Knightly News
March 22, 2024
Every Student, Every Day Deserves to Learn, Lead, & Excel!
Message from our Principal~ Ms. Tamara Perkins
Monday, March 25, 2024, will be picture day. All students will take class pictures. Individual pictures will also be available for purchase. Be sure to bring your best smile.
Join us on Thursday, March 28, 2024 for our annual PTA BINGO night. It will take place in the cafeteria. The doors will open at 5:00 pm. Bring the whole family out. There will be many great prizes.
Next week will be our last full week before spring break. All Gwinnett County Public Schools will be closed from Monday, April 1, 2024 - Friday, April 5, 2024.
Have a great weekend!
PTA Volunteers Needed!
We need parent volunteers to lead our Simonton ES PTA for the 2024-2025 school year. Our PTA is a wonderful resource for our school and we do not want it to go away. Without parent help there are many programs we will not be able to host next school year.
Come out to BiNGO Night if you would like to be a PTA volunteer. We will hold our annual election just prior to the start of the event.
We ask all members to check in so that we may establish a quorum to vote on new officers and a budget amendment. Credentialing will start at 4:45 p.m.
All credentialed members will receive 3 free cards!
International Night
Spring Family-School Partnership Advisory Council (PAC) Meeting
The Department of Federal Programs' Office of Family Engagement invites all families to join the “Spring Family-School Partnership Advisory Council (PAC)” meeting on March 28, 2024, from 6:00 until 7:30 PM.
We are excited to again meet in person with families in the Grayson Room at the Instructional Support Center (ISC). GCPS families will receive information about Multilingual Learners, Early Learning and School Readiness, the Homeless Education Program, Migratory Students, and the Foster Care Program, and have the opportunity to provide input on how these funds are utilized to support students, staff, and schools.
Lawrenceville First United Methodist Church is hosting an Easter Festival at the Lawrenceville Elementary School playground. The Event is this Saturday, March 23 from 1-4pm on the playground at LES!
Camp Invention
Hello Simonton ES families!
We are excited to host Camp Invention June 3, 2024 – June 6, 2024 here at Simonton Elementary School. A special thank you goes out to the Nordson Foundation who have made a generous donation that will allow us to offer scholarships for Simonton ES students who attend Camp Invention. 30 scholarships will be awarded to the first 30 students who sign up using the google link below. The scholarship award will be $200.00. Parents will be responsible for paying the remaining $85.00. Scholarship funds are for currently enrolled Simonton ES students only.
https://forms.gle/m5J3G32gZp8uH3u76
Hola familias de Simonton ES!
Estamos emocionados de organizar Camp Invention de Junio 3, 2024 - Junio 6, 2024 en la Escuela Simonton. Un agradecimiento especial a la Fundación Nordson que ha hecho una generosa donación que nos permitirá ofrecer becas para los estudiantes de Simonton ES que asistan a Camp Invention. Se otorgarán 30 becas a los primeros 30 estudiantes que se registren utilizando el enlace de Google a continuación. El premio de la beca será de $ 200.00. Los padres serán responsables de pagar los $85.00 restantes. Los fondos de la beca son solo para los estudiantes actualmente matriculados en Simonton ES.
GCPS Area Board Meetings
Please find the dates and locations for our upcoming Area Board meetings below. All meetings will be held in the theatre.
Meet and Greet begins at 6:30 p.m./Meeting begins at 7:00 p.m.
March 26 – District I (Karen Watkins) – Grayson HS
April 8 – District II (Steve Knudsen) – Mill Creek HS (Simonton's District)
Simonton ES Local School Council
We invite parents to join us for our Simonton ES Local School Council meeting. Local School Council meetings will be held four times during the school year. Meetings will take place in person at the local school.
The purpose of the Council is three-fold:
I. To help the local board of education develop and nurture participation.
II. To bring parents and the community together with teachers and school administrators to create a better understanding of and mutual respect for each other's concerns.
III. To share ideas for school improvement.
Meeting Dates: March 22, 2024 and May 3, 2024
Meeting Time: 9:00 am
Location: Simonton ES
Our next meeting will take place on Friday, March 22, 2024 at 9:00 am.
Draft Agenda Items
Welcome/Introductions
Early Intervention Program
- Simonton ES Strategic Goals
- Simonton Celebrating 30 years
- Simonton ES Student Enrollment
- Simonton ES Safety Plan
- Simonton ES Discipline Report
- Central Gwinnett School of the Arts
- Simonton ES Title I Budget
2023-2024 Student Class Placement Request
Student Class Placement Request forms are now available for the 2024-2025 school year. Parents are welcome to pick up a form in our front office. You may provide information about your child’s learning needs and the classroom environment that you feel would be beneficial. Please do not use a specific teacher’s name requests for a specific teacher will not be honored. As always, the placement of your child will be the school’s top priority. All forms must be returned to the Simonton ES front office by Friday, March 29, 2024.
