PRHS Ridge News Issue #18

April 18, 2024-2025

Issue #18

April 22: Quarter 4 Midpoint

April 28-May 2: Milestones EOC Exams

May 5-16: AP Exams

May 13-14: Senior Final Exam

May 20-21: Underclassman Final Exams

May 21: Last Day of School

May 23: Graduation

GCPS Calendar

The halfway mark for Q4 is on April 22nd, please check on your student's course progress. Please make sure you are checking grades in your parent portal account or your student's portal account.

Last day of school May 21st.

Student Course Requests for the 25-26 school year can be viewed on StudentVUE. Course requests are tentative and are subject to change. As classes are built and changes are made throughout the coming months, these changes will be reflected live on StudentVUE. If a course becomes unavailable, the student's next choice will be moved in to the Course Request. Course requests will not show teachers, periods, or semesters. Final schedules will be available at the end of July.

Seniors graduating in the spring graduation ceremony must fulfill one of the options below in order to exempt final exams for Quarter 4/Semester 2:

A. An average of 90 or above in a specific subject (in AP courses this would be BEFORE the 10 points added) will exempt the student from that objective final exam only. Applicable performance exams will still be required and will count its full weight.

B. If a student has Honor Graduate status, meaning the student has an overall average GPA of equal to or greater than 90.000 as of the end of Quarter 2, December 2024. The student may exempt all objective final exams, regardless of their average in the class. Applicable performance exams will still be required and will count its full weight.

Students may NOT exempt Georgia Milestones that are required by the state of Georgia and our local school district. Seniors may only exempt the local and district test given on the final exam date.

Senior final exams are May 13 and 14. A form will be available on MyPaymentsPlus for parents complete for any senior exempting an exam. The form will give permission for the student to leave campus early. More information will be available as we draw closer to the end of the school year.

If a student is eligible to exempt an exam, he/she must turn in or pay for lost textbooks, Chromebook and charger to the Media Center on May 14th. Seniors must have cleared all outstanding school-related fines from the Media Center, parking office, cafeteria, sports/clubs, etc. by May 20th.

Seniors who are eligible to exempt an exam may choose to take the exam, without the risk of lowering their final average. The exam can improve their grade but cannot lower it. All final exams for Honor Grads, except for EOCs, may be exempt.

Ridge Performing Arts' spring musical is this weekend! Don't miss this glamorous story of fame, fortune and crime! Opening night is Friday and runs through Sunday. Tickets are $10 cash at the door (venmo option also available)"

PRLT Applications are now open! All students are invited to apply to be a member of the Peachtree Ridge Leadership Team for the 2025-2026 school year. This group is a fun way to make connections and serve our Peachtree Ridge community. Please join our google classroom for more information. The google classroom code is CIVNV4CR. Applications are due Monday April 21st at 11:59 PM.

This year's yearbook Invisible Stings is available for purchase. Buy your yearbook now before they sell out $90 until April 27th. Click the flyer below for the link and enter the school code: 25659

SUMMER SCHOOL PLUS is a summer school online supplementary class for students to recover academic courses needed for graduation. Courses are offered through Imagine Learning.

See Flyer below for more details.

Be sure to download your important files and projects. GCPS will delete your accounts over the summer. Click the flyer below for directions.

A popular PRHS tradition for each graduating class, Senior Letters! Letters and note can be dropped off at school starting on April 21st. Please make sure student's full name and ID number is on the envelope. Letters can be dropped off in the vestibule area at the front of the school. Deadline is May 14th. Please contact Elaine Vernon (elaine.vernon@gcpsk12.org) with any questions.

Peachtree Ridge encourages students to volunteer their time to help and assist others. People choose to volunteer for a variety of reasons. For some it offers the chance to give something back to the community or make a difference to the people around them. For others it provides an opportunity to develop new skills or build on existing experience and knowledge. See the PRHS volunteer webpage for more information and learn how to receive a graduation cord for volunteering.

2025 Graduates

All volunteer hours must be entered by Monday, May 7, 2025. All hours entered as of this date will be used to determine if you earned a cord.

