the Comet Care Closet stocked for our community.
Car Rider Expectations - Dr. Gaston
Car Rider Expectations Morning Drop-off Reminders
- Morning Drop-off is 7:45 AM – 8:15 AM. The bell rings at 8:15 AM and students are expected to be in their classrooms by this time.
- The side doors will close at 8:15 AM.
- If you choose to park your car and walk your students across the car rider line, you must walk the students to the front door of the school.
- Students that exit cars from the car rider line will enter the side door of the school.
- Pull your car all the way to the end of the car rider line for drop off.
- Please stay in your car and in the car rider line AT ALL TIMES.
- Students are to exit and enter their cars on the right-hand side of the car.
- If you cannot exit the right side of your car, please park and walk your students to the front door.
- If you have a child safety lock on the car door, make sure it is disabled or unlocked.
- School staff are present to ensure safe conditions and will not open/close doors or hold umbrellas
- The Bus lane in the front of the school is closed to cars until after 9:00 AM.
- Only buses may use the bus lane from 7:45 AM—9:00 AM.
- Please limit cell phone usage in the line.
Car Rider Expectations Pick-up Reminders
- Afternoon Pick-up times are 2:45 PM – 3:15 PM and students are dismissed from the GYM.
- At 3:15 PM, any remaining students are taken to the front office and can be picked up there.
- Have your car rider tag with number visible on the right-hand side of the dashboard.
- If you have a young child, help them to memorize their car rider number. Students are called for afternoon dismissal by the number we see displayed on the dashboard.
- Students will only be dismissed to cars with visible car rider tags. If you do not have your tag, you will need to park your car, walk to the front office, and sign your child out from the front office. Make sure you show your ID.
- Each family is given 2 car rider tags in case 2 different cars are used for pick-up. If you lose your tag or need extra copies, please contact Sonia Forde or Katherine Garcia in the front office.
Comet Time - Dr. Gaston
What is Comet Time?
The purpose of Comet Time is to provide students for 30 minutes each day with modeled instruction of close reading of complex grade level texts and to promote mathematical literacy through the application of mathematical concepts and critical thinking.
What's the Purpose?
● Develop concepts, strategies and skills through remediation and enrichment.
● Increase stamina, critical thinking, and problem solving.
● Build students’ ability to build, explain and refine their constructed responses.Testing Updates - Dr. Gaston & Mrs. Baldwin
ACCESS 2.0
English Learners took the ACCESS 2.0 assessment between January23-February 28, 2023. Kindergarten ACCESS for EL was a paper-based test individually administered to kindergarten students in a game-like, interactive format. ACCESS for EL students in 1-3 grade was administered online and paper based. ACCESS for EL in 4-5 grade was administered online as a computer-based adaptive test that responded to student performance. This assessment is given annually each spring. Teachers use ACCESS results to make decisions about students' proficiency with English in academic contexts and to facilitate their language development. Students' scores reflect proficiency levels ranging from Level 1 (Entering) to Level 6 (Reaching).
Georgia Milestones Assessment System (GMAS)
Students in grades 3-5 will be administered Georgia Milestones starting April 24, 2023. The 3rd-5th grade students will be administered the English Language Arts and Mathematics assessment. 5th grade students will also take the Science assessment. Georgia Milestones measures how well students have learned the knowledge and skills outlined in the state-adopted content standards in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science. Rolling makeups will begin once a content window opens. The Georgia Milestones test window closes May 12, 2023.
Georgia Milestones Schedule:
April 24th: English Language Arts 3rd-5th
April 25th: English Language Arts 3rd-5th
April 26th: English Language Arts 3rd-5th
May 1st: Mathematics 3rd-5th
May 2nd: Mathematics 3rd-5th
May 4th: Science 5th
Promotion Criteria for 2022-2023 School Year - Dr. Gaston
Kindergarten: Preparing for 1st Grade
To earn promotion to the 1st grade, students must demonstrate proficiency of the current grade-level Academic Knowledge and Skills (AKS) standards. Readiness for the 1st grade will be determined by the child’s classroom grades, assessments, and/or input from the school’s Student Support Team (SST).
1st Grade: Preparing for 2nd Grade
To earn promotion to the 2nd grade, students must demonstrate proficiency of the current grade-level Academic Knowledge and Skills (AKS) standards. Readiness for the 2nd grade will be determined by the child’s classroom grades, assessments, and/or input from the school’s Student Support Team (SST).
2nd Grade: Preparing for 3rd Grade
To earn promotion to the 3rd grade, students must demonstrate proficiency of the current grade-level Academic Knowledge and Skills (AKS) standards. Readiness for the 3rd grade will be determined by the child’s classroom grades, assessments, and/or input from the school’s Student Support Team (SST).
