Panther Press
New Prospect Elementary School Newsletter
Nurture-Personalize-Engage-Succeed
Standards Mastery Framework Rockstar!
Hello Panther Parents,
New Prospect was honored to receive the Standards Mastery Framework (SMF) Rockstar Award from Fulton County Schools in December. I couldn’t agree more that our school is exceedingly deserving of this honor. Our students, teachers and teacher leaders have been working so hard to not only learn the SMF, but also implement what they have learned into their classrooms. One thing that is cool and unique about NPE, is that this work is led by our teachers. Mrs. Heather Alterman, Mrs. Wendy Widis and Mrs. Diana Zarzour have played a crucial role by leading us through this work on our RFF days. Our teachers are then planning for its classroom implementation during our Brain Building Days.
Standards Mastery Framework is a set of tools designed to ensure a guaranteed and viable curriculum which further personalizes the learning experience for FCS students. Through the link below, please take some time to learn more about this movement and how it will customize learning toward your child’s specific needs.
Here at NPE, I consistently see evidence of a deeper engagement in learning at every grade level and for every student. The pictures below demonstrate this engagement. For example, we are now using “I can” statements to identify what we are learning each day (bottom right). In the bottom left picture, 2nd graders are using learning maps to create their own targets so they may then set a pace that is most appropriate for their skill level. In the other two pictures, 4th graders are using learning ladders in math which will help each of them set their own personalized pace to learn the math content after mini-lessons and practice with their teacher. Once a student shows proficiency in the standard, he or she can take an assessment to prove mastery of that standard. One student’s recent comments confirmed that we are fulfilling the SMF objective: “School is really different now. Our teachers are still there to teach us new things, but we are responsible for our learning. We have learning ladders that show us what we need to work on and we can take the tests whenever we want, but we have to show the teacher three pieces of evidence for everything we are supposed to have learned.” The student went on to share, “Figuring out how to schedule my time is hard for me, but I’m figuring it out and I like to have the freedom to work on things when I am ready.”
I’m so proud to be principal where we are taking our learning to the next level!
Amy Lemons
Upcoming Events
January 16th-#onealpharetta Balance Night
January 21st-No School-Holiday
January 25th-Jump Rope for Heart Begins
January 25th-26th-School Play (Friday 7:30, Saturday 7:00) ORDER TICKETS BELOW
February 4th-RFF Day-No School for Students
February 8th-Chick-Fil-a Spirit Night
February 14th-STEAM DAY (during school day)
February 15th-No School
February 18th-No School
IMPORTANT DATE CHANGES ON GA MILESTONES TESTING
The Georgia Milestones dates have been adjusted by the Fulton County Schools District. Fourth grade students will now be tested in May instead of testing with grades 3 & 5 in April. This decision from the district gives our students more time to work toward proficiency, to show their best work, and to feel the confident in their abilities. Also, the new schedule will maximize our technology capabilities and is designed to reduce testing fatigue of our students by testing only one section per day for ELA and Math.
Please click HERE to print out the Georgia Milestone Testing Calendar for Spring 2019.
IMPORTANT: CCRPI Climate Rating & Survey...ACTION NEEDED
In order for us to get 5 stars again next year, please click here (or on the button below) to take a quick survey about NPE!
New Teacher!
Hi My name is Ms. Ayat Soluiman and I am so excited to be joining the 5th grade team and the Panther family!! Just to share a little bit about myself I am from Sudan born and raised until the age of 9. I moved to the United States with my family and made Columbia, SC (GO GAMECOCKS!) our new home. I love to travel and explore different cultures so far I have visited Egypt, London, Amsterdam, Germany, Puerto Rico, Mexico and Bulgaria. In my spare time, I love to travel, explore museums, read and learn new languages, (currently fluent in Arabic, practicing french).
This is my second year teaching 5th grade. My first year I taught in Austin, Texas. I graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelors Degree in International Studies, Minor in education. Soon after graduating I knew that the classroom is where I belonged and I returned to school to become a certified teacher! I love teaching 5th grade as I believe it is such a monumental time in student lives and I truly love making it an amazing year academically as well as socially for all my kiddos! I have a passion for education as I believe we are all life long learners! I look forward to building a positive and meaningful relationships with every parent and child this year!
Think First & Stay Safe Program
We all share a common and critical goal for our children to be safe. In support of this goal, we will soon present lessons to students designed to increase their personal safety and protection. The Think First & Stay Safe™ program is a research-based program that teaches specific personal safety education by way of interactive classroom lessons, classroom posters, role-plays and corresponding activities. Think First & Stay Safe™ enables students to take an active and necessary role in protecting themselves from harassment, abduction, bullying, exploitation, and various forms of abuse (physical, sexual, emotional). The Health Advisory Committee reviewed and approved this program and selected components will be implemented through the elementary health curriculum by teachers and schools counselors.