Students and parents who would like to learn more about the GA Milestones End of Course (EOC) testing can visit the Experience Online Testing Georgia Website. This practice site is a chance for students to learn more about the structure and content of the Georgia Milestones Assessments, experience online testing, and practice using online tools.

Peachtree Ridge Students will take an EOC at the end of the following courses:

• 11th Language Arts (April 28-29)
• Algebra Concepts and Connections (April 30)
• U.S. History (May 1)
• Biology (May 2)

www.scholasticimages.com

Please visit the Scholastic Images website for your custom Class Rings, Letter Jackets, Senior Packages, and Personalized Announcement orders!

Scholastic Images will be on campus throughout the year during lunches. The LAST date is Monday, May 5th. Cap and Gown will be distributed during all lunches to seniors who have paid senior dues as of April 13th.

Be sure to check out the PRHS Counseling Office eCLASS page. It is students' 24/7/365 resource for all things academic, career, and social/emotional related!

Use the link above to see the full list of college and military visits.

PRHS Counseling Department

Virtual Spring Advisory Council Meeting

Thursday, 4/24/25 at 2:30pm

You’re invited to come & learn more about the PRHS Counseling Department, our School-Wide Initiatives, and share ideas on ways of improving our department to better serve our students, parents, and community here at “The Ridge”.

Please consider joining us (Virtually) to learn more about our counseling program, things we were able to accomplish this school year, share ideas for improving the department moving forward, and ask any additional questions you may have as well.

We hope to see you on screen!

** Link for the meeting: https://meet.google.com/srv-kxjv-pbi

Sports tickets can only be purchased via GoFan with a credit or debit card to home sporting events. To purchase a home ticket for games please click on PRHS GOFAN. Many other schools are also going touch-less for tickets as well. If they are using GoFan, those tickets will also be available under Peachtree Ridge.

February

Sydney Matesevac- Lacrosse

Nabil Riouch- Soccer

Coach Pollock- Track and Field

The Robolions are currently competing in the World Competition in Houston, TX.
There are 8 divisions; the Robolions (1261) are competing in the Curie Division (they're all named after famous scientists and engineers) against 75 other teams. The winners of each division go on to the Finals on Saturday. They are currently in 20th place after Thursdays rounds.

https://www.thebluealliance.com/event/2025cur#results

April 25

starting at 3:00 PM

PRHS Stadium

Game starts at 5:00 PM

Schedule: May 13th and 14th

Rising 10-12th graders: 2:30pm-5:00pm

Rising 9th graders: 5:00pm-7:00pm

Must have COMPLETED Rank One Account

Please see the links below to keep up to date on all important senior dates, events, and announcements. There will be a monthly Senior Newsletter as well as the senior website and the senior google classroom.

The March Senior newsletter includes information about the 10 graduation tickets seniors will receive.

• April 2025
• March 2025
• February 2025
• January 2025
• December 2024
• November 2024
• October 2024
• September 2024
• August 2024
• July 2024

Understanding AI

It is important for students to develop an understanding of how AI tools are developed and why they create the results that they do. Students should be critical users of AI, evaluating if and how AI should be used in different settings. Students follow the GCPS Acceptable Use Policy for Students and should follow their teachers’ guidance on the use of AI tools and ask for clarity before using if they are unsure.

Guidance for Parents

AI is impacting the workforce across industries, and the responsible, effective, and ethical use of AI is an important skill set for students to have in college and in their careers. Parents play an important role in guiding and monitoring student use of technology, including AI. We encourage parents to discuss and, perhaps, learn with their students as they learn to be critical users of AI over their learning experience.

Parents can leverage guidance from this document, the GCPS Responsible Use of Technology student policy, and external resources like Common Sense Media to learn more about responsible AI use. In addition to the Guiding Principles of this document, parents might consider the following:

• Explore Generative AI Tools for Yourself: Try using tools, like ChatGPT or Google Gemini, to better understand these tools as well as the opportunities and risks they present. You can share your experiences with your students and discuss how these tools work.

