Knightly News
Friday, September 16, 2022
Every Student, Every Day, Deserves to Learn, Lead, & Excel!
Message from Ms. Perkins ~ Simonton ES Principal
Today students participated in a GCPS Digital Learning Day. Please check on student work to make sure assignments have been completed. Thank you for encouraging students to take good care of their devices. Students, who took home devices, are expected to return all devices, charges and cases on Monday, September 19, 2022. Devices are needed daily at school for students to complete class assignments and assessments.
Tuesday, September 20, 2022 is picture day. Pictures taken on Tuesday will be included in the Simonton ES 2022-2023 yearbook. Picture package information was sent home with students on Thursday. You can also find information on our school website and in this newsletter.
Bring the whole family, along with your lawn chairs and blankets, for an evening of fun on Friday, September 23, 2022. The Simonton ES PTA will host a fall festival. There will be food, games and bouncy houses. Parents are expected to monitor students during the festival and provide transportation home. Students may NOT be dropped off.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Spirit Week for the Central Cluster
Monday ~ Crazy Sock Day
Tuesday ~ Twin Day
Wednesday ~ Pajama Day
Upcoming Event Dates
Tuesday, September 20
- Fall Picture Day
Friday, September 23
- Local School Council ~ 9:00-10:00 am
- Title 1 Parent Planning Meeting ~ 4:30-5:00 pm
- PTA Fall Festival ~ 5:00-8:00 pm
**For this event, children must be with someone who can drive them home.
- Pajama Day ~ Robotics Team Fundraiser
- Boy Scout Classroom visits and evening registration event ~ 6:30 pm
- No School ~ Fall Break (All GCPS Schools are closed)
Thursday, Ocotber 13
- PTA Spirit Night at Urban Air ~ 5:00-9:00 pm
Monday, October 17 - Friday, October 21
- Book Fair
Wednesday, October 19
- Early Release ~ dismissal at 12:15 pm
Thursday, October 20
- Early Release ~ dismissal at 12:15 pm
Friday, October 21
- Fall Picture Make-Up Day
Thursday, October 27
- Poetry Night ~ 5:00- 6:00 pm
Friday, October 28
- 5th Grade Fundraiser ~Twin Day
PTA Fundraiser Kick-Off
AKS At Home
AKS at Home es una iniciativa de participación familiar de las Escuelas Públicas del Condado de Gwinnett en la que empoderamos a las familias con recursos de apoyo para el aprendizaje de sus niños en casa. Esta iniciativa resalta habilidades y actividades que se enseñan de Kínder a 5° grado en las clases de matemáticas e inglés y lenguaje.
ATTENTION STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WHO LOVE STEM AND PROBLEM SOLVING!
The Gwinnett County Science and Engineering Fair wants you to submit a project that solves a real-world problem! If you watch THIS VIDEO and sign up in my Google Classroom, you will find out lots more about it! Simonton Elementary will be hosting the preliminary Science and Engineering Fair here at school. The top projects will go on to the Gwinnett County Science and Engineering Fair! Can't wait to see your amazing ideas!
Google Classroom - Click on the + - Click "Join Class" - Enter the Code: rgsgpv2
Simonton ES Local School Council
We invite parents to join us for our Simonton ES Local School Council meeting. Local School Council meetings will be held four times during the school year. Meetings will take place in person at the local school.
The purpose of the Council is three-fold:
I. To help the local board of education develop and nurture participation.
II. To bring parents and the community together with teachers and school administrators to create a better understanding of and mutual respect for each other's concerns.
III. To share ideas for school improvement.
We have rescheduled our first meeting to encourage more parents to join us.
Meeting Dates: September 23, 2022, December 2, 2022, March 3, 2023 and May 5, 2023
Meeting Time: 9:00 am
Location: Simonton ES
Our first meeting will take place on Friday, September 23, 2022 at 9:00 am.
Draft Agenda Items
Welcome/Introductions
Local School Council Orientation
Election of Officers
- Early Intervention Program
- Simonton ES Strategic Goals
- Simonton ES Student Enrollment
- GCPS Blue Print
- Simonton ES Safety Plan
- Simonton ES Discipline Report
If you are interested in attending the Simonton ES Local School Council meetings please click on the link below.
ParentVUE & StudentVUE Mobile Applications Updated
A recent application update requires you to delete and install the ParentVUE and StudentVUE mobile app from your device(s). This update ensures that you have the newest version of the app and will continue to receive updates. If you do not delete and reinstall the applications, your device may not connect properly and continue to receive updates.
You will use the same username and password to log in after downloading the app. If you are not using the app and want to learn more, visit our website for information.
