HAWK TALK

Friday, September 13, 2024

CALENDAR AT A GLANCE

October 3: Parent University: Technology 5:45 PM

October 11: Fall Picture Day

October 14-16: No school for students (fall break)

School Hours and Important Times

Office Hours: 8:15 - 4:15

Instructional Hours: 8:55-4:05

Arrival: Please do not drop off students prior to 8:25 AM. We cannot provide supervision of students prior to 8:25, therefore students may not enter until this time.

Breakfast: 8:25 - 8:55 AM

Students should be in class by 8:50 AM.

Dismissal is at 4:05 PM.

Walkers/Car riders are dismissed first, followed by bus riders.

Bus students are dismissed in the order that buses arrive.

Car line: Students must enter/exit a vehicle at the sidewalk area. Please pull forward as far as possible to keep the car line moving. All students must be picked up by 4:25 PM.

Home Soccer Games

Soccer season has kicked off with the Hawks taking the win at our opening game on Wednesday. The team will play at home again on the dates listed below. All games start at 5:30 PM. Students are welcome to come cheer on the team, but must be accompanied by the adult who is driving them home. We do not offer "drop off" for home sports events.

Friday, September 13 vs. Elkins Point

Wednesday, September 18 vs. Webb Bridge

Friday, September 20 vs. Ridgeview

Jr. Beta Club

This past Saturday several Jr. Beta members participated in a volunteer opportunity with "Rise Against Hunger" where students made meal packets to send to schools globally. Since partnering with Rise Against Hunger (RAH) in 2017, Northminster has collectively packed 130,248 meals! Those meals have gone to Puerto Rico, Zambia, eSwatini, Nicaragua, Haiti, Somaliland, Ukraine and the Philippines.

Great job by our Jr. Beta students!

Canvas Parent Observer Accounts

We are proud to launch the Canvas learning management system in middle school this year. At this time, all teachers should have set up and published a Canvas page for each class. Not all assignments will be posted in Canvas, but this will be a central location for class resources and teacher communication.

How can a Parent/Guardian setup an observer account for Canvas?

The observer role is given to parents, family members or guardians to give them visibility into the student's Canvas courses. Family members and guardians can set up an observer account and pair it with student account(s) using a student pairing code. Once the observer is paired with their student(s) they will be able to see the courses that those student(s) are in. There is also a Canvas Parent app that can be set up on your phone.

Please visit the FCS Canvas Page to access step-by-step directions to generate the parent code. Directions are available in English, Spanish, Hindi, Korean, and Chinese.

September Student Attendance Incentives

September is Attendance Awareness month (see more in next section) and we are offering students the opportunity to win one of three $25 gift cards!

Beginning this week, we will raffle off one $25 gift card per week through the end of the month. Students are eligible to win if they had perfect attendance for that week. The raffle will be every Friday afternoon.

Congratulations to Averie Murphy, 6th grade, for winning this week's raffle!

Did you know that students are eligible to use up to 5 Participate Remotely days per semester? These days do not count against a student's attendance record. Email your grade level administrator to request dates in advance (see "Who can I contact for help" at the bottom of the newsletter).

Help Kids Balance Their Media Lives

Our students began their FCS Digital Citizenship lessons this week by learning about the different types of design that often go into the creation of our favorite apps and websites. From streaming services to gaming platforms to social media sites, many of the features embedded in what we consume on our screens fall into either the humane or addictive design categories. Ask your child what they learned about how apps and websites are designed to keep audiences engaged indefinitely and/or support their users' independence and the building of healthy media habits. View the included PDFs for some tips for helping our kids (and sometimes ourselves!) balance their screen time.

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9.13.24 MediaBalance_Spanish.pdf

9.13.24 MediaBalance_English.pdf

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September is Attendance Awareness Month!

Positive school attendance helps students to stay engaged in learning. Attending school regularly allows students to participate in discussions, hands-on projects, and collaborative activities that enrich their learning experiences. Each student’s active engagement in learning shapes their individual educational journey.

Positive school attendance is directly connected to increased student engagement.

1. Building a Supportive Community: Encouraging your child to attend school regularly becomes easier when they feel a sense of belonging within the school community.

2. Celebrating Achievements: Acknowledging your child's successes, both academically and personally, can significantly boost their motivation to attend school.

3. Engaging Learning Experiences: An engaging classroom environment plays a pivotal role in motivating students to attend school regularly. Support teachers in their efforts to create interactive lessons, hands-on activities, and discussions that spark your child's curiosity.

4. Involvement in Extracurricular Activities: Extracurricular activities offer students a chance to explore their interests beyond the classroom. Encourage your child to participate in clubs, sports, arts, or other activities that align with their passions. The excitement of these extracurriculars can motivate them to attend school consistently.

5. Recognizing Improvement: If your child has struggled with attendance in the past, celebrate their efforts to improve. Recognize their progress and emphasize the positive impact regular attendance can have on their academic journey.

Remember, your involvement as parents and guardians is an essential factor in creating a positive and engaging school environment. Together, we can foster an atmosphere where students are excited to come to school, engage in learning, and build a foundation for a successful future.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership in ensuring the success of your child's education.

For more information on FCS attendance policies please visit the FCS Attendance Matters Website or reach out to our school social worker, Kasey Vermilya, 404-791-2238 or vermilyak1@fultonschools.org

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!

8TH GRADE PARENTS

HOLCOMB BRIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL ALPHARETTA, GA | Jostens

Technology & Experience Classroom Resources Events & Workshops Contests & Awards Yearbook+ Advisers & Staff Blog Working with Jostens

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Please Support our PTA!

We are very thankful for the support of our parent leaders through the PTA. We encourage every family and staff member to join the PTA each year. Your membership supports additional student and staff programs including student and staff celebrations, field trips, classroom supplies and innovations, landscaping our campus, and much more. Supporting the PTA does not take as much time as you think!

Click here to join the PTA for just $10. You can also use this site to get information about being a volunteer, dontate the Hawk Fund, and become a community partner.