Hembree Highlights
Message from Ms. Smith
Hello Hawks!
I hope that you have had a wonderful week as hints of spring bring sunshine and blooms our way. Here at Hembree we have had a great week, enjoying the warmer days, but also celebrating some noteworthy events, beginning with Exceptional Children’s Week. Because Hembree Springs has inclusion built into our culture, it guides all that our students and staff do and makes this week’s celebration especially personal and relevant! Our students were encouraged to dress up as a way to show their support for all students, and they also decorated the hallways with wonderful posters that highlight our theme of “Power in our Differences.” Check out the pictures below of just a few of my favorite posters made this week.
This week we also celebrated School Social Worker Week, and I want to spotlight Lisa Lewy, our school social worker. Lisa is new to Hembree Springs this year, but not new to Fulton County or to social work. She has been supporting families in this capacity for 24 years. If you are wondering what a school social worker does, that is a valid question. Although Mrs. Lewy is only in the building 1-2 days a week, she supports our families in multiple ways: checking in with students, problem-solving for attendance matters, and helping to meet basic needs, including the physical, social, and emotional needs of students and families. If you ever need support, you can always reach out to Lisa Lewy directly at LewyL@fultonschools.org .Thank you, Lisa, for all that you do to support our families.
Next week our celebrations continue as we recognize Katha Stuart, our elected school board member for District 1. She has been serving in this role for 8 years, and she has represented us well, playing an active role in supporting our Hembree Springs community. I want to take a moment to highlight her and to direct you to our PTA who regularly puts out a newsletter promoting advocacy and highlighting our monthly community meetings. You are invited to our next community meeting, which is scheduled for March 22, 2023 at 9:30am at Mimosa Elementary, but if you are not able to attend but want to stay in the know, please check out the next advocacy newsletter or reach out to Stephanie Dersnah, PTA president.
In addition to all of these celebrations, I want to share some important information that will affect our master schedule for the 2023-2024 school year. We will be changing the day-to-day operations for grades 2-5 to departmentalize their schedules. This means that your child will have one teacher for Math and Science/Social Studies (alternating science and social studies units) and another teacher for Reading and Writing, and the teachers will be teaching only 2 content areas at a time. We want you to feel comfortable and informed about this change, therefore, we will have some parent sessions to discuss what will be different for your child and the impact it will have on the teachers and parents. We will also share about systems of support that we will put in place for students to ensure success with executive functioning, specifically organization. Please mark your calendars for April 12, 2022 for our Principal Chat about this topic.
Have a wonderful weekend, and remember it is a long weekend for students as they do not return until Wednesday.
Sincerely,
AJ Smith
Principal
Hembree Springs ES
470-254-2905 - office
678-525-7704 - cell
Important Dates
3/13 - 3/14 No School for Students / Professional Learning and Teacher Workday
3/24 STEM and STAR Night @6:30-8:30PM
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C054FADAD2FAAFD0-stem3
4/3 -4/7 Spring Break - NO SCHOOL
4/10 PTA Healthy Minds @ 7:00PM (virtual)
4/11-13 3rd-5th Book Clubs
4/12 Hembree Perk - Title 1 Parent Input Meeting @7:40AM (in person) and 6:30PM (virtual)
4/12 Principal Chat @7:00PM (virtual)
4/17 Healthy Minds @ 7:00PM (virtual)
4/17 - 4/21 Hembree Springs Book Fair in Media Center
4/20 Together We SOAR! Learning Celebration @ 5:00-7:00PM
4/25 Rising Kindergarten Sneak-a-Peek @ 8:30AM
4/2 PTA General Meeting @ 7:50AM
4/27 Spring Chorus Concert @ 6:30PM
4/28 Field Day
5/3 Grades 3-5 ONLY *Georgia Milestones ELA Part 1
5/4 Grades 3-5 ONLY *Georgia Milestones ELA Part 2
5/5 Grades 3-5 ONLY *Georgia Milestones ELA Part 3
5/9 Grades 3-5 ONLY *Georgia Milestones Math Part 1
5/10 Grades 3-5 ONLY *Georgia Milestones Math Part 2
5/11 Grade 5 ONLY *Georgia Milestones Science
** NO VISITORS OR VOLUNTEERS DURING GMAS TESTING WINDOW**
5/12 PTA Summer Picnic
5/15 - 5/19 Career Week
5/16 Volunteer Breakfast
SGC Candidates Needed
Hi Parents!
Are you interested in making an impact on Hembree Springs at a school-level? Do you find yourself hoping you could have more of a say in items that affect our students? Will you be part of the Hembree family for at least the next two school years? We need you to run for our School Governance Council (SGC)!
