Kingsley ES Principal Newsletter
"We Are All In This Together"
May 9, 2021
Wishing all the Moms and those that play the many roles of Mom a Very Happy Mother's Day ❤️!
Thank You for Making Our Teacher Appreciation Week a Hit!
Our teacher appreciation week was successful because of you! Thank you for all the love and act of kindness shown throughout the week. Believe me, KES teachers and staff felt all the love! It truly takes a village to pull off a successful event, and you all played a major part in this amazing event every day last week.
I would like to thank our PTO Presidents, Stephenie Gordon and Tova Norman for pulling everyone together to plan out the events. Thank you, students and parents/guardians for making sure the teachers and staff felt the love daily. A special shout out to my front office staff and admin team (Ms. Lyons, Nurse Thomas, Mrs. Alicea, Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Yazmin, Ms. Ingram, and Ms. Bishop) for going above and beyond to make sure everything was picture perfect for the best teachers in DCSD heart 💙.
I appreciate you all,
Dr. Harris-Thompson
Teacher Appreciation Week Video
Our Week-At-A-Glance
Here's our Week-at-a-Glance:
5/9 - Mother's Day
5/10 - MAP Math (3rd-5th)
5/10 - May Impact Huddle 6:00 PM (see below)
5/11 - MAP Science (3rd-5th)
*5/12 - National School Nurse Day (KES will celebrate Nurse Thomas 5/11.)
5/12 - Pre-K Tour
5/13 - KES "Fun in The Sun" (Pre-K - 1st)
5/14 - KES "Fun in The Sun" (2nd - 4th)
I want to thank you for your continued support, and I wish you and your family good health and good spirits for the remainder of the school year.
National School Nurse Day is May 12th!
**KES will celebrate Nurse Thomas on Tuesday, May 11th. ❤️
☀️ Fun In The Sun ☀️
Our virtual students will be able to participate in Fun in the Sun too! Coach James is putting together virtual Fun in the Sun tasks for students to complete. Stay tuned to more information.
We are going to have a water station set up for students. If you would like to donate small bottles of water for students, please feel free to drop it off any day this week.
KES STEAM Enrichment Summer Camp July 6th - 15th
Save the Date for the STEAM Enrichment Summer Camp QR Code
Peachtree Middle School Orchestra 2021 Upcoming Musicians
The PCMS Orchestra 2021 still has a few spots available for upcoming musicians. The free instruments are first come first serve, so time is of the essence.
To register students for orchestra next year, please have the parent/guardian email me @christopher_harrison@dekalbschoolsga.org with the following information:
- Student Name
- Parent Name
- "I would like to join orchestra"
Program Overview:
Students will have the choice to play violin, viola, cello, bass, or guitar.
All students will learn piano skills on our new keyboards for their secondary instrument.
All instruments are free for students for the first time 2021.
Students in 8th grade take a trip to Disney World and Universal Studios with the other performing music students in the spring.
Presentation in English:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1IbcjvRka51hWmPzO1Qf92WnbDHdFAs3e22oF5GCktWg/edit?usp=sharing
PCMS Orchestra Presentation 2021 PCMS Orchestra 2021 FREE! Instruments Changing Lives Through Music docs.google.com
Presentation En Español: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/10oh-Qs1h_LalSWDVAcVjv-h8PDRq0rhOTKYZlOJ_Cw0/edit?usp=sharing
Impact Huddle
Acompáñanos en un díalogo auténtico y abierto totalmente en Español de
temas de interés para nuestras familias. En esta ocasión hablaremos sobre el
Plan Maestro Comprensivo, graduación, programas de verano y otros temas
de discusión oportunos recomendados por los participantes.
Lunes 10 de Mayo
6:00PM - 7:00PM
Unete a nosotros a través de Zoom. Haz clic en el enlace:
https://dekalbschoolsga-org.zoom.us/j/98341972691
Kindergarten and New Student Registration for the 2021-2022 School Year
Kindergarten and New Student Registration for the 2021-2022 school year opened March 26th and continues through the summer.
- Registration is completely online for new students by going here: https://www.dekalbschoolsga.org/online-registration/new-students/
- After you have registered, please complete this form for our internal registration process (new students only): https://forms.office.com/r/KqSjCF9ZpQ
If you have registration questions, please contact our school registrar, Mrs. Yazmin Acevedo yazmin_acevedo-mendez@dekalbschoolsga.org
Thank you!
2020-2021 KES Memory Book
Have your child complete the form below (click the link) and upload any images that best represent their answers or just a nice picture of themselves. We hope to use the supplied images for publication in a special edition 2020-2021 memory book. Thank you!
