Cougar Chronicle

8/20 - Welcome Picnic

8/27 - Spirit Night at Willy's Mexicana Grill

Dear Cogburn Woods Families,

It is hard to believe we are already heading into Week 3! We are so proud of the way our students have settled into routines, built new friendships, and jumped into learning.

As instruction continues to take off, our teachers are working intentionally to meet students where they are, provide meaningful learning experiences, and support growth each day. Thank you for your continued partnership, patience, and support as we build strong routines and an even stronger school community. Please make sure you have joined your child’s Class Dojo for communication purposes.

Just a couple of reminders for morning carpool:

I am asking all parents to stay in their cars during morning carpool. Please do not park and walk your child to the carpool door as crossing the street delays our car line! Only use the parking lot if you need to come inside for any reason (clinic or front office purposes). Students need to be in their classrooms at 7:40, not walking into the building at 7:40. Students are considered tardy once the bell rings at 7:40.

We are excited for another great week at Cogburn Woods!

Go Cougars! 🐾

Patrick Wright

Principal | Cogburn Woods Elementary School

13808 Cogburn Rd, Milton, GA 30004

wrightp1@fultonschools.org | @pwright1717

Greetings Parents of Kindergarten Students!

We are excited to have your student with us in Kindergarten at Cogburn Woods Elementary School! As part of our commitment to supporting every student's success, all kindergarten students in Georgia participate in the Georgia Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills (GKIDS).

What is GKIDS?

GKIDS is a statewide assessment designed to help teachers better understand each child's strengths and learning needs. It consists of two components, the GKIDS Readiness Check and GKIDS 2.0.

GKIDS Readiness Check

The primary purpose of the GKIDS Readiness Check is to identify the foundational knowledge and skills that are critical for student success in learning. The assessment is developmentally appropriate and reflects research-based best practices for young learners. Results are used solely to guide instruction and help teachers individualize learning experiences for each student. The GKIDS Parent Report will be sent home with students the week of September 14, 2026.

GKIDS 2.0

GKIDS 2.0 is a standards-based formative assessment that takes place throughout the school year. Formative assessments are embedded in daily instruction and provide teachers with ongoing feedback about student learning. This information helps teachers adjust instruction and respond to individual student needs.

GKIDS 2.0 measures student progress in the following areas:

Academic Domains

• English Language Arts

• Mathematics

Academic Domains

• Approaches to Learning

• Personal and Social Development

Who Participates?

All students enrolled in kindergarten participate in GKIDS, including:

• General education students

• Students receiving special education services (SEC)

• English Language Learners (ELLs)

Assessment Windows

The assessment windows for the 2026-2027 school year are:

• GKIDS Readiness Check: August 3 - September 11, 2026

• GKIDS 2.0: September 14, 2026 - May 7, 2027

Will GKIDS Be Recorded as a Grade?

The GKIDS Readiness Check is not entered into the grade book and is used only to help teachers plan instruction. Some GKIDS 2.0 classroom activities may be included in the grade book as part of regular classroom instruction and assessment.

Families who would like to learn more about GKIDS may visit the following Georgia Department of Education resources:

• GKIDS Readiness Check

• GKIDS 2.0 Parent Website

Thank you for your partnership in supporting your child's learning and development. If you have questions about GKIDS, please contact your child's teacher. We look forward to a successful year of growth and achievement for every kindergarten student!

Sunny Wright, Assistant Principal

Cogburn Woods Elementary School

470-254-9171

WrightSunny@fultonschools.org

https://cogburnwoods.my.canva.site/cwc/

To make our Parent Handbook more accessible, we are moving to a digital Parent Handbook this school year. A copy of the handbook is attached to this newsletter for your convenience, and it will also be available on the Cogburn Woods website throughout the year. We encourage all families to review the handbook, as it contains important information about school policies, procedures, expectations, attendance, and communication. Keeping the handbook digital allows families to easily access the most up-to-date information whenever it is needed. Thank you for taking the time to familiarize yourself with these important resources as we begin a successful school year together!

Come kick off the new school year with your CWE family! PTO is hosting a Welcome Back Picnic on Thursday, August 20th from 5-7pm on the CWE Playground.

We'll have free hot dogs and chips courtesy of PTO, plus some of our amazing community partners on site for entertainment, including School of Rock bringing the tunes. 🎶 The Aisles Ice Cream Truck will also be there selling treats!

This event is open to all CWE families, new and old! Come connect with fellow families and celebrate the start of a great year together. No RSVP needed, just show up and join the fun!

We can't wait to see you there! 💚

Our PTO Membership Drive is happening now through August 31!

Every PTO membership helps support our students, teachers, staff, and school community. Plus, your child's class could earn a sweet reward!

🏆 The class with the most PTO member families in each grade will win a Recess Ice Cream Party!

Don't wait, sign up today and help your class climb to the top before the deadline.

Membership costs:

• $40 for a Family Membership
• $20 for a Faculty Membership

Join here: zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/cogburn-woods-elementary-pto-2026-2027-membership

Join us for our first PTO General Meeting of the school year on Thursday, September 2 at 9:30 AM in the CWE Cafeteria! We'll share what's ahead for the year, upcoming events, ways to get involved, and vote on the PTO budget for the 2026-2027 school year.

All CWE families are welcome! Come connect with other parents and learn how we're working together to support our students, teachers, and school community.

We hope to see you there!

This new school year brings our biggest goal yet: the 15 Million Minutes Reading Challenge! This challenge is all about celebrating your reading freedom. No matter how you like to read - whether you're turning physical pages, swiping a screen, or listening with your ears - every single minute counts toward our countywide goal. Start reading and logging today, earn badges all year long, and help us hit 15 million minutes together!

It's a brand-new school year and a brand-new challenge. Set your goals, track your minutes, and earn badges as you go. Start logging in Beanstack today!

The homeroom with the most minutes logged this month will earn a visit from, Gladys , our school library goose for the month. The class will also get to choose her next outfit.

How to log into Beanstack:

1. Go to classlink https://launchpad.classlink.com/fcs

a. Username: FCS student id #

b. password: birthday (MMDDYYYY)

(reach out to your teacher for this info)

2. Click on elibrary

3. Click on Beanstack

4. Click on "THE NAME OF CHALLENGE"

5. Start logging your minutes...

OR Download the Beanstack App to log your minutes

Each year Fulton County Schools asks that parents complete the Parent & Student Code of Conduct Receipt Acknowledgment. This form is found within your Infinite Campus Parent/Student Portal Account. Attached please find directions on how to access this form. To access the Fulton County Schools 2026-2027 Student Code of Conduct & Discipline Handbook, please visit the following link:

Fulton County Schools Student Code of Conduct & Discipline Handbook - Fulton County School System

Kid Chess has been Atlanta’s most popular after-school enrichment club since 1998. The program meets at Cogburn Woods on Thursdays. We send multiple coaches (on average of 5) to keep a uniquely low student teacher ratio, which guarantees level appropriate instruction from true-beginners to advanced players. For details or to register, please call: (770) 575-5802 or go to Kidchess.com.

13080 Cogburn Rd.

Milton, GA 30004

Phone: 470-254-2845

Fax: 470-254-2854