August 19, 2022

Building Excellence Successfully Together

Key News for Explorer Families

I continue to be so proud of the staff and students as we close the second week of school. The teachers are seamlessly building relationships and developing routines with their students while delivering new curriculum. Our Explorers are demonstrating that they know how to follow the PBIS expectations of being responsible, respectful, and engaged.

Next week we are looking forward to seeing parents and guardians for our curriculum nights. This event is for adults only. Parents and guardians will start in the cafeteria at 5:15 pm for the PTA meeting. At 5:30 pm grade level staff will be introduced followed by curriculum presentations by homeroom teachers in the classrooms.

Tuesday, August 23: Kindergarten, Third Grade, Fourth Grade

Wednesday, August 24: First Grade, Second Grade, Fifth Grade

Thank you for your continued understanding as the district navigates the bus driver shortage. Ms. Levine has been working closely with transportation staff to expedite bus arrival and dismissal processes. We have staff in the cafeteria to receive students on the early drop off routes and we have staff that support the busses with the late dismissal routes. We are asking your help in reminding your children that they need to follow all the bus safety rules, the Code of Conduct rules apply to bus travel as well. Naturally when bus schedules are impacted, carpool lines get longer so our AM and PM carpool crews also appreciate your patience with that process as well.

With gratitude,

Heather Rucker

Principal

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CALENDAR DATES

August 23 - Curriculum Night, Grades K, 3, 4 (5:15 - 6:30 pm)

August 24 - Curriculum Night, Grades 1, 2, 5 ( (5:15 - 6:30 pm)

September 5 - Labor Day, No School

September 6 - Professional Development Day / Remote Day for Students

KINDERGARTEN EXPLORERS

Kindergarten is moving right along! Students have been learning about and practicing the PBIS expectations for all areas of the school including the cafeteria, the playground and the hallways. Students are working on being "respectful, responsible and engaged" at Northwood. They had some fun drawing good choices and bad choices in each area.

FIRST GRADE EXPLORERS

Hello from first grade! We are so excited to be back in the classroom! The students have been working so hard on their procedures as well as many get to know you activities and games. In math, students are working on counting to 120 by tens and ones. In social studies we are working on community building in our classroom. Students were also so excited to try their jitter juice on the first day of school to get rid of all their first day jitters! We can't wait for a great year!

PBIS Pep Rally

Last Friday students took part in a PBIS Pep Rally during specials time to get them excited for another great year. Northwood is a PBIS school; our expectations include “Being Engaged, Being Respectful and Being Responsible.” PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention System) is a process for teaching expectations and procedures and establishing classroom routines. The PBIS team plans monthly celebrations to encourage positive behaviors. These monthly celebrations can include cosmic bowling, dance parties, and more.

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New This Year: Attendance and Dismissal Emails

ATTENDANCE EMAIL

If your child is absent from school, please submit an email to your child’s teacher AND northwoodattendance@fultonschools.org within five days of returning to school.

Please include:

Child's first and last name
The absence date(s)
Reason for absence(s) *attach doctor's note if applicable

You can monitor student attendance in your Campus Parent Portal account.

If you would like to request a pre-approved absence, the Absence Request Form is available on our website under Attendance.

DISMISSAL EMAIL

While all transportation changes should be submitted in writing and given to the teacher in the morning; we do understand that emergency situations do happen. If you have a same day emergency change, please submit an email to NWESdismissal@fultonschools.org before 12 pm.

Please include:

Child’s first and last name
The date and the specific change, i.e. bus to car rider
The reason for the change

Please copy your child’s homeroom teacher on the email as well.

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CheckMate: New Kiosk for Checking Students In and Out

We have upgraded to an online automated attendance kiosk, CheckMate, to make checking your students in and out easier and more efficient. There is a laptop in the front office next to the visitor sign-in computer, where you will sign your child in if they are tardy; and out if you are picking them up early. You will still need your Photo ID and to be on the student’s approved emergency contact list.

CARPOOL REMINDERS

MORNING CARPOOL

Please have your child ready to exit the car when you pull up. This will allow the line to move steadily.

Please seat your child on the passenger side -parents/guardians should not exit the cars to open car doors.
Please do not pass other cars in line.

AFTERNOON CARPOOL

Please reference the map below for the afternoon carpool route.
Please have your carpool number in the windshield visible to staff.
Please wait until all day care vans have loaded and departed before entering the carpool circle.
Please allow enough space for the buses to enter the bus loop if you arrive for carpool before 2:20 p.m.

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Have You Joined Infinite Campus Parent Portal?

The Infinite Campus Parent Portal provides quick and easy access to information for all enrolled students in their household. Find grades, attendance, assignments, schedules, ID numbers, school announcements and more. If you haven't already joined, please do so today as Fulton County Schools is transitioning to managing everything via the portal.

For more information, access the Parent Portal Booklet for Infinite Campus here.

Student Code of Conduct & Discipline Handbook: PLEASE REVIEW & SIGN OFF

Each year Fulton County Schools asks families and students to read and discuss the Student Code of Conduct & Discipline Handbook; and then sign off that you have read it. Please follow the steps below to access the handbook, and then sign off electronically in your Infinite Campus Parent/Student Portal Account.

Please read and review the Code of Conduct with your student(s). There are also paper copies available for your convenience in the office. fultonschools.org/codeofconduct

Please take a moment to complete the Acknowledgement of Receipt Form. This link provides directions on the sign off process. How to sign Acknowledgement of Receipt.pdf

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Student Success Skills

Student Success Skills are Fulton County School's standards for the skills needed to demonstrate mastery of academic and interpersonal skills needed for college, career, and life success. These six skills are taught in all schools, by all teachers, to all students.

Parents, please click the link below for more information; and to set up your Rethink Account which provides access to all the lesson content. Student Success Skills.

UPDATED: FCS TAG Screening & Referral Information 2022-23

Families that would like to review the updated TAG eligibility guidelines please click the updated attachments.

CAFETERIA NEWS

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Cafe Serves Farm Fresh Watermelon in August

During the month of August, juicy, farm fresh watermelon served at lunch is part of Fulton County’s School Nutrition Farm to School Program. This regionally grown Watermelon is heading straight from a North Carolina family farm to your lunch plate! Because the watermelon is grown close to home it helps support your regional farmers and takes less fuel to get it to your cafe! Not only are these regionally grown watermelons good for the environment, but also, watermelon is great for your body! This farm fresh fruit is high in vitamins A, B6, & C, plus potassium and lycopene to help your body work at its best!

Visit the café on Tuesday August 23rd to try this delicious farm fresh watermelon!

REFLECTIONS

Young artists get involved through their local PTA or PTSA. A student may submit an entry in any of six arts areas. Only original works of art are accepted. The six art areas are: Visual Arts Photography, Literature, Music Composition, Dance Choreography, and Film Production.

That's why the Reflections Program provides an excellent opportunity for students of all ages to: