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THE BEST

Building Excellence Successfully Together

THE BESTBuilding Excellence Successfully Together

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August 15, 2025 August 15, 2025

CALENDAR DATES

August 19 - FCS Board Meeting

August 26 - PTA Meetings and Curriculum Night, Grades K, 3, and 4

August 27 - PTA Meetings and Curriculum Night, Grades 1, 2, 5 and AU

September 1- Labor Day, No School

KEY NEWS FOR EXPLORER FAMILIES

We’ve finished week two and it was a wonderful one! Our Explorers are getting into the swing of things and have demonstrated the words of our Northwood Pledge, “Today I pledge to do my best. I will respect others. I will look at ways to grow and improve. My life makes a difference at Northwood Elementary.”


The results from the 2025 Georgia Milestones Assessment have been published and last year's 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders showcased their knowledge so wonderfully! Scores in all three grades, and in ELA, math, and science for 5th grade all showed growth. A true highlight of the results was also the GMAS Reading Indicator where 88.3% of students met or exceeded the target. These results are a true reflection of the ownership and pride of our students’ learning, partnered with the commitment to student learning felt so deeply by our entire staff. We will continue to fuel the momentum and keep growing this year!


Today marks the tenth day of student enrollment, a key date for Fulton County Schools that is tied to staffing allocations. The district looks at campus enrollment across the schools and makes necessary adjustments. It is important to know that our campus may be impacted but nothing official has been shared yet. Once we know more, additional communication will follow.


The district also recently implemented some changes and more clearly defined rules and tiered consequences in the 2025-2026 Code of Conduct. Please take time to review the updated Code of Conduct and then follow the instructions below to sign off on your review in your Infinite Campus portal. Please reach out to our Assistant Principal, Mrs. Levine, if you have any questions regarding the Code of Conduct.


Enjoy the weekend and balance the humidity outside with some time with a good book inside.


With gratitude,

Heather Q. Rucker, principal

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KINDERGARTEN EXPLORERS

Kindergarten Fun at Recess: Our kindergarteners have been busy not only learning in the classroom, but also building friendships on the playground! During recess, we’ve been practicing and following our playground rules to help everyone stay safe and have fun. It’s been wonderful to see our students making new friends—not just with classmates, but also with students from the other kindergarten classes. We’ve spotted children giving each other pushes on the swings, showing friends how to swing for the first time, encouraging one another to go down the slide, and cheering each other on while climbing ladders. They’ve been making music together on the playground instruments, as well as using their creativity to invent exciting games. Recess has been full of teamwork, kindness, and lots of smiles!

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FIRST GRADE EXPLORERS

First grade has had so much fun coming back to school. We have been working hard to practice our classroom procedures, getting to know each other, and talk about ways we can be successful students. We are so excited to have the best year in first grade!
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GET INVOLVED: NORTHWOOD CLUB APPLICATIONS

Northwood is excited to offer Explorers several morning and afternoon clubs for their enrichment and enjoyment.


Participants are expected to adhere to Northwood PBIS behavior expectations both during the school day and during club activities. We want your child's participation in school clubs to be a great experience of learning and interaction with other students. Our three Northwood expectations “Be Respectful, Be Responsible, and Be Engaged” will continue to be taught during all club activities. Club advisors will use Northwood’s Reflect and Refocus forms to teach positive behavior and “stop and think” strategies. Club participation is dependent on students following these PBIS procedures.


Below is the Northwood Club Schedule and applications with more details about deadlines and start dates.

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Northwood Club Schedule 2025-2026 .pdf
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Art Club Fall 2025 (1).pdf
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Chorus Application 2025-2026.pdf
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Eco Team 2025.pdf
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Explorervision Application 25-26.pdf
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Newspaper Club Application.pdf
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2025 Northwood 4th and 5th Grade Boys Flag Football Application.pdf
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2025 Northwood 4th and 5th Grade Girls Flag Football Application.pdf
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2025 Northwood Get Fit Morning Fitness Club - Permission Form.pdf
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AVID GOAL OF THE WEEK

Northwood is proud to be an AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) school. AVID Elementary equips students with the foundational skills and mindset needed for future success. Our staff is focused on enhancing instructional consistency, fostering a college and career readiness mindset, increasing student engagement and building organizational and study skills.


