MUSTANG NEWS

HAPPY FRIDAY!

We had another great Cliftondale this week! Please review important information for the upcoming week(s):

• TEACHER APPRECIATION THANK YOU!!!! This week, we celebrated our staff. Special THANK YOU to our PTA and SGC Boards for your kind words and generosity towards our staff! THANK YOU to our parents that volunteered to serve our staff on Tuesday. THANK YOU Mr. Brown, one of our awesome custodians, for expressing his gratitude towards towards our staff. THANK YOU to every student and parent for the flowers, the special notes & cards, the sweet treats, and the many other special tokens provided this week! My staff and I are so appreciative!
  
  
• GEORGIA MILESTONES TEST ADMINISTRATION- We had a great first week of testing! Students have completed all (3) components of the ELA assessment. Next week, we will continue with testing with Math parts 1 and 2 and our 5th grade students will complete Science part 1 and 2. ***Please make certain that your student arrives to school on time. Testing begins at 8:15 am each day.
  




Wednesday, May 3rd- ELA Part 1

Thursday, May 4th- ELA Part 2

Friday, May 5th- ELA Part 3

Tuesday, May 9th- Math Part 1

Wednesday, May 10th- Math Part 2

Thursday, May 11th- Science (Fifth Grade Only)

We are anticipating a great testing experience and with your help, we will achieve our goal. You can help your student do his or her best by considering these tips:
*Make sure that your student arrives to school by 7:40 am as testing beings promptly at 8:15 am daily. Tardy students will not be permitted to enter the testing environment once the session begins.

*Make sure your student gets a good night’s sleep and eats a healthy breakfast before each day of testing.

*Emphasize that you have confidence in his or her ability to do the best job possible.

*Remind your student to listen to the directions and read each question carefully during testing. Encourage your student to ask the teacher for help if he or she does not understand the directions.



If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mrs. Long via email at longt@fultonschools.org or by phone at 470-254-4070.

Speaking of Testing.....Here is a GREAT article for parents entitled SURVIVE AND THRIVE DURING TESTING SEASON. Check it out!

• TITLE I SPRING INPUT MEETING: Thank you to the many parents that attended our Title I Spring Input Meeting. Unable to attend? No problem! The full presentation is linked for you below in the Title I section of the newsletter. After reviewing the presentation, we welcome your feedback through the 2023 Evaluation Survey Link. Your feedback is greatly appreciated!
  
  
• STUDENT DEVICES- With the end of the year approaching, we are working with staff to assess the state of student devices. Please be mindful that families are responsible for student damage to devices and will incur a fee, as seen on the flyer below. We will collect devices over the summer, unless your scholar is attending summer school, and will be issued in August. Any fees must be paid as soon as possible, to ensure your scholar can be issued a device in August.
  
  
• FULTON COUNTY SCHOOLS STRATEGIC PLAN: Our Superintendent, Dr. Looney and our School Board Members are seeking your input on the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) that exist in Fulton County Schools. This information will be used as we start to create the Strategic Plan with the Board. The new Strategic Plan will start in Fall 2024 pending Board approval.

  Please use the links below to participate:

  • Strengths: https://tejoin.com/scroll/589527154
  • Weaknesses: https://tejoin.com/scroll/571498989
  • Opportunities: https://tejoin.com/scroll/120854920
  • Threats: https://tejoin.com/scroll/799413922

• CELLPHONES- Recently, we have seen an influx of cell phones at school. As a reminder, per the Fulton County School Code of Conduct, students in elementary school are not permitted to have cell phones during the school day. Personal devices, to include cell phone use, will be prohibited for elementary school students while at school. They may keep these devices in their bookbags, etc., but they should remain in the ‘off’ position.
  
  
• SEMESTER 2 AWARDS DAY- As we finish out this outstanding year, planning for our student recognition has begun! Each grade level will have a special program at the end of the year to recognize the students hard work! We will be hosting these events in our gym at the times detailed on the flyer below. Please contact the front office if you have any questions or concerns.
• SUMMER SCHOOL: 3RD-5TH GRADES: Elementary ​Summer Learning (Grades 3-5) is an opportunity for elementary students to receive targeted support in reading and mathematics in a face-to-face setting. Letters will be distributed to students recommended and for students required to attend based on FCS attendance criteria detailed below. Please register your child for the grade level they were in during the 2022-2023 school year. Our students will be serviced here at Cliftondale ES with teachers and students from Cliftondale, Randolph, and Stonewall Tell. *Please contact Mrs. Long if you have additional questions or concerns pertaining Summer School 2023.
  
