Knightly News
Friday, September 23, 2022
Every Student, Every Day, Deserves to Learn, Lead, & Excel!
Message from Ms. Perkins ~ Simonton ES Principal
This week our student participated in our first of two scheduled hard lock down drills. I have to say all of our staff and students did an excellent job moving to their safety locations quickly. As a school we conduct many drills throughout the school year (fire, severe weather, hard lock down, etc.). We do not want to alarm our students, but want to make sure they know what to do should an emergency occur.
Thank you to everyone who continues to support our Simonton ES PTA fundraiser. Our students have earned some amazing prizes. Keep up the good work!
Mark your calendars for October 6 - 10, 2022. All GCPS schools will be closed for fall break. We look forward to opening our doors on Tuesday, October 11, 2022.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Upcoming Event Dates
Wednesday, October 5
- Pajama Day ~ Robotics Team Fundraiser
- Boy Scout Classroom visits and evening registration event ~ 6:30 pm
- No School ~ Fall Break (All GCPS Schools are closed)
Thursday, Ocotber 13
- PTA Spirit Night at Urban Air ~ 5:00-9:00 pm
Monday, October 17 - Friday, October 21
- Book Fair
Wednesday, October 19
- Early Release ~ dismissal at 12:15 pm
Thursday, October 20
- Early Release ~ dismissal at 12:15 pm
Friday, October 21
- Fall Picture Make-Up Day
Thursday, October 27
- Poetry Night ~ 5:00- 6:00 pm
Friday, October 28
- 5th Grade Fundraiser ~Twin Day
Explore Your Future with Career and Technical Education Event
The Academies and CTE Department is hosting a community-wide, K-12 career and education exploration experience open to all GCPS families on Saturday, October 15 from 9:00AM to 1:00PM at Discovery High School. If you have questions or would like to get more involved, please contact Brooke Shultis in the Academies and CTE office (brooke.shultis@gcpsk12.org; 678-301-7050).
What: Explore Your Future with Career and Technical Education
When: Saturday, October 15 @ 9:00AM to 1:00PM
Where: Discovery High School (1335 Old Norcross Road, Lawrenceville, GA 30046)
Who: All community members with students in Kindergarten to 12th grade are invited!
Event Description:
Explore Your Future with Career and Technical Education is an open community event for each and every GCPS family with students in Kindergarten to 12th Grade. The event is on Saturday, October 15 at Discovery High School from 9AM to 1PM and will provide families rich encounters and hands-on experiences to explore Career and Technical Education course offerings, local employers and careers from all of the CTE career clusters, and Career and Technical Student Organizations such as DECA, FIRST Robotics, HOSA, FBLA, and more. Industry partners ranging from healthcare to information technology to manufacturing to construction and trades to arts and film and beyond will be represented! Students and families can learn more about the event and RSVP by visiting: https://sites.google.com/g.gcpsk12.org/explore-your-future/home
Thursday, October 6 - Monday, October 10, 2022
Annual AKS Public Review
Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) invites GCPS families, Gwinnett county residents, students, and GCPS staff members to participate in the school district’s review of the Academic Knowledge and Skills (AKS) curriculum Sept. 12 through Oct. 6. The public may review proposed standards online, offering feedback on AKS that have been developed to align the curriculum with the Georgia Standards of Excellence (GSE) and/or Georgia Performance Standards (GPS). Click here for a list of the courses with AKS under review. To review the AKS and provide feedback, please click here to begin. Comments will be accepted through Thursday, Oct. 6.
What: Annual AKS Public Review Opportunity
When: Now through Oct. 6
Spotlight: Digitial Citizenship
Join Common Sense Media Tips by Text!
Receive free text message tips about how to practice healthy media habits at home with your family.
Just text the word kids to this phone number: 21555
Answer a brief survey. And that's it! You'll receive weekly messages with tips and much more!
Visit the Common Sense Media Website
Offering reviews for what your kids are into (before they get into it) ~ Trusted ratings created with families in mind....
ATTENTION STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WHO LOVE STEM AND PROBLEM SOLVING!
The Gwinnett County Science and Engineering Fair wants you to submit a project that solves a real-world problem! If you watch THIS VIDEO and sign up in my Google Classroom, you will find out lots more about it! Simonton Elementary will be hosting the preliminary Science and Engineering Fair here at school. The top projects will go on to the Gwinnett County Science and Engineering Fair! Can't wait to see your amazing ideas!
