Knight Messenger

Our Vision: To share in the commitment of rigorous and high-quality instruction to meet the needs of every child.

Our 2023-2024 school theme "TEAM KNIGHT #TeamKnight!" is directly aligned with our continued vision and instructional expectations for Knight: to share in the commitment of rigorous and high-quality instruction to meet the needs of every child.

Our Mission: To provide a positive, stimulating, and secure environment that empowers the individual to grow socially, emotionally, and intellectually in order to meet the challenges of an ever-changing world.

Our Belief: We believe all kids can learn…and we will establish high standards of learning that we expect all students to achieve. It is our job to create an environment in our classrooms that engages students in academic work that results in a high level of achievement. We are confident that with our support and help, students can master challenging curricula, and we expect them to do so. We are prepared to work collaboratively with colleagues, students, and parents to achieve this shared educational purpose (DuFour, 1997a).

Our Why: To engage and serve the Knight community so that students and families are resilient and empowered to be successful in our ever changing world.

Our Motto: “Everyone can be a STAR at Knight!”

Happy February! We look forward to seeing you for parent-teacher conferences next month. Please save the date for Wednesday, March 6th, and Thursday, March 7th for early release days. Students will have early release days and be dismissed at 12:50 PM. Your child's teacher will contact you to sign up for your conference time(s). Also, please join me on Friday, February 23rd, for our PTA Presidents' Day Dance from 6 PM to 8 PM. Thank you ALL for your continued support! It is an honor to serve as your principal. Have a fabulous February!

Proud to be your principal,

Dr. Ferguson

Thank you to our caring counselors, Michele Brown, Rupal Patel, and Dori Brand (substitute counselor)! Your commitment to serve our students, families, teachers, and staff is appreciated. Each of you are an essential piece to what makes Knight the Place to Be!

Math Carnival was a huge success! Thank you for a great evening to learn and play together!

If you attended our Math Carnival, it is important that we get feedback from you. Please use the link below to complete the evaluation no later than Friday, February 9th. Thank you!😊

Evaluation Link:
https://forms.gle/N1DkP3SU5BEVpThbA

Thank you for supporting our PTA event! We raised over $1,100!

Sunday, February 11 is Super Bowl LVIII! Students are invited to wear their favorite NFL football team shirt/jersey for NFL spirit wear day on Friday, February 9. Good luck to the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers fans!

ATTENTION 4TH AND 4TH GRADERS!

Did you miss the deadline to buy a signed copy of the brand new book, Drawing Deena by Hena Khan?

Great news, we were able to get 25 more copies which you can purchase now, until February 9. If you need another copy of the order form please let your teacher know.

Payment is through MyPaymentsPlus.com or cash. Make sure to send in the completed order form to Ms. Palin in the Media Center.

Hena Khan will be here next Monday, February 12 to present to our 4th and 5th graders and autograph purchased books.

Students and staff pay $1 to wear pajamas to school on Wednesday, February 14!

• All pajamas worn must be school appropriate.

7:30-8:10AM
LOCATION: KNIGHT ELEMENTARY CAFETERIA

ATTENTION: parents/guardians of GCPS students New to the United States.

The Newcomer Academy guides newcomer families through the ins and outs of Gwinnett County Public Schools. The academy is made up of a series of informative sessions on the topics of School Culture and Navigating the School System, GCPS Family Resources, Community Resources, and Rights and Responsibilities. The goal of the Newcomer Academy is for families to develop a greater understanding of the processes associated with GCPS resources.

These classes will be held at the International Newcomer Center (INC), 495 Maltbie Street, Lawrenceville, in English, Vietnamese, Korean, Chinese, and Spanish on different dates for each language.

Each year, GCPS collects feedback from our families about their child's school as part of our commitment to improvement. This year, the school district is partnering with the Center for Educational Effectiveness to give Educational Effectiveness Surveys (EES) that provide feedback on nine characteristics of high-performing schools. Those characteristics are:

• A clear and shared focus

• High standards and expectations for all students

• Effective school leadership

• Strong communication and opportunities to work together

• What we teach, how we teach, and how learning is aligned with state standards

• Frequent monitoring of learning and teaching

• Focused professional development

• Supportive learning environment

• High levels of family and community involvement

In addition, the survey asks about two other areas associated with high-performing schools- district support for improvement and respect for diverse cultures and backgrounds. The survey will be available for parents to complete February 1st-29th. We hope you will lend your voice to making Gwinnett County Public Schools the best it can be for our students. Please be prepared to access the link to the Family Survey via Parent Square.

