MUSTANG NEWS

Greetings!

Thank you for a great week! Please see important information for the week ahead:

• GEORGIA SCHOOL CLIMATE SURVEY: 🌟 We’d love to hear from you! 🌟 Share your thoughts about our school by taking the GA School Climate Survey now through March 31! Your voice makes a difference. 🏫💬 CLICK the link below:
• https://survey.gadoe.org/FM?sid=9FEFC1B6
  
  
• OUR SCHOOL SGC NEEDS YOU!!! It is time for the election of new members to our School Governance Council. The School Governance Council has both parent/guardian and teacher positions open for election.
  
  Our School Governance Council (SGC) plays a critical role in the success of our school. The SGC works with school leadership and the community to help determine the long-term direction of the school, design innovative solutions to increase academic achievement, and serve as school ambassadors to the local community. CANDIDACY DECLARATION LINK:

  https://fultonschools.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bKQw8Bu9jVMt78O
  

• As part of our commitment to equipping students with the tools they need for academic success, we provide devices to enhance learning during the school day. When students receive their FCS device, families are given a Device User Agreement outlining guidelines for proper care, expectations for responsible use, and the fines associated with lost, stolen, or damaged devices. Additionally, students participate in a device care lesson to review policies and procedures, ensuring they fully understand their responsibilities.
  
  Per the Device User Agreement, all school-issued devices remain the property of Fulton County Schools. If a device is lost, stolen, or damaged, whether intentionally or due to negligence—while checked out to a student, the parent or guardian is responsible for covering the associated fine. This policy was implemented to address the increasing costs of repairs and replacements, which directly impact our ability to maintain technology resources for all students.
  
  Parents/guardians of students with assessed device fees receive weekly email notifications from the district. Payments should be made online through Online School Payment by visiting our school website. If you have any questions or need further clarification, please contact our Device Coordinator, Ms. Cathy Allen, at allenc3@fultonschools.org or 470-254-4070.

This week, we celebrate Exceptional Students Week with the theme: Building Futures! Join us in recognizing our exceptional students and the limitless possibilities ahead for all learners.

The celebration kicks off on Monday morning with special announcements featuring inspiring quotes from renowned individuals with disabilities. Let’s come together to honor and uplift our students throughout the week!

SCHOOL BOARD APPRECIATION WEEK: Fulton County Schools is joining in a statewide celebration to acknowledge the work and dedication of our local school board members. The week of March 10-14, 2025 has been proclaimed School Board Appreciation Week in Georgia. Each member contributes her own strengths to the district, and these different contributions and perspectives make our Board a formidable group. We thank them for their leadership, their commitment to our students and our community, and for supporting our mission, “Where Students Come First.”

Mark your calendars for an exciting evening with Cliftondale Elementary School on March 26th at 7 PM! Come cheer on the College Park Skyhawks as they face off against the Capital City Go-Go. Adding to the excitement, Cliftondale Elementary students will take center stage with performances of the National Anthem, Pre-Game and Post-Game shows, as well as the Halftime entertainment. Don’t miss this incredible showcase of talent and school spirit! CLICK HERE TO SECURE YOUR TICKETS

Mark your calendars for Friday, March 21st at 6 PM and come out to our PTA's Cascade's Family Skate Night! Admission is $15/person and includes skate rental. Whether you're gliding on the rink or cheering from the sidelines, everyone must pay to join the fun.

Pre-sale tickets are available now at https://bit.ly/CESPTAStore. Don't miss out!

Not a PTA member yet? You can still join us at https://bit.ly/CESPTAMember.

It is time for the election of new members to our School Governance Council. The School Governance Council has both parent/guardian and teacher positions open for election.

