Hopkins Happenings
Family Newsletter
October 2022 Edition
Our Mission
At Hopkins Elementary School we are collaboratively helping children achieve their personal best while increasing student achievement.
Our Vision
At Hopkins Elementary School we are working together to cultivate learners, empower families, and strengthen communities.
From the Principal's Desk
Hopkins Families,
It was wonderful to see many of our Hopkins families at our Hopkins Family Fall Carnival last month! All of the students were excited to play games, jump in the bounce houses, and eat fun snacks and hotdogs! We hope you enjoyed the family event and maybe found some great items from the community vendors! Our next family event is Hallo Read & Math Munchies on October 27th! See you then!
Proud to be YOUR Principal,
Gabriel Zaragoza
(770) 564 - 2661
Hopkins Teacher of the Year & GCPS Top 25, Shan Hicks, Computer Science
Congratulations to our wonderful Computer Science teacher, Shan Hicks, for being the Hopkins Elementary Teacher of the Year and making it to the Top 25 in Gwinnett County Public Schools! Did you also know that Ms. Hicks has a high school intern from GSMST who is working with her and learning right at the Hop? She is also the lead for our Robotics programs K-5 AND Girls who can Code! Oh, and she is a model Computer Science teacher, yes, the district computer science department uses Ms. Hicks instruction as a MODEL! We are rooting for you Ms. Hicks!
Subaru of Gwinnett Partners
Hopkins Elementary teachers received $3000 for school supplies! We are grateful for Subaru of Gwinnett for adopting our school and supporting our teachers and students!
CHOA Strong 4 Life Partnership
Hopkins Elementary has partnered with Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Strong4Life. We have a goal to Implement a Wellness Day! There are lots of posters, water bottles, and other gear to promote healthy living! We will have a Pep Rally on 10/13/2022 and a Spring Follow Up Date with guests from Strong4Life at Hopkins!
School Wide Expectations
Hopkins Elementary follows GCPS code of conduct. All discipline follows the GCPS Discipline Handbook. Please see the GCPS handbook for details.
The Expectation for Students is to be at their B.E.S.T!
Be Respectful
Engage in Learning
Strive for Success
Take Responsibility
Hopkins Elementary School strives to foster a sense of responsibility. We have school expectations that will be encouraged in all areas of our building. Students earn “B.E.S.T. Tickets” daily for meeting and exceeding expectations in our school environment including coming to school every day each week, getting agenda books signed by the parents and daily behavior. Students will use their B.E.S.T tickets for classroom incentives and to participate in scheduled PBIS celebrations. Please encourage your children to be at their B.E.S.T. each day!
Hopkins Elementary School Council Dates 2022-2023
HOPKINS SCHOOL COUNCIL:
The A+ Education Reform Act of 2000 established school councils in Georgia to bring communities and schools closer together in a spirit of cooperation to achieve the following: solve difficult education problems, improve academic achievement, provide support for teachers and administrators, and bring parents into the school-based decision-making process. In short, School Councils provide advice, recommendations, and assistance to principals and local boards of education. Hopkins school council meets four times a year.
Hopkins Elementary School Council Dates 2022-2023
September 30, 2022 @ 8:30am, Hopkins ES
November 17, 2022 @ 8:00am, Berkmar HS
January 27, 2023 @ 8:30am, Hopkins ES
March 24, 2023 @ 8:30am, Hopkins ES
Please email Noelle.Gardner@gcpsk12.org to confirm your attendance.
HOPKINS PARENT-STUDENT HANDBOOK
Attached below is a link below for our Hopkins Elementary Parent-Student Handbook so that you and your child can review school rules and procedures together. If you have any questions about the rules and expectations, please feel free to contact the school or discuss them with your child’s teacher. It is very important that you and your child are fully informed regarding standards related to appropriate behavior for a safe and productive school year. Parents and guardians should review the online handbook. If you need a printed copy, please contact the front desk at 770-564-2661.
Progress Reports
Teachers will email progress reports on October 5th through the Parent Portal. Please contact your teacher for printed copies.