  Grades 3-5 Reading
  Students will focus on the prioritized reading standards for their grade level utilizing Scholastic LitCamp. This fun and engaging reading and writing summer camp style curriculum will have your student singing songs, reading books together, acting out parts of stories, and drawing, reading and writing about the stories they read. Students love this hands-on experience!
  
  Grades 3-8 Math
  Students will focus on the major work of each grade level through daily lessons designed to support fluency, mathematical discourse, and conceptual understanding.
  
  

A.Nicole Canty
Principal
cantya@fultonschools.org

Tickets for the Mother-son-Dance are NOW on sale! Don’t wait! Get your tickets TODAY! Tickets may be purchased now through May 5th OR until the event is sold out, whichever comes first. *Please note, this is a prepaid event. Funds will not be collected at the door, nor will unpaid guests be admitted. Tickets are available for purchase online using Member Hub using the link below. VIP tickets are SOLD OUT.

https://cliftondaleespta.memberhub.com/store?limit=21&live=true

In addition, we are seeking volunteers to support this event. Please use the VOLUNTEER LINK to signup to volunteer for the Mother-son-dance. We appreciate you continued support!

The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile to provide services at Cliftondale Elementary School May 22nd.

The Fulton County Instructional Technology Department is offering some exciting opportunities for students. With the summer being a time full of fun, consider participating in the creative learning opportunities being offered both face-to-face and virtually to students. These summer sessions will provide students with valuable learning experiences that bring them into the world of podcasting and creating with Adobe Express.

FCS Podcasting Workshops

Instructional Technology will be hosting four 2-Day Podcasting Workshops for students. Grab a microphone and join us for Speak Up Fulton: The World Is Listening and leave this workshop ready to podcast like the pros! You’ll learn how to create your own background music, how to interview others, and how to tell your own stories to grab the attention of national audiences like Spotify and PBS. “Speak Up” will be two fun-filled days full of creativity and connection, all while enhancing your literacy and career skills. Separate sessions will be offered for rising 3rd- 6th and 7th-12th grades. Visit https://bit.ly/3TX6vUS for additional details and to register. Space is limited, so register today!

FCS Virtual Creativity Days
This summer Instructional Technology will be hosting three virtual creativity days for students. These days are designed to be a fun way for students to engage in creative thinking as they design graphics, videos, and web pages using Adobe Express. Each day will consist of three sessions centered around a daily theme. Students may choose to participate in any, or all the sessions on a given day. Separate sessions will be held for rising 3rd-6th grade students and rising 7th-12th grade students.

Students will participate in these sessions through Microsoft Teams. Links to participate in the Teams meetings will be sent to participants after they register. Visit http://bit.ly/3nixoXc for additional details and to register. Space is limited, so register today!

SUMMER SCHOOL: 3RD-5TH GRADES: Elementary ​Summer Learning (Grades 3-5) is an opportunity for elementary students to receive targeted support in reading and mathematics in a face-to-face setting. Letters will be distributed to students recommended and for students required to attend based on FCS attendance criteria detailed below. Please register your child for the grade level they were in during the 2022-2023 school year. Our students will be serviced here at Cliftondale ES with teachers and students from Cliftondale, Randolph, and Stonewall Tell. *Please contact Mrs. Long if you have additional questions or concerns pertaining Summer School 2023.

CLICK HERE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR TO REGISTER YOUR CHILD.

Grades 3-5 Reading
Students will focus on the prioritized reading standards for their grade level utilizing Scholastic LitCamp. This fun and engaging reading and writing summer camp style curriculum will have your student singing songs, reading books together, acting out parts of stories, and drawing, reading and writing about the stories they read. Students love this hands-on experience!

Grades 3-8 Math
Students will focus on the major work of each grade level through daily lessons designed to support fluency, mathematical discourse, and conceptual understanding.

• May 1st-May 12th: Georgia Milestones Testing for 3rd-5th Grades
  
• May 8th: Pre-K Round Up at 8:30 am
  
• May 11th: School Nurse Appreciation Day
• May 12th: PTA Sponsored Mother Son Dance
• May 12: PK/K Field Trip
• May 16th: PK Honors Program at 8:15 am
• May 16th: Kindergarten Honors Program at 9:30 am
• May 17th: 1st Grade Honors Program at 8:15 am
• May 17th: 2nd Grade Honors Program at 9:30 am
• May 18th: 3rd Grade Honors Program at 9:30 am
• May 18th: 4th Grade Honors Program at 8:15 am
• May 18th: 5th Grade Promotional Ceremony at Renaissance Middle School at 5:30 pm
  
• May 19th: 5th Grade Ball (off campus)
• May 22nd: 5th Grade Field Trip
• May 23rd: 5th Grade Cookout
• May 25th: Last Day of School- See you August of 2023!

