Kingsley ES Principal Newsletter
"We Are All In This Together"
April 11, 2021
Greetings KES Families,
Welcome back! I hope everyone had a restful and relaxing spring break and enjoyed your time off. As a reminder, students will be returning for 4 days of instruction. Cohort A and Cohort B have been combined. Wednesdays will continue to serve as asynchronous learning days. We are now heading into our last 7 weeks of the school year. We've got this!
One of my most favorite parts about being a Principal is the excitement and joy that I see in our staff and students. This year we've had multiple beginnings, and I am so proud of our staff and students for their perseverance through it all.
I am thankful that we are able to have more students join in person, and I am equally thankful that we will still have our remote students! Our teachers are providing more opportunities for learning, growth, success, risk-taking, and joy.
Thank you for all of the support you have shown us as we navigate this journey together!
We are all in this together,
Dr. Harris-Thompson
Our Week-At-A-Glance
Here's our Week-at-a-Glance:
4/1 - 4/30 - School Library Month
4/1- 4/30 - Face-to-Face Cohorts A & B Combined
4/12 - 4/16 - Kingsley National Assistant Principal Week - Ms. Bishop
4/14 - Asynchronous Learning Day
4/15 - School Librarian Appreciation Day - Ms. Rocky
4/16 - Practice Run for the Milestones (3rd-5th grades)
4/19 - School Board Meeting
I want to thank you for your continued support, and I wish you and your family good health and good spirits for the remainder of the school year.
National Assistant Principal Week
National Assistant Principal Week - Thank you, Ms. Bishop
GA Milestones Parent Meeting English
GA Milestones Parent Meeting Spanish
Safety First
KES safety measures are still in place and we will continue to enforce the three W's:
- Wear your mask!
- Wash your hands!
- Watch your distancing!
It is important to remember that it takes all of us to make this work! Please continue to follow the 3 W's outside of school as well. What takes place outside of school, greatly affects what happens in our school once students and teachers return each day.
Thank you so much for your support and for being flexible, parents! We Are All In This Together!
Career Week at KES was a Success!
A BIG shout out to all the parents and guests who volunteered their time during our Career Week! Thank you, Mrs. Human and Ms. Hamilton for organizing this event.
Career week was amazing this year. We had a lot of guest speakers come in from different parts of the USA - Tennessee, Arkansas, Arizona!
Mrs. Human said she felt like having it virtual opened up more possibilities! Click on the pdf above to check out the recordings from each class. It was amazing to be able to see the students oohs and aahs!
Important Reminders
- Be sure to send your child to school with a mask, FULLY charged DCSD Chromebook, charger, headphones, water bottle, and school supplies.
- Masks are required! Be sure your child's mask fits properly and securely. Face gaiters are not allowed. We do not recommend masks with exhale valves. If your child comes to school with a mask that does not fit properly, a face gaiter, or a mask with exhale valves, we will provide them with a DCSD issued mask.
- If you child/children arrives after 7:40 AM, he/she is tardy. Please bring your child around to the bus lane, walk him/her to the double doors, ring the door bell, and wait for an KES staff member to check your child in. You will need to sign your child in. Do not leave your child unattended, please.
- Family ID hangtags are required when picking up your child from school. If you have a Family ID hangtag, please use carpool. If you do not have a Family ID hangtag, you will need to park and pick up your child from the front of school. Please bring a photo ID.
- If someone other than the parent is picking up your child, please send an email to Mrs. Yazmin Acevedo, yazmin_acevedo-mendez@dekalbschoolsga.org , with the person's name and who they are authorized to pick up.
- Changes in transportation must be sent in writing (hard copy or email) by 10 AM, daily, to Mrs. Yazmin Acevedo and your child's homeroom teacher.
- Parents/Visitors are not allowed in the building for lunch, classroom visits, etc. Please ensure your child has everything they need before they leave home each morning.
