MUSTANG NEWS

Happy First Friday Mustangs!

We have had a great start of the school year! Thank you to our staff and parents for their support, cooperation, and patience. Throughout this week, teachers and students engaged in getting to know me activities, explicitly teaching our Mustang M.U.S.T, classroom routines and procedures, and started working on instructional content. We had our first PBIS Townhall Meeting led by our PBIS Coaches Ms. Brown and Ms. Collins. Students learned all about our behavior expectations while in classroom, on the bus, in the restroom, on the playground, and in the cafeteria. We also discussed how we will reward students for adhering to our school behavior expectations. Even our school mascot Meg made a guest appearance! Please ask your student to share what our Mustang M.U.S.T behavior expectations, and these expectations are for every student, everyday!

Just as we were excited to welcome students back, we welcomed you back into the building as well! Parents are welcomed to escort students to class daily up until 7:35 am. Parents arriving after this time will not be permitted beyond the front office as instruction begins at 7:40 am.

I am proud to say, we did pretty good with our school traffic! Please review the following helpful items that will make us more effective with morning arrival and afternoon dismissal:

• We encourage parents and students to add the “Here Comes The Bus” app to their personal device for the most accurate bus stop information and to send you an alert on how close your school bus is. The app is free and instructions can be found on the Transportation website, which is on the FCS homepage.
• We ask that parents and students are patient during the first two weeks of school as all schools are working to resolve their loading process in the afternoons. At Cliftondale, we checklist every child onto the buses to ensure that all students are on the correct bus.

• Please be mindful of school zones when driving around our school locations, please SLOW DOWN. Remember to pay attention to flashing yellow lights on the school bus, flashing yellow means caution because the stop arm and flashing redlights are ready to be activated. Every vehicle behind the bus and vehicles in the opposite lane must stop when the red lights are flashing and the stop arm is out.
• Parents can check students out early anytime up until 2:00 pm. If you wish to check your student out early, please report to our front office with identification prior to 2:00 pm daily. Our students will only be released a bus rider, car rider, afterschool, or van. If your child is a car rider, you must join the car rider line. It will be long as we many of our students are car riders, and we thank you for your patience and your cooperation.
• Lastly, our Transportation Department continues to experience a bus driver shortage. If you are interested in serving your community please fill out an application, you too will have a positive impact on our students’ success as one of our school bus drivers. CLICK HERE TO APPLY!
  
  

Lastly, remember the instructional day begins at 7:40 am. Students arriving at 7:41 am or later will be marked tardy as of August 14, 2023.

Have a great weekend!

A. Nicole Canty

Principal
Cliftondale Elementary School

Safety remains a top priority for us in Fulton County Schools. It is now Board Policy that students must wear seatbelts if they are riding in a bus that offers seatbelts (all our propane). Students that fail to comply will receive disciplinary referral for not wearing their seatbelt. Please help us to keep your child safe by reminding them to wear their seatbelt at all times. We appreciate you helping Transportation to get this message out!

RISING 2ND GRADE PARENTS: In Fulton County Schools, all students entering 2nd grade, 7th grade, and 10th grade will be required to submit proof of residency prior to the start of their enrollment in the aforementioned grades. All proofs of residency must be provided with the parent(s)/ guardian(s) name and address.

Utility Proof- Please provide a copy of your most recent utility bill

• Electric monthly statement; OR
• Water monthly statement
  
  **Gas bills are not accepted in Fulton County Schools
  
  

Residence Proof: - Please provide a copy of (1) of the items provided below:

• Home Mortgage Bill;
• Home Sale Contract;
• current Apartment/House Lease
• Section Eight/HUD Housing Document; OR
• Current HOA Bill

**Residency verification must be completed prior to August 7, 2023. Parent/guardians may provide the (2) proofs of residency from the approved list as detailed above to our school Data Clerk, Ms. Allen at allenk3@fultonschools.org OR in-person via our front office. Please make sure to include each student's first and last names with the residency documents. Parents may review the full policy by clicking the provided link: http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/fcss/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=9TZHPX4902EC

Are you registered for your Campus Parent Portal Account? If not, REGISTER TODAY! Everything you need as a parent is contained in the parent portal. You can monitor your student's grades throughout the school year, review your child's schedule, download progress reports and report cards, update your contact information, register other students within your household, withdrawal your student and so much more! If you already have an account, you do not need to register again. New users should click the link provided to register: Parent Portal Registration

*Please note, if you DO NOT have an email address on file, you will be unable to register via the provided link. Please call the school and ask for our Data Clerk, Ms. Allen.

