Eagle Wings

Greetings Eagle Families,

A short week in the nest, but it brought wonderful opportunities for learning, exploration, and celebration across our school. Our 2nd grade students enjoyed an exciting field trip to the Chattahoochee Nature Center, where they explored the natural world through hands-on experiences and gained a deeper appreciation for the environment. Our Pre-K students participated in an important bus safety lesson with FCS "Buster the, learning how to ride safely and responsibly. Students also had a great time enjoying their additional Eagle Dash prize celebrations (game day, pj day, hat day). The excitement continues as we celebrate the incredible success of this year's Eagle Dash fundraiser. Thank you again to our families, staff, and community members for your generous support and enthusiasm!

Yours in partnership,

Ms. Crawford

October:

23 70th Anniversary Celebration 3-5pm

26-30 Book Fair

29 Literacy Night/Family Book Fair Night 4-6pm

30 Book Character Parade

Our annual AES Spelling Bee is coming up! Students in grades 3–5 will have the opportunity to participate in their classroom spelling bees. All students will receive a study word list to bring home and practice, but participation is optional. Please check your child's grade-level newsletter for the specific date and time of their classroom spelling bee.

The winner from each classroom will advance to our AES School Spelling Bee on Thursday, December 3rd! The time and additional details will be shared soon. We can't wait to see our Eagles show off their spelling skills!

If you have any questions, please reach out to our Literacy Coach, Lauren Chiodo, or CST, Jodi Bassett.

Due to the population growth of the Alpharetta area, more & more drivers are using Mayfield Road as a means to get to their morning destination. Please take note of the "No left turn from 7:10-7:40am" signs that are now located at the main and bus rider entrances. By helping to adhere to this, the flow of traffic can continue while ensuring that our students who arrive by car are in their class by 7:40am.

Beginning this school year, morning carpool will end at 7:35 am. Ending at this time allows for students to walk to their class and be in their seat by 7:40am, which is the start of our instructional day. If you are arriving after 7:35 am, you will be directed to park and walk your child to the front door. If the bell rings during this time, you will need to sign you child in on our Checkmate system which is located outside the front doors.

*Please note, we have several families with students who participate in our Autism classes and use our main carpool drop off area after 7:35am. This is to help ease their transitions and limit distractions.

Please take a moment to review information in our AES Family Handbook. In coming weeks, we will highlight pertinent information you need to know about.

This week's spotlight is on accessing your Parent Portal account in Infinite Campus.

Read below for more information.

At our school, we are committed to creating a safe, positive, and productive learning environment for all students. To support this goal, we teach and reinforce our school-wide behavior expectations through SOAR:

• Safe in actions and choices
• Taking Ownership of behavior and learning
• Being Attentive and ready to learn
• Showing Responsibility to peers, staff, and school property
• 
  

Throughout the school day, students are expected to demonstrate these behaviors in classrooms, hallways, the cafeteria, playground, buses, and all other school settings.

What is a SOAR Reminder?

When a student does not meet one of our SOAR expectations, a staff member will provide a SOAR Reminder. A SOAR Reminder serves as an opportunity for the student to reflect on their choices, understand the expected behavior, and make positive adjustments moving forward.

Our behavior system is designed to give students multiple opportunities to correct their behavior before administrative intervention becomes necessary.

• 1st, 2nd, and 3rd behavior infractions: Student receives a SOAR Reminder.
• 4th behavior infraction: Student receives an office referral/write-up, which is submitted to the Assistant Principal for review and follow-up.

This process allows teachers and staff to address minor behaviors consistently while providing students with opportunities to improve and demonstrate our SOAR expectations.

We ask that parents/guardians review the SOAR reminder, sign the form, and return it to the homeroom teacher. See below for what the form entails:

How Families Can Help

We encourage families to discuss SOAR expectations at home and reinforce the importance of being:

• Safe in actions and choices
• Taking Ownership of behavior and learning
• Being Attentive and ready to learn
• Showing Responsibility to peers, staff, and school property

Thank you for your partnership and support as we continue to foster a positive school culture where every student can SOAR!

We are in need of extra girls' clothing to keep in the clinic--tops and bottoms in all sizes ranging from XS/3T through size L/10-12. If you have any items (new or gently used) that you'd like to donate, please send to the front office.

We are excited to begin planning two engaging career-focused events for our students and are looking for volunteers from our school and community to participate!

🚚 Touch-a-Truck Event (Pre-K–2nd Grade) – Fall 2026 (October)
Our younger students will have the opportunity to explore a variety of vehicles and learn about the important people who use them in their daily work. We are looking for participants with trucks, emergency vehicles, construction equipment, service vehicles, and other interesting vehicles that children would enjoy seeing up close.

