The Parsons Happenings
October 1, 2021
In this edition...
Fall Break...Mark your Calendars
Teacher-tested Tips to Support Learning at Home
Communications Audit
2022-2023 Calendar Options & Feedback
School Improvement Plan (LSPI)
Advisory Council
Book Fair
Great Days of Service
Afternoon Transportation
Student Check Out
Autism Walk 2021
Masks are Required
GCPS is Hiring Bus Drivers
Parsons on Social Media
Calendar of Events
PTA Happenings
Business Partners
Teacher-tested Tips to Support Learning at Home
Many teachers are parents, too. What do they do at home to “be there” for their young children? Here are a few tips from GCPS teachers:
For a part of each day, remove the distractions and focus on your child.
Turn off the TV, power down the computer, and let the telephone ring. We all lead busy lives and there’s always something to grab our attention, but let your child do the attention-grabbing for at least 15 or 20 minutes every day. Play a game, read a book, take a walk, or tell a story. The little break from the hustle and bustle will be good for you, too.
When the TV is on, know what’s on.
While there’s plenty of bad television out there, there’s also some good stuff: educational programs, shows about history and animals, family-friendly comedies and dramas, kids’ movies, and more. However, limit TV time. Kids need time for schoolwork, pleasure reading, and active play, too. Remember, some shows may cover more serious subject matter, but still may be an okay choice if you watch it together. This offers you an opportunity to discuss the subject in light of your own family values and experiences.
Talk to your child and listen.
Take the time to ask about your child’s day. Ask your child’s opinion about something he or she has read or something you hear on the TV or radio. Share favorite memories from your childhood with your own child. On a walk or in the car, use some conversation starters to get the ball rolling and get to know your child better. If you could be an animal, what would you be and why? If you were going to be on an island for a whole summer, what books would you bring? If you had a magic time machine, where would you go? Who would you hope to meet? If you could invite three people from history to your birthday party, who would you invite?
Share a hobby.
Whatever your interests, share them with your child. Maybe the shared hobby will grow into a real interest for your child. Maybe not, but the time spent together is the point. Plant a garden together and let your child have a patch with vegetables or flowers of his or her own choosing. Let older children bike or skate along while you push a stroller at the park. Fishing, scrap-booking, cake decorating, hiking, painting or pottery…think about trying whatever suits your interests, time and wallet. Enjoy!
Share household chores.
You have to do them anyway, so make them fun and let your child help. Play a favorite CD and dance while you wash dishes, vacuum, and pick up toys together. Let your child measure ingredients, stir batter, or some other age-appropriate task when you cook together. Teach your child to fold towels, match socks and put on pillowcases.
Take advantage of time in the car.
We live in metro Atlanta so we all spend some time in the car. Safety first, of course, but make your time in the car count. Put up the phone and turn down the radio. Some car-time ideas? Play I-spy. (I spy with my little eye something red…or tall, wide, blue, shiny. You get the idea.) Ask the kids to count the blue cars or people on motorcycles. Look for signs displaying a particular letter or even a spelling word. Sing the alphabet song. Start a story and ask your child to finish it. Play “I’m thinking of an animal” with a 20 questions-format.
Reinforce learning at home in fun ways.
- Take an interest in your child’s schoolwork by looking at his or her papers. Save special papers and written work. Make copies of stories and drawings to share with family members who live in other places. Find a prominent place like the refrigerator or a bulletin board to display artwork and positive notes from school. Talk about what your child is learning during shared meals. Encourage your child to learn more about a subject that he or she finds interesting. Look for books at the library or opportunities at local museums or parks that tie in with your child’s interests.
- If you have a computer and Internet access, help your student use technology. When questions arise, suggest doing research together on the web. It’s a good idea to keep the web-connected computer in a common area of the house and not in your child’s bedroom. Talk to your child about being safe on the Internet and using online resources wisely and critically. Not all Internet resources should be trusted equally. Help your child determine the difference between fact and opinion in what they find online. Ask your child’s school about trusted and age-appropriate online resources for children and tips for web safety. Look for “safe surfing tips” in the Internet Use and Research section of the Education Tips for Parents web page.
- Need to practice up on math facts or spelling words? It’s easy to do together just about anywhere. Call out spelling words in the car or at the store. Post spelling words on cards around the house and make a game of finding and practicing them. Run through multiplication tables while you’re cooking dinner or on a walk together. Practice addition and subtraction with math flash cards while you wait for an appointment. During a walk, practice the alphabet, counting, or skip counting (even, odd, by 2’s, by 5’s, by 10’s), and let your child decide if you’ll walk, skip, hop, or jump down the sidewalk as you practice.
- Take your child on a nature walk. Compare leaves. Talk about what you see and hear. What do you not see? Which animals come out only at night? Why? Find a book at the library to help answer any questions that come up or visit the local nature center.
Be silly and have fun together.
Kids, especially younger ones, like to see the grown-ups act silly. If you can get your silly on, you and your child can enjoy some quality time together. Try Freeze Dance, Statues, or Hide-n-Seek. Word to the wise: Tell your child in advance how long your silly play will last. We’ll sing three songs, then it will be time for homework” (or brushing teeth, reading time, etc.). Three songs will mean more to your young child than 10 or 15 minutes, if telling time is a new concept. Another fun idea for family time…plan a Games Night for friends and family, the bigger the better. Enjoy a potluck meal and have several games for various ages going at one time…board games, dominos, cards, etc.
https://gcps-communique.com/features-2/2021/9/16/you-are-invited-to-take-gcps-communications-survey
GCPS Calendar Options for 2022-2023
Calendar Options Feedback
GCPS would like your feedback on the 2022-2023 Calendar Options. Please review the three options above and provide your feedback using the link below.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSce-Yn4Ghr1gz8JME6SNUx5fDz3v3KDZwe6uV5QUmtnZcCjbg/viewform?usp=sf_linkEach year, our school sets instructional goals to improve student achievement. Click the link below to review this school year's Local School Plan for Improvement (LSPI).
