• School Culture Relaunch

• Food Distristribution Resumes January 13th

• "Testing Triumphantly" Workshop Presentation

• Hardship Transfers Deadline is February 28th
  

• Scholarship Academy

• PTSA Officers Elected

• Banneker Parents Have PEP: Get Your Parent Engagement Passport

• Games that Teach Financial Literacy

• 2022-2023 School-Family Compact, Parent Family Engagement Plan & Electronic Signature Information

• Notes From The Principal's Office
  

• Annual Title I Parent Meeting Presentation

• Fulton County School District Parent-Family Engagement Plan

• Request a Device

• Device Fines (Please Pay Special Attention)

• How Parents Can Help Scholars Study

• A Morning Motivation Message

• FREE Social Emotional Learning Workshops for Parents

• College Board Account
  

• Voter Registration

• New Sections:

"Parent to Parent," share your thoughts, concerns, and successes with other parents!

"Student Success Skills": Empowering Students for Success

"Empower Your Scholar": Videos to inspire Success
"Out and About"

• COVID Reporting Portal
• Neighborhood Conflicts
• Student Code of Conduct, click here
• Head Gear
• Tardiness
• Fulton College and Careers Academy

Parent & Family Engagement Opportunities:

• Click here to join PTSA!
• Register to Volunteer, click here

Dive in to be informed, engaged, and empowered!

Website: https://www.fultonschools.org/bannekerhs

Find Us On Facebook @Benjamin Banneker HS

Follow Dr. Stamper on Twitter @jasonjstamper

As we begin the new semester, we have added grade-level meetings with all students to reset expectations. One of our major issues has been student tardies to class and/or students not reporting to class by “skipping” or leaving campus. I know this seems like an easy fix, but we have over 40 doors in our school and do not have the manpower to monitor every door. As a result, one of the measures we are putting in place and have communicated to our students is a process called a lockout. Essentially, when students are late to class and/or attempting to “skip” class, they will be held in a single location (the cafeteria) for the entire period. They will be required to turn in all cell phones and personal devices and complete all class assignments in the cafeteria (or other designated location).

If they collect several tardies and/or engage in “skipping,” they will be subjected to all penalties within the disciplinary cycle.

Banneker High School hosts a community food distribution EVERY FRIDAY at Banneker High School from 4:15 pm - 6:00 pm. We have fresh produce, milk, meats, and more. We can’t wait to see you here!

The deadline is February 28 for Hardship Transfer Applications

Applications are available beginning January 1, 2023, for parents who wish to apply for a 2023-24 hardship transfer or to renew a current hardship to another Fulton elementary, middle, or high school.

The deadline to submit an application is February 28, 2023, by 4:30 p.m. and applies to students and parents seeking a hardship transfer for medical reasons, curriculum differences, and childcare situations or for employees' children.

Parents will use an online form, available through the school system's website, to enter and submit their information. For more information about hardship transfers, click here or contact the Fulton County Schools' Student Assignment Office at 470-254-5550.

Free ACT for all 11th Grade Students

Class of 2024 families, please read this message in its entirety as it provides information on how to sign up for ACT school Day, important deadlines, and instructions for completing the accommodations form (if applicable).

Fulton County Schools is excited to offer 11th-grade scholars an opportunity to take the ACT during the regular school day on Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at no cost to the student or his/her family. This exciting opportunity gives our students a chance to measure their readiness for life after high school, whether they are going to college or into the workforce. If you are interested in signing your scholar up for the March 7th ACT, please complete the following survey no later than Friday, January 13, 2023, at 11:59 pm.

https://forms.office.com/r/Cn64SuSHKK - ACT Interest Survey

Accommodations Request Directions:

If you need to request accommodations for the ACT, please follow these directions. ACT is committed to providing access to the ACT test for examinees with documented disabilities and English Learners through appropriate accommodations and English Learner (EL) supports. To request ACT accommodations, please sign the consent form that is attached and return it to Mr. Rolle (rollea@fultonschools.org) no later than Friday, January 13, 2022. For more information on ACT accommodations, please visit ACT’s website at: https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/registration/accommodations.html.

