Hembree Highlights
November 13, 2020
Note from Mrs. Smith
I wanted to take today to highlight the wonderful things happening with instruction. We have been so focused on building relationships, supporting social emotional needs, and meeting basic needs that I have not taken a moment to highlight our wonderful instruction.
If you could walk the halls to see what I see and hear what I hear, you would be comforted to know that your child is engaging in lessons that are creative, active, and fun. Students may be spread out in their classrooms, but they are still laughing and learning. I know that you are seeing Friday Folders and work online for those remote learners, but I think we all would agree that the product is not as important at the process. The questions, student effort, feedback, and a-ha moments that take place in the learning process are MESSY and beautiful. I encourage you to get a taste of what I see by asking questions in the car or on your walks around the neighborhood about their day and about what is being learned at school. I know that personalities differ and responses run the gamut. However, my hope is that you get a taste of some of the excitement about learning that I get to see firsthand.
As we near a week off of school to reflect and celebrate Thanksgiving, I wanted to share a FREE resource for students. All families have an opportunity to receive 5 breakfasts and 5 lunches for the week that we are out of school. Please check your child's Friday Folder for information. The exciting component is that we can send these meals home with your child on Friday, November 20th so you will NOT have to pick them up. If you are interested, please complete and return the form by November 17th.
I have included a few pictures of the work in the hallways below. I will be sure to highlight the fun things we have been working on in the coming weeks!
Stay Strong! Stay Positive! Stay Well!
Sincerely,
AJ Smith
Principal
Hembree Springs ES
470-254-2905 - office
678-525-7704 - cell
Notification to Parents of the Screening and Referral Process for Gifted Students 2020-21
The consideration for gifted services may be reported or automatic as defined by the GaDOE Resource Manual for Gifted Education Services. The Fulton County School System screens all students for eligibility for gifted services twice a year and uses a systematic approach to identify highly capable students who may qualify for gifted services. The gifted teacher routinely reviews available data to refer students for further assessment. Students meeting either the automatic screening OR the classroom screening criteria AND have supporting data gathered from test history, products, and/or advanced content levels are referred for additional testing to determine gifted eligibility.
#1: Automatic Screening: Identifies students who score at specified levels on a norm-referenced test as defined in the GaDOE Resource Manual for Gifted Education Services, for further assessment to determine eligibility for gifted services. During each school year, TAG teachers review existing test data as outlined below.
· Grades K-9:
o Students must score in the 90th percentile or greater on the Fall 2020 administration of the system’s iReady assessment for Reading or Mathematics. Supporting data is needed.
· Grade 10:
o Students must score in the 90th percentile or greater on the Fall 2020 administration of the system’s iReady assessment for Reading or Mathematics. Supporting data is needed.
OR
o Students must have an overall cumulative average of 95 or greater. Supporting data is needed.
OR
o Students must score in the 90th percentile or greater on the critical reading section or the mathematics section of the October administration of the PSAT. Supporting data is needed.
· Grades 11-12:
o Students must meet the scaled score cutoff for Reading or Mathematics as set by the county. This cutoff is based on the 90th percentile or higher of scaled scores at 11th and 12th grades for the Fall 2020 iReady administration. Supporting data is needed.
OR
o Students must have an overall cumulative average of 95 or greater. Supporting data is needed.
OR
o Students must score in the 90th percentile or greater on the critical reading section or the mathematics section of the October administration of the PSAT. Supporting data is needed.
#2: Classroom Screening: Local schools select a two-week period in the spring semester to review all students in the school in grades K-11. Classroom teachers use the Characteristics Instrument for Screening Students (CISS) to identify students with superior abilities in five or more of the following areas: motivation, interests, communication skills, problem-solving abilities, memory, inquiry, insight, reasoning, creativity, and humor.
#3: Reported Referrals: All reported referrals (parent, teacher, and/or administrator) are completed through the two system-level screening and referral processes each year. All referrals are first reviewed by the local TAG Eligibility Team to consider if existing information warrants a formal testing for gifted eligibility.
Additional Information: Students who meet either the automatic screening OR classroom screening criteria AND who have supporting data gathered from test history, products, and/or advanced content levels are referred for gifted placement testing. Parents may request to view their child’s screening results by reaching out to their school’s gifted contact. Once referred to testing:
· Parents receive the Parent Notification for Testing Consent Form.
· Student is tested for the gifted program.
· Parents receive test results.
· If state eligibility is determined, students are placed in the gifted program with parental consent.
Closing Matrix
For Spanish Speaking Parents:
Padres
Estamos tratando de trabajar para satisfacer sus necesidades. Si tiene alguna pregunta sobre cualquiera de los temas enumerados a continuación, comuníquese con Ana María Jiménez al Jimenez@fultonschools.org o al 470-254-9462.
Gracias
AJ Smith
From Our PTA
The results are in…
We are celebrating our 2020 PTA Reflections artists virtually this year! This video is a MUST see to celebrate all the young Hembree artists and their work that was submitted into this year’s contest!
Click here to see why Our Hawks Matter!
And the finalists are…
Congratulations to
· Avery Adcock
· Emma Adcock
· Ishanvi Chauhan
· Tanishi Chauhan
· Elysia Dersnah
· Oria Russ
· Ryder Sparks
· Axel Sparks
· Colton Sparks
· Zoe Torres
· Kiran Vadgama
· Krisha Virpariya
· Raam Virpariya
All of our participants’ art will be advancing to the next level of competition. We are so proud of our Hembree artists!
PTA Advocacy Corner
Reminder - we want to hear from you! What are the questions you have? While we may not have all (or any) of the answers, we will make every effort to track down someone who does! As always, Your Voice Matters! and we want to hear from you.
We will include any questions and answers submitted to the “Ask PTA” questions that feel applicable and helpful to everyone in the next newsletter. We will also host “Ask PTA” listening sessions with “special guests” on various topics of interest based upon your feedback. Email president@hembreespringspta.org with your “Ask PTA” questions today!
I’ll be there for you….
Hembree Hawks! Check out the new arrivals in our spirit wear store! More colors, more styles, and the sweatshirts have arrived just in time for the crisp fall chill in the air! Show your Hawk Spirit with new HSE Spirit Wear!
Check out the store here: https://hembreesprings.itemorder.com/sale
Orders must be in by November 29, 2020, so you can get them before winter break. Spirit Wear makes a great stocking stuffer, report card reward, or just a treat for surviving the first half of the year. All profit will go toward the PTA Annual fund, which provides amazing programs (both in school and virtually) for our students and staff. Please contact Jess Fadden treasurer@hembreespringspta.org with any questions.
STAY TUNED- Hembree Springs Masks and Magnets are coming SOON!
Hembree Springs Elementary School
Email: hembreesprings@fultonschools.org
Website: https://www.fultonschools.org/hembreespringses
Location: 815 Hembree Road, Roswell, GA, USA
Phone: 470-254-2902
Facebook: facebook.com/hembreesprings
Twitter: @HembreeSprings