• Here is that link if you should need it: https://gcpsk12ga.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_d3TiP2tbbnwRo58

Where can I find more information about the student survey?

View the Survey Questions

How to Opt-Out of this Survey

The Georgia Parent Survey is designed to give parents an opportunity to share input with the Georgia Department of Education. It contains 24 questions. Parents may complete the survey using a personal computer, smartphone, or tablet. Parents that do not have access to the Internet can contact Knight ES to arrange to complete the survey at the school.

The feedback that parents provide by completing this survey will be used in the calculation of the School Climate Star Rating. Knight Elementary School's last score listed above in 2019 with 5 out of 5 stars with a calculation of 97.10!. Survey responses are anonymous and will be submitted directly to the Georgia Department of Education for analysis. Individual data results from the Georgia Parent Survey will not be available to system or school personnel or the public and will not be posted online. Please provide your voice for Gwinnett County Public Schools by clicking HERE and completing the survey.

The United States observes Black History Month during the month of February to pause and reflect on the history, cultures, and contributions of African Americans. In 1926, Carter G. Woodson established a week to celebrate the history of African Americans that coincided with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. The week was expanded into a month-long celebration in February of 1976 and remains that way today.

• NFL Spirit Wear Day ~ Wear your favorite NFL team shirt/jersey!

Monday, February 12

• Author Visit (4-5)

• PJ Day $1 School Fundraiser

• Mid-Winter Break/NO SCHOOL

• Lockdown Drill
• Trickum Middle School AP and Counselor Visits 5th Grade

• House Color Day
• All Pro Dad Meeting 7:30 AM
• School Council 7:30 AM
• Progress Reports Go Home
  
• PTA Presidents' Day Dance 6 PM - 8 PM

• 5th Grade Visits Trickum Middle School

• Book Character Dress Up Day

• Spring Book Fair Week

• Early Release 12:50 PM

• Class/Spring Picture Day

Parents, please take the time to review the Gwinnett County Promotion Criteria so that you and your child understand what is expected of them. If you have questions, please contact your child’s teacher.

The Synergy Parent mobile app, ParentVUE, is now available for use. The app is available in the Apple App Store, as well as the Google Play Store. An active Parent Portal account is required to log in to ParentVUE.

• It will allow parents, who have a parent portal account, to view schedules, grades, see when assignments are due, view graduation requirements, find missing assignments, and view other important student information.
• If you have a Parent Portal account you will use the same log in username (email) and password that you use online.

The Gwinnett County Public Library is partnering with Gwinnett County Public Schools to provide online tutoring support to 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade Gwinnett students through Tutor.com. Students will need a library account to access the service. They will be able to sign on for individual tutoring sessions daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and for 24/7 “drop-off” support (uploading a document for tutor review/feedback to be returned at a later time).

Find all the information you need to take advantage of this program by logging into eCLASS. Look for the box pictured below!

Knight Elementary will continue to use ClassDojo to communicate with families. To receive help with connecting to your student's class or any other ClassDojo questions, please contact Kelli Sheffield at Kelli.Sheffield@gcpsk12.org.

We are excited to announce that our school district has adopted a new form of school-to-home communication called ParentSquare. This unified communications platform is designed to keep parents and guardians informed and encourage greater engagement and connection with your child’s school and Gwinnett County Public Schools.

ParentSquare provides a safe way for district administrators, school principals, teachers, staff, and parents to receive and send information, such as:

• Weather-related closings & delays
• School information
• Share pictures and files
• See calendar items
• Upcoming school activities

District and school information will now be sent to your computer or phone via email and/or text via ParentSquare. For even more convenience, download the ParentSquare app (available for free for iOS and Android devices). Please note that Knight staff will communicate with parents via ClassDojo and email.

The safety and security vestibule has been updated with new electrical outlets installed for the independent parent check-in/check-out process.

