THE NORCROSS ELEMENTARY EAGLE
October 2024 - Family Newsletter
Dear Families,
The season has changed; it is now FALL! As I think about our EAGLES, our children, they have changed and made growth since the beginning of the year! They have grown in academics and behavior. What growth have you noticed in your child since school started? Share the growth you have noticed with your child and CELEBRATE!
To learn more about the growth your child has made in school, be sure to sign up for an Early Release Conference. The conference dates are October 23 and 24. You will receive communication from your child's teacher on how to schedule a conference. Keep in mind on Wednesday, October 23 and Thursday, October 24 students will be released at 12:45pm.
The background for our newsletter is a picture of a display at the Norcross Public Library created by Ms. Desai's & Ms. Evans kindergartners.
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.
October Events
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October 1: Hispanic Heritage Month Spirit Day
October 2: Vision Screening/Custodial Appreciation Day
October 3: Falcon Friday School Show at 9am for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Grades
October 7: Fire drill at 9am & Author Stan Tucker Schoolwide Assembly
October 8: Hispanic Heritage Month Spirit Day (see flyer below)
October 10-14: Fall Break
October 15: Hispanic Heritage Month Spirit Day (see flyer below)
Oct. 21: GA School Bus Appreciation Day
October 22: Special Needs Bus Transportation Show
October 23-24: Early Release Days
October 23: Read for the Record/ Book Fair begins
October 25: Monster Math Night/Student of the Month/Food Pantry
October 28-31: Red Ribbon Week
October 31: Book Character Dress up Day (see flyer below)
November Events (tentative)
November 5: Election Day & Digital Learning Day
November 13 and November 14: Holiday Luncheon
November 15: Local School Council Meeting at 7:30am
November 18-22: American Education Week
November 18: Peer Leadership Conference
November 21: Little Learners Academy at 4:30pm
November 22: Student of the Month/ Food Pantry
November 23-29: Thanksgiving Break
ParentSquare
Parent Square
We are excited to announce that our school district has 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 your child’s school and Gwinnett County Public Schools.
ParentSquare provides a safe way for district administrators, school principals, teachers, staff, and parents to receive and send information, such as:
- Weather-related closings & delays
- School and class information
- Share pictures and files
- See calendar items
- Upcoming class activities
Beginning July 18, 2023, district and school information will now be sent to your computer or phone via email and/or text via ParentSquare. For even more convenience, download the ParentSquare app (available for free for iOS and Android devices).
Bikes, Bikes, Bikes!
Hot off the presses, Norcross Elementary School will be hosting another bicycle giveaway poster contest!
Last year we were able to give away 5 brand new bicycles (4 to students and 1 to Ms. Carter!)! This year we are hoping to give more bicycles away, both brand new and gently used. The posters (no larger than 22 in. x 28 in.) are due to Lauren Dennis by October 1st.
The winners will pick their bikes up at the Pedal Norcross event on October 19th. I'm also attaching the link to sign up to attend the event, as well as the link to sign up to volunteer for the event. The giveaway and Pedal Norcross event are sponsored by Sustainable Norcross Commission (of which Ms. Parks is a board member)!
Sign up to attend Pedal Norcross here: https://www.eventeny.com/events/pedal-norcross-2024-8639/
Sign up to volunteer here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0945ABA828A5FECE9-51224954-pedal#/
Art Club’s Annual Chairs for Charity Event
October 5 & 6 at the Norcross Art Splash!
Please come and support our young artists by buying a chair or making a donation. Their work is AMAZING!
Norcross Elementary’s Art Club students are helping to organize Chairs for Charity for our cluster schools. Art students will paint donated wooden furniture and turn it into painted masterpieces! The work will be sold at a silent auction during the Norcross Art Splash October 5th & 6th! 100% of the proceeds will go back into the art program that created each painted masterpiece. We hope to see you there!
Norcross Publica Arts Commission
We Need YOUR voice! The Norcross Public Arts Commission will be creating small sculptures that will be placed throughout the city based on your choices. Please take this short art survey so that your voice is heard and acted upon.
