Panther Press

As I reflect on the past week, I can’t help but feel overwhelmingly lucky to lead such an extraordinary school community. New Prospect is truly a special place—filled with incredible students, talented and dedicated teachers, and supportive parents who partner with us every single day. The goodwill, trust, and encouragement that 99% of you extend to me and to our staff make this job not only meaningful, but joyful. That trust leads directly to the success we see across our school, and I am grateful for it.

This week, my heart is especially full because of three amazing moments:

1. Our Science Olympiad Team Won 1st Place Out of 36 Schools!
Words truly don’t do justice to this win. Competing in 18 challenging events is no small feat, and our students showed exceptional grit, teamwork, and brilliance. Out of 36 strong schools (the biggest qualifier in Georgia), New Prospect came out on top! We are so proud as our talented team moves on to the State competition in May. What an incredible accomplishment! Also, the teachers who lead this team all do it as a volunteer...they don't get paid extra which is also incredible!

2. Our Daffodil Blooming Ceremony
As a No Place for Hate school, we are committed to creating a learning environment where every student feels safe, respected, and valued. The Daffodil Project beautifully connects to this mission—it honors the memory of children who perished in the Holocaust while inspiring students to stand against hate. Watching our daffodils bloom is a powerful reminder of hope, resilience, and the responsibility we all share to build a kinder world.

3. New Prospect Is Just Plain FUN
On Friday, our Café Club Dance Party—complete with DJ Lemz herself—filled the cafeteria with joy. All houses earned this reward with their PBIS points! We sang, we danced, and yes… we still managed to eat our lunch! It’s moments like these that remind me how important it is for school to be a place where kids can learn and laugh.

As I look back on the week, I am truly grateful—and so lucky—to be part of this remarkable school. Thank you for continuing to trust us, support us, and celebrate with us. New Prospect is an incredible place because of all of you.

Amy Lemons

Principal

Upcoming Events:

Thursday March 19th- 5th & PreK Personality Portraits-Sign Up Here

Friday March 20th- 1st Grade Musical 8am

Tuesday March 24th-26th -Georgia Milestones Virtual Parent Workshops *Links will be sent out in future communication

March 24th

English 9:00 am- 10:00am

Russian 9:00 am- 10:00am

March 25th

Chinese 09:30 am -10:30am

March 26th

Spanish 8:00 am - 9:00am

Korean 9:00 am – 10:00 am

Thursday March 26th-Boosterthon Fundraiser Kick Off-during school!

Friday March 27th-Panther Pantry

Friday April 3rd- Fun Run-All are welcome to come watch!

10:30-11:15 2nd & 3rd

11:30-12:15 PreK, K & 1st

1:00-1:45 4th & 5th

Volunteer to help with our Fun Run: https://www.newprospectpta.org/volunteer/165352

April 6th-10th- Spring Break-No School

April 16th- Kindergarten Round Up 8:00am

Saturday April 18th- 5th Grade Carwash-Come get your car washed by our 5th Graders!

Friday April 24th-Panther Pantry

Saturday April 25th- Alpharetta Police Department Open House 10-2

Wednesday April 29th- Georgia Milestones Test Starts

Tuesday May 19th-Kindergarten Graduation Ceremony 8:00am

Wednesday May 20th-5th Grade Graduation Ceremony 8:30am

Thursday May 21st- Last Day of School **** the school board didn't pass the furlough day....so the last day of school is going to be Thursday May 21st. The other dates will stay the same.

Register your Child Today! It's Free!

Click Here!

Volunteer to Help with the Boosterthon Fun Run

Click Here

Media Center with Ms. Spitzner

In the Media Center, grades 1-4 did a review of important library skills. We went over the features of Destiny Discover, our online catalog. Students learned to decipher call numbers and independently find books on shelves, place holds, and take care of the books by using return carts effectively. So far it has significantly improved the functionality of the Media Center and has made kids feel much more confident when navigating the shelves!

More recently, Kindergarteners and 5th graders engaged with key technology skills. Kindergarteners learned how to "drag and drop" with an external mouse. By playing a game called "Dragon Drop" ;) they put their fine-motor skills to work while using their index finger to press the left click button, then move the mouse so that the dragon reached the end of each level.

