Mustang Newsletter

As we celebrate Black History Month, we take this opportunity to recognize and honor the countless African American men and women whose contributions have profoundly shaped America and the world. Their groundbreaking achievements in science, politics, law, sports, the arts, entertainment, and countless other fields have left a lasting impact on society and continue to inspire generations.

To make this month even more engaging and enjoyable, we have created a Black History Month Attire Calendar for staff and encourage our students to participate as well. This calendar features daily themed attire, allowing everyone to celebrate and express appreciation for Black history and culture in a fun and educational way.

We are excited to share this experience with you and look forward to a month filled with learning, celebration, and unity.

Our first 4.5-week progress reports for Semester 2 will be available in the Parent and Student Portal in Infinite Campus beginning February 13. We encourage you to take time to review your child’s grades, any missing assignments, and teacher feedback or comments. If you have questions or concerns about your child’s academic progress, please reach out directly to their teacher.

If you have not already done so, we also ask that you review the FCS Grades Reporting Policy for additional grading information:

GRADES & REPORTING

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GRADING

• National School Counseling Week (#NSCW26) is Feb. 2-6, 2026, to focus attention on the contribution of school counselors. The theme is: School Counselors Amplify Student Success. National School Counseling Week, sponsored by ASCA, highlights the tremendous impact school counselors have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career. National School Counseling Week is always celebrated the first full week in February.
  
  As we celebrate National School Counseling Week, let’s take a moment to recognize the incredible dedication and impact of our Fulton County Schools school counselors. Their work strengthens academic success, nurtures student well‑being, and supports the social and emotional growth of every child in our buildings. Please join us in showing appreciation for these essential members of our school communities and in highlighting the vital role they play each day. To assist, multiple resources are available to help you celebrate National School Counseling Week:
  
  As we observe this important week, we want to extend our heartfelt appreciation to our very own Ms. Porter. Your unwavering commitment to our students' growth and well-being does not go unnoticed. Thank you for your hard work, dedication, and the invaluable support you provide every day!

Looking for ways to support your scholar with reading at home? Well, look no further!

During today’s Mustang of the Month celebration, our literacy coaches shared 10 simple and effective ways families can support their student’s literacy development at home. These strategies are easy to incorporate into everyday routines and can make a big difference in building strong reading habits.

We’re excited to share these tips with you and appreciate your continued support in helping our scholars grow as confident readers!

Cliftondale Families,

We are excited to prepare for our Black History Month Showcase happening on February 19, 2026 at 6:00 PM! Students, families, and school clubs are invited to participate and share their talents as we celebrate African American history, culture, and excellence.

🌟 Performance Types May Include:

• Song
• Dance
• Spoken Word
• Dramatic Presentation
• Other creative expressions honoring Black history

📌 Performance Guidelines:
To ensure a positive, respectful, and school‑appropriate program:

• Attire must follow school dress expectations
• All lyrics, messaging, and content must be free of profanity, vulgarity, or suggestive themes
• Performances should be uplifting, respectful, and suitable for all ages

📝 Want to Participate?
Sign up using the link on the flyer or via: https://bit.ly/26BHShowcase
Deadline: January 30, 2026

The Fashion Club is hosting Friendship Day Pictures on February 13th. This is a great way for students to celebrate their friendships with a fun photo session.

Cost: $12 per package (two students per photo)
Includes: 4 printed 4x6 photos. Pictures will be distributed on 2/18.

Parents may contact Mrs. Hill if you have questions at hilla5@fultonschools.org

Join Cliftondale Elementary School for a special afternoon out in College Park on

February 26th at 7pm to cheer on the College Park Skyhawks who are matched

up against the Raptors 905.

It is time for the election of new members to our School Governance Council. The School Governance Council has both parent/guardian and teacher positions open for election. Parents or guardians of students who will be attending our school during both the 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 school years are eligible to run for the parent/guardian SGC positions.

Our School Governance Council (SGC) plays a critical role in the success of our school. The SGC works with school leadership and the community to help determine the long-term direction of the school, design innovative solutions to increase academic achievement, and serve as school ambassadors to the local community. Specifically, the School Governance Council has the following powers:
• Create, approve, and monitor the implementation of the school strategic plan
• Manage the Request for Flexibility process
• Approve the annual budget recommendations and related allocations
• Participate in the hiring of the principal, in the case of a vacancy
• Provide annual feedback to the Area Superintendent on principal performance

If you are interested in running for a position on the School Governance Council, please complete and submit a Parent/Guardian Candidate Declaration Form. Forms will be available on Monday, February 2nd. We are very excited about the work and value-add of our SGC. We hope that you will consider running for a position! The Candidate Declaration period ends March 27th and voting will take place April 22 – April 29. In the meantime, if you would like more information about the charter system or SGC elections visit our school’s website or our Charter System Overview.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Canty

CALLING all lawyers, doctors, pilots, nail technicians, makeup artists, barbers, flight attendants, chefs, DJs, rappers, engineers, caterers, actors, government officials, stylist, cosmetologist, realtors, bankers, designers, gamers, estheticians, entrepreneurs, dentists, dental hygienists, medical assistants—and all other professionals!