Finally, we hope your students have a positive experience with the test. Here are some quick reminders to give your student before March 7, 2023:

• Bring two sharpened No. 2 pencils with good erasers.
• Bring an ACT-approved calculator (see the link below for more information).
• Get plenty of sleep Monday night.
• Eat a healthy breakfast Tuesday morning.
• Wear comfortable clothing.
• Leave the cell phone in his or her book bag, at home, or be prepared to turn it into the examiner.

Finally, remind your student why taking the ACT matters: it can help them get into college; it gives them information on careers they might enjoy, and their scores can lead to scholarship and financial aid opportunities.

Go to the ACT general test tips page for more information. Our district is excited to give this opportunity to your students.

Click here to join PTSA!

Get PEP

Click here to explore

In the interest of safety and security, we have had alarms installed on all exterior doors with the exception of a few entry/exit points. Please remind your children that they are to enter and exit from the school through the front doors and bus ramp areas only, and only during authorized times. No student should ever open the door for ANYONE to enter the building.

We have several students who attempt to leave campus during the school day. First, they are not authorized to do so. Also, students have been exiting through exterior doors in unauthorized areas. Please be aware that disciplinary action will follow for any student who leaves campus during the school day without proper credentials (i.e. worked-based learning, dual enrollment, etc.), any student who leaves from an unauthorized area, or any student who opens any door, allowing any person to gain entrance into the school building.

This is a very serious matter as our number one goal is to keep our students and faculty safe. You will also see more security measures put in place to strengthen safety and security. Thank you for your help and partnership in this effort.

We are strictly enforcing our classroom tardy policy. Students have had several weeks to learn their schedules and the school layout. We need our students in class and on time. There are always several staff members in the hallways to assist students if they need help navigating their way to class, but they must move directly to class and be ready for instruction; every minute is valuable. Please encourage your child to report to class each period, on time.

• College Board Account

To ensure your scholar can view his\her PSAT/NMSQT scores as soon as they are available, please ensure that your scholar creates a College Board Account. Please click on or copy and paste the link below into your browser to complete a College Board Account. https://pages.collegeboard.org/account-help/why-create-college-board-account

Scholars should not create multiple accounts. If your scholar has forgotten which email address, he\she used to create an account, or already has multiple accounts, please have your scholar contact College Board customer service at 866-315-6068.

Please contact Mr. Rolle at rollea@fultonschools.org with any questions.

• Social Media

Unfortunately, altercations happen in all schools and social settings, but please encourage your child not to be a part of it nor record and post any of these instances on social media. We must work in partnership to make our school safe and secure for all stakeholders. Please monitor your child’s social media accounts and activity. This is necessary to keep you and the school informed of any potential safety issues or conflicts. Please report any such issues to the school immediately.

• Backpacks and Bookbags

We will continue collecting any “non-compliant” backpacks/bookbags from all students who bring them to campus and return them to them when they exit the building. If the same students continue to bring non-compliant backpacks/bookbags they will be confiscated and only returned to the parent.

• New/Updated Start Time

Based on the average bus arrival time this past week, and the sheer number of students that arrive via bus, our start time will be moved back to 8:10 am (as it has been in previous years) instead of 8:20 am as previously communicated. The school day will still end at 3:30 pm. Keeping students in a “holding pattern” for an additional 10 minutes before school begins, creates a safety issue as there are too many students in the gym and cafeteria areas to effectively monitor. We will explain more about this to our students during our grade-level town hall meetings this week.

• Student Tardiness and Late Drop Off to School

We need our students who are car riders or who choose to take public transportation, to arrive at school on time. There are several students that are arriving well past 30 – 45 minutes late. This will affect their instructional time and will eventually turn into a disciplinary incident.

• Transportation

If you need any assistance with student transportation, please reach out to Fulton County Schools Transportation Department at 470-254-6060 or contact the school at 470-254-3410. If you choose to drop off your child at school, they must arrive on time.

