Simonton Parent Newsletter
Friday, January 22, 2021
Every Student, Every Day, Deserves to Learn, Lead, & Excel!
Asynchronous Digital Learning Day Next Week
On Monday, January 25, we will resume in-person instruction for students whose families selected that option.
Please note that Tuesday, January 26, is a scheduled Digital Learning Day (DLD) for all students. This is the first of four at-home asynchronous learning days this semester that will provide additional planning time for teachers. (Note that students will access lessons in eCLASS but will not have virtual class time with their teachers on these scheduled DLDs.)
PBIS Students of the Week ~ January 11-15th
Next Week's Lunch Menu
Updated ACCESS schedule
5th Grade T-shirt
Show your 5th grade spirit with this year’s class t-shirt. The shirts will have a unique logo on the front. The cost of the t-shirts are $10.00 and payments can be made via MyPayments Plus, cash or check. Please make checks payable to SIMONTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
***Digital Learners will be notified when t-shirts are available for pick-up.
*** The Deadline to place your order is March 1, 2021.
Please see the order form attached below.
Semester 2 Calendar Updates
This semester, we will see the addition of four digital learning days:
January 26, March 2, March 16, and April 20.
These will be asynchronous learning days where ALL students (both digital & in-person) will learn from home, providing teachers additional days for planning during the semester.
Inauguration Day 2021
STEAM Night
This event will be available on our eCLASS landing page until next Thursday for those of you who were not able to attend last night.
Tech Help
Let's talk about Math..
The first two math practice standards:
1. Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them and
2. Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
First, let’s consider what perseverance means. That’s a pretty big ask for kids–to persevere in solving a math problem even when they don’t understand, even when they feel stuck and even when they think they don’t have any strategies left to try. But it is easy to suggest that all the other mathematical practices flow out of an attitude of perseverance. A willingness to press on and not give up, even when it’s hard.
Having opportunities to engage with new and interesting problems will not only help kids to persevere, but all the other mathematical practices begin to flow out of that perseverance. By being challenged with a new or interesting problem, over time kids will learn to make sense of the situation and use what they know to think about it. They will learn to reason abstractly about the problem, discuss it in mathematical terms and justify their thinking. They will begin to notice patterns and increase in fluency and flexibility with numbers.
Mystery Science Videos
Weekly Family Engagement Tips:
As you celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, talk with your child about the importance of treating people with respect. It's the basis for other desirable behaviors. Common courtesies, like saying "Thank you" and "Excuse me" are done out of respect. Trying to understand other people's viewpoints and differences is another respectful courtesy, as is being honest and not deceiving, cheating or stealing from others. http://niswc.com/17aRC326428
Play a comparison game with your child
Comparing is a critical thinking skill your child will need in school. Here's a game that will sharpen this skill: Find several pictures of items that are similar but not the same, such as a variety of flowers. Make some big, some small, some different colors. Ask your child to put similar pictures together and then tell you why he grouped them as he did. How many different ways can he group them? http://niswc.com/17aSC326428
Support your child on the way to ambitious goals
People who achieve usually set their sights high. If your child has set a lofty goal, help her break it down into a series of smaller, more achievable goals. Then, provide support if the going gets rough. Say things like, "Keep your eyes on your goal. Getting on the honor roll is worth it." Be sure to recognize your child's progress, and help her see that as a success, even if she doesn't quite meet her goal. http://niswc.com/17aTC326428
Spark interest in reading by sharing the 'good parts'
Even in a house full of books and magazines, some kids show little interest in reading. But you can spark that interest by becoming a positive reading role model. Read some books at your child's level, then tell him about the interesting and funny things in them. He may be more interested in reading them for himself. Continue to read and discuss books on a whole range of subjects that might appeal to your child. http://niswc.com/17aUC326428
Teach self-control by giving responsibility
It takes time for children to understand the value of self-control, as opposed to control that's imposed by adults. Help your child learn this lesson by gradually giving her more responsibility for getting her schoolwork and chores finished. If you're patient and persistent, you will watch your child grow into a happy, self-disciplined adult who is ready and able to tackle life's challenges. http://niswc.com/17aVC326428
Create a newspaper your child will love
Newspapers aren't typically something young children choose to read. To engage your child, try making a newspaper based on his interests. Collect articles about his hobbies, school and neighborhood. Glue the articles to pages from a real newspaper, and give him his own "edition" to read while you read the rest of the paper. Then discuss articles you each find interesting. http://niswc.com/17aWC326428
Give your child time to think
Your elementary schooler is learning how to think about what she's learning. To nurture her skills, give her some time to figure schoolwork out for herself. If she's forgotten how to do a math problem, for example, ask, "How could you find out?" And when she finishes an assignment or project, ask her to consider how the process went. Did she allow enough time to finish? What did she learn? http://niswc.com/17aXC326428
Simonton Elementary ~ What We Stand For
Vision
Simonton is committed to dynamic high quality instruction resulting in a passion for learning, leading and excelling.
Core Belief
Every Student Every Day, Deserves to Learn, Lead, and Excel
Commitments
We commit to giving our students a fresh start every day.
We commit to preparing quality and engaging lessons that will prepare our students to be successful in school.
We commit to teaching, modeling and holding our students accountable for appropriate school behavior.
We commit to providing our students with a structured and safe learning environment.
We commit to a great year of learning, leading, and excelling
Simonton Elementary School
Superintendent- Mr. J. Alvin Wilbanks
Assistant Superintendent- Dr. Terry Watlington
Board Member- Mr. Steven B. Knudsen
Principal- Tamara G. Perkins
Assistant Principal- Daphne Miles
Assistant Principal- Emily Young
Website: gcpsk12.org/SimontonES
Location: 275 Simonton Road Southeast, Lawrenceville, GA, USA
Phone: (770) 513-6637