Staying safe from COVID-19 Information... We all need to do our part to keep schools open to in-person learning
Maintaining the health and safety of our school community is of utmost importance, particularly during this unprecedented pandemic situation. Providing a safe environment is a partnership between parents/guardians and the school district. KES has put into place many measures to keep our students and staff safe while they are in school. We ask that our parents and guardians help to prevent the spread of COVID, as well as other illnesses by:
- Following the DCSD mitigation strategies and the CDC guidelines
- Reporting to the nurse if your child or any household member tests positive for COVID, or if they have an actual or suspected COVID exposure
- Keeping your child home when they are sick
- Promptly picking your child up if they become sick at school
Please contact Nurse Thomas with any questions or concerns related to COVID-19 or other health-related issues involving the school.
Students who are sick must not attend school. If a student presents to be sick when at school they will be sent home and parents will be provided instructions by Nurse Thomas.
Safety First
KES safety measures are still in place and we will continue to enforce the three W's:
- Wear your mask!
- Wash your hands!
- Watch your distancing!
It is important to remember that it takes all of us to make this work! Please continue to follow the 3 W's outside of school as well. What takes place outside of school, greatly affects what happens in our school once students and teachers return each day.
Thank you so much for your support and for being flexible, parents! We Are All In This Together!
Important Reminders
- Be sure to send your child to school with a mask, FULLY charged DCSD Chromebook, charger, headphones, water bottle, and school supplies.
- Masks are required! Be sure your child's mask fits properly and securely. Face gaiters are not allowed. We do not recommend masks with exhale valves. If your child comes to school with a mask that does not fit properly, a face gaiter, or a mask with exhale valves, we will provide them with a DCSD issued mask.
- If you child/children arrives after 7:40 AM, he/she is tardy. Please bring your child around to the bus lane, walk him/her to the double doors, ring the door bell, and wait for an KES staff member to check your child in. You will need to sign your child in. Do not leave your child unattended, please.
- Family ID hangtags are required when picking up your child from school. If you have a Family ID hangtag, please use carpool. If you do not have a Family ID hangtag, you will need to park and pick up your child from the front of school. Please bring a photo ID.
- If someone other than the parent is picking up your child, please send an email to Mrs. Yazmin Acevedo, yazmin_acevedo-mendez@dekalbschoolsga.org , with the person's name and who they are authorized to pick up.
- Changes in transportation must be sent in writing (hard copy or email) by 10 AM, daily, to Mrs. Yazmin Acevedo and your child's homeroom teacher.
- Parents/Visitors are not allowed in the building for lunch, classroom visits, etc. Please ensure your child has everything they need before they leave home each morning.
** If your child is ill or exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, please do not send them to school! **
DeKalb Schools Mask Campaign-Wave them Bows
Reopening Dates and Cohorts Information
Our Kingsley Elementary Reopening Plan is located on our school website and you can also find it within this newsletter. Please review this plan so you are aware of all safety measures we are taking from the time a student enters our school until the time they leave. We look forward to the remainder of the school year. Welcome Back Comets and Thank You KES Parents/Guardians!
Keeping DCSD Safe
Kingsley Elementary Reopening Plan
Revised 2020-2021 Bus Routes
Our transportation department is asking all parents of bus riders to be patient Monday, March 29th. Please do not leave the bus stop. All buses should be at the stops no later than 6:50 AM.
DCSD School Buses will run for those students who return face-to-face. The revised bus routes can be found on the link below.
All questions regarding transportation should be directed to our school secretary, Mrs. Yazmin Acevedo: yazmin_acevedo-mendez@dekalbschoolsga.org
Each bus is associated with a color (red, yellow, green, orange, purple, or blue). Please click the Kingsley ES F2F Safe Reopening Plan above to determine your child's particular bus color. Thank you!
DO YOU HAVE YOUR FAMILY ID HANGTAG?
Car Riders/Walker: If you have not yet received your Family ID hangtag, you may pick it up any weekday 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM from the school. Please email Mrs. Yazmin Acevedo yazmin_acevedo-mendez@dekalbschoolsga.org .
Silent Dismissal System
An Inside Look into Afternoon Dismissal! Does it take longer? Yes. More importantly, is it safer? Yes! We will no longer use holding areas or call students in groups to dismiss. Students are all dismissed directly from their classroom. Our dismissal system is brand new to ensure a safe exit for all. We have implemented a silent dismissal by using a live spreadsheets on all classroom Promethean boards. We have staff members stationed all over the school grounds working on the spreadsheets to dismiss students and ensuring students stay distanced and get to the right location. Once students see their name pop up on the spreadsheet, they exit the class. Bus riders are dismissed using the silent dismissal system. We have improved our dismissal system with our last round of MAP testing and will continue to make the process better. Thank you so much for your patience as we dismiss students safely from our school into your care.
School Uniforms are Highly Encouraged for Students Returning Face-to-Face
Medication Form
If you are unable to drop off your child's medication and the documents for the medication, on the first day back to school, please place the form and medication in a Ziploc bag clearly labeled with your child's first/last name and grade. Inform the teacher that these items are in your child's backpacks and we will be sure Nurse Thomas receives them.