Blueprint for the Future
The Blueprint is designed to ensure our Portrait of a Graduate becomes a reality. The Blueprint will also drive the intentional culture shifts that reflect the guiding vision of the Learning 2025 community of practice. Our Blueprint for the Future defines our strategic priorities in four areas: empathy, equity, effectiveness, and excellence.
Parent Mentors Present: “Starting the New School Year on a Positive Note”
Who: Parents/Guardians of students receiving Special Education services
What: Parent Mentors Present: “Starting the New School Year on a Positive Note”
When: Tuesday, September 20, 2022, 9:30am – 11:00am or 6:00 pm-7:30pm
Where: In-Person registration link for 9:30am session: https://forms.gle/jXZzVeih6hyH9WH69
Zoom registration link for 6pm session: https://gcpsk12-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAkcemurD8rGdR_k6OKiRT6ACl__peUuKXC
Simonton ES PTA
Print the attached membership form and return it to the Simonton ES PTA. Sign up for a membership and volunteer to support an event! Contact the Simonton ES PTA at Simontonespta@gmail.com for more information.
Helpful Resources
Family Engagement e-Tips
Kindness is catching; help your child spread it
Children aren't always kind to one another. They pick on others or say mean things behind people's backs. But your child doesn't have to accept unkindness as the norm. Challenge your child to do at least one nice thing for a classmate each week. Your child will learn how good it feels to have the power to change things for the better. https://tpitip.com/?12iL18608
Treat school anxiety with listening and love
A child who wakes up saying, "I don't want to go to school" and comes home crying should be taken seriously. To address your child's fears, ask, "Can you tell me what's bothering you?" Listen carefully and don't dismiss your child's feelings. Instead, help your student figure out how to cope: "What could you do now?" Also, ask the teacher about what you each can do to help. Could another student be a "classroom buddy" for your child, for example? https://tpitip.com/?12iM18608
A self-check system can boost self-control
You can't control your child's behavior at school. But you can teach your student to have self-control. Have your elementary schooler write a behavior goal, such as working quietly, at the top
of a piece of paper. Next, have your child choose a signal that occurs a few times a day. Each time the signal occurs, your child can do a behavior self-check. If your child's behavior is in line with the goal, a plus sign goes on the paper. If not, your child must mark a minus sign. Celebrate when your student has more plus signs than minus signs. https://tpitip.com/?12iN18608
Use a variety of methods to encourage reading
By the ages of seven and eight, many children are starting to read "chapter" books on their own. Other kids, however, are losing interest in reading. To keep reading enthusiasm alive, find books on your child's interests. Or share books you loved at your child's age. You might get a craft book and make a project together, or try interactive books that let your student direct the story. To boost reading confidence, ask your elementary schooler to read to a younger child. https://tpitip.com/?12iO18608
Limiting screen time improves chances of school success
Is the TV on constantly when your child is home? Does family conversation center on TV shows or digital games and their characters? Does your child choose to watch TV or play video or online games even when friends are available to play? If you answered yes to these questions, your child may be overdosing on recreational screen activities. Set limits and encourage positive screen-free alternatives. https://tpitip.com/?12iP18608
Try teacher-tested tips to encourage good behavior
Can't get your child to do assignments on time? Pay attention? Respond to requests? Here's what teachers suggest: Teach your child the behavior you want to see. Post a schedule of daily activities, so your child knows what to do when. To make boring tasks fun, add music or time challenges. When you want to help your child calm down or pay attention, try using silent signals, such as a gentle touch on the shoulder. https://tpitip.com/?12iQ18608
Help your child turn dreams into goals
Maybe your child wants to be on the honor roll. Or perhaps be elected class president. Setting goals is the first step to achieving dreams. Effective goals are specific. Encourage your child to aim high, but still be realistic. Have your student write down goals, post them and look at them each day. Seeing a personal goal to get a B on the next math test can motivate your child to put effort into math during study time. https://tpitip.com/?12iR18608
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's Assistant Principals
Mr. Nicholas Gilmore
Assistant Principal ~ 2nd Grade, 5th Grade, ESOL, Gifted and Testing
Dr. Joe Sanfilippo
Mrs. Amy Steinberg
Assistant Principal ~ 1st Grade, 4th Grade, Title I, EIP and Title IX Investigator
Simonton Elementary School
Deputy Superintendent ~ Dr. T. Nakia Towns
Board Member ~ Mr. Steven B. Knudsen
Principal ~ Ms. Tamara G. Perkins
Assistant Principal ~ Mr. Nicholas Gilmore
Assistant Principal ~ Dr. Joe Sanfilippo
Assistant Principal ~ Mrs. Amy Steinberg
Website: https://www.gcpsk12.org/SimontonES
Location: 275 Simonton Road Southeast, Lawrenceville, GA, USA
Phone: 770-513-6637
Twitter: @SimontonPride