Simonton Parent Newsletter
Friday, September 25, 2020
Every Student, Every Day, Deserves to Learn, Lead, & Excel!
A Message from Ms. Perkins
Parents, we are asking for your patience with the start time of zoom sessions. Our teachers are balancing supporting students in the classroom and virtually. There may be times they start a few minutes late. If you receive a message that the host has not started the meeting or you are in the waiting room, please allow about 5-6 minutes. After a short period has past and you are still unable to get in, reach out to the teacher or the Simonton ES Tech team.
All Gwinnett County Public Schools will be on fall break Thursday, October 8, 2020 through Monday, October 12, 2020. School will be closed for in-person and virtual students. We will welcome everyone back on Tuesday, October 13, 2020.
Congratulations goes out to Mrs. Derica Sherrer who was voted by her colleagues to represent Simonton ES as the 2020-2021 Teacher of the Year. We are proud of all of our finalists who include Sandra Allen and Kate George. Please join me in congratulating all three of these awesome educators.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend!
National Hispanic Heritage Month~ September 15th -October 15th
Started in 1968 by Congress as Hispanic Heritage Week, it was expanded to a month in 1988. The celebration begins in the middle rather than the start of September because it coincides with national independence days in several Latin American countries: Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica celebrate theirs on Sept. 15, followed by Mexico on Sept. 16, Chile on Sept. 18 and Belize on Sept 21.
Derica Sherrer ~ Simonton ES 2020-2021 Teacher of the Year!
Simonton ES Teacher of the Year Finalist!
Student Council Applications
If you are a 4th or 5th grade student and are interested in being on our Student Council, please click on the following link to apply:
2020-21 Simonton Student Council Application
The deadline is Wednesday, September 30th.
Internet Issues
Simonton ES Local School Council
You are invited to join us for our Simonton ES Local School Council meetings. This is a great opportunity to learn about Gwinnett County Public Schools and Simonton ES.
The purpose of the Council is three-fold:
I. To help the local board of education develop and nurture participation.
II. To bring parents and the community together with teachers and school administrators to create a better understanding of and mutual respect for each other's concerns.
III. To share ideas for school improvement.
The Council will plan to meet four times this school year on the dates listed below. Our first two meetings will be held virtually. If conditions change, we will consider meeting in person for our future meetings.
·Monday, September 28, 2020 at 5:00 pm ~ Virtual Meeting
·Thursday, December 10, 2020 at 5:00 pm ~ Virtual Meeting
·Thursday, February 18, 2021 at 5:00 pm ~ TBD
·Thursday, May 13, 2021 at 5:00 pm ~ TBD
Join Zoom Meeting for Monday, September 28, 2020
https://gcpsk12-org.zoom.us/j/91700255600?pwd=dDJ2dHB0cmNNb25GWGIvZ1E4Ymtodz09
Meeting ID: 917 0025 5600
Passcode: 729773
Digital Learning on Zoom
ONLINE ASSESSMENTS THROUGH SCHOOL NET
This year, all CSAs (tests) will be taken through our online testing platform known as SchoolNet.
Please watch the following video to see how to access this platform and to gain a few helpful strategies.
Fall Picture Make-up Day
Lifetouch will set up in the small gym for this event. Please keep an eye out for flyers that will be sent home over the next couple of weeks.
Free & Reduced Lunch Applications
The application for free and reduced lunch is still available. Gwinnett County Public Schools encourages families who are eligible for the Free & Reduced Meal Program to complete the annual application to ensure meal benefits continue when this waiver expires on December 31, 2020.
If you received this service last year, and you feel you still qualify, you must complete an application again this year.
Free and Reduced Lunch Application
https://www.nlappscloud.com/Welcome.aspx?api=78f8fee54716f21218e523747d37a13c
Frequently Asked Questions about free and reduced lunch
IOWA Testing for 2nd Grade
September 29th & 30th
Simonton ES will be administering the IOWA Assessment in-person to 2nd grade students. Digital learners are NOT required to take the IOWA Assessment, but do have the option to come to school and participate in this test. Please complete the attached form if your child is a Digital Learner and you want them to come to Simonton to take the assessment.
Next Week's Breakfast Menu:
Next Week's Lunch Menu:
A Glance Ahead
Monday, September 28
- Local School Council Meeting~ 5:00-6:00 pm (Zoom)
- PTA General Membership Meeting (Zoom) ~ 7:00 pm
Tuesday, September 29
- IOWA Testing (2nd grade)
Wednesday, September 30
- IOWA Testing (2nd grade)
Fall Break will be October 8th - 12th
Message from PTA:
Your Simonton PTA is hosting a 2020 General membership meeting to complete unfinished business for the 19-20 year. Agenda items include 20-21 Officer Election, Budget Approval, Reallocation of Funds, and Event Calendar with updates. Simonton PTA will need to meet quorum (15) members in order to conduct business. ALL MEMBERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND.
We are looking for candidates to run for the following positions. Please email candidate names to SimontonPTA@gmail.com. Subject: 20-21 Officer Nominee Nominees will be allowed to run from the floor as well.
20-21 Officer Positions
President
1st Vice President
2nd Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Topic: Simonton PTA General Membership Meeting
Time: Sep 28, 2020 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/76362414307?pwd=RHlhL0lpR3Z5UDh1WnVRQWdPSERsUT09
Meeting ID: 763 6241 4307
Passcode: Kn1Pt@212O
Ice Cream Sales
Common Sense Media Tips
Zoom
Zoom is a video-chatting tool similar to Skype and Google Hangouts. Kids can use it to attend online classes, visit virtually with friends and relatives, and even join remote events like birthday parties. The basic, free version of Zoom offers lots of options, such as the ability to wordlessly signal to the teacher that you have a question, brainstorm on a virtual whiteboard, and collaborate on projects by annotating documents on other students' screens.
How does Zoom work?
You can use almost any device, including a phone (so long as it has a camera) to download Zoom from the company's Download Center, iTunes, or Google Play. Kids will get an email from the teacher with all the key info, plus an 11-digit meeting ID that you just click or tap to get into the class. Before a session, it's always a good idea to open the Zoom software and test your webcam and microphone to make sure they're working to avoid technical surprises once you're live. You can also test your internet connection by joining a test meeting (if your Wi-Fi connection is unstable, you can improve video performance by connecting directly to your ethernet).
How is my kid's teacher using Zoom?
Teachers are using Zoom differently, depending on their skills, their students' needs, and direction from their districts. They may be teaching entire lessons via Zoom, or using the time to answer questions about work done outside of Zoom class time. Some teachers are scheduling regular "office hours," which allow kids to drop in and chat informally, and show-and-tell days where students can show off their toys, pets, baby sisters, and the like.
Waiting rooms.
This is like a lobby or a velvet rope at a club: Participants are held in a virtual room, and the teacher admits them one by one to make sure no scofflaws gain access.
Mute.
Participants can -- and should -- mute themselves when they're not speaking. But the teacher can also mute students individually or all at once.
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
Superintendent- Mr. J. Alvin Wilbanks
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: gcpsk12.org/SimontonES
Location: 275 Simonton Road Southeast, Lawrenceville, GA, USA
Phone: (770) 513-6637