Dear High Point Families,

Welcome to the month of September! As we settle into the new school year, I want to take a moment to share some important updates and reminders with all of you. The excitement of the first few weeks has been palpable, and I am incredibly proud of how our students have adapted to the new routines and are already showing great enthusiasm for learning.

1. School Updates

• Enrollment: After the 10-day enrollment count, we gained additional staff to reduce class sizes and supports for our scholars.
• Please join me in welcoming-
• 1st Grade- Ms. Park
• 3rd Grade- Ms. Davis
• Art- Ms. Rizzo (Fridays only)
• Music- Mr. Denny (Mondays only)
• Attendance Awareness Month: September is Attendance Awareness Month where we spotlight the power of positive school attendance by Going for the Gold!
• School Attendance Facts:
• Chronic absenteeism is defined by missing 18 days or more days of school in a 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
• When students improve their attendance rates, they improve their academic prospects and chances for graduating.

• Attendance Spirit Week: September 16th-20th
• Monday: Head for Success- Wear a hat or cap!
• Tuesday: Good Attendance Leads to Bright Futures-Dress to impress for your future career!
• Wednesday: Teamwork Makes the Dream Work- Rep your class by wearing the same-colored shirt!
• Thursday: Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow- Wear a shirt from a college or university!
• Friday: Going for The Gold- Dress like an Olympian & wear gold!
• We’re also recognizing Childhood Cancer Awareness Month today by wearing GOLD!
• August Principal's Attendance Award
• PreK-Ms. Thomas/Mulderig
• Kinder-Cannedy
• 1st-Churchwell
• 2nd-Hardeman
• 3rd-Collins
• 4th-Jackson
• 5th- Howard
• Fall Picture Day: Mark your calendars for September 17th. More information on how to order pictures will be sent home soon.
• Lunchroom Visitors: Beginning September 9th, visitors listed as an emergency contact in Infinite Campus may be allowed to eat lunch with a student. Lunch visitors will ONLY be allowed to eat with their student. Students will not be allowed to invite a friend to eat with them and their visitor. Lunch visitors will not be allowed to sit at lunch tables with classes. There will be designated tables on the stage in the cafeteria for lunch visitors. Lunch visitors can also utilize outdoor seating areas.
• Northside Youth Organization: This month we're celebrating the addition of the NYO baseball field on our school campus! High Point has entered into a 5-year agreement with NYO to rent baseball field space. This addition to our campus was at no cost to High Point. NYO covered the installation of the entire project. NYO will also cover utilities, maintenance, and rental fees which will come back to High Point to support teaching and learning for the next 5 years! Throughout the day, our scholars will be able to utilize the field to play wiffle ball, kickball, and cricket (please do not send your scholar to school with mental bats or hard baseballs).
• Sandy Springs Recreation: We've had a lot of questions regarding the after-school soccer program. I have been told that all Sandy Springs Rec activities before 6:00 PM have been paused at all Sandy Springs schools while the school board reviews our current agreement. Once approved, High Point will move forward with after school activities provided by Sandy Springs rec.

2. Curriculum and Learning

• Curriculum Night: Join us on September 11th at 5 PM for an opportunity to learn more about the grade-level curriculum and expectations. There will be two sessions for families with multiple children.
• Session 1: 5:15-5:45 PM
• Session 2: 6:00-6:30 PM
• Special Area Teachers will be highlighting their curriculum throughout the night in the cafeteria
• International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP):
• As the new school year gets underway, we are thrilled to see students engaging in learning and growing in their curiosity. Our classrooms are buzzing with excitement as we implement the IB PYP throughout the school. As an IB PYP school, we focus on developing the whole child, nurturing students to become inquirers, thinkers, and compassionate global citizens. The PYP framework promotes inquiry-based learning and encourages students to take ownership of their education by asking questions, exploring topics in depth, and making connections across subjects.
• Your role as a partner in your child’s education is crucial, especially in the IB PYP. Here are some ways to support their learning journey.
• Encourage Curiosity: Ask your child about the questions they’re exploring at school and engage in discussions that promote further inquiry.
• Reflect Together: Help your child reflect on what they’re learning and how they can apply it to their daily life.
• Celebrate the Learner Profile: Look for moments where your child demonstrates the attributes of the IB Learner Profile (such as being caring, reflective, or a risk-taker) and celebrate those achievements.
• IB Influencer Program: Each month we will focus on a IB learner profile to support our commitment to help all members of our school community learn to respect themselves, all members of our school community, and others around the world.
  
• September IB Influencer Learner Profile: Inquirer

3. FCS Investments in School Safety

• CENTEGIX Crisis Alert: Every district employee is required to carry a wearable panic button at all times. If activated, the entire building goes into a hard lockdown. Red lights throughout the building start to blink and an announcement is made to notice all staff to go into hard lock down.
• Training & Drills: Each year staff is trained on the Run, Hide, Fight protocol and safety drills are practiced with staff and students throughout the year.
• Active Shooter | Run, Hide, Fight (fema.gov)
• Front door button
• All Fulton County Schools are equipped with front door “buzzer” entry controls. After student arrival all exterior doors are locked, and visitors and students must be granted access by front office personnel. The devices are located at every school entrance and have cameras, intercoms to the front office, and a notification button. Visitors must push the button to ring the front office staff, who can view and question visitors via a video phone, and then determine whether to unlock the door.
• Cameras
• Digital camera systems are in every school, allowing FCS Safety & Security and FCS Police teams to monitor activities in and around facilities with laser sharp accuracy via desktop computers, monitoring stations or mobile devices. In addition, FCS is partnering with Sandy Springs Police so that they have access to view school-based cameras and can coordinate a response with FCS Police during potential emergency situations.
• Door Alarms
• “Exit door stoppers” are installed on all exterior doors at every school. When a door is not closed securely or is propped open, the school’s security team is alerted. This prevents individuals from entering or leaving the school without authorization.

