Abbotts Hill Hilltop Happenings
September 7, 2021
Abbotts Hill Elementary School
Website: https://www.fultonschools.org/abbottshilles
Location: 5575 Abbotts Bridge Road, Johns Creek, GA, United States
Phone: 470-254-2860
Important Dates
9/7 Fun Run Kickoff (virtual video)
9/15 Fun Run
9/17 Late Start Day Survey Due
9/20 Late Start Day (see details and survey below)
9/23 Fall Picture Day
Battle of the Books meeting dates: (see News from the Learning Commons below for details)
9/16 the first meeting for 3rd grade
9/23 the first meeting for 4th grade
9/30 the first meeting for 5th grade
PTA News
FUN RUN! The Fun Run program kicked off today! Register your student at Boosterthon
(search for Abbotts Hill) and share your student’s link so they can start getting sponsorships today! Funds raised will be used to buy technology for the classroom. The actual Fun Run will be on September 15th.
*Tonight’s Challenge! Log on to mybooster.com tonight and register. The class with the most registrations by tomorrow morning will get extra recess!
Stay in Touch with PTA: Be sure to visit our NEW website and check out our Facebook page. Have a comment or suggestion, leave it in our Suggestion Box.
Spiritwear: Show your Jaguar Pride! Place your order for AHE spiritwear by September 20th. Check out the options and order online at AHE PTA Store.
PTA Membership: Thank you to everyone who has joined PTA! If you haven’t yet, please check out the membership options, starting at $15, by visiting Membership Hub.
Volunteering: Complete this form if you are interested in volunteering. We are in need of a chair position for Reflections (a PTA program where students submit works of art for a PTA theme). Email Sam @ sfeldschneider@gmail.com with questions or for more information.
Student COVID-19 Report Portal Updates
The Fulton County Board of Health and Fulton County Schools have developed an on-line portal for FCS parents/guardians to report student COVID-19 related cases. This portal is on the FCS homepage. The portal has been updated for Spanish, Korean, and Chinese. FCS parent/guardians will find a dropdown at the top right for translations.
Please make a report to the FCBOH when your student is COVID-19 positive, has a pending COVID-19 test result, or has been in direct contact with a COVID-19 positive person. Do not send your student to school after you have made a report. You should wait for clearance from Fulton County Schools.
Also, please use this resource for official reporting rather than alerting the school and/or teacher. If you must engage the school/teacher, please do so after you have made an official report to the FCBOH. Lastly, to ensure the protection of our school community, please do not allow your child to attend school or school-sponsored events when he/she is ill and/or has any of the above COVID-19 concern.
Once cases are recorded and investigated by the district’s student health services, the local school then receives information to provide to our classes and parents, as needed. Thank you for partnering with us to help keep our school community safe!
Student Handbook Highlight - Cell Phone Rules
Elementary students are to follow the same policy that is in place for middle and high school students regarding cell phone usage. No such devices may be used at any time during the school day, on school system operated vehicles (buses), or during an emergency drill or evacuation. These limits on the use of personal communication devices do not apply to students whose special needs require the use of such a device to enhance speech or hearing. Students who are found with cell phones in the “on” position, in use, or displayed during the school day when not approved by school administrators, shall have the cell phone confiscated by a school administrator. Unauthorized use of cell phones in the cafeteria is prohibited. (i.e. pictures, videos, etc.).
Late Start Days – We need your help!
Please help us prepare so we know your plan for your student(s) on the Late Start Days!!! Please fill out the following form no later than September 17th. Information regarding the Late Start Days is on the form! Late Start Days Survey - Due Sept. 17th
Late start days for 2021-2022 -
September 20
October 25
November 15
January 24
February 28
March 21
Introducing Our School Social Worker - Psylane Brown
Please see the following link for an Introductory Letter from our School Social Worker:
Helps students stay in school!
1. Are you displaced due to an eviction?
2. Do you live with another family?
3. Are you staying in a shelter?
4. Do you reside in a motel?
If you have temporarily lost housing, help is available to keep your child in their school of origin. Please contact your School's Social Worker about the McKinney-Vento Act and check out our list of community resources at: https://www.fultonschools.org/Page/5062. Assistance includes free lunch, immunization, school fees/supplies, and tutoring.