** If your child is ill or exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, please do not send them to school! **
DeKalb Schools Mask Campaign-Wave them Bows
Reopening Dates and Cohorts Information
Our Kingsley Elementary Reopening Plan is located on our school website and you can also find it within this newsletter. Please review this plan so you are aware of all safety measures we are taking from the time a student enters our school until the time they leave. We look forward to the remainder of the school year. Welcome Back Comets and Thank You KES Parents/Guardians!
Cohorts Students Schedules for March and April
DCSD Reopening Plan - Phases Two and Three
Please note the district disclaimer on page one of the document below.
DCSD Disclaimer: The staggered schedule (that you see within the document below and pictured above) may differ by region depending on the number of students who are returning for in-person learning. The staggered schedule will be revisited as reopening progresses.
Keeping DCSD Safe
Kingsley Elementary Reopening Plan
Revised 2020-2021 Bus Routes
Our transportation department is asking all parents of bus riders to be patient Monday, March 29th. Please do not leave the bus stop. All buses should be at the stops no later than 6:50 AM.
DCSD School Buses will run for those students who return face-to-face. The revised bus routes can be found on the link below.
All questions regarding transportation should be directed to our school secretary, Mrs. Yazmin Acevedo: yazmin_acevedo-mendez@dekalbschoolsga.org
Each bus is associated with a color (red, yellow, green, orange, purple, or blue). Please click the Kingsley ES F2F Safe Reopening Plan above to determine your child's particular bus color. Thank you!
DO YOU HAVE YOUR FAMILY ID HANGTAG?
Car Riders/Walker: If you have not yet received your Family ID hangtag, you may pick it up any weekday 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM from the school. Please email Mrs. Yazmin Acevedo yazmin_acevedo-mendez@dekalbschoolsga.org .
NEW Dismissal - Silent Dismissal System
An Inside Look into Afternoon Dismissal! Does it take longer? Yes. More importantly, is it safer? Yes! We will no longer use holding areas or call students in groups to dismiss. Students are all dismissed directly from their classroom. Our dismissal system is brand new to ensure a safe exit for all. We have implemented a silent dismissal by using a live spreadsheets on all classroom Promethean boards. We have staff members stationed all over the school grounds working on the spreadsheets to dismiss students and ensuring students stay distanced and get to the right location. Once students see their name pop up on the spreadsheet, they exit the class. Bus riders are dismissed using the silent dismissal system. We have improved our dismissal system with our last round of MAP testing and will continue to make the process better. Thank you so much for your patience as we dismiss students safely from our school into your care.
School Uniforms are Highly Encouraged for Students Returning Face-to-Face
Medication Form
If you are unable to drop off your child's medication and the documents for the medication, on the first day back to school, please place the form and medication in a Ziploc bag clearly labeled with your child's first/last name and grade. Inform the teacher that these items are in your child's backpacks and we will be sure Nurse Thomas receives them.
Please feel free to reach out to Nurse Thomas by email or you may call the school 678.874.8902 if you have any questions. brenda_thomas@dekalbschoolsga.org .
Great Things are Happening at KES - Welcome Back ALL PreK-5th Grade Students!
2021 New Schedule for PreK-5th
PreK Special Education Schedule
PreK Schedule - Mrs. Ramos
Kindergarten Schedule
1st Grade Schedule
2nd Grade Schedule
3rd Grade Schedule
4th Grade Schedule
5th Grade Schedule
1st-2nd Grade MOID
3rd-5th Grade MOID
Want to SHOUT OUT one of you child's teachers?
Click on the link or QR code below to complete this short survey to recognize a teacher or staff member that has gone above and beyond!
DCSD Cares... Take Care of YOU!
Please click the link for many wonderful social emotional resources provided by the district. These resources are for students, parents, and teachers.
April Guidance and SEL Schedule
This month's theme: Active April
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I find out specifics regarding the Kingsley Elementary Reopening Plan?
We hosted a virtually Parent Town Hall Meeting on January 7th. We reviewed, in detail, our reopening plan and answered any questions from parents/guardians.
Will students and staff be required to wear masks once we return for F2F learning?
Yes! If students or staff come to school without a mask, one will be provided to them.
