HAWK TALK
Holcomb Bridge MS
CALENDAR AT A GLANCE
July 31 - Open House 1:30 - 3:30 PM
August 4 - First day of School!
September 1 - Labor Day No School
September 11 Annual Title I Meeting & Curriculum Night
Welcome Back Hawk Families!
Dear Families,
I hope you had a joyful and restful summer! I’m thrilled to welcome you back for another exciting school year. Our team has been hard at work preparing for a year filled with learning, growth, and memorable experiences.
To help you and your child start the year off right, please take a few moments to read through this newsletter carefully. It contains all the important information you’ll need to be ready for the first day of school—from schedules and supply lists to upcoming events and key reminders.
We can’t wait to see our students’ smiling faces and partner with you for a fantastic year ahead!
Warmly,
Jennifer Cassidy, Principal
School Hours and Important Times
Office Hours: 8:15 - 4:15
Instructional Hours: 8:55-4:05
Breakfast: 8:25 - 8:55 AM
Students should be in class by 8:50 AM.
Dismissal is at 4:05 PM.
Walkers/Car riders are dismissed first, followed by bus riders.
Bus students are dismissed in the order that buses arrive.
Car line: Students must enter/exit a vehicle at the sidewalk area. Please pull forward as far as possible to keep the car line moving. All students must be picked up by 4:25 PM.
School Supplies
- 3-inch Binder- (preferably canvas with zipper) - see image
- 1 package of 8-Tab Dividers with Pockets
- Loose Leaf Paper
- Wired headphones/ear buds (NOTE: Wireless ear buds and wireless headphones are not permitted at school)
- Pencil Pouch with rings to put inside binder
- Pens, Pencils, Highlighters
- Colored Pencils
- Water bottle (label with name)
- *Teachers may request additional supplies based on course needs.
Teacher Wish List (Donations gladly accepted!)
- Dry-erase markers
- Pencils
- Colored pencils/markers
- Glue Sticks
- Tissues
- Hand Sanitizer
- Disinfectant wipes
Donations to Staff "Sunshine" (deliver to front office)
Throughout the school year, we like to spread "sunshine" to our staff by raffling prizes and sharing tokens of appreciation. Please consider donating a gift card in any amount from $5 - $25 towards staff appreciation events. Suggestions include Amazon, Target, Starbucks, Walmart, Chick Fil-A, Chipotle, Jersey Mikes, or any favorite place you'd like to share with a staff member!
Please Support our PTA!
Click here to join the PTA for just $15. You can also use this site to get information about being a volunteer, donate the Hawk Fund, and become a community partner.
Student Cell Phones/Devices: NEW FCS Guidelines
Fulton County Schools has updated its Electronic Communications Policy to align with Georgia’s House Bill 340, the Distraction-Free Education Act, and to support student well-being and consistent academic environments across all schools. Starting this school year, students in grades K through 8 will not be allowed to use personal electronic devices during the school day.
Personal Electronic Device includes any personal portable electronic device capable of transmitting, receiving, or accessing communications, data, or media, including but not limited to:
personal laptops, smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, smart glasses, e-readers, headphones, and other devices with functionalities such as wireless communication, internet access, messaging, video recording, gaming, social media access, or data transmission.
One of the biggest distractions from learning that we must address daily is student cell phones. Please review the district guidelines below and talk to your child about the consequences of misusing a cell phone while at school. We will be strictly enforcing these expectations and will confiscate phones/devices as necessary. Parents will be required to pick up confiscated phones/devices during office hours, 8:15 am - 4:15 pm. We will not return the item to your student at the end of the school day.
We strongly recommend that students leave cell phones at home. If it is necessary for your student to bring the phone to school, it is recommended to secure phones in a locker during the school day; if a student does not have a locker the phone should be kept in the backpack during the school day. The school is not responsible for the loss or damage of students' personal devices while at school.
Key Cell Phone Details:
- Students in grades K-8 are prohibited from accessing personal electronic devices during the school day. The school day begins when the student arrives at school until the student is dismissed from school at the end of the day.
- This includes all scheduled instructional time, recess, lunch, transitions, and non-instructional activities.
- Accessing the phone/device includes viewing, holding, wearing, or using a personal electronic device for communication, digital content, internet connection, gaming, recording, listening to music, or any other function.