• Reporting School Safety Issues

There have been several reported incidents in the Atlanta Metropolitan area where weapons have been found in schools. Even with clear and mesh bookbags, please check your child’s bags daily and talk to them about the dangers and consequences of carrying weapons. We also ask all our students to report any suspicious activity or chatter about weapons or dangerous situations. They can do this anonymously through the Fulton County Schools Tip Line, using the below link:

https://www.fultonschools.org/fcstipline

There are also posters with QR Codes located throughout the school (also attached) that students can use to access the Tip Line. Additionally, students can access this Tip Line directly from their student devices.

Remember, if students SEE or HEAR anything about school threats, weapons, violence, bullying, drugs, self-harm, or have other school safety suspicions or concerns, they should REPORT it EVERY time, anonymously using the SHARE TIP LINE. Please do not use this to ask general questions. It is for SAFETY CONCERNS only.

• Banneker HS Daily Schedule: The school day starts at 8:10 am and ends at 3:30 pm.

• Morning Parent Drop Off: Parents cannot drop off students before 7:45 am as we need to ensure staff is available to provide appropriate supervision

Thank you for your continued partnership, I look forward to an awesome school year!

Jason Stamper, Ed.D.

Principal

If for any reason a scholar's device is lost, stolen, or damaged during the time it is issued to the scholar, whether intentionally or due to negligence, parents and scholars are responsible for the following fines:

*Full replacement cost for devices includes the device, all accessories, software licenses, and setup.

• Lost/Damaged Devices

• Lost/stolen $250

• Damaged $100

• Lost/Damaged Accessories: $30 per accessory

These fines apply to instances of willful alteration of the device, its operating system, or network functionality either through the download of applications or by any other means. Additional disciplinary consequences for this behavior include up to 10 days out of school suspension if such tampering is determined to be part of a habitual pattern of behavior on the part of the scholar. Please see sections 18 E – 18F in the Code of Conduct for further discussion.

Theft:

If the device is stolen during the time that it is issued to the scholar, parents and scholars will be responsible for filing a police report and submitting it to the school administration. A fine for this device may still be accessed, depending on the situation.

Failure to Return a Device or Accessories upon Withdrawal from the School:

A scholar who fails to return a device or any accessories without reporting them lost or stolen will be responsible for the full replacement cost of the items that were not returned.

Sometimes messages youth need to hear are better received when they come from others. Below is a video to share with your scholar to give them some additional inspiration and be empowered:

Parents as always, we need your partnership. Please talk to your students about reporting any conflicts that have occurred or potentially may occur, immediately to the Administration. Our goal is always to avoid student conflict and focus on student academic and social growth. Additionally, please continue to encourage students to use social media appropriately and not to create or instigate conflict. No student can afford to miss any instructional hours because of verbal or physical confrontations. I also encourage parents to reach out to us with any potential issues that you become aware of. Thank you again for your partnership!

Do you have an inspirational message to share with other parents? Is there a question you would like fellow parents to answer? Do you have an effective tool, technique, or process for communicating with or raising your teen? Would you like to share a funny parenting experience or memory? Do you have parent/family community resources to share?

"Parent to Parent." is your space to speak, share, learn, and be empowered! Submit your contributions to neale@fultonschools.org by noon on Fridays. Space is limited, so please don't delay.

In the interest of our scholars' safety, headgear will no longer be allowed. This includes hats, hoods, and full-face masks covering the head. Only standard masks will be allowed. If your child wears any of these items, they will be confiscated. We will issue masks to students who need and desire to wear them.

Fulton College and Career Academy is an awesome opportunity for our students! The following elective programs are offered: Animation, Audio-Video Technology, Construction, Culinary Arts, Teaching as a Profession, and Aviation. Click here for more information.

Any students interested in taking courses through our Fulton College and Career Academy should Click here to apply.