Our School Governance Council (SGC) plays a critical role in the success of our school. The SGC works with school leadership and the community to help determine the long-term direction of the school, design innovative solutions to increase academic achievement, and serve as school ambassadors to the local community. Specifically, the School Governance Council has the following powers:
• Create, approve, and monitor the implementation of the school strategic plan
• Manage the Request for Flexibility process
• Approve the annual budget recommendations and related allocations
• Participate in the hiring of the principal, in the case of a vacancy
• Provide annual feedback to the Area Superintendent on principal performance

The candidate declaration phase is February 3rd-March 28th. Voting will be April 16th-23rd. The Governance and Flexibility team provides a toolkit with a wealth of materials that we anticipate will support your Outreach and Communication Committee and SGC with the elections process. Additional election tools and information are available on the FCS charter website.Charter System (SGC) / Elections (fultonschools.org)

CANDIDACY DECLARATION LINK:

https://fultonschools.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bKQw8Bu9jVMt78O

The Federal Programs Department is holding our district Federal Programs Input Meeting. We are requesting parent, community, and staff input into how we spend our federal grant funds (Title I, II, III, IV, and IDEA) and our District Parent and Family Engagement Plan.

The meetings are scheduled to take place on Microsoft Teams. The meeting dates are:

March 25th at 9:00 am Join here: Input Meeting 1, and

March 26th at 1:00 pm Join here: Input Meeting 2 .

Your input is essential, and we value your feedback.

MARCH 2025

• March 3rd -NO SCHOOL - Teacher's Workday
• March 4: NO SCHOOL - Professional Development Day/March Staff Meeting
• March 7th: MOTM at 8:30 am
• March 7th: Title I Parent Workshop - Assessment at 9:00 am
• March 9th: School Board Appreciation Week
• March 13th: Spring Picture Day/Class Pictures
• March 13th: Math Bee 8:30 am -12: 30 pm (Additional info. TBA)
• March 14th: Math Bee 8:30 am -12: 30 pm (Additional info. TBA)
• March 18th: Title I Spring Input Meeting
• March 21st: PTA Event: Cascade Family Skate Night
• March 24-april 11th: School Fundraiser- Booster Product Sales
• March 26th: Skyhawks Event at 7:00 pm

APRIL 2025

• April 4: MOTM at 8:30 am
• April 7th-11th: SPRING BREAK - SCHOOL CLOSED
• April 23rd: Title I Transition Meeting (PK to Kindergarten)
• April 23rd: Administrative Professionals Day
• April 25th: PTA EVENT - Mother - Son Dance

MAY 2025

• May 5th-May 9th: Teacher Appreciation Week
• May 14th: PK-1st Awards Program (Times TBA)
• May 14th: 5th Grade Awards Program - Westlake High School
• May 15th: 2nd-3rd Awards Programs (Times TBA)
• May 16th: 4th Grade Awards Program (Time TBA)
• May 22nd: Last Day of School

As we observe Attendance Awareness Month, it's crucial to highlight how everyday attendance significantly impacts our children's educational journey. Consistent school attendance is more than just a routine—it's a key factor in their academic and social development.

Why Attendance Matters:

• Academic Achievement: Studies show that students who attend school regularly are more likely to achieve academic success. According to the U.S. Department of Education, students who miss 10 or more days of school in a year are significantly less likely to graduate on time. In fact, students who miss 10-20% of the school year (18 or more days) are at risk of falling behind in their studies.
• Social Skills Development: Regular attendance helps children build strong relationships with peers and teachers. The National Center for Children in Poverty found that students with consistent attendance are more engaged in school and participate more in classroom activities.
• Long-Term Success: Data from the National Education Association indicates that students who develop good attendance habits early on are more likely to succeed in higher education and future employment. Regular attendance helps build discipline, time management, and commitment—skills valuable for lifelong success.

How You Can Help:

• Create a Routine: Establish a consistent daily schedule that includes time for homework, extracurricular activities, and adequate rest. This helps children understand the importance of routine and punctuality.
• Monitor Attendance: Keep track of your child’s attendance records and address any issues promptly. If your child is struggling with frequent absences, don’t hesitate to reach out to school staff for support and resources.
• Communicate with Us: If there are barriers to regular attendance, such as health concerns or family challenges, let us know. We are here to work with you to find solutions and provide assistance where needed.
  
