Star News

Greetings Superstars!

Black History Month (BHM) 2024 was AMAZING! Thank you to all of our staff members and students for helping me celebrate Black History Month. It was full of instructional learning opportunities mixed with excitement and fun! To recap, we had weekly morning announcements of historical African Americans who made contributions to society, African American Cultural Art Lessons during connections, bulletin board presentations throughout the school, and BHM Spirit Dress-Up Week. Thank you all for making this year's BHM a memorable and joyous occasion for all to enjoy! Just as a gentle reminder, Early Release Conferences will be held on Wednesday and Thursday, March 6th & 7th . In addition, student dismissal will take place at 12:50 PM. As always, please do not hesitate to contact the main office if you have any questions.

Proud to be your principal,

Dr. Connery

MARCH

March 4-8-Book Fair

March 6-Early Release/Parent Conferences-12:50 pm

March 7-Early Release/Parent Conferences-12:50 pm

March 11- March Fire Drill at 2:30 PM

March 11-14-Exceptional Children's Week

March 12-Election Day-Polling in Simpson Square

March 12-All Pro Dads-Dr. Connery, guest speaker for March

March 15-Digital Learning Day

March 17-Simpson Singers Perform at Gladiators Game-3:00 pm

March 18- Intruder Alert Drill- 10 AM

March 21-GMAS Parent Night for Grades 3-5-6:00 pm

March 29-School Council -7:30 am

Come hear our Simpson Elementary School 5th Grade perform “God Bless America” at the Atlanta Gladiators hockey game on Sunday, March 17th at 3:00pm!

Come support our students and stay and cheer on the Gladiators as they take on the Toledo Walleye!

Tickets are on sale now! Use the code below or click the following link to purchase and: http://fevo-enterprise.com/event/Simpsonelementary

We celebrated Dr. Seuss/Read Across America Day on Friday, February 29th! We had loads of literacy fun with reading activities all day!

It is that time of year again to ask parents for their input in the class placement selection process for the 2024-25 school year. Starting March 1st- 10th you will have an opportunity to share your desires for your student's class placement. This year, the form includes opportunities for you to choose personality traits of your child's teacher next year, friendship requests and a small section for you to add follow up comments. Please understand that we will do our best to honor your input during the class selection process, however we cannot guarantee every request will be honored. Our goal is to provide a positive school year experience for all students for the 2024-2025 school year.

24-25 Parent Input Form

The Simpson Elementary Administrative Team will be hosting a GMAS Parent Night for Grades 3-5 on Thursday, March 21st at 6 PM. Please see parent letter, testing calendar attached and our school website link under "Assessments" for details. RSVP here

Superstars, please help me welcome an Aspiring Principal Program Resident, Ms. Terica Peek/AP from Ivy Creek ES who will start a residency program beginning Monday, March 25th- Tuesday, April 16, 2024 at Simpson Elementary School. This unique opportunity that GCPS offers is for aspiring principals to shadow veteran leaders across the district who desire to be a principal in our county.

Ms. Peek's experience has been a teacher for 10 years in Walton County, four years as a teacher/coach at Gwin Oaks Elementary School in Gwinnett. Then, she aspired into leadership as an assistant principal with 4 years as an AP at Lawrenceville ES and 2 years as an AP at Ivy Creek Elementary School. Again, please join me as we welcome our guest when you see her throughout the building coming soon. ~ Dr. Connery

On February 7, 2024, Dr. Taffeta Connery received a GCPS Bridge Builder Award. This award is a special recognition to honor LDI Members of Team GCPS who have been observed actively building the bridge between their school stakeholders, through community partnerships, and by living-out strategic priorities of empathy, equity, effectiveness, and excellence!

WHAT IS #SELDAY?

The Fifth Annual International SEL Day is March 8, 2024!

SEL Day is a global, grassroots campaign for social-emotional learning to support children’s academic recovery, mental health, and well-being. Since its inception in 2020, #SELday has reached over 40 million views.

In 2023, over 4,000 SEL champions representing all 50 U.S. states and 87 countries made 11,000 commitments to showcase, promote, advocate, and support SEL. Advocacy efforts have resulted in SEL Day proclamations in fifteen states, a letter of support from the White House, and a bipartisan resolution for SEL Week introduced in the Senate.

SPREAD POSITIVI-TEE!
To help celebrate #SELDay, join the Office of Social Emotional Learning by encouraging students and staff to wear a positive message TEE-shirt on March 8, 2024! At the beginning of the day, share your message with others.

Norcross HS Softball will be hosting a youth softball camp this summer June 11-14. Check out the flyer for details. Register at this link: https://forms.gle/X2Ai1mcj9a5HMGqP8

How Can You Support PBIS at Home?

We encourage you to reinforce our PBIS norms at home. By doing so, you will be encouraging your child's social and academic growth.

