Simonton Parent Newsletter
Friday, September 24, 2021
Every Student, Every Day, Deserves to Learn, Lead, & Excel!
Message from Ms. Perkins
Our 1st, 2nd and 5th grade students rocked the CogAT assessment. They came each day prepared and ready for the day. Thank you for encouraging your student to do their best!
The Simonton ES PTA fundraiser is in full swing. Students brought home their fundraiser packets on Monday. All students have an opportunity to earn prizes for selling just 1 item. The more you sell the bigger the prizes. The fundraiser ends on Monday, October 18, 2021.
Enjoy the beautiful fall weather!
Congratulations to our 2021-2022 Teacher of the Year!
Traci Rojo
Upcoming Events:
September 27
- 1st Semester Interim Testing begins
- Pajama Day ~ Sponsored by the SES Robotics Team
October 7 - 11
- Fall Break ~ No School
- Strong4Life Virtual Visit
October 12 - 15
- PBIS Celebrations
October 15
- Fall Picture Retake
PBIS Students of the Week
National Elementary Honor Society
The National Elementary Honor Society (NEHS) chapter of Simonton Elementary School is a duly chartered and affiliated chapter of this prestigious national organization. Membership is open to fourth and fifth students who meet the required standards in two areas of initial evaluation: scholarship (academic achievement) and responsibility. For students to be considered, they must have attended Simonton Elementary School for a minimum of one semester. General standards for selection are established by the national office of NEHS and have been revised to meet the needs of our school and fall within our strategic goals.
Students are selected to be members of NEHS by a faculty council, appointed by the principal, and supervised by an additional member of the faculty serving as the chapter adviser. The group awards the honor of membership to qualified students on behalf of the faculty of the school during each school year. Our NEHS chapter will conduct its selection procedures during the months of September and October.
For the scholarship criterion, a student must have had all A’s and/or B’s on the previous school year’s report cards. Those students who meet this criterion are invited to complete a candidate information form that provides the faculty council with evidence of the candidate’s responsibility at home, at school, and in the community.
In addition, to evaluate a candidate’s level of responsibility, the faculty council uses two types of information: school administrative records and faculty input regarding their professional reflections on a candidate’s personal responsibility qualities. To determine membership, the faculty council carefully reviews these forms and the candidate information forms. A majority vote of the council is necessary for selection. Candidates are notified regarding selection or nonselection according to a predetermined schedule established by the chapter.
Following notification, a formal induction ceremony is held at the school to recognize all newly selected members. Once inducted, new members are required to maintain the same level of performance (or better) in all of the criteria that lead to their selection. This obligation includes regular attendance at chapter meetings held monthly during the school year, and participation in other chapter service projects and activities.
Student Council Elections
What: Simonton's Student Council Elections
When: October 5th & 6th
Who: 4th, & 5th Grade (3rd Grade Vote)
The time is here! Student Council Applications will be available tomorrow! During the morning announcements Dr. Lopez and I will announce that all interested 4th and 5th grade students should pick up an application from their homeroom teacher. We will distribute 10 applications to each 4th and 5th grade teacher before the announcements. If you need more applications, please let us know.
All completed applications should be returned to Dr. Lopez or myself no later than Thursday, September 23rd. Students will be notified by Friday, September 24th if they are eligible to seek membership in student council. 4th graders will be allowed to seek membership as a class rep and 5th graders can seek membership as a class rep or an officer.
The elections for officers (President, Vice President, Secretary) will be held on Tuesday, October 5th. This will be done via Google Forms. All 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade students will be allowed to vote. (More details to come as to voting procedures.)
Voting for class reps will be held on Wednesday, October 6th and will be done by paper ballot in individual 4th and 5th grade classrooms.
During the week of September 27th-October 1st, students will be allowed to campaign. Specifics are included in the application.
Simonton ES PTA Fundraiser Sale
TOP SELLER WINS $100.00 CASH
Sell 12 Items and win "The Game Truck Pizza Party!"
Check out your fundraiser packet for more details. Send questions to Simontonpta@gmail.com.
Next Week's Lunch Menu:
Parent Tips
Reach out to the counselor with questions or concerns about school
Whether your child is facing pandemic-related issues or you have more typical learning or development questions, the school counselor is a great resource. Here are just a few of the issues you can talk about together: Concerns about schoolwork and school access. Worries about any social or discipline issues. Your child's strengths, limitations or special needs. Thoughts about your student's education goals. Counselors even help elementary schoolers begin to think about career interests.