As part of this, each week Northwood will be focused on one goal as a school. Be sure to ask your child about it!


Next week’s AVID goal is: My goal is to greet someone when they say hello or talk with me.

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Northwood Student & Family Handbook 2025-26

The Northwood Family Handbook is filled with important information about school policies and procedures to help our school run smoothly and safely. We suggest that parents and students review the handbook together. If you have questions after reading, please call the school office.


We believe that a collaborative partnership between parents, community members, and business partners is a must for student success. Educating your child is a partnership—together we SHINE!

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Northwood Student Family Handbook 2025-2026..pdf
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ATTENDANCE AND DISMISSAL EMAILS

ATTENDANCE EMAIL

If your child is absent from school, please submit an email to your child’s teacher AND northwoodattendance@fultonschools.org within five days of returning to school.

Please include:

  • Child's first and last name
  • The absence date(s)
  • Reason for absence(s) *attach doctor's note if applicable


DISMISSAL EMAIL

All check-out changes must be in writing or emailed to NWESdismissal@fultonschools.org. You can send a note with your child in the morning or drop off the note during the day before 12:30 pm. No changes will be accepted through phone call.


Please include:

  • Child’s first and last name
  • The date and the specific change, i.e. bus to car rider
  • Please copy your child’s homeroom teacher on the email as well.
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PLANNED ABSENCE? USE THE PRE-APPROVED ABSENCE AND REMOTE PARTICIPATION FORMS

PARTICIPATE REMOTE LEARNING DAY REQUEST

Participate Remote Learning Day Request

Students may request up to 5 remote learning days per semester and receive attendance credit for being present through remote participation. To receive participated remote credit, students must follow the participated remote directions outlined below.


  • Notification of PR Day must be made prior to the start of the instructional day to teacher(s). Students should make all requests for remote learning days one school day prior to the requested date when possible.
  • Remote learning days cannot be requested on summative evaluation days.
  • All work must be submitted within 2 days of the return from the remote learning days.
  • The absence will be marked Unexcused in IC until this form is completed and turned in to the Assistant Principal. Once the teacher has signed that the assignment is complete and hands this form into the office, the absence will change to PR (Participate Remote).


PRE-APPROVED ABSENCE FORM

Pre-Approved Absence Request Form

Students may request Pre-Approved Absences for family events and special family circumstances. Consideration for Pre-Approved Absences will be based on the following criteria.


  • Pre-Approved Absence Request Form is received 5 days prior to planned absence.
  • Attendance review indicates student is not at-risk of chronic absenteeism. Please note that students with 17 or more absences per year fall within the chronic absenteeism attendance band. Even though they are pre-approved, these absences count towards the 17.
  • Academic review of classes shows student is on-track with work completion.


Please visit the Northwood ES website here for more details about the forms.

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STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT & DISCIPLINE HANDBOOK: PLEASE REVIEW & SIGN OFF

Each year Fulton County Schools asks families and students to read and discuss the Student Code of Conduct & Discipline Handbook; and then sign off that you have read it. Please follow the steps below to access the handbook, and then sign off electronically in your Infinite Campus Parent/Student Portal Account. At Northwood, we will follow up by August 29, to make sure all families have signed.


  • Please read and review the Code of Conduct with your student(s). Student Discipline Code of Conduct


  • Here is a (link) with instructions on how to complete the Acknowledgment of Receipt Form. All parents and students (over 10 years old) MUST sign this form found within their INFINITE CAMPUS PARENT/STUDENT PORTAL ACCOUNT. How to Sign Acknowledgment of Receipt

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STUDENT SUCCESS SKILLS

Student Success Skills are Fulton County School's standards for the skills needed to demonstrate mastery of academic and interpersonal skills needed for college, career, and life success. These six skills are taught in all schools, by all teachers, to all students.


Parents, please click the link below for more information; and to set up your Rethink Account which provides access to all the lesson content.


Student Success Skills Parent Packet 25-26SY English.pdf

Student Success Skills Parent Packet 25-26SY Spanish.pdf

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FCS TAG SCREENING & REFERRAL INFORMATION

Families that would like to review the TAG eligibility guidelines please click the PDF link below. You can also access the FCS TAG website here.

