Minor eNewsletter

• August 29- Stevi B's Spirit Night 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM
• August 29- Virtual GCPS Parent Workshop- Universal Screeners 5:30 PM- 6:30 PM
• August 31- Volunteer Kickoff and Orientation 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
• August 31- New Family Parent Workshop 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

• September 1- Parent Workshop- "Formando Padres" (This workshop will be conducted in Spanish only) 9:30 AM-11:30 AM
• September 4- Labor Day Holiday (NO SCHOOL)
• September 12- Skate Night (Spirit Night) at Skate Along USA 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM
• September 15- Digital Learning Day
• September 28- Fairy Tale Fall Festival (in celebration of Literacy) 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

Click on the picture of the calendar or the link below to see the GCPS calendar for 2023-2024 in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese.

Please join us on Tuesday, August 29

Any time between 4:00 PM and 9:00 PM

This event is a fundraiser for our school. Minor Elementary receives $1 for each adult and child buffet purchased. Last year Minor families helped us raise over $700 to help us fund special projects and events for our students and staff!

The class with the highest number of participants will win a FREE PIZZA PARTY for their classroom.

Stevi B's Pizza

1500 Pleasant Hill Rd Ste. 113

Duluth, GA 30096

Hope to see you there!

UNIVERSAL SCREENERS - FAMILY NIGHT

Presented by Miranda McLaren, Executive Director GCPS Accountability and Assessment Office

TUESDAY, AUGUST 29

5:30 PM - 6:30 PM

ALL GCPS (Gwinnett County Public Schools) FAMILIES ARE INVITED TO JOIN US!

Did you know that at the beginning of each year your child takes tests in reading and math to help their teachers better understand what they already know, what skills they have already mastered, and what areas they may need help in? Did you know that your child will also take these tests in the middle and end of the year to show their progress and how their teachers can better support their learning? These tests are known as "Universal Screeners."

During this session, GCPS families of students in grades K - 12 will receive information about the "iReady" and "MAP" Universal Screeners. Find out how the screeners will help identify students’ strengths and areas of need, and how they are used to formulate the next steps needed in instruction to support all students.

Interpretation provided in Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, and Chinese

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

https://gcpsk12-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEtde2trjgtHdGG6hrpuUJPb9iSAURyGxQf

This presentation is part of the Federal Programs Department's "Building Parent Capacity Series" and designed to engage, equip, and empower families to be able to support their children at home.

Location: Parent Center

Date: Thursday, August 31

Time: 9:00-10:00 AM

All past and present volunteers are welcome to join us!

Please come and…

• learn about the many volunteer opportunities we have available at Minor.

• sign up to volunteer.

• receive training in our policies regarding volunteer procedures, ethics and confidentiality.

• meet other parents and community volunteers.

Refreshments will be served. Participants are also welcome to bring a dish to share if they would like.

If you would like to volunteer but are unable to attend, or have questions, please contact:

Anita Hutcheson at (770) 806-2227 or Anita.Hutcheson@gcpsk12.org

Angélica Loper (Spanish) at (678) 245-3160 or Angelica.Loper@gcpsk12.org

Location: Parent Center

Date: Thursday, August 31

Time: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

(Immediately following our Volunteer Kickoff)

We are excited to have you as part of our Minor family!

Topics Include:

• How to communicate with the school and your child's teachers
• Information about our school policies and procedures
• What you can do to support your child
• Information about our school and the US school system
• What resources and materials are available to help you
• Answers to any questions you may have

Questions?

Anita Hutcheson at (770) 806-2227 or Anita.Hutcheson@gcpsk12.org

Angélica Loper (Spanish) at (678) 245-3160 or Angelica.Loper@gcpsk12.org

Parents,

Please remember to check your child’s backpack regularly:

• In the afternoons, please check for homework, completed work, and information that may be sent home
• In the mornings, please ensure that they are not brings toys or other non-school related items.
• Healthy snacks and water bottles are encouraged.

Meet our Parent Outreach Liaison, Angelica Loper!

Ms. Loper can assist families with:

• Bilingual language support for communicating with the school and teachers
• Understanding how to connect with our technology support programs, such as the Parent Portal, ParentSquare, MyPayments Plus, and eCLASS
• Answering questions about our school system and your child's education program
• Training through various parent workshops
• Assistance for families in utilizing our Parent Center and checking out resources
• Providing information about volunteer opportunities

Please contact Angelica Loper to schedule an appointment for help in any of these areas:

Angelica.Loper@gcpsk12.org

678-245-3160

Gwinnett County Public Schools are excited to announce that our school district has adopted a new form of school-to-home communication called "ParentSquare." This unified communications platform is designed to keep parents and guardians informed and encourage greater engagement and connection with your child’s school and Gwinnett County Public Schools.

ParentSquare provides a safe way for district administrators, school principals, teachers, staff, and parents to receive and send information, such as:

• Weather-related closings & delays
• School and class information
• Share pictures and files
• See calendar items
• Upcoming class activities

Beginning July 18, 2023, district and school information will now be sent to your computer or phone via email and/or text via ParentSquare. For even more convenience, download the ParentSquare app (available for free for iOS and Android devices). Please note that some schools and teachers may still use other district-approved tools for the 2023-2024 school year to communicate with their families.

If you received our notification about ParentSquare and you have questions about confirming your account access, please send an email to PSQHelp@gcpsk12.org.

For more information and tips, please visit:

https://www.gcpsk12.org/domain/15519

GCPS is providing all students with a Chromebook for the 2023-2024 school year. If you need assistance with your Chromebook, please check out these websites:

1:1 Chromebook Parent Support Page

1:1 Chromebook Student Support Page

Right at School is in Gwinnett County!

