THE BEST

Building Excellence Successfully Together

August 18, 2023

CALENDAR DATES

August 17 - FCS Board Meeting

August 29 - Curriculum Night , Grades K, 2, 5 (5:30 pm)

August 30 - Curriculum Night, Grades 1, 3, 4 (5:30 pm)

September 4 - Labor Day, No School

September 5 - Teacher Work Day (Students Off)

September 6 - Professional Development Day (Students Off)

KEY NEWS FOR EXPLORER FAMILIES

It's been another wonderful week at Northwood.

My update is short today but it contains joyful news. We have just received word that the Fulton County SEAT process has concluded for Northwood and we've learned that each of our grade levels get to stay as is! This means we are not adding or losing a section at any grade level nor adding or losing any staff members. Our Zone Superintendent knew what our campus needed and she advocated for Northwood in the process. This is the news I was hoping for!

Don't forget to click the link further down in the BEST to send in a Northwood Nice Note for the staff.

I look forward to seeing families at curriculum nights soon! Enjoy the weekend but keep an eye on the heat-it's sneaking back into the forecast.

With gratitude,

Heather Rucker

Principal

N3 (Northwood Nice Note) - click here to send some sunshine to the Northwood Staff

KINDERGARTEN EXPLORERS

Kindergarten has had a busy couple of weeks at school. We have been learning the PBIS Expectations of Northwood and all of the routines and procedures of each class. We have been spending time each day getting to know each other and making new friends. We are excited about meeting our 5th Grade Buddies in a few weeks and getting to go to the PBIS prize cart. Everyone is looking forward to a great year full of friends, fun, and learning a lot of new things. We are proud to be the newest Northwood Explorers.

FIRST GRADE EXPLORERS

First Grade has had the best two first weeks of school! We have already been so busy learning our PBIS expectations and routines. We played lots of get to know you games and community building activities. In math, we have been busy counting and adding to 10. We can't wait to keep learning and growing!

PBIS KICKOFF

Last Friday, we kicked off PBIS here at Northwood with a pep rally! Students have been learning about expectations in their classrooms and did a fantastic job of showing what they know through games. They also got a sneak peek at some new and exciting additions. This year, Northwood will feature a Popup shop for student rewards complete with new “experience” coupons. Students can save up their gold slips to buy new items in our shop – one of them being a day in the PBIS chair! Ask your student what PBIS celebration they are most excited about!

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GET: INVOLVED: NORTHWOOD CLUB APPLICATIONS

Northwood is excited to offer Explorers several morning and afternoon clubs for their enrichment and enjoyment.

Participants are expected to adhere to Northwood PBIS behavior expectations both during the school day and during club activities. We want your child's participation in school clubs to be a great experience of learning and interaction with other students. Our three Northwood expectations “Be Respectful, Be Responsible, and Be Engaged” will continue to be taught during all club activities. Club advisors will use Northwood’s Reflect and Refocus forms to teach positive behavior and “stop and think” strategies. Club participation is dependent on students following these PBIS procedures.

If any parents of 5th graders are interested in assisting Mr. K with Flag Football after school, please reach out to konigsbergd@fultonschools.org.

Below is the Northwood Club Schedule and application links with more details about deadlines and start dates.

Northwood Club Schedule 2023-2024.docx

Newspaper Club Application 2023-2024 (002).docx

Chorus Application 2023-2024 (002).docx

Art Club Application Fall 2023.docx

Eco Team Application 2023-2024.docx

Get Fit Application 2023-2024.docx

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ATTENDANCE AND DISMISSAL EMAILS

ATTENDANCE EMAIL

If your child is absent from school, please submit an email to your child’s teacher AND northwoodattendance@fultonschools.org within five days of returning to school.

Please include:

Child's first and last name
The absence date(s)
Reason for absence(s) *attach doctor's note if applicable

DISMISSAL EMAIL

All check-out changes must be in writing or emailed to NWESdismissal@fultonschools.org. You can send a note with your child in the morning or drop off the note during the day before 12:30 pm. No changes will be accepted through phone call.

Please include:

Child’s first and last name
The date and the specific change, i.e. bus to car rider
The reason for the change

Please copy your child’s homeroom teacher on the email as well.

NEW PRE-APPROVED ABSENCE AND REMOTE PARTICIPATION FORMS

PARTICIPATE REMOTE LEARNING DAY REQUEST

Participate Remote Learning Day Request

Students may request up to 5 remote learning days per semester and receive attendance credit for being present through remote participation. To receive participated remote credit, students must follow the participated remote directions outlined below.

Notification of PR Day must be made prior to the start of the instructional day to teacher(s). Students should make all requests for remote learning days one school day prior to the requested date when possible.
Remote learning days cannot be requested on summative evaluation days.
All work must be submitted within 2 days of the return from the remote learning days.
The absence will be marked Unexcused in IC until this form is completed and turned in to the Assistant Principal. Once the teacher has signed that the assignment is complete and hands this form into the office, the absence will change to PR (Participate Remote).

PRE-APPROVED ABSENCE FORM

Pre-Approved Absence Request Form

Students may request Pre-Approved Absences for family events and special family circumstances. Consideration for Pre-Approved Absences will be based on the following criteria.

Pre-Approved Absence Request Form is received 5 days prior to planned absence.
Attendance review indicates student is not at-risk of chronic absenteeism. Please note that students with 17 or more absences per year fall within the chronic absenteeism attendance band. Even though they are pre-approved, these absences count towards the 17.
Academic review of classes shows student is on-track with work completion.

Please visit the Northwood ES website here for more details about the forms.

STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT & DISCIPLINE HANDBOOK: PLEASE REVIEW & SIGN OFF

Each year Fulton County Schools asks families and students to read and discuss the Student Code of Conduct & Discipline Handbook; and then sign off that you have read it. Please follow the steps below to access the handbook, and then sign off electronically in your Infinite Campus Parent/Student Portal Account.

Please read and review the Code of Conduct with your student(s). fultonschools.org/codeofconduct

Please take a moment to complete the Acknowledgement of Receipt Form. This link provides directions on the sign off process. How to sign Acknowledgement of Receipt.pdf

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STUDENT SUCCESS SKILLS

Student Success Skills are Fulton County School's standards for the skills needed to demonstrate mastery of academic and interpersonal skills needed for college, career, and life success. These six skills are taught in all schools, by all teachers, to all students.

Parents, please click the link below for more information; and to set up your Rethink Account which provides access to all the lesson content. Student Success Skills Parent Packet 23-24SY.pdf

FCS TAG SCREENING & REFERRAL INFORMATION

Families that would like to review the updated TAG eligibility guidelines please click the attachments at the bottom of the email. You can also access the Fulton County TAG website here.

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HAVE YOU JOINED THE PARENT PORTAL?

The Infinite Campus Parent Portal provides quick and easy access to information for all enrolled students in their household. Find grades, attendance, assignments, schedules, ID numbers, school announcements and more. If you haven't already joined, please do so today as Fulton County Schools is transitioning to managing everything via the portal.

For more information, access the Parent Portal Booklet for Infinite Campus here.

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MISSING SOMETHING?

Parents, please encourage your students to check regularly for lost items in the Lost and Found. Please mark all student belongings clearly with the child’s name so that it can be identified. Unclaimed items are donated to local charities after the last school day of every month. August’s date is Thursday, August 31st.