The Parsons Happenings
November 6, 2020
Monday, 11/9/20
- National Children's Book Week
- 6:00 pm ~ PTA General Membership Meeting on Zoom
Wednesday, 11/11/20
- Veterans Day
Thursday, 11/12/20
Friday, 11/13/20
- Staff Goody Day ~ 3rd Grade parents provide packaged healthy snacks for Staff
Required Drills
Our local school safety team creates a safety plan for our staff and students in the event of a fire, tornado, or hazardous material event. On Wednesday, we held our first tornado drill. Prior to the drill, teachers discussed the purpose for the drill, what to expect (loud alarm), and the protective position to take. Any classroom with windows has a designated evacuation room to report to. These drills are so important! In the event we have a real emergency, our students and our staff are prepared and know what to do. We encourage you to talk to your child about drills and why they are important. We also encourage you to come up with safety plans at home and practice them regularly.
We are required to conduct monthly fire drills, per Life Safety Code 11-7-1. These drills are recorded through the Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner’s website, located at https://www.oci.ga.gov/PublicEducation/SchoolFireDrills.aspx. The public may access this information by selecting Gwinnett County and then Parsons Elementary. In November and February, a severe weather drill is preformed in lieu of or in addition to the regular monthly fire drill. Those drills are also noted on the website.
Introducing the Updated GCPS Parent Portal!
We heard you and we’ve updated the look, feel and function of the school district’s Parent Portal with easy access and one go-to location for need-to-know information about your student’s education. Click here to learn more about the GCPS Parent Portal.
Parent Preference for 2nd Semester Learning
As of October 28th, Gwinnett parents and guardians need to make a decision about how their children will learn during the second semester. Like this semester, families may select either in-person instruction at their child’s school or digital learning at home. As students and families are more familiar with these two options and what they entail, the decisions families make will be for the entire semester.
The Spring Instructional Preference Questionnaire will be available in your Parent Portal account October 28 through 11:59 p.m. on November 15.
Administration will use the survey data to determine a school wide plan for second semester. Until we have the parent preference results we will not be able to determine if any changes will be made. It is always our goal to make the least amount of changes possible and keep consistency for the students and teachers. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
If you do not have a Parent Portal account, please refer to the information below titled, GCPS Parent Portal: 24/7 Access to Resources for your Student.
GCPS Parent Portal: 24/7 Access to Resources for Your Student
We know that families want easy access in one location to find important information about their student's education. Just as important, you want an easy way to stay in touch with the school. The Updated Parent Portal gives parents access to grades, assignments, and communication with teachers. The Parent Portal gives families a direct line to the classroom, with 24/7 real-time information and anytime, anywhere access, with in-portal translation in multiple languages. And that's just the beginning...If you currently do not have a Parent Portal account, click here to access the form to request one.
Parent Portal Registration Form
(Form in other languages: Bosanski / Srpski / Hrvatski 中文 한국어 Español Tiếng Việt)
Want to learn more about the Parent Portal and the direct line it provides parents to the classroom?
Parent Portal Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
(Flyer in other languages coming soon: Bosanski / Srpski / Hrvatski 中文 한국어 Español Tiếng Việt)
Watch the video below or click here to read about the Parent Portal.
(Flyer in other languages: Bosanski / Srpski / Hrvatski 中文 한국어 Español Tiếng Việt)
12 Digital Learning Tips
1. Set up a schedule for DLD. If others at home are working or participating in DLD, this will take some coordination. Try to balance online and offline activities so that everyone has the access they need.
2. Develop a routine and stick to it. Planning DLD time during regular school hours and sticking to the routine will help everyone. Keep in mind that your teachers may have set hours when they are available for help and questions.
3. Have a dedicated space for learning. Find a place to work that works for your child— someplace comfortable, but not too comfortable, that’s clean, quiet, and with the fewest distractions.
4. Prioritize assignments. Have your student make a list of assignments by importance and due date. Which assignments will take more time? If your child will need extra help for an assignment, give additional time. Keep work organized with an agenda or planner.
5. Know when and how to help. Remember, doing anything new is challenging. Learning online takes some time and patience. Avoid over-helping. Let your child struggle a bit with challenging questions or problems. Encourage your child to contact his or her teacher with questions. Offer support and encouragement when you feel it is needed. Trust your child to stay on task, but be sure to check-in periodically.
6. Share these DLD how-to’s with your student. Read the directions carefully before you begin the assignment. If you have a question, reach out to your teacher and begin working on another subject until the teacher can respond. Start with your hardest subject first. If you need more information on a subject, look for other sources or examples (Khan Academy, etc.) If you get frustrated, take a brain break, then come back to your work.
7. Prepare workspace before starting lessons. Everyone will be more productive if there’s no hopping up every few minutes to get a book or a pencil.
