The Corley Cheer (January Edition)

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Happy January!

I hope this newsletter finds your family well and that your Winter Break was a fantastic one! As your proud principal, I am so proud of our Corley Scholars and the hard work that they do each day. I also continue to be in awe of our OUTSTANDING Corley staff as they partner with you to best support your children. We continue to show our gratitude for you trusting our school to serve as educational support for your students.

December was fantastic and we truly enjoyed celebrating the "December to Remember" with your students with our fun days for dress up and more. January will be equally as exciting as we near the 100th Day of School and more fun ways to celebrate learning at Corley Elementary School.

As we approach the beginning of 2024, the time to continue our collaboration is evident. Let's continue to work together to ensure that your students are supported at the highest level and that our partnership with you continues to strengthen at Corley Elementary.

I look forward to seeing you in the building during events or throughout the school day. We are #CorleyStrong and look forward to seeing you soon. If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact me or our administrative team. Please review the exciting updates below.

Mrs. Hollace Ervin- Special Education Services and Specials

Mrs. Tammy Knox- Kindergarten, 1st Grade, and ESOL Services

Mrs. Morgan Mendieta Hudson- 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, and ESOL Services

Mr. Gregory Jackson- 4th Grade and 5th Grade

Proud to be your principal,

Mrs. Aleshia Duckworth

• January 4-9:
  All Corley Kindergarten-5th students will complete an iReady Diagnostic for both Reading and Math to measure their progress from the beginning of the year to the middle of the year. Please arrive to school on time and ready to do your best!

• What is this assessment?
  iReady is a Universal Screener administered to all K – 8 grade students at least twice per year. It assesses skills in Reading and Mathematics.

• Why is my child taking this assessment?
  Universal Screeners are used to help teachers determine which skills need to be supported more and which skills are a particular strength for each student. This allows the teacher to plan instruction more effectively.

GCPS Blueprint For The Future

• Goal 2.A-Multi-tiered system of supports
• Goal 3.A-Results-Based Evaluation System
  

• January-February:
  Students who receive ESOL support will participate in ACCESS testing during the months of January-February.

• What is this assessment?
  ACCESS is a test designed to measure English learners' social and academic proficiency in English. It assesses conversational and instructional English (words used in classes at school). Results help teachers and schools to understand the progress of students in the areas of Speaking, Listening, Reading, and Writing in English.

• Why is my child taking this assessment?
  This is a state required assessment for students eligible for Multilingual Learner services. Students may exit the ML program based on their ACCESS scores.
  
  

GCPS Blueprint For The Future

• Goal 2.A-Multi-tiered system of supports
• Goal 3.A- Results-Based Evaluation System

GCPS schools and offices will be closed on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day— Monday, January 15— with students and staff returning to class on Tuesday, January 16. The birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is observed as a national holiday each year on the third Monday in January. MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities.

Your child's teacher finalized grades during the month of December. However, Report Cards will not be issued by the county until January. Parents can view Report Cards in ParentVUE on January 14th, 2024. The district office will print and mail report cards to your home address January 16th, 2024.

GCPS Blueprint For The Future

• Goal 2.A-Multi-tiered system of supports
• Goal 3.A- Results-Based Evaluation System

We are excited to celebrate the 100th day of school at Corley Elementary. On January 19th, we will celebrate this day by having math activities in the Media Center for each grade level. Additionally, we will have a dress-up contest. The theme of this contest is "Different Ways to Represent 100," and there will be a prize for the Top 3 participants. We are so excited to see our students' clever ways to represent 100. Some examples are:

• Wearing 100 items such as cotton balls, sequins, googly eyes, etc.
• Showing a score of 100 on a pretend test

• Hats with 100 on them
  
  

The ideas are endless, and we cannot wait to see your creative ways to represent 100!

