Dear Families,

We are marching into March with excitement. March will be a busy month for us with several family engagement events. The first event to take note of are the Early Realease Conferences on March 6 and March 7. By now, you should have received information to schedule a conference with your child's teacher and received confirmation of the appointment. Please be sure to reach out to your child's teacher if you have not scheduled a conference. The conference is the opportunity to learn more about your child's strengths and areas of growth.

Other information for other engagement opportunities are provided in the newsletter.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Kassia Sutton

Proud Principal of Norcross Elementary

The survey provides us with valuable information to improve our practices and the experience we create for you and our Eagles.

https://www.oprahdaily.com/life/g28621944/toni-morrison-quotes/

On Friday, February 23, five of our Eagles participated in the Science Fair.

Our Readers' Rally Team did an amazing job at the competition on Saturday, February 24. The team was 1st runner up in their divsion.

March 6 - Early Release Day for Conferences/Counselor Community Fair 1pm-5pm

March 7 - Early Release Day for Conferences

March 8 - Local School Council Meeting at 7:30am/Read Across America 9:00-9:45 Drop Everything and Read/Progress Reports Go Home/Firedrill at 1:15pm

March 9 - Saturday Intervention

March 15 - DLD

March 22 -K Fieldtrip

March 23 - Saturday Intervention

March 25 - Montage/Dr. Gresham visits 9:45-11:45 ELA focus

March 27 - Class & Spring Pictures

March 29 - Student of the Month

March is Women's History Month.

Marcth is Youth Art Month.

• Tapestry is March 5 - March 11
  

Read Across America Week March 4 -8

District Assessments March 4 - March 19

February 5 - March 5: Kid's Heart Challenge

February 22 - March 1: HIgh Touch, High Tech Field Trip for K-2 (on campus trip)

Book Fair: February 23 - March 1

This year's theme is celebrating the “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.”

We are so excited about are partnership with Booster. Please view the document on the ways Booster is supporting Norcross Elementary.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_M86EIzuKkRbeBavukRTta2FC2suBJJt/view?usp=sharing

Level Up is a reading initiative, at NES, created to foster a love of reading in young readers. The goal is to put books in the hands of young scholars to get them excited about reading. Level Up will allow students to choose books that they want to read based on their personal interests. Students will have opportunities to read independently, participate in book talks, and respond to questions about texts read. Level Up also includes individual and grade level reading competitions with rewards for the students and classes that reads the most (outside of classroom instruction/assignments).

We have important wins for our students to add to the March calendar:

1. NES artists are THE FEATURED artists at the Norcross Public Library all March long!

2. We have artists on display at the annual TAPESTRY exhibit the week of March 6. March 6 is our open house.

3. Two of our students have artwork at the State Capitol. We will be meeting state representatives with their families on March 13.

4. A new rotation of artwork has been set up at the Hartsfield Jackson Youth Art Gallery and we have students in the show.

5. Montage, "Wild About Nature", and Art Club's final service-learning project - Empty Bowls (benefits the Norcross Food Co-op) 25th

Stay tuned for more inforamtion on a community project our amazing art teacher, Bobbie Adamczyk is leading for the Norcross Pubilic Arts Commisson and City Council.

Gwinnett County Public Schools’ family engagement initiative seeks to support the growth, development, and success of each and every student. The Engage, Equip, and Empower series hosted by the Department of Federal Programs Office of Family Engagement provides opportunities for families to participate in instructional sessions, workshops, events, and activities to engage with Gwinnett County Public Schools. The series will provide opportunities for families to learn how to support their children at home in the core academic content areas, be active participants in their children’s education, and learn about resources, programs, and wraparound services to support their children.

Use the button below to access the website.

Please click on the button below for additional information.

Future students and families, use the QR Code below to sign up for a registration appointment.

Below is the schedule for the GMAS Assesement our 3rd -5th graders will take. Please make note of the dates.

Improving student academic and behavior outcomes is about ensuring all students have access to the most effective and accurately implemented instructional and behavioral practices and interventions possible. Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) provide an operational framework for achieving these outcomes.

Below is a picture our PBIS Matrix

Practice at Home

The link between families and positive behavioral interventions and supports is an important one. When families are meaningfully involved in educational activities
their children do better in schools. Families play an important part in their child's
education and social development.

To ensure that your child knows and understand the expectations of our school, we encourage you to practice the expectations at your house.

Examples of SOARing at home include:

• At home we are safe by locking
  the door when we go to bed.

