Simonton Parent Newsletter
Friday, March 26, 2021
Every Student, Every Day, Deserves to Learn, Lead, & Excel!
A Message from Ms. Perkins:
Next week will be our last full week before spring break. GCPS schools will be closed from Monday, April 5, 2021 through Friday, April 9, 2021. All students, in-person and digital, return for instruction on Monday, April 12, 2021.
If you are not a member of the Simonton ES PTA it is not too late to join. See the flyer below for more details. We are also looking for a few eager parents who would like to be PTA officers next school year. Give us a call here at the school if you would like more information.
On Monday, April 12, 2021, our PTA will sponsor a spirit night at Culver's. Be sure to let them know you are representing Simonton ES when you purchase your meal. 10% of the sale will be donated back to Simonton ES. Bring the whole family out for a great meal.
We will begin administering the Georgia Milestones Assessment to our students in grades 3-5 on April 22, 2021. Please check out the calendar below to see what grade level and content area will be tested each day.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Congratulations to Leilany who accompanied Ms. Perkins to a ribbon cutting ceremony this past Saturday, March 20. The ceremony was held to celebrate the opening of the new amphitheater in downtown Lawrenceville. Leilany also serves as our Simonton ES Student Council President.
Special Note for Parents of Students with an IEP
On Monday, March 22, you received information regarding the 2021-2022 School Year. While all students will default to in-person learning, you will have the option to opt-out of in-person instruction for your child by completing a form in the Parent Portal. If your student is currently receiving services through an Individual Education Program (IEP), the Georgia Department of Education has issued guidance calling for an IEP Team meeting “to discuss and consider a student’s educational placement, which includes discussion and consideration of the location of those services and any potential harmful effect on the student or on the quality of services that the student needs, in accordance with IDEA.”
For this reason, should you select digital instruction for your child for the 2021-2022 School Year, your student’s case manager will contact you to schedule an IEP meeting to discuss the appropriateness of instruction through the digital platform.
The following message was emailed to GCPS parents concerning next year:
Gwinnett County Public Schools will return to in-person learning for the 2021-22 school year. This decision takes into account students’ academic and social-emotional needs, the improving pandemic conditions (lower rates of infection), the availability of vaccinations for teachers and other school staff, and guidance from health experts and organizations. Plans for the fall reflect the district’s commitment to safety for its students and staff, with continued mitigation efforts such as the wearing of masks, provision of PPE, and strict cleaning regimens. GCPS will continue to rely on guidance from the CDC and other health partners in developing plans for the return to in-person learning in the fall.
While all students will be scheduled for in-person instruction for the fall as the default, the district will offer families the opportunity to opt out of in-person learning, allowing their children to participate in a modified digital learning option. This modified version—which will have digital students learning from digital teachers, some of whom may be at a different location including Gwinnett Online Campus—is intended to eliminate the need for teachers to teach concurrently.
Parents contemplating the modified digital learning option for their children for next school year should consider the following in making their decision:
- For staffing and scheduling purposes, parents are asked to consider the decision to opt out of in-person instruction as a year-long commitment. However, if a family later determines it is best for their child to return to in-person learning, there will be an opportunity for them to do so at the end of the first semester.
- Digital learning will be different in the fall. For example, a student may be taught by a teacher from a school other than his or her own school. Middle and high school students may take some courses through Gwinnett Online Campus or Georgia Virtual School. In addition, course offerings for digital learners may be more limited than those available for students attending school in-person.
- Digital learning is not optimal for every student. Some students did not do as well academically, socially, or emotionally in the digital learning environment. Parents should consider how their child did during digital learning in making the decision for the 2021-22 school year.
- Parents may opt out of in-person learning for one child if they feel it best serves that child and choose to have another child attend school in-person.
Please note that only those families that wish to opt out of in-person learning for their students will need to complete the online form available in the Parent Portal or using the ParentVUE app for those that have Parent Portal accounts. The deadline to submit the opt-out form is Sunday, April 4, at 11:59 p.m.
Parent Portal:
Parent Involvement Survey:
A Glance Ahead:
April 5th-9th ~ Spring Break
Monday, April 12
- PTA's Spirit Night at Culver's
Saturday, April 17
- Saturday Intervention
- STEM Camp (11:30 am -2:10 pm)
Thursday, April 22
- GMAS begins (please see schedule attached below)
Saturday, April 24
- STEM Camp (9:00 am- 12:00 pm)
Georgia Milestones Information
Please see the attached flyers for more information...
