MUSTANG NEWS

Greetings!

Thanks for another awesome week of teaching and learning! Please review important info. for the week ahead:

• COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER: Please review our community newsletter for the week by CLICKING HERE.
  
  
• LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE: This past Friday, we celebrated Mrs. Kalista as our Professional of the Year and Mrs. Reid Charles as our Teacher of the Year. Congrats again ladies! :)
  
  
• MUSTANGS OF THE MONTH! Congratulations to September Teacher of the Month, Mrs. Powell from 3rd grade & our Professional of the Month, Mr. Evans, our Head Custodian.
  
  
• BULLETIN BOARDS/STUDENT WORK DISPLAYS: Please ensure that you have updated your bulletin boards. As discussed during preplanning, **all bulletin boards/student work displays are expected to be updated by the first Friday of each month. Bulletin Boards/student work displays are expected to display authentic student work with the instructional standard and date attached. **Student worksheets/workbook pages should not be displayed. Bulletin Board/student work displays change dates for the school year are displayed here.
• October 6th
• November 3rd
• December 1st
• January 5th
• February 2nd
• March 1st
• April 12th
• May 3rd
  
  
• TKES Pre-Conference: Teachers, please remember that you need to proceed with completing the tasks outlined in our Preconference session on September 12th. **Remember, your orientation and self assessment should be completed by Tuesday, September 19th. Your preconference must be signed my September 22nd.
  
  
• Grandparents Day - was AWESOME! Thank you to the many staff members that supported this effort and our entire school for your flexibility.
  
  
• Annual Title I Meeting & Curriculum Night: Our meeting is quickly approaching. Please plan ahead as all staff members are required to attend. Nonexempt staff members will be paid (1) additional hour to attend. Please see Mrs. Canty if you have any questions or concerns. We will all wear our 2024 blue staff polos on this night. with dark bottoms/jeans. All staff members should report back to campus by 5:15 pm as the Annual Title I Meeting begins at 5:30 pm.
  
  
• Cliftondale Committee Signup: Cliftondale now has school committees! Please CLICK HERE to signup for your 2023-2024 Committee. Each staff member must select at minimum (1) committee to support for the school year. There should be at least (1) representative per committee. *If you are a member of the PBIS Team or Leadership Team, you DO NOT have to signup for another committee, but you are free to do so. **All staff members should be signed up by COB on this Friday, September 22nd. School Committees will meet on the 2nd Tuesday of each month, which are non-staff meeting dates. Committees members can add additional meetings if necessary for non-staff meeting days.
  
  
• Custodial Support: To help out our team, I ask that your students place their chairs on top of their desk or stack their chairs in your classroom. Please also place each your trashcans outside of your classroom each day. A great idea is to assign both task to students. These (2) small steps will help our custodial team tremendously!

Check out the authentic student work with the standard and rubric attached. Great Job Ms. Whyte!

LITERACY: 50% of students in grades K-5 will perform at Tier 1 (on or above grade level) as measured by the i-Ready Reading Diagnostic by December 2023.

NUMERACY: 50% of students in grades K-5 will perform at Tier 1 (on or above grade level) as measured by i-Ready Math Diagnostic by May 2024.

LITERACY: 65% of students in grades K-5 will perform at Tier 1 (on or above grade level) as measured by the i-Ready Reading Diagnostic by May 2024.

NUMERACY: 60% of students in grades K-5 will perform at Tier 1 (on or above grade level) as measured by i-Ready Math Diagnostic by May 2024.

LITERACY: Increase the percentage of 3rd-5th grade students performing at proficient (Level 3) or distinguished (Level 4) on the Georgia Milestones ELA Assessment from 32% (FY 23) to 42% (FY 24) by May 2024.

NUMERACY: Increase the percentage of 3rd-5th grade students performing at proficient (Level 3) or distinguished (Level 4) on the Georgia Milestones Mathematics Assessment from 35% (FY 23) to 45% (FY 24) by May 2024.

Attached is our checklist for your emergency sub binder. All classroom teachers, including specialist and SEC teachers, are required to have an emergency sub binder. This binder is separate from your planned absence sub plans. These plans are only implemented in the event that you have an unexpected absence. The requirements for your binder are included on the attached checklist. I also included a sample of what your binder might look like, specifically the contents. Each grade level chair will verify the contents of your binder on/or before September 22nd . In the event that you need a binder, please send me an email as soon as possible.

Please see Mrs. Long if you have any questions or concerns.

Just a quick reminder that all FCS employees are mandates reporters for child abuse and/or neglect. As such, the first FCS employee who learns of suspected abuse or neglect is responsible, per Board Policy, to make a report to DFCS. A mandated reporter cannot delegate their reporting obligation of child abuse or neglect to anyone else – they must make the report themselves. For example, a school social worker can assist any employee in this reporting process but cannot make the report for the mandated reporter. Here is how you make a report of suspected child abuse/neglect to DCFS:

Attached is the 4.5 Week Progress Report TimeLine that will be here before we know it.

Please review and let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Grades should be defined in your gradebook. In addition, do not wait to the last minute to enter grades. Parents have access to Infinite Campus real time, and the expectation is that the gradebooks are current.

