

THE NORCROSS ELEMENTARY EAGLE
February 2025 - Family Newsletter
Dear Families,
Happy February! We look forward to a great month of teaching and learning. We will continue to make sure our students are seen, valued, and heard.
Included in the newsletter is information to stay current with the most up to date happenings at our school. There are also opportunities for you to make an impact and collaborate with us.
Thank you for all YOU DO!
Sincerely,
Dr. Kassia Sutton
Proud Principal of Norcross Elementary
Orientation Agreements
Every year, we ask parents and guardians to complete and send back dozens of important forms and permission slips. We are pleased to share that your back-to-school forms that were previously in MyPaymentsPlus are now in ParentSquare!
Action: If you have not signed the agreements, please use the button with the link below to complete the forms.
Congratulations
National Award Winning Counselor Team
Congratulations to our counselors, Matt Ho, Shelby Gonzalez, and Mat Ho.
We’re thrilled to announce that Norcross Elementary has been recognized as a 2025 ASCA Re-RAMP (Recognized ASCA Model Program) Award
Winner.
The received the initial recognition in 2020.
They will be recognized at the American School Counselor Association (ASCA)
Conference in Long Beach, California from July 12 - 15.
SAVE THE DATE: Kindergarten Registration begins March 24.
February Events
Week of February 3- National Counseling Week
February 2: Ground Hog Day
February 6: STEM Night
February 9: Severe Weather Drill at 9:30
February 10: Dr. Gresham visits at 10am-12pm
February 13 -17: February Break - No School
February 18: 4th Grade Hi Touch-Tech
February 19: 4th Grade Hi Touch-Tech/Family Luncheon
February 20: Family Luncheon
February 21: Food Pantry
February 22: Readers Rally/Extended Learning Program
*Week of February 24-28 - 4th Grade Gwinnett Writes
STEM Night is Thursday, February 6
The Month of February is Black History Month.
Family Luncheon
Below is the schedule for our Family Luncheons.
February 19, 2025: Grades 1, 3, 5 and ASD
19 de Febrero, 2025: Grados 1, 3, 5 & ASD
February 20, 2025: Grades K, 2, 4
20 de Febrero, 2025: Grados K, 2, 4
Gwinnett Writes Assessment
On February 26th, our 4th grade students will be taking the Gwinnett Writes Assessment. For more information about the Gwinnett Writes Assessment, please click on the link.
https://www.gcpsk12.org/families/accountability-and-assessment/assessments
Andrea Eberhart and Dr. Latonya Parker are our instructional coaches. Their role includes supporting teachers and students. Ms. Eberhart and Dr. Parker also plan and facilitate our LEVEL UP READING PROGRAM.
Checkout the math resources on the button below.
Parent Center Resource
Below open the attachment for news from the Parent Center.
Media Center News
Use the link below for media center news.
PBIS
Improving student academic and behavior outcomes is about ensuring all students have access to the most effective and accurately implemented instructional and behavioral practices and interventions possible. Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) provide an operational framework for achieving these outcomes.
Below is a picture our PBIS Matrix
Acknowledging Appropriate Behavior at Home
Rewarding students at home using a PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) system is important because it reinforces positive behaviors, strengthens the school-home connection, and allows parents to actively participate in supporting their child's behavior development, ultimately leading to a more consistent and positive learning environment for the student.
Key reasons why home-based PBIS rewards are valuable:
Consistency:
When parents are actively involved in reinforcing positive behaviors at home, it creates a consistent message for the student, making it more likely that they will exhibit those behaviors across different settings.
Increased student motivation:
When students know their positive actions are recognized both at school and at home, it can increase their motivation to continue exhibiting desired behaviors.
Addressing behavioral issues proactively:
By reinforcing positive behaviors at home, PBIS can help to prevent or address emerging behavioral concerns early on.
How to implement home-based PBIS rewards:
Share behavior expectations:
Clearly communicate the school's PBIS expectations to parents, including specific positive behaviors that are being reinforced.
Use a rewards system:
Establish a system where parents can provide small rewards or praise for their child's positive behaviors at home.
Family involvement activities:
Organize family events or activities that promote positive behaviors and reinforce school values.
PBIS Information for Families
https://www.pbis.org/family
Positive Behavior
https://www.parentcenterhub.org/pbs-resources/
Dr. Fain is our PBIS Coach.
Salo's Tech Tip
Please use the link for information regarding support with devices during Digital Learning Days (DLD).
https://drive.google.com/file/d/17thpCvF-3hFH_9ps55uBDIrjSuNKVCsx/view?usp=sharing
Wellness
Family Wellness Goals:
Heart Health
Some people celebrate love in February. When we think about love, we think about hearts. February is also Heart Health Awareness Month, and it’s the perfect time to set heart-healthy wellness goals with your family. According to the American Heart Association, heart-healthy activities should include healthy eating, a healthy lifestyle, and fitness. Here is a week-by-week plan with links to videos or information to help set heart-healthy wellness goals.
Week One: Set family heart-healthy wellness goals for healthy eating.
Week Two (in Spanish): Set family heart-healthy wellness goals for healthy sleeping.
