The FAST Flyer
The View from Above, Vol. 4 Issue 22
Feb. 12, 2022
PRINCIPAL'S PERSPECTIVE
Dear Parents,
When it comes to raising children, we are always building fences-sometimes to protect them and sometimes to guide them. Most often, your first fence goes up when your toddlers become mobile. Their goal is to see how many electrical sockets they can stick their fingers in and how many sharp edges of furniture they can collide with. And so,we baby proof our homes. It protects them from themselves and cuts down on awkward questions from doctors in the ER room.
As children get older, we seem to forget the effectiveness of building fences and replace them with endless streams of verbal directions. While conversations, instructions, and threats of consequences all have their place in the parenting hall of fame, it can get exhaustive.
In Paul Schenk’s little known classic “Great Ways To Sabotage a Good Conversation,” he talks about how the misuse of words can lead to unintended reactions and the opposite of what you were hoping to address. When you say to a child: Don’t touch the cookes, s/he will most likely ignore “don’t” and focus on the cookies. You have literally directed attention to the desirable sugar rush. It would be better to put the cookies out of reach or hide them in the pantry (which is what my wife does to prevent me from eating the cashews meant for cooking).
Fences allow you to prevent the undesired behavior by creating an environment in which it could not even happen. When we are addressing challenges at school, we will often ask ourselves if there is a fence we can create to eliminate the behavior without constant monitoring. It is how we resolved the issue of late arrivals. By posting a staff person at the door to let students in and provide them with the tardy slips until 8:00, we eliminated inconveniencing parents, no longer dealt with parents pulling a drop and run, and were able to get students to class more quickly.
Perhaps the greatest benefit of creating fences is that it forces you to think more strategically about whatever challenge you are having with your child. You need to identify the root of the problem in order to come up with a plan. You then get to act instead of react. The art of fence building is to be focused on the end goal while guiding your children along the way.
Sincerely,
Stan Beiner
Fulton Academy of Science and Technology
Principal
COVID UPDATES
COVID REPORTING
If your child falls sick, please contact the nurse at victoria.murray@fastk8.org and the principal at stan.beiner@fastk8.org so they can help you with a plan for return.
Also, contact the school if your child is coming off of quarantine to verify the return date.
HAPPENINGS
COVID-19 Testing Now Open to Parents and Students on Tuesdays
As part of our ongoing commitment to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, FAST is offering free optional Covid testing to our students and FAST families each Tuesday morning. Testing is non-invasive and fast (e.g. kid-friendly). PriorityMed Express has been testing the staff for several months and we are happy to be able to expand the offer to our students and families. Only those students whose parents have sent in the signed authorization form will be tested.
Please be sure to send the documents listed below if you want to have your child tested.
Consent to Test (required for each student each time they test)
Information Release (only needs to be completed once)
Copy of Driver’s License & Insurance Card (only needs to be completed once)
Our FAST families are also invited to test during this window. To help us plan for the day, please let us know if you plan to get tested by using the form below.
If you want your student tested, please complete this form.
If you would like to be tested, complete this form.
If you or your student is symptomatic or you think you have Covid, we ask that you go directly to the test site rather than test at FAST.
Kindness Day
FAST will celebrate Kindness Day on February 15. This allows for inclusion for all students in activities designed to spread positivity. Classes are planning events to highlight the importance of kindness.
We also want to remind parents that Valentine's cards and/ or candy should not be brought to school to avoid hurting feelings of students who do not celebrate the holiday and/or may be left out of the card exchanges.
5th Grade Moving Up Meeting
Parents of 5th graders, please join Mr. Epstein the evening of Thursday, February 17 at 6:30pm on Zoom for a middle school information session. Find out more about what to expect from the transition to middle school at FAST. The building is the same, but many things change. Let us help you be ready for the fall.
Basketball
FAST Pays Respect to Lt Ruff, Roswell Police Department
REMINDERS
FAST Food Policies
Periodically, we offer reminders to our parents of important school polices such as food.
FAST encourages healthy eating and balanced meals. Please avoid sending candy/cakes/donuts/etc. to school. Carbonated and energy drinks are also not permitted. These items will be confiscated by staff.
Birthdays celebrated at school do not include food.
We are also a nut-free friendly school. In order to prevent a reaction in any of our students who may have life threatening allergies, nut products may not be brought to school for lunch or snack.
We do not deliver lunches to classrooms. Please remember to send them with your children.
The school will not accept lunches being delivered to school by services like UberEats or DoorDash.
2022-23 School Year
The lottery was held yesterday for all families who had their applications submitted by 12pm Feb. 3, but we are still accepting applications!
If you know anyone who is interested in attending FAST, please let them know that it is not too late to submit their application! Applications can be found on the FAST website.
Yearbooks
GADoE Parent Survey
If you are interested in sharing your opinions on FAST, you can complete a survey for GADoE
HERE.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
Chinese New Year
Valentine's Day
Atlanta Lunch Co. Menu
FAST Cardboard Carnival
Our creative Innovation Team is seeking donations for a Cardboard Carnival! Please have your student drop off items on the collection table - outside during morning carpool Feb. 7 - 11.
Needed:
-egg cartons
-packing peanuts
-cardboard/boxes
-empty toilet paper and paper towel rolls
FAST Kindness Challenge
Win a Class Party for Your Classroom
One of our business partners is having a teacher appreciation week. Help support them and win a party for your class just by nominating your teacher!
WIN A POPCORN PARTY FOR YOUR CLASS!
Teacher Appreciation Week at Aurora Cineplex
Friday Feb 4th--Thur March 17th
Elementary School Students--This Contest is for You !
* Come by Aurora Cineplex anytime between Friday Feb 4th and Thur March 17th.
* When you purchase a Movie or Mini Golf ticket, Nominate your Teacher.
* Each week, we will pick a winner, and your teacher will win a Big Yellow Bag of Popcorn for their class popcorn party, and a Royal VIP prize for the teacher.
* 1 form per student per visit.
Sponsored by--
Area 51: Aurora Cineplex and The Fringe Miniature Golf--
5100 Commerce Parkway, Roswell, GA 30076
ph: 770-518-0977 www.a51fun.com
February Fun Days continue...
On Friday, Feb. 25 the PTO plans to let the FAST Staff know...
We are just POPPING by to say we would KNOT be the same without you!
We are looking for contributions of Soda & Pretzels.
Can you help?
UPCOMING EVENTS
- Feb. 11: Lottery draw
- Feb. 17: Middle School Info Session for 5th Grade Parents
- Feb. 18: Teacher Work Day (Students Off)
- Feb. 21: Presidents' Day (School Closed)
- March 10: Teacher Work Day (Students Off)
- March 11-14: School Closed
- Apr. 1: Innovation Fair
- May 6: FAST Art Festival
THE LATEST FROM FULTON COUNTY SCHOOLS
FAST
Fulton County Schools
GA Charter Schools Association
FULTON ACADEMY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Email: info@fastk8.org
Website: www.fastk8.org
Location: 11365 Crabapple Road, Roswell, GA, USA
Phone: 678-321-1100
Facebook: facebook.com/FASTK8.School/
Twitter: @fastk8charter
The FAST Flyer is the electronic newsletter at FAST. Feedback is always welcome. If you have any questions, please call the school (678-321-1100) or email the FAST Communications Director at marie.emerson@fastk8.org.