Simonton Parent Newsletter
May 20, 2022
Every Student, Every Day, Deserves to Learn, Lead, & Excel!
Message from Ms. Perkins
Our last few days are action packed. Monday, May 23, 2022 and Tuesday, May 24, 2022 we will celebrate our 5th grade students. It is always bittersweet to send them off to middle school. Check the school calendar below for the day of each class celebration.
Have a wonderful and safe summer!
Boys & Girls Club Announcement
The Boys & Girls Club last day for this school year will be 5/20/22.
Any students that go to Boys & Girls club will need a transportation change note letting us know what transportation their parent would like for them for 5/23/22 – 5/25/22.
The following events will take us through the end of the school year...
Monday, May 23
- 5th Grade Celebrations (Colclough, Vlaic, Shoemake, & Digital Students)
Tuesday, May 24
- 5th Grade Celebrations (Lewis, Lubin, & Sherrer)
Wednesday, May 25
- Last Day of School
- Report Cards sent home
It's not too late to order your Yearbook!!
Don't miss the opportunity to have your own copy before we run out! We currently have 31 copies remaining.
You can purchase a yearbook through your MyPaymentsPlus account, located under the 'School Fees' section. The cost is $23.00.
If you do not have a MyPayments Plus account and would like to still purchase one, please contact the school. We will accept cash, check, or credit card.
Student Access
2021-22 eCLASS Course Pages-
If students have current acces to a course page, access will continue through July 19th.
Summer School-
For students scheduled in Synergy for S3, course pages will be visible based on the school calendar start dates in Synergy for S3.
2022-23 eCLASS Course Pages-
Access for course pages will be determined by each cluster. Currently, it is TBD.
Digital Textbooks in MYeCLASS Student Portal-
If students have current acces to a digital resources, access will continue through July 7th.
If students are scheduled in Synergy for S3, digital resources will be available as as May 10th. Access based on S3 schedules will continue through July 7th. Digital Summer Support Resources access will remain open through July 12th.
Access for digital resources will be available August 2nd based on the 22-23 Syenrgy schedules.
Annual Parent Involvement Survey
Who: Families of students who are receiving special education services
What: Each state is required to conduct a parent survey to measure parent/family perceptions of the success of parent engagement between home and local schools.
When: Available January 18, 2022 – May 31, 2022
Where: Parents can complete the survey via the survey link below. We ask that a copy of the attached letter be sent home to every SWD student. Additionally, we ask that the letter(s) and survey link be posted on your special education teacher's e-class pages as well as your school website. Our goal is to ensure that all parents are aware of the survey and can have the opportunity to participate.
Please use the following link to access the survey: https://survey.gadoe.org/SPEDParentSurvey
Georgia Special Needs Scholarships: SB10 and SB47
What: Under state laws passed by the Georgia State Legislature, parents of students who receive special education services or accommodations under a Section 504 Individual Accommodation Plan may request to transfer their child to another public or private school in Georgia.
Who: Any student who currently receives special education services, grades PK-11th and any returning 12th grader, as well as students who are eligible for a Section 504 Plan and are in grades Kindergarten-11th.
This information, forms, as well as parent letters are accessible on the GCPS website: https://www.gcpsk12.org/Page/23585
ParentVUE Mobile App for GCPS Families
GCPS parents can use their smartphones to access ParentVUE to find grades, schedules, and more!
Will your child be 5 years old by Sept. 1? If yes, it’s time to register for kindergarten in an easy, two-step process! First, go to the Kindergarten Registration page on the GCPS website and click the Register Now! button to begin the online registration process. Then, schedule an appointment at your child’s school to verify information, complete a kindergarten readiness profile, pick up materials, and learn about an exciting summer learning opportunity—GCPS’ Rising K Academy!
Rising K Academy offers fun, hands-on learning activities to help kindergartners get ready for the first day of school at no cost to families! Children will meet new friends, learn through play, practice cooperating with their classmates and solving problems, and build the skills they will need to be ready for kindergarten. Transportation and meals (breakfast and lunch) are provided. This in-person program will meet Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., from June 13 to July 1, with a school holiday on June 20.
New kindergartners registered by May 20 will be entered to win prizes like tablets, books, and LEGOs!
See our Simonton Kindergarten Registration Flyers below...
Mystery Science Video:
Gwinnett County Public Library's 2022 Summer Reading Challenge
The theme this year is Oceans of Possibilities.
Here is everything you need to know to participate:
Challenge Dates: May 15th – Aug. 15th (Pre-registration begins on May 1st)
How to Participate: Create or log into an existing Beanstack account here, register for GCPL’s Summer Reading Challenge, and earn prizes by reading and completing activities.
Check out the Beanstack App! Tracking your challenge progress is easier than ever with the Beanstack app. Find it in the App Store and the Google Play Store and keep up-to-date with library fun all summer long.
Make Summer Magical: Gwinnett’s favorite magician, Ken Scott, will be performing at each branch this summer from July 18-27. See our events calendar to find out when he will be at a branch near you.
Track Your Reading: Earn Book Badges by logging the books you read this summer On Beanstack. Every book counts, even if it’s the same one over and over!
Activities and Events: Learning happens through doing as much as it does by reading. Find fun storytime events for your little ones all summer. We have in-branch as well as virtual options, and even a few storytimes at the Splash Pads at Graves and E.E. Robinson county parks.
Prizes: To earn books and entries into our Grand Prize drawing, all you need to do is log the books you read.
- Log 25 Books: Win a free book!
- Log 50 Books: Win a second free book!
- Log 75 Books: Win a third free book and one entry into the Grand Prize drawing!
- Log 100 Books: Win a fourth free book and an additional entry into the Grand Prize drawing!
