THE NORCROSS ELEMENTARY EAGLE
Sepember 2022 - Family Newsletter
Principal's Message
It has been an amazing start to the 2022-2023 school year. So far this year, we have completed the following:
- 1 firedrill
- Distributed Laptops to students in 3rd, 4th and 5th grade as part of the district's 1:1 technology initiative
- beautification and clean up of garden
- Boys' Scouts Registration
- Curriculum Night presentations
- Academic Challenge
- August student of the month.
Families, we thank you for a successful start to the school year and trusting us with our Eagles.
Sincerely,
Kassia Sutton
Proud Principal of Norcross Elementary
Academic Challenge Winners
Congrats to our first academic challenge winners of the year!! So proud of all their hard work 😊
K - David Vazquez (Evans)
1 - Melanie Hernandez (Obimpeh)
2 - Alina Berduo-Gonzalez (Jordan)
3 - Blair Hughes (Chevalier)
4 - Angel Fernandez (de Moura)
5 - Davy Pedro-Enriquez (M. Parker)
Norcross Elementary Garden Beautification Project
All Hands on Deck
Working Hard
Smile for the Camera
Ready to learn with the GCPS Virtual Backpack!
Please visit the website below to access important Back to School Information.
https://www.gcpsk12.org/Page/33374
Also, acknowledgement of required documents must be signed off through My Payments Plus. Parents must sign off on the required documents. Below is the website address to create an account and access the forms:
https://www.mypaymentsplus.com/welcome
If you need help with signing off on important documents, please contact eduardina.checo@gcpsk12.org, our part liasion.
My Payments Plus Instructions for Set-Up
Free/Reduced Lunch Applications
Upcoming Dates
Picture Day - September 1
Grandparent's Day/Family Luncheon - September 12 for Grades 3,, 4, 5
Grandparent's Day/Family Luncheon - September 13 for Grades K, 1, 2
Digital Learning Day #1 - September 16
Local School Council Meeting - September 23 at 7:30am
GRANDPARENT'S DAY LUNCHEON
Local School Plan for Improvement (LSPI Goals)
Empathy:
- Goal 1.B—Staff and student wellbeing. Promote student and staff wellbeing through prioritizing self-care, physical and mental health, and social emotional learning.
Equity:
- Goal 2.A—Multi-tiered system of supports. Implement a comprehensive framework to fully operationalize a multi-tiered system of supports to address academic and non-academic student needs and remove barriers to success.
- Goal 2.B—Opportunity and access. Expand student opportunities to engage in and access high-quality, rigorous, and culturally relevant curriculum, advanced coursework (e.g., Advanced Placement and dual enrollment), and enrichment activities (e.g., the arts, gifted, STEM, career technical education).
Effectiveness:
- Goal 3.A—Results-Based Evaluation System. Redefine the inputs, behaviors, and outcomes that determine the standards for student success as measured by the Results-Based Evaluation System (RBES) to support school improvement and student growth.
Excellence:
- Goal 4.C—World-class communication and engagement. Demonstrate world-class communication and engagement through modeling the value GCPS leadership places on transparent, two-way communication to build stakeholder trust and confidence.
Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) Supporting the Whole Child
We will continue our focus on the Whole Child through MTSS by using Supportive Community and Academic Press (see picture below). An example of Supportive Community is our Positive Behaviors Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Program and an example of Academic Press is the implementation of the EL Education literacy pilot for Language Arts.
Implementation of MTSS is one of our LSPI goals.
SHINE
There’s a light in all of us. Some are so bright, they can illuminate pathways, provide guidance, and warm hearts. At GCPS, we know that when someone is supported and celebrated, their light grows in intensity. We see it every day in our teachers, students, and staff. We are united by our mission to make a difference, fueling the success of our children and making GCPS the best it can be. Together, we “Shine.”
Congratulations to Robert Fortenbery, our Parent Involvement Coordinator, for being recognized as Shine Staff Member of the Day in August.
PBIS Family Tip
Show your child that respect makes working together easier.
Students and families have important roles to play in making the school a productive learning environment. Promoting respectful behavior is a big one. When it comes to teaching your child about respect, the best way is to demonstrate. Make an effort to be fair, honest, kind, dependable and polite to your child. Then expect your child to do the same for you and others.
Here is one technique to implement with your Child:
Stop, Walk and Talk Technique
Why should I do it:
· To teach students how to stand up to behavior that they feel is offensive or not wanted
· To Empower students
· To promote self-advocacy and self-determination
· To decrease bullying and bullying related issues in school
· To promote a more self-reliant, responsible, and safe climate and atmosphere
· To remove barriers that interfere with positive peer interactions and academics
· To create a positive school climate
When should I do it:
· This strategy is best utilized and taught school-wide as part of the regular rules and procedures
· Teach this strategy to students several times throughout the year
· When you witness or are informed of any situations that students feel bullied, annoyed, offended or
· When a student seems to react to others teasing or instigation
· When an awkward or odd student seems to attract a lot of criticism
· When students seem to have poor interactions and frequent conflicts
· When students do not know how to handle conflicts well
· When students complain about bullying, being picked on, teased, etc
How do I do it:
· The Stop, Walk, & Talk strategy is a great systematic program from the publicationBully Prevention in Positive Behavior Support, which teaches students how to deal with being bullied, bothered, teased, etc
· The program consists of teaching students to use 3 simple and progressive steps: Indicating through words and gesture to stop, walking away if the problem continues, and finally talking to an adult if the issue is still not resolved.
Muéstrele a su hijo que el respeto facilita el trabajo en grupo.
Los estudiantes y las familias tienen roles importantes a la hora de crear un ambiente de aprendizaje productivo en la escuela. Promover el comportamiento respetuoso es uno de ellos. Cuando se trata de enseñarle a su hijo a ser respetuoso, la mejor manera es demostrarlo. Haga un esfuerzo por ser justo, honesto, amable, confiable y cortés con su hijo. Luego espere que él se comporte de igual modo con usted y con otros.
Una tecnica para implementarla con su hijo es:
Técnica de parada, caminata y conversación
¿Por qué debería hacerlo?
1. Enseñar a los estudiantes cómo hacer frente al comportamiento que sienten que es ofensivo o no deseado
2. Empoderar a los estudiantes
3. Promover la autodefensa y la autodeterminación
4. Para disminuir la intimidación y los problemas relacionados con la intimidación en la escuela
5. Promover un clima y una atmósfera más autosuficientes, responsables y seguros
6. Eliminar las barreras que interfieren con las interacciones positivas entre pares y académicos
7. Crear un clima escolar positivo
Cuando debo hacerlo:
1. Esta estrategia se utiliza y enseña mejor en toda la escuela como parte de las reglas y procedimientos regulares.
2. Enseñe esta estrategia a los estudiantes varias veces a lo largo del año.
3. Cuando usted es testigo o se le informa de cualquier situación en la que los estudiantes se sientan intimidados, molestos, ofendidos o
4. Cuando un estudiante parece reaccionar a las burlas o instigaciones de los demás
5. Cuando un estudiante incómodo o extraño parece atraer muchas críticas
6. Cuando los estudiantes parecen tener interacciones deficientes y conflictos frecuentes
7. Cuando los estudiantes no saben cómo manejar bien los conflictos
8. Cuando los estudiantes se quejan de intimidación, ser molestados, burlados, etc.
Cómo lo hago:
1. La estrategia Stop, Walk, & Talk es un gran programa sistemático de la publicación Bully Prevention in Positive Behavior Support, que enseña a los estudiantes cómo lidiar con ser intimidados, molestados, burlados, etc.
2. El programa consiste en enseñar a los estudiantes a usar 3 pasos simples y progresivos: Indicar a través de palabras y gestos para detenerse, alejarse si el problema continúa y, finalmente, hablar con un adulto si el problema aún no se resuelve.
Early Check-out Procedures
A student who leaves school before the official ending time must be signed out in the office by his/her parent or guardian. Parents must report to the receptionist, not the classroom. The receptionist will call the room for the child after a photo ID (government issued) has been shown. Please remember that each time a child checks out early, we must call the classroom and disrupt instruction for everyone. Children will be called to the Front Office where they will be released to the parent/guardian. The office will not check out students after 2:30 P.M. (11:30 A.M. on early release days). Please do not ask school personnel to make exceptions.
