THE NORCROSS ELEMENTARY EAGLE

Dear Families,

We have had an exciting first quarter! Our students have made growth in academics and behavior, and they seem to be excited about school. Families thank you for all your support during the 1st quarter. During the 2nd quarter, you will have the opportunity to meet with your child’s teacher for Early Release Conferences. The conferences are the opportunity to learn about your child’s assets and areas for growth and to set goals for the 2nd quarter. The Early Release Conference Days are Wednesday, October 18th and Thursday, October 19th and on those days the students will be dismissed from school at 12:40pm. Please make any necessary arrangements for after school care on the Early Release Conference Days.

Families, we thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Kassia Sutton

Proud Principal of Norcross Elementary

The first quarter was amazing and our students have had memorable experiences. See the pictures for some of the highlights.

As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, Hipanic community members read to our Eagles. In the photos below, School Resource Officer (SRO) Lemos with Ms. Clark, 4th grade, and Ms. Smith, 5th grade, classes.

Below is an informational link regarding Calendar Voting for 2024-25 and 2025-2026.

Please be sure to read the information and VOTE.

Voting is open until 10/22/23

https://www.gcpsk12.org/Page/37200

Visit Gwinnett County Public Schools Internet Safety Help Page. Let’s keep our kids safe! https://www.gcpsk12.org/Page/32834

The Georgia Leaders of Educational Technology is sponsoring a Cybersecurity Awareness Poster Contest. The contest is a fantastic opportunity for students to illustrate their understanding and perspective on the importance of cybersecurity in today’s technologically driven world. To learn more about the contest, please visit https://www.gadoe.org/External-Affairs-and-Policy/Excellence-Recognition/Pages/Cybersecurity-Poster-Contest-2023.aspx. Students can submit their artwork now to November 3.

Using a behavioral expectations matrix at home can help make routine activities run smoothly and can also provide new supports for your child at home. The common format of the matrix creates the opportunity for smooth transitions from home to school. The focus of recognizing positive behavior and teaching expectations at home allows for praise at home when the child is displaying expected home behaviors.

https://bpb-us-w2.wpmucdn.com/blogs.egusd.net/dist/3/1747/files/2015/12/PBS_Home_Matrix-1rcfmmc.pdf

• The Literati Book Fair is coming! Come explore the Secrets of the Sea by visiting us on October 16-20, 2023

Hours: Monday, Tuesday, & Friday 9:30-11:30; 1:00 - 2:45

Wednesday open until 5:30 (Conference day)

Thursday open until 3:30 (Conference day)

Every purchase benefits our school.

• What was your favorite book growing up? Help students find the stories they'll love forever by volunteering at our book fair! If you are interested in volunteering for the Book Fair, please contact Miss Sherwood at: tahnya.sherwood@gcpsk12.org.

• Literati Kids Book Clubs are like getting a book fair in a box, every month! 10% of every dollar spent goes back to our school. Sign up today at literati.com/schoolbox.

Help readers collect undersea stories with gift cards! Make in-person checkout easier for your student, or send them as teacher gifts. Buy digital gift cards at https://efairs.literati.com/

Key information for families is accessible via the Virtual Back-to-School Backpack for Families (http://www.gcpsk12.org/virtualbtsbackpack) and is posted on the district website.

Content for families is available online via the GCPS website, including Handbook Information for Students and Families (formerly called Student-Parent Handbook), as well as AKS Overviews (K-8) and AKS by grade (K-8) and subject (core and CTAE). These materials will not be printed. Links to these pages will be part of the Virtual BTS Backpack.

Play2Learn at Norcross Elementary is every week on Tuesday or Wednesday from 9:45 -11:15.

Play 2 Learn is a program for young children— ages birth to 5— offered at all elementary schools in Gwinnett County Public Schools. Children and parents and other adults in the family learn TOGETHER through engaging lesson plans in a high-quality preschool environment for 90 minutes each week during the school year. Families are empowered to keep the learning going at home so that all children will be ready for Kindergarten!

Contact Mr. Fortenbery (770) 448-2188 for more information about the program.

October 4 - PBIS Party

October 5 -9 Fall Break

October 10 - 13 - Book Fair

October 11 - Fall Picture Retakes

October 16 -20 Bus Driver Appreciation Week/Early Release Conference Week

October 18 -19 Early Release Conferences

October 20 - Progress Reports Go Home (or given to parents during conferences)/Dr. Gresham visits

October 22 - Red Ribbon Week

October 26- Monster Math Night

October 27 - Student of the Month/

October 31 - Halloween; Come dressed as your favorite storybook character. All costumes should be appropriate for school and students should bring a book that shows their character. Please wear regular school shoes.