Due to the importance of this topic, I want you to know when and how you may preview Think First & Stay Safe™ materials and when the school counselor, Mrs. McLeod will be presenting this information to your child's class. Please contact her @ mcleodcr@fultonschools.org to schedule a preview or if you have any questions. The materials will be available for preview from 1/21- 1/25. During the month of February, Think First & Stay Safe™ prevention lessons will be implemented for all K-5 students.
You can also learn more about the detailed lesson plans and research behind this program at www.childluresprevention.com. Please be aware that more information is provided on the website than is actually used in Fulton County Schools. The plan for Fulton includes: the key concepts taught at all grade levels; each grade reviews what was learned in the previous grade(s) and then learns additional lures or tricks. Specifics are provided below:
If you prefer that your child not participate in the Think First & Stay Safe™ program, please send written notification to Mrs. McLeod @ mcleodcr@fultonschools.org
Unless written opt out documentation is received by 2/1/16, your child will participate in the Think First & Stay Safe™ program.
From Your CST… Ms. Z!
Hello Panther Parents!
It is no mystery that students do better in school when both the parents and the teachers have the same expectations and understanding of what each child is expected to learn. Math is a subject that while the answers stay the same, the process in which students are currently taught varies from the ways in which we learned. Below are two great videos that help to explain how addition and subtraction, as well as multiplication is conceptually taught in elementary schools. These powerful videos will show you the progression that is taught to your child throughout your time at New Prospect. As always, please reach out with any questions so that I can help.
Addition and Subtraction
http://viewpure.com/nRGZSc1Qvng?start=0&end=0
Multiplication
http://viewpure.com/M7T0zNCCOQQ?start=0&end=0
~ Diana Zarzour
What is happening in Brain Building?
Guidance with Mrs. McLeod
This month in Brain Building Lessons, Mrs. McLeod is working with students on identifying and developing components of a growth mindset. Ask your student what they have learned about the effects of positive vs. negative self-talk when facing challenges. We can be our own best cheerleaders!
Media Center & Typing with Mrs. Bercher
- Fourth and fifth grades learned the location of our fifty states and their state capitals. Geography is so important; students did a great job of learning where the states are located in our amazing nation
- Kindergarten enjoyed a story and wrote down words that they remembered from the story.
- Third grade kicked off their explorer research using Britannica online elementary on MackinVia.
- First and second grades enjoyed a story, a review of the online media center book catalog, and Makerspace time.
- Students are also making great progress on their typing with learning.com!
Enrichment with Mrs. Kraselsky
Kindergarten: “Abominable Snowman Fortress”
K-ETS1-1 Engineering Design: Ask questions, make observations, and gather information about a situation people want to change to define a simple problem that can be solved through the development of a new or improved object Task: The Abominable Snowman’s cave was taken over by bats and he needs a new hide-out. Students will plan, create, test, and improve their fortress for him to hide out in using 45 mini-marshmallows and 30 toothpicks.
First Grade: Snowman Stretch Challenge
1-ETS1-1 Engineering Design: Ask questions, make observations, and gather information about a situation people want to change to define a simple problem that can be solved through the development of a new or improved object.
Task: Students will use materials to create a snowman that can stand on its own for at least 10 seconds without falling over.
The snowman must:
- Be at least 5 inches tall when finished
- Have a face, with eyes, nose & a mouth
- Have 2 legs/ 2 feet
The goal for each student is to build the tallest snowman, without it falling over.
Second Grade: “The Biggest Snowman Ever”
MGSE2.MD.1 Measure the length of an object by selecting and using appropriate tools such as rulers, yardsticks, meter sticks, and measuring tapes.
Task: Students will work in groups to construct the biggest possible snowman from a six-foot length piece of white bulletin board paper. The snowman must have three separate circles and include buttons, eyes, arms, nose, etc.… with construction paper that will be provided. Which group of 2nd grade NPES students will be able to construct the “Biggest Snowman Ever”?
Third Grade: 2D and 3D Shapes
MGSE3. G.1 Understand that shapes in different categories (e.g., rhombuses, rectangles, and others) may share attributes (e.g., having four sides), and that the shared attributes can define a larger category (e.g., quadrilaterals). Recognize rhombuses, rectangles, and squares as examples of quadrilaterals, and draw examples of quadrilaterals that do not belong to any of these subcategories.
