THE NORCROSS ELEMENTARY EAGLE

Dear Families,

As we step into April, we hope your family is enjoying the beauty of spring and the opportunity to slow down and reconnect during Spring Break. Whether you’re traveling, spending time outdoors, or simply enjoying some well‑deserved rest at home, we hope this break brings joy, renewal, and special moments together.

When we return, we look forward to a strong finish to the school year filled with learning, growth, and celebration. Thank you for your continued partnership and support—wishing you a safe, relaxing, and refreshing Spring Break!

Thank you for your continued partnership and for being such an important part of our school community.

#NorcrossStrong

Sincerely,

Dr. Kassia Sutton
Proud Principal of Norcross Elementary

Our amazing art teacher, Bobbie Adamczyk, had the honor of celebrating Jarely Vazquez and Ivan Soto all day at the Capitol along with their families (with a side trip to the Aquarium). Their artwork is hanging in the Capitol Art Exhibit. A few highlights:

• Students and their families met with Governor Kemp in his office.

• State Representative Dr. Arlene Beckles wrote House Resolutions for Jarely and Ivan. She read them our loud to honor the students and their work. She also had them framed to give the families as gifts. She goes above and beyond for our kids.

• Jarely and Ivan met State School Superintendent Richard Woods and shared their artwork with him.

• Both students practiced their handshakes and eye contact as they met State Senator Rashaun Kemp.

• Personal favorite moment: Two of the Governor's interns explained the internship program that both Jarely and Ivan will be eligible to apply for when they are older. One of the interns explained that she was born in El Salvador. Anything is possible when we have hope and work hard.

The Norcross Cluster Art Show will be held at Norcross High School on April 23 from 5-7. Norcross Elementary will have the artwork of K-5 artists on display, along with fantastic artwork from around our cluster schools from grades K-12! The event is free and open to the public.

Check out the powerpoint for the list of students.

One of our former students, Harley Livingston, is a published author. Please use the link below to purchase her book for Amazon.

Autism Acceptance Month celebrates and honors the experiences and identities of Autistic individuals. It emphasizes understanding, inclusion, and support, moving beyond awareness towards meaningful acceptance.

Need after-school care? Please see the information below. Our goal is start the program in January. Complete the link below if interested.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QV27DBP

At the Y, afterschool hours are filled with exploration, adventure, and excitement! Children can grow in a welcoming environment with a strong focus on social-emotional learning, engaging clubs, and an enhanced curriculum. Families can save over $700 per child by becoming Y members. Programs are available at multiple YMCA locations and schools across the area. For more information, feel free to email Maya Ferguson at mayaf@ymcaatlanta.org or call the Robert D. Fowler Family YMCA at 770-246-9622.

¡En la Y, las horas extracurriculares están llenas de exploración, aventura y emoción! Los niños pueden crecer en un ambiente acogedor con un enfoque en el aprendizaje socioemocional, clubes atractivos y un plan de estudios mejorado. Las familias pueden ahorrar más de $700 por niño al hacerse miembros de la Y. Los programas están disponibles en varias ubicaciones de YMCA y escuelas en toda la zona. Para más información, puede enviar un correo electrónico a Maya Ferguson a mayaf@ymcaatlanta.org o llamar a la Robert D. Fowler Family YMCA al 770-246-9622.

Please read and review our student handbook.

April 6 - 11: Spring Break

April 13: Return to school

April 17: Progress Reports Sent Home/Drive Thru Pantry/Glow Party at 5:30

April 18: K-5 Fun Run Fundraiser 8:00am at Summerour

April 20: 3rd Grade Dental Screenings

April 21: GMAS Testing for 3rd-5th Graders

April 22: GMAS Testing for 3rd-5th Graders

April 23: GMAS Testing for 3rd-5th Graders

April 24: Local School Council Meeting and Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast at 9:30am/Student of the Month at 2:30

April 25: Norcross Cluster Innovation Showcase at 9am

April 28: GMAS Testing for 3rd-5th Graders

April 29: GMAS Testing for 3rd-5th Graders

April 30: GMAS Testing for 3rd-5th Graders

Our 3rd through fifth graders will participate in the Georgia Milestones Assesment in April.

