The FAST Flyer
The View from Above, Vol. 4 Issue 23
Feb. 19, 2022
PRINCIPAL'S PERSPECTIVE by Mary Miller
We have invited some of our staff to write a column. This week, Ms. Mary Miller, our elementary school assistant principal, will be our featured columnist.
As an elementary school teacher, teaching social emotional learning just came naturally to me. Being with my students for 7 hours a day lent itself very easily to what I like to refer to as “mom teaching.” You get to know your students and develop relationships with them, oftentimes they will even call you mom or dad by accident. When I was first introduced to social emotional learning six years ago, I scoffed at the idea thinking, “I already do this” and “we don’t have time for one more thing.” But, being a good teacher, I did as I was told, and as I taught the lessons from the Second Step Program explicitly to my fourth grade students I began to notice a real change in their behavior. There was less arguing and more students were talking out their problems with their peers and adults. I saw students using some of the strategies for calming down and recommending them to other students when they became upset.
It wasn’t long before I changed my mind about explicit social and emotional teaching and I started to read as much as I could about the topic, attending workshops, and collaborating with my colleagues to make SEL a part of our school culture. I learned that students who have SEL embedded into their school culture demonstrate impressive and measurable benefits later on in life by focusing on teaching and modeling self awareness and management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making.
SEL isn’t just about a few minutes of discussion each day. It needs to be a part of our school culture, in everything we do at school, modeled by all staff from the principal to the front desk supervisor to the cleaning staff. SEL has to be a part of all we do in our classrooms, schools, families, and communities if we want our students to develop the emotional intelligence to be successful in our rapidly changing world.
Today, SEL is needed more than ever. Since the COVID pandemic started schools have seen a spike in conduct issues and incidents of emotional distress, both of with can be addressed through a strong social emotional learning program by teaching students to recognize and manage their emotions, empathize and respect others, create and maintain healthy relationships with peers and adults, and make responsible choices for the good of themselves and others.
FAST’s mission always guides us in our choices for what is best for our school community, “committed to preparing students in a way that provides them with a foundation to be creative innovators and problem solvers so that they are prepared for success and leadership in a rapidly changing world.” FAST believes in teaching the whole child in order to create the well rounded, empathetic leaders of tomorrow. We began the process of implementing our school wide SEL program in the 2018-19 school year and have continued to expand and align our program with the mission and vision of FAST. This year our goals have expanded to make the SEL programming at our school an integral and integrated part of our school culture and community where all stakeholders are involved and empowered to support the emotional growth and wellbeing of our students.
If you have questions about how you can support the social emotional learning of your child please feel free to email me or to check out CASEL’s Our Children Are Leaders campaign that provides families with guidance and resources on SEL to encourage the development of social and emotional competencies for leaders of tomorrow.
COVID UPDATES
COVID REPORTING
If your child falls sick, please contact the nurse at victoria.murray@fastk8.org and the principal at stan.beiner@fastk8.org so they can help you with a plan for return.
Also, contact the school if your child is coming off of quarantine to verify the return date.
Covid Testing-We highly recommend testing next Tuesday after a four day weekend!
We remain committed to mitigating the spread of Covid. We are offering testing at FAST on Tuesday mornings for students and FAST families. Please consider having your child tested when they return to school on Tuesday particularly if you traveled over the long weekend or found yourself in large crowds of unmasked individuals. Please be sure to send the documents listed below if you want to have your child tested. Consent to Test (required for each student each time they test) Information Release (only needs to be completed once) Copy of Driver’s License & Insurance Card (only needs to be completed once) Our FAST families are also invited to test during this window. To help us plan for the day, please let us know if you plan to get tested by using the form below. Let us know to call your student down to test by completing this form. If you would like to be tested yourself, complete this form. If you or your student is symptomatic or you think you have Covid, we ask that you go directly to the test site rather than test at FAST.
HAPPENINGS
Black History Month: Walk of Fame
Kindness Day
Our teachers put together so many activities for our students to show kindness this week. From friendship bracelets to a kindness quilt. There were notes and quotes, crafts and bingo. Our teachers all found ways to help their students show kindness to their FAST community. Kindergarten students shared kind words about their friends, while middle school students wrote notes about their classmates. Students in all grades celebrated kindness and what it means to be a friend in both their words and actions. It was a special day for all.
5th Grade Moving Up Meeting
On Thursday evening, Mr. Epstein hosted an informational zoom meeting with our sixth grade team to provide details about what to expect as students move into middle school.
If you were unable to attend, you can watch the recording here.GADoE Parent Survey
If you are interested in sharing your opinions on FAST, you can complete a survey for GADoE
HERE.