💼 Career Exploration Day (Grades 3–5) – Spring 2027 (April/May)
Our older students will learn about different careers and pathways by hearing directly from professionals in our community. We are seeking volunteers from all career fields who would be willing to share information about their profession, education, skills, and experiences.

If you, a family member, friend, or community partner would be interested in participating in either event, please complete the interest form below:

2026-27 AES Touch-A-Truck & Career Exploration – Fill out form

Your willingness to share your time and expertise helps our students connect their learning to future possibilities. We greatly appreciate your support and look forward to partnering with our amazing Alpharetta Elementary community!

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Turquisha Lasker-Smith (laskersmitht@fultonschools.org)

The Scholastic Book Fair is coming to our school! Get ready for a reading adventure with the newest books, bestselling series, and kid-favorite characters. Plus, every purchase earns funds for our school. We can’t wait to have you join us for the Best. Fair. Ever!

Visit the link below to set up your e-Wallet. You can also pre-order the NEW Dog Man and Diary of a Wimpy Kid titles. Volunteer information is coming soon!

https://www.tinyurl.com/bkfr26

Attendance Matters ALL DAY, EVERYDAY. Student absences, whether excused or unexcused, will impact a child's ability to succeed in school. Some absences are unavoidable. The important thing is to get your children to school as often as possible and on time! Students who miss fewer than 5 days in the first semester are 3 times more likely to stay on track in reading and math.

The late bell rings at 7:40. Students should be in their classroom ready to learn at that time. Please email the school data clerk/ attendance email and copy your child’s teacher when your child is absent.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership in ensuring the success of your child's education. For more information on FCS attendance policies please visit the FCS Attendance Matters Website If you have any questions or concerns regarding your student’s attendance, please don’t hesitate to reach out, Randi Downey, LCSW 470-317-8530, downeyr@fultonschools.org.

Lucky Tray Day is returning this week for breakfast and lunch.

🍀 Breakfast: Thursday
🍀 Lunch: A surprise day each week

If your child purchases a meal, they will have a chance to win different prizes, including our new $10 SOAR Buck featuring Ms. Silverman & Ms. Crawford!

ArtsNOW is a nationally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit with more than 20 years of experience reshaping education. Through programming that integrates visual arts, music, dance, digital arts and drama into academic lessons, ArtsNOW sets the stage for educators to become effective in their teaching — and for students to achieve greater academic and personal success.

This month in STEAM

Students are learning visual art strategies and vocabulary as a way to engage with math. Students will show mastery of addition/subtraction or multiplication/division fact families through creating mosaics.

Parent Resources

ArtsNowLearning.org provides materials and activities for at-home connections. You can also find a weekly activity that aligns with the week's STEAM class highlighted in your homeroom teacher's weekly newsletter. See https://artsnowlearning.org/resources/at-home-lessons/ for more resources.

Reach out to Ms. Wilkinson (wilkinsonrm@fultonschools.org) for more information

Please consider joining the PTO--they provide incredible resources and support to our students, staff, and community. For more information, click here: Alpharetta Elementary School PTO - Home

To read October's PTO newsletter, click here

The Fulton County Board of Education met on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, for its regularly scheduled Board Work Session at the North Learning Center. The full agenda is available on Simbli, a website that provides the Board agenda and all supporting documents online. Meetings are streamed live on the FCS homepage, with recordings available within 48 hours.

Superintendent’s Report

Attendance and Discipline Update
Chief Academic Officer Brannon Gaskins shared an update on student attendance and discipline trends, noting stable attendance rates and continued progress in reducing chronic absenteeism. Efforts remain focused on supporting students at risk of missing school through initiatives such as 95% to Thrive, the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), and School Attendance Review Teams, which provide targeted interventions to help improve student attendance.

Discipline data showed positive trends, including fewer incidents and fewer suspension days across the district. Schools continue to promote safe and supportive learning environments through Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), restorative practices, and MTSS strategies that focus on prevention, student support, and positive behavior development. These efforts are helping improve student outcomes while reducing the need for exclusionary discipline. See the full presentation here.

2026 Graduation Rate
Mr. Gaskins also shared that Fulton County Schools (FCS) is proud to celebrate a record-high 93.4% graduation rate in 2026, continuing a strong upward trend and outperforming the state average. Across the district, 77% of high schools achieved graduation rates above 90%, with Global Impact Academy earning a perfect 100% graduation rate for the third consecutive year and The Promise Career Institute achieving 98% in its first graduating class.

Student success was evident across college and career readiness programs, with 99% of students completing two or more Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) pathways and 100% of AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) seniors graduating on time. These results reflect the dedication of our students, families, educators, and support staff, and reinforce our commitment to preparing every student for success after graduation. See the full presentation here.