  

Every day in school is an opportunity for growth and learning. By prioritizing and supporting regular attendance, we can help our children thrive both academically and personally.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership.

Students can substitute up to 5 absences per semester (a max of 10 per year) with a remote learning day by meeting the remote learning participation benchmarks listed in policy. This would result in the student being counted as present for the day(s) they participate remotely.

• To be marked present, work must be submitted within 2 days of absence.
• Students may not use a remote learning day on a test day.
• Parent/guardian or student must notify teacher in advance to the start of the instructional day to utilize the participation benchmark rule.
• Schools will make their best effort to provide instruction given early notice.
• For security reasons, students who are out of the country may not participate in remote learning.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

• SCHOOL HOURS are 7:40 a.m. to 2:20 p.m. Our school front office is opened 7:00 am - 3:30 pm daily.
• MORNING ARRIVAL PROCEDURES: Morning arrival for students is 7:10 am-7:40 am. Students arriving after 7:40 am will be marked tardy as the instructional daily begins promptly at 7:40 am. ** Students should not be dropped off prior to 7:10 am as we do not offer before school care.
  
• 🚩🚩🚩MORNING ARRIVAL....SCHOOL STARTS AT 7:40 AM: We have a significant number of tardy students in our school.
  

  We kindly request that you ensure your child arrives at school on time each day. Timeliness is crucial for your student's success and helps foster a positive learning environment. Thank you for your cooperation and support in this matter.

• BREAKFAST/LUNCH: 📌NEW❗ Breakfast and lunch are completely free for all Cliftondale students. Breakfast is available for all students 7:10 am - 7:40 am. During school hours, students may not have restaurant food in any FCS cafeteria at any given time.
  

• DISMISSAL: Parents can check students out early anytime up until 2:00 pm.

• TRANSPORTATION CHANGES: Please keep in mind that changes in transportation must be in writing and shared with your child’s homeroom teacher and the front office staff.

• ATTENDANCE: MATTERS: Regular attendance in elementary school is important for a student's academic and personal growth. Attendance is important! Please be sure to send your student to school every day! If your student is sick, please email a note to your child's teacher and our data clerk, Ms. Allen at allenk3@fultonschools.org

• 📌Excessive late student arrivals, excessive early check-outs, and/or excessive late pickups will result in your student being withdrawn from Cliftondale ES until your residency documentation have been resubmitted to the school.📌

• HANDICAP PARKING SPACES: Handicap parking spaces are designated exclusively for individuals who possess valid handicap permits. It is essential to respect these designated areas and refrain from parking in them unless you have the appropriate permit. This ensures that these critical parking spots remain accessible to those who genuinely require them. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated in maintaining the availability of these spaces for individuals with the appropriate parking permits.

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! Each month, we will share resources with parents so that you can support your child at home. Please connect with each of us if you have any questions.

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

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

Literacy Coach: Mrs. Kalista- kalista@fultonschools.org

Literacy Coach: Ms. Johnson- johnsonkr1@fultonschools.org

Math Coach: Mrs. Everett - everettba@fultonschools.org

COUNSELING

Throughout March, the school counselor will deliver the Think First, Stay Safe lesson, as mandated by Fulton County Schools. This lesson educates students on recognizing and responding to child lures, as well as the importance of body safety regarding inappropriate touching. The lesson will be presented to all K-5 students during March and April.

Additionally, our character trait for March is fairness. We encourage you to engage with your scholar(s) in discussions about what fairness looks like, both among peers and in interactions with adults. Reinforcing this value at home will help students practice fairness in their daily school experiences.

