Summerour Blue Devil Blast

Volume 4, Issue 12 - October 9, 2024
Dr. Looney's Message
Important Dates
Upcoming Dates
- October 10-14 - Fall Break
- October 12 - Cross-Country State Championship @ Commerce
- October 15-17 - Basketball Tryouts
- October 16 - 21 - JA Finance Park (8th Grade)
- October 16-21 - Semester 1 Interim Exams
- October 17 - Blue Crew Game Night
- October 17 - Science & Technology Night
- October 17 - Board of Education Meeting
- October 18 - 8th Grade Band Night @ Norcross HS Football
- October 19 - JLC Raider Competition @ Sweetwater MS
- October 22 - PSAT Digital Check (8th Grade)
- October 23-24 - Early Release (1:20pm)
- October 23 - Parent Teacher Conferences
- October 29 - PSAT (8th grade)
- October 30 - PTA Fall Dance
- November 2 - JLC Raider Competition @ Grace Snell MS
- November 3 - Daylight Savings Time Ends
- November 5 - Digital Learning Day #2
- November 5 - Election Day
- November 7 - Paul Duke Rising 9th Grade Night
- November 14 - Math Night
- November 21 - Science Night & Parent Involvement Day
This Week
Title I Document Sign Off
Title I documents regarding Summerour Family Engagement have been uploaded on the school website. We greatly appreciate families who have already signed these documents on Parent Square.
If you have not downloaded the app yet, please do so to access documents and acknowledge the receipt of "The Plan... The Promise" by signing electronically. Once you download the app, click on the tab "More," then click "Forms/Permission," open the "Complete Back to School Forms'' tab, scroll down to select each document, click on "Review and Sign," then sign your full name electronically, and submit.
Another option could be to access "The Plan... The Promise" on the school website, print copies, and return a signed cover page to the Parent Center before October 18. The Parent Instructional Coordinator is available for parents who might need additional help downloading the app and signing documents.
Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
Testing
Is your student ready for college? We are excited to announce that Tuesday, October 29, all GCPS
students in 8th grade will take the PSAT 8/9 at no cost.
The PSAT 8/9 is a test that helps determine what students need to work on most so that they are
ready for college when they graduate from high school.
The PSAT 8/9 is part of the College Board family of assessments that includes the SAT college-
admission assessment and the PSAT/NMSQT, a preview of the SAT. The PSAT 8/9 tests the same
skills and knowledge as the SAT and PSAT/NMSQT, but in a way that makes sense for 8th graders.
The test focuses on the skills and knowledge at the heart of education- what students have been
learning in school and what they'll need to succeed in college.
The PSAT 8/9 isn't about how well students memorize facts and definitions, so there is no need for
flashcards or all-night cramming. It's about the everyday...
- The Reading section asks students questions like ones they might experience in a lively, thoughtful, evidence-based discussion. It's about how students take in, think about, and use information.
- In the Writing and Language section, the test-taker will be an editor, improving passages written especially for the test. Students will use the same skills they use to proofread their own schoolwork.
- The Mathematics section covers a range of math practices, with an emphasis on problem solving, modeling, using tools strategically, and using algebraic structure... the type of math that students will rely on most in all sorts of real-world situations.
The PSAT 8/9 establishes a baseline measurement of college and career readiness as students
enter high school. It also gives students a chance to preview the SAT and the PSAT/NMSOT.
Questions about this test? Reach out to Stacy James, GCPS' PSAT Testing Coordinator
More information about this and other tests is available on GCPS' Testing page.
Coming Soon
Science & Technology Night
Thursday, October 17
6:00 pm
Summerour Cafeteria
Spanish interpreters, pizza, door prizes, and transportation available to attend this event.