All students will be face-to-face this year, Fulton County Schools will not offer a virtual option at the student's school of record. However, please rest assured that our team is doing everything in our power to keep your children along with our faculty and staff safe. Hand sanitizing stations remain throughout the building, and we continue to update procedures for enhanced cleaning and social distancing when possible. Additionally, masks are suggested for all students, staff, and visitors as COVID numbers in our area have been on the rise. You may check COVID numbers and COVID trending for each area at the Fulton County Board of Health Epidemiology Division at the following website https://www.fultoncountyga.gov/covid-19/epidemiology-reports

COVID Reporting for Parents

The Fulton County Board of Health (FCBOH) and Fulton County Schools have developed an online portal for FCS parents/guardians to report student COVID-19-related cases. Please report to the FCBOH when your student is COVID-19 positive, has a pending COVID-19 test result, or has been in direct contact with a COVID-19 positive person. Also, please use this resource for official reporting rather than alerting the school and/or teacher. If you must engage the school/teacher, please do so after you have made an official report to the FCBOH.

To ensure the protection of our school community, please do not allow your child to attend a school or school-sponsored event when they are ill and/or have any of the above COVID-19 concerns. Please reference the attached flyer and consider posting it in a visible location for easy access.

You can also use the link below for quick access to report any student-related COVID-19 issues. COVID-19-related issues include students testing for COVID-19 for any reason, being exposed to or having direct contact with individuals testing positive for COVID-19, or students testing positive for COVID-19 themselves.

Parent (Student) COVID-19 Reporting Portal

Click here for tools and information that will equip you to help your scholar with conflict resolution.

The School-Family Compact:

The School-Family Compact is an agreement that parents, students, and teachers develop together. The Compact explains how parents and teachers will partner together to ensure that all students receive the individual support they need to reach and exceed grade-level academic standards. It is jointly developed with input from parents, staff, students, and the community to support the academic success of our scholars. To provide your input, click here.

How the Parent-Family Engagement Plan (PFEP) is used?

In support of strengthening student academic achievement, Benjamin Banneker High School receives Title I, Part A funds and therefore must jointly develop with, agree on with, and distribute to parents and family members of participating children a written parent and family engagement plan that contains information required by section 1116(b) and (c) of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The policy establishes the school’s expectations for parent and family engagement and describes how the school will implement a number of specific parent and family engagement activities, and it is incorporated into the school’s plan submitted to the local educational agency (LEA). The district has a similar plan.

Look for all three of these very important engagement tools to be delivered to you via email. They are also available via the school website.

When you receive your email, please reply with, "I have received Banneker's School-Family Compact, the Parent Family Engagement Plan (PFEP), and the District's PFEP." Also, include your scholar's name and grade.

We want to keep parents engaged in a variety of ways, so please become our friend on Facebook.

The resources below will provide you tools and information that will equip you to support your scholars at home. Feel free to share other resources you discover so that we grow together! Send your discoveries to neale@fultonschools.org.

Parents, please mark your calendars for college entrance exam dates and remember that scholars can get waivers to take these tests. We will post registration dates when they become available. Let's get a jump on preparing by putting the following dates on your calendar:

ACT: March 6-9, 2023 for grade 11 (some exceptions for 12th graders)

"I’d like to give you some pointers for assisting your child with studying. As a parent of three children, I get it—this can be tough, especially when you don’t know the content well yourself. I have some advice on how to help, no matter how much—or how little—you understand about a subject. Click here for the full article.

Engaging in relationships with your scholar's teachers will have a positive impact on your child's academic success. Click here to learn how to build better relationships with teachers.

How many times have you asked your child, “How was school today?” and been frustrated by the lack of response? As a parent, I’m guilty of asking my son this question all the time, even though I usually don’t get much in return. Sometimes (to be honest), I haven’t had the energy for a real conversation. Other times, I just can’t think of what to ask. As a teacher, I have often wished that kids would share stories of the awesome things we were doing with their parents, but I couldn’t figure out how to make that happen...for the full article, click here

Having a daily routine will help your scholar develop discipline and increase their capacity to focus throughout the school year and in their life endeavors. Click here for tools that will help you help your scholar shape a routine for a successful year!

The internet is a powerful part of our lives with a wealth of opportunities to learn and explore, but with it comes great responsibility. Click here for resources and tools on how to help your scholar build and maintain a responsible digital footprint and reputation.

Learn what copyright policy is and help your scholar avoid violating it. Click here.

Today is the day your and your 12th-grade scholar should be researching and applying for financial aid for college. Click here for tips.

