THE NORCROSS ELEMENTARY EAGLE

Dear Families,

Happy February!!!

As we enter this new month, our school community is buzzing with gratitude, growth, and excitement. February gives us a chance to pause and appreciate the connections that make our school family so special. Whether we’re celebrating learning achievements, acts of kindness, or the simple joy of coming together each day, we are proud of the way our students continue to shine.

Please view the video below performed by our chorus at the High Museum. Enjoy!

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

Thank you to Mrs. Annie Kim and Ms. Bobbie Adamczyk for facilitating this opportunity for our Eagles.

365 of our Eagles had perfect attendance for the month of January.

Each month each homeroom teacher and specials teacher selects a student based on SOARing demonstrating SOARing expectations (see the matrix in the PBIS sections below). This month's focus was on O for organization and the students listed below consistently demonstrated being organized.

Congratulations to our Students of the month for January.

The 2026 Black History Month theme, announced by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), is "A Century of Black History Commemorations". This theme marks the 100th anniversary of the inaugural celebration launched by Dr. Carter G. Woodson in 1926, celebrating a century of honoring, studying, and preserving Black history and contributions to American society.

To recognize the 100th anniversary, students are encouraged to particiate in the design challenge below.

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.

On Thursday, January 29, GCPS hosted the TOTY celebration to recognized all the TOTYs for Gwinnett County Public Schools. Congratulatinons to our very own Mrs. Aparna Pathak, the Nocross ES Teacher of the Year.

On Friday, January 30, we had our Princiapl for a Day (PFAD) visit. Chuck Allen, pastor of Sugar Hill Church. Classroom visits, morning duty, lunch duty, Local School Council Meeting, and the morning news were some activities for the day.

Please read and review our student handbook.

February 2 - Kids Heart Challenge Begins

February 6 - Digital Learning Day (DLD)

February 10 - 11 - EES Student Survey

February 12 - 16: February Break/No School

February 18: Family Luncheon for 1,3, 5, & ASD

February 19: Family Luncheon for K, 2, & 4

February 20: Progress report sent home

February 26: Literacy Night

February 27: Student of the Month

Book Fair: February 19 - 27

Our school will be starting Kids Heart Challenge soon, and it’s time for you to sign up your student to become part of the Lifesavers League. Download the AHA Schools app for iPhone or Android, search for our school and sign up to receive your wristband! Then, start helping kids with special hearts by making or receiving your first donation, and you’ll start earning thank-you gifts. You’re on your way to completing Finn’s Mission and learning how to save lives! Get started today! THANK YOU so much for your support of our school community and this lifesaving program!

This is a reminder that Friday, February 6th, is a Digital Learning Day (DLD) and meals (lunch only).will be distributed by bus.

Approximate Times:

• Leave schools 10:15-10:30
• Arrive at 1st stop 10:45-11:00

March 2: Art Montage at 5:30pm & Read Across America

March 4: Early Release Conference Day 12:40pm

March 5: Early Release Conference Day 12:40pm

March 4-7: 3rd - 5th Grade students administerd District Assessments

March 10: 4th Grade students administered the Gwinnett Writes

March 18: Online Registration for the 2026/2027 School Year begins/ Hard Lockdown Drill at 9:30

March 20: Drive Thru Pantry

March 26: Spring Picture Day (Individual and Class Pictures)

March 27: Student of the Month at 2:30pm

March 31: 5th Grade trip to Summerour Middle School

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

Teachers will send home work, assignments and resources for the day.

Meals will be provided via bus distribution for all scheduled SY26 Digital Learning Days.

Below are the future dates:

• Friday, February 6th
• Friday, March 13th

Buses will distribute lunches on the DLD days. Students do not need to be validated as GCPS students. Meals can be served to anyone 18 and under when we do bus distribution.

Projected bus schedule for bus distribution days(times approximate):

• Drivers arrive at schools 9:45-10:00
• Load lunches 10:00-10:15
• Leave schools 10:15-10:30
• Arrive at 1st stop 10:45-11:00

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 activities to ENGAGE!

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

https://drive.google.com/file/d/18lF32tWrTzSUnSuFuik8IOrq7DD6hfVb/view?usp=sharing

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

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Qg9VHJPLFrKwq10LvaQCMSASD5dl4Lhr/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

Have a great summer!

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

Please use the following link for information regarding support with devices during Digital Learning Days (DLD):

https://sites.google.com/g.gcpsk12.org/gcpsstudent1to1support/home

Dear Families,

As we enter February, we are excited to focus on wellness, kindness, and connection. February is often associated with caring for others, and this month we will also emphasize the importance of caring for ourselves—emotionally, mentally, and physically.

Throughout the month, your family can participate in wellness activities focused on self-love, gratitude, mindfulness, and positive relationships. Some of these activities include practicing positive affirmations, engaging in acts of kindness, taking mindful moments to reset and breathe, and reflecting on gratitude. These experiences are designed to support emotional well-being and encourage healthy habits in a meaningful, age-appropriate way.

Enjoy spending time with your family, ensuring your mind and heart are connected.

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.

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

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