The FAST Flyer

Last week we told you about the game truck to reward students with the greatest growth on MAP assessments. This week the celebration continued for our top performing students. Students who scored in the 90 percentile or better were treated to an escape room designed by our own innovation teacher, Mr. Ajagbe. While they didn't all escape the room, they all had a lot of fun!

The sun smiled down on FAST yesterday, making Field Day an absolute blast! Laughter, cheers, and squeals filled the air as students participated in a variety of exciting activities.

From games of volleyball to the classic tug of war, a spoon race, and ultimate rock, paper, scissors there was something for everyone. It was wonderful to see our students having so much fun and showing great sportsmanship throughout the day.

A huge thank you to Mr. Ray for organizing the event and all of the parent volunteers who made it possible.

Please make arrangements to pick up your child’s remaining medication in the clinic by 5/23/24. Medication (prescription or non-prescription) not picked up by the last day of school will be discarded. For more information, please see the attached med-care plan. If you have any questions, please contact school nurse Victoria Murray at victoria.murray@fastk8.org.

The clinic can use uniform donations! The greatest needs are small sizes 5/6/7 pants and tops as well as 12-14 bottoms.

End of year exams concluded yesterday. Students who missed a test will have a makeup next week. We hope to have completed all makeup tests by mid-week. We appreciate all of your patience as we navigated the logistics for these tests.

Earlier this year, our fifth graders had a fantastic overnight trip at Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center. They are holding a free family festival on Saturday, May 18. Admission is free and includes a variety of activities centered around Georgia wildlife, conservation, and outdoor recreational opportunities. Kids can experience archery, fishing, shooting sports, K-9 demonstrations with Georgia DNR Law Enforcement, and solar viewing with the Charlie Elliott Astronomy Club. Additionally, there will be outdoor exhibitors, live animal presentations, arts and crafts, prizes, and more. Attendees can also enjoy a complimentary hot dog lunch from 11 am to 1 pm or while supplies last. More information can be found HERE

8th grade parents, if you have not already completed this survey regarding graduation we ask that you do so by no later than May 14. We need some information from you to plan the ceremony. Please also send pictures for the graduation slideshow. We are looking for 3 photos of your child including one as a baby. Please send photos by no later than May 17. The graduation ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday May 22 at 5:30pm at Lebanon Baptist Church.

One of our favorite events of the year is our kindergarten graduation. It is such an exciting time for our youngest students. We are planning a slideshow for the event to celebrate them. If you have not already, please send a couple of pictures of your student (no more than 3) - including a baby picture to marie.emerson@fastk8.org. We cannot use video for this, so please only provide still photos. If you have already sent video, it will not be used for this. (Your child's teacher may have asked for video for a different project.) We ask to have all photos by no later than May 17.

We will be sending home caps and gowns prior to the ceremony. If you have not already paid for yours, you may do so by credit card at the front desk or by check payable to FAST. We cannot accept cash.

May 20: Class parties

May 21: Kindergarten graduation

May 21: 5th grade bridging

May 22: 8th grade graduation

May 23: Last day of school (half day, 11:30 dismissal)

School begins at 7:40am every day. Students who arrive late are not only missing instructional time, but may disrupt the rest of the class when they come in after class has begun. We have historically allowed students who arrived by 8am to go directly to class without being signed in. Effective immediately, all students who arrive after 7:50am will need to be signed in at the front office by a parent. Please be sure that you arrive on campus early enough to navigate carpool so that your student can be in class on time.

The school day begins at 7:40am Monday-Friday. All students are expected to be in their classroom ready to start the day by 7:40am. Please allow for enough time to navigate carpool for your student to get to class on time. All students arriving after 7:40 are considered tardy.

All students are expected to be in proper uniform every day. Repeat violations of uniform code will result in a call from the front office with a request to bring the appropriate clothing for the student. FAST uniform includes FAST logo polo or spirit wear, khaki or navy bottoms (or black for middle school). Shirts without the FAST logo are not considered proper uniform.

All questions or concerns you have regarding your student should first be directed to their teacher. Please allow up to 48 hours for a response. If the teacher is unable to provide resolution, you should contact the Assistant Principal for your child's grade. On the off chance that you still have not been able to reach a resolution after contacting the teacher and the AP, you can contact Principal Mary Miller at mary.miller@fastk8.org. Our communication and escalation policy can be found on our website.

While under the auspices of Fulton County Schools, we are governed by our own governing board. Sending your issues directly to Fulton County rather than following the FAST communication chain will cause a delayed response as they will only defer to FAST and forward the issue back to us to address.

FAST is a smoke-free environment. Whether you are in the building, in your car, or anywhere else on campus please refrain from smoking or vaping at all times.

We cannot release students for early dismissal after 2:40pm Monday-Thursday and 1:40pm on Friday as this is too disruptive to our afternoon dismissal process and end of day activities. If you are picking up your child after those times, you must go through the carpool lane which begins at 3:15pm. As a matter of student safety, all students leaving before the end of the school day must be signed out in the front office by an authorized person. Please do not call or text your students for early dismissal. Students are not permitted to have their cell phones during school hours.

Please keep these times in mind when scheduling afternoon appointments and plan accordingly.

Please remember to send your child to school with lunch every day or order through Ordo at ordo.com. Ordo orders must be placed by midnight on Friday for the following week. Lunches must be nut free and ready-to-eat (we cannot microwave lunches).

As a reminder, all visitors - including parents - must check in at the front desk in Innovation Hall upon arrival. No one is permitted to enter Student Hall without having first checked in at the front desk. Parents are not permitted to walk their student to their classroom. We have staff available during morning drop-off to ensure students are attended to.

While we manage morning and afternoon carpool every day, now and then we like to remind our families of some of the rules. It is important that you adhere to the carpool process and follow staff directions as they are there (in all kinds of weather!) to keep our students safe and get you through carpool as quickly as possible.

• Students should only enter and exit vehicles on the passenger side in the carpool area. They should never be walking between cars. This is a safety issue.
• Students should not be retrieving their backpacks from car trunks during drop off or pick up. Please be sure they have access to all of their belongings without having to step between cars. This is a safety issue.
• Please do not navigate around the cones in the carpool area. They are placed there for a reason. This is a safety issue.
• No one should be dropping off or picking up students in front of Innovation Hall unless they have been issued a FAST pass. All other vehicles should go through the carpool queue.
• There are no left turns when leaving campus during carpool - whether or not there is an officer directing traffic.
• If your student is a bus rider that will be picked up at carpool, please be sure to inform your student's teacher as well as the front office.

We appreciate your cooperation in adhering to these rules for the safety of both the students and staff.

FAST leverages various means of communications to keep our families up to date with what is happening at school. Since most people are on social media, we post to different platforms to keep you up to date. If you aren't already following us, check us out on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

A printable version of the 2023-24 school calendar can be found HERE

To keep up to date with the most recent information available from our district offices, please click on the image below.

Email: info@fastk8.org
Website: www.fastk8.org
Location: 11365 Crabapple Road, Roswell, GA, USA
Phone: 678-321-1100
Facebook: facebook.com/FASTK8.School/
Twitter: @fastk8charter

The FAST Flyer is the electronic newsletter at FAST. Feedback is always welcome. If you have any questions, please call the school (678-321-1100) or email the FAST Communications Director at marie.emerson@fastk8.org.