The College Board offers your scholar the opportunity to earn up to $40,000 for college when they complete their step-by-step scholarship program. For more information, click here.

School Counselors are responsible for assisting in the social, emotional, academic, and college and career development of high school students. Counselors engage in classroom guidance, individual student meetings, and small group lessons, to further develop our students.

Students’ guidance counselors are assigned alphabetically, by their last name.

Ms. Holmes-Cosby (A-C)

FYI: Mrs. Cosby, formerly Ms. Holmes, School Counselor, has a new email address: CosbyA@fultonschools.org

Ms. Sutherland (D-Johnakin)

Ms. Muneer (Johnson-Ran)

Mr. Lawrence (Rao-Z)

Ms. Onuoha (10-12th 3DE Students)

Students must earn the following number of credits to be promoted to the next grade level:

• 10th grade: 5 credits
• 11th grade: 11 credits
• 12th grade: 17 credits

What are the responsibilities of the School Social Worker?

The School Social Worker serves as the liaison between the home, the school, and the community at large. The School Social Worker also acts as an advocate for students and their families.

What does a School Social Worker do?

A School Social Worker alleviates obstacles at home and school that interfere with students’ learning capabilities. The School Social Worker works together with the school administration, teachers, staff, students, parents, on numerous issues in order for students to achieve academically.

What types of issues do School Social Workers address?

Academics Parent Support Community Resources

Health Attendance Abuse/Neglect/Domestic Violence

Economic Needs Homelessness Emotional /Social Issues

Mr. Carlton Silver Jr

silverc1@fultonschools.org

470-254-3547

Grades 9th & 12th

Mrs. Quatrellyia Jones

jonesq@fultonschools.org

470-254-3492

Grades 10th & 11th

(Tues & Thursday)

Dear B-Town Parents and Guardians,

It is extremely important that you have your children at the school every morning by 8 am. School starts officially at 8:10 am. Students are marked absent if they are not in their seats when the bell rings. If your child misses at least 2 periods in a full day, he or she will be considered absent for the entire day. Banneker's school days consist of four 90 minute class periods. If your child is absent from two (periods), they have missed half of the seat time minutes according to the Fulton County Board of Education policy.

Some of you have or will receive a letter from Banneker's School Social Work Department in regard to your child’s attendance. If you have received a letter, please feel free to reach out to me and schedule a phone conference about your child’s absences.

I am here to work with you in any way possible. Please feel free to reach out to me, Mr. Silver, or Mrs. Jones if you have ANY questions in regards to your child’s attendance and or personal needs to facilitate their success at Benjamin Banneker High School.

Carlton D. Silver Jr. M.S.W.

School Social Worker 9th & 12th Grades| Fulton County Schools

Benjamin Banneker High School

6015 Feldwood Rd, College Park, GA 30349

Office:(470)254-3547 Cell: 404-465-7232

Fulton County Schools has partnered with the Odyssey Family Counseling Center to provide school-based counseling services to students! Students who may benefit from counseling should be referred regardless of their insurance status. Odyssey Family Counseling Center has an on-site mental health clinician that is here in the building two days out of the week. Please feel free to reach out to your School Social Workers if you have any questions or are interested in receiving services.

Fulton County has created a one-pager highlighting all the new and exciting things happening in Fulton County Schools. Click here to review it.

Collaborative Structured Reading (CSR) is a multi-component reading approach developed to help students improve their reading comprehension. Its overall goal is to improve reading comprehension in a way that maximizes student engagement.

For the past four weeks, your 9th -11th-grade students have been using the CSR strategy in their Personalization Block classes. They work together in a collaborative setting to read grade-level informative text, identify unfamiliar vocabulary and use fix-up strategies to understand the text.

The texts are focused on a range of topics that are relative to the students' lives such as social justice, environmental issues, and personal development. An example of one of the fix-up strategies or clunk cards is below:

For more information and resources please reach out to your scholars’ teacher or a grade-level administrator.

The Emergency Broadband Benefit is a temporary FCC program to help households struggling to afford internet service during the pandemic. Eligible households can enroll through an approved provider or by visiting GetEmergencyBroadband.org.