8. Eliminate distractions. Turn off or silence the phone unless your child is using it for digital learning. Close tabs on computers and tablets to cut down on distractions during DLD time. Leave social media check-ins, TV and video games for break time.
9. Plan breaks. Everyone needs breaks from screen time. And it’s easier to stay on task when you know you have a planned break coming. During breaks, get some fresh air outside and do something physical.
10. Stay hydrated. Busy brains need water!
11. Don’t forget snacks. When you take a break, have a healthy snack.
12. Make family time fun. Whether you break for family time in the middle of the day or at the end, look for ways to enjoy your time together. Maybe it’s a walk around the neighborhood, a board game, or a Facetime session with friends or family.
Calendar Preference for SY2021-2022
It's time for the Parsons' community to determine our preference for the GCPS 2021-2022 school year. Please view the 3 calendar options below and complete the Google Survey to select your choice. Our school preference will be submitted to the district on November 12.
AKS at Home provides online resources for families. AKS at Home provides math and language arts resources to support families, along with live and recorded sessions, tip sheets, and more.
FAMILY FINANCIAL FUN NIGHT
The Georgia Council on Economic Education (GCEE) is hosting a fun night of games, prizes, and financial literacy for students ages 5-12 and their families on November 12 from 6:30pm to 7:30pm. Please read this attached flyer.
GCEE is awarding the following prizes:
- a $10 gift card from Kroger or Publix for each family attending the entire event and completing the survey
- a $20 gift card for one family chosen randomly per activity (five activities in all)
NOVEMBER IS NATIONAL NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH
Visit NativeAmericanHeritageMonth.Gov for more information and resources.This month's recommended book from the Social Studies Children's Book List is We Are Grateful by Traci Sorell. The word otsaliheliga (oh-jah-LEE-hay-lee-gah) is used by members of the Cherokee Nation to express gratitude. Beginning in the fall with the new year and ending in summer, follow a full Cherokee year of celebrations and experiences. Written by a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, this look at one group of Native Americans is appended with a glossary and the complete Cherokee syllabary, originally created by Sequoyah. Click here for a read aloud of the book on Youtube.
Doing our part to stop the spread of Covid-19
Please use the COVID-19 Morning Checklist to help reduce the spread of Covid-19. Please continue to follow the guidelines each morning when sending your in person student to school. We have seen a slight increase of cases in Gwinnett and we want to make sure we are ALL doing our part.
Each school in our district has a trained Health Response Team (HRT). If a suspected case of Covid-19 is reported at our school, this team follows set guidelines and procedures. Please be assured that you will be contacted by an HRT member if your child has been identified as 'close contact' to someone in our school who has tested positive for Covid-19.
The most important thing we can do is continue to wear our masks, practice social distancing, and wash hands regularly. We are #STRONGERTOGETHER when we all do our part.
Media Center Information
Parsons School-Wide Reading Program
How to register for the Parsons Reading Challenge
Did you know you have to register for the Parsons Reading Challenge each year just like you register for the Summer Reading Program? You also need to change your homeroom teacher's name in the name field and your new grade level. You already have an account. Your username is your student number, and your PIN is your 4-digit birthday. You have until the end of March to complete the program. You need to enter at least 2500 minutes to earn the reward in the spring. There are monthly competitions along the way. You can earn a badge just by registering and another badge by editing your profile following the directions in the video. Let's get reading, Parsons! Click here to sign in. Beanstack
https://drive.google.com/file/d/16tjOmQTvE5j816-2Bu71Ulb3biv8xcf0/view?usp=sharing
Beanstack How to Join the Challenge and Edit Profile.mp4
drive.google.com
2020 Reflections Winners
We want to congratulate the Parsons' winners who will be moving forward to the area competition!
Jonah Chung ~ LI 1st
Archisha Morajikar ~ LI 2nd
Elizabeth Ha-el Kim ~ VA 1st
Skyler Kim ~ LI 1st and PH 1st
Sarah Johnson ~ FV 1st
David Johnson ~ FV 2nd
Youjune Kim ~ LI 1st and VA 1st
Priscilla Mobley ~ MU 1st
McKenna Linsky ~ VA 2nd
Zoe Roopani ~ DA 1st
Sanai Feaster ~ FV 1st
Emma Goldsmith ~ FV 2nd
Noah Chung ~ LI 2nd
Rory Gilchrist ~ LI 1st
Maya Sanjeevirao ~ VA 1st
Our General Membership meeting by Zoom is on Tuesday, November 10th at 6:00 pm. Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/79589219374?pwd=NFZya05yM3V6Z2k0dU9rM2Z1VkthQT09
Meeting ID: 795 8921 9374 PASSCODE: lioncub
Box Top App
Parsons Business Partners 2020-2021
Proud Principal Laura Clark
Email: laura.j.clark@gcpsk12.org
Website: https://www.gcpsk12.org
Location: 1615 Old Peachtree Road Northwest, Suwanee, GA, USA
Phone: 678-957-3050