We invite you to join us for our 2025–2026 Career Day at Cliftondale. This is an exciting opportunity to inspire students by sharing your career journey, experiences, and insights with our students! We look forward to you joining us!

FEBRUARY 2026

• January 12th-March 3rd: 2026-2027 PK Lottery Registration 📌
• February 6th: MOTM
• February 13th: Friendship Parties
• February 13th: Friendship Picture Day
• February 13th: 4.5 Week Progress Reports Posted in Parent Portal
• February 16th: Teacher Workday - No School for Students
• February 17th: Professional Development Day - No School for Students

MARCH 2026

• January 12th-March 3rd: 2026-2027 PK Lottery Registration 📌
• March 9th-13th: Math Bee Spirit Week
• March 12th-13th: School Math Bee
• March 13th: St. Patrick's Day
• March 16th: Professional Development Day - NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
• March 17th: Spring Picture Day
• March 20th: 9 Week Progress Reports Posted in Parent Portal
• March 24th: Title I Parent Input Meeting
• March 26th: Title I Parent Input Meeting

APRIL 2026

• April 2nd: Career Day
• April 6th-10th: Spring Break - NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
• April 13th-24th: GAA Administrations -3rd-5th Grades
• April 23rd: Title I PK Parent Transition Meeting
• April 27th-May 8th: GMAS Administrations - 3rd-5th Grades

MAY 2026

• May 4th-8th: Teacher Appreciation Week
• May 13th-15th: Semester 2 Awards Days - Times/Dates TBD
• May 21st: Last Day of School - Enjoy your summer!

📄 2025–2026 School-Family Compact & Parent-Family Engagement Plans

Please take a moment to review Cliftondale Elementary’s 2025–2026 School-Family Compact and Parent-Family Engagement Plan (PFEP), as well as Fulton County Schools’ Parent-Family Engagement Plan.

Parents, school staff, and students partnered together to jointly develop the School-Family Compact and PFEP. Input was gathered through annual surveys, feedback forms, and spring input meetings. The School-Family Compact explains how families and teachers will work together to ensure all students reach grade-level standards at Cliftondale Elementary School.

🔹 Need Help or a Printed Copy?

If you have questions about Title I, need assistance with completing the digital acknowledgment, or would like a printed copy of any documents, please contact our Parent Liaison:

Ms. Hope Render
📞 470-254-3040
📧 renderhh@fultonschools.org

ANNUAL TITLE I TECHNOLOGY WORKSHOP: Many thanks to the families that attended our Technology Workshop. If you missed it, the full presentation is attached for you here. Please use the link below to review the Title I presentation from Tuesday. Please make sure to complete the evaluation link at the end of the presentation. Your feedback is greatly appreciated!
https://bit.ly/Evaluation_FE

Distraction-Free Education Act

House Bill 340 | Fulton County Schools

In alignment with Georgia’s new Distraction-Free Education Act (House Bill 340), all Fulton County elementary and middle school students (Grades K–8) are prohibited from using or accessing personal electronic devices during the school day.

Prohibited Devices Include (but are not limited to): Cell phones, Smartwatches, Laptops, Tablets, E-readers, Smart glasses, Headphones, Any device with wireless communication, messaging, internet access, gaming, video recording, or social media capabilities. These devices must remain powered off and stored away during school hours, including classroom time, lunch, recess, and transitions. We appreciate your support in helping us create a focused, distraction-free learning environment for all students.

Although breakfast and lunch is free for all students, students may purchases extra food portions or snacks. As we are a cashless school, students should not bring cash to school for these purchases. All funds must be added online through MySchoolBucks. Parents should visit MySchoolBucks

to add funds to their child's account in order for students to purchase ice cream, snacks, or extra food portions during lunch.

