The Principal's Desk At Sycamore
December 2, 2019
Dr. Crystal Cooper, Principal
December Updates
Welcome back from what we hope was an amazing Thanksgiving break! Our students returned today ready to learn and explore the AKS. Thank you for taking such great care of them as you do so that they are ready to grow positively with us.
Mid-Year District Assessments_12/9-12/20:
Kindergarten-(Language Arts/MA-1/8-14/2020)
Students in grades 1-5 will begin testing next week. We are excited to see just how much they have grown and continue to learn. Students will be tested on the entire 1st semester AKS, so please make sure that they are studying, practicing and reading to prepare.
Here are the testing dates:
Monday 12/9/19: 1st and 2nd grade Language Arts
Tuesday 12/10 /19: 1st and 2nd grade Math
Wednesday 12/11/19: 3rd-5th grade Social Studies
Thursday 12/12/19: 3rd-5th grade Science
Tuesday 12/17/19: 3rd-5th grade Language Arts
Wednesday 12/18/19: 3rd-5th grade Math
Reading:
Wonderful improvement with reading! Since the first semester if almost complete, we are noticing that more of our students are improving their reading levels. Please continue to make sure children are increasing their reading and being asked questions about what they are reading. There are many ways to do this, even online. They must read books to gain the stamina to read longer texts. Thank you for helping us create more on grade level or above readers!
We are tasked to make sure that our students are literate readers and writers. We are equipped with teaching them to read analytically and write clear messages in different genres. It is helpful if you are able to make sure they are reading every night and taking the time to practice through their homework.
Due to our belief in the grand amount of research, we believe that if students are reading at home, it will motivate them to be prepared to read at higher levels in all subjects. Please look at the impact below of making sure your child is reading at least 20 minutes a day. Take them to the library, ask them what they are reading and encourage them to read for pleasure and information. This will yield high results for our elementary aged students for the long haul.
More Challenging Instruction:
If you haven't already noticed, students are being expected to do much more challenging work at Sycamore. Our staff has been working hard to teach lessons that require a higher level of thinking and responsibility. Please continue to review your child's homework with them every night to make sure that you are supporting them in mastering the AKS (curriculum). We will continue assessing our students to gather information about how they are learning. Please ask them frequently to tell you what they are learning. It helps them feel connected to the school day.
Student Behavior:
Behavior is improving in a great way. Please encourage your child to model great behavior at school. We appreciate you for discussing great behavior with your child frequently. Misbehavior in class and on the bus prevents your child from being the best they can be. Letting them know that a misbehavior call would disappoint you, will help our students in knowing that you are expecting great behavior at home as well. Thanks for your support with this.
Car Rider Procedures
Please do not release students from the parking lot, release them from cars or walk them to the door prior to 8:20 AM. It isn't safe and it also presents a hazard because we have no one there to supervise them until the school bell rings at 8:20 AM. We want to show understanding to all of the parents who come early to sit in line and assure that they are able to get their child in soon and off to work as well. Coming in to circumvent that poses a problem for all car rider parents and also those who patiently wait in their cars. if you have any feedback for this procedure, please don't hesitate to call me.
Key Dates to Remember: Week of December 9-13
Tuesday-Great day of learning & 1st and 2nd grade Math Mid Year Assessment
Wednesday-Chess Club & 3rd-5th grade SS Mid Year Assessment
Thursday: 3rd-5th grade Science Interim Mid Year Assessment
Friday: Sycamore Spirit Day and Holiday Jam at 5PM
Holiday Jam Dance Benefiting United Way
Holiday Spectacular
Longhorn Items
Mall of Georgia School Rewards
Lanier Youth Track and Field
School Communication-Changes
We miss this feature, as it was a great way to communicate with parents and our community. However, we hope to keep you informed on our website, Principal's Desk, and social media pages.
We have received approval to utilize Class Dojo, so you will be getting correspondence from your child's teacher if they use this format for communication.
City of Sugar Hill
Mercy Montgomery, Director Mmontgomery@cityofsugarhill.com
Joe Meyers, Marketing & Commmunication jmeyers@cityofsugarhill.com
Joel Hoffman, jhoffman@cityofsugarhill.com
Friendly Reminders
- All visitors will be asked at the door who they are and their reason for entering the building by our front desk clerk. Always have your ID ready to show every time. Vanessa Camacho-Chapparo is our new front desk clerk and is happy to join our team. Please be patient with our new district requirement that ensures a stronger and safe environment for our school community.
- We will begin our morning announcements at 8:45 AM daily and ask that all car riders are in their seats ready to begin their day prior to 8:45 AM.
- We are going to use Mypaymentsplus for all of our monetary transactions besides small fundraisers throughout the year. Please make sure that you sign up for this with the information below.
- We are infusing social emotional learning with our PBIS discipline program. Every classroom will have morning meeting daily where they will greet one another, share something based on a focused topic, engage in an activity and end with a morning message. This 10 minute activity every day ties to our AKS, but also helps to start the day off positively. Ask your child about the amazing experience.
Sycamore Elementary School Sponsors
Kona Ice of Gwinnett
(678) 480-1213
Lanier Education Foundation
Sugar Hill Church
Signarama-Buford
Suite 200
Buford, GA. 30518
(770)831-9660
Publix- Sugar Hill Corners
5885 Cumming Hwy
Sugar Hill, GA. 30518
(770)614-8860
Champion Taekwondo Academy
Sugar Hill, GA 30518
(678)714-8837
Kumon
Sycamore Elementary School
Please go to the links below for essential updates and exciting news!
Email: crystal_cooper@gwinnett.k12.ga.us
Website: http://sycamorees.org/home.htm
Location: 5695 Sycamore Road, Sugar Hill, GA, United States
Phone: (678) 714-5770
Facebook: facebook.com/sycamorees
Twitter: @sycamorees