Upcoming Events at Simonton
Saturday, March 23
- GAGE Saturday Exploration Program ~ 9:00-11:00 am
Monday, March 25
- Spring Individual and Class Pictures
Wednesday, March 27
- Jordan MS visit for 5th graders
- Adult ESOL Classes with Mrs. Saha ~ 10:00-11:00 am
Thursday, March 28
- PTA BINGO Night ~ 5:00 -8:00 pm
Friday, March 29
- PE Fundraiser ~ Hat Day
Monday, April 1- Friday, April 5
- Spring Break
Thursday, April 11
- Multilingual Family Workshop ~ 5:00-6:00 pm
Wednesday, April 17
- STEM Night ~ 5:00-7:00 pm
Thursday, April 18
- FOCUS Family Workshop ~ 5:00-6:00 pm
Friday, April 19
- Field Day (Kindergarten & 1st Grade)
- School Tours (New Families) ~ 10:00-11:00 am
Monday, April 22
- GMAS ELA Section 1 ~ Grades 3-5
Tuesday, April 23
- GMAS ELA Section 2~ Grades 3-5
Wednesday, April 24
- GMAS ELA Section 3 ~ Grades 3-5
Thursday, April 25
- GMAS ELA Make-ups
- Field Day (2nd & 3rd Grade)
Friday, April 26
- GMAS ELA MAke-ups
- Field Day (4th Grade)
- Progress Reports emailed to parents
- SES Movie Night ~ 7:00-9:00 pm
Monday, April 29
- GMAS Math Section 1~ Grades 3-5
Tuesday, April 30
- GMAS Math Section 2 ~ Grades 3-5
Wednesday, May 1
- GMAS Math Make-ups
- Field Day (5th Grade)
Thursday, May 2
- GMAS Science ~ Grade 5
Friday, May 3
- GMAS Make-ups
- Local School Council Meeting ~ 9:00-10:00 am
- Barber of Seville ~ Grade 3-5
Georgia Milestones (GMAS)
Students in Grades 3-5 will take the Georgia Milestones at the end of April.
Field Day Shirts
Field day t-shirts are now available for pre-order through MyPaymentsPlus or by returning the flyer to Coach Cheney with payment.
The shirts will be available in 6 different colors...one for each grade level.
**Colors have not been determined yet.
Good News Club
Ready By 5
Simonton ES Handbook Highlights
Make up work policy
Student work missed due to an excused or unexcused absence will be given to the student upon returning to school. Please do not call the school on the day your child is absent and ask to pick up work for them to do that night. We believe if a child is too sick to come to school, they should be resting at home. They will be allowed to make up their missed work over a reasonable amount of time. This will be communicated to the parent by the teacher. Our Make Up Policy also applies to absences due to vacations.
Non-instructional items
Our school priority is teaching and learning. Non-instructional items, electronic toys, games and other devices are not permitted at school. Please make sure that these items remain at home. Students that are found to be in possession of these items at school will have them removed and given to an administrator until parent pick up. Students may not exchange money, sell, buy, trade, give or purchase items from another student during the school day, on the school bus, or at the school bus stop.
From our Counselors...
Information for Parents: New Resource for K-5 English Language Arts
Medication
Students may NOT carry medication of any kind to school. For student safety, we need to be aware of the medication and dosage in case there are any adverse reactions. The clinic worker is authorized to administer medications to students when proper paperwork is completed. Medications should always be in the original containers when brought to or picked up from school by an adult. Medication may not be brought to school by a student. These procedures are a safety precaution for your child, both on the bus and when they visit the clinic. Parents should inform the school if their child has a contagious disease.
Ice Cream for Sale
This year's ice cream selections can be seen in the picture to the side:
The application for free and reduced lunch is now available. There will be no waiver in place to offer free lunch for all students. Please complete the application if you feel this is a service your family will need. All students who have not been approved for free or reduced lunch service will be charged the full price each day.
Free and Reduced Lunch Application
https://www.nlappscloud.com/Welcome.aspx?api=78f8fee54716f21218e523747d37a13c
Clinic Card
Does your child have a medical concern that we need to be aware of? Stop in to see Mrs. Tammy Jones in the clinic.
Complete the clinic card if your child has any medical concerns that we need to be aware of. We also need to know any medication your child is taking and directions of what to do while we are caring for your child until you arrive.
ParentSquare
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 and class information
- Share pictures and files
- See calendar items
- Upcoming class activities
District & 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).