May 1: Counselor Advisory Council Meeting at 7:30

May 2: Kindergarten Transition Meeting 10am - 12pm

May 14: Science District Assessment

May 15: Social Studies District Assessment

May 18: End of the Year Class Parties

May 19: 5th Grade End of the Year Award Ceremony

May 20: Last Day of School

April Family Wellness Activities

Dear Families,

April is National Stress Awareness Month, a time to focus on supporting emotional well-being and teaching healthy ways to manage stress.

At school, students will practice simple strategies such as:

• Mindfulness

• deep breathing

• Positive affirmations

These skills help improve focus, confidence, and overall wellness. Asking your child to share with you what they have learned about stress management is a great family activity!

Together, we can build strong, healthy habits for our families. Thank you for your continued support.

Please join us for our Local School Council Meeting on Friday, April 24 at 9:30am in the Media Center.

Below is a link to learn more about the purpose of the local school council.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1o0ss24hVtveiv--DPoKph7UsqN5Vc_m2/view?usp=sharing

Andrea Eberhart and Venice Hinds are our instructional coaches. Their role includes supporting teachers and students.

Use the link below for resources.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Z7Ubi1Ho41KfnNzqrzzRCGwBW9dXQk_X/view?usp=sharing

Please use the link to access news from our parent center.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yhgEecCl1pzVQ0Pcd3VAbxtmeds1LNS0/view?usp=sharing

Please use the link to access the most recent Media Center News.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/12WPt2U0STrTZxU1VqhCGt5Yu32-WeBjM/view?usp=sharing

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

What Is PBIS? 5 Minute Description And 4 Main Components

https://youtu.be/x_KDFb_SSc0

PBIS Information for Families
https://www.pbis.org/family

Positive Behavior
https://www.parentcenterhub.org/pbs-resources/

Dr. Fain is our PBIS Coach.

christi.fain@gcpsk12.org

Stay In The Know With Parent Vue

We know that families want easy access and one go-to location for need-to-know information about their student’s education—from records to resources. The ParentVUE app gives parents access to grades, assignments, and more.

Student information is only as helpful as it is current. That’s why parents can count on always seeing up-to-the-minute information.

• Everything in One Place - Access student information in a single location, including student information, grade book data, discipline, report cards, transcripts, calendars, and more.
• Class Schedule - Check your student’s schedule for course titles, teacher names, and room assignments.
• Grades and Assignment Scores - Check performance immediately to learn about missing assignments and whether your student is on track academically or needs extra help.
• Course History - View final grades for all grade levels and use easy-to-read graphics to track progress toward graduation for high school students.
• Customizable Grade Alerts - Opt-in to get mobile notifications about student grades and overall class averages.
• Fees - Find fees that are owed and what textbook/library books are checked out by your student.

Click here to read more about Parent Vue

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

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).
• New for the 2025-2026 School Year : We have a School Safety Officer.

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.

Check out Procedures for Special Activities/Programs – In order to check your child out after a special event/program, you must send in a note to request a check out prior to the event.

Arrival

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

Dismissal

• The Day ends at 3:20pm

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

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

January https://app.smore.com/n/snvab

February https://app.smore.com/n/2qtgd

Principal – Dr. Kassia Sutton (kassia.morris.sutton@gcpsk12.org)

Assistant Principal – Gr. 4, 5 – Mrs. Contacia Cross (contacia.cross@gcpsk12.org)

Assistant Principal - Gr. 1, 2, 3 - Dr. Katrina Bilal (katrina.p.bilal@gcpsk12.org)

Assistant Principal - K, Special Education - Dr. LaTonya Parker (latonya.parker@gcps12.org)

Counselor - Gr. K/2/4 - Ms. Shelby Gonzalez (shelby.gonzalez@gcpsk12.org)

Counselor Gr. 1/3/5 - Mrs. Amy Crapo (amy.crapo.@gcps12.org)

Location: 150 Hunt Street, Norcross, GA, USA
Phone: 770-448-2188
Facebook: facebook.com/NorcrossElementarySchool-GCPS