As you know, our 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students will take the Georgia Milestones Assessments in the spring. The Georgia Milestones Assessment System is designed to provide information about how well students are mastering the state-adopted content standards in the core content areas of English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies.

Importantly, Georgia Milestones is designed to provide students with critical information about their own achievement and their readiness for their next level of learning – be it the next grade, the next course, or the next endeavor (college or career).

Informing parents, educators, and the public about how well students are learning important content is an essential aspect of any educational assessment and accountability system. Parents, the public, and policy makers, including local school districts and boards of education, can use the results as a barometer of the quality of educational opportunity provided throughout the state of Georgia. As such, Georgia Milestones serves as a key component of the state's accountability system – the College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI).

Please visit the parent resources provided below from Georgia DOE:

Georgia Milestones Parent QA

Georgia Milestones Study Resource: 3rd Grade

Georgia Milestones Study Resource: 4th Grade

Georgia Milestones Study Resource: 5th Grade

Missed the GMAS Night Parent Workshop? No problem! The presentation is attached here. If you have any quesitons or concerns pertaining Georgia Milestones, please contact our school Test Coordinator, Mrs. Long at longt@fultonschools.org

In addition to your child's teacher, our curriculum team is here to support you! If you have questions pertaining the curriculum, understanding a specific skill/standard, need additional strategies to support your child at home, please feel free to reach out to one of our curriculum team experts. They are here for you and happy to support you and your Mustang!

Curriculum Support Teacher: Yazmin Hicks- hicksz@fultonschools.org
-Curriculum Administrator for all curriculum/content areas

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

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

Thank you to the many parents that attended our Title I Spring Input Meeting. Unable to attend? No problem! The full presentation is linked for you here. After reviewing the presentation, we welcome your feedback through the Evaluation Survey Link. Your feedback is greatly appreciated!

Thank you to the many parents that attended our Title I STEAM NIGHT. Unable to attend? No problem! The full presentation is linked for you here. After reviewing the presentation, we welcome your feedback through the Evaluation Survey Link. Your feedback is greatly appreciated!

Check out this awesome article for parents on preparing your child for mandated testing.

K-12 Resources:

• Administrative Center (6201 Powers Ferry Rd, NW, Atlanta, GA 30339)
• North Learning Center (450 Northridge Parkway, Sandy Springs, GA 30350)
• South Learning Center (4025 Flat Shoals Rd, Union City, GA 30291)

K-5 Resources:

• Alpharetta Elementary School (192 Mayfield Road, Alpharetta, GA 30009)
• Bethune Elementary School (5925 Old Carriage Drive, College Park, GA 30349)
• Ison Springs Elementary School (8261 Ison Road, Sandy Springs, GA 30350)
• Medlock Bridge Elementary School (10215 Medlock Bridge Pkwy, Johns Creek, GA 30022)
• Parklane Elementary School (2809 Blount Street, East Point, GA 30344)
• Renaissance Elementary School (7250 Hall Road, Fairburn, GA 30213)
• Vickery Mill Elementary School (1201 Alpharetta Street, Roswell, GA 30075)

Additional information pertaining the textbook adoption is accessible on the K-12 Math Textbook Adoption page.

• TRAFFIC CONCERNS: Please be mindful that during both drop off and pick up, families should refrain from pulling around other cars. This will ensure safety for our students and families during this time. Parents should use the appropriately spaces to park and follow our traffic markers at all times.
  
  

• 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.
• Help your student learn his/her car rider number.
• Please be patient!

"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

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 contact our Data Clerk, Ms. Allen at allenk3@fultonschools.org

Fulton County Schools (FCS) remains committed to communicating updates and/or changes to COVID-related protocols within the district. Maintaining face-to-face instruction is a top priority for our district. Fulton County Schools will conduct case investigations and contact tracing for positive cases only. Parents should report only positive cases to the Parent portal. Do not submit a report if you are waiting on a pending test result or for an exposure/direct contact. Fulton County Board of Health Case Investigators, FCS School Nurses and FCS Case Investigators will response to student and staff cases. Please be safe, and as always: Do not come send your child to school sick. If your child tests positive, please keep he/she home and isolate (follow the guidance provided by the Case Investigators and your provider). Please submit the positive test results via the PARENT PORTAL

In order to help keep our scholars healthy, we are asking all families to monitor any signs of illness in their children. In the document below, you will find several common childhood illness, symptoms, and guidance how to treat.

Looking for Cliftondale Spirt Wear? Then look no further! Visit our PTA's School Store for all spirt ware and uniform needs.

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