• Model Adaptability: AI continues to evolve, and how we use it and what we know will evolve as well. Be prepared to adapt as you gain experience and learn with your student.

• Establish Expectations for Use and Communication at Home: Just like any technology, it is important to set clear expectations for when and how you want students to engage with AI at home. Maintain open and honest communication about AI.

• Respect Copyright and Plagiarism Rules: Remind students to follow teacher guidance and discourage any use of AI that might lead to plagiarism. Students should always credit any work or source that is not their own.

• Clarify Goals: Work with your students to understand how they might be using AI and what guidance or expectations their teachers set for their work. AI can be a great tool to support learning or productivity, but students must still practice their critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration skills.

• Monitor and model: It is important to supervise your students’ use of AI tools, especially if they are younger. It is great to monitor the tools they are using and model safe and responsible use for them. Not all AI tools are appropriate for all ages.

Learn more about GCPS AI Position

Follow the GCPS Student Tech Tips Playlist for Tech Tips for more information about student Chromebooks.

Go to PTSA Store to purchase a membership for $10. This is a new PTSA webstore.

Parents, students, and teachers aren't the only ones that can join the PTSA. Did you know grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, and even business owners can join the PTSA as well. There is no limit to how many family members, friends, or business owners can join. Active involvement in the PTSA allows you to stay informed about the school polices and initiatives, ensuring your voice is heard. Please consider joining today.

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855.CommunitySchool@gcpsk12.org

Driver's Education?

SAT/ACT Prep Classes?

Defensive Driving?

ESOL?

Summer PE/Health?

Credit Recovery?

End Zone after-school tutoring?

Facility Rental?

Contact the Community School

ONLINE summer course taught by PRHS instructors. Space is limited!

SIGN UP NOW!

Cost: $500 Dates: June 2-25 No class on June 19

Sign up on MyPaymentsPlus today!

For more info, email: nina.hidalgo@gcpsk12.org

Peachtree Ridge Community School has five different sessions of Driver's Ed schedule for the 24-25 school year.

When does class meet?

Session 4 - June 2-5- Monday-Wednesday, 8AM-4PM, Thursday, 8AM-2PM, in B206

Session 5 - July 14-17 Monday-Wednesday, 8AM-4PM, Thursday, 8AM-2PM, in B206

Do I need to attend every class to earn credit for Driver's Ed?

YES! You must be present at ALL classes to earn credit.

What should I bring to class?

You will need to bring a pencil, water bottle, and dinner or a snack.

What is the deadline to register?

Please see MPP for each session’s deadlines.

When do I get to practice driving?

Students must complete 30-hours of classroom learning, log 20 hours of driving time with a parent, and be comfortable behind the wheel, BEFORE driving time can be scheduled. Driving times are based on instructor and student availability and are scheduled on a first-response basis. We strive to complete driving with students within 120 days from course completion.

What does the class cost?

$450 - in-person class plus 6 hours driving, $385 - 6 hours driving ONLY Additional driving time may be scheduled for $65/hour.

What if I have additional questions?

Contact nina.hidalgo@gcpsk12.org or visit www.gcpsk12.org/Page/26555.

We have a variety of shelf-stable pantry items and some hygiene products available for families in need.

Families are welcome to come shop our CARE closet, or we can prepare bags for them. Our office is happy to have these ready for pick-up or drop-off at a family's residence or a discrete location.

Click here to request food or hygiene items.

If you would like to learn more about the CARE Closet that was started by a former PRHS family, please visit their website: https://carecloset.org/

The End Zone offers after school study space and peer tutoring. You can learn more about the End Zone on the PRHS website. The End Zone will be open Monday-Thursday, 2:30-4:30pm. We also have our End Zone Weightlifting program in the Lions' Den.

Need tutoring? Use this link to sign up for tutoring in the End Zone.

Check out the homepage of the Peachtree Ridge Website for more information from the front office at www.PeachtreeRidge.org about certificates of enrollment, drivers license documents, and transcript requests.