3rd Grade: Preparing for 4th Grade
To earn promotion to the 4th grade, students should have a reading status of Grade Level or Above on the English Language Arts Georgia Milestones End of Grade (EOG) Assessment. Students who do not meet this criteria may have the opportunity to attend summer school for targeted instruction. These students may be required to retest after summer school. Students should also possess the academic knowledge and skills necessary to be successful at the next grade level.
Students who do not have a reading status of Grade Level or Above on the English Language Arts Georgia Milestones EOG but who have a yearlong average that is passing (70 or higher) in Reading may be promoted.
4th Grade: Preparing for 5th Grade
To earn promotion to the 5th grade, students should have a yearlong average of 70 or better in Reading and Mathematics and possess the academic knowledge and skills necessary to be successful at the next grade level in Science and Social Studies.
5th Grade: Preparing for 6th Grade
In Georgia, 5th grade students also are required to achieve a reading status of Grade Level or Above on the English Language Arts Georgia Milestones End of Grade (EOG) Assessment and achieve the performance level of Developing or higher on the Mathematics Georgia Milestones EOG Assessment. Students who do not meet either of these state promotion requirements may be required to retest after summer school.
Students who do not meet grade level proficiency for the reading status and/or achieve the performance level of Developing or higher on the Mathematics EOG assessment but who have a yearlong average that is passing (70 or higher) in the corresponding course (Reading or Math) may be promoted.
Instructional Resources to Support Students at Home - Mrs. McKellar
AKS at Home is an important resource for our families. The program highlights Language Arts and Math learning. The county has shared Session I, Session 2, and Session 3 so far this year. I would like to encourage parents to access the recorded sessions and Tip Sheets on the GCPS website under the Students and Families tab. Mrs. McKellar is here to help and would be glad to help parents access the sessions at any time. There will not be a Session 4 AKS at Home this Spring.
The Office of Family Engagement will offer a Georgia Milestones Assessment System Family Night. Look for more information on the Gwinnett County website. We encourage parents to also access eTIPS that are shared weekly on our website and by teachers. Please encourage you children to access their eClass page nightly for many resources for extra help at home. Visit the Parent Center on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday to meet with Mrs. McKellar for continued support.
100 Days of School - Mrs. Spruiell
The 100th Day of school was January 20, 2023. A hundred days of laughter and learning have come and gone, and it’s time to reflect on everything you have to show for it! The 100th Day of School 2023 is a symbolic celebration of students’ achievements during the academic year. The event evolved to develop students’ understanding and recognition of numbers up to 100. It’s ideal for supporting math milestones from pre-kindergarten up to second grade. Nowadays, students of all ages and grade levels can get in on the action!
The 100th Day of School is widely celebrated in preschools, kindergartens, and elementary schools as a fun milestone to break up the school year. Special lessons and activities are prepared to celebrate the day. For example, students might be challenged to write 100 words, count to 100, sing songs about the number 100, or write 100 reasons why they love their school! It’s also common to see students and teachers dress in costumes to pretend they are 100 years old.
At Norton, our biggest celebration is when our Kindergarteners dress up like they are 100 years old!
Title I Workshops & Updates - Mrs. Spruiell & Mrs. McKellar
We are very excited that our year is going so well with Title I activities. Title I offers many programs to assist parents with their children’s learning at home. Teachers shared Norton’s The Plan/The Promise at March conferences and many parents reviewed it on MyPaymentsPlus. This is a very important document that shows the responsibilities of the teacher, parents, and student in the development of the student’s overall education. If you do not have a MyPaymentsPlus account, reach or to our Parent Coordinator, and she will be glad to help you create an account. The Title I Documents are shared there.
On January 26th Norton hosted a Science and Math Night. There were many exciting Math and Science activities offered from kindergarten through 5th grade. Our grade levels shared many family engagement activities based on grade-level standards. Our Science fair projects and winners were displayed for parents and students to view. Rick Buckner, from Albert’s Insomnia, shared his games and activities. Two upcoming Title I events are The Title I Annual Planning Meeting, scheduled for April 20th, and our PreK Transition Workshop, scheduled for April 11th. Please save the date, and we hope to see you there.
Please watch for reminders of upcoming family engagement workshops and events offered through Title I.
- Women’s History Month Painting Project with Kaswaina Powell – March 28, 2023 – 4-5 PM
- Math Workshop with Albert’s Insomnia – April 20, 2023 – 4-5 PM
- Mother’s Day Painting Project with Kaswaina Powell – May 9, 2023 – 4-5 PM
We want to encourage parents to join Zoom sessions on AKS @Home at GCPS. This is a wonderful program offered through Gwinnett County Schools. Log onto AKS at Home to find sessions offered for all grade levels. You may attend live sessions or visit the site for recorded sessions. Go to our Title I page on the Norton School Website for more information on AKS at Home. Beverly McKellar, our Parent Instructional Coordinator, is available to support you. She has many resources in the Parent Center that are available for check out to support learning at home. Please contact her at 770-736-2015 with questions.