The Free & Reduced Meal Benefits Program is a part of the National Child Nutrition Program. This program makes Free or Reduced priced meals available to qualifying households. Qualifications are based on the gross income of all household members and the number of persons living in the house. A new application must be completed every school year. If there is an interruption in benefits or the household does not reapply, the household is responsible for payment of meals until the Free and Reduced Application is approved.

Cliftondale continues to receive funding as a Title I School. These funds support with student instruction, improve instructional strategies, and increase family engagement. Our Title I status is determined annually by the number of families participating in our free/reduced lunch program. We need your help Mustang-Parents! All we need is for you to complete a School Lunch Application for your household. It’s that simple!

Free & Reduced Meal Applications are available in the cafeteria and anytime online. Visit www.fulton.schoollunchapp.com to begin the online application process.

Parents, family members and friends are not allowed to bring in cakes, balloon bouquets, flowers, goodie bags, gifts, pizza, or any other type of treat to celebrate a student birthday. Teachers are not allowed to celebrate birthdays in the class with a party or a snack either. Rather, parents may purchase a Smart Celebrations Package from the cafeteria. This can be done to student birthdays and/or any other classroom celebrations. Smart Celebration packets should be purchased in the cafeteria at least (2) days in advance. Please contact our Nutrition Manager, Ms. Curry at curryd1@fultonschools.org

The consideration for gifted services may be reported or automatic as defined by the GaDOE Resource Manual for Gifted Education Services. The Fulton County School System screens all students for eligibility for gifted services twice a year and uses a systematic approach to identify highly capable students who may qualify for gifted services. The gifted teacher routinely reviews available data to refer students for further assessment. Students meeting either the automatic screening OR the classroom screening criteria AND who have supporting data gathered from test history, products, and/or advanced content levels are referred for additional testing to determine gifted eligibility.

TAG TESTING ELEMENTARY PARENT Q&A

TALENTED AND GIFTED (TAG) DISTRICT PAGE

School safety remains a top priority for us in Fulton County Schools. We take maintaining a safe and secure learning environment very serious. I expect all Cliftondale students, parents and staff members act in a manner that keeps everyone safe. I strongly encourage all parents to review the Code of Conduct, and speak with your child about his/her behavior. When incidence of misconduct arise, consequences will be assigned based on the infraction as detailed within the Code of Conduct.

Registration closes when we reach 200 guests OR September 9th by CLICKING HERE. Nonregistered guest will not be permitted entry.

Also, please email pictures of your Cliftondale student with his/her grandparents by September 9th. Parents should email pictures to youngj1@fultonschools.org

BUS RIDERS/BUS STOP INFORMATION - CLICK HERE to verify your child's assigned bus stop info. All stop times are approximate times. If you have questions pertaining your child’s assigned stop or assigned bus, please contact FCS Transportation Department at 470-254-6060.

"Here Comes The Bus App" is a free, easy-to-use website and app that enables you to see the location of your child’s school bus on a smartphone, tablet, or personal computer. This way, you know when the bus is near your stop, so you can send your child out at just the right time. No more worrying about whether your child has missed the bus! If you have questions or concerns regarding your child's assigned bus or bus stop, please contact FCS Transportation Department at 470-254-6060 OR contact our supervisor:

Cheowana Henderson, Supervisor
Hendersonc1@fultonschools.org

Charisse Weigner, Special Needs Supervisor
weignerc@fultonschools.org

• The app will request a school code, which is 87428
• How do you access your student's student ID number? Parents may access their child's student ID number from the parent portal in Infinite Campus.
  
• If you add your child and the bus number or bus stop is incorrect, please contact our supervisor, Ms. Henderson
• If you add your child and their is no bus route displayed, please contact our supervisor, Ms. Henderson.

CLICK HERE to submit your registration to perform at Karaoke Night.

