Generals eNews
Happy New Year!
Dear Annistown Parents and Guardians,
Happy New Year! We hope this message finds you in good health and high spirits as we usher in 2024. The start of a new year brings with it a sense of hope, renewal, and exciting possibilities. As we embark on the second semester of the academic year, we extend our warmest wishes to you and your family.
We are thrilled to welcome our students back to school for another enriching and engaging semester of learning. The break provided a well-deserved opportunity for rest and rejuvenation, and we trust that everyone is ready to dive back into the world of learning with enthusiasm.
This semester promises to be filled with new challenges, discoveries, and accomplishments. Our dedicated team of educators is committed to creating a positive and nurturing learning environment where each student can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. We encourage open communication between parents, teachers, and students to ensure a collaborative and supportive educational experience.
Throughout the upcoming months, we will continue to focus on fostering a love for learning, promoting creativity, and instilling a sense of responsibility in our students. We believe that education is a partnership, and your involvement and support are crucial elements in the success of our students.
We look forward to working together to make this semester a memorable and successful experience for our students. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to our dedicated staff.
Thank you for entrusting us with the education and well-being of your children. Wishing you and your family a fantastic start to the new year!
Your Proud Principal,
Gwenda Nimmo - Smith
Up-to-date Safety Equipment and Technology
Gwinnett County Public Schools has provided schools in our district with a variety of technological tools to reinforce security. These are some—but not all—of the tools in place:
- Cameras — interior and exterior
- VMS and Raptor — Visitor Management Systems that control the access to our doors. This also screens adults who enter our building against the National Sex Offenders Registry. Every visitor is required to show identification.
- Vestibules — Double glass door entry with bullet-resistant glass film at designated single point of entry for the school.
New Way to Enter our Building:
We are excited to announce a new enhancement to our school's security measures that will further ensure the safety of our students and provide you with a more convenient check-in and check-out process.
We will be implementing a new security system in our vestibule at the entrance of the school. This vestibule will serve as a controlled access point for anyone entering the school building during school hours. The purpose of this upgrade is to enhance the security of our campus and create a safer environment for everyone.
Here's how the new security vestibule will work:
- Upon arrival, parents and visitors will push the call button to use the intercom system and communicate the purpose for entry into the building.
- Visitors will enter the security vestibule and again push the call button on the office door to communicate their purpose for the visit.
- Entrance into the front office will be determined by the purpose of the visit.
- Parents and visitors wishing to check in or check out a student will be able to do so in the vestibule. Directions for completing this process will be posted in the vestibule.
- Parents wishing to check in tardy students may do so in the vestibule by completing the “Tardy Slip” located in the box identified as such.
- Parents wishing to check out a student will share the name and teacher with office personnel via the intercom in the vestibule.
- Parents who have other business to address will gain entry to the front office for support.
- All parents and visitors must present identification to enter the building and check out students.
- Once the identity has been confirmed, office staff will release students or remotely provide access to our building.
While we are introducing this new security feature, please rest assured that our office staff will still be available to guide you through the new process and support you with your needs. Our goal is to make this transition as smooth as possible for you and your children.
We understand that safety and convenience are of the utmost importance to you as parents, and we believe that the new security measures will help us maintain a secure learning environment while still providing efficient access for parents and visitors.
This new process will begin on Monday, January 29, 2024.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we implement this critical feature.
Book Fair Coming Soon!
- The Spring Book Fair is almost here! Sales will begin on Thursday, January 25th, and run through Thursday, February 1st. Students will have the opportunity to shop during the day and there will be a special sale during STEAM Night on Thursday, January 25th. Parents are welcome to shop with their students and if you are interested in volunteering, please contact Ms. Pridgen directly via email: amy.pridgen@gcpsk12.org
Attention: This will be a cashless book fair. There will be NO cash accepted. The only forms of payment will be credit/debit cards, prepaid cards, or eWallet.
Visit this link for more information and to set up an eWallet.
GCPS Water Testing
Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) is committed to the safety and well-being of students and staff; this includes ensuring they have access to safe drinking water. In a continuation of that commitment, reaffirmed more than three decades ago, GCPS has resumed testing drinking water for lead.
- The resumption of periodic testing, which began in 1987, is a proactive measure to ensure the health and safety of our students, staff, parents, and the community. GCPS has no evidence of widespread water quality issues in any school or building.
GCPS is working with the Georgia Department of Education and RTI International, a North Carolina-based EPA Accredited Lead Testing Laboratory, to complete its comprehensive plan that involves testing all drinking and cooking water taps in GCPS schools for lead. Testing will start in elementary schools before moving to middle and then high schools. The process is tentatively scheduled to be completed by the beginning of the 2024-25 school year.
For more information about GCPS’ testing efforts, please review the following downloadable documents:
Water testing results will be posted on the Clean Water for Georgia Kids Website.
Questions about the water testing program should be submitted to water_testing@gcpsk12.org
Gwinnett County Public Schools finds that the quickest and most effective way to resolve a concern regarding your child is by addressing it at the most direct level.
In our school district, we care about each and every student. We also believe that open and honest communication between parents and teachers is key to student success. Thank you for partnering with your child’s teacher and school to address any concerns.
1. Teacher - First, talk to your child’s teacher or a counselor at school for assistance. Most concerns are resolved at the classroom level.
2. Assistant Principal - If the concern is not resolved at the classroom level, please contact your child’s assistant principal.
3. Principal - If working with the AP does not adequately address the issue, please contact the school principal.
Save the Dates
Annistown Upcoming Events:
January 25: STEM Night - 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
February 2: Digital Learning Day
February 15 - 19: Winter Break
February 29: Black History Celebration
March 1: Read Across America Day
March 8: Sneaker Ball
March 6 - March 7: Early Release and Parent Conferences
March 14: Lunch On the Lawn
March 18: Spring Pictures
March 19 - March 20: Bring Your Parent to School Day
March 21: GMAS Parent Night
March 25 - March 28: Field Day
April 1 - April 7: Spring Break