The Norcross Elementary Eagle
January 18, 2021
Gwinnett County Public Schools announces transition to digital learning for the week of January 19-22
CEO/Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks announced that Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) will temporarily transition all in-person learners to digital instruction beginning Tuesday, January 19. (Monday, January 18, is a school holiday.) District leaders will monitor the COVID situation and its effects on staffing to determine its ability to resume in-person instruction on Monday, January 25.
In making this decision, Mr. Wilbanks said “As students returned to in-person and digital instruction this semester, we acknowledged the need to monitor the impact the rising COVID numbers within our community might have on our schools. The reality is that our school system—like our community and the state— is feeling the results of the holidays and winter break. We are experiencing higher numbers of cases, suspected cases, and close contacts among our in-person students and staff. The move to 100% digital learning for the coming week will allow us to effectively serve students while also doing what is best for our students and staff given the current situation.
“The decision to shift to digital is not one that is made lightly,” he said. “However, it is a possibility we have planned for, knowing that the safety of students and staff and our ability to effectively serve students are priorities. While we fully intend to honor the choices our families made for their children in regard to receiving instruction in-person or digitally, the bottomline is that we must have the staff on hand in order to be able to do so.”
Mr. Wilbanks noted that the post-break impact on the district’s ability to effectively staff schools and serve students is a concern. On January 12, GCPS experienced 125 new reports involving employees who tested positive, were suspected of having COVID and were being tested, or had been identified as close contacts. These new cases brought the district’s total number of staff out of school or work to 785, with 460 of those being teachers. This issue is compounded by the shortage of substitutes available, an issue that school districts across the nation are experiencing.
The shift to digital learning next week for all students, coupled with the observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (Monday, January 18), will provide the time needed for many of our employees who are currently quarantined to return to work. “We understand that the move to 100 percent digital may create hardships for families. That said, we do feel that this is a necessary measure that will provide time for ill employees to get well and for those who are quarantined to be cleared for return to school and work,” Mr. Wilbanks said.
Students will be expected to complete their lessons digitally each day and attendance will be documented. Teachers will report to their schools to deliver their digital lessons. As was done last spring, teachers who have school-aged children will be allowed to bring them to school.
GCPS will offer meal service during this transition to digital learning (Jan. 19-22). Meals will be available for curbside pick-up at schools, and, the district will deliver meals along all bus routes countywide during this time. Families should expect buses to run their routes from approximately 10:45 a.m. to noon, beginning at the first stops on the route.
Updates regarding the return to in-person learning on Monday, January 25, will be shared on the district website and through SchoolMessenger messages.
Participation and Engagement during the Digital Learning Days
Reach out to your child's teacher if you have questions.
Attendance for Digital Learning Days
Dear Families of Gwinnett County Public Schools’ Students,
School attendance plays an important role in student success. In addition to correlating strongly with improved grades, it also helps students develop good habits—including responsibility and a good work ethic—that carry over in other aspects of life.
Throughout this school year, attendance for digital learners has focused primarily on capturing their presence online on each school day. A student who logged in any time during the hours of 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. during the school day received a “DL” as their attendance code. While this process provided information as to which digital learners were online that day to access lessons and resources, it did not provide details as to which students were online during class time, benefiting from live instruction and interaction with their teachers.
As we transition into digital learning for all students, Norcross Elementary School is updating its attendance procedures. Starting January 19, 2021 teachers will take attendance for students who are online during live instruction. Students who are not present during live instruction will be marked with the code “NPD“ which stands for “Not Present Digitally.” Students who are present during live instruction will continue to be marked present digitally with the “DL“ in their teacher’s gradebook.
The new process is more aligned to our normal attendance procedures and the expectations of in-person students. More importantly, it will help families to better support their students as they can clearly see that their student was online during class and interacting with their teacher and classmates, not just logging on to the computer at some point during the day. This information will help families as they partner with the school to maximize their child(ren)’s school experience.
If you have any questions about this new process for capturing attendance please contact Norcross Elementary School at 770-448-2188 or your child’s teacher.
Meal Information for January 19 - January 22
Families may pick up meals via curbside at the Norcross Elementary Cafeteria from 11:15am -12:15pm.
Families may also opt for bus service. Buses will run their routes from approximately 10:45 - noon.
Spirit Week for Digital Learning Days
SAVE THE DATE: JANUARY 26, 2021
9:30-10:30 2nd Grade
10:25 -11:25 1st Grade
12:00 - 1:00 4th Grade
12:50-1:50 3rd Grade
1:40-2:40 Kindergarten
2:30-3:30 5th Grade
You child's teacher will provide the Zoom meeting link information.
Return to Learning Hub
GCPS IS PROVIDING "DELIVERED" LUNCHES FOR STUDENTS NEXT SEMESTER
We will have 4 more days next semester in which all schools will be providing meals via bus distribution. The days/dates are as follows:
January 26th, March 2nd, March 16th, and April 20th – These dates have been designated as Digital Learning Days. Thus, we will provide meals via bus distribution. From Norcross ES, we will have five (5) buses that deliver lunches throughout our attendance zone.
Early Release Conferences
CHECKING OUT BOOKS
Dear Norcross Elementary Parents,
We are offering book checkout to students who are learning from home. If you would like for your child to check out books, watch the video's on how to place books on hold using our media catalog. Little ones will need your help with this.
We are allowing students to check out extra books this year to keep for a longer period, so be wise on the books you select. Try to get books on or close to your reading level when possible. If you are reading chapter books, be sure to reserve at least one-chapter book.
WE do only allow students to check out only 1 of our special books, which include: GF (Graphic), POP (Popular, DRAW (Drawing), & EYE SPY books. That means they should only put 1-2 on hold and they will receive one of them, the rest of the books can be from any section.
BOOK PICK UP: Parents may pick up the student's books on TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY 11AM - 2 PM in the front of the school. Just let them know you are here to pick up books for your child's name, Teacher name, & grade. Books will be checked out to students and placed in a bag at the front for pick up. All books should be placed on hold by Friday & should be available the following week on Friday. Books will be held at the front for 7 days & if not picked up, we will check them back in.
- How many books can a student checkout at one time?
K & 1st = 2 books;
2nd grade =3 books;
3rd grade= 4 books;
4th & 5th grade =5 books. - Video links:
VIDEO'S:
How to put books on hold:
https://instruction.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/d2l/le/content/1767614/viewContent/40015819/View
How to see what you have on hold or checked out:
https://instruction.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/d2l/le/content/1767614/viewContent/40015911/View
Review - How to put books on hold:
https://instruction.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/d2l/le/content/1767614/viewContent/40015848/View
District Resource
Who: Parents of all elementary school students
What: Zoom sessions and Tip Sheets to support student mastery of AKS foundational skills
Where: AKS at Home
How to Stay Connected
Principal – Kassia Sutton (kassia.morris.sutton@gcpsk12.org)
Assistant Principal - Gr. K, 1 – Jamie Elsey (jamie.elsey@gcpsk12.org)
Assistant Principal - Gr. 2, 3 – Staci Gelbaum (staci.gelbaum@gcpsk12.org)
Assistant Principal – Gr. 4, 5 – Contacia Cross (contacia.cross@gcpsk12.org)
Website: https://www.gcpsk12.org/NorcrossES
Location: 150 Hunt Street, Norcross, GA, USA
Phone: 770-448-2188
Facebook: facebook.com/NorcrossElementarySchool-GCPS