FCS Tech Fair - Five FAST entries are going to STATE!
The results are in and we want to give a HUGE shout out to all of our FAST students who performed so well in the Fulton County Tech Fair this year. We have seven students who are advancing to the state competition for taking first place in their grade/category in the county. Congratulations to all of those students who placed!
Grades 3-4
Internet Applications: Revanth Sriram (3rd)
Multimedia Apps: Nirwaan Kayastha (1st)
Grades 5-6
Device Modification Team: Troy Wang & Ahaan Dev (1st)
Grades 7-8
3D Modeling: Sumeda Sriram (2nd)
Device Modification Team: Arya Alapati & Bhavya Alapati (1st)
Digital Game Design: Sourish Yeturi (1st)
Digital Game Design: Tejas Bhardwaj (3rd)
Internet Applications: Matthew Kingsly (2nd)
Mobile Apps: Charvik Morampudi (1st)
Video Production: Vihari Ayyalasomayajula (2nd)
Programming Challenge Team: Kirill McQuillin & Matthew Kingsly (2nd)
Programming Challenge: Shivi Bangwal (3rd)
Save the Dates!
Innovation Showcase: April 1, 2022
This school wide event will allow our students to show off the amazing work they have been doing throughout the year. Features will include 3rd grade Cardboard Carnival, 5th Grade Entrepreneurship and Invention Fair, Best of Genius Hour and so much more! In the words of Mr. Franklin, “It’s going to be epic!” The program will take place during the morning and a schedule will be out several weeks in advance.
FAST Family Festival of the Arts: Friday, May 6, 2022 with a parents only preview night Thursday, May 5, 2022. The PTO is sponsoring this spring event that will feature both student and staff art, silent auction and more. Keep an eye out for more details!
Milestones & EOC
REMINDERS
FAST Food Policies
Periodically, we offer reminders to our parents of important school polices such as food.
FAST encourages healthy eating and balanced meals. Please avoid sending candy/cakes/donuts/etc. to school. Carbonated and energy drinks are also not permitted. These items will be confiscated by staff.
Birthdays celebrated at school do not include food.
We are also a nut-free friendly school. In order to prevent a reaction in any of our students who may have life threatening allergies, nut products may not be brought to school for lunch or snack.
We do not deliver lunches to classrooms. Please remember to send them with your children.
The school will not accept lunches being delivered to school by services like UberEats or DoorDash.
Hoodies and Sweatshirts- Please help us
Yearbooks
Atlanta Lunch Co. Menu
FAST Kindness Challenge
Win a Class Party for Your Classroom
One of our business partners is having a teacher appreciation week. Help support them and win a party for your class just by nominating your teacher!
WIN A POPCORN PARTY FOR YOUR CLASS!
Teacher Appreciation Week at Aurora Cineplex
Friday Feb 4th--Thur March 17th
Elementary School Students--This Contest is for You !
* Come by Aurora Cineplex anytime between Friday Feb 4th and Thur March 17th.
* When you purchase a Movie or Mini Golf ticket, Nominate your Teacher.
* Each week, we will pick a winner, and your teacher will win a Big Yellow Bag of Popcorn for their class popcorn party, and a Royal VIP prize for the teacher.
* 1 form per student per visit.
Sponsored by--
Area 51: Aurora Cineplex and The Fringe Miniature Golf--
5100 Commerce Parkway, Roswell, GA 30076
ph: 770-518-0977 www.a51fun.com
February Fun Days continue...
On Friday, Feb. 25 the PTO plans to let the FAST Staff know...
We are just POPPING by to say we would KNOT be the same without you!
We are looking for contributions of Soda & Pretzels.
Can you help?
UPCOMING EVENTS
- Feb. 11: Lottery draw
- Feb. 17: Middle School Info Session for 5th Grade Parents
- Feb. 18: Teacher Work Day (Students Off)
- Feb. 21: Presidents' Day (School Closed)
- March 10: Teacher Work Day (Students Off)
- March 11-14: School Closed
- Apr. 1: Innovation Fair
- Apr. 25-May 13: Milestones
- May 6: FAST Art Festival
THE LATEST FROM FULTON COUNTY SCHOOLS
FAST
Fulton County Schools
GA Charter Schools Association
FULTON ACADEMY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Email: info@fastk8.org
Website: www.fastk8.org
Location: 11365 Crabapple Road, Roswell, GA, USA
Phone: 678-321-1100
Facebook: facebook.com/FASTK8.School/
Twitter: @fastk8charter
The FAST Flyer is the electronic newsletter at FAST. Feedback is always welcome. If you have any questions, please call the school (678-321-1100) or email the FAST Communications Director at marie.emerson@fastk8.org.