Summerour Blue Devil Blast

Volume 2, Issue 16 - November 4, 2022
Dr. Looney's Message
Bus Safety Concerns
Students cannot be dropped off up front at the bus lanes in the morning!
Buses move in and out from before 8 am to after 10 am. We cannot have our students crossing the three lanes in front of the buses. This is why all parent drop off and pick up are handled from the separate car rider lane in the rear of the building.
Please do not drop your child off in front of the building, they have to walk around the building to the rear to get in anyway, so we might as well drop them off there.
Upcoming Dates
- November 4 - Progress Reports Go Home
- November 5 - All-State Chorus Auditions
- November 5 - JLC @ Shiloh MS
- November 5 - Orchestra GMEA (Solo & Ensemble)
- November 7 - High School Choice: In Person, Paul Duke STEM HS (English/Spanish)
- November 8 - Digital Learning Day #2
- November 8 - Election Day - Don't forget to vote!
- November 10 - #SocialSavvy for Parents
- November 11 - #SocialSavvy for Parents
- November 12 - Basketball Away Osborne MS (Mill Creek HS)
- November 12 - Orchestra District 13 Honors Orchestra
- November 14 - High School Choice: In Person, Norcross HS (English/Spanish)
- November 15 - 17 - GCPS' AKS at Home Sessions (info below)
- November 15 - Math Night
- November 16 - Makeup Picture Day
- November 17 - Basketball Away Duluth MS (Duluth HS)
- November 18 - Career Day
- November 18 - Theatre Arts Trip to North Gwinnett HS
- November 21 - 25 - Thanksgiving Break
- Week of November 28 - 8th Grade Students Submit High School Choice via eClass
Thank You Summerour Families
Every child will have many teachers before they walk across the stage on graduation day. They’ll learn about reading, math, science, art, and so much more. They’ll learn how to interact with others. They’ll learn about life.
But a child doesn’t meet their first teacher inside a school building – they meet them inside their home. Parents and families have an immense, lasting, and irreplaceable impact on a child’s education. The month of November is Family Engagement Month in our nation, a time to collectively recognize and honor the contributions of parents and families to student success.
Summerour Middle School is committed to educating the whole child. We strive to provide high-quality programs that improve teaching and learning across and equip our school with the information and resources we need to help parents actively engage in their child’s academic achievement.
Family engagement is a shared responsibility in which schools and other community organizations are committed to communicating with, reaching out to, and building ties to engage families in meaningful ways.
Research on family engagement suggests that when schools, families, and communities support each other, students of all backgrounds and abilities achieve at the highest levels.
First and foremost, to every parent and family member who pours their time, resources, efforts, and hours into their child’s education: thank you, from the bottom of my heart. Nothing could be more important than your engagement and involvement with your child’s education, and in their school.
I want to invite you to join the celebration throughout November and all year round, as schools and districts across the state plan special events and recognitions to honor the crucial role parents and families play in students’ education. Additionally, November 17 is National Parent Involvement Day, a time reserved, as a nation, for all parents to reflect on ways they can get more involved in the education of their children.
For ideas on how you can get engaged, please visit the Information for Parents page on our school’s website at https://www.gcpsk12.org/SummerourMS. Here you can access an array of resources including parent newsletter, Parent Portal and My Payment Plus applications, social media tips, videos, Title I and activities to build partnership, as well as testing and PTA information.
Again, I want to personally thank you as a parent or family member of a child in Summerour Middle School. Thank you for entrusting us with your child’s education. We could not do the work of educating Georgia’s future without you.
Dr. Natalie Looney, Principal
AKS at Home (presented by GCPS)
Sign up for our AKS at Home virtual sessions.
When?