Office of Student Supports / Homeless and Foster Care Program - Fulton County Schools / Homepage
The Fulton County Schools Homeless/McKinney Vento Program assists children and youth under the McKinney-Vento Act in homeless situations to gain access to a free and appropriate public education. This may include assistance with identification, enrollment, records, assuring referrals are made to appropriate services for immunizations and coordinating services between state and local service ...
September is Attendance Awareness Month
Board Policy Highlight
Attendance Matters! Please visit www.fultonschools.org/attendancematters so that you familiarize yourself with Fulton County’s Attendance Policy.
Please see Attendance FAQ Document in English. Note: The FAQ document in other languages is available on the www.fultonschools.org/attendancematters website.
Parents and Guardians will be notified regularly when students are absent whether the absence is excused or unexcused. Infinite Campus (IC) will send an email when an absence occurs. In addition, an automatic phone call will be made when your child is absent. Below shows when parent contact will be made.
When students miss the 5% or 10% of school, parents will receive additional text messages and letters about student attendance.
- Elementary attendance messages begin going out around 10:45 a.m. on the day of the absence. If your student is not present by 10:30 a.m., they will be marked absent in our attendance system, and you will receive an automated phone call and email message to the designated contact info you provided in Infinite Campus. This includes excused absences that are approved in advance.
- If your student was late to school that day, it is possible they are marked absent that morning prior to the out-going call but then changed in the system to "present" later in the day. Errors can occur and if you feel you received a phone call by mistake, contact your school front office to verify that your student’s attendance record is accurate.
- If your student's absence was unexpected, please remember to contact your child’s school by sending in a note or email so the absence can be marked "excused" in the system.
PBIS
We will be utilizing a new county supported app called PBIS Rewards to award points to students. We are working on establishing a school-wide point reward system. Students can earn points anywhere throughout the school, from the classroom to the cafeteria!
Student Success Skills Inventory
SSS Inventory: The Student Success Skills Inventory will be used to measure student growth across success skill standards as a result of ReThink Ed lessons. Students in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades will complete the 15-20 item inventory between September 13, 2021 – September 24, 2021 and will take about 15 minutes to complete. Students in K-2 will not be participating in the inventory as it is not considered developmentally appropriate. Parents can choose to opt their student out of the inventory. To opt out, parents must submit a written request to opt out to Jill Osmerg, Assistant Principal.
Participate Remotely Days
This school year, students can receive 5 remote learning days per semester, for a total of 10 remote learning days for the school year. Parents must submit the request to use remote learning days 5 days in advance of the requested dates to the principal. Please see the attached form for further information. Request for PreArranged Remote Learning Participation.
Code of Conduct - due September 8th
Code of Conduct
If you have not already signed off on the Code of Conduct, it is critical that you do so before September 8th. This should be done through Campus Parent. See the following link for directions. How to sign Acknowledgement of Receipt with Link.pdf (fultonschools.org)
Georgia Milestones Results
Georgia Milestones results are now available for our current 4th and 5th graders that took the assessment last Spring! The results can be useful for individual assessment and parents can view results for their students through the FCS website in the SLDS (Statewide Longitudinal Data System). Individual student reports can also be downloaded from SLDS. Parents can access SLDS through Infinite Campus at https://www.fultonschools.org/infinitecampus. See the full presentation here. Note the last slide shows directions for how to access your child’s results.
Curriculum Corner - Mrs. Truesdale
Links for Curriculum information:
Access to skills/standards your child will be learning this year. Click on the link, select a subject then select the grade level.
https://www.georgiastandards.org/Georgia-Standards/Pages/default.aspx
iReady Reading & Math Diagnostics have been complete. Your child's teacher will explain and provide a report detailing your child's current levels. Teachers can also provide activities to work on at home to accelerate your child’s learning.
“TELL ME AND I FORGET. TEACH ME AND I REMEMBER. INVOLVE ME AND I LEARN.” Benjamin Franklin
TAG Department News
TAG Fall Automatic Screening and Testing Information
· TAG Fall Automatic Screening will begin in mid-September.