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Notification Parents Screening and Referral Process Gifted Students 2025-26.pdf
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VOLUNTEER REGISTRATION

Looking to volunteer? All volunteers will need to complete the Fulton County Schools online registration process. For more information and to begin the process, please click the link below.


https://www.fultonschools.org/community/become-a-volunteer

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Important Information for Second Grade Families

Per District policy, ALL second-grade families are required to provide the school with two proofs of residency before entering second grade. Copies can be dropped off at the front desk or emailed to our Data Clerk, Amy Dulion, at dulionaw@fultonschools.org.

CAFETERIA NEWS CAFETERIA NEWS

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CAFE SERVES FARM FRESH WATERMELON IN AUGUST

During the month of August, juicy, farm fresh watermelon served at lunch is part of Fulton County’s School Nutrition Farm to School Program. This regionally grown Watermelon is heading straight from a family farm to your lunch plate! Because the watermelon is grown close to home it helps support your regional farmers and takes less fuel to get it to your cafe!


Not only are these regionally grown watermelons good for the environment, but also, watermelon is great for your body! This farm fresh fruit is high in vitamins A, B6, & C, plus potassium and lycopene to help your body work at its best! Visit the café on Thursday, Aug 21st, to try this delicious farm fresh watermelon!

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NEW CAFETERIA PRINCIPAL ACCOUNT FUND

This year, with the new lunch system, our school community has the capability to create a Cafeteria Principal Account Fund. This account would be used to fulfill any meal costs for students that reach an account balance of zero. We often have families and extended family members that ask if or how they can pay off lunch balances or support our students in this way, now the process of doing so is easy!


Should you be interested in adding to the Cafeteria Principal Account Fund, just send a check or cash to school in an envelope to Ms. Bethany Lopez, Cafeteria Manager and notate that the funds go to the Principal Fund. Please reach out to Ms. Lopez lopezb3@fultonschools.org if you have any questions.

MySchoolBucks

Pay for school meals and fees securely online! With MySchoolBucks, parents can also view cafeteria purchases, access meal balances, register for activities, purchase event tickets, browse school items, and more.

launch myschoolbucks.com
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MENU CALENDAR

The Fulton County School Nutrition Program is dedicated to serving all students nutritious, safe and customer acceptable meals in support of academic achievement. Click the link below to see what thery are serving up today.


Nutrition.fultonschools.org/MenuCalendar

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MISSING SOMETHING?

Parents, please encourage your students to check regularly for lost items in the Lost and Found. Please mark all student belongings clearly with the child's name so that it can be identified. Unclaimed items are donated to local charities after the last school day of every month. August's date is Friday, August 29th.

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HAVE YOU JOINED THE PARENT PORTAL?

The Infinite Campus Parent Portal provides quick and easy access to information for all enrolled students in their household. Find grades, attendance, assignments, schedules, ID numbers, school announcements and more. If you haven't already joined, please do so today as Fulton County Schools is transitioning to managing everything via the portal.


For more information, access the Parent Portal Booklet for Infinite Campus here.

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YEARBOOKS ARE ON SALE NOW!

It’s time to pre-order your 2025-2026 Northwood Yearbook—celebrating our 30th anniversary with this year’s theme: REWIND! Reserve your copy now for just $36 before the price goes up on January 1st.


Click here to order: yearbookordercenter.com/job/26362 — and don’t forget, 5th grade families can purchase a dedication ad to honor their student!


Questions? Email us at Yearbook@northwoodpta.com.

COMMUNITY AND CLUSTER NEWS COMMUNITY AND CLUSTER NEWS

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ABOUT US

Heather Q. Rucker, Principal

Michelle Levine, Assistant Principal


Together We SHINE!

Email: NorthwoodAttendance@fultonschools.org
Website: https://northwood.fultonschools.org/
Location: 10200 Wooten Road, Roswell, GA, USA
Phone: 470-254-6390
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NorthwoodElementaryPTA/
Twitter: @FCS_NWES or @NWES_Principal

Heather Rucker
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