What a wonderful first month of school it has been. I am extremely thankful for our school community and the partnerships we have formed to make this the very best school for our students. Friday was extra special as it marked the first day of Clubs for All. Make sure you ask your child about their club experience and the new friends and staff they got to meet. The picture above captures the joy and excitement of the students as they head to their club. Thank you to PTA for our new Clubs for All T- shirts.
September is going to be another exciting month at White Oak. We look forward to hosting grandparents and special guests for lunch next week. Please see the information below for all the specific details. One very helpful thing is if your child’s grandparents/special guests know your child’s grade and teacher name. We will have name tags for them, but it helps with getting them seated when they first arrive. Events like these are just one more way we are reaching our goal of being a Preferred Education Destination.
September also kicks off the Boot Scoot excitement. This event is our signature fundraiser that packs in a lot of fun too. We will have Penny Wars, Pep Rallys, and prizes galore. The funds raised all come back to White Oak Elementary to support our instructional initiatives. This year we are excited to use funds to purchase additional sports equipment for our upper playground and robots for STEM Specials as well as fund other initiatives like STEM, Clubs for All, Joyful Learning, and Explore Sugar Hill!
You will receive an informational packet in your child’s Friday folder next week. Thank you in advance for your support.
Have a fabulous Labor Day!
In Partnership and Service,
Stacey Pickett
It's Scholastic Book Fair time! From September 3-6, come experience the limitless possibilities with your kids. Every purchase benefits our school. Because the bookfair is cashless for student shopping, visit the White Oak ES Scholastic Book Fair website to sign your child up for an eWallet. Adults shopping with students can also use Apple Pay or a credit/debit card to make purchases.
At White Oak Elementary, we are respectful, responsible and ready! It just so happens that September’s Character Strong word has us practicing respect. Respect is seeing value in all people and things and treating them with care. During Morning Meeting and in Health Specials, we are learning about the importance respect plays in our daily lives and how it can help better our relationships with others. Read this month’s Family Newsletter for ways to practice respect with your child at home.
Lanier Athletic Association
Sign-ups are now open for Longhorn Basketball for girls and boys ages 5-14. Early Bird $10 off until 9/17. Go to lanieraa.com for more information.
Thank you to our fabulous White Oak PTA for supporting our teachers and students. How can you help? Join White Oak's PTA today!
Stay connected with our PTA on Facebook!
We're on social media! Make sure to like, follow, and engage with our posts to stay connected and be part of the conversation. Thanks for spreading the word and helping us to connect. Let's keep it growing!
Connect on Facebook: White Oak Elementary Longhorns
Connect on Instagram: White Oak Longhorns
Gwinnett County Schools is committed to providing the highest level of safety for our students and staff. Please review the visitor procedures that we will follow for the 24-25 school year. White Oak visitors will have a three - step process for entry into the school.
1.Primary Door
- Visitors use the intercom to request entry, stating their reason for visiting (lunch, check-out, check-in, classroom volunteer, etc...) These intercoms have cameras, and the audio quality is excellent.
- Receptionist communicates with the visitors to grant access to the entry/vestibule.
2. RAPTOR System
- Once in the entry/vestibule, visitors scan their driver's license, government I.D. or passport.
- Everyone needs to have their identification upon arrival.
3. Secondary Door
- A second intercom is installed in the entry/vestibule area.
- If you are here for lunch, as a classroom volunteer, or for a scheduled meeting, the receptionist will grant entry into the school and provide you with a yellow sticker.
- If you are here for student Check-Out, you will remain waiting in the entry/vestibule area.
Our goal is to provide a welcoming atmosphere when you come to White Oak. We have added some seating, decor, and plants in our entry/vestibule for visitors' comfort. Again, we thank you for your patience as we work together to ensure safety for all.
Student and staff safety are the top priority at White Oak Elementary. For the 24-25 school year, the bus lane and front parking lot will be closed off during active bus unloading/loading. As soon as all buses unload/load, the parking lot will be opened. You are welcome to wait in the middle school parking lot during the time the White Oak lot is closed.
The bus lane will remain closed off between the hours of 7:45-8:15 and 2:45-3:15. If you need to pick up/drop your child off your child, please use the car rider lane. We will be issuing car rider tags at Open House for anyone who needs one. Reminder, the last student check out occurs at 2:30 each afternoon. We appreciate your support and understanding with this process.
Last year GCPS 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 Gwinnett County Public Schools.
ParentSquare is a unified communication platform that offers a whole host of tools that allows district leaders, school administrators, and teachers to communicate and engage
with families and students more effectively. Some features include:
- Mass notifications and Urgent Alerts with two-way communication
- Mobile application for administrators and parents (iOS and Android)
- Attendance notifications (district-managed)
- Teacher and classroom communication
- Direct Messaging with two-way translation
- Social (Facebook and Twitter) and website share
- And so much more!
New families should have received an activation email for their ParentSquare account by the week of July 21. Parents who download the app can interact by viewing photos, downloading attachments, leaving comments, messaging teachers, signing permission slips, and managing their communication settings and preferences.
Wondering about the difference between ParentSquare and ParentVUE? Check out this link to see how these GCPS tools help families support their student's learning.
White Oak Elementary School
Mrs. Stacey Pickett, Principal
6442 Suwanee Dam Rd
Sugar Hill, GA 30518
678-546-5550
https://www.gcpsk12.org/WhiteOakES
School Hours
7:45 AM - 8:10 AM Student Arrival
8:15 AM - 2:45 PM Instructional Time
2:45 PM - 3:00 PM Student Dismissal