Dear Findley Families,

In early August, I communicated our safety drill schedule, which is included below. I want to make you aware that our district also has a required intruder drill using our Centegix badge alert system. This was not included in the original communication. Findley Oaks is scheduled for this drill tomorrow, September 8. Below is information regarding an intruder alert. We will trigger the alert using our Centegix badge and staff will use the hard lockdown protocol. We have safety plans in place and we practice our drills throughout the year to ensure procedures are followed with fidelity.

Hard Lockdown

A “hard lockdown” is when there is a threat or hazard inside of the school building or in situations when school leaders deem appropriate. Examples may include parental custody disputes, intruders or unauthorized visitors, and though less likely or as common, an active shooter situation. A hard lockdown uses classroom security to protect students and staff from a safety threat. During a hard lockdown, all learning stops and students and staff take immediate actions to lock and secure doors, and employ the protection strategies they have learned during drills, such as hiding and keeping away from windows or doors. No students are allowed to leave their rooms until authorized by school leaders or safety personnel, and those who are outside must use their discretion whether to try moving inside the school or to evacuate to an off-site location. No one, including parents or community members, may enter the building while a hard lockdown is under way. Only emergency responders are allowed access.

Intruder Alert

An “intruder alert” drill is basically a hard lockdown drill but with a specific purpose. This alert is called when there is an active threat or hazard inside of the school building, such as an active shooter situation or when a weapon is seen or heard. The Georgia Safe Schools Act requires every school to practice intruder alert drills so that students and staff are familiarized with ways to protect themselves against potential threats posed by an intruder who possesses or is suspected of possessing a weapon.

Safety Drills

DRILL FREQUENCY

FIRST SEMESTER

August
First Full Week of School:
• Soft Lockdown Drill
• Hard Lockdown Drill
• Evacuation Drill
• Shelter-in-Place Drill

Second Week of School:
• Evacuation Drill

September
• Evacuation Drill

• Intruder Alert Drill

October
• Soft Lockdown Drill
• Hard Lockdown Drill
• Evacuation Drill

November
• Evacuation Drill
• Shelter-in-Place Drill
(Severe Weather)

December
• Evacuation Drill

September is Attendance Awareness Month where we spotlight the power of positive school attendance in our school community. This year we will be focusing on promoting the importance of positive attendance where we focus on our 3-prong attendance campaign: Connected to School, Engaged in Learning, and Achieving Success.

School Attendance Facts:

• Chronic absenteeism is defined by missing 18 days or more per school year.
• As few as 2 absences per month can result in a student being chronically absent.
• Approximately 50% of students with 2-4 absences in the first month of school will be chronically absent that school year.
• Poor attendance in early elementary can impact whether a child is able to read proficiently by the end of 3rd grade.
• Chronic absenteeism negatively affects a student’s academic performance and can result in them falling behind in subject mastery.
• By 6th grade chronic absence becomes the leading indicator that a student will drop out of high school
• When students improve their attendance rates, they improve their academic prospects and chances for graduating.
• Attendance improves when schools engage students and parents in positive ways and when schools provide mentors for chronically absent students.
• Teacher relationships with student and families are one of the most impactful strategies to reduce chronic absenteeism.
• Students who attend school regularly are more likely to feel connected to the school community and engaged in learning.

You play an integral role in supporting positive attendance for your child. Please partner with us to ensure you child maintains positive school attendance by being present for 95% of the school year – no more than 8 absences per school year. For more information on FCS attendance policies please visit the FCS Attendance Matters Website.

September 12:

Fulton County Board Work Session

September 13:

PTO Meeting-9:30 am

September 14:

Picture Day

September 20:

Kristin McCabe Community Meeting-9:30 am @Shakerag

September 20:

School Governance Council Meeting-3:00 pm

September 21:

Fulton County Board Meeting

September 22:

PTO Movie Night

September 29:

All Pro Dad-6:45 am

Congratulations to our Findley Fork Award Winners for August. These classes exhibited excellent behavior and PBIS expectations in the cafeteria! KK-Martin, 1st-McDaniel, 2nd-Scutt, 3rd-Sweeney, 4th-Davidson, 5th-Maraziti.

The beginning of the year is the perfect time to check your child’s emergency information in our system.

Things to review:

• Do you have a new phone number?
• Are the emergency numbers still current? Is the phone number still correct for these contacts?