Our Hembree families are equal partners when it comes to decision-making in several areas including policy, curricula, budget, safety, and personnel. The SGC is one outlet where you can truly make a difference and have your voice heard.
The Candidate Declaration window is now open and will close on March 24th. Our SGC needs to fill two parent seats for the upcoming school year. Please fill out the Candidate Declaration Form here: https://fultonschools.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3TQp89ZbIXwSA0S Elections to fill the two seats will be held in April.
If you have any questions or would like to know more about the role of the SGC in our school, please reach out to our SGC Chair, Ashley Russ: RussA1@fultonschools.org You can also find resources on the Fulton County SGC website here: https://www.fultonschools.org/Elections
Remember, the deadline to declare your candidacy is March 24th. Don’t wait - declare today!
From Title I
Parents & Families!
Join us for a night with the sun, moon and stars! Our next STEM & STAR night will be 3/24 starting at 6:30pm. Please RSVP using the link below.
Kindergarten Sneak-a-Peek Workshop
Parents of rising Kindergarten students, please join us on 4/25 from 8:30am-10:00am for our Kindergarten Sneak A Peek Transitions Workshop. Do you know someone with a rising Kindergartener in Hembree’s district? Please share this information with them as well. Contact Lisa Dossey @ dosseyl@fultonschools.org to register your student today! We’re excited for our new hawks to join us!
*This event is for parents and future kindergarten students to attend.*
Tips and Tricks from our Math Coach, Mrs. Waller
Real World Math - Has your child ever asked, "Why do I need to learn this math stuff...I'll never use it?" Take the opportunity this month to show your child real world math in action!! Try estimating your total cost at the drive thru, or practice fractions by baking something together. Are your kids saving up for a special purchase? Figure out how much more money they need to reach their goal! There are literally hundreds of ways that we use math everyday without even thinking twice about it. 🙂 Share your experiences with me at wallerj@fultonschools.org and I'll be sure to congratulate your child on using math in the "real world!"
Click here to add first day of school pictures!
Field Day T-shirts
*Field Day t-shirts will only be sold online this year. The online store will open March 10th & close April 3rd.
*Field Day is April 28th.
*Price: $15
*T-shirt color: Light blue with design shown below.
*If you have any questions, please email Holly Marzetti: Marzetti@fultonschools.org
*Click on the following web address: https://hembreesprings2023fieldday.itemorder.com/
Pre-Kindergarten Registration
Parents,
Please visit our website for all Pre-K registration information.
Hembree High Fives
For several years our teachers and staff give each other Hembree High-Fives. They send in an email giving another staff member a shout out. This has been a great way to recognize all the great things that happen here at Hembree. NOW you can give a shoutout to our staff members as well. You will be able to submit every week. These shout-outs, or High-Fives as we like to call them, will be added to the staff email each Friday.
Exciting News! The Book Fair is returning to HSES!
Our Book Fair is fast approaching! It will be held this spring with a company called Literati. Students will have the opportunity to browse the books and compile a wish list during the week of April 17. They can also shop during the school day. Families can shop during our school’s Learning Celebration on Thursday, April 20th from 5-7pm in the Media Center. Parents can also purchase books for their student’s classroom during this time. Please plan to stop by and shop during your attendance of this school-wide event!
"Under The Lights" Girls Flag Football Summer Camp
Open to all rising 4th - 8th grade girls
Monday, June 26th - Thursday, June 29th
6pm-8pm
$125 per camper
All registered campers will receive a MHS flag football t-shirt
Payments can be made via Venmo to @MiltonFlagFootball
Questions? Email MHSflagfootball@gmail.com
Volunteer Training
Please visit the following website to obtain the training:
Mis Pagos Plus
From PTA
Copy Team Volunteers Needed
Hi parents! Do you have daytime availability? Do you like repetitive tasks? The Copy Team is looking for volunteers! Every school day, a volunteer comes into the school to make copies for the teachers. All training is provided, and the teachers are super grateful that we can take this off their very busy plates. Bonus: sometimes you run into your kid in the hallway! Please email sfuchs@gmail.com or text 404/680-8437 if you'd like more information!
Are You Interested in Serving on the PTA Board Next Year?
The PTA Nominating Committee is looking for motivated parents to serve on the 2023/2024 board! Open positions include: Secretary, Communications, Fundraising, Student & Academic Support, Volunteers, & Teacher & Staff Support. Email nominatingcommittee@hembreesprings.pta to express your interest, and to receive more information.
Interested in helping in the Media Center? Sign up here!
Join PTA!
Hembree Springs Elementary School
Website: https://www.fultonschools.org/hembreespringses
Location: 815 Hembree Road, Roswell, GA, USA
Phone: 470-254-2902