- Students may never use their phones take photos or videos while on school property without permission from the administration.
- We have phones available for student use in the case of emergency during the school day. Parents who have an urgent need to communicate with their child may call the front office. Please limit these requests to emergency situations.
Per the FCS Student Code of Conduct
Rule 18f.II Prohibited Use of Personal Communication Devices (PCD's) During the School Day:
- Possession of Personal Communication Devices (PCD) (e.g., cell phones, tablets, recording devices) by a student at school during school hours is a privilege that will be forfeited if a student fails to abide by the Student Code of Conduct.
Rule 18g.III Inappropriate Recording and Distribution Using Personal Communication Devices (PCD):
- The use of cell phones and other PCDs for noneducational purposes, including but not limited to, recording staff and/or students without permission or other inappropriate content is strictly prohibited.
- In addition, using a cell phone or other personal communication device to record a fight, battery, or any other inappropriate content and either sharing with others (e.g., airdrop, nearby share, ShareIT, etc.) and/or uploading the video to any other type of social media/web- based media is also strictly prohibited.
- Consequences for doing so may result in up to a 10 Day suspension and a referral for a discipline hearing with a recommendation for long term suspension.
Student Device (Laptop) Information
FCS teachers and students use a variety of digital resources to enhance learning in the classroom, including Microsoft Office, ClassLink, Canvas, digital textbooks, and many other resources and study tools. Students will be issued a Windows laptop for academic use during the school year. Students are expected to abide by the device user agreement while the laptop is issued to them.
Laptops will be issued to students August 8-12 during the school day.
6th Grade - Friday, August 8
7th Grade - Monday, August 11
8th Grade - Tuesday, August 12
The parent/guardian is responsible for the cost of repair or replacement if a device or its accessories are damaged, not returned, lost, or stolen. The district provides parents/guardians the opportunity to purchase the optional device protection plan to limit the out-of-pocket cost to repair or replace damaged devices. The details of this can be found in the Optional Device Protection Plan portion of the FCS 25-26 Device Handbook (pg. 13). Parents may enroll in Optional Device Protection Plan when you complete the Online Census Verification in the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. See the section below for more details.
Hall Lockers
About locker rentals:
- Locker locations are assigned based on grade level.
- Students should NEVER share a locker or provide their combination to other students. This is for security of valuable personal items, such as cell phones.
- Access to lockers is limited during the school day. Each grade designates times for students to access lockers.
- Lockers are school property; school administration may, at any time for any reason, inspect a locker without student consent.
Lockers can be purchased in person at Open House on July 31 and/or in the front office during arrival time or lunch the first two weeks of school. Locker assignments will be distributed during the first week of school. Adults will be available to assist students with opening their lockers.
Breakfast/Lunch Prices
We will have laptops available during Open House on July 31 for families who wish to apply for Free/Reduced meals and need access to a computer. The online application has a faster processing time. We encourage families to apply online!
A new Free/Reduced meal application must be completed every school year. Only one application is required per family, even if your children attend different schools. If there is an interruption in benefits or the household does not reapply, the household is responsible for payment of meals until the Free and Reduced Application is approved. Visit https://www2.myschoolapps.com/
to begin the online application process. Free and Reduced meal applications will be available beginning July 25.
Students who qualified for Free/Reduced meals last school year will continue eligibility through September 15. After this date, parents must pay for meals unless a new application is submitted and approved for the current school year.
Households that qualify for reduced meals will not be required to pay the reduced price of $0.30 for breakfast and the $0.40 for lunch due to GaDOE funding that will be used to cover these costs.
Additional items are available for sale at additional cost. If you would like your child to have money on his/her account for meal and snack purchases My School Bucks to set up your account.
Fulton County Schools is no longer using My Payments Plus, but any remaining money from your account will roll over to the new My School Bucks system.
Charges are not allowed in middle/high school. Students with no money to pay for meals may be given a courtesy meal. Breakfast - cheese toast/milk; lunch - cheese sandwich/milk.
2025-26 Meal Prices
Middle School Student Breakfast = $1.60
Middle School Student Lunch = $3.10
Extra Milk = $0.75
Menus and additional meal service information available on the FCS Nutrition Website.
Residence Verification - ALL 6th and 7th grade students
Per FCS policy, parents/guardians of ALL students entering 6th and 7th grade must provide two proofs of residency at the beginning of the school year.