Grand Prize! Be entered in a drawing to win an annual pass for a family of four to the Georgia Aquarium.
How It Works: Earn points, win prizes!
Earning Points: Log the time you spend reading this summer. Every minute you read earns you a point (1 minute = 1 point). To achieve your goal a bit faster, explore our Activity Badges where you can earn even more points for learning, doing, and exploring!
Activities and Events: Learn more about ocean animals, pirates, surfing, and more by completing virtual Activity Badges. Check Beanstack to find our badges and see if you can collect them all!
Puppet Shows! Attend our kick-off puppet shows featuring ocean-themed stories. Our puppets will be visiting all branches from June 3rd – June 8th.
Check our events calendar to find out when we will be swimming into your neighborhood.
Crafts: Pick up a free Take & Make supply kit to make some ocean-themed bookmarks at home. Available July 11- 17 at a branch near you, while supplies last. Limit 5 per family. (All ages.)
Prizes: To earn books and entries into our Grand Prize drawings, all you need to do is log the minutes you spend reading.
- 350 Points: Win a free book if you are 18 and under.
- 700 Points: Win a second free book if you are 18 and under.
- 1400 Points: Win a third free book if you are 18 and under. Everyone gets one entry into our Grand Prize drawing!
- 3200 Points: Win a fourth free book if you are 18 and under. Everyone gets another entry into our Grand Prize drawing!
- Every 300 additional points beyond 3200 earns you another entry into the Grand Prize drawing! (Max 5 entries per participant)
Grand Prize! Grand Prize winners will receive an annual membership for a family of four to the Georgia Aquarium!
Summer Route for the GCPS Book Mobile
Lawrenceville Library Vision to Learn Events in July
Vision to Learn will be offering free eye exams, vision screenings, and free glasses (if needed) at the branch for all kids ages 5-18 on Monday, July 11 and Thursday, July 14 from 9:30 AM to 3 PM. Registration is required and no walk-ins will be accepted during the events.
Return the attached form if you would like your child to participate... [There are 2 separate forms attached, each with a separate date.]
Click here for details and class descriptions. Ages 7-16
In-person Camps: https://www.kids4coding.com/inperson-techcamps4kids
Remote Camps: https://www.kids4coding.com/remote-springtechcourses
Family Engagement eTips
Here's a way to make schoolwork a game
Here's a creative way to motivate your child to do schoolwork: On sticky labels, write small rewards your child would like, such as choosing what's for dinner, watching a TV show or reading an extra book together. Then get a spinner from a board game and apply the labels to it. When your child completes assigned work without being reminded, offer the chance to spin the dial for a reward. https://tpitip.com/?12eP18608
Give chores a positive spin
Doing chores helps kids develop responsibility, and that pays off in school. But how do you get your child to do chores? Kids love to plan and to carry out their plans. So involve your child in deciding what to do when. Each week, let your student choose two or three chores from a list. Schedule a "family chore time," then follow up with fun: Fill a jar with activity suggestions your child can pick from when chores are done. https://tpitip.com/?12eQ18608
Help your child see the meaning of the reading
Some kids work so hard to read individual words that they lose the meaning of the passage. To help your child with comprehension, pause from time to time as your child reads and ask, "Does that make sense?" Suggest that your student reread the passage. Your child's teacher may also have a list of sight words your child can study to help build reading fluency. https://tpitip.com/?12eR18608
The arts add to your child's education
Research indicates that studying music, theater and other fine arts can improve children's
achievement in school. There are lots of ways to add the arts to your child's life: Sing in the car. Keep a box of art supplies handy. Visit local museums together. Check out books about art and artists at the library. Watch TV programs about the arts with your child. Look for listings of local arts events for kids, too. https://tpitip.com/?12eS18608
Focus discipline on the Dos, not the Don'ts
When it comes to discipline, it's more effective to tell children what they should do than what they shouldn't. "Please gather up your schoolwork and put it away before dinner" is more likely to get a positive response than "Don't leave your homework all over the table!" That's because it gives your child a chance to do the right thing without any criticism from you. https://tpitip.com/?12eT18608
Put reading material wherever your child will read it
It can be hard to get very active children to sit down to read for long stretches of time. So make the most of short chunks of time to encourage your active child's love of reading. Keep lots of interesting reading material around that your child can pick up quickly, especially in the kitchen. Active kids eat often. Your child could read a short article while heating something in the microwave, for example. https://tpitip.com/?12eU18608
Make outdoor learning part of your child's routine
Many children today spend most of their time indoors. They are isolated from nature. But positive outdoor experiences enhance both learning and quality of life. Try to go outside with your child every day. Provide tools for investigating the environment, like a magnifying glass, a bucket, a shovel and a rake. Then help your child learn about nature by touching and experiencing it. Focus on what interests your student. https://tpitip.com/?12eV18608
Simonton Elementary ~ What We Stand For
Vision
Simonton is committed to dynamic high quality instruction resulting in a passion for learning, leading and excelling.
Core Belief
Every Student Every Day, Deserves to Learn, Lead, and Excel
Commitments
We commit to giving our students a fresh start every day.
We commit to preparing quality and engaging lessons that will prepare our students to be successful in school.
We commit to teaching, modeling and holding our students accountable for appropriate school behavior.
We commit to providing our students with a structured and safe learning environment.
We commit to a great year of learning, leading, and excelling
Simonton Elementary School
Superintendent- Dr. Calvin J. Watts
Assistant Superintendent- Dr. Terry Watlington
Board Member- Mr. Steven B. Knudsen
Principal- Tamara G. Perkins
Assistant Principal- Tifferney Dodd
Assistant Principal- Daphne Miles
Assistant Principal- Emily Young
Contact information:
phone: (770) 513-6637
website: gcpsk12.org/SimontonES