Sawnee Elementary
September 2020 Newsletter
A Note from Mr. Hershey
Dear Sawnee Families,
Thank you for a great start to the school year. We are already moving into our 3rd full week of school and couldn't be more pleased with how well our students and staff are doing with all of our new procedures and protocols (both Face to Face and Virtual) to make a safe learning environment.
Our staff and students have been focusing on the importance of respect, which means being aware of how your words and actions affect yourself, others, and your environment. I want to take this time to thank you for your respectful choices as parents! Your decisions to keep children home with any symptoms of sickness has made the difference in our first full week of school. We have to continue to work together as a community to get through these challenging times.
I know many of you have heard me say this many times already, but I want to continue to stress the importance of the partnership between parents, community, and school. We cannot say thank you enough for all of your support, desire to volunteer, and donations. If you haven't done so already, please donate to the PTO as soon as you can. It is a direct way that you can impact the students and staff by giving back (which will ultimately go back to your family.) Last year, we were able to put in a high quality track, ga-ga ball pits, and literacy walk. We were also able to upgrade our building with paint, inspirational quote decals, and new water filling stations. We will continue to work hard to continue building upgrades with plans to build a pavilion at Sawnee Valley.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to me should you need anything. We are happy to serve you in any way to make a better experience for your child and your family.
Let's make an amazing September!
#SawneeStrong #SawneeUnited
Derrick Hershey
Principal
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What's Happening at Sawnee?
7 Mindsets - Everything is Possible
The Everything Is Possible Mindset teaches that we are all capable of living extraordinary lives. Students learn that everything which exists today was once just an idea until someone believed it was possible and took the actions to make it into reality. This is true with our lives as well – they become, in many ways, whatever we expect them to be. Throughout the lessons for this mindset, we work with students to help them understand the incredible promise of their lives, and to envision extraordinary happiness, meaning and success on their own terms. We seek to instill the belief that their goals are possible, and to foster the courage, discipline and persistence to act on achieving their dreams.
The 4 critical components of Everything is Possible includes:
1) Dream Big
2) Embrace Creativity
3) Think Positive
4) Act and Adjust
Click here to learn more!
Curriculum Night
The 2020-2021 school year is off to a great start!
In lieu of a face-to-face Curriculum Night, we will be sharing curriculum information with you via a digital document sent on Friday, September 4th. This document will include videos, content standards covered for Quarter 1, and procedural information specific to our class.
If you have any questions about this information, we are here to partner with you and would be happy to discuss any of the information with you.
"Take Out" Tuesdays
Each Tuesday, our PTO has set up a partnership with local restaurants to be able to help support them while giving Sawnee a percentage of the profits. It's a win-win! Click here for the calendar so that you can begin planning your meals on Tuesday!
What will be doing with the profits? We will continue to focus on staff appreciation, building upgrades, and teacher grants for special projects. We have many great things happening at Sawnee and want to continue with this great work! Any donation that you are able to contribute would be greatly appreciated. Click here to donate. This will take you directly to our new PTO website with all of their information. www.sawneepto.com
Fall Picture Day - September 14
Virtual students' Fall Picture Day will be on October 5th. More information will be shared closer to the date.
Birthday Celebrations
Birthday Ice Cream Pack Instructions (English)
Art Show and Fundraiser
Artome Virtual Art Show and Fundraiser will be from August 30 - September 11, 2020. The art work students created during the 2019-2020 school year will be featured.
- Kindergarten made waterlilies & frog paper collages
- First grade painted sea turtles
- Second grade created sunsets or sun & moon artworks with oil pastels
- Third grade created hot air balloons paper collages
- Fourth grade created Aurora Borealis with chalk & oil pastels
- Fifth grade created Pop Art Name or initial paper collages
To view your child's art, please go to http://artomeplus.com/sawnee. The cost for the framed artwork is $30 and can be purchased on your student's My Payments Plus account.
Thank you for supporting the Sawnee art department.
Mrs. DuHamel
Clinic News
Thank you for the continued communication with your student sicknesses that may be occurring. Please note, if you send communication to your student’s teacher that requires a nurse to respond and it is after school hours, the nurse will respond to you the morning of the next school day.
If your child has a medical condition, care plans must be completed annually. Please click the link below to access all district health forms..
Student Support - Health Forms
For up to date clinic information, please visit the school clinic webpage link below.