You can bring these documents with you to open house on July 31.
Families who have not submitted the required documents by August 4 (first day of school) will be given a 30-day provisional enrollment waiver. Documentation must be submitted by September 3, or your student will be withdrawn from school.
Requirements for residency verification documents:
- Both proofs provided must be current within the past 30 days and have the name and address of the parent/guardian.
- Proof #1 must be either an electric bill or water bill.
- NOTE: Gas bills are not accepted.
- The Proof #2 can be any one of the following:
- Home Mortgage Bill;
- Home Sale Contract;
- Current Apartment/House Lease;
- Section Eight/HUD Housing Document; or
- Current HOA Bill
Immunization Requirements - 7th Grade Students
In Georgia, all children born on or after January 1, 2002, who are attending seventh grade, and children who are new entrants into a Georgia school in grades eight through twelve, must have received:
- 1 dose of Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis) vaccine
- 1 dose of Meningococcal Conjugate (MCV4) vaccine
To fulfill immunization requirements. Immunization information must be on the proper Georgia Department of Human Resources form; these are available through the Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness or local physicians (Form 3231).
Religious Exemptions: If your family is seeking a religious exemption from immunization, the Affidavit of Religious Objection to Immunization (Form 2208) must be completed and submitted. This form is available on the Georgia Department of Public Health website: https://dph.georgia.gov/schoolvaccines or at our school.
Visit https://dph.georgia.gov/schoolvaccines for more information or contact Ansel Comer at comera@fultonschools.org (bilingual/Spanish).
Student Dress Code
All students will be dressed appropriately and ready for instruction for the day. We have established a flexible dress code that can prepare students for future professional expectations by teaching them about appropriate dress and grooming standards. Requiring students to dress appropriately for school instills a sense of professionalism and responsibility, which can help students develop the skills and habits they need to succeed in the workplace. At this stage in life, school is a child's job, and we want them to dress for success!
All Clothing
- Clothing that depicts gangs, alcohol, drugs, profane language, weapons, or violence may not be worn.
- Blankets are not permitted to be carried and/or worn during the school day.
Tops
- Undergarments must be covered by tops and tank top straps.
- Clothing that exposes the midriff (stomach and back), including crop tops, is not permitted. All tops should fully cover the torso, including the stomach and back, when standing or sitting.
Bottoms
- Pants and shorts must be worn at or above the hips and may not sag.
- Pants, shorts, and skirts must fully cover underwear and buttocks while standing, sitting, and walking.
Teachers and faculty shall determine whether any mode of dress or grooming results in a violation of the spirit and/or the intent of this rule. Parents may be called to bring a change of clothing, if necessary. Students without a change of clothing or whose parent cannot bring a change of clothing may be offered a change of clothing from our school supply or be assigned to ISS for the remainder of the school day.
Consequences for violating dress code
Consequences for violating the dress code will first be handled through the Holcomb Bridge discipline cycle. Repeat offenders will receive additional consequences for insubordination according to the Fulton County Code of Conduct. The school dress code applies to all school activities unless otherwise noted.
Bus Stop Information
Bus behavior expectations: All FCS Student Code of Conduct rules apply on school-provided transportation and at school bus stops. Students are expected to comply with bus driver directions and may not disrupt the environment of the bus or bus stop in any manner. Safety is the priority on the bus!
Did you know that all FCS buses have a GPS tracker? "Here Comes the Bus" is a free, easy-to-use website and app that enables you to see the location of your child’s school bus on a smartphone, tablet, or personal computer. This way, you know when the bus is near your stop, so you can send your child out at just the right time. No more worrying about whether your child has missed the bus! See the Transportation website for more details.
School Clinic/ Medication Information
Prescription medication: requires a doctor to fill out and sign a portion of the form.
Over the counter medication requires a parent signature on the form (for example, Advil, Tylenol, Benadryl, Cold/Allergy medication, etc.). Parents must provide the medication to the clinic.
Stop by the clinic during Open House to pick up forms that are required for medication to be given or carried at school.
Holcomb Bridge Middle School
Website: https://www.fultonschools.org/holcombbridgems
Location: 2700 Holcomb Bridge Road, Alpharetta, GA, USA
Phone: 470-254-5280
Twitter: @HolcombBridgeMS
Instagram: holcombbridgems