Click here for free or reduced passes to major attractions like the Georgia Aquarium, Zoo Atlanta, the Alliance Theater, and historic sites! You must have a library card.

Get a library card here. The branch nearest to Banneker is the Gladys S. Dennard Library, 4055 Flat Shoals Road, Union City, GA 30291. Phone: 404-613-3092

1. Checked on the District website: https://www.fultonschools.org

2. Checked the School's Website: https://www.fultonschools.org/bannekerhs

3. Read Dr. Stamper's Weekly Email to Parents

These sources empower you with the information you need. Should you need further support, please reach out to us!

Title I is a federally funded program designed to ensure that all children have a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education and reach, at a minimum, proficiency on challenging state academic standards and state academic assessments.

The Title I program focuses on the academic needs of the most disadvantaged students.

Parents Right to Know

Parents cannot drop off students before 7:45 am as we need to ensure staff is available to provide appropriate supervision.

As of August 22, 2023, we will begin strictly enforcing our classroom tardy policy. Students will have had two weeks to learn their schedule and the school layout. We need our students in class and on time. There are always several staff members on the hallways to assist students if they need help navigating their way to class, but they must move directly to class and be ready for instruction; every minute is valuable. Please encourage your child to report to class each period, on time.

Parents, we need your help to make sure your child adheres to the dress code daily to ensure no instructional time is missed. The Banneker High School dress code is based on the Fulton County Schools dress code. Based on the interest of climate and order, this dress code has been reviewed with them and is also in the Student Handbook.

The following will not be allowed:

• Spandex
• Leggings
• Jeggings
• Midriffs
• Shirts with backs out
• Spaghetti straps
• Sagging pants,
• Jeans with rips above the knee
• Do-rags
• Bandanas
• Bonnets
• Clothing related to gang paraphernalia or that promotes drugs, alcohol, violence, sex Any other prohibited item as identified by the Fulton County Schools dress code policy

Hats or hoodies may not be worn in the hallways or as students travel throughout the building. This is a safety issue that hinders our capability to quickly identify students, especially in this season when masks are required.

You may access your child’s schedule in Infinite Campus. Please register for Infinite Campus using the below link/information. Infinite Campus is a wonderful tool that helps you track your child’s schedule grades, attendance, and overall progress. If you have any issues or questions, please contact our Parent Liaison, Erika Neal, at 470-254-3405 or NealE@fultonschools.org

Enter your email address below to receive parent portal activation information

https://campus.fultonschools.org/campus/K12_Custom/cParent/cParentLookUp.jsp?appName=fulton

The Transportation Department has placed all bus information on the Fulton County Schools website. Simply type in your address, and it will give you all route information along with pick-up and drop-off times. Click here to get your bus information.

All students must carry CLEAR or MESH book bags. This is done to keep everyone safe. If your child does not have a clear or mesh backpack/bookbag, we can provide them one, free of charge. We will collect the backpacks/bookbags of all students who bring them to campus and return them to them when they exit the building. However, if the same students continue to bring backpacks/bookbags that are not mesh or clear, their bags will be confiscated and only returned to the parent.

Outside food (this includes Uber Eats, Door Dash, Grub Hub, Postmates, etc.) is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. Also, students are not permitted to bring outside food, for sale or distribution, for any reason. This includes homemade meals/dinners, treats, birthday cakes, prepackaged items, and meals provided by delivery services like those listed above.

Any violation of this policy will result in these items being confiscated by school officials and held until further notice or discarded. Violation of this policy is also a Tier II offense in our student code of conduct and could result in disciplinary action. I know this may sound extreme, but the overall intent is to keep our students safe. Several students have food allergies coupled with the fact that outside items may be compromised.

Students may certainly bring their own lunch from home for their individual consumption but must not share with other students. However, please do not send food to school for your child using any services like those listed above.

Your input helps us create a more impactful educational experience for your scholar. Please complete our Input Survey which will inform our School-Wide Plan, School Climate and Parent /Family engagement activity: https://fultonschools.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4ON1lfI2UN42dbo