· If your student qualifies to be TAG tested, you will be sent a consent to test permission form.
· TAG Fall Automatic Testing will begin in mid-October.
· TAG Eligibility Letters will be sent home in early December.
· New TAG Students will begin TAG in January.
If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Geddes at geddes@fultonschools.org.
Thank you,
TAG Eligibility Team
News from the Learning Commons
BATTLE OF THE BOOKS
Battle of the Books has begun! Our informational meeting for participating 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders took place last week and all participants should be busily reading their first Battle of the Books book and posting their questions, answers, and evidence once finished. All books are available in the Learning Commons and many can also be accessed as e-books on MackinVia.
The first 3rd grade meeting is on September 16th.
The first 4th grade meeting is on September 23rd.
The first 5th grade meeting is on September 30th.
All information about Battle of the Books can be found on the Learning Commons website at www.abbottshillmc.weebly.com (Battle of the Books tab)
BORROWING BOOKS
Please help your child develop responsibility by encouraging them to find a safe space to keep their library books (away from young siblings, water, food, and pets).
· Books are checked out for 2 weeks, but can be returned sooner, of course!
· Kindergarteners and 1st graders may check out 1 book at a time.
· 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders may check out 2 books at a time.
Books that are damaged or lost must be paid for or replaced with the same title and format. Parents/guardians will receive the necessary information should this situation arise.
LITTLE FREE LIBRARY
Have you visited our Little Free Library yet? It is in beside the gazebo near the carpool lane and is restocked with great books weekly. These ARE NOT library books and do not need to be returned, though returns are welcomed. If you’d like to donate books to our Little Free Library, please make sure they are appropriate for an elementary aged child and are in excellent condition.
BROADCAST TEAM
Have you tried asking you child what they enjoyed about the morning broadcast each day? It’s a great conversation starter!
DID YOU KNOW? If your student would like to introduce your pet to our school family, simply record a short video (no longer than 30 seconds) and email it to Mrs. Dickinson at Dickinson@fultonschools.org.
Clinic News
Below are some CDC guidelines for wearing masks. For more information, please click on the link below:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/about-face-coverings.html
Music Department News
Rhythm Odyssey and Chorus for 4th and 5th Grade
Both Rhythm Odyssey and Chorus for 4th and 5th Graders are still on hold as we continue to observe the progress of the Covid Delta Variant. We will communicate with all families of Abbotts Hill Elementary as soon as we are safely able to have these groups begin to meet for rehearsal and performances.
Recorders
Recorders will not be used in 3rd, 4th and 5th Grade while the progress of the Covid Delta Variant is still on the rise. Please look for future communication.
4CIT Studio News - Digital Citizenship
Digital Citizenship lessons continue in the 4Cit Studio! Students are learning about how to be safe and responsible while using technology. Please take a moment to ask your child what they learned. They may teach you a thing or two. Let’s work together to keep our students safe and responsible.
Cafeteria News
There are 2 types of lunch accounts. This school year, ALL student meals are FREE! So, if your student has money on their Meal Account, they cannot purchase any extra items. The money on their Meal Account will need to be moved to their General Account to purchase anything other than their FREE breakfast and lunch each day. You can transfer the funds from their Meal Account to their General Account by going to MyPaymentsPlus.com (this is the same website used to add funds electronically to their account)
News from our Literacy Coach, Amy D'Eloia
September Reading Tip: Reading at Home
Want to know the impact of reading just 20 minutes per day?
Session 1 September 12th (Sunday 9:00 - 11:00am)
Session 2 September 26th (Sunday 9:00 - 11:00am)
Session 3 October 3rd (Sunday 9:00 - 11:00am)
Session 4 October 10th (Sunday 9:00 - 11:00am)
Session 5 October 17th (Sunday 9:00 - 11:00am)
Register online: https://forms.office.com/r/pyYpJtTDpe
To pay for clinic please use Venmo, CashApp, or Personal Check
CashApp: $hoochhoops30022 Venmo: @hoochhoops30022