Findley Flyer-8/4/22
Engage-Connect-Grow
Dear Findley Families,
We are excited to welcome our students back to school on Monday, August 8. The district has created a Back to School page with a lot of important information. Click here to access the page.
Parents will be able to walk their children into the building on the first day of school (enter through the front door). It is important to remember that mornings are not a time for parent/teacher conferences. Our staff will be busy greeting and supervising our students. Parents will be required to exit the building no later than 7:40 am, so that we may begin our instructional day.
The first 10 days of school includes SEAT count days. These are days that the district uses to determine staffing based on SEAT day enrollment. Please know that class rosters are not set until after the 10 day seat count which can impact staffing.
I am so proud to share our spring 2022 Georgia Milestones results. We had 99.7% participation in grades 3-5. (95% was the state requirement). We will not compare these results with any previous results as this is a baseline year. This means that we will not have Student Growth Percentiles until next year in grades 4 and 5.
I have attached a high-level overview of our school’s overall scores compared to the state, Metro RESA, and district (see attachment below). Our overall performance is an indication of the hard work of ALL teachers and staff and support from our community during one of the most challenging years in education.
We will continue to grow our students in all grade levels as we implement new reading/ELA textbooks, continue to grow as professionals through LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) training, provide interventions and support through high dosage small group tutoring, and continue a culture of coaching and support through literacy coaching and professional learning communities.
Here is a link to the Georgia Department of Education GMAS results page: https://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Assessment/Pages/Georgia_2021-2022_Assessment_Results.aspx
Achievement Levels refer to a range of scores that define a specific level of achievement. There are four achievement levels:
Distinguished Learner-Level 4:
Students demonstrate advanced proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary at this grade level/course.
Proficient Learner-Level 3:
Students demonstrate proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary at this grade level/course.
Developing Learner-Level 2:
Students demonstrate partial proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary at this grade level/course.
Beginning Learner-Level 1:
Students do not yet demonstrate proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary at this grade level/course.
Enjoy the rest of your week!
Camille Christopher
Engage.Connect.Grow
Important Dates
August 8:
First Day of School
August 10:
School Governance Council Meeting-3:00 pm
August 17:
PTO Board Meeting-9:30 am
August 23:
TAG, ESOL, SEC Curriculum Night
5:00 – 5:45
August 24:
2nd Curriculum Night
5:00 – 5:45
4th Curriculum Night
5:45 – 6:30
August 25:
1st Curriculum Night
5:00 – 5:45
3rd Curriculum Night
5:45 – 6:30
5th Curriculum Night
6:30 – 7:15
August 31:
Newcomers' Coffee-8:30 am
Linda McCain District 5 Community Meeting Dates
Important Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
Please be patient the first few days of school as dismissal is always a little longer as our students learn the dismissal routines. Please practice dismissal numbers with your child. This will help speed up the dismissal process.
Dismissal Numbers – Use this number to pick up your child in carpool OR if your PK, K, or 1st, grader is a walker.
- ALL students will be assigned a dismissal number according to their household. Parents you will only have ONE number for all your students. If you have been assigned more than one number, please email Lisa Tigert at Tigertl@fultonschools.org.
- Dismissal Numbers will be distributed during Sneak Preview.
- Participated in Virtual Sneak Preview– Parents will receive an email from their child’s teacher with the assigned dismissal number. Students will receive the tag on the first day of school. If you are picking your child up on Day 1, please make a temporary card with your child’s number on it and bring it with you.
- If you are picking up in carpool, please put the card on your dashboard so the staff member can see it.
- If you are picking up your walker, show it to the staff member as requested.
Walker Procedures
- At dismissal, parents will gather outside the building at the designated location.
- Parents will show their dismissal number to the staff who will then release the student to the parent. If an older sibling is picking up the PK, K or 1st grader they can meet at the designated areas list below.
- Findley Chase – front – parents meet by the crosswalk;
- Findley Chase – back – parents meet at Door #5; siblings meet inside recess door
- Wellington – meet at Door # 5; siblings meet inside recess door
- Please be sure anyone you designate to pick up your child has your dismissal number. Students will not be released without the proper dismissal card. You will be asked to come into the building and show ID in order to get your child.
- 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students do not need a parent/guardian to present a tag as they are permitted to walk home without a parent/guardian.
Carpool Procedures
- Display your Dismissal number on passenger side visor.
- Drop off is from 7:10 am-7:40 am.
- Please drive slowly and do not pass other vehicles.
- Stay inside your vehicle.
- Do not use your cell phone while picking up/dropping off students.
- Children must enter and exit on the right side of the vehicle.
- If you arrive after 7:40 AM, please park your car and escort your child to the main office.
- Students are not allowed to re-enter the building once they are dismissed.