Task: Students will construct 2D and 3D geometric shapes using marshmallows and toothpicks for a preview activity for their next unit in math.
Fourth Grade: “Constitutional Convention Escape Room”
(SS4H2 Analyze the challenges faced by the framers of the Constitution)
The Constitutional Convention Escape Room took students on a secret mission around the classroom! The students decoded interesting facts about the Founding Fathers and the Constitutional Convention. This escape room provided a good overview of the original purpose of the convention, the compromises and ratification. The codes included ciphers, Morse code, cryptograms and a final 4-digit code based on the decoders/clues. Students had a blast practicing hands-on, practical problem-solving skills all while learning about the Constitutional Convention.
Fifth Grade: “Lego City Earthquake”
S5E1. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to identify surface features on the Earth caused by constructive and/or destructive processes.
Students built buildings of all shapes and sizes using Legos and a Lego mat. Buildings were built, some tall and some short; some wide and some skinny. They wanted to experiment and see which ones would withstand an earthquake the best. It was a great way to get the children thinking about real earthquakes and how the building would fare.
Once the buildings were built, we spread a bunch of marbles on the floor and put the Lego mat on top of the marbles. Students rolled their Lego mat back and forth quickly to make it like an earthquake. We watched how some buildings withstood an earthquake, while other buildings collapsed to the ground. We discussed how height and width helped our Lego buildings withstand the force of our earthquake.
From the Media Center
Brain Building has been great! Fourth graders were introduced to features and activities on Study Island. Fifth graders reviewed text features using maps, coordinates, and legends/keys. Kindergarten read, “Everyone Can Learn to Ride a Bicycle” and learned about persistence and engaged in MakerSpace activities. Third grade read, “Oh, No, George” and learned about resilience, empathy, and engaged in MakerSpace activities.
Learning.com: Grades 3-5 continued work in Learning.com. Two more modules were assigned; Adaptive Keyboarding and Navigating Interfaces. They can be completed anytime at student’s pace.
Six Flags Reading Program: Keep reading! When you’re finished six hours of reading and complete your reading log, please forward it to Ms. Bercher.
Media Festival: Please see these links for information: Criteria: http://www.gsmf.us/criteria.html, Entries: http://www.gsmf.us/entry-information.html, Forms: http://www.gsmf.us/forms.html Productions Types: http://www.gsmf.us/production-types.html The deadline to give Ms. Bercher forms/projects/documentation is Feb. 14, 2019.
The FLU!
The 5th grade TAG students are conducting a public outreach about the flu. They would like you to know:
- January and February are the peak time for the flu.
- The flu is currently widespread in Georgia.
- To track flu activity across the United States, go to https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/usmap.htm
- To prevent spreading the flu:
- Wash hands frequently. (Washing is better than using hand sanitizer.)
- Don’t cough or sneeze into your hands.
- If you’re sick, stay home.
Girls on the Run
New Prospect is going to start a Girls On The Run Team! This is a school club for girls in grades 3-5 from Feb. 4th to April 27th. The club helps to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experienced-based curriculum which creatively integrates running. At the end of the season our team will participate in a Girls On The Run 5K in Atlanta with teams across GA!
When will it take place: On Tuesday and Thursday after school until 4pm with our coaches (NPE teachers and parents)
Information about GOTR: https://www.girlsontherunatlanta.org/
When to register: From January 7th-16th
Registration Link & Info: https://www.girlsontherunatlanta.org/Program-Registration
For further questions please contact Diana Zarzour at zarzourd@fultonschools.org
Steps to become a Volunteer
Fulton County Schools values and promotes active engagement of the community in all of our schools. Thousands of individuals serve as volunteers in our schools each year. Volunteer opportunities may include:
* Serving as tutors, mentors, or guest speakers
* Providing assistance in classrooms, cafeteria, library, or main office
* Organizing student enrichment and recognition activities
* Supporting special events, athletics, and school planning councils
How do I become a volunteer?
1. Register at the Fulton County Schools Volunteer Page. (Link Below)
2. Complete the mandatory online training.
3. Complete the volunteer application.
Please allow 48 hours for your application to be processed before you visit the school to volunteer. Volunteers must complete this process EVERY year.
When you arrive at the school for your first volunteer assignment, please present your government identification (i.e. driver's license, state issued ID cards, Mexican consular cards, green cards, military ID) to verify your identity.
Transportation & Absence Notes
No Student is allowed in the school until 7:10 am. There is no supervision until that time.
We have had a lot of students who are tardy to school. Please make sure your children are here before 7:40.