Will After School @ Kingsley Elementary be offered starting in January?
No, the district is not resuming After School Extended Day Programs until students return for 5 days of F2F learning.
Once we return to school for F2F learning, will students be in school for a full day?
Yes, our instructional day is from 7:40 AM - 2:10 PM.
Here are our school hours below:
- 7:00 AM - Bus riders begin arriving to school
- 7:10 AM – 7:35 AM - Carpool begins
- 7:40 AM - Students are tardy
- 7:50 AM - 2:10 PM - Daily instruction in Reading/Writing, Math, Science, Social Studies, Recess, Specials, Lunch
- 2:15 PM - Dismissal Begins
Can students in pods return for F2F learning on the same day?
We are unable to fulfill requests for students in pods to return for F2F learning on the same day. To ensure we are following social distancing guidelines and our class sizes stay at the recommended range of 12-16 students, we will only assign cohorts by last names and ensure siblings attend on the same day.
Is my child required to come to school for F2F learning once schools reopen in March?
No. All parents have a choice. You have a choice for your child to remain virtual or return for F2F learning. Please complete the UPDATED March survey to make your decision:
Parents may change their child's instructional mode (F2F or virtual) at the end of every 4.5 week period.
We encourage all Kingsley Elementary students to wear uniforms each day. However, Fridays are Spirit Day. On Fridays, students may wear an Kingsley ES/Comet shirt and denim bottoms.
Will DCSD school buses run when school reopens for Face-to-Face learning in January?
Yes, please find a link to the bus routes in the Kingsley ES Principal's weekly newsletter.
My child needs a school-issued Chromebook. How can I obtain one?
If your child needs a school-issued Chromebook or the one you currently have does not work properly, please come to the school any weekday, 9 AM - 2 PM, to obtain a new one.
Who do I contact to obtain a hotspot due to internet connectivity issues?
To obtain a hotspot, please send an email to Dr. Harris-Thompson and a request will be made with the district IT department. Once the request is approved and the hotspot is delivered to the school, someone will contact you for pickup.
Who do I contact for password resets or trouble accessing virtual learning platforms? If your child needs their password reset or can not access a learning platform, please contact the school front office (678) 874-8902 any weekday 9am-2pm and someone can assist you.
How can I order spirit wear or sign up to volunteer?
Please visit our PTO Membership toolkit website to purchase spirit wear and sign up to be a parent volunteer: https://kingsleypto.membershiptoolkit.com/
School Meal Service
SCHOOL MEAL SERVICE
Breakfast and Lunch will be served when school reopens.
Please click the link for more information and view the menu below. https://www.dekalbschoolsga.org/student-meal-service/
Virtual learners only: It is recommended that parents complete a curbside pre-order form via this link below:
School Lunch for April
Dekalb County Public Library Park and Print
We Have The BEST PTO! Have You Joined? Register with the PTO Website/Membership Toolkit.
Want to make sure you are up to date on all school news? Register with the PTO today!
1. Register with the PTO website/Membership Toolkit (this will ensure you receive PTO/Kingsley Newsletters).
(If you are a returning Kingsley family, update your information as necessary!)
2. Pay your School Dues of $40 per student to help with supplies, teacher stipends for materials, etc. (YES—supplies are needed for virtual learning!)
3. Donate to the Kingsley Annual Fund. Annual Fund donations help for major projects such as the recent playground renovation.
Remember registering with the PTO website/Membership Toolkit ensures you’ll receive the PTO/Kingsley newsletter--- you need this newsletter--- it has LOTS of information about virtual school and other fun activities for your students!
Here’s the website: https://kingsleypto.membershiptoolkit.com/
We are Kingsley Elementary School where our staff and students strive for the best and never accept anything less.
Email: tyra_harris-thompson@dekalbschoolsga.org
Website: http://kingsleyes.dekalb.k12.ga.us/
Location: 2051 Brendon Drive, Dunwoody, GA, USA
Phone: (678) 874-8902
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KingsleyElementarySchool/.com/ourschool
Twitter: @KingsleyComets