More information? Call OUR Parent Center at 770.582.7545
2024 - 2025 Basketball Schedule
November 13: Away - Osborne MS (@ Mill Creek HS)
November 21: Away - Duluth MS (@ Duluth HS)
December 5: Home - Coleman MS (Elementary Night)
December 7: Home - Dacula MS
December 12: Home - Lanier MS
December 16: Away - Northbrook MS (@ Peachtree Ridge HS)
December 19: Away - Pinckneyville MS (@ Norcross HS)
January 9: Home - Creekland MS
January 11: Home - Radloff MS
January 16: Home - Jones MS (Teacher Appreciation)
January 22: Away - Twin Rivers MS (@ Mountain View HS)
January 23: Home - North Gwinnett MS (8th Grade Night)
January 25: Away - Hull MS (@ Peachtree Ridge HS)
January 30: Away - Lilburn MS (@ Meadowcreek HS)
Tryouts October 15 - 17:
See OUR website for documents needed to participate.
Community Mentoring & Community Schools Night
GCPS FAMILIES ARE INVITED TO JOIN US
OCTOBER 22, 2024
5:30 - 6:30 PM
During this session, GPS families will learn how you can engage with GCPS as a mentor with the Community-Based Mentoring Program that pairs caring adults with students in grades 4 through 12 to provide guidance, encouragement, and support to help our students become successful young adults. Families will also learn about The Office of Community Schools and the process for community
organizations to partner in providing wraparound extension educational and recreational programs and services for our students to be successful.
SCAN CODE TO REGISTER
Interpretation provided in Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, and Chinese
Spanish Flier
Vietnamese Flier
Grade Level Information
Welcome to 6th Grade!
Ms. Belinda Terry
6th Grade Assistant Principal
Ms. Tannia Wood
6th Grade Counselor
Welcome to 7th Grade!
Mr. Al Sadler
7th Grade Assistant Principal
Ms. Angelica Rosas
7th Grade Counselor
Career Day: November 22
The Career Day Committee is in the process of planning our Career Day Event!
We are seeking speakers to talk to OUR 7th graders about various careers on Friday, November 22 from 10:00 a.m. – 2:40 p.m.
- Speakers do not have to be available for the entire time frame to participate in this event
- We are a middle school and they will be addressing 7th graders
Do you know of someone who is a suitable speaker and is willing to take the time to talk to our students? Encourage them to contact Mrs. Sims, Mrs. Blackwell, Ms. Morgan, or Mrs. Rosas.
Frog Dissection
This is frog dissection week in 7th grade Science. Makes for some great pix!
Welcome to 8th Grade!
Ms. Christy Gray
8th Grade Assistant Principal
Ms. Robin Blackwell
8th Grade Counselor
Flier - English
Flier - Spanish
Welcome to Gear Up!
Dr. Toni Weir
Gear Up Assistant Principal
Ms. Allegra Morgan
Gear Up Counselor
Summerour Specific
PTA Fundraiser
Summerour Middle School PTA is selling Krispy Kreme Doughnuts to raise money. $15 per dozen. Order at:
https://grouprai.se/krispykreme49755sa
(or use the QR code)
When you order, you will receive a voucher, with which you can pick up your dozen at Krispy Kreme.
2024-2025 School Year
Do You Want to Volunteer at Summerour?
Click this link to let Rosanna Carlson know that you'd like to volunteer to help out at Summerour. You can choose specific days and times to come in weekly OR go through the list of events and groups that could use you. Check it out! Come and be a part of your child's school.
October IB Learner Profile: Balanced
IB learners are Balanced. They understand the importance of intellectual, physical and emotional balance to achieve personal well-being for themselves and others.
IB students are active participants in a wide range of aspects of campus life, as well as focusing on their academic development.
ParentSquare Setup
You can receive ParentSquare message notifications 3 ways: email, text, or in the phone app. The GCPS website has a page that explains how to setup or change your notifications. We encourage you to go in to your ParentSquare account and make sure that you are getting the notifications in a way that makes the most sense for you!
Click the link and make sure you are getting notified.