If you have any questions on whether or not to send your child to school based on symptoms or exposure, please contact Nurse Robyn, Nurse Sheila, or administration for help.
Please help us by reminding your students to Mask Up, Wash Up, Cover Up, Back Up, and Clean Up. Thank you to your students for doing their part in keeping each other and our staff safe & healthy.
Counseling Information
Calling all interested mentors: Sawnee would love your help. We love our mentors! Please visit https://www.forsyth.k12.ga.us/mentoring for more information!
We could really use some supplies this year. If you are willing and able to contribute, please see our wish list: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0A4DA5AE2FABFE3-counselor We would appreciate it so much!
If you need to contact us, please reach out to:
Ruthie Urban, Counselor K-2 Email: mailto:rurban@forsyth.k12.ga.us Extension: 772135
Zack Kissell, Counselor, 3-5 Email: pkissell@forsyth.k12.ga.us Extension 771222
Bonnie O’Neil, Counselor Email: BOneil@forsyth.k12.ga.us Extension 772256*Please see the Community section below for information about resources offered through The Place Forsyth.
Yearbook Cover Contest
Would you like your artwork to be on the cover of this year's yearbook?
Create a beautiful design with the theme "Everything is Possible"
F2F Students - Be on the look out for the directions and template from your classroom teacher.
Virtual Students - You received your directions and template in the folder you received at Open House.
DEADLINE - FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2020
Turn in your entry to your classroom teacher or email a photo of it to Mrs. DuHamel at cduhamel@forsyth.k12.ga.us
We can't wait to see what you create!
Cafeteria News
Harvest of the Month is green beans and watermelon
- Green beans are a great source of Vitamin K which makes bones stronger
- They help with good eyesight and night vision
- Green beans also contain protein so you have energy during the day.
- Watermelon hydrates the body
- Keeps kidneys healthy and improves mood
Mrs. Hughes (Cafe 1) & Mrs. Silvers (Cafe 2)
Cafe 1 Staff
Watermelon - Harvest of the Month
Cafe 2 Staff
Save Your Pop Tabs for Ronald McDonald House
Collect Pop Tabs
At Sawnee we collect Pop Tabs to support Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities. Those Pop Tabs are recycled and the funds are used to provide temporary housing to traveling families with sick kids receiving treatment at nearby hospitals. Send your tabs in with your student in a ziploc bag. Thank you for helping us support Ronald McDonald House.Important Dates to Know
September 1 - Take Out Tuesday, Cheeky's
September 4 - Virtual Curriculum Night; Early Release
September 7 - Labor Day (No School)
September 8 - Marco's Take out Tuesday
September 9 - West Community Family Night - No Homework
September 14 - Fall Picture Day
September 15 - Village Burger Take out Tuesday
September 21-25 - Fall Break (No School)
September 29 - Pizzeria Azzurri Take out Tuesday
October 5 - Virtual Students' Fall Picture Day
October 6 - Marco's Take out Tuesday
October 13 - Village Burger Take out Tuesday
October 20 - Papa John's Take out Tuesday
October 22 & 23 - Early Release, Parent Conferences
October 27 - Cheeky's Take out Tuesday
October 28 - West Community Family Night - No Homework
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PARENT CORNER
Sawnee PTO
2020-2021 Board Members
President- Emily Hawkins
VP Education - Emily Nelson
VP Hospitality-Taylor Milburn
VP Family Engagement - Sarah Deal
Treasurer-Nicole Hale
Secretary-Sabrina Thomas
New Website: https://www.sawneepto.com/
Contact us: sawneeptoboard@gmail.com
* Donate to help PTO support Sawnee Elementary
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Partners in Education
Business Partner Spotlight - Wes Trunell from Edward Jones
Thank you to Mr. Wes Trunell, a financial advisor from Edward Jones, for partnering with Sawnee Elementary. Please visit Mr. Trunell's website for more information on how he could help your family.
Do you have a local business that would like to become a partner with Sawnee Elementary? Please contact Derrick Hershey at dhershey@forsyth.k12.ga.us if interested.
Community Events & Information
Contact Sawnee Elementary
Website: http://forsyth.k12.ga.us/sawneeelementary
Location: 1616 Canton Highway, Cumming, GA, USA
Phone: 770-887-6161
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SawneeES/
Twitter: @SawneeElem