Google Classroom - Click on the + - Click "Join Class" - Enter the Code: rgsgpv2
ParentVUE & StudentVUE Mobile Applications Updated
A recent application update requires you to delete and install the ParentVUE and StudentVUE mobile app from your device(s). This update ensures that you have the newest version of the app and will continue to receive updates. If you do not delete and reinstall the applications, your device may not connect properly and continue to receive updates.
You will use the same username and password to log in after downloading the app. If you are not using the app and want to learn more, visit our website for information.
Blueprint for the Future
The Blueprint is designed to ensure our Portrait of a Graduate becomes a reality. The Blueprint will also drive the intentional culture shifts that reflect the guiding vision of the Learning 2025 community of practice. Our Blueprint for the Future defines our strategic priorities in four areas: empathy, equity, effectiveness, and excellence.
Simonton ES PTA
Print the attached membership form and return it to the Simonton ES PTA. Sign up for a membership and volunteer to support an event! Contact the Simonton ES PTA at Simontonespta@gmail.com for more information.
Helpful Resources
Family Engagement e-Tips
Teach your child the rules of school bus safety
Although school buses are the safest way for children to get to school, it's still important to make sure your child follows bus safety rules. Here are just a few: Wait in a safe place away from the traffic. Never walk behind the bus. Don't stick hands, heads or objects out the windows. Don't push and shove. Walk three "giant steps" (six feet) away from the side of the bus. Wait until the driver says it's safe to get off the bus. https://tpitip.com/?12iS18608
Your support helps put academic success within reach for your child
Some kids (and even some parents) believe that smart students are just born that way. But teachers know that students can learn and build the skills they need for academic success. To help your child develop them, make learning a priority and provide lots of fun ways to do it. Maintain a balance between school and sports, work and play. And if your child is struggling, work with the teacher on a plan to help. https://tpitip.com/?12iT18608
When to discuss your child's schoolwork complaints with the teacher
Your child fusses that an assignment is "stupid." But how do you know if you should contact the teacher? Get in touch with the teacher if your child refuses to do assigned work, even after you've tried motivating strategies. Or if your child regularly finds the work too hard or too easy, or doesn't understand the instructions, even with your help. And let the teacher know if your child needs school supplies you can't provide. https://tpitip.com/?12iU18608
Encourage curiosity and nonfiction reading
Children ask a lot of questions. Reading nonfiction is a great way for them to find the answers. To encourage curiosity and help your child engage with nonfiction, look for books and articles that answer questions about how things work. How does a wheat field end up in your family's pasta? Or, have your child choose a familiar activity and write a how-to manual explaining the process. https://tpitip.com/?12iV18608
Spelling skills are the prize in this homemade game
Here's a game to make studying spelling words fun! Create a game board that has a path of connecting squares. Write the letters S or R on most of the squares. On a few, write directions like, "Go ahead 2 squares." Next, have your child write spelling words on index cards. To play, each player rolls a die and moves that number of squares. If the square has an S, the player must spell the word on the top card. If it has an R, the player must read the word. https://tpitip.com/?12iW18608
Do you know the ABCs of helping your child in school?
There are lots of things that you can do to help your child in school this year. To start, just remember your ABCs. A: Ask your child about school each day. B: Bedtime is an important part of getting enough sleep. C: Choose activities your child will like. For D through Z, click on the link. https://tpitip.com/?12iX18608
Teach your child to tell time the 'old-fashioned' way
It's the digital age. But some kids get so used to digital clocks that they don't learn how to tell time the standard way. To make sure your child does, keep at least one "old-fashioned" (analog) clock in your house. Practice reading the time on it together often. Make sure your child understands the concepts of a.m. and p.m. Then play a game: Ask how many more minutes or hours it will be until a certain time. https://tpitip.com/?12iY18608
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
SES Business Partners
Simonton Elementary School
Deputy Superintendent ~ Dr. T. Nakia Towns
Board Member ~ Mr. Steven B. Knudsen
Principal ~ Ms. Tamara G. Perkins
Assistant Principal ~ Mr. Nicholas Gilmore
Assistant Principal ~ Dr. Joe Sanfilippo
Assistant Principal ~ Mrs. Amy Steinberg
Website: https://www.gcpsk12.org/SimontonES
Location: 275 Simonton Road Southeast, Lawrenceville, GA, USA
Phone: 770-513-6637
Twitter: @SimontonPride