Please feel free to reach out to Nurse Thomas by email or you may call the school 678.874.8902 if you have any questions. brenda_thomas@dekalbschoolsga.org .
Great Things are Happening at KES - Welcome Back ALL PreK-5th Grade Students!
Want to SHOUT OUT one of you child's teachers?
Click on the link or QR code below to complete this short survey to recognize a teacher or staff member that has gone above and beyond!
DCSD Cares... Take Care of YOU!
Please click the link for many wonderful social emotional resources provided by the district. These resources are for students, parents, and teachers.
May Guidance and SEL Schedule - Coming Soon!
This month's theme: Meaningful May
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I find out specifics regarding the Kingsley Elementary Reopening Plan?
We hosted a virtually Parent Town Hall Meeting on January 7th. We reviewed, in detail, our reopening plan and answered any questions from parents/guardians.
Will students and staff be required to wear masks once we return for F2F learning?
Yes! If students or staff come to school without a mask, one will be provided to them.
Will After School @ Kingsley Elementary be offered starting in January?
No, the district is not resuming After School Extended Day Programs until students return for 5 days of F2F learning.
Once we return to school for F2F learning, will students be in school for a full day?
Yes, our instructional day is from 7:40 AM - 2:10 PM.
Here are our school hours below:
- 7:00 AM - Bus riders begin arriving to school
- 7:10 AM – 7:35 AM - Carpool begins
- 7:40 AM - Students are tardy
- 7:50 AM - 2:10 PM - Daily instruction in Reading/Writing, Math, Science, Social Studies, Recess, Specials, Lunch
- 2:15 PM - Dismissal Begins
Can students in pods return for F2F learning on the same day?
We are unable to fulfill requests for students in pods to return for F2F learning on the same day. To ensure we are following social distancing guidelines and our class sizes stay at the recommended range of 12-16 students, we will only assign cohorts by last names and ensure siblings attend on the same day.
Is my child required to come to school for F2F learning once schools reopen in March?
No. All parents have a choice. You have a choice for your child to remain virtual or return for F2F learning. Please complete the UPDATED March survey to make your decision:
Parents may change their child's instructional mode (F2F or virtual) at the end of every 4.5 week period.
We encourage all Kingsley Elementary students to wear uniforms each day. However, Fridays are Spirit Day. On Fridays, students may wear an Kingsley ES/Comet shirt and denim bottoms.
Will DCSD school buses run when school reopens for Face-to-Face learning in January?
Yes, please find a link to the bus routes in the Kingsley ES Principal's weekly newsletter.
My child needs a school-issued Chromebook. How can I obtain one?
If your child needs a school-issued Chromebook or the one you currently have does not work properly, please come to the school any weekday, 9 AM - 2 PM, to obtain a new one.
Who do I contact to obtain a hotspot due to internet connectivity issues?
To obtain a hotspot, please send an email to Dr. Harris-Thompson and a request will be made with the district IT department. Once the request is approved and the hotspot is delivered to the school, someone will contact you for pickup.
Who do I contact for password resets or trouble accessing virtual learning platforms? If your child needs their password reset or can not access a learning platform, please contact the school front office (678) 874-8902 any weekday 9am-2pm and someone can assist you.
How can I order spirit wear or sign up to volunteer?
Please visit our PTO Membership toolkit website to purchase spirit wear and sign up to be a parent volunteer: https://kingsleypto.membershiptoolkit.com/
School Meal Service
SCHOOL MEAL SERVICE
Breakfast and Lunch will be served when school reopens.
Please click the link for more information and view the menu below. https://www.dekalbschoolsga.org/student-meal-service/
Virtual learners only: It is recommended that parents complete a curbside pre-order form via this link below:
School Lunch for May
Dekalb County Public Library Park and Print
We Have The BEST PTO! Have You Joined? Register with the PTO Website/Membership Toolkit.
Want to make sure you are up to date on all school news? Register with the PTO today!
1. Register with the PTO website/Membership Toolkit (this will ensure you receive PTO/Kingsley Newsletters).
(If you are a returning Kingsley family, update your information as necessary!)
2. Pay your School Dues of $40 per student to help with supplies, teacher stipends for materials, etc. (YES—supplies are needed for virtual learning!)
3. Donate to the Kingsley Annual Fund. Annual Fund donations help for major projects such as the recent playground renovation.
Remember registering with the PTO website/Membership Toolkit ensures you’ll receive the PTO/Kingsley newsletter--- you need this newsletter--- it has LOTS of information about virtual school and other fun activities for your students!
Here’s the website: https://kingsleypto.membershiptoolkit.com/
We are Kingsley Elementary School where our staff and students strive for the best and never accept anything less.
Email: tyra_harris-thompson@dekalbschoolsga.org
Website: http://kingsleyes.dekalb.k12.ga.us/
Location: 2051 Brendon Drive, Dunwoody, GA, USA
Phone: (678) 874-8902
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KingsleyElementarySchool/.com/ourschool
Twitter: @KingsleyComets