GCPS Blueprint For The Future

• Goal 1.B—Staff and student wellbeing.
• Goal 4.A—Preferred education destination

What a wonderful evening we had at Corley Elementary's Fine Arts Night! The students showcased their amazing talents in music, dance, drama, and visual arts. We were treated to a variety of performances, from the choir's harmonious songs to the drama club's hilarious skits. The art gallery displayed the students' creative and colorful paintings, drawings, sculptures, and crafts. It was a joy to see the students express themselves and share their passion for the arts. Thank you to all the parents, teachers, and staff who supported this event and made it possible. We are so proud of our Corley Elementary artists!It was a night to remember, filled with creativity, talent, and the unmistakable spirit of our community. A special thank you goes to our talented students who poured their hearts and souls into their performances and exhibits. Lastly, thank you to our custodians, the Fine Arts Selection Committee, Mr. Huttinga, Dr. Pumphrey, Zel Salesevic, and everyone who helped to make this event a success.

GCPS Blueprint For The Future

• Goal 1.B—Staff and student wellbeing.
• Goal 4.A—Preferred education destination
• Goal 2.B—Opportunity and access
  

Students were able to participate in a Polar Express activities all December long! The winter theme included activities such as Coding, Arts & Crafts, Interactive Games, and more!

GCPS Blueprint For The Future

• Goal 1.B—Staff and student wellbeing.
• Goal 4.A—Preferred education destination

Specials teachers play a vital role in the education of our students. They provide opportunities for students to explore and develop their interests, skills and talents beyond the core content areas. Specials teachers enrich the curriculum with subjects such as art, music, physical education, technology, and more. They help students discover new ways of learning, expressing themselves and connecting with others. Corley's specials teachers also support the social and emotional well-being of students by fostering a positive and inclusive learning environment. For this month's Specials Spotlight, click the image below to zoom in and see what students have been doing in Theater with Ms. Gresham!

GCPS Blueprint For The Future

• Goal 4.A—Preferred education destination
• Goal 2.B—Opportunity and access

Corley Elementary School had a Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) party on the last day before winter break. This is a wonderful way to celebrate the students’ positive behaviors and achievements.

As for the holidays, they are a special time of year filled with joy, gratitude, and togetherness. It’s a time when we can reflect on the past year, look forward to the new one, and appreciate the people in our lives. Whether it’s spending time with loved ones, enjoying festive meals, or participating in holiday traditions, each moment is a reminder of the things that truly matter.

We hope everyone at Corley Elementary had a fantastic PBIS party and we wish all the students, staff, and their families a wonderful holiday season and a happy New Year! 🎉

GCPS Blueprint For The Future

• Goal 1.B—Staff and student wellbeing.
• Goal 4.A—Preferred education destination
• Goal 2.B—Opportunity and access
  

Congratulations to the winner and runner up of our school-wide spelling bee! All participants showed amazing skills and knowledge in spelling some of the most challenging words. We are very proud of your achievements. Well done!

GCPS Blueprint For The Future

• Goal 4.A—Preferred education destination
  
• Goal 2.C—Equitable resource allocation
  
• Goal 2.B—Opportunity and access
  

Our SRO, Officer Barnett, took a break from his hectic workday to visit our PreK classrooms and share some stories with the kids. The students were delighted to listen to his engaging and lively reading, and they asked him many questions about his role and responsibilities. It was a wonderful opportunity for them to learn more about our community and the people who serve it.

GCPS Blueprint For The Future

• Goal 1.B—Staff and student wellbeing.
• Goal 4.A—Preferred education destination
• Goal 2.B—Opportunity and access.

As the year comes to an end, we want to express our gratitude to all our faculty and staff for their hard work and dedication. That's why we organized a "December To Remember" event, where we enjoyed some delicious pastries and coffee together. It was a great way to celebrate our achievements and Corley's team spirit.

GCPS Blueprint For The Future

• Goal 1.B—Staff and student wellbeing.
• Goal 4.A—Preferred education destination

Corley Elementary celebrated the festive season with a series of events that made it a December to Remember with different themes each day, such as Comfort Day, Holiday Shirts, Team Apparel, Slippers&Socks Day and Ugli Sweater Contest. The students and staff also showed their creativity and spirit by decorating their classrooms and hallways. Here are some pictures of the fun activities that took place at Corley Elementary.

GCPS Blueprint For The Future

• Goal 1.B—Staff and student wellbeing.
• Goal 4.A—Preferred education destination

It was amazing to experience the enthusiasm of our 3rd graders as they had the opportunity to visit the Capitol building on Monday. By visiting the Capitol building, these students were able to witness firsthand the symbol of our democracy and the center of our government. They had the chance to learn about the history, architecture, and significance of this historic institution. Our 3rd graders were able to see the hard work and dedication of our elected officials, which can instill in them a sense of ambition and the belief that they, too, can make a difference in the world.