Chairs for Charity will take place at our booth during the Norcross Art Festival on October 7 & 8! Art Students from Norcross High, Paul Duke STEM, GMST High School, Summerour Middle, Peachtree Elementary, Stripling Elementary, Beaver Ridge and our very own Norcross Elementary School painted donated wooden furniture and turned them into works of art. They will be for sale and one hundred percent of the proceeds will go back into our art programs to help buy much-needed supplies. Norcross Elementary Students will be selling chairs at the booth, so we hope you are able to come out and support our hard-working artists while enjoying food, fun, and music too!

Free and Reduced Information

• As a reminder, SY23-24 Free and Reduced eligibility status will carry over for the first 30 school days of SY24 (through 9/14).
• Parents must fill out a new application for SY24 in order to maintain their Free or Reduced-Price meal benefits.
• The online 2023-2024 Free and Reduced application is now available. Click here to see if your child qualifies for free or reduced meals and to potentially avoid being charged.

Breakfast

All students will be charged for breakfast based on their current eligibility status (Free, Reduced, Full Pay)

• Meal Prices for breakfast are as follows: Reduced - $.30 cents; Full Pay - $1.50

Lunch

• All students will be charged for lunch based on their current eligibility status (Free, Reduced, Full Pay)
• Meal Prices for lunch are as follows: Reduced - $.40 cents; Full Pay - $2.25

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

https://instruction.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/content/enforced/2323043-Federal_Programs_Communication_Center/MyPaymentsPlus/MPP.setup.HOW_TO.mp4?ou=2323043

Creating an Account - Spanish

https://instruction.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/content/enforced/2323043-Federal_Programs_Communication_Center/MyPaymentsPlus/Spanish%20version%20(detailed).pdf?_&d2lSessionVal=j8rIvA3AnIlKoIU3fgtWbW8eI&ou=2323043

A Parental Guide: Reviewing and Acknowledging Orientation Agreements & Title I Documents

https://instruction.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/content/enforced/2323043-Federal_Programs_Communication_Center/MyPaymentsPlus/MPP%20How%20to%20review%20report.mp4?_&d2lSessionVal=j8rIvA3AnIlKoIU3fgtWbW8eI&ou=2323043

For customer service & support on your MyPaymentsPlus account, please call 1-877-237-0946

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).

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).

Parents, we are excited to have your child attend Norcross Elementary School!

We are living and operating in unprecedented times that are challenging us in many ways. With new challenges come new and innovative practices. Enrolling in our school begins as a digital process.

All students new to GCPS, transferring from another GCPS school, out of the county or out of the state must all enroll through the

GCPS Virtual Enrollment OLR (online registration) process on the GCPS website.

Please share this information with your new neighbors who have school age children.

To schedule an appointment or if you require assistance, please contact our Student Data Management Clerk (SDMC), Ms. Shakira Herbert, at 770-448-2188

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

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.

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.

MTSS is a system or framework that integrates assessment and intervention within a school-wide, multi prevention system to maximize student achievement and reduce behavioral problems. It promotes systems alignment to increase efficacy and effectiveness of resources. (Adopted for National Center on Intensive Intervention).

Implementation of MTSS is one of our LSPI goals.

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.

Arrival

• Doors open at 8:20am
• Classes begin at 8:50am

Dismissal

• The Day ends at 3:20pm

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, Robert Fortenbery Robert.fortenbery@gcpsk12.org or Eduardina Checo Eduardina.checo@gcpsk12.org for more information.

LOCAL SCHOOL COUNCIL (LSC)

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

If you are interested in being a member of our Local School council, please contact Robert Fortenbery (robert.fortenbery@gcpsk12.org).

The tentative meeting dates are as follows:

September 23, November 11, January 27, and March 10 at 7:30amj.

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 activites may include: working in the media center, laminating materials, counting out documents, cutting, and filing. Please contact Robert Fortenbery (robert.fortenbery@gcpsk12.org) or Eduardina Checo (eduardina.checo@gcpsk12.org) for volunteer opportunities.

July/August Newsletter - https://www.smore.com/ybt4x

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

Please open the document for dates and times. Information was sent home in the Friday Folder.