Thank you for your support in helping us maintain a safe and efficient cafeteria experience!
FCS School Nutrition

All families are required to log in to the Infinite Campus Parent Portal and verify emergency contacts and household information through the “Census Update” feature. This ensures schools can contact you quickly in case of an emergency. Each student must have at least one emergency contact who is not a parent or guardian.

To read Board Policy - JGFC Emergency Release of Students and Dismissal Precautions, CLICK HERE

Scan the QRCode on the flyer or CLICK HERE to enroll your child(ren).

📧cliftondale@apecprep.com

📲470-701-4973

Cliftondale remains a uniform school, and we will continue to encourage all students to wear our school uniform Monday - Thursday.

Our uniform consists of:
Top: Navy blue, yellow/gold, or white
Bottom: Khaki or navy blue

Uniforms and other school spirit wear are available through our online spirit store:
https://www.cliftondalestore.com/

Thank you for your continued support in helping us promote school pride and a sense of community!

• NO RESTAURANT FOOD IN THE CAFETERIA: Parents, please be reminded that outside restaurant food is not permitted in our school’s cafeteria. You are always welcome to enjoy lunch with your child, and you may either purchase a meal from our cafeteria or bring a lunch from home. Thank you for helping us maintain a safe and consistent environment for all students.
  
  

• BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS: Parents, family members and friends are not allowed to bring in cakes, balloon bouquets, flowers, goodie bags, gifts, pizza, or any other type of treat to celebrate a student birthday. Teachers are not allowed to celebrate birthdays in the class with a party or a snack either. Rather, parents may purchase a Smart Celebrations Package from the cafeteria. This can be done to student birthdays and/or any other classroom celebrations. Smart Celebration packets should be purchased in the cafeteria at least (2) days in advance. Please contact our Nutrition Manager, Ms. Curry at curryd1@fultonschools.org
  
  

• VISITORS ATTIRE: Visitors are asked to dress appropriately while on school property, in a manner that is tasteful, safe, and suitable for the school environment. Clothing or accessories that are distracting, unsafe, or contrary to maintaining a positive school atmosphere are not permitted. This includes unusual or disruptive styles, garments with inappropriate messages, and clothing—such as dresses, shorts, skirts, or tops—that is excessively short, tight, or revealing. Thank you for helping us maintain a respectful and safe environment for all students.

• Please be alert at all times! We have students exiting vehicles, parents and students crossing the street, and staff supporting students as they exit their vehicle. Please be attentive to all mustangs.
• Please do not park in the car rider loop. The car rider loop is for quick drop offs only. If you would like to exit your vehicle and escort your child into the school, please park in a nearby visitors parking space. Parents may escort students to class up until 7:35 am daily.
• For morning drop-off, parents are expected to ONLY use the car rider loop where staff members are monitoring students. Parents SHOULD NOT release students from their vehicles in the parking lot.
• Parents SHOULD NOT park along any red curb.
• Parents SHOULD NOT pass other vehicles in the car rider line or while in the school parking lot.
• Please have your student ready to exit from the passenger side of the vehicle. This means, make sure his/her bookbag and other belongs are ready and easily accessible. This speeds up the process tremendously!
• For car rider drop off & pickup, please pull all the way forward to cone #1.
• Help your student learn his/her car rider number for afternoon pickup.
• Please be patient!

• SCHOOL HOURS are 7:40 a.m. to 2:20 p.m. Our school front office is opened 7:00 am - 3:30 pm daily.
• MORNING ARRIVAL PROCEDURES: Morning arrival for students is 7:10 am-7:40 am. Students arriving after 7:40 am will be marked tardy as the instructional daily begins promptly at 7:40 am. ** Students should not be dropped off prior to 7:10 am as we do not offer before school care.
  📌IMPORTANT - Visiting parents may accompany their children to class during the first week of school (August 4-8, 2025) only. This measure is to ensure the safety of all students and staff. All visiting parents will be required to exit the building using the front office entrance no later than 7:35 am.
  

• BREAKFAST/LUNCH: Breakfast and lunch are completely free for all Cliftondale students. Breakfast is available for all students 7:10 am - 7:40 am. Although breakfast and lunch are free, students may purchase extra portions or snacks. Parents should visit My School Bucks to add money to their child's account in order for your student to purchase snacks and extra food portions. During school hours, students may not have restaurant food in any FCS cafeteria at any given time.
  