PBIS At HOME

• Use the PBIS norms (respectful, responsible, ready, safe, and kind) at home.

• Create a visual chart outlining appropriate behaviors in different settings/locations at home. For example, what does respect look like in the kitchen?

• Post your chart somewhere where your child can easily reference it during teachable moments.

• Collaborate with your child on how you will give regular positive recognition and incentives for appropriate behavior.

If you are willing to share your home PBIS chart, email it to cassidee.harris@gcpsk12.org

According to US News Report for 2024, Simpson Elementary School is ranked #6 as one of the BEST Elementary Schools in the State of Georgia. Schools are ranked on their performance on state-required tests, graduation, and how well they prepare their students for high school. Simpson is ranked as:

• #1 in Gwinnett County Public Schools

• #6 in the State of Georgia
• https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/georgia/simpson-elementary-school-223330

Greetings Parents,

Simpson Elementary's Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) program focuses on a positive behavioral expectation schoolwide. PBIS is an approach schools use to promote school safety and good behavior. With PBIS, schools teach kids about behavior expectations, strategies, and with a primary focus on having a positive prevention, not consequences.

What is PBIS at our school?

A unified set of school wide expectations for behavior in our school. We are Simpson Superstars, so to ensure that students can easily comprehend our expectations, we have established a 5-star approach for appropriate behaviors posted throughout the school. Your child has been learning these expectations since the first few days of school.

What are the 5-Star Expectations at Simpson Elementary?

1. Be Respectful

2. Be Responsible

3. Be Ready to Learn

4. Be Safe

5. Be Kind

As part of our PBIS process, teachers and other staff members use evidence-based practices to increase student learning and decrease classroom disruptions. To keep students on the rules in a positive manner, we do the following when teaching academics and behavior:

Þ Constantly teach and refer to our school-wide expectations.

Þ Provide students with more praise than correction.

Þ Talk to students with respect using a positive voice tone.

Þ Actively engage everyone in the class during instruction.

Þ Use pre-correcting, prompting, and redirecting as we teach.

Þ Look for the positive first and provide positive, immediate, frequent, and explicit feedback.

Our students are motivated by receiving STARBUCK PBIS dollar incentives for recognition of positive student behavior. Students spend their Starbucks in our PBIS Store weekly during their grade level buying days. Students can choose tangible items such as erasers, snacks, bracelets, pop its, and more! We also sell coupons for various rewards such as show and tell, tell a joke on the morning news, and positive phone calls home! Lessons on saving and spending have been integrated and students have been eager shoppers!

Buying Days

Monday-5th grade

Tuesday-4th grade

Wednesday-2nd and 3rd grade

Thursday-1st grade

Friday-PreK and Kindergarten

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-Friday for all grade levels. Class Parties for ice cream sales are also available each day. Please email your child’s homeroom teacher for details.

GCPS students will have access to a meal (breakfast and lunch) throughout the year for each child. Student meal costs are listed below and an adult bar is available for both adult visitors and staff throughout the school year.

Meal prices for elementary students are below:

Student breakfast -$1.50

Student lunch -$2.25

Adult Breakfast -$2.50

Adult Lunch -$4.00

Simpson is excited to offer an opportunity for parents with children ages birth to five!

We are so blessed to have one of our veteran, retired, and former Simpson Kindergarten Teacher, Ms. Sharon Terry! Once again she will be our Play2Learn instructor during the 23-24 SY. Therefore, please help us spread the good news to all of your family and friends, who may have children in this age range to call the school for additional information.

Want to learn more about how to be your child's best teacher through PLAY? Simpson Elementary is now offering the GCPS from Birth-To-FIVE Program for you and your child!

• Learn how to find teachable moments in everyday life activities
• Learn how to engage your child in play
• Learn how to continue play activities at home and on the or anywhere
• Learn about your child's educational milestones
• Learn how to get your child ready for school

GCPS will continue to follow strict guidelines as it relates to safety & security by visitors producing identification when inside the vestibule to check out students (as well as during visiting lunch hours).

In addition, we will continue to follow safety guidelines to minimize the risk of infection and/or spread of COVID-19. Therefore, if anyone in your household becomes sick and has tested positive for COVID-19, please contact our school nurse, Amy Norris, and/or your grade level administrator, immediately.

Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 7:30 AM - 4:15 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/Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM * Hours will vary depending on morning staff meetings (Tuesday/Thursday -7 :45 AM - 3:45 PM).

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

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

Principal- Dr. Taffeta Connery

Assistant Principal- Ms. Brandy Bosak, Grades 1, 3, & 5

Assistant Principal- Ms. Jeanette Johnson, Grades K, 2, 4

Assistant Principal- Ms. Stephanie Wells, Special Needs & Connections

https://www.gcpsk12.org/SimpsonES

Georgia Platinum Award 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2016 and 2019!

2010 Georgia School of Excellence!

2012 and 2018 National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence!

