Hembree Highlights

Greetings Hembree Families!

We had such a wonderful week celebrating Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week! Our amazing PTA truly spoiled us every single day. We kicked things off with a delicious Chick-fil-A breakfast, followed by sweet treats, snacks, flowers, and a fantastic lunch from Chicken Salad Chick. We even had some incredible dads volunteer to run carpool on Friday morning!

Thank you all for the notes, kind words, and warm sentiments throughout the week — we truly felt the love.

Please join me in congratulating our outstanding staff!

Teacher of the Year: Adina Mondan
Ms. Mondan will proudly represent Hembree in 2026. She is an exceptional educator, and we are so proud of her!

Professional of the Year: Heidi Forsyth
Ms. Forsyth supports Ms. Wagner in kindergarten and does an amazing job building connections with students and supporting our community. We are grateful to have her represent Hembree Springs in 2026.

Teacher of the Year Finalists

• Ms. Lauren Barimo (Pre-K)
• Mr. Justin Snyder (4th Grade)
  Both are phenomenal teachers and so deserving of recognition.

Professional of the Year Finalists

• Ms. Ashley Zuniga
• Ms. Jessy Canseco
  These two incredible women work tirelessly to ensure all our students and families feel loved and supported.

Photos are included below — enjoy reliving these special moments!

Wild About Learning

Thank you to all the families who joined us for our annual student-led learning event, Wild About Learning. If you completed a survey and raffle ticket, we’ll be drawing winners next Wednesday!

SGC Elections

Please take a moment to review the information below about running for our School Governance Council. We have one open parent position this year.

Attention 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade Parents,

Please join Ms. Erskine-Wilson and me on Tuesday, March 3rd at 5:30 PM for an informative virtual meeting on Microsoft Teams about the upcoming Georgia Milestones Assessment.

During this session, we will:

• Share important testing information and expectations
• Provide helpful resources to support your child at home
• Answer any questions you may have about the assessment process

The Teams meeting link will be sent to all families with children in 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade on Monday, March 2nd.

We look forward to connecting with you and partnering together to support our students’ success!

A quick reminder that the deadline to purchase a yearbook is March 20th. This date will be here before we know it. We do not order extra copies, so please be sure to purchase yours before the deadline. Thank you for your understanding.

Reminder

There is no school for students next Monday and Tuesday, February 16–17.
Wishing everyone a relaxing and enjoyable long weekend!

Warm Regards,

Nancy Lahey

https://survey.gadoe.org/FM?sid=1704BCF1

2/16 Teacher Work Day--No School for Students

2/17 Professional Development Day--No School for Students

2/20 3rd grade field trip to the High Museum

2/20 Spirit Night Village Burger

2/27 Family Dance & Silent Auction @ 6:00-7:30pm

3/16 Teacher Work Day- No School for Students

3/17 FY27 Parent Title I Input @ 7:40-8:40am in the Media Center and 5:15-6:15pm on TEAMS

3/24 1st grade field trip to Zoo Atlanta

What a week! The PTA was honored to shower Hembree’s incredible teachers and staff with Olympic-level appreciation all week long—and what a gold-medal performance it was. 🏅

Here’s how the week played out:

• Monday: Chick-fil-A breakfast to kick things off strong 🏁
• Tuesday: A spread of favorite snacks and drinks to keep energy high
• Wednesday: Cookies—because every champion deserves a sweet win 🍪
• Thursday: A DIY Flower Bar that let staff create podium-worthy bouquets 🌸
• Friday: Lunch from Chicken Salad Chick plus raffle basket giveaways to close out the week in style 🎉

This celebration would not have been possible without the generosity of our Hembree families. Thank you to all the parents who donated funds, gift cards, and items to help make this week so special, and our amazing PTA team.

A huge thank-you goes to VP of Teacher & Staff Support Chair Kate Humboldt, along with volunteers Susan Polise and Scott Christopher, for their incredible work behind the scenes. And a special shout-out to everyone who jumped in for Dadpool Friday—you helped bring the week across the finish line! 🏃‍♂️👏

We also want to give a special thank-you to OfficeMax, our valued community partner, for donating 6 teacher utility carts and a colorful rolling shelving cart that we were able to include in our raffle giveaways. We are always grateful for their continued support of our school! 💙

Our teachers and staff show up every day with heart, dedication, and championship-level commitment to our students. We hope this week reminded them just how much they’re valued.

Hembree teachers and staff—you are truly our gold medal winners! 🥇💙

As part of our commitment to student well-being, we will continue the implementation of our school safety program, Think First and Stay Safe. Information regarding the program is attached, along with instructions on how to opt out if you choose to not have your student(s) participate.

The candidacy window for parents to join Hembree's School Governance Council is now open. This is a great opportunity to make a real impact. Serving on the council allows you to help shape school priorities, support student success, and strengthen the overall learning experience.

