Greetings Parents and Guardians!

Wow! It’s February! Time flies. Happy Black HIstory Month! Please ask your children about the fun trivia as it is shared this month. We want to cultivate a culture of belonging while leading with empathy, equity, and excellence to ensure that students, families, and staff feel welcome, safe, accepted, valued, and prepared for the future!

We have many wonderful events coming up at Woodward Mill. Our Cubs are our priority and we love to serve. Please be sure and look at the dates below so that you and your family do not miss out on the fun.

Please help us spread the word about our Play 2 Learn program. It is a fun way for children to develop a healthy love for learning. If you have small children-birth to five years old, please bring them for Play 2 Learn classes every Wednesday morning. Please email Ms. Lyndsey Cann for more information. We are trying to grow our program and we still have space for Baby Cubs!

Remember, I am always here for our Woodward Mill family. Communication is key. Feel free to email or call with concerns or questions.

Your Grateful Principal,

Dr. Brown

2/6-2/10 Kindness Week

2/7 Cubs Care Club 7:30am

2/8 Play2Learn Wednesday 9:00am-10:30am

2/9 Chorus & Readers Rally 7:15am

2/10 PTA Denim & Diamonds Dance 6:00pm

2/14 Cubs Care Club 7:30am

2/15 Play2Learn Wednesday 9:00am-10:30am

2/16-2/20 Student/Teacher Holiday- No School!

This is a gentle reminder-Car rider supervision begins at 7:45am and ends at 8:15am. Our car rider teachers will need to stop the line at that time. Cars that are not in the parking lot at 8:15am will be asked to take students to the front and check them in. Our teachers will need to prepare for the day.

Thank you for your cooperation and support as we work to serve you and your family. Please let Dr. Brown know if you have any questions.

Between January 11, 2023 and February 28, 2023, all English learners in K-12th grade in Georgia will take part in the ACCESS test at school. Please review the information linked below regarding this assessment of English learning.

All 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students will be taking the Georgia Milestones Assessment after Spring Break. Gwinnett County has approved the dates shown below for administration. Please contact Mrs. McClelland (melissa.mcclelland@gcpsk12.org) if you have any questions. More information will be provided as we approach testing.

Monday: Chicken sandwich, hummus basket, or pull apart cheesy bread

Tuesday: Bean burrito bowl, PBJ, or quesadilla

Wednesday: Wings, yogurt basket, or blueberry twist

Thursday: Macaroni & cheese, chicken dumplings, or hummus basket

Friday: Pizza, french bread, or hot dog

*Menu is subject to change due to supply shortages.

Next week is Random Acts of Kindness Week! Students will be challenged to show kindness to others throughout the week! The week ends with Mix It Up Day on Friday! On Mix It Up Day, students will sit with different students in other classes to get out of their comfort zone and meet new friends at color-coded tables. Students, wear your brightest colors for this day! Please note, if you come to eat with your child on Friday, they will sit at the parent table with you as usual and will not participate in Mix It Up Day.

Each month, we focus on a different character trait. The character trait for the month of February is Kindness. Kindness means treating others in the way that we would like to be treated and going the extra step to make someone feel special. Teachers will be looking for students that exhibit this trait during February to be recognized as the “Cub of the Month” with a certificate and free ice cream!

Thank you to the families that participated in the SEL Parent Night on January 17th. We are so thankful to be able to serve our community, and help our students and families. The presentation and additional resources will be available on the website soon. Click the link below to review a recording of the information shared during SEL Parent Night.

We haven't been able to host this event in years, but this year our College and Career Day is scheduled for March 31st. This day will give students the opportunity to learn about nearby colleges and careers from individuals that can speak first-hand about their daily experiences. No book can teach them that!

We would love for you to come to our College and Career Day! The actual event is 8:30am-10:30am. Please let us know if you would like to speak to our students. You can email Chavonne O’Rear at chavonne.orear@gcpsk12.org for more information or to volunteer.

We are excited to have the Scholastic Book Fair back in our school! The book fair will be a CASHLESS event this year. We are encouraging parents to create “e-wallets” through Scholastic for their child to use when shopping at the fair. The “e-wallet” works like a gift card, with funds preloaded, so it is not necessary for students to have to handle cash.

Student “e-wallets” can be set up anytime prior to the start of the book fair! Click on the link below to get started!

Plan to bring your family to shop during the early release afternoons of March 1 and March 2. Parents are welcome to shop anytime during school hours! Credit and debit cards will be accepted from adult shoppers.

We are in need of book fair volunteers to support this literacy event. If you are interested in helping at the book fair, please fill out the form below. Thanks for your support!

Every Monday throughout February, there will be a Who Am I? question posed in the Celebrating Black History eCLASS widget. Students will have until Friday of the week to submit their responses. Prize winners will be randomly selected, based on correct responses, and announced on the morning announcements every Monday. I hope you will encourage your child to participate!

In 1848, Mary Walker was born into slavery. At age 15, she was freed, and by age 20, she was married and had her first child. By age 68, she had worked numerous jobs, including cooking, cleaning, babysitting, and selling sandwiches to raise money for her church. At 114, she was the last remaining member of her family. And at 116, she learned to read. with perseverance and dedication–proved that you’re never too old to learn.

It’s time for a new reading challenge! During the month of February, encourage your child to read and log at least 300 minutes!

Students will login to Beanstack using their GCPS student number and their birthday month and date (MMDD) as their password. Students are able to log reading minutes either on their laptop or on a mobile device.

Refer to the media center link of the school website for helpful resources to get your child started with Beanstack. Contact Jennifer.Alden@gcpsk12.org if you have any questions about this digital reading program.

Woodward Mill Beanstack

How to Use Beanstack

Join us on Facebook for more updates & upcoming PTA meeting information!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/363356410352065/

Using Google Slides is a great way to get creative when working on a project. But how can you make your presentation even better? Check on the video below to learn how!

Support your school every time you shop!

Publix Partners has contributed $38.7 million to more than 4,950 schools across the Southeast since the program's inception.

Participating is easy! Simply sign up for Club Publix or log in to your existing account, click Publix Partners, and select a school. Then, every time you shop at Publix, pay with the Publix app or enter your phone number at checkout. We’ll give back to the school of your choice—one of the many perks of being a Club Publix member!

Woodward Mill would like to take this opportunity to thank the numerous business partners that support the students and teachers at our school. Our business partners support our school in various ways such as sponsoring after-school clubs, providing teacher appreciation gifts, donating supplies, and mentoring students. Please check out our wonderful business partners below:

Woodward Mill’s mission is to achieve academic and social excellence through quality instruction that promotes lifelong learning.

Website: http://www.woodwardmilles.com
Location: 2020 Buford Drive Northeast, Lawrenceville, GA, United States
Phone: 678-407-7590