Titan Talk
December 15, 2017
Upcoming Dates...
- 12/18 - Register for Titan Tech Team w/ Ms. Lindesay (Lindesay@fultonschools.org)
- 12/18 - i-Ready Challenge begins...
- 12/18 to 12/21 - Final Exams for 8th Graders - Exam Schedule HERE
- 12/20 - Band Concert @ 6:15 pm in Gym (Rescheduled)
- 12/23 to 1/4 - WINTER BREAK - SCHOOL CLOSED
Upcoming in 2018...
- 1/4 - Teacher Workday (no students)
- 1/5 - Professional Development Day (no students)
- 1/8 - First Day of Second Semester - All Students Return
- 1/15 - M.L. King Jr. Holiday
- 1/15 - i-Ready Challenge ends!
Dates to Note:
FINAL EXAMS - 8th GRADE
Dec. 18 to Dec. 21
8th Grader Exam Schedule HERE
i-READY CHALLENGE
Dec. 18 - Jan 15
Complete 440 Minutes of i-Ready Literacy
to be entered into a Raffle for Prizes!
WINTER BREAK - SCHOOL CLOSED
Dec. 23 - Jan 4th
FIRST DAY OF THE SECOND SEMESTER
Jan. 8, 2018
Students Return to School
FULTON COUNTY SCHOOLS MAKE-UP DAY
Feb. 16, 2018
Note: ALL FCS will now have school on 2/16/2017
to make up for the school closing during Hurricane Irma
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Dear Parents,
On Monday, when your child returns to school, we will only have four more days before the Winter Break. It is imperative to make each day count next week. Here are four things parents can do to help our Titans finish the semester successfully:
- Attendance - I need all students to be at school for all four days. Please send your child to school on time. Please keep your child at school for the entire day. Limiting checkout extends your child's learning and cuts down on distractions in the classroom.
- Apply Best Efforts - Please encourage your child to study over the weekend, and to finish projects and assignments. Please provide a quiet place, personal space, and time for your child to study for exams. If applicable, please bring your child in for morning study sessions.
- Support - Feed your child a good breakfast, and keep your child on schedule for just one more week. It is important that your child has a good night's sleep prior to their final exams and is eating a well-balanced diet. I promise the party will begin when the semester is over!
- Ready for i-Ready - The i-Ready Challenge begins on Monday, December 18th and goes through the Winter Break. This computer-based learning program will keep your child's literacy skills sharp. Over the holiday break, it is important to make screen time matter. The i-Ready Challenge matters because reading is everything!
Titans, let's be smart as we finish out the semester, and stay connected to literacy through the i-Ready Challenge because it is almost time to head off on our happy holiday!
Sincerely,
Kindra L. Smith, Ed.S
Principal
Elkins Pointe Middle School
Home of the Titans!
GADOE SURVEY LINKS FOR STUDENTS, PARENTS & TEACHERS/STAFF
The school climate surveys for the 2017-2018 school year officially opened on Monday, October 2, 2017, and will remain open through Friday, March 2, 2018.
- Student Survey (Grades 6-8): http://gshs.gadoe.org/middleschool
- Parent Survey: http://gshs.gadoe.org/parents
- Teacher/Staff Personnel Survey: http://gshs.gadoe.org/personnel
The Georgia Department of Education (GADOE) requires 100% participation from students, teachers, and parents. 100% participation helps our school score points on GADOE's College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI).
SURVEY TAKES ONLY (5) FIVE MINUTES!
If you want to see how we are doing in participation, click here.
For More Info on the GADOE Climate Surveys, click here.
Smart, Happy & Connected!
Smartly Dressed👗
Thank you so much to our judges at our 8th Grade Dress for Success Day Fashion Show in Ms. Lindesay's Business & Computer Science class!
America's Next Top Business Model Winners
5th Period: Zoe Coelho & Jackson Thacker
6th Period: Niaya Solomon & Cian Kaisharis
Happy Cups 😊
Music Connections 🎼
Things to Know
For the schedule, click HERE.
i-Ready Challenge Begins - 12/18
The i-Ready Challenge begins on Dec. 18, 2017, and goes until Jan. 15, 2018. Your child is tasked with completing 440 minutes of on task i-Ready usage (or for specified classes a Reading log of 440 minutes). 440 minutes equates to approximately 110 minutes per week. We recommend doing 4 days of 1/2 hour of i-Ready Challenge per week. Once the i-Ready lessons are completed your child will be automatically entered into a raffle. or a home computer.- Start Date: December 18th
- End Date: January 15th
- Note: i-Ready does not work on phones or iPads. Your child will want to use their student laptop i-Ready for prizes (Raffle - Choices)
- Raffle Prizes: Movies passes, SkyZone passes, Andretti Passes, Beats earbuds
- Need Wi-Fi? No Problem! If you don’t have wi-fi or a device we will open the school 4 days during the break to ensure that every student has a chance to enter the raffle. The following locations are available with free wi-fi; however, no transportation will be provided.