During school hours, the entrance for visitors is restricted to designated doors near the office, which are locked until the visitor is granted access. To notify school staff of their arrival, visitors push the "bell" button on the visitor management panel found outside the main entrance door. A staff member at the school then uses the audio/visual intercom to see the visitor's face and to request a reason for the visit. Once their purpose is validated, the office staff electronically unlocks the exterior door, allowing the visitor to proceed into the vestibule.

Vestibules provide space and an opportunity to verify visitors PRIOR to gaining access to the main building and provide additional security measures. They serve as a single entry point for students checking in or checking out of school.

Visitors will go through a check-in process, entering their driver's license or a state-issued ID into a scanner. Once visitors are cleared, they are issued a detailed visitor badge that identifies the visitor, the date, and the purpose of their visit. (A visitor's badge will not be necessary for those who visit our schools to drop off an item in the office or pick up paperwork.) Once the badge is issued, visitors will be "buzzed" into the school. Badges must be worn a visible at all times.

• Parents/families are welcome to enjoy lunch with their child(ren).
  
• After checking in the office with an ID and securing a visitor badge, parents/families will meet their child(ren) at the entrance to the cafeteria.
• Please allow your child to follow his/her normal routine in the cafeteria line. Feel free to bring a lunch with you or to purchase lunch ($4).
• Parents/families will utilize the bistro tables in the hallway outside the cafeteria.
• When leaving the cafeteria parents should not escort students back to the classroom. Parents must sign out before leaving.

Students will have the opportunity to purchase ice cream from a variety of selections during lunch. Ice cream is $1.00 and will be sold Monday, Wednesday and Friday for all grade levels. Class Parties for ice cream sales are also available each day. Please contact the school office for details.

• Please, no left turn into the carpool off River Drive.
• Please, no left turn from the carpool onto River Drive.
• Please do not make a U-turn in the middle of River Drive or entrances to neighborhoods near the school to enter the carpool or after exiting the carpool.

"Park and Walk” is NOT an option.

A GCPS school bus can transport every Knight student.

Click here to access the 2023-2024 GCPS Calendar.

This approved calendar features a start date of Wednesday, August 2, seven days of pre-planning for teachers, and four digital learning days. The four digital learning days are scheduled throughout the year, with two occurring in 1st semester and two in 2nd semester. The calendar also features a fall break in October, a two-week and a half winter break, a break in February, a week scheduled for spring break, and end date of May 22.

• GCPS will provide meals via bus distribution on digital learning days.
• Both breakfast and lunch will be offered.
  
• Meals can be served to anyone 18 and under.
  
• Buses will begin delivery around 10:45-11:00 A.M.

UPCOMING DIGITAL LEARNING DAY

• March 15

Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 7:30 AM - 4:30 PM

All visitors must sign-in at the welcome desk and please be prepared to provide some form of identification upon request.

Staff Hours: Monday/Wednesday/Thursday/Friday, 8:00 AM - 3:50 PM

* Hours will vary depending on morning staff meetings (Tuesday, 7:10 AM - 3:50 PM).

Student Hours: Monday - Friday 8:50 AM - 3:20 PM

Students should arrive between 8:20 AM - 8:50 AM.

Order your 2023-2024 Knight Elementary Yearbook TODAY! Don’t Delay, Order Today! Price is $35.Click here to order your yearbook now!

Knight PTA's ultimate goal is to benefit our children and support their learning experience. Membership is an opportunity to connect with other parents and to support our school. Our goal is one membership for each student. Membership is only $5 per person! Please join at:

https://knightelementaryschoolpta.memberhub.com/store#.

Membership is $5 per individual adult (not per household or per student as GA PTA does not allow household memberships).

Thank you for supporting the PTA!

• January 25 - Skate Along USA PTA Spirit Night! 5 PM - 7:30 PM

Be sure to visit the GCPSWebsite for all updates regarding the start of school.

Please feel free to contact Kelli Sheffield, Kelli.Sheffiled@gcpsk12.org or Sindy Amador, Sindy.Amador@gcpsk12.org in our Parent Center. You can also reach them by phone from 9:00am - 3:00pm at 770-806-3887.

Finally, please visit the Knight website often for information and updates at KnightESHomepage Thank you for your generosity and support as we continue to ensure learning for all students at Knight Elementary!