Parents interested in serving a 2-year term (July 1, 2026–June 30, 2028) can complete the Candidate Declaration Form by March 27, with voting taking place in April!

The HSES PTA will have 4 Board openings for the 2026–2027 school year, and we wanted to share the opportunities with you!

Open positions include:

• Treasurer

• VP of Fundraising

• VP of Student & Academic Support

• VP of Teacher & Staff Support

PTA Board roles vary—some are more hands-on, while others focus on organizing and supporting committees. Attending every event isn’t required, and the board meets once a month from 7:40-8:40am.

If you’re interested in learning more or would like to put your name in for one of the roles, email VP of Volunteers Michelle Dusombre at michelle.dusombre@gmail.com. We’d love to have you involved!

One of our PTA business partners, EliteSkillz is offering upcoming camps and Parents night out!

Please see below and visit the website or QR code for details and registrations!

https://eliteskillzsportsandfitness.com/

Get ready to glow, Hembree! ✨ Our Together We Soar Silent Auction & Family Dance is happening Friday, February 27, from 6–7:30 PM at Hembree Springs Elementary, and it’s going to be a night you won't want to miss.We’re bringing back our fan-favorite DJ Ronnel Blackmon (and proud Hembree parent!) to keep the dance floor moving with all the best vibes. Families can also browse and bid on awesome items in our Silent Auction, with all proceeds supporting important PTA programs for our students and staff. Snacks and drinks will be provided, but make dinner plans before or after the event!

New this year: We’re excited to offer a lower-stimulation, sensory-friendly area hosted by Art it Out Therapy where they can create and hang out. This space is perfect for students who may need a break from the noise and lights, or who prefer a calmer environment.

• 🎧 Music
• 💃 Dancing
• 🛍️ Silent Auction
• 🧠 Sensory-Friendly Space
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Fun
• Free entry. Not a drop-off event.

Bring the whole crew and let’s glow together!

Make dinner plans easy and support our school at the same time! Join us for a Hembree Springs Spirit Night at Village Burger on Friday, February 20, from 4–8 PM.

Whether you’re dining in or grabbing takeout, just mention Hembree Springs Elementary when you order, and a portion of the proceeds will be donated back to our school to support PTA programs, events, and student initiatives.

It’s the perfect Friday night excuse to skip cooking, enjoy some great food, and give back to our school community.

📍 Village Burger
🗓 Friday, Feb. 20
⏰ 4–8 PM

Thanks for supporting Hembree — we appreciate you

The application window for the 2026-2027 Pre-Kindergarten Lottery opened on January 12th and will close at 11:59 pm on March 3rd . Individual school lotteries will be conducted March 23 – March 25 and schools will notify parents of results by the end of the day on March 27th. Please refer to the 2026-2027 Pre-K Lottery Registration timeline for an overview of the lottery and registration process.

RISE UP! is a free after school character development program for elementary aged children held in local public schools with the purpose of teaching students how to apply relevant Biblical truths for their everyday lives. RISE UP! provides a creative, fun, and memorable environment for kids to hear about God’s amazing love for them. RISE UP! is a non-school, non-pta, non-foundation sponsored club and operates as a non-profit 501(c)3 organization.”

https://riseup4christ.com/registration/#reg-form

Have you heard your child mention anything about an app called Beanstack? It was introduced in the Media Center. Beanstack is a digital reading log that students can use to log the number of minutes they are reading. They can earn badges and rewards along the way. If your child is reading at school, home, daycare, etc. they can log their minutes and help us get closer to our goal. The following is a video explaining how to use Beanstack from home. You can always find your child's lunch number/student number in infinite campus or email Mrs. Soberanis: soberanis@fultonschools.org. Happy Reading!

How To Video: https://go.screenpal.com/watch/cZQTbzVSAkv

Throughout January, students in grades 1-5 will participate in the Fit Georgia physical fitness assessment during Heath and Physical Education classes. This state-developed program evaluates key components of physical health, including healthy body ranges, aerobic capacity, flexibility, muscular strength, and muscular endurance. It aligns with the Georgia standards.

Students will complete the following assessments: the 20m PACER for aerobic capacity, push-ups for upper body strength and endurance, curl-ups for abdominal strength and endurance, sit and reach for flexibility, and height/weight measurements for healthy body range.

For more information, visit https://fitgeorgia.gadoe.org/About/

Each week the PE department will choose 4 All Star Athletes (2 students & 2 staff members). If your student enjoys hiking, swimming, baseball, softball, football, biking, etc. Please email a picture to marzetti@fultonschools.org.

Thanks,

Ms. Marzetti

We welcome lunch visitors, Monday-Thursday only. Please check in at the front desk before proceeding to the cafeteria.

Website: https://www.fultonschools.org/hembreespringses
Location: 815 Hembree Road, Roswell, GA, USA
Phone: 470-254-2902