• SCHOOL FUNDS: We are now a 100% cashless organization. All funds collected at Cliftondale ES for student activities and school sponsored events are accepted only through Fulton County Schools Online School Payments.
• SCHOOL UNIFORMS: Cliftondale remains a uniform school, and we will continue to encourage all students to wear our school uniform. Our uniform consists of a navy blue, yellow/gold, or white top with khaki or navy bottoms. Uniforms and other school spirit wear are available through our online spirit store Home | Cliftondale Store
  

• DISMISSAL: Parents can check students out early anytime up until 2:00 pm. If you wish to check your student out early, please report to our front office with identification. Our students will only be released a bus rider, car rider, afterschool, or van. If your child is a car rider, you must join the car rider line. It will be long as we many of our students are car riders, and we thank you for your patience and your cooperation.
  

• BUS RIDERS/BUS STOP INFORMATION - During Open House, parents can verify their child’s bus assignment and bus stop times. All stop times are approximate times. If you have questions pertaining your child’s assigned stop or assigned bus, please contact FCS Transportation Department at 470-254-6060.

• TRANSPORTATION CHANGES: Please keep in mind that changes in transportation must be in writing and shared with your child’s homeroom teacher and the front office staff. Please do not depend on teacher e-mail or Dojo messages as some teachers do not have an opportunity to check e-mail/Dojo during the school day.
  

• BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS: Parents, family members and friends are not allowed to bring in cakes, balloon bouquets, flowers, goodie bags, gifts, pizza, or any other type of treat to celebrate a student birthday. Teachers are not allowed to celebrate birthdays in the class with a party or a snack either. Rather, parents may purchase a Smart Celebrations Package from the cafeteria. This can be done to student birthdays and/or any other classroom celebrations. Smart Celebration packets should be purchased in the cafeteria at least (2) days in advance. Please contact our Nutrition Manager, Ms. Curry at curryd1@fultonschools.org
  

• CLIFTONDALE'S 2025-2026 FAMILY HANDBOOK - Cliftondale’s 2025–2026 Family Handbook provides a wealth of information for parents about Cliftondale Elementary and our school-wide expectations. We encourage all families to review it thoroughly. Printed copies will be distributed to all students during the first week of school. An electronic version will also be accessible at all times on our school’s website and included in our weekly newsletter.

• 🆕STUDENT DEVICE PROTECTION PLAN: Each student in Fulton County Schools (FCS) is issued a school-owned device to support learning in and out of the classroom. This year, we are switching to charging full price for damaged and lost devices, as opposed to the reduced fees that we have previously charged. To help families avoid unexpected repair or replacement costs, we offer an Optional Student Device Protection Plan that provides affordable coverage throughout the school year.

Are you registered for your Campus Parent Portal Account? If not, REGISTER TODAY! Everything you need as a parent is contained in the parent portal. You can monitor your student's grades throughout the school year, review your child's schedule, download progress reports and report cards, update your contact information, register other students within your household, withdrawal your student and so much more! If you already have an account, you do not need to register again. New users should click the link provided to register: Parent Portal Registration

*Please note, if you DO NOT have an email address on file, you will be unable to register via the provided link. Please call the school and ask for our Data Clerk, Ms. Allen.

"Here Comes The Bus App" 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! If you have questions or concerns regarding your child's assigned bus or bus stop, please contact FCS Transportation Department at 470-254-6060 OR contact our supervisor:

Cheowana Henderson, Supervisor
Hendersonc1@fultonschools.org

Charisse Weigner, Special Needs Supervisor
weignerc@fultonschools.org

• The app will request a school code, which is 87428
• How do you access your student's student ID number? Parents may access their child's student ID number from the parent portal in Infinite Campus.
  
• If you add your child and the bus number or bus stop is incorrect, please contact our supervisor, Ms. Henderson
• If you add your child and their is no bus route displayed, please contact our supervisor, Ms. Henderson.

School safety remains a top priority for us in Fulton County Schools. We take maintaining a safe and secure learning environment very serious. I expect all Cliftondale students, parents and staff members act in a manner that keeps everyone safe. I strongly encourage all parents to review the Code of Conduct, and speak with your child about his/her behavior. When incidence of misconduct arise, consequences will be assigned based on the infraction as detailed within the Code of Conduct.

Each member of the Fulton County Board of Education sponsors a monthly meeting open to all members of the community. The sessions provide an opportunity for direct contact with community members and give board members a chance to listen to local issues and concerns.

Principal: Mrs. Canty- cantya@fultonschools.org

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

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

School Counselor: Sara Porter - porters5@fultonschools.org

504 Coordinator/MTSS - Tanya Hall- hallt5@fultonschools.org

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

Literacy Coach: Mrs. Kalista- kalista@fultonschools.org
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
APEC Afterschool Enrichment - cliftondale@apecprep.com