Juego de conversación para averiguar más sobre la escuela
Para promover las conversaciones sobre la escuela, pruebe el juego "Mi día, tu día". Cuando llegue la noche, deje que su hijo le haga una pregunta sobre su día. Cuando termine de responderla, es su turno de hacerle una pregunta a él. Esto lo ayudará a sentir que forma parte de una conversación y no que está siendo interrogado. Haga preguntas que requieran una respuesta de más de una palabra. Las preguntas específicas, como "¿Qué hiciste en matemáticas hoy?", son mejores que las generales, como "¿Qué tal tu día hoy?"
Use a conversation game to find out about school
To encourage conversations about school, play a game called "My Day, Your Day." In the evening, let your child ask you a question about your day. After you answer, you get to ask a question about his day. This helps him feel involved instead of interrogated. Ask questions that require more than a one-word answer. Specific questions, like "What did you do in math today?" are better than general ones like "How was your day?"
Hable con el consejero si tiene preguntas o preocupaciones sobre la escuela
Ya sea que su hijo esté enfrentando dificultades relacionadas con la escuela o que usted tenga preguntas más típicas sobre el aprendizaje o el desarrollo, el consejero escolar es un recurso muy valioso. Aquí tiene algunos de los temas que puede hablar con él: Preocupaciones sobre trabajo escolar y el acceso a la escuela. Inquietudes por cualquier problema social o disciplinario. Las fortalezas, limitaciones o necesidades especiales de su hijo. Pensamientos sobre las metas educativas de su estudiante. Los consejeros incluso pueden ayudar a los escolares de primaria a comenzar a pensar en sus intereses profesionales.
Free and Reduced Lunch Application
The application for free and reduced lunch is still available. 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
More Than Meals
It’s more than meals… Complete meal application by Oct. 21 for added benefits.
While breakfast and lunch will be provided at no charge for all GCPS in-person and digital students this school year, it still pays to complete the Free and Reduced-price Meal Application.
Confirmed eligibility establishes a number of benefits for individual students such as free or discounted college-admissions tests, AP exams, and college applications; scholarship opportunities; and no- and low-cost access to technology and internet plans. In addition, the percentages of qualifying students at a school are used as a measure to secure additional federal funding (Title I) to support students and their education, promote family engagement, and provide additional technology and internet access. Title I funds pay for additional teachers, Parent Centers, additional learning opportunities for students, extra resources, added technology, and more.
Strong4Life
We all want happy, healthy kids. But, as a busy parent or caregiver, focusing on your child’s physical and emotional wellness can be challenging. That’s why Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta created Strong4Life. With a team of doctors, therapists, registered dietitians and other wellness experts, Strong4Life is online, in the schools and in the community to help busy parents raise healthier families.
All students are encouraged to participate and everyone will receive a Strong4Life Challenge water bottle, t-shirt and more during the school year.
Keep a lookout for our resources and ways you can help support your school’s initiative to be Strong4Life!
For more information on how to be Strong4Life at home, visit Strong4Life.com.
Sincerely,
The Strong4Life Challenge Team
2022-2023 GCPS Calendar Options
Attached are draft calendar proposals for the GCPS 2022-2023 school year. The link below will allow you to provide feedback using the guiding questions.
Hard copies are also available to be viewed at the local school.
Option 1:
- Identical to the current calendar
- 7 days of preplanning
- 3 day staggered start
- Fall break and a similar break in February
- Early Release each semester
- 3 Digital Learning Days each semester
Option 2:
- 7 days of preplanning
- 2 day staggered start
- Fall break and a similar break in February
- Early Release each semester
- 1 Digital Learning Day Fall semester only
Option 3:
- 7 days of preplanning
- Later start
- No staggered start
- Fall break and a similar break in February
- Early Release each semester
- 1 Digital Learning Day Fall semester only
- Shorter Winter Break (due to later start)
https://jamboard.google.com/d/1_s4rvoQ_qUNpfhio6Z5USXpUEV8sF6nCu7PJGSlM4U8/edit?usp=sharing
Every morning before sending your child to school, please review this checklist...
Mark your calendar…
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- Dr. Calvin J. Watts
Assistant Superintendent- Dr. Terry Watlington
Board Member- Mr. Steven B. Knudsen
Principal- Tamara G. Perkins
Assistant Principal- Tifferney Dodd
Assistant Principal- Daphne Miles
Assistant Principal- Emily Young
Website: gcpsk12.org/SimontonES
Location: 275 Simonton Road Southeast, Lawrenceville, GA, USA
Phone: (770) 513-6637
Twitter: @SimontonPride