Panther Press

Hello Panther Families!

There are many things in education that I feel strongly about, and one of them is homework for elementary-aged students.

As a child, I remember watching my hardworking parents spend countless evenings trying to get my brother to complete his homework. What should have been quality family time often became stressful and frustrating. It impacted his relationship with school, and those experiences stayed with me long after childhood.

As I became an educator, I began researching homework for elementary students and discovered that many studies suggest traditional homework has limited academic benefits for younger learners.

Research: "Key Lessons: What Research Says About the Value of Homework"

What research does show is that some of the most meaningful learning happens outside of worksheets and assignments. Playing outdoors, building with friends, cooking alongside family members, playing board games, reading together, having conversations at the dinner table, and simply spending time together all help children grow academically, socially, and emotionally.

That said, I also know there are evenings when you would like your child to spend 20-30 minutes engaged in something productive and educational independently. Instead of defaulting to entertainment-based screen time, I wanted to remind you of a few wonderful learning resources that every New Prospect student can access from home.

Digital Learning Resources Available to All New Prospect Students

PebbleGo

PebbleGo is an incredibly kid-friendly research platform that allows students to explore topics that interest them, from animals and science to biographies and social studies. Articles are written at an age-appropriate level and include engaging images, vocabulary support, and audio narration. Students can also access videos, activities, and other nonfiction text features that spark curiosity and encourage independent learning. While it's especially popular with our younger learners, older students enjoy exploring it as well!

Beanstack

Beanstack helps students develop strong reading habits by tracking the time they spend reading. Students can celebrate reading streaks, earn badges, and participate in school-wide reading challenges. Right now, our 2nd-5th grade students are engaged in a friendly competition to see which class can log the most reading minutes each month. The winning class earns a trophy, and top readers receive certificates and prizes!

Reflex Math

Reflex Math is an adaptive program that helps students build fluency with math facts through engaging games and activities. The program adjusts to each child's individual needs, providing personalized practice that boosts both accuracy and confidence. Students can track their progress, set goals, and celebrate their growth along the way.

How to Access These Resources

Students access these tools through ClassLink at school, and they can easily access them from home as well.

Simply visit the New Prospect website (or any FCS website) and look for the ClassLink icon beneath the main header image.

Once on the ClassLink page, select our school and have your child log in using:

• Username: Student ID Number
• Password: 8-digit birthday

Once logged in, students will find these resources and many others ready to explore.

Thank you for partnering with us to create meaningful learning experiences both in and out of the classroom. Whether your child is reading a book, exploring PebbleGo, practicing math facts, playing outside, or enjoying dinner with family, valuable learning is happening every day.

Happy exploring!

Amy Lemons
Principal, New Prospect Elementary School

Wednesday September 30th- Parent Safety Workshop (see below) & Raider Fest @ Alpharetta High School 2026 5:00-8pm

October 6th-Walk to School Day 7:20 at Rock Mill Park

October 9th-House Day-Wear House Colors

Monday October 12th-Columbus Day-No School

October 13th-16th-College Week

Saturday October 17th- Spirit Night at Gladiator's Game 7:00pm

Friday October 23rd- 2nd Grade Musical 8am

Taste of New Prospect 5:30-7:00

October 26th-30th Red Ribbon Week

October 30th-Book Character Dress Up Day

Tuesday November 3rd-Election Day-No School for Students

Chipotle Spirt Night- 4:00-8:00 (see below)

Saturday November 7th-Hands on New Prospect 9:00am

Kick off Homecoming Week right with one of our biggest traditions of the year, Raider Fest, happening on Wednesday, September 30th, from 5:00 to 8:00 PM at Alpharetta High School!

Admission is 100% FREE for everyone. We’re bringing in delicious food trucks, local vendors, and over 75 interactive booths packed with games for all ages.

The fun kicks off right at 5:00 PM, so make sure you and your families arrive early to grab some food, play games, and secure a prime spot for the annual Homecoming Parade featuring AHS sports teams, clubs, and loads of special guests.

Let's show up big and show off that Raider Pride!

We’re excited to invite all families to our annual event, Taste of New Prospect, on Friday, October 23rd, from 5:30-7:00 PM. This is a vibrant celebration of the diverse cultures that make our school community so special! Taste of New Prospect is a wonderful opportunity to share your family's heritage through food, music, art, clothing, or traditions.

If you’d like to participate and showcase your culture, please sign up by September 28th using the flyer that was sent home in your child’s Thursday folder (also button below).

October is Red Ribbon Month during which our school will be promoting drug awareness and prevention with our students. The national theme for 2026 is "Make A Difference. Be A Hero. Stay Drug Free." This superhero-inspired message encourages students and communities to recognize that healthy, drug-free choices empower them to become everyday heroes. The Red Ribbon Campaign® is the oldest and largest drug prevention program in the nation, reaching millions of young people during Red Ribbon Week®, October 23rd - October 31st each year. It is an ideal way for people and communities to unite and take a visible stand against drugs. Students will learn about making healthy choices throughout the week and celebrate daily themes with dress up days . Please take this opportunity to open or continue age-appropriate dialogue with your children around drugs. If you have questions or would like resources, please contact Christina McLeod @ mcleodcr@fultonschools.org .

Would you like to help students learn more about careers? We are looking for volunteers that are able to come in and share information about their jobs with students on Friday, December 4th from 8-9:30am, spending about 15 minutes each with 4 different classes. Feel free to bring in hands-on materials, show videos & other visual aids to help students understand what it is that you do and why you chose the career. Last year our students enjoyed learning about web design, dentistry, engineering, publishing, public safety, real estate, business, legal services, food production, etc. We are looking for at least one volunteer from each homeroom class. Please contact Christina McLeod if you interested or would like more information: mcleodcr@fultonschools.org

Email: lemonsa@fultonschools.org
Website: https://newprospect.fultonschools.org/
Location: 3055 Kimball Bridge Road, Alpharetta, GA, United States
Phone: (470)254-2800