ATTENDANCE

As we approach the final stretch of the school year, we want all our scholars to finish strong with consistent attendance. Every student has five (5) remote learning days available per semester that can be used if an absence is necessary. To help your scholar(s) maintain strong attendance, consider the following tips:

1. Make attendance a priority – Establish a routine that supports regular school attendance.
2. Schedule appointments strategically – Whenever possible, plan medical and other necessary appointments after school or as close to dismissal time as possible.
3. Utilize remote learning days wisely – Remember, each student has five (5) remote learning days per semester to use when needed.

Your partnership in reinforcing the importance of attendance is greatly appreciated!

Student Success Skills are a set of standards that will be taught in all schools, to all students, by all teachers throughout the school year. These standards include six skills that are broken down into several standards across grade levels. Teaching these skills will support students in creating a foundation for managing emotions, healthy relationships, understanding and empathizing with others, being responsible and safe, and learning to cope with difficult life situations

HOME CONNECTION - Student Success Skills can also support parents and caregivers as they help their student manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, and make responsible decisions. Home Connection letters and other resources are available to provide tips and strategies to reinforce learned skills at home

***The Student Success Skills Inventory is used to measure student growth across Student Success Skill standards as a result of Rethink Ed lessons. Students in 3rd-5th grades will complete the 15-20 item pre-inventory between August 26, 2024 - September 13, 2024. The post-inventory will take place between April 14, 2025 - April 25, 2025. It takes about 15 minutes to complete. The inventory is pushed out to students using the Illuminate platform. Parents can choose to opt their student out of the inventory. To opt out, parents must submit a written request to opt out to the school principal.

Fulton County Schools partners with Chris 180 to provide on-site and virtual counseling services to students during the school day and after school at low or no cost. To refer your child, please download and complete the referral form and waiver below and email the fully completed packet to CareTeam@chris180.org or contact Cliftondale's Guidance Counselor, Ms. Hall at hallt5@fultonschools.org

Parents are encouraged to volunteer at Cliftondale Elementary School. All parents who want to volunteer in the classroom will be required to contact the teacher, our parent liaison or CST to schedule the day and time they will volunteer. When parents volunteer in the classroom, there must be a clear understanding for expectations. Teachers are not allowed to share confidential information with volunteers. While serving as a class volunteer or chaperoning a field trip or other school-sponsored activity/event, parents/guardian may not bring others or student siblings while performing volunteer duties. Volunteers are not permitted to disciple students. Rather, volunteers must notify the teacher or nearest school official.

A Supervised School Volunteer is a non-paid individual who contributes their time and effort to actively supporting school functions under the direct supervision and guidance of school staff. The category of Supervised Volunteer includes, but is not limited to, one who performs duties that an employee could perform, such as making copies, filing, sorting, assisting with lunch duty, media center or front office tasks, and school day field trips.

All persons interested in volunteering in the Fulton County School District must complete an application every two years. Even if a person has completed an application in the past. To keep in compliance with State Law and best practices, we will require everyone to re-register/register every two years based on the following volunteer service periods.

In order to support learning, Fulton County Schools provides devices for students. Like a textbook, the device is an instructional resource to support learning. Students with devices are expected to follow the guidelines within our Code of Conduct, our user agreement document, as well as school and classroom policies and procedures regarding behavior and technology usage. Please review the 2024-2025 Device Agreement document with your students and send the signed copy back to school. All students received a printed copy, and an electronic copy is attached here

Please review Cliftondale's 2024-2025 School-Family Compact, Parent-Family Engagement Plan as well as Fulton County School's Parent-Family Engagement Plan by CLICKING HERE. Parents, school staff, and students partnered together to jointly develop the School-Family Compact and school Parent and Family Engagement Plan (PFEP). This was done through input collected from feedback forms, surveys, and input meetings held annually in the spring. The School-Compact explains how families and teachers will work together to make sure all students reach grade-level standards at Cliftondale Elementary School.

All students above 10 years of age and their parents/guardians are asked to digitally sign the School-Family Compact in the Infinite Campus Parent/Student Portal. Your digital signature acknowledges you have received, read, and agree to the School-Family Compact. read, received and agree to the School-Family Compact. If you have questions about Title I or need assisting with acknowledging receipt of the Title I documents or would like a printed copy of any of the documents, please contact our Parent Liaison, Ms. Hope Render at 470-254-3040 or by email at renderhh@fultonschools.org

This past week, we hosted our Annual Title I Meeting and Curriculum Night. Many thanks to the families that attended our Annual Title I Meeting and Curriculum Night! The purpose of this meeting was to inform parents of the school’s participation under Title I and explained the requirements, as well as the right of parents to be involved in the education of their child. Please use the link below to review the Title I presentation from Tuesday. Please make sure to complete the EVALUATION LINK at the end of the presentation. Your feedback is greatly appreciated!

Parents, family members and friends are not allowed to bring in cakes, balloon bouquets, flowers, goodie bags, gifts, pizza, or any other type of treat to celebrate a student birthday. Teachers are not allowed to celebrate birthdays in the class with a party or a snack either. Rather, parents may purchase a Smart Celebrations Package from the cafeteria. This can be done to student birthdays and/or any other classroom celebrations. Smart Celebration packets should be purchased in the cafeteria at least (2) days in advance. Please contact our Nutrition Manager, Ms. Curry at curryd1@fultonschools.org

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 click the link provided to register: Parent Portal Registration

*Please note, if you DO NOT have an email address on file, you will be unable to register via the provided link. Please call the school and ask for our Data Clerk, Ms. Allen.

• 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.
• For morning drop-off, parents are expected to ONLY use the car rider loop where staff members are monitoring students. Parents SHOULD NOT release students from their vehicles in the parking lot.
• Parents SHOULD NOT park along any red curb.
• Parents SHOULD NOT pass other vehicles in the car rider line or while in the school parking lot.
• Please have your student ready to exit from the passenger side of the vehicle. This means, make sure his/her bookbag and other belongs are ready and easily accessible. This speeds up the process tremendously!
• For car rider drop off & pickup, please pull all the way forward to cone #1.
• Help your student learn his/her car rider number for afternoon pickup.
• 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 OR contact our supervisor:

Cheowana Henderson, Supervisor
Hendersonc1@fultonschools.org

Charisse Weigner, Special Needs Supervisor
weignerc@fultonschools.org

• The app will request a school code, which is 87428
• How do you access your student's student ID number? Parents may access their child's student ID number from the parent portal in Infinite Campus.
  
• If you add your child and the bus number or bus stop is incorrect, please contact our supervisor, Ms. Henderson
• If you add your child and their is no bus route displayed, please contact our supervisor, Ms. Henderson.

School safety remains a top priority for us in Fulton County Schools. We take maintaining a safe and secure learning environment very serious. I expect all Cliftondale students, parents and staff members act in a manner that keeps everyone safe. Parents are expected to read the electronic version of our Code of Conduct with their student(s) and complete the Acknowledgment of Receipt Form by using the provided link to access Infinite Campus' Parent Portal. Please download the instructions on how to complete the Acknowledgment of Receipt Form. All parents and students (over 10 years old) MUST sign this form found within your INFINITE CAMPUS PARENT/STUDENT PORTAL ACCOUNT. If you would like a paper copy of the Handbook, you or your student can pick up one in your school's front office. When incidence of misconduct arise, consequences will be assigned based on the infraction as detailed within the Code of Conduct.

Principal: Mrs. Canty- cantya@fultonschools.org

Assistant Principal: Mrs. Long- longt@fultonschools.org

Curriculum Support Teacher: Yazmin Hicks- hicksz@fultonschools.org

School Counselor: Tanya Hall - hallt5@fultonschools.org

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

Literacy Coach: Mrs. Kalista- kalista@fultonschools.org
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