- Kindergarten
- Language Arts: Wednesday, November 16 12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
- Mathematics: Wednesday, November 16 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
- 1st Grade
- Language Arts: Wednesday, November 16, 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
- Mathematics: Wednesday, November 16, 10:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
- 2nd Grade
- Language Arts: Tuesday, November 15, 12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
- Mathematics: Tuesday, November 15, 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
- 3rd Grade
- Language Arts: Tuesday, November 15, 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
- Mathematics: Tuesday, November 15, 10:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
- 4th Grade
- Language Arts: Thursday, November 17, 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
- Mathematics: Thursday, November 17, 10:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
- 5th Grade
- Language Arts: Thursday, November 17, 12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
- Mathematics, Thursday, November 17, 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Where?
Virtual meeting via Zoom (zoom link on website)
Unable to Attend?
A parent tip sheet and a recording of the meeting will be available on the county website following the completion of each unit.
*Language Interpretation services will be provided in Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese, and Chinese.
Fliers Below in 5 Languages
Mr. Lenie George
6th Grade Assistant Principal
Ms. Pam Griswell
6th Grade Counselor
Mr. Stacy James
7th Grade Assistant Principal
770-417-2486
Ms. Yunilda Valdez
7th Grade Counselor
770-417-2480
8th Grade Counselors:
Robin Blackwell, Robin.Blackwell@gcpsk12.org
Kimberly Blackshear, Kimberly.Blackshear@gcpsk12.org
8th Grade Assistant Principal:
Christy Gray, Christian.Gray@gcpsk12.org
8th Grade Clerk:
Faby Silva, Faby.Silva@gcpsk12.org
The Norcross cluster of schools has two outstanding options for rising ninth graders to choose from as they enter high school. Students and their families will have the opportunity to learn about Norcross High School and Paul Duke High School in October and November. Students will submit their choice for high school along with their elective course selections the first week of December.
The full high school selection timeline is now available.
Belinda Terry, Belinda.Terry@gcpsk12.org
Did you catch OUR orchestra at the Falcon's game?
The 23rd Latino Youth Leadership Conference
Saturday, December 3
Emory University
Free for all students, teachers, and parents and it includes breakfast, lunch, and a t-shirt. For more information, or to sign up, check out their website.
Options for Spending Blue Bucks
Summerour is a No Phone Zone!
Cell phones are not allowed during the school day at Summerour.
- No phones in classrooms
- No phones in hallways
- No phones in restrooms
Phones should be left at home or turned off and left in backpacks/book bags all day long.
November IB Learner Profile: Thinkers
Thinkers exercise initiative in applying thinking skills critically and creatively to recognize and approach complex problems, and make reasoned, ethical decisions.
IB students contribute to discussions in a meaningful way. They do not shy away from challenging questions and, once they know the answer, follow up by asking “why?”
Covid Surveillance Testing
Summerour is still hosting weekly Covid surveillance testing on Thursday afternoons. If you'd like to sign your child up, use this form to sign up.
Parent Center
Our Parent Center is located on our first floor, so it's easy to get to. Come check in at the front office, then use the Parent Center to volunteer, check-out resources, and get engaged!
More information is on our website, or you can reach out to Rosanna Carlson, our Parent Instructional Support Coordinator.
School Hours
- Student Tutoring - 8:15 - 8:50 a.m.
- Student Arrival - 8:50 a.m.
- Tardy Bell / Late Arrival - 9:15 a.m.
- No Check Out After - 3:00 p.m.
- Dismissal Bell - 4:00 p.m.
Have You Tried the Apps?
ParentVUE App
Parents can use this if they have a Parent Portal account. It's an app that makes it much easier to quickly access the portal and navigate student grades, absences, etc...
We strongly encourage you to use this if you have a portal account. If you don't have a portal account, come to the school and set one up.
Uninstall/Reinstall
If you are using either of these apps, but it quit working in September of 2022, you may need to uninstall/reinstall. There was a major update last month that requires this.
StudentVUE App
Students can install this on their iOS device (iPhone, iPad) or their Android device to more easily access the "My StudentVUE" portion of their portal: this includes, grades, missing assignments, etc.