Free Wi-Fi Locations:
- Elkins Pointe MS from10 am – 12 pm on Dec 28 & 29 and Jan 4th - 11290 Elkins Rd, Roswell, GA 30076
- Roswell Public Library from 10 am – 6 pm (Monday – Saturday) - 115 Norcross ST Roswell, GA 30076
- Dunkin Donuts -775 Holcomb Bridge Rd, Roswell, GA 30076
- McDonald's - 1465 Holcomb Bridge Rd, Roswell, GA 30076
- Starbucks - 10800 Alpharetta Hwy #312, Roswell, GA 30076
- Chick-Fil-A - 604 Holcomb Bridge Rd, Roswell, GA 30076
- Krispy Kreme - 10781 Alpharetta Hwy, Roswell, GA 30076
- Brunswick Zone Rowell - 785 Old Roswell Rd, Roswell, GA 30076
Register for the Titan Tech Team before Winter Break - 12/21
If you would like to be on this year’s Titan Tech Team, please see Ms. Lindesay or e-mail Ms. Lindesay at Lindesay@fultonschools.org. Ms. Lindesay would love to have the Tech Team finalized before the Christmas Break in order to meet the county’s registration deadline when we return from the break. For more details on the Tech Team, please see the article below, entitled "Technology Competition" under the heading "THINGS IN THE NEW YEAR...2018!"
Band Concert Rescheduled - 12/20 @ 6:15 pm
The Concert is rescheduled for December the 20th at 6:15 pm in the Gym.
- 6th Grade Students will warm up in the gym at 5:50 pm
- 7th Grade Students will warm up in the gym at 6:00 pm
- 8th grade will need to be seated in their holding area by 6:00 pm
The concert will feature a musical guest which will perform on the stage and with the 8th-grade band.
High School Level Art Offered @ EPMS
Elkins Pointe Middle School is excited to offer Intro to Art for high school credit to our 8th graders. This course is designed for 8th graders who are interested in pursuing art at the high school level. Throughout the course, students will be introduced to many aspects of visual art, including but not limited to: art as personal communication, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, design, aesthetics, careers, art criticism, and art history. At the conclusion of Intro to Art, students will have acquired the foundation to continue into any visual art pathway at the high school level as they will earn .5 of a high school credit. We have a few spots open for Intro to Art next semester (5th Period), 8th-grade students only.
If your 8th-grade child would like take high school Intro to Art, please email Mrs. Suckow at Suckow@fultonschools.org.
Buy. Scan. Earn. BONUS Box Top points for EPMS!
- Download the FREE Box Tops app to your smartphone and earn bonus points while you shop – no clipping needed!
- Earn 100 points! Right now the App contains an offer that would earn EPMS 100 bonus points when you purchase 5 Lysol products.
- The app is easy to use. Just download, select EPMS as your school, browse the offers, select them and scan your receipt using your phone’s camera.
A GIFT TO YOUR SCHOOL! The points are immediately added to the EPMS account.
- Box Tops for Education: Clip Box Top labels from participating products. Collect them in a baggie and turn into the front office collection box. Box Tops for our next submission are due by October 18. Each Box Top is worth .10 - schools can earn thousands of dollars through this program! See full list of products here: http://www.boxtops4education.com/participating-products.
- Amazon Smiles: Ordering from Amazon? Go to https://smile.amazon.com and choose to support Elkins Pointe MS PTSA. A portion of all your purchases will be sent to the school!
- Coca-Cola Give: New program! Sign up at https://us.coca-cola.com/give/schools and enter codes from Coca-Cola products to earn school donations.
- Kroger Community Rewards: Link your Kroger Plus card to Elkins Pointe at https://www.kroger.com/communityrewards. Kroger will donate a percent of purchases back to the school. (You must re-enroll your card each year after Aug 1.)
- Publix Partners: Pick up a key ring card in the office, have it scanned at the register each time you check out. Publix will donate a percent of purchases. Give cards to your family and friends too! (Most Publix stores have these at the registers too, if you don't carry one with you - just ask.)
- Office Depot/Office Max Give Back to Schools: Make a purchase of qualifying school supplies, provide our school ID at checkout, and Elkins will receive 5% back in credits for free supplies. Our school code is 70118601 - enter it for online purchases, or ask to look up Elkins Pointe at the register in stores too. You can also submit an order or receipt info after the fact at http://www.officedepot.com/backtoschool/display.do if you forget during purchase!
