The Parsons Happenings
Friday, February 28, 2020
As we celebrate Read Across America Week and the love for reading, I feel compelled to share my thoughts (from my mom perspective) on reading to your kiddos.
Much has been written about the myriad benefits of parents reading to their children. Research shows that it encourages a child's cognitive development, improves language skills and academic performance, and aids in emotional attachment. Babies can benefit from an early introduction to books, and even older children profit from continued parental involvement in reading. Even if this means sitting in the same room enjoying a quiet reading time. This is all good news, of course, but most parents know this.
What is not often pointed out, however, is how the parent benefits in this scenario, and I think it is a valuable angle to consider. While I am thrilled that my children’s lives have been enriched by our reading together, I have been even more surprised and delighted to discover just how much I have gained from this experience as a mom. My reading journey with my kids has been the greatest of joys, and it has been over twenty years in the making.
My children are now 20 and 17. They have been surrounded by books from the moment they entered the world. When we started our own family, it was natural to share reading with our kids.We began, like many other parents, watching our babies happily gnawing and drooling on the chubby board versions of Goodnight Moon and Tumble Bumble. Then we moved on to the maddeningly repetitive toddler years, when I read, How to be a Pirate, so many times I wanted to hide the book just so they would have to choose some other book.
When my kids started reading on their own, their personalities shone through in their reading habits and selections. Chase chose anything nonfiction and took on a love for history. This love continues to this day (He is the 20 year old choosing to go to Washington DC on his college spring break). Kailey Ann fell in love with the Babysitter series and to this day she displays a servant heart like the many characters she read about.
I suppose I thought reading with my children was something I was doing for them. But now it is clear that I am the one who has benefited the most. Personally, the best part of reading with my children when they were young has been seeing them evolve into engaged readers as young adults. My life is infinitely better for it.
So let me encourage you young parents out there. To the exhausted mom who is reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar for the fourteenth time after a long work day. To the dad who gets up early on Saturday morning and heads with his kids to the library instead of playing golf. I salute you. Keep up the good work. Because some day, after many years of your reading to them, you will realize how important the time was to YOU!
Proud to be YOUR Principal,
Laura Clark
Welcome Dominique King, Parsons Clinic Worker
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information
Achieving and Believing
Chess Champions
County Championship, and 5th place in K-5.
Picture attached and shown from left-
Ethan Pak, Kameron Lee, Ryan Pak, Bobby Li, Arkin Luo (not pictured)
Dual Language Immersion Program for 2020-2021
Read Across America Spirit Week: March 2nd-6th
Student Council Presented the Acts of Kindness Schoolwide Challenge February 1-29
Georgia Milestones for 3rd, 4th, & 5th Grades in April
You can find more information on GMAS, at the Georgia Departement of Education website. In addition, you can find more GMAS resources on this website too.
Promotion Criteria
Six Flags Read to Succeed Program: Earn a Free Six Flags Ticket
Field Day 2020
Week at a Glance
3/2/20
Read Across America Week
Pajama Day to celebrate!
Exceptional Children's Week
Autism Awareness Puzzle Pieces ~ $1 donation
Readers Rally ~ 7:30 am
Books with Badges 2nd grade ~ 9:45 am
Books with Badges 1st grade ~ 1:30 pm
Chess Club ~ 3:30 pm
Tennis Club ~ 3:30 pm
Girls on the Run ~ 4:00 pm
DLI Parent Meeting ~ 6:00 pm (For parents that are interested in DLI program for 2020-21 for new kindergarteners)
Tuesday
3/3/20
Read Across America Week
Wear Green!
Autism Awareness Puzzle Pieces ~ $1 donation
Learning through the Arts ~ And Then They Came for Me (5th grade) ~ 9:15 am
Spanish Club ~ 3:30 pm
Young Rembrandts ~ 3:30 pm
Wednesday
3/4/20
Read Across America Week
Dress Wacky! Wear inside out, backwards, Who Hair or Crazy Hat!
Autism Awareness Puzzle Pieces ~ $1 donation
Chorus Practice ~ 7:30 am
Drama Kids ~ 3:30 pm
Tiger Jo's Takewon Do ~ 3:30 pm
Girls on the Run ~ 4:00 pm
Thursday
3/5/20
Read Across America Week
Wear Crazy socks and/or Shoes
Autism Awareness Puzzle Pieces ~ $1 donation
Chorus Practice ~ 7:30 am
Witzzle Pro ~ 7:40 am
i9 Sports Club ~ 3:30 pm
Korean Language Club ~ 3:30 pm
Robotics Club ~ 3:45 pm
Friday
3/6/20
Read Across America Week
Dress up as what you want to do for the future!
Autism Awareness Puzzle Pieces ~ $1 donation
Student Council ~ 7:45 am
PTA Board Meeting ~ 9:00 am
Student Checkout
For assistance in updating contact information on the parent portal, please visit https://www.gcpsk12.org/Page/11430.
Class Placement Information: Parent Input
Afternoon Transportation
Parsons Elementary School Vision and Mission
Vision: The vision of Parsons Elementary is to become a school of choice with a welcoming, safe and secure environment that provides students with the necessary knowledge and skills to compete successfully in the 21st century and to be compassionate, conscientious, and productive leaders and citizens for our community, country, and world.
Mission: Parsons Elementary is a learning community that promotes individual academic excellence with a commitment to continuous improvement.
Motto: Achieving and believing
Beliefs:
¨ All students can learn.
¨ Student learning is the primary focus of all decisions impacting the work of the school.
¨ Students learn in different ways and need to demonstrate their understanding of essential knowledge and skills as well as be actively engaged in solving problems and producing quality work.
¨ Our commitment to continuous improvement is imperative so our school can enable students to become confident, self-directed life-long learners.
¨ A safe and physically comfortable environment promotes student learning.
¨ Teachers, administrators, parents, and community share the responsibility for advancing the school’s mission.
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