Carpool Arrival
Findley Oaks has two carpool lines – carpool line 1 in the front of the school and
carpool line 2 in the back of the school. Line 1 is always open. Line 2 is open AFTER all the buses have arrived in the morning. After the buses have departed we will put a sign up that says,“ Carpool Lines 1 and 2 are now OPEN”. At that time, you turn right at the stop sign and proceed around the circle and pull up to the red line by the Food Court doors. Staff members will be on hand to direct you and the students to the correct location. Students will enter the building through the Food Court. Please drop students off in the designated drop off zone only. Students may not be dropped off in the circle and may not enter the doors by the playground. As you leave this line you will turn left to exit the school property. Please be aware of traffic coming from the front of the school.
Bus Procedures
- Parents will look up the bus stop information here.
- Bus tags will be available at Sneak Preview.
- If you attend virtual Sneak Preview, your child will receive a bus tag the first day of school.
Afterschool Care
- Findley Oaks will have two on-site childcare programs this year: YMCA and The Tutor Shop. Students attending these will go directly from the classroom to the designated locations. Parents register directly with these organizations.
- There are multiple local daycares that pick students up at Findley Oaks at dismissal. Parents register directly with the daycare.
- It is your responsibility to let the daycare know that your child will not be riding with them if your child is absent or checked out early from school. Our dismissal process is significantly slowed down when we must look for a child.
Students are not permitted to re-enter the building once they are dismissed.
Forgotten homework, notebooks, lunch boxes, etc. can be retrieved the next day.
Change of Dismissal Information
Changing Dismissal Method -- If a student has a need to leave the school in a manner different from his/her normal routine, it will be necessary for the student to bring a “Change of Dismissal” form from the student’s parent/guardian to the classroom teacher. This should be sent prior to the date of need or immediately upon arrival to school the day of the change. Change of Dismissal forms are provided on the Findley Oaks website or can be requested from the classroom teacher at any time. Please remember bus changes will be made on an emergency basis only.
If there is a need to change your child’s dismissal during the school day, please send an email to 160-DismissalFOE@fultonschools.org. Emails to the teachers and phone calls will not be accepted. Change of dismissal will not be accepted after 2:00 pm.
Who Do I Contact for Questions/Concerns?
- David Applegate- The Instructional Support Teacher (IST) coordinates programs and service delivery for special education students. He coordinates educational testing for students who are referred for special education services. Parents with questions about the special education process should contact the IST for information. applegated@fultonschools.org
- Cindy Lamb-The Assistant Principal who oversees student information (Infinite Campus, Parent Portal), grading, standardized testing, discipline. lamb@fultonschools.org
- Kate Hernandez-The School Counselor works with school personnel to foster a positive learning environment for children. The counselor assists parents in understanding children and in developing positive attitudes, techniques, and strategies essential for constructive child rearing. The counselor assists parents and children in obtaining special school and/or community services and serves as the 504 chair. hernandezk@fultonschools.org
- Colleen Greathouse-The Curriculum Support Teacher (CST) Parents with questions involving curriculum, class placement, and diagnostic placement assessments are invited to contact the Curriculum Support Teacher for information. greathousec@fultonschools.org
3. If further assistance is still needed, contact the Principal, Camille Christopher. christopherc@fultonschools.org
Gifted Eligibility Letter 2022-2023
Student Code of Conduct and Handbook
The Fulton County Schools Student Code of Conduct and Handbook 2022-2023 is now available. Students ages 10 years and older and all parent/guardians who have a student attending Fulton County Schools should sign the receipt through the parent portal. Use the link How to sign the Code of Conduct to see step by step instructions on how to sign off in Infinite Campus.
Please review the Code of Conduct: What You Should Know for important changes. https://www.fultonschools.org/cms/lib/GA50000114/Centricity/Domain/266/WHATSNEWINFCSfinal.pdf
Student Health Services Letter
School Nutrition
Free and Reduced Applications will be available July 25.
Application website/link: www.fulton.schoollunchapp.com
For more School Nutrition information such as meal prices, visit the FCS School Nutrition website.
Infinite Campus Parent/Student Portal
The Infinite Campus portals - Campus Parent and Campus Student - provides access to information for all enrolled students in their household. Information includes grades, attendance, assignments, and school announcements.
Click here for more information.
Note: Parents must register the first time they are accessing their account. All students have access to Campus Student via ClassLink.
Message from our PTO!
Volunteer Registration
To All Volunteers
All Findley Oaks volunteers must register with Fulton County District via the Volunteer Registration Portal. ALL volunteers’ registration expired on May 31, 2022.
Follow this link to initiate the registration process -> Fulton County Volunteer Registration.
Your new volunteer status will be in effect until May 31, 2024.
Please allow up to 24 hours for your registration to be verified. Once school is back in session you may bring your photo ID into the front office to be scanned.
Thank you for all you do for Findley Oaks!
MISSION, VISION, AND MOTTO
Mission: Engage. Connect. Grow
Vision: To create a school community of engaged, connected, and growing learners.
Motto: From Tiny Acorns Grow Mighty Oaks