Week Three: Set family heart-healthy wellness goals for healthy stress management.
Week Four: Set family heart-healthy wellness goals for healthy fitness activities.
Have a wonderful Heart Health month with your family!
If you’d like more information from the American Heart Association, click HERE.
School Breakfast and Lunch Information
MyPaymentsPlus Account Information
MyPaymentPlus Offers Free 24/7 Access To
- Student cafeteria balances and purchase history
- Prepayments for breakfast/lunch, with auto-pay capability
- Meet Your Teacher Day (Open House) documents
- Other fees and activities such as yearbooks, spirit wear, field trips and more!
Using your MPP Account
Creating an Account - Spanish
A Parental Guide: Reviewing and Acknowledging Orientation Agreements & Title I Documents
For customer service & support on your MyPaymentsPlus account, please call 1-877-237-0946
Creating a Safe Environment
Up-to-date Safety Equipment and Technology
Our school uses a variety of technological tools to reinforce security. These are some—but not all—of the tools in place:
- Cameras — interior and exterior
- VMS and Raptor — visitor management systems that control access doors and screen adults against National Sex Offenders Registry. Every visitor is required to show identification.
- Vestibules — Double glass door entry with bullet-resistant glass film at designated single point of entry for the school (coming soon).
ParentSquare
Clinic Updates
1. If your child has a medical alert/medical health management plan, please contact Lilana Martinez as soon as possible, and complete and return applicable forms to her in a timely manner.
2. We want our students to have a full day of learning, but sometimes illness(es) may interrupt their day. For the safety and health of your child and others, if your child gets ill at school and needs to go home, please do so promptly. If you’re unable to pick them up, please be sure that we have a current list of emergency contact(s) that we may reach out to.
Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) Supporting the Whole Child
We will continue our focus on the Whole Child through MTSS by using Supportive Community and Academic Press (see picture below). An example of Supportive Community is our Positive Behaviors Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Program and an example of Academic Press is the implementation of the EL Education literacy pilot for Language Arts.
Implementation of MTSS is one of our LSPI goals.
Early Check-out Procedures
A student who leaves school before the official ending time must be signed out in the office by his/her parent or guardian. Parents must report to the receptionist, not the classroom. The receptionist will call the room for the child after a photo ID (government issued) has been shown. Please remember that each time a child checks out early, we must call the classroom and disrupt instruction for everyone. Children will be called to the Front Office where they will be released to the parent/guardian. The office will not check out students after 2:30 P.M. (11:30 A.M. on early release days). Please do not ask school personnel to make exceptions.
A child will not be permitted to leave the school in the custody of any person other than the child's parent unless that person is listed as a parent/guardian or emergency contact in the school’s database. As telephone numbers and situations change, please make sure you report this information to the school so we have the most accurate information.
School Hours
- Doors open at 8:20am
- Classes begin at 8:50am
Dismissal
- The Day ends at 3:20pm
Parent Center Updates
Check out our Parent Page in our School Website to find more information regarding Title 1 and what happens at Norcross Elementary. It’s important to stay informed about your child’s education. The Powerpoint Presentation of the Title 1 Annual Meeting is posted there for your review. https://www.gcpsk12.org/domain/1603
We are looking for volunteers to participate in our Local School Council and Parent Teacher Association (PTA). Reach out to our Parent Center team, Altavise Walker altavise.walker@gcpsk12.org or Eduardina Checo Eduardina.checo@gcpsk12.org for more information.
Get Invovled
The purpose of the LSC is:
- To help the local board of education develop and nurture participation
- 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
- To share ideas for school improvement
PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION (PTA)
We are in need of a PTA board to support our school, our students, and our faculty. The board consists of a president/co-president, vice president, treasurer and secretary. Please contact me at kassia.morris.sutton@gcpsk12.org if you are interested.
https://www.pta.org/home/About-National-Parent-Teacher-Association/Mission-Values
Volunteer
Please partner with us and commit to volunteering at our school. Volunteer activities may include: working in the media center, laminating materials, counting out documents, cutting, and filing. Please contact Eduardina Checo (eduardina.checo@gcpsk12.org) for volunteer opportunities.
Previous Newsletters
How to Stay Connected
Principal – Kassia Sutton (kassia.morris.sutton@gcpsk12.org)
Assistant Principal – Gr. 1, 4, 5 – Contacia Cross (contacia.cross@gcpsk12.org)
Assistant Principal - Gr. K, 2, 3 - Katrina Bilal (katrina.p.bilal@gcpsk12.org)
Assistan Principal - Special Education - Alicia Lapinsky (alicia.lapinsky@gcpsk12.org)
Counselor - Gr. K, 1 - Shelby Gonzalez (shelby.gonzalez@gcpsk12.org)
Counselor Gr. 2, 3 - Amy Crapo (amy.crapo.@gcps12.org)
Counselor Gr. 4, 5 - Matt Ho (matt.ho@gcpsk12.org)
Website: https://www.gcpsk12.org/NorcrossES
Location: 150 Hunt Street, Norcross, GA, USA
Phone: 770-448-2188
Facebook: facebook.com/NorcrossElementarySchool-GCPS