Will You Help Fill Ms. Lindesay's Suitcase?
EXPERIENCING HOME ACCESS ISSUE?
1) Please sign into HAC
2) Change the view from "Report Card Run 2" to "ALL RUNS" (see example below)
3) Click "Refresh View" on the right side of the screen, and you should see your child's current grades.
Sorry for the inconvenience, and thank you to our parents for letting us know about this issue.
Learn to Love ♥ Lexile Levels
Parent University Proudly Presents...
"Learn to Love ♥ Lexile Levels!"
Media Specialist Jennifer Newman and Parent Liaison Lisa O'Hanlon Cowles explain the Lexile Levels in the Media Center.
Stay tuned for more mini-videos on "Learn to Love ♥ Lexile Levels!"
The Lexile® Framework for Reading is a scientific approach to measuring both reading ability and the text complexity of reading materials on the same developmental scale.
Educators use Lexile measures to match students with text, putting them on the path to success in school, college, and careers.
Lexile measures make it easy for educators to:
- Personalize learning.
- Measure student growth.
- Communicate with parents about their child’s progress.
Answer: The Lexile score is provided for students on their Georgia Milestones Assessment results on the ELA assessment. For further reading, please refer to the www.gadoe.org site.
Question: How will my child know which library books are best suited for their Lexile Measure?
Answer: In the Media Center, most of the fiction books have a small, colored round sticker on the spine of the book that indicates the Lexile Range. All your child needs to know is their range and then match it up to the color on the book’s spine. You find their range by adding 50 to their reported Lexile Measure and then subtracting 100 from the reported Lexile Measure. This range represents the boundaries between the easiest reading material that still challenges and the hardest level at which he/she can read independently.
For example, Susie’s Individual Student Report shows her Lexile Measure is 450L. Her range would be 350L – 500L. Books and other reading material should stay in this range to ensure a 75% reading comprehension level.
THINGS IN THE NEW YEAR...2018!
Technology Competition - 1/27
Get ready, techies! This year's FCS Technology Competition will be held on Saturday, January 27, 2018, at Westlake High School in Atlanta, GA. If you have a project that can represent our school, please e-mail Ms. Lindesay at Lindesay@fultonschools.org and schedule a time to show what you have created. Ms. Lindesay is available after-school to assist and prep students to be judged. Only a limited number of participants can represent the grade levels in each category, so act fast to see if your project will get you on this year’s Titan Tech Team.
Ms. Lindesay would love to have the Tech Team finalized before the Christmas Break in order to meet the county’s registration deadline when we return from the break.
Here is a list of the categories for the competition:
3-D MODELING
ANIMATION
AUDIO PRODUCTION
DEVICE MODIFICATION
DIGITAL GAME DESIGN
DIGITAL PHOTO PRODUCTION
GRAPHIC DESIGN
INTERNET APPLICATIONS
MOBILE APPS
MULTIMEDIA APPLICATIONS
PRODUCTIVITY DESIGN
PROJECT PROGRAMMING
ROBOTICS
TECH PROGRAMMING CHALLENGE
VIDEO PRODUCTION
Check out the Technology Competition’s website at
http://www.fultonschools.org/en/divisions/acd/learnteach/Pages/Technology-Competition.aspx for more information on the categories.
Titans Got Talent Expo! - 2/12
GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER because the Elkins Pointe Talent Expo is coming to a Stage near you … The PTSA and the Drama Club are proud to present “Titans’ Got Talent!” for a one-night-only Show on Friday, April 13th! This is a talent "showcase", NOT a contest, so don't be shy and join in on the FUN!
Talent/Act submission forms will be available soon in Titan Talk and on the PTSA website. Students wanting to participate will be required to turn-in this "Act Proposal" Form on Feb. 21/22 at the after-school meetings to go over the details of the act and what will be needed on stage for the performance. In addition, if you have dreams of being the Show’s Emcee, announcing each act with your own flair, you will have the opportunity to audition for that role at the Feb 21/22 meetings.
So, please start brainstorming what talents you would like to share on stage with your Elkins Pointe community at the Talent Expo, and have your proposal ready for submission by February 21st. Any questions, please direct to Jennifer Rodman, jcrodman@yahoo.com.
Make-Up Day for Elkins Pointe Middle School - 2/16
Fulton County Schools announced it will make-up one of the three school days missed as a result of Hurricane Irma on February 16th. The 16th of February was originally a holiday for students and staff. All Fulton County Schools were closed from September 11th -13th due to widespread power outages throughout the county. Fulton County is permitted to excuse the two days which the Governor declared of a State of Emergency, but has scheduled 2/16/2017 as an instructional day to make-up for the additional day.