Picture Day Make Up - October 14th
Did your child miss picture day? No worries! Our make up date is October 14th at Hopkins! This is the last opportunity for students to have their pictures in the yearbook. We WILL have spring photos for families to purchase packages.
STAY CONNECTED!
Visit our Hopkins School Website frequently to find important updates and information related to Hopkins! The link is below!
Follow our new Hopkins Elementary Facebook Page to see the exciting things happening at the Hop!
October 2022 DATES
- October 6 - 10 - Fall Break
- October 19 & 20 - Early Release Conferences
- October 27 - Hallo Read & Math Munchies
Fall Break October 6 - 10 - No School
Early Release Conferences
Fall Early Release Conference Dates
October 19th & October 20th
Student Hours: Early Release Arrival & Dismissal
Students will be dismissed early at the following times.
Normal Arrival Times for ALL students
o 7:20am – Special Education Self-Contained Units
o 7:30am – General/SPED IRR Education Classrooms
Dismissal Early Release Times
o 11:25 - Special Education Self-Contained Units Bus Dismissal
o 11:40 - Walkers, car riders, and day care/van riders Dismissal
o 11:45 - General Education Bus Dismissal October 20th
Sign Ups & Interpreters
- Teachers will send out communication so you can sign up for your conference!
- We encourage our families to bring interpreters, but will have staff available for interpretation during conferences.
Hallo Read & Math Munchies Dress Up Day & Family Event October 27th @ 5pm
2022-2023 IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES
Thanksgiving Lunches
- November 14th (PK, K, & 5th), November 15th (1st & 4th), November 16th (2nd & 3rd)
100th Day of School, January 20th
DLD #3, February 3rd
Read Across America Week, First week of March
Early Release Spring, March 1st & 2nd
Picture Day Spring, February 7th
DLD #4, March 17th
STEAM Night, March 30th
Field Days, May TBD
STUDENT SCHOOL HOURS ARRIVAL & DISMISSAL
Arrival
- Student Arrival is 7:30am
- Tardy Bell/Late Arrival is 8:15am
- Please remember that car rider drop off is from 7:30-8:15. The car rider gate will be closing at 8:15. If you are not inside the gate by 8:15, you will need to bring your child to the front office and sign them in.
Early Check Outs
- Early Check Out Ends at 2:00pm ***The latest students can be checked out is 2:00pm to allow us time to prepare for the safe arrival of buses and dismissal of students.
Dismissal
- Student Car/Bus Dismissal begins at 2:45pm
- Car Rider lane ends at 3:15pm. All late pick ups should be checked out from the front office. If there are continued late pick ups, an administrator will contact the family.
Bus Driver Appreciation Week October 17th-21st
Give a big thanks to our bus drivers during this week! Write a thank you card to show your appreciation for helping keep our students safe on the bus!
MyPaymentsPlus Sign Up
- Don't forget to sign up for your MyPaymentsPlus account! We use this platform for all school payments including contributions, field trips, club/activity dues, fundraisers, spirit shirt sales, and others!
- Also, EVERY parent/guardian will need to sign off on the GCPS and Hopkins Parent-Student Handbook through MyPaymentsPlus this year.
- Contact our Parent Center for additional support! 770-564-2661
Parent Tips for your Parent/Teacher Conferences
Families, please see the links below to learn more about how you can prepare for conferences!
GET INVOLVED!
Get involved with the great things going on in your child's school!
Family & Community Engagement Center:
Volunteer, check-out resources, and get engaged in the community! Contact Us!
Maria Miller, Parent Instructional Support Coordinator
Ingrid Abarca, Parent Outreach Liaison
Family Workshops Starting Soon!
- Be There Parent Engagement
- My Payments Plus
- Parent Portal
- Bullying
- Social Emotional Learning
Look out for upcoming information.
Maria Miller, Parent Instructional Coordinator
Ingrid Abarca, Parent Outreach Liaison
Hopkins Elementary Community Partner, The Lilburn Women's Club
After care program at Hopkins!
Please see the contact information below if you are interested in GASP afterschool programming! Hopkins hosts this program on campus as an option for families.