• At home we are organized by
  making sure our clothes are put
  up.

• At home we achieve by reaching
  our goals.

• At home we are respectful by
  listening to our parents.

PBIS Information for Families
https://www.pbis.org/family

Positive Behavior
https://www.parentcenterhub.org/pbs-resources/

Please call the front office if you would like to find out more about the NES PBIS program!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/19bifZqyfbBl9blBiUlta0NuwrYKGryJ0/view?usp=sharing

Key information for families is accessible via the Virtual Back-to-School Backpack for Families (http://www.gcpsk12.org/virtualbtsbackpack) and is posted on the district website.

Content for families is available online via the GCPS website, including Handbook Information for Students and Families (formerly called Student-Parent Handbook), as well as AKS Overviews (K-8) and AKS by grade (K-8) and subject (core and CTAE). These materials will not be printed. Links to these pages will be part of the Virtual BTS Backpack.

Play2Learn at Norcross Elementary is every week on Tuesday or Wednesday from 9:45 -11:15.

Play 2 Learn is a program for young children— ages birth to 5— offered at all elementary schools in Gwinnett County Public Schools. Children and parents and other adults in the family learn TOGETHER through engaging lesson plans in a high-quality preschool environment for 90 minutes each week during the school year. Families are empowered to keep the learning going at home so that all children will be ready for Kindergarten!

Contact Mr. Fortenbery (770) 448-2188 for more information about the program.

Free and Reduced Information

• As a reminder, SY23-24 Free and Reduced eligibility status will carry over for the first 30 school days of SY24 (through 9/14).
• Parents must fill out a new application for SY24 in order to maintain their Free or Reduced-Price meal benefits.
• The online 2023-2024 Free and Reduced application is now available. Click here to see if your child qualifies for free or reduced meals and to potentially avoid being charged.

Breakfast

All students will be charged for breakfast based on their current eligibility status (Free, Reduced, Full Pay)

• Meal Prices for breakfast are as follows: Reduced - $.30 cents; Full Pay - $1.50

Lunch

• All students will be charged for lunch based on their current eligibility status (Free, Reduced, Full Pay)
• Meal Prices for lunch are as follows: Reduced - $.40 cents; Full Pay - $2.25

MyPaymentPlus Offers Free 24/7 Access To

• Student cafeteria balances and purchase history
• Prepayments for breakfast/lunch, with auto-pay capability
• Meet Your Teacher Day (Open House) documents
• Other fees and activities such as yearbooks, spirit wear, field trips and more!

Using your MPP Account

https://instruction.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/content/enforced/2323043-Federal_Programs_Communication_Center/MyPaymentsPlus/MPP.setup.HOW_TO.mp4?ou=2323043

Creating an Account - Spanish

https://instruction.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/content/enforced/2323043-Federal_Programs_Communication_Center/MyPaymentsPlus/Spanish%20version%20(detailed).pdf?_&d2lSessionVal=j8rIvA3AnIlKoIU3fgtWbW8eI&ou=2323043

A Parental Guide: Reviewing and Acknowledging Orientation Agreements & Title I Documents

https://instruction.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/content/enforced/2323043-Federal_Programs_Communication_Center/MyPaymentsPlus/MPP%20How%20to%20review%20report.mp4?_&d2lSessionVal=j8rIvA3AnIlKoIU3fgtWbW8eI&ou=2323043

For customer service & support on your MyPaymentsPlus account, please call 1-877-237-0946

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

Beginning July 18, 2023, 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).

Up-to-date Safety Equipment and Technology

Our school uses a variety of technological tools to reinforce security. These are some—but not all—of the tools in place:

• Cameras — interior and exterior
• VMS and Raptor — visitor management systems that control access doors and screen adults against National Sex Offenders Registry. Every visitor is required to show identification.
• Vestibules — Double glass door entry with bullet-resistant glass film at designated single point of entry for the school (coming soon).

Parents, we are excited to have your child attend Norcross Elementary School!

We are living and operating in unprecedented times that are challenging us in many ways. With new challenges come new and innovative practices. Enrolling in our school begins as a digital process.

All students new to GCPS, transferring from another GCPS school, out of the county or out of the state must all enroll through the

GCPS Virtual Enrollment OLR (online registration) process on the GCPS website.

Please share this information with your new neighbors who have school age children.

To schedule an appointment or if you require assistance, please contact our Student Data Management Clerk (SDMC), Ms. Shakira Herbert, at 770-448-2188

1. If your child has a medical alert/medical health management plan, please contact Lilana Martinez as soon as possible, and complete and return applicable forms to her in a timely manner.

2. We want our students to have a full day of learning, but sometimes illness(es) may interrupt their day. For the safety and health of your child and others, if your child gets ill at school and needs to go home, please do so promptly. If you’re unable to pick them up, please be sure that we have a current list of emergency contact(s) that we may reach out to.

We will continue our focus on the Whole Child through MTSS by using Supportive Community and Academic Press (see picture below). An example of Supportive Community is our Positive Behaviors Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Program and an example of Academic Press is the implementation of the EL Education literacy pilot for Language Arts.

MTSS is a system or framework that integrates assessment and intervention within a school-wide, multi prevention system to maximize student achievement and reduce behavioral problems. It promotes systems alignment to increase efficacy and effectiveness of resources. (Adopted for National Center on Intensive Intervention).

Implementation of MTSS is one of our LSPI goals.

A student who leaves school before the official ending time must be signed out in the office by his/her parent or guardian. Parents must report to the receptionist, not the classroom. The receptionist will call the room for the child after a photo ID (government issued) has been shown. Please remember that each time a child checks out early, we must call the classroom and disrupt instruction for everyone. Children will be called to the Front Office where they will be released to the parent/guardian. The office will not check out students after 2:30 P.M. (11:30 A.M. on early release days). Please do not ask school personnel to make exceptions.

A child will not be permitted to leave the school in the custody of any person other than the child's parent unless that person is listed as a parent/guardian or emergency contact in the school’s database. As telephone numbers and situations change, please make sure you report this information to the school so we have the most accurate information.

Arrival

• Doors open at 8:20am
• Classes begin at 8:50am

Dismissal

• The Day ends at 3:20pm

Check out our Parent Page in our School Website to find more information regarding Title 1 and what happens at Norcross Elementary. It’s important to stay informed about your child’s education. The Powerpoint Presentation of the Title 1 Annual Meeting is posted there for your review. https://www.gcpsk12.org/domain/1603

We are looking for volunteers to participate in our Local School Council and Parent Teacher Association (PTA). Reach out to our Parent Center team, Robert Fortenbery Robert.fortenbery@gcpsk12.org or Eduardina Checo Eduardina.checo@gcpsk12.org for more information.

LOCAL SCHOOL COUNCIL (LSC)

The purpose of the LSC is:

• To help the local board of education develop and nurture participation
• 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
• To share ideas for school improvement

If you are interested in being a member of our Local School council, please contact Robert Fortenbery (robert.fortenbery@gcpsk12.org).

The tentative meeting dates are as follows:

September 23, November 11, January 27, and March 10 at 7:30amj.

PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION (PTA)

We are in need of a PTA board to support our school, our students, and our faculty. The board consists of a president/co-president, vice president, treasurer and secretary. Please contact me at kassia.morris.sutton@gcpsk12.org if you are interested.

https://www.pta.org/home/About-National-Parent-Teacher-Association/Mission-Values

Volunteer

Please partner with us and commit to volunteering at our school. Volunteer activites may include: working in the media center, laminating materials, counting out documents, cutting, and filing. Please contact Robert Fortenbery (robert.fortenbery@gcpsk12.org) or Eduardina Checo (eduardina.checo@gcpsk12.org) for volunteer opportunities.

July/August Newsletter - https://www.smore.com/ybt4x

Principal – Kassia Sutton (kassia.morris.sutton@gcpsk12.org)

Assistant Principal – Gr. 1, 4, 5 – Contacia Cross (contacia.cross@gcpsk12.org)

Assistant Principal - Gr. K, 2, 3 - Katrina Bilal (katrina.p.bilal@gcpsk12.org)

Assistan Principal - Special Education - Alicia Lapinsky (alicia.lapinsky@gcpsk12.org)

Counselor - Gr. K, 1 - Shelby Gonzalez (shelby.gonzalez@gcpsk12.org)

Counselor Gr. 2, 3 - Amy Crapo (amy.crapo.@gcps12.org)

Counselor Gr. 4, 5 - Matt Ho (matt.ho@gcpsk12.org)

Website: https://www.gcpsk12.org/NorcrossES
Location: 150 Hunt Street, Norcross, GA, USA
Phone: 770-448-2188
Facebook: facebook.com/NorcrossElementarySchool-GCPS

Please open the document for dates and times. Information was sent home in the Friday Folder.