THE BEST

October 9 - Columbus Day (No School)

October 10 - Teacher Work Day (Students Off)

October 11 - Professional Development Day (Students Off)

October 13 - All Pro Dads (7:10 - 7:40 AM)

October 26 - PTA Fall Mornings Out - Last Name A-M (7:10 - 7:40 AM)

October 27 - PTA Fall Mornings Out - Last Name N-Z (7:10 - 7:40 AM)

October 31 - Character Parade (student only event)

November 7 - Remote Day (Details TBD)

November 8 - Hearing Screening - Grades 1, 3, 5 Only

November 13 - Fall Picture Retake Day

November 15 - Thanksgiving Feast - Grades K, 1, 3, AU (More Info to Come)

November 16 - Thanksgiving Feast - Grades 2, 4, 5 (More Info to Come)

I know so many families are looking forward to the extended break next week. Whether you stay near or travel far, don’t forget to jump into a good book or two. Northwood teachers and staff continue to emphasize the importance of reading. The skills we work on here at school can transform into a lifelong hobby that we can take with us wherever we go.

We enjoyed kicking off the month of October with students wearing blue to remember to Be Kind at School. When the students return on Thursday, we’ll be acknowledging Be Kind to the Earth by wearing green.

I’ve had an idea that I would love to surprise the staff with during our staff meeting on October 17th. I will need some help to pull it off, however. I would welcome donations of apples (red or green). If you’d like to help out you can drop off the apples anytime through the morning of the 17th at the front desk and I’ll keep them until we use them that afternoon. Thanks, in advance, for your help with a fun surprise.

With gratitude,

Heather Rucker

Principal

Clothing Donations

Accidents happen - in the classroom, at recess, at lunch or the bathroom. When our Explorers get messy they often head to the Clinic to get cleaned up. We keep extra clothes on hand for those quick changes and appreciate donations of all clothing sizes. If you have any clothing items you'd like to contribute you can send them in with your student or drop them off at the front desk.

24-Hour Rule

As we are moving into the season for several viral illnesses like the flu, RSV, and COVID-19, we would like to remind you to keep your students home if they have symptoms like sore throat, runny nose, cough and congestion, fever and chills, vomiting, and diarrhea. Students may return to school after their symptoms have improved and they have been fever free without medicine for 24 hours. The 24-hour rule also applies to vomiting and diarrhea.

This month we wanted to take advantage of the beautiful weather and enjoyed our PBIS celebration outside! Each grade level got bonus outside time to draw with sidewalk chalk and play games. It was so nice to celebrate our Explorers’ great behavior in the month of September. These monthly celebrations help us reward students for being respectful, responsible, and engaged. Keep up the good work, Explorers!

We'd like to thank the officers from the Roswell Police Department who joined our 4th & 5th graders this week to learn about Digital Safety. They learned strategies for staying safe online and around people. If you missed the parent component of the workshop, they shared some additional resources (see the graphic above) that might be helpful to you.

Awards are one of the many wonderful ways we have to recognize and celebrate our Explorers at Northwood. Here is a link to this month's award recipients. Congratulations!

Awards September 2023.docx

We all share a common and critical goal for our children to be safe and protected from all things harmful. In support of this goal, elementary students in Fulton County Schools will soon receive annual lessons designed to increase their personal safety & protection.

The Think First & Stay Safe™ program is a research-based program that teaches specific personal safety education by way of interactive classroom lessons, classroom posters, role-plays and corresponding activities. Think First & Stay Safe™ enables students to take an active and necessary role in protecting themselves from harassment, abduction, bullying, exploitation, and various forms of abuse (physical, sexual, emotional). The Health Advisory Committee reviewed and approved this program and selected components will be implemented as part of the elementary curriculum.

Due to the importance and sensitivity of this topic, you are being informed that this material will be presented to your child's class during November and December of the 2023-2024 school year. For more details, please click the link below. You can contact your child's School Counselor, Jennifer Weeks at 470-254-6390 or weeksj@fultonschools.org if you have any questions. Think First & Stay Safe™ prevention lessons will be implemented for all Fulton County Schools K-5 students, unless an opt-out form is returned.

Think First & Stay Safe Program Letter

Fall Picture Retake Day is November 13th. If you are not happy with your Explorer's portraits simply have your student return their original picture package to the photographer on retake day and they will replace the set at no additional cost.

Don't forget to tell them to Smile!

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). 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

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.

Parents, please encourage your students to check regularly for lost items in the Lost and Found. Please mark all student belongings clearly with the child’s name so that it can be identified. Unclaimed items are donated to local charities after the last school day of every month. October’s date is Tuesday, October 31st.

• You can pre-order for $38 at https://www.balfour.com/.../northwood-elementary-school. The price goes up January 1st and we highly recommend you pre-order because we SOLD OUT last year!
• Also, the yearbook committee would like your child to share their SWEETEST memory (this doesn't have to be a Northwood specific memory). As a bonus, we would love them to share a sweet themed joke. https://forms.gle/4yGSyp5H6RZRU5fk9
• Fifth Graders - don't forget to buy a 5th Grade Dedication AD ($20) by January 20th! One AD per student and must be designed by February 1st.

Heather Q. Rucker, Principal

Michelle Levine, Assistant Principal

Together We SHINE!

Email: NorthwoodAttendance@fultonschools.org
Website: https://www.fultonschools.org/northwoodes
Location: 10200 Wooten Road, Roswell, GA, USA
Phone: 470-254-6390
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NorthwoodElementaryPTA/
Twitter: @FCS_NWES