The PTA's mission is to make every child's potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children.

When you join the Parent Teacher Association at Simpson Elementary by giving your time, talent and resources, you 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. Because of the generous support from our parents, grandparents, teachers, staff and business partners we are able to offer many academic and social opportunities that may not otherwise be able to take place.

Did you know the Simpson PTA sponsors and coordinates over 30 programs each school year through the generous support of our Simpson families and business partners?

Every dollar raised goes directly to programs and events that benefit our Simpson Superstar students, staff, and facilities.

Visit our website and join our PTA Facebook page to stay connected!

March 4 - 8 | Book Fair - Click here to volunteer

March 6 -7 | Early Release - Parent/Teacher Conferences

March 11 - 14 | Exceptional Children's Week

March 12 | All Pro Dads, 7 AM, Election Day

March 14 | Staff Appreciation - St. Patty's Day Treat Cart

March 15 | Yearbook Order Deadline - Click here to order

March 15 | Deadline to Order 5th Grade Yard Signs - Click here to order

March 15 | Digital Learning Day

March 17 | 5th Grade Simpson Singers perform at Atlanta Gladiators Game, 3 PM - Click here to volunteer

March 27 - 28 | Spring Picture Day

Open and Upcoming PTA Positions

Please click here to see the website for more details!

E-mail co-president2@simpsonespta.org with any questions

Open/Upcoming Executive Roles :

⭐ VP of Communications and Publications

⭐VP of Family and Community

General Volunteer Opportunities

• Volunteer to assist with our school's Book Fair
• Volunteer as a Kindergarten Connections helper
• Media Center Volunteers who will shelve books, laminate for the staff, help students check out and return books, and/or complete other small tasks with which Mrs. Dierkes might need assistance. Please note that Media Center volunteer shifts are now only one hour, and this opportunity is open to parents, guardians, and grandparents.

Please visit the Volunteer page of the PTA website to stay current on open and upcoming PTA positions, and general volunteer opportunities.

Price: $35 per sign
Order dates: Now through March 15th
Pick up date: Wednesday, April 24th (more info to follow)
Order Online: https://simpson5thgradesigns2024.itemorder.com/shop/product/38563818/

Questions? Please contact 5thgradeccliaison@simpsonespta.org.

Click here to order today to guarantee your copy of our 2023-2024 Yearbook

Simpson Elementary's School Code - 25732.

Cost - $40

Order Deadline- March 15, 2024

Tuesday, March 12th @ 7:00 AM

$3 CASH per person - includes breakfast for kids

Please register here

Guest Speaker : Dr. Connery

Thank you to our Sweetheart Dance Co-Chairs, Jessica McConnell and Jessica Campbell, along with ~85 parent volunteers for creating an unforgettable, magical evening for our Simpson girls and their dates!

Thank you to our Starry, Starry Night Committee, Jen Weber, Ashley Getz, Lindsay Schmoyer, Elizabeth McMillian for organizing a sparkling evening celebrating our Superstars who placed in this year's Reflections program. This event and program wouldn't be possible without our Reflections Committee, Angela O'Neill, Ashley Getz, Gina Misticawi, and Jenn Frost who begin their work in the fall to put Reflections in motion!

Thank you to our Star Wars Coin Wars Co-Chairs, Ashley Rittle and Caroline Dotts for orchestrating this year's Star Wars Coin Wars Fundraiser supporting our school's Care Team. All in all our Superstars raised $2,621.27 across all grades -- our 3rd Graders won 1st place and were rewarded with a popsicle party at recess. Thank you to the team at Ameris Bank Berkeley Lake, led by manager Gricelda Medrano; Ms. Medrano allowed us use of their branch's coin counter machine, saving us hundreds of dollars!

Thank you to our Staff Appreciation Co-Chairs, Samantha Morgan and Michelle Reuter for arranging Valentine's Day treat for each of our teachers, and the boundless generosity of more Superstar families than I can count who contributed gift cards!

Thank you to our Special Education Staff Appreciation Chair, Jessica Campbell for providing and Sweet and Savory Valentine's Day snack bar for our SPED team!

Thank you to our Talent Show Committee, Stephanie Wamsley, Nicole Redelheim, and Ann Aguiari along with ~20 parent volunteers for planning an evening for our 4th and 5th Grade Superstars to shine!

Thank you to our Business Partners Chair, Heather Reich, for working with Pinckneyville Middle School's PTA on a joint Spirit Night at Knuckies!

Ameris Bank Berkeley Lake was an exceptional teammate in ensuring the success of our Star Wars Coin Wars Fundraiser by allowing us use the coin counter machine at no charge.

Because of their generosity, hundreds of dollars were saved and directed to our Care Team!

Ameris Bank

Manager : Ms. Gricelda Medrano

4591 Peachtree Industrial Blvd.

Berkeley Lake

30092