Finally, our 5th graders completed a 2-part lesson on AI literacy. In part one, they researched key figures in WWII-era history (Jesse Owens, Eleanor Roosevelt, the Tuskegee Airmen, and the Navajo Code Talkers) and generated questions that would "stump" an AI chatbot pretending to be those people. In part two, the students entered School AI 'Spaces,' designed specifically to take on the personas of those people while gearing answers toward a 5th grade audience. While engaging with the chatbots, students were given a rubric with which to grade the effectiveness of the AI technology. Students took great pride in stumping the AI, noticing inconsistencies, and discussing whether AI technology can be trusted for effective research. The verdict? Maybe a little, but not without books and reputable websites to cross check!

Guidance with Mrs. McLeod

This month in our Counseling Brain Building sessions, students learned how to listen to their 'inner siren' and tell a 'trusted adult' if they do not feel safe.

The Think First & Stay Safe™ curriculum provides children with age-appropriate, non-frightening personal safety education for preventing child victimization.

Students learned about common tricks that people use to lure children into unsafe situations. Please contact Mrs. McLeod if you have any questions.

Creative Thinking with Ms. Anderson & Mrs. Share

Thinking logically with Perplexors

3rd - 5th Graders worked on building logical thinking and reasoning skills during this session's Brain Building work. Students were introduced to a special type of puzzle called Perplexors! This logical thinking activity presents a set of clues that students use to try to solve a perplexing puzzle. The clues require students to make inferences and read between the lines to determine what the clues can tell us about the puzzle.

What if...

1st and 2nd Graders explored the creativity of "What if..." as they brainstormed what it might be like if wild and crazy situations happened in real life. Students were given a fantastical scenario and created a picture that brought their imagination to life. Some sample scenarios included: What if it rained chocolate?, What if animals could drive cars?, and What if you could make it snow in the summer?. When thinking creatively, wild and crazy ideas are encourage, because it is often where the most out-of-the-box idea are created.

It's NOT a shamrock!

Kindergarten students worked on creative thinking with a fun Transformation activity. We began our session with a read aloud of the book Not a Stick to introduce the idea of how using our imagination can unlock a wealth of ideas. In the story, the main character pig uses his imagination to create stories about how a simple stick could be something other than a stick. For example, a fishing rod, a sword to fight a fire breathing dragon, and even a paintbrush used to create an artistic masterpiece! Students were then given a shamrock shape and asked to use their imagination to transform it into a completely new and different idea. We had so many creative ideas from peacocks to tiered cakes and so many in between.

During recent health lessons, students have continued learning about two more of the Strong4Life Healthy Habits, Screens away, go play! and Get rest to be your best!

During the Screens away, go play lesson, students explored how we can create a healthy balance with technology. We investigated the benefits of unplugging and making time to move! Although technology is an amazing tool for learning and fun, students learned how to begin to recognize the signs of too much screen time. By adding time for active play and nature, students learned they can actually sleep better, be a better friend, have a more positive mood, and stay more engaged in class.

The Get rest to be your best lesson encouraged students to think and share how they feel about sleep. We explored the importance of sleep, as well as the amazing work our body and mind do while we sleep! Students learned that while they are fast asleep their body is growing, healing and fighting germs, and their mind is busy sorting through the day's thoughts and filing away memories. Students brainstormed bedtime routines and strategies to ensure they wake up recharged, ready to learn and motivated to be their best!

We got new Chromebooks!

Chromebook Rollout: Grades 3–5

We are excited to share that students in Grades 3–5 received brand‑new Chromebooks last week as part of our continued efforts to modernize instructional technology. These devices were selected to support students’ daily learning needs, offering fast startup times, long battery life, and secure access to web‑based instructional tools. THEY ARE GREAT! So fast!

The Chromebooks were distributed strategically and efficiently to ensure that classroom learning was not disrupted. Students signed in using their district credentials and immediately accessed district‑approved applications, including Microsoft 365 through ClassLink.

Important Clarification: Grade 2

Second grade was not included in this Chromebook rollout. Grade 2 is part of the Early Learners (K–2) grade band, which will be evaluated separately as part of the district’s Capital Plan. This evaluation will help determine the best device model for early learners. It does not indicate that 2nd grade will receive iPads or any other specific device at this time. We appreciate your understanding as we work to communicate this distinction clearly.

Optional Device Protection Plan

Families are given the option to purchase the Device Protection Plan for the remainder of the school year.

Cost: $20 for the rest of the year
The plan is optional but strongly recommended.
Without coverage, families are responsible for the full cost of repairs, which can range from $30–$270, with total loss fees up to $450 depending on the device.

You can purchase the protection plan by:

Calling the Technology Support Center at 470‑254‑HELP, or
Submitting a technology support ticket here: https://fultonschools.incidentiq.com/guest/Z6NSTAS8/fcs-remote-form#top.