Reminder: Please stop by the Norcross Public Library to see the fantastic artwork on display created by Desai’s & Evans’ kindergarteners. Their work will be on display all October!
Hispanic Heritage Month
The theme for 2024 is “Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together.”
Andrea Eberhart and Dr. Latonya Parker are our instructional coachers. Their role includes supporting teachers and students. Ms. Eberhart and Dr. Parker also plan and facilitate our LEVEL UP READING PROGRAM.
Parent Center Resource
Below is a resource to support you with the conferences.
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
PBIS Tip of the Month: Correcting Behavior at Home
Correcting behaviors can be challenging. Just like our school that uses PBIS, doing so at home is much more powerful with a plan to teach, remind, and reward behaviors using positive feedback. Emphasizing kindness, respect, responsibility, and a sense of community is important for maintaining a smooth home-school connection. When a child makes an error, provide a quick correction or redirection. For example, if you observe your child showing disrespect to others:
1. Quickly correct or signal the error, (“That was not respectful”)
2. Re-state the expected behavior, (“We speak kindly to each other to show respect”)
3. Provide an opportunity for positive interaction, (“Let’s try that again. How would you show respect?”)
4. Provide the child positive feedback, (“That was a kind thing to say.”)
Redirections can be even quicker (“Remember, you need to wash your hands before coming to the table. Please go wash your hands.”). The goal is for a correction or redirection to be calm, brief, and provide an opportunity for the child to practice the desired behavior. In addition, it’s important to maintain a 5-to-1 ratio and use more reminders than corrections.
Maintain a 5-to-1 ratio. It's easy to get into a habit of correcting, but the goal is to maintain a ratio of 5 positive interactions or praise statements for every 1 negative interaction or corrective statement.
Remind instead of correct. Instead of correcting behavior after it happens, we can remind children what we would like to see before a behavior is expected. For example, we can put a sign in the bathroom near the sink to “Wash your hands.” Children can even help create these signs and brainstorm what signs might be needed.
To decrease undesired behavior, you can also teach alternatives. To decrease an undesired behavior, like touching one’s face, you can teach your child to do something else. For example, children can be given a fidget that they can play with that keeps their hands away from their face or taught to use a tissue to touch their face.
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
10 Ways To Keep Your Student Safe Online
Set Clear Rules: Establish guidelines about what is appropriate to share online and who they can communicate with.
Use Privacy Settings: Ensure all devices and apps have privacy settings enabled to protect personal information.
Monitor Activity: Keep computers and devices in common areas and regularly check browser history and social media profiles.
Educate About Risks: Talk to kids about the potential dangers online, such as cyberbullying and inappropriate content.
Use Parental Controls: Utilize parental control software and apps to filter content and monitor usage.
Encourage Open Communication: Make sure kids know they can come to you if they encounter anything uncomfortable or suspicious online.
Limit Screen Time: Set time limits for internet use to ensure a healthy balance between online and offline activities.
Review Apps and Games: Check the apps and games your kids want to download for safety and appropriateness.
Teach Safe Sharing: Explain the importance of not sharing personal information, such as addresses or phone numbers, online.
Update Software: Keep all devices updated with the latest security software to protect against malware and other threats.
Wellness Works
The old saying is, “Health is wealth!” We want to be well physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Here are some activities you can do as a family to achieve health wealth!
Listen to music
Watch a movie
Take a walk in the park or around your neighborhood
Participate in a new hobby
Say daily affirmations
These activities are just a few ways you and your family can collaborate and take time to focus on your wellness. Stay tuned for more tips in next month’s family newsletter.
Contributor: LeTricia Parks
Red Ribbon Week
Red Ribbon Week is an opportunity for people of all ages to come together and take a stand against drug use.
Red Ribbon Week will be celebrated from October 28-November 1. The theme this year is Create an IMPACTFUL World using your Heroic Mindfulness Superpowers. A flyer is coming soon!
Book Character Dress up Day is Thursday, October 31.
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).
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