The Right at School program runs from the afternoon bell until 6:00 pm. Parent/guardians can work with Right at School to create flexible monthly schedules to support families' busy lives. Families can choose afternoon options for one, two, three, four, or five days a week. Drop-in care is also an option, allowing parents/guardians to pay only for the days care is needed. With support from Gwinnett County Public Schools, families at our school who are in need of aftercare support can attend at a discounted rate and can attend for free after being approved for CAPS ( child care subsidy).

Every day, students will have a healthy snack, engage in dynamic fitness activities, student-driven projects, team building, leadership development, and have the opportunity to complete homework.

Visit the Right at School website for more information.

Use the link below to see important updates, reminders, information and event pictures.

Please contact us if you would like to register or to learn more about our weekly class. Applications are available upon request. You may also pick up an application at the front desk.

Anita Hutcheson 770-806-2227 or Anita.Hutcheson@gcpsk12.org

Angelica Loper 678-245-3160 or Angelica.Loper@gcpsk12.org

Dear Minor Families,

We are grateful to partner with families to make Minor the best school it can be. The world is changing quickly, and together we can help students be successful in school and life. We are excited to tell you that Gwinnett County Public Schools will be using a program called Character Strong this year.

The Character Strong program teaches skills that help students be successful in school and in life.

We believe that students should have safe, predictable places to learn where they feel included.

Students should have healthy and helpful connections with teachers and classmates. They

should also experience learning that will help them tackle challenges inside and outside of

school. Character Strong also helps us build partnership between school and families to create a place where students feel like they belong and learn skills that will help them be the best they can be.

Our world needs more Kindness! That’s why Kindness is our Character Trait for August. Our definition of Kindness is acting with understanding, generosity, and care.

You’ll hear a lot about Kindness this year because it is also 1 of our 3 goals for Character Strong:

● Be Kind: Teaching social skills like listening, friendship, solving conflicts, and leadership.

● Be Strong: Skills that help students focus, stay organized, and set goals.

● Be Well: Skills that help students handle their emotions and deal with stress.

Try these conversation starters at home to reinforce the skills your children are working on at school:

● What does Kindness mean to you?

● What is something Kind you did for someone else today?

Your child will be more motivated to work hard in math in the new school year if you give the subject your full support. This involves making it clear that you think math is important, highly useful, and yes, even fun.

Then, to nurture your elementary schooler's developing math skills:

• Ask questions about your child's math work. For example: “How did you arrive at that answer?” or “Look at this page of problems. Can you see a pattern?” It is important that your child understand the concepts behind a problem in addition to getting the answer.
• Involve your child in practical math at home whenever possible. Your student may not realize how big a role math plays in everyday life activities such as cooking and budgeting.
• Know what your child is learning in math class. You can contact the teacher to find out the concepts your child should master. Ask for tips on helping your child understand these concepts.
• Establish a study routine that includes daily math practice. Because each new math skill builds on the one before, regular practice is important to success. Ask your child’s teacher how much practice is appropriate, and encourage your child to follow the teacher’s guidelines.

Brought to you by:
Gwinnett County Public Schools

September 16

12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

5320 Jimmy Carter Blvd.

Norcross, GA 30093

You and your family are invited to a explore what opportunities await for a better future.

You'll be able to engage with local businesses of various industries and find the right job for you. Your family will be able to enjoy food, games, and activities hosted by our community partners.

• On-the-spot interviews
• Paid Training Programs
• Apprenticeships
• Certifications

REGISTER HERE

tinyurl.com/pipelinecandidate

This event is sponsored by Boy With A Ball

boywithaball.com gwinnett@boywithaball.com

Gwinnett Building Babies' Brains has many links according to your child's age. Click the language box at the top right corner of the page to select English, Spanish, or Korean.

BuildingBabiesBrains.com

Dear Families, Are you looking for a quick and easy way to support our school? The Box Tops app makes it easy to earn cash our school!

HERE’S HOW IT WORKS:

• Buy participating products at the store.
• Use the Box Tops app to scan your store receipt. The app identifies eligible products and earnings are credited to your designated school online. Even if you’re shopping online or doing grocery pickup, you can still submit your digital or email receipt with the Box Tops app and earn.
• Twice a year, our school gets a check!

See a list of participating products at BTFE.COM/PRODUCTS.

Box Tops earnings really add up, and the more people that participate, the bigger the impact we can make!

All funds collected through program will go towards purchasing new PE equipment and Field Day treats for Minor Elementary!

Earn Money for our School While You Shop!

Families can register their Kroger Plus cards for Minor's rewards program. Simply register your card online and Kroger will donate a portion of sales each quarter directly to our school! Please consider signing up today.

Use the link below:

roger.com/i/community/community-rewards

Butcher's Choice supplies premium quality meats with 100% quality product guarantee! There are several options to choose from including steaks, pork, chicken, and seafood. Please note that 40% of sales go directly to Minor Elementary! It is an easy way to help our school just by eating good food! This is an on-going fundraiser. Please feel free to order at any time!

https://www.gcpsk12.org/cms/lib/GA02204486/Centricity/Domain/159/Minor%20Meat%20Order%20Form.pdf

MyPaymentsPlus allows parents to pay for contributions and activities and sign orientation documents. All parents must sign the orientation forms. Two documents have been created to assist you with completing this process. If you need additional assistance, you can contact the school.

How to Set Up A MPP Account for Parents:

Streaming: https://vimeo.com/345028817

How to Review Signed Documents in MPP:

Streaming: https://vimeo.com/345054468