Sending a reminder to continue communicating with parents regarding:

• POSITIVE student happenings
• Academic progress/concerns
• Social Concerns
• Updating on upcoming assessments

Parents are appreciative of communication as it helps close gaps as they attempt to ponder their scholar's instructional day. If you are sending behavior needs improvement notices, it helps to make a phone call to explain and allow opportunities for questions.

Cliftondale has an amazing staff for so many reasons! CLICK HERE to give a 'Shout Out' to a colleague you see doing something amazing! They will be shared in our weekly newsletter.

• SHOUT OUT to Mrs. Larkins for having such a good attitude and pleasant demeanor. We appreciate you! You are going to have an EXCEPTIONAL year at Cliftondale.
  -Ms. Whyte
  
  
• SHOUT OUT to Mrs. Collins!! Thank you for being Kingston's Mentor. He really enjoys your special visits every afternoon. If you see Kingston in the hallway please give him a high five on his behavior this year!
  -Ms. Whyte
  
  
• SHOUT OUT to Ms. B.Lewis for your Positive Office Referrals!! Thank you for noticing student behavior progress each day.
  
  

September 14-October 2, 2023: Fall Fundraiser

September 20, 2023: Boy Scouts of America Class Visits

September 21, 2023: Boy Scouts of America Parent Interest Meeting at 5:30 pm
September 25, 2023: Leadership Team Meeting

September 25-29, 2023: Write Score 2nd-5th Grades

September 26, 2023: Annual Title I Meeting at 5:30 pm/
Curriculum Night immediately following the Title I Meeting

October 2-6, 2023: GA PK Week

October 3, 2023: Staff Meeting
October 4, 2023: Moms on the Move 8:00 AM-9:30 AM/Dads on Duty 6:55 AM- 8:00AM

October 4, 2023: Parent Workshop: Literacy

October 6, 2023: Mustang of the Month – 8:30 am

October 9, 2023: Columbus Day Holiday- Schools Closed

October 10, 2023: Teacher Workday- No School for Students

October 10, 2023: Leadership Team Meeting

October 11, 2023: Professional Development Day-No School for Students

October 13, 2023: 9-Week Progress Report (viewable in Parent Portal)
October 16-20, 2023: Bus Safety Week

October 16, 2023: FIELD TRIP: 2nd Grade- Chattahoochee Nature Center

October 23-31, 2023: Red Ribbon Week

October 25, 2023: Fall Picture Retake Day

October 30, 2023: Fall Fundraiser Pickup Day

October 30, 2023: Trunk or Treat

November 1, 2023: Moms on the Move 8:00 AM-9:30 AM/Dads on Duty 6:55 AM- 8:00AM

November 1, 2023: Parent Workshop: Technology

November 3, 2023: Mustang of the Month – 8:30 am

November 7, 2023: Staff Meeting - Tentative

November 7, 2023: Election Day/ Remote Learning Day

November 13, 2023: Leadership Team

November 14, 2023: Staff Meeting - Tentative

November 15-17, 2023: Holiday Luncheons

November 15, 2023: 13 ½ Week Progress Report (viewable in Parent Portal)

November 20-24, 2023: Thanksgiving Holidays- Schools Closed

December 1, 2023: Mustang of the Month – 8:30 am

December 6, 2023: Moms on the Move 8:00 AM-9:30 AM/Dads on Duty 6:55 AM- 8:00AM

December 6, 2023: School Spelling Bee

December 6-8, 2023: Winter Concert Series
December 12, 2023: Parent Workshop: STEAM Night/PBL Showcase

December 13-14, 2023: Class Holiday Party
December 14, 2023: School Spelling Bee

December 15, 2023: Last Day of First Semester

December 18-January 1, 2024: Winter Break- Schools Closed

Prior approval of the principal or immediate supervisor is required before a personal day may be taken. In cases of anticipated or foreseeable need for personal leave, requests for personal leave must be submitted at least 30 days in advance. Paid personal leave is not to be used for “Unexcused Unpaid” absences due to tardiness. Except during the times listed below, employees are not required to disclose the specific reason for taking personal leave other than to specify that the absence is personal. Except in extreme emergencies and with the prior written approval of the employee's immediate supervisor, personal leave is not allowed at the following times:

• the workday immediately prior to or after a holiday or vacation;
• the first day of the school year and the following five working daysthereof;
• the last workday of the school year and the preceding five working days thereof;
• pre-planning, conference, professional development, registration and post-planning days; and
• other critical days identified by the principal or department head

Principal: Mrs. Canty- cantya@fultonschools.org

Assistant Principal: Mrs. Long- longt@fultonschools.org

Curriculum Support Teacher: Yazmin Hicks- hicksz@fultonschools.org

School Counselor: Dr. Ford- fordb@fultonschools.org

Instructional Support Teacher: Dr. Shabo- shabog@fultonschools.org

K-2 Literacy Coach: Mrs. Kalista- kalista@fultonschools.org
3rd-5th Grade Literacy Coach: Ms. Johnson- johnsonkr1@fultonschools.org

Math Coach: Mrs. Everett - everettba@fultonschools.org

Parent Liaison: Ms. Render- renderhh@fultonschools.org

School Social Worker: Dr. Carver- carvera@fultonschools.org