Please access your Parent Portal to make necessary changes.

See the attached document for more info!

Students will be putting on their creativity hat for a fun-filled, higher-level-thinking learning experience. We will delve into the elements of creativity (fluency, flexibility, elaboration, and originality) used by problem solvers such as scientists, mathematicians, entrepreneurs, and engineers. We will not only think outside of the box, but we will think differently about the box. At the end, students will become more creative thinkers and innovators, which will contribute to their ability to find new ways to solve complex problems.

The first All Pro Dad Breakfast is Friday, September 29 at 6:45 am in the food court. Please enter through the food court doors. We recommend carpooling as parking on our campus is limited. Scan the QR code or go to this link https://allprodadchapters.com/chapters/12031

to RSVP.

Students in grades 1, 3 and 5 will participate in vision & hearing screenings this fall.

• Vision - September 18
• Hearing - October 13

Parents will be notified if a child does not pass the screening.

We want to honor you at a special event at Findley Oaks on Friday, November 10 from 7:15 to 8:30 a.m.

Please click here to complete the online form to attend this event. We will contact you after we receive your form and provide you with details on the event.

One of the easiest ways to help our awesome teachers at Findley Oaks is by making their classroom copies so they don’t have to use their own personal time. You can sign up to volunteer by creating a free PTO account and then picking a time slot on the Copy Room Volunteers page of the PTO website for any Tuesday or Thursday beginning next month! Only 1 volunteer is needed per day and you can arrive at any time.

If this is your first year helping to make copies, please plan to attend a quick training session on Monday Sept 11th at 9 am. Feel free to contact Crystal Hannah, our Copy Room Volunteer PTO Chair at crystaljwhannah@gmail.com or 678) 984-8733 and/or Ms. Misrahi misrahil@fultonschools.org with any questions.

All volunteers must be registered through the district at Safety & Security / Register as a Volunteer (fultonschools.org)

We need volunteers to assist with morning carpool and lunchtime. Click on the specific images below for the sign-up genius and more information!

To All Volunteers

All Findley Oaks volunteers must register with the Fulton County School District via the Volunteer Registration Portal. Approved Volunteer status expires May 31 of every even year.

Follow this link to initiate the registration process -> Fulton County Volunteer Registration.

Please allow up to 24 hours for your registration to be verified. Once school is back in session you may bring your photo ID into the front office to be scanned.

Thank you for all you do for Findley Oaks!

Click the image below and use the Picture Day ID code provided to order pictures!

Findley Oaks’ Fine Arts Night is Friday, December 8 from 6- 8pm on campus. We are looking for artists from the Findley Oaks/Johns Creek community willing to volunteer their time to demonstrate their craft to students that evening. We would love to see architects, city planners, clothing designers, ceramic artists, painters, illustrators, jewelry artists, sculptors, printmakers, hendi artists, etc. If you are interested in volunteering that evening for a 2-hour period, please fill out the Microsoft Form using the link below and Pam Cessna (Findley Oaks Art Teacher) will get in contact with you. All community artist volunteers must provide their own materials, can advertise their art through business cards or flyers, but cannot sell their artwork at this event. Please be sure that all subject matter is appropriate for children Pre-K through 5th grade. Thanks so much!

Microsoft Form link: https://forms.office.com/r/8GHAYyujiX

Please join us on Friday, September 22 for Movie Night from 6:30 - 9:15 to watch "Minions: The Rise of Gru"

Admission for students and adult(s) is $5 per person and includes a bag of popcorn. Pizza, drinks, candy, glow in the dark accessories and extra popcorn will be available for purchase at the event - Cash Only on the night or you can pre-order food using the link below.

Findley Oaks Elementary PTO - Findley Oaks Movie Night (membershiptoolkit.com)

PTO sponsored activities like Movie Night are not possible without the help of our amazing families. Please consider volunteering your time to help out with Movie Night!

Click Here for more details! Findley Oaks PTO: Findley Oaks 2023 Movie Night (signupgenius.com)

The Johns Creek Police Department is hosting their annual Trunk or Treat event on October 18.

They have asked our school to participate in obtaining candy donations.

If you would like to donate, please drop off unopened bags of individually wrapped candy at the front office. Donations are accepted until October 9!

Mission: Engage. Connect. Grow

Vision: To create a school community of engaged, connected, and growing learners.

Motto: From Tiny Acorns Grow Mighty Oaks