MyPaymentsPlus
We encourage all families to create a MPP account. No purchase is necessary to have a MPP account. You will be able to read and digitally sign documents and/or make necessary payments. It is a great way for you to manage and keep track of all of your student payments and forms in one place throughout the school year.
MyPaymentsPlus is linked directly to your school’s student information system (SIS), enabling us to show real-time balances and invoices, and eliminating the need to call or visit your school in search of information.
Whether you’re viewing what your 2nd grader ate for lunch, renting a locker for your middle schooler, or purchasing a parking permit for that new driver in your family, MyPaymentsPlus ensures you never miss a beat, from Pre-K to graduation day.
Simply create a free MyPaymentsPlus account to get started today.
Elementary e-Tips for Parents
Help your child turn words into pictures
Many students struggle with a common reading problem. They can recognize the individual words in a passage, but they have trouble understanding the overall meaning. Help your elementary schooler learn to visualize. When your child reads to you, describe the images that occur in your mind. Or, help your child draw pictures or diagrams of the story's action. You could even act out the story, and have your child describe what you are doing. https://tpitip.com/?14cY18608
Stop the self-criticism cycle from derailing your child
Some children can be very hard on themselves. They feel like failures if they aren't the "best." This can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. To ward off perfectionism, set reasonable goals for your child and relax about normal mistakes. And don't brush off self-criticism. Instead, discuss it. Remind your child that no one can be perfect. Point out your elementary schooler’s strengths, and encourage the use of affirmative selftalk, such as "I'm proud of how hard I tried." https://tpitip.com/?14cZ18608
Do your part to break the bullying cycle
It's critical that families help their children deal with bullies. Children who are bullied often end up being bullies themselves. To stop the cycle: Ask the school staff what you can do to combat bullying. Discuss solutions with other families. Talk to your child, too. Boost your student’s self-confidence with a reminder of all the things you like about your child. Say that you take bullying seriously, and insist that your child tell an adult when experiencing or seeing it. https://tpitip.com/?14ca18608
Disagreement is no excuse for disrespect
Disagreement and division have led to violence in recent times. To teach your child that it is possible and preferable to address disagreements with respect, make it a rule at your house: "When we discuss an issue with different sides to it, we will hear all sides and, if necessary, we'll agree to disagree." In that case, your child will have to accept your authority, but children shouldn't have to change their viewpoints. https://tpitip.com/?14cb18608
Take time to demonstrate character
It takes time to help your child develop an internal sense of right and wrong, but it is time well-spent. Help your elementary schooler learn to make good choices by taking advantage of teachable moments in your lives. For example, if your car door scratches another car, tell your child, "Since no one saw that, I could just drive away. But I'm going to leave a note for the car's owner. Taking responsibility is the right thing to do." https://tpitip.com/?14cc18608
Give your child a chance to be a news expert
For some students, learning about current events is a challenge. It isn't easy to read and remember so many different topics. You can help by asking each member of your family to choose a different news story to follow for three or four days. Your child can become the family expert on a topic by reading articles and watching news items. Then, at dinner, take turns sharing what you've each learned. https://tpitip.com/?14cd18608
Enlarge your child's vocabulary with a few big words
Your elementary schooler’s vocabulary may be filled with short, simple words. But you don't have to speak to your child in small words. Expand vocabulary by using some "big" words occasionally. Children naturally mimic the adults around them, so to teach your child a new word, use it often. Define it. Use it in another sentence. Relate it to words your child already knows ("This book is so interesting; it's captivating!"). https://tpitip.com/?14ce18608
SIMONTON ELEMENTARY- WHAT WE STAND FOR
Vision
Simonton is committed to dynamic high quality instruction resulting in a passion for learning, leading and excelling.
Core Belief
Every Student Every Day, Deserves to Learn, Lead, and Excel
Commitments
We commit to giving our students a fresh start every day.
We commit to preparing quality and engaging lessons that will prepare our students to be successful in school.
We commit to teaching, modeling and holding our students accountable for appropriate school behavior.
We commit to providing our students with a structured and safe learning environment.
We commit to a great year of learning, leading, and excelling
Simonton Elementary School
Superintendent ~ Dr. Calvin J. Watts
Board Member ~ Mr. Steven B. Knudsen
Principal ~ Ms. Tamara G. Perkins
Assistant Principal ~ Mr. Nicholas Gilmore
Assistant Principal ~ Dr. Joe Sanfilippo
Assistant Principal ~ Mrs. Amy Steinberg
Website: gcpsk12.org/SimontonES
Location: 275 Simonton Road Southeast, Lawrenceville, GA, USA
Phone: 770-513-6637
Twitter: @simontonPride
Instagram: @SimontonPride