Thank you for your ongoing support and involvement. Let’s make September a fantastic month of learning and growth!

Warm regards,

Dr, Miller

@HPointPrincipal

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has joined the PTO this year! Your support and enthusiasm are truly appreciated and vital to our success. For those who haven't had the chance to sign up yet, it's not too late! We welcome new members throughout the year. Join us in making a difference and helping our school community thrive. Scroll down to the bottom of the newsletter to join or click HERE!

We have a busy fall season planned! Mark your calendar for all the important dates below!

• Stock the Lounge - September 9th-13th
• Curriculum Night - Wednesday, September 11th
• Donut Day - Friday, September 20th
• Fall Festival - Saturday, September 28th
• Gifts from the Heart Auction - October 2nd - 9th
• High Point Mom's Night Out - Wednesday, October 9th
• Donut Day - Friday, October 18th
• Costume Dance - Friday, October 25th

Please consider purchasing a Moe's Taco Box to grab on your way home from Curriculum Night! Each kit sold benefits our school! We'll earn $5 back for 10-50 kits sold and $10 back for 51+ kits sold. They'll be delivered around 5:30 and held in the front lobby for you to pick up as you leave. Dinner is done! CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO SECURE YOUR BOX TODAY! Ordering deadline is TOMORROW (9/10) at noon.

Our teachers work hard each day, pouring out love and patience to our children as they teach, and this is an easy way we can refuel their tanks with some fun snacks and treats. Please consider supporting our efforts to "Stock the Lounge" to show our teachers some love!

Join friends and family from the High Point community as we kick off fall together!

With over 30 attractions, this fun filled event is loaded with entertainment for the entire family including a giant 110 foot slide, a thrilling climbing adventure, a pumpkin patch, PLUS an exciting array of carnival games, face painting, and arts & crafts. Spend a few extra dollars and try to soak some of your favorite teachers and staff in the dunk tank! Buddy will also be stopping by to check out all the excitement!

A variety of food will be available for purchase including pizza, Chick-fil-a sandwiches and an authentic Hispanic Plate. A full concession stand offering drinks and sweet and salty snacks will also be open throughout the day.

Please keep your electronic receipt. Your purchase confirmation will serve as your ticket for entry. Physical tickets will not be distributed. Tickets are required for all children 3+ and adults. Children 2 and under are free.

Please click the Sign Up Genius if you're able to help out during the Festival! We appreciate your time!

Do you know a family that is interested in touring our building? Please pass along the link below for them to sign up for a tour!

Make an impact today! It is you, your involvement and generosity, who make amazing things possible for our school community! Click on the link below to join! To pay by check - make checks payable to High Point Elementary PTO and send to school with your child or email highpointpto.atl@gmail.com to arrange pickup!

10% off has been extended to October 31st ! All orders must be completed online using the link below or in the Treering app. Each book comes with 2 free customizable pages. You can order now and create the custom pages in the spring! We earn money back for every order, so grab yours today! Don't miss out on this offer!

If you have not set up your Treering account yet, you can do so by clicking the link below! In your Treering account you can purchase yearbooks, upload photos and create your custom pages. Don’t forget to download the Treering app! It’s very user friendly and good for quick access.

https://www.treering.com/purchase?PassCode=101655303886476

School Passcode: 101655303886476

Why are you not doing the High Hopes fundraiser in October?

High Hopes was successful in reaching its fundraising goal, but the campaign model proved unsustainable for both the fundraising team and individual families with the busy calendar of events and expectations. We’ve sunset this fundraising campaign to streamline our collective efforts into the PTO Membership Drive.

How can we still support the school?

You can support us by joining PTO today! All of the incentives that we would have given for HH are being offered with our PTO Membership Drive.

How can my company get involved?

If your company is able to match donations, please reach out to us! We understand some employers only offer this during certain time periods. If your company match period is month-specific, we can work with you! Email highpointpto.atl@gmail.com to connect!

Other ways to show my support this fall?

This October we are going to kick off a new auction highlighting time spent with teachers. It's called "Gifts from the Heart" and it will feature staff members donating their time and talents to our students. You'll have a chance to bid on things like Principal for the Day and fun activities with staff members after school. More info to come on that!

YMCA-High Point

https://ymcaatlanta.org/learning/afterschool

Camp Wieuca-Peachtree Dunwoody

https://wieuca.org/camp-wieuca/

Primrose-Sandy Springs

www.primroseschools.com/education/before-after-school

Sunshine House

https://sunshinehouse.com/programs/before-after-school/

Imperatori Martial Arts

https://www.imperatorimartialarts.com/after-school-program/

STEMtree

STEMTREE | Buckhead, Atlanta, GA – Your Education Center

Jewish Kids Group-Sandy Springs

https://jewishkidsgroups.squarespace.com/jkg-afterschool

Creme de la Creme-Rowell Rd.

https://cremedelacreme.com/locations/buckhead-ga/before-and-after-school-program-in-buckhead-ga/

Caterpillar International Academy

https://www.caterpillarintlacademy.com/copy-of-our-director