Advisory Council
We are looking for some parents to join the School Counseling Advisory Council! The role of the Advisory Council is to contribute to the improvement of the School Counseling program, primarily by providing feedback on program goals, reviewing program results, and making recommendations about the School Counseling program. This council provides a way for us to collaborate with each other on how to best serve our students.
Typically, the Advisory Council meets twice during the year, once in the Fall and once in the Spring. This year, our Fall meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 3rd and our Spring meeting will take place on Wednesday, May 11th. Both meetings will last from 7:45-8:15 am.
If you are interested in participating, please reach out to Mona Vosough at mona.vosough@gcpsk12.org.
Book Fair
Online Scholastic Book Fair: September 29 - October 12.
In-person Scholastic Book Fair: October 12 - October 25.
- Visit the Book Fair Home Page to shop online and for more information including the Scholastic eWallet option.
- View the online version of the Scholastic Book Fair Flyer which contains highlights of the In-person Book Fair.
- The Book Fair letter for parents will be coming home soon and is also included for additional information.
- Friday, October 15 ~ 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm (before the PTA meeting & Movie Night)
- Wednesday, October 20 ~ 9:00 am - 6:00 pm (Digital Learning Day)
We hope to see you all at the Book Fair! Books Bring Us Together!
Great Days of Service
Gwinnett's Great Days of Service is coming! Did you know that in Gwinnett County, 1 in 10 people are food insecure? To help our local families in need, we will be having a Canned Food Drive from October 12th - October 15th! Please bring in non-perishable food items and personal care items. In the past few years, our school has donated these items to the Neighborhood Cooperative Ministries which supports families in the Norcross area. Student Council will also be collecting items during Family Movie Night on Friday, October 15th. Come by the front doors to drop off your donations! Want to spend time with your family giving back to our community? There are lots of different volunteer opportunities that you and your family can participate in together! Check out...
https://gwinnettgreatdaysofservice.org/collections/find-a-organization/
Afternoon Transportation
Student Check Out
Autism Walk 2021
1. Click on Walk - click on Find Your Walk - enter this zip code 30034
2. Click on Atlanta Walk - register
3. Click on Donate - and enter the name "Kate Osemwengie". Then click on "search for participate"
4. Click on my name and enter "Parsons" for the team name
5. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on "Kate Osemwengie" to donate.
We have 32 days until our Annual Autism Walk this year. It will be held on 10/10/2021, at Atlantic Station (Pinnacle Lot) 1371 Market Street, Atlanta, GA 30363.
Please try to register to join our team before the walk. We are planning to leave our school parking lot on 10/10/21, at 8 AM. The opening ceremonies begin at 9:00 AM. The walk starts at 9:30 AM and should conclude before noon.
Due to COVID-19, we will maintain safety precautions by wearing a mask if you would like to carpool. You're welcome to drive downtown as well. Don't forget to wear your Autism t-shirt to show your support. Please let me know if you're planning to join us for the Walk. Hope you can join us this year. Come and experience a fun and relaxing atmosphere.
Thank you,
Pre-K Team
Parsons on Social Media
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https://www.instagram.com/parsons_elementary/
Search: parsons_elementary
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Search: Parsons Elementary School
@ParsonsES
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Monday, October 4, 2021
- National Hispanic Heritage Month
- Fire Prevention Week
- 7:30 am ~ Readers Rally
- 2:00 pm ~ PTA Board Meeting
Tuesday, October 5, 2021
- 1:00 pm ~ Books with Badges (Lee)
- 3:30 pm ~ Korean Language/Homework Help
Wednesday, October 6, 2021
- Walk to School Day
- German American Day
- 12:15 pm ~ 4th Grade Orff Ensemble
- 1:00 pm ~ Books with Badges (Pipe)
Thursday, September 30, 2021
- Fall Break ~ No School
Friday, October 8, 2021
- Fall Break ~ No School
PTA Meeting is on Monday, October 4 at 2:00 pm in the Volunteer Room. Everyone is welcome!
Walk to School is Wednesday, October 6 at 7:45 am. Families can meet at one of these locations between 7:45 and 8:00 am to walk with the group to school for the morning:
Sugarloaf Methodist Church
Olde Savannah Square Clubhouse Parking Lot
Berkshire At Sugarloaf Neighborhood Pool Parking Lot
Sparkles Roller Skate Night is on Thursday, October 7 from 5:00 - 9:00 pm. Admission is $5 per person. Siblings, friends, and family are welcome to attend. Non-skating parents have free admission. Teachers skate for free. Sparkles is located at 1104 Grayson Highway, Lawrenceville, GA 20045. See you all there soon!
Save the date for a Family Movie Night Under the Stars on October 15th. Parsons PTA will host a great family movie on the grass in front of the school for only $5 per family. Payments can be made on My Payments Plus. Food and snacks will be available for purchase. The Student Council will have the Great Days of Service can food donation box open for canned food donations. The Book Fair will also be open for shopping from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm.
YEARBOOK is looking for YOUR pictures! Submit pictures from any school events to the yearbook with this google form: https://forms.gle/vJFS3UruS5ub9AhV8
Parsons PTA is selling adult t-shirts for a limited time. Order on My Payments Plus by October 8 to choose your size.
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