Title IX Updates - Mrs. Spruiell
Comet Caring Calendar - Mrs. Spruiell
SEL at Norton - Mrs. Spruiell
Extended Learning Time at Norton - Mrs. Spruiell
We are so thrilled to offer a fantastic new learning opportunity our students this year. We have designed two after school programs. The first program is our intervention program (NASTI) which is designed for students who met our intervention criteria based on their iReady screener scores from the beginning of the year and 21–22-year end grades. Our after school teachers provide just in time support and practice for both reading and math for students in this program.
We are also very excited to continue our enrichment program (NASEA) that we started last year for gifted students and/or students achieving on or above grade level based on their iReady screener scores. NASEA will offer content integrated projects, activities, and learning tasks to help our students gain new knowledge, achieve to their best of their abilities and beyond, and have fun while actively learning. We are so proud that over 200 students participated in these learning opportunities during the fall sessions. Students liked the sessions so much; they often did not want the sessions to end. 😊 We have more sessions planned for the winter/spring semester.
-Wednesday and Thursday afternoons
-Times: 3:30 – 5:30 PM (Dismissal starts at 5:15 PM)
Winter Book Fair - Mrs. Luton
Read Across America Day - Mrs. Luton
Reader's Rally - Mrs. Luton
Kid's Heart Fundraiser - Ms. Abrams
Office Hours and Early Check-Outs - Mrs. Forde
Norton Office hours are from 7:00 am – 4:00 pm. Students may not enter the building until 7:45 am. Students arriving after 8:15am are considered tardy and parents will need to come to the front office to check them in.
If you wish to check out a student, please come to the office with your State ID no later than 2:15 pm. No check outs will be allowed after this time.
For one-day transportation changes, please send in a handwritten note to let the teacher know of the change. Please note that phone calls or faxes will not be accepted for any transportation changes. If you are making a permanent transportation change, you will need to come to the office and fill out a new Transportation Form and your ID will be required. No Permanent changes will be made until the transportation form has been filled out.
Please always remember to have your State ID with you for the safety and security of our Norton students and staff. Thank you for all your support as we continue to make Norton ES a safe and positive learning place.
Transportation Updates- Mrs. Forde
If your child gets a new book bag, PLEASE put tag on their new book bag.
Clinic Updates - Mrs. Clarke
Thank you for supporting our clinic with your generous donation. Because of you we are able to meet the needs of our children. Our clinic closet is stock with the exception of undergarments. However, we are still in needs of boys'/girls' undergarments , Band-aid, Snack bags, Kleenex, Disposable none alcohol wipes and girl's feminine product. Just a reminder, we do not dispense medication to student. Only prescribed medication or over-the-counter medication that is brought in with the proper documentation and in the original container are dispensed. Gwinnett County does not allow students to carry medication on their person. All medication are kept in the clinic. Also, if your phone number has changed, please update the new information in the portal so we can reach you in a timely manner, in the event of an emergency. We don't want your child/ children waiting for hours because of lack of information.
Parent/guardian if your child is sick, running a fever, coughing or vomiting prior to coming to school please keep them home. A child with a fever should be fever free twenty-four hours before returning to school. If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know and I would be happy to assist you. Thanks for all you do to make our school a safe and comfortable learning environment for our children. We appreciate and thank you for supporting our school clinic needs.
Registration - Mrs. Garcia
Welcome to R.L. Norton Elementary School, home of the Comets! We are looking forward to seeing your student thrive at our school. The registrar is available Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. No appointment is required to register or withdraw students. Call the main office ahead of time to make sure the registrar is available.
- Registration: The enrolling parent/legal guardian is responsible to provide all required documents at time of registration. Student must be registered before 11:30 a.m. to get same day attendance credit. If a student is registered after 11:30 a.m., the child will start school the following day. For detailed information on registration information, please click on this link: Registration / Registration (gcpsk12.org)
- NOTE: If your student will continue at R.L. Norton Elementary School, student will be automatically enrolled for school year 2023/2024. Please review your student profile through your Parent Portal account (you may update telephone numbers and emergency contacts). You can find ParentVUE videos in English and Spanish at https://www.gcpsk12.org/Page/26042
- Withdrawals: Only the enrolling parent/legal guardian can request to withdraw a student. If you need a withdrawal packet to present to your new school, you may pick it up on the next business day. You will need to present your identification to pick it up. You may also submit your request via e-mail by clicking here (Ryan: can you add the withdrawal form or link here?), include a copy of your identification. Note: Save form first before clicking “Submit”.
Please contact our Registrar, Alma Garcia, at alma.garcia@gcpsk12.org or (678) 639-3798 if you have any questions or concerns regarding registrations, withdrawals, or student record