THE NORCROSS ELEMENTARY EAGLE

Dear Families,

What an incredible start to the school year! Our students have done a fantastic job adjusting to being back in school, and they are already on their way to growing, learning, and LEADING. I’m truly excited about the progress they will make this year.

To stay informed about all the exciting things happening at Norcross Elementary, please take a moment to review the information in this newsletter.

I’d also like to personally invite you to attend Parent University on Friday, September 19 from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM. Please mark your calendars—we’d love to see you there!

We look forward to welcoming you into our building to learn, connect, and volunteer alongside us.

Thank you for all that YOU do to support our school community!

#NorcrossStrong

Sincerely,

Dr. Kassia Sutton
Proud Principal of Norcross Elementary

Congratulations to our Teacher of the Year Finalists:

Winner: Mrs. Aparna Pathak

1st Runner-up: Mr. Jamal Liverpool

2nd Runner-up: Mrs. Nicole Hopkins

Congratulations to our Classified Staff Member of the Year

Winner: Mrs. Sandy Head

1st Runner- up: Ms. Eduardina Checo

2nd Runner-up: Mrs. Melissa Owen

Families, thank you for joining us for Curriculum Night on Thursday, August 28, 2025. Below are a few photos from the evening.

Check out the amazing chairs our Eagles are painting.

Please read and review our student handbook.

September 1: Labor Day No School

September 3: Fall Picture Day

September 10: Grandparent's Day Luncheon for Grades 1,3,5 & ASD

September 11: Grandparent's Day Luncheon for Grades K,2, & 4

September 12: Local School Council Meeting at 7:30am/Progress Reports

September 12: Drive Thru Pantry at Paul Duke High School

September 19: Digital Learning Day

September 19: Parent University at 10:30am

September 19: Annual Title 1 Meeting at 11:30am

September 23: Boys Scouts Meeting at 5:30pm

September 25: Student of the Month at 2:30pm

September 26: Color Run during Specials (see below for flyer)

Teachers will send home work, assignments and resources for the day.

Meals will be provided via bus distribution for all scheduled SY26 Digital Learning Days.

There are four system-wide DLDs scheduled for this school year:

• Friday. September 19th
• Tuesday, November 4th
• Friday, February 6th
• Friday, March 13th

Join Us for a Special Learning Event!
We invite you to join your child's grade level teachers for a morning of learning designed especially for you on Friday, September 19, from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM.

Immediately following this session, we will hold our Annual Title I Meeting at 11:30 AM, and we would love for you to stay and participate.

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Please join us for our Local School Council Meeting on Friday, September 12 at 7:30am in the Media Center.

Below is a link to learn more about the purpose of the local school council.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1o0ss24hVtveiv--DPoKph7UsqN5Vc_m2/view?usp=sharing

October 8: Fall Picture Retakes

October 9 - 13: Fall Break

October 11: Chairs for Charity

October 17: Freddie the Falcon visits

October 22: Early Release Day at 12:50pm

October 23: Early Release Day at 12:50pm

October 24: Monster Math Night/Drive Thru Pantry at Paul Duke High School

October 27 - 31: Red Ribbon Week

October 31: Book Character Dress Up Day/ Student of the Month

Andrea Eberhart and Venice Hinds are our instructional coaches. Their role includes supporting teachers and students.

Below open the attachment for news from the Parent Center.

Use the link to access the Media Center News.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rnXDSI8MLENjXvVUaAie2YHR3m_4WIde/view?usp=sharing

Improving student academic and behavior outcomes is about ensuring all students have access to the most effective and accurately implemented instructional and behavioral practices and interventions possible. Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) provide an operational framework for achieving these outcomes.

Below is a picture our PBIS Matrix

Have a great summer!

PBIS Information for Families
https://www.pbis.org/family

Positive Behavior
https://www.parentcenterhub.org/pbs-resources/

Dr. Fain is our PBIS Coach.

christi.fain@gcpsk12.org

DEVICE EXPECTATIONS

• Use 2 hands when carrying device from one location to another

• Do not grab device by the screen

• Keep food, drinks, or other liquids away from the device

• Keep devices on a hard, solid surface like a table or desk

• Place device gently on table or desk

• Keep device within the residence of the student

• The device should not be taken on trips or travel destinations

• Nothing should be placed on top of the device

• When closing device, nothing should be between the screen and keyboard

• Store device in a clean bag when not in use

• Do not place stickers on your device.

CHARGER EXPECTATIONS

• Plug the device into a nearby outlet so that no one will trip over the cord

• When not charging the laptop, keep the charger stored in a secure location

• Chromebook is brought to school each day fully charged.

MyPaymentPlus Offers Free 24/7 Access To

• Student cafeteria balances and purchase history
• Prepayments for breakfast/lunch, with auto-pay capability
• Meet Your Teacher Day (Open House) documents
• Other fees and activities such as yearbooks, spirit wear, field trips and more!

Using your MPP Account

https://instruction.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/content/enforced/2323043-Federal_Programs_Communication_Center/MyPaymentsPlus/MPP.setup.HOW_TO.mp4?ou=2323043

Creating an Account - Spanish

https://instruction.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/content/enforced/2323043-Federal_Programs_Communication_Center/MyPaymentsPlus/Spanish%20version%20(detailed).pdf?_&d2lSessionVal=j8rIvA3AnIlKoIU3fgtWbW8eI&ou=2323043