TRANSITION INFORMATION
Milton High School Transition Dates - 2018
Milton High School Transition dates:
- January 30th: Rising 9th Grade Parent Night at Milton High School
- March 29th: Elkins Point MS tour Milton (for students only)
To sign up for the Milton High School newsletter, click here.
Roswell High School Transition Dates - 2018
- January 25th at 6:30 pm (RHS Auditorium): Rising 9th Grade Parent Night
- February 22nd at 6:30 pm (RHS) Gym: Honors, AP and Dual Enrollment Info Night
- March 29th at 9:15 am (RHS Auditorium): “Welcome to Roswell High, EPMS"
Roswell High School has many valuable resources available on their 9th Grade Student Services website. To start, review links on the website: http://roswellstudentservices.weebly.com/ninth-grade.html
- Class of 2021 Fall 17 Parent Presentation
- Four Year Plan
- Counting Credits
Thank You Wildcats for Inviting Titans to Your Transition Meeting!
A big thank you to Ms. Oudia Harris, the Guidance Counselor from Northwestern Middle School, for inviting Elkins Pointe parents to their transition meeting. To view Ms. Harris' informative presentation, click HERE.
6th Grade Transition Dates 2018
Pointe Team & AVID Ambassadors Visit Elementary Schools on Wednesday, February 28, 2018:
- Mimosa – 9:00 – 9:45
- Sweet Apple – 10:00 – 10:45
- Vickery Mill – 11:00 – 11:45
- Hembree Springs – 1:30 – 2:15
Rising 6th Grade Visits to EPMS
- Mimosa Elementary - May 10th @ 9:15 – 10:45
- Vickery Mill Elementary – May 10th @ 9:15 – 10:45
- Sweet Apple Elementary – May 15th @ 9:15 – 10:45
- Hembree Springs – May 16th @ 9:15 – 10:45
Rising 6th Grade General Parent Meeting on Thursday, March 15, 2018, in the EPMS Cafeteria @ 5:30 pm
- All parents are invited from our four feeder school
- Presentation will be given by Elkins Pointe Transition Team
❤️ Volunteer ❤️
Calling for Dad’s to join our Dad’s Club. We did receive some signups during "Get Connected Night." Any dad interested and wanting to get more information can contact Mr. Will Jones at jonesw3@fultonschools.org or 470-254-8366.
Sign-Up Here or below to join Dads Club!!
School Store Help Needed!
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0548a4a822a64-school3
- PLEASE NOTE: YOU NEED TO COMPLETE A 10 MINUTE TRAINING PRIOR TO WORKING IN THE STORE! MARYANNE CODELLI CAN BE REACHED AT MACODE@BELLSOUTH.NET FOR MORE INFORMATION.
Title I Resources for Family Engagement:
STAY UPDATED ON THE WEATHER...
Fulton County Schools (FCS) recommends staying tuned in to their website, FCS social media accounts, and local news media for updates.
- FCS Website: http://www.fultonschools.org/en
- FCS Facebook Page (@FultonCounty Schools) https://www.facebook.com/FultonCountySchools/?fref=ts
- FCS Twitter (@FultonCoSchools) http://www.twitter.com/FultonCoSchools
QUICK REFERENCE
Select your t-shirt color
Enter your name, payment etc.
Your order will be delivered to school to your advisement teacher
Please make sure you include your students’ name and 1st period teacher.
Sign-Up for Remind
- Enter this number: 81010
- Text message: @elkinspoi
Order Yearbook!!
- Order online here
- Print a form here
- Questions? Email: Suckow@fultonschools.org.
Volunteer Registration
- Register with FCS here
- Please complete 24 hours before volunteering
Calendar DATES
Please Note: Upcoming dates are subject to change & some dates may not be included.
Stay Updated
Fulton County Schools (FCS) recommends staying tuned in to their website, FCS social media accounts, and local news media for updates.
- FCS Website: http://www.fultonschools.org/en
- FCS Facebook Page (@FultonCounty Schools) https://www.facebook.com/FultonCountySchools/?fref=ts
- FCS Twitter (@FultonCoSchools) http://www.twitter.com/FultonCoSchools
Elkins Pointe Middle School Informational Items
We ♥️ Our Business & Community Partners!
3600 Dallas Hwy #280, Marietta, GA 30064
(770) 627-4885
Proud to sponsor Elkins Pointe Middle School Spirt Wear!
4350 North Point Pkwy, Alpharetta, GA 30022
(678) 892-5000
Thank you for your generous donation for our students.
10516 Alpharetta Hwy, Roswell, GA 30076
(770) 645-1550