Spirit Night At Culver's- April 12th
Join our PTA during March Madness!
Gwinnett Online Campus Instructional Delivery
Students complete digital content asynchronously online. Students are strongly encouraged to participate in on-campus labs, clubs, and activities or login virtually to synchronous sessions one day per week for grades 6-12 and 2 days per week for grades 4-5.
Registration is in-person at Gwinnett Online Campus. Parents may register between 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Family Engagement Tips:
Here's a way to help your child practice doing addition and subtraction in her head. Start by giving her four single-digit numbers to add together. Pause after you say each number to give her enough time to add. When she can do that, give her four double-digit numbers, also spaced out one at a time. Next, give four numbers all at once. When she's a pro, you can move on to giving her five, six or more numbers. http://niswc.com/17cVC326428
Share smart moves for before, during and after tests
The things your child does before, during and after tests can improve his academic achievement. Before the test, have him review often for short periods of time when he's most alert. During the test, he should read the directions carefully and save time to check his work. When he gets the test back, help him look beyond the grade and notice his strengths and weaknesses. Save the test for future studying. http://niswc.com/17cWC326428
Think and plan with your child before getting a pet
Caring for a pet can teach kids responsibility and self-discipline, but it's serious business. Before you get a pet, involve your child in thinking the decision through: What kind of pet would be best suited to your home? Your budget? Does your child have the skills and time to take care of it? Will your schedules change when the pandemic is over? Write down what your child will do to care for the pet and what will happen if she doesn't. http://niswc.com/17cXC326428
Help your child picture the action when reading
Many children can read the words on a page but have trouble understanding the meaning of the text. It's too abstract. Creating visual images of the text can help them make sense of it. While your child reads to you, describe the images that occur in your mind. Together, try drawing pictures or a diagram of the action in the book. Or act it out. Afterward, ask your child to describe what he sees in his mind. http://niswc.com/17cYC326428
Turn your child's creative gifts into giftwrap
Are you looking for a unique way to wrap gifts? Ask your child to make some paintings and drawings you can use as giftwrap. Give her a roll of butcher paper and some art supplies and let her create! Friends and relatives will enjoy this thoughtful idea. They may even treasure the wrapping paper more than the gift! And your child will feel a special pride seeing her creations add to the excitement of gift-giving. http://niswc.com/17cZC326428
Make thinking an everyday activity
Students are learning to evaluate and see relationships between events and ideas. To strengthen your child's critical thinking skills, encourage him to ask questions about the world around him. When you read, ask him to imagine what might happen next. When he expresses his feelings, ask why he feels that way. You can also use daily activities to spark discussion: What does a new experience remind him of? http://niswc.com/17caC326428
Disagreement is no excuse for disrespect
Disagreement and division have led to violence in recent months. To teach your child that it is possible and preferable to address disagreements with respect, make it a rule at your house: "When we discuss an issue with different sides to it, we will hear all sides and, if necessary, we'll agree to disagree." In that case, your child will have to accept your authority, but she doesn't have to change her viewpoint. http://niswc.com/17cbC326428
Traveling outside the US?
CDC recommends that all international travelers get tested 3-5 days after returning AND self-quarantine at home for 7 days after travel.
- Travelers who test positive must isolate based on current guidance for a confirmed case.
- Even travelers who test negative should self-quarantine at home for the full 7 days. In other words, students and staff who travel outside the U.S. will not be able to return to school or work for at least 7 days after their return to the U.S.
- Travelers who choose not to be tested should self-quarantine at home for a full 10 days after travel.
- During self-quarantine, monitor for symptoms. If symptoms develop, seek testing immediately & follow guidance for a suspected case.
**Please see the attached document.
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- Mr. J. Alvin Wilbanks
Assistant Superintendent- Dr. Terry Watlington
Board Member- Mr. Steven B. Knudsen
Principal- Tamara G. Perkins
Assistant Principal- Daphne Miles
Assistant Principal- Emily Young
Website: gcpsk12.org/SimontonES
Location: 275 Simonton Road Southeast, Lawrenceville, GA, USA
Phone: (770)513-6637