August 3, 2023: Open House: 2:00 pm-4:00 pm

August 7, 2023: First Day of School
August 14, 2023: District 4 Community Meeting 6:00 pm at Renaissance Middle School
August 22, 2023: Bright from the Start PK Orientation Night 4:00 pm-5:00 pm
August 25, 2023: Cluster Night at Langston Hughes High School 5:00pm-7:00 pm

September 1, 2023: Mustang of the Month – 8:30 am

September 4, 2023: Labor Day Holiday- Schools Closed

September 5, 2023: Teacher Workday- No School for Students

September 6, 2023: Professional Development Day-No School for Students

September 12, 2023: Moms on the Move 8:00 AM-9:30 AM/Dads on Duty 6:55 AM- 8:00AM

September 12, 2023: Fall Picture Day

September 13, 2023: Grandparents’ Breakfast 8:30 am

September 13, 2023: 4 ½ Week Progress Report (viewable in Parent Portal)

September 14-October 2, 2023: Fall Fundraiser

September 20, 2023: Boy Scouts of America Class Visits

September 21, 2023: Boy Scouts of America Parent Interest Meeting at 5:30 pm

September 26, 2023: Annual Title I Meeting at 5:30 pm/
Curriculum Night immediately following the Title I Meeting

October 4, 2023: Moms on the Move 8:00 AM-9:30 AM/Dads on Duty 6:55 AM- 8:00AM

October 4, 2023: Parent Workshop: Literacy

October 6, 2023: Mustang of the Month – 8:30 am

October 9, 2023: Columbus Day Holiday- Schools Closed

October 10, 2023: Teacher Workday- No School for Students

October 11, 2023: Professional Development Day-No School for Students

October 13, 2023: 9-Week Progress Report (viewable in Parent Portal)

October 23-31, 2023: Red Ribbon Week

October 25, 2023: Fall Picture Retake Day

October 30, 2023: Fall Fundraiser Pickup Day

October 30, 2023: Trunk or Treat

November 1, 2023: Moms on the Move 8:00 AM-9:30 AM/Dads on Duty 6:55 AM- 8:00AM

November 1, 2023: Parent Workshop: Technology

November 3, 2023: Mustang of the Month – 8:30 am

November 7, 2023: Election Day/ Remote Learning Day

November 15-17, 2023: Holiday Luncheons

November 15, 2023: 13 ½ Week Progress Report (viewable in Parent Portal)

November 20-24, 2023: Thanksgiving Holidays- Schools Closed

December 1, 2023: Mustang of the Month – 8:30 am

December 6, 2023: Moms on the Move 8:00 AM-9:30 AM/Dads on Duty 6:55 AM- 8:00AM

December 6, 2023: School Spelling Bee

December 6-8, 2023: Winter Concert Series

December 13-14, 2023: Class Holiday Party

December 15, 2023: Last Day of First Semester

December 18-January 1, 2024: Winter Break- Schools Closed

• Please be alert at all times! We have students exiting vehicles, parents and students crossing the street, and staff supporting students as they exit their vehicle. Please be attentive to all mustangs.
• Please do not park in the car rider loop. The car rider loop is for quick drop offs only. If you would like to exit your vehicle and escort your child into the school, please park in a nearby visitors parking space. Parents may escort students to class up until 7:35 am daily.
• Please have your student ready to exit the vehicle. This means, make sure his/her bookbag and other belongs are ready and easily accessible. This speeds up the process tremendously!
• Pull all the way forward to cone #1.
• Help your student learn his/her car rider number.
• Please be patient!

See It. Hear It. And Report It Every Time

If you SEE or HEAR anything about school threats, weapons, violence, bullying, drugs, self-harm, or have other school safety suspicions or concerns, REPORT it EVERY time anonymously using the SHARE TIP LINE.

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It has become apparent that district employees and guardians are eager to understand the policy process better and stay updated. Therefore, Continuous Improvement will begin hosting a monthly virtual office hour for all stakeholders to attend, where a Strategy & Governance team member can answer questions and provide guidance. Mark your calendar for the first session on August 16, from 8:00 – 9:00 AM. You can find all the dates, times, and Teams links at www.fultonschools.org/policyupdates. If you have any questions, please reach out to Erin Nusnbaum.

Principal: Mrs. Canty- cantya@fultonschools.org

Assistant Principal: Mrs. Long- longt@fultonschools.org

Curriculum Support Teacher: Yazmin Hicks- hicksz@fultonschools.org

School Counselor: Dr. Ford- fordb@fultonschools.org

Instructional Support Teacher: Dr. Shabo- shabog@fultonschools.org

K-2 Literacy Coach: Mrs. Kalista- kalista@fultonschools.org
3rd-5th Grade Literacy Coach: Ms. Johnson- johnsonkr1@fultonschools.org

Math Coach: Mrs. Everett - everettba@fultonschools.org

Parent Liaison: Ms. Render- renderhh@fultonschools.org

School Social Worker: Dr. Carver- carvera@fultonschools.org