A child will not be permitted to leave the school in the custody of any person other than the child's parent unless that person is listed as a parent/guardian or emergency contact in the school’s database. As telephone numbers and situations change, please make sure you report this information to the school so we have the most accurate information.
Reading Aloud to your Children
Reading Aloud to your Children
Welcome back to another great year of learning at Norcross Elementary School! This month the instructional coaches wanted to provide an opportunity for you to spend some quality time with your child while improving his/her literacy skills. One way you can provide support for your child is by reading aloud with him/her. Do not worry if you do not have access to many children’s books at home. Our media center has a large selection of books covering a variety of genres. The teachers bring students to visit the school media center weekly to check out books. The books from our media center are a wonderful tool for reading aloud. The local public library is another excellent resource for books and other materials to share with your children.
Benefits of Reading Aloud to Children
Reading aloud to children provides many benefits to children of all ages.
· Reading aloud builds foundational skills.
· It builds connections between spoken and written language.
· When adults read aloud with children, they model how fluent and expressive reading sounds.
· Reading aloud encourages children to listen, pay attention, and concentrate, which after a while can increase their overall attention span.
· In addition to the academic benefits of reading aloud, spending time interacting with your child and great books will teach your children to love reading.
Spend some time reading aloud to your child and watch their love of reading grow.
Dr. Bilal
Mrs. Eberhart
Mrs. Smith
Ways for you to Get Involved
The purpose of the LSC is:
- To help the local board of education develop and nurture participation
- 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
- To share ideas for school improvement
If you are interested in being a member of our Local School council, please contact Robert Fortenbery (robert.fortenbery@gcpsk12.org).
The tentative meeting dates are as follows:
September 23, November 11, January 27, and March 10 at 7:30amj.
PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION (PTA)
We are in need of a PTA board to support our school, our students, and our faculty. The board consists of a president/co-president, vice president, treasurer and secretary. Please contact me at kassia.morris.sutton@gcpsk12.org if you are interested.
https://www.pta.org/home/About-National-Parent-Teacher-Association/Mission-Values
Volunteer
Please partner with us and commit to volunteering at our school. Volunteer activites may include: working in the media center, laminating materials, counting out documents, cutting, and filing. Please contact Robert Fortenbery (robert.fortenbery@gcpsk12.org) or Eduardina Checon (eduardina.checo@gcpsk12.org) for volunteer opportunities.
Teacher of the Year
Lauren Dennis, Kindergarten
Jamal Liverpool, Fifth Grade Teacher
Katie Wylie, Interrelated Special Education Teacher
Lauren, Jamal and Katie were nominated by their peers and colleagues for this prestigous honor.
Mrs. Katie Wylie is Norcross Elementary Teacher of the Year
Meet the Administrative Team
Goodbye
Congratulations, Mrs. Gelbaum
We will miss YOU and wish you ALL the BEST!
NOTE: We are in the process of selecting an assistant principal to fill the vacancy Mrs. Gelbaum leaves.
What to do if your child is sick?
1. Keep your child at home if he/she is sick.
2. If your child has tested positive for COVID, please contact Contacia.Cross, assistant principal, at contacia.cross@gcpsk12.org. who will provide additional guidance.
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Previous Newsletters
How to Stay Connected
Principal – Kassia Sutton (kassia.morris.sutton@gcpsk12.org)
Assistant Principal - Gr. K, 1, 2 – Jamie Elsey (jamie.elsey@gcpsk12.org)
Assistant Principal – Gr. 3, 4, 5 – Contacia Cross (contacia.cross@gcpsk12.org)
Counselor - Gr. K, 1 - Kortnie Smith (kortnie.smith@gcpsk12.org)
Counselor Gr. 2, 3 - Amy Crapo (amy.crapo.@gcps12.org)
Counselor Gr. 4, 5 - Matt Ho (matt.ho@gcpsk12.org)
Website: https://www.gcpsk12.org/NorcrossES
Location: 150 Hunt Street, Norcross, GA, USA
Phone: 770-448-2188
Facebook: facebook.com/NorcrossElementarySchool-GCPS