GCPS Blueprint for The Future

• Goal 1.B—Staff and student wellbeing.
• Goal 4.A—Preferred education destination.
• Goal 2.B—Opportunity and access.

We had a blast hosting the All Pro Dad Chapter meeting at Corley Elementary School. It was so inspiring to see the dads and their kids bonding over fun activities and meaningful conversations. We are grateful for the opportunity to support this amazing program that strengthens families and communities. Thank you to everyone who participated and made this event a success!

GCPS Blueprint For The Future

• Goal 1.B—Staff and student wellbeing.
• Goal 4.A—Preferred education destination
• Goal 2.A—Multi-tiered system of supports
  
• Goal 2.B—Opportunity and access
  
• Goal 2.C—Equitable resource allocation
  

The last day of this semester was Polar Express Day at Corley Elementary Media Center, and boy, was it a blast! Students and staff came dressed in their pajamas, ready to board the magical train that would take them to the North Pole. It was a wonderful experience that we will always remember, and an amazing way to end the year and get into the holiday spirit.

GCPS Blueprint For The Future

• Goal 1.B—Staff and student wellbeing.
• Goal 4.A—Preferred education destination
• Goal 2.B—Opportunity and access.

The Play 2 Learn program focuses on building the capacity of parents and caregivers to be their child's first teacher, as well as providing an opportunity for children to learn and play in a group setting. Caregivers are invited to bring children (ages birth to five) to a 90-minute session each week.

PTA is coming to Corley, and we need your support! We'd like to encourage all staff and families to join PTA! Please scan the QR code or CLICK HERE to pay the $5.00 membership fee and show your support for PTA @ Corley!

While this is not a requirement, we would love for you to join our Parent-Teacher Association to help build community. You can give your time, talent, and resources to join our collective efforts in promoting quality education, arts, and community involvement to build a healthy environment and safe neighborhood for all of our families.

GCPS Blueprint For The Future

Goal 1.A—Cultural competence.

Goal 4.B—Post-secondary and workforce readiness.

Goal 4.A—Preferred education destination.

My Payments Plus is a multi-purpose website we use here at Gwinnett County Public Schools. Once you create an account, you can use the site to pay for school lunches and field trips or to review and sign important documents. For help registering for an account, you can watch this quick how to video.

Need help? Call the MPP Parent Support Phone Number: 1-877-237-0946

Children need healthy meals to learn. Gwinnett County Public Schools offers healthy meals every school day. Breakfast costs $1.50; lunch costs $2.25 for elementary and $2.50 at middle and high schools. Your children may qualify for free meals or for reduced-price meals. The reduced price is $.30 for breakfast and $.40 for lunch. Below are some common questions and answers to help you with the application process. Click HERE for complete the online application.

WHO CAN GET FREE OR REDUCED-PRICE MEALS?

• All children in households receiving benefits from SNAP or TANF are eligible for free.
• Foster children who are under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court are eligible for free.
• Children participating in their school’s Head Start program are eligible for free.
• Children who meet the definition of homeless, runaway, or migrant are eligible for free.
• Children may receive free or reduced-price meals if your household’s income is within the limits on the Federal Income Eligibility Chart.

We have recently noticed an increase in students being dropped off in front of the school, without parental assistance. As a reminder, students should arrive between 8:15 AM-8:50 AM. Students who are dropped off in a parent's car should use the car rider lane between those times. However, if you are dropping your students off after 8:50 AM, please escort them into the building to complete the official check-in process. For safety & security, no child should be left to enter the building alone! Thank you for your support with this procedure.

Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

1. All visitors must check in at the welcome desk and please be prepared to provide some form of identification upon request.
2. Students should arrive between 8:15 AM- 8:50 AM.
3. Morning announcements and the tardy bell rings at 8:50 AM.
4. Dismissal bell rings at 3:15 PM.

• If you are checking your child out early, please do so before 2:30 PM. This leaves our bus lanes open for bus arrivals. Also, please remember that a picture ID is required for all student check-outs. Thank you!

January 4th - Students return to school

January 15th - Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Student/Staff holiday

January 19th - 100th day of school