Strategic Plan Update: Accountability
Mr. Gaskins introduced an update on the district's strategic plan priority of Accountability, highlighting the strong systems and supports in place across Continuous Improvement, District Health Services, and Athletics to help students and schools succeed.

Director of Continuous Improvement, Taccara Reid, showcased ongoing efforts to strengthen school performance, including support for schools identified through state and federal accountability measures such as Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) and Additional Targeted Support and Improvement (ATSI). Ms. Reid also highlighted the district's LEAD Comprehensive Site Visit process, which combines classroom observations, data analysis, and collaborative action planning to ensure schools receive the support needed to drive continuous growth and achievement.

District Health Services Director Lynne Meadows then highlighted the department's significant impact on student well-being, including more than 365,000 clinic visits last year, support for over 18,000 documented health conditions, and the administration of more than 81,000 medications. The update also showcased the district's school-based health centers and community partnerships that help improve student wellness, attendance, and access to care.

Director of Athletics Lamarr Glenn closed out the presentation by sharing information about the department’s comprehensive accountability framework, which promotes compliance, safety, student-athlete wellness, and access to opportunities. Mr. Glenn also highlighted year-round professional learning for athletic directors and strategic partnerships that expand opportunities for students while maintaining high standards and district oversight.

The presentation reinforced the district's commitment to providing consistent support, fostering continuous improvement, and creating the conditions for success across all schools and programs. See the full presentation here.

Final Approval of FY2027 Millage and Authorization
Chief Financial Officer Marvin Dereef presented the district’s recommendation to increase the school system's maintenance and operations tax rate from 17.08 mills to 18.08 mills to help maintain financial stability as student enrollment and state funding are projected to decline and benefit costs continue to rise over the coming years.

The recommendation comes after the district identified more than $52 million in budget savings and additional revenue opportunities through its cost-reduction efforts. Even with those savings, projections show lower tax rates could result in budget deficits and reduce reserve funds below recommended levels.

The additional mill would generate approximately $50 million in recurring annual revenue, helping the district maintain school operations, meet obligations such as employee salaries, retirement and health benefits, and preserve financial reserves needed to manage cash flow and unexpected challenges.

Mr. Dereef emphasized that the increase would allow Fulton County Schools to remain financially prepared while continuing to serve students effectively. The district also committed to providing regular updates to the Board on enrollment trends, revenues, expenditures, and reserve levels. See the full presentation here.

Pre-Work Session
Fulton County Schools’ pre-work session is a public meeting held before each monthly work session. It allows the Board to receive policy drafts, provide feedback, give presentations, or focus on topics of interest. Audio recordings of the pre-work session are available within 48 hours. Topics discussed at this week’s session include:

• Board Policy FDC Naming Facilities
• Board Policy IFBGA Electronic Communications
• Board Policy GARI Employee Evaluations

New Hires & Promotions
The following individual was approved for a new position at the Board meeting:

• Lemetra Dismuke | Principal, Wilson Creek Elementary School

Board Recognitions
Each month, the Board recognizes outstanding students, staff, and schools honored at the state, national, or international level. Honorees must have placed first at the regional or state level or be among the top finishers at the national or international level. The following teams and individuals were recognized at the meeting:

• Cliftondale Elementary student earns first place at the Elementary Beta Club National Convention
• The Chattahoochee High School baseball field was selected as the National High School Baseball Coaches Association (NHSBCA) Turface Region 3 Field of the Year for 2026
• FCS’ GLIDE Strategy Team earned the 2026 Pinnacle Award from the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO)
• Fifteen FCS schools were named 2026 Title I Reward Schools

2026-27 Community Meetings with Board Members
Each member of the Fulton County Board of Education sponsors a monthly meeting open to all community members. The sessions provide an opportunity for direct contact with community members and give Board members a chance to listen to local issues and concerns. Click here to see the meeting schedules of all Board members.

Fulton County Schools is excited to introduce SchoolCash Online—a convenient and secure way for families to pay for school-related fees. With this new system, you can easily pay for items such as field trips, classroom activities, parking permits, yearbooks, and more—all from the comfort of home.

SchoolCash Online helps reduce the need for cash and checks in our schools while giving families a safe and simple way to make payments using a credit card, debit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay.

Getting Started

Beginning July 1, 2026, please be on the lookout for a registration email from:

"KEV Group at noreply@stagingschoolcashonline.com."

The subject line will read: “Fulton County Schools shared a student with you.”

For step-by-step registration instructions, please visit the SchoolCash Online webpage at https://fultonschools.schoolcashonline.com/.

Learn more about SchoolCash Online on the FCS district website at www.fultonschools.org/schoolcash.