Knightly News
March 15, 2024
Every Student, Every Day Deserves to Learn, Lead, & Excel!
Message from our Principal~ Ms. Tamara Perkins
Next Wednesday, March 20, 2024 Simonton ES will hold its annual International Night. We invite all families to stop by to celebrate the many cultures that make up our school community. The evening will be filled with displays and performances.
Please be sure all students complete their digital learning assignments and return their devices and chargers on Monday, March 28, 2024.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Please return all student devices and chargers with your child in Monday!!
Congratulations to our Honors Chorus who performed at Central Gwinnett today
Lawrenceville First United Methodist Church is hosting an Easter Festival at the Lawrenceville Elementary School playground. The Event is NEXT Saturday, March 23 from 1-4pm on the playground at LES!
Simonton's Tapestry Display at the Instructional Support Center ~ March 14-21
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 12 – District III (Dr. Mary Kay Murphy) – Duluth HS
March 14 – District IV (Dr. Adrienne Simmons) – Shiloh HS
March 19 – District V (Dr. Tarece Johnson-Morgan) – Meadowcreek HS
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.
Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS) Family Night
The Office of Family Engagement in the Department of Federal Programs invites all families of students in grades 6- 12 to join the “Positive Behavior Intervention & Supports (PBIS) Family Night” led by Shea English, Assistant Director of the Office of Behavior Supports and Interventions on March 19th from 5:30 to 6:30 PM.
During this session, GCPS families of students in grades K - 12 will receive information about the definition of PBIS, PBIS Components, and How families can help connect with schools and use PBIS at home.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER: Registration link
Interpretation provided in Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, and Chinese
Upcoming Events at Simonton
Saturday, March 16
- Saturday Intervention Program ~ 9:00-11:00 am
- GAGE Saturday Exploration Program ~ 9:00-11:00 am
Wednesday, March 20
- Adult ESOL Classes with Mrs. Saha ~ 10:00-11:00 am
- International Night ~ 5:30- 7:00 pm
Friday, March 22
- Local School Council ~ 9:00-10:00 am
- 5th Grade Field Trip
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.
Parent Mentors Present: “Planning for an Engaging Summer Break”
Who: Parents/Guardians of students receiving Special Education services
What: Parent Mentors Present: “Planning for an Engaging Summer Break”
When: Tuesday, March 19, 10:00 – 11:30 AM or 6:00 -7:30 PM
Where: In-Person registration link for 10:00am session: https://forms.gle/tJhvHVf2HKzdu4CA7
Zoom registration link for 6pm session: https://gcpsk12-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYlf-6rqjwiHt2Nz09we1uIJ1Cu5qnm-5h9
Good News Club
Ready By 5
Simonton ES Handbook Highlights
STUDENT RECORDS
Under the Family and Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, parents have several rights. These include: the right to inspect and review the educational records of their child, the right to challenge the content of those records, the right to control the release of the educational records of their child, the right to complain to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Office about the school’s failure to comply with the law, and the right to be informed of these rights just listed. To obtain a copy of Gwinnett County’s policies on their compliance with the law, or to request the opportunity to inspect and review your child’s records, contact your child’s school.
STUDENT SUPPORT TEAM
The purpose of the Student Support Team (SST) is to allow teachers, parents and other educators to work in a collaborative manner to develop an intervention plan to address the needs of students who are not experiencing success (academic and behavior). This group provides advice, suggests alternative teaching strategies or interventions to support the students in meeting grade level expectations.
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
Make room at the table for a map
To have some fun teaching your child geography, get a world map and put it on your dinner table. Cover it with a sheet of clear plastic from the craft store. Now at meals your family can talk about what is happening in the world. Help your child find countries mentioned in the news. Quiz family members on countries and their capitals. You might also try a state or national map. https://tpitip.com/?14cR18608
Teach your child discipline with a few basic rules
Some families are afraid to discipline their children. But effective discipline isn't really about punishment. It is about teaching your child how to behave as you expect. Develop a few basic house rules and reasonable consequences for breaking them. Explain them clearly to your child. When you enforce the rules fairly and consistently, your child will learn what the limits are. https://tpitip.com/?14cS18608
Put the focus on learning with a hands-off approach
Sometimes, parents and caregivers help too much with children’s school projects. It can be really tempting. After all, you want your child to get good grades. But there is a better approach. Instead of thinking about grades, think about what your child can learn from doing the project independently. Ask the teacher about the best ways to support your child's efforts. https://tpitip.com/?14cT18608
Challenge your child to find words inside words
Here's a fun way to build your child's language skills: Write down a word, then have your child use its letters to make new words. For example, from the letters in the word "tadpole," your child can write the words "tea" and "ate." You can do this with holiday or seasonal words, or pick a word that matches your child's interests. How many words can your student find in "watermelon" or "rhinoceros"? https://tpitip.com/?14cU18608
Add to your child's mental math skills
Here's a way to help your child practice doing math without using pencil and paper. Start by giving four single-digit numbers for your child to add together. Pause after you say each number to allow enough time to add. When your child can do that, give four double-digit numbers, also spaced out one at a time. Next, give four numbers all at once. When your child is a pro, you can move on to giving five, six or more numbers. https://tpitip.com/?14cV18608
Share smart moves for before, during and after tests
The things your child does before, during and after tests can improve academic achievement. Before the test, have your child review frequently for short periods of time when feeling most alert. During the test, your child should read the directions carefully and save time to double-check work. When your child gets the test back, review it together and discuss strengths and weaknesses. Then, have your child save the test for future studying. https://tpitip.com/?14cW18608
Think and plan with your child before saying 'yes' to a pet
Caring for a pet can teach kids responsibility and self-discipline, but it's serious business. Before you get a pet, involve your child in thinking the decision through: What kind of pet would be best suited to your home? Your budget? Does your child have the skills and time to take care of it? What will happen to the pet when your family is at work and school? Write down what your elementary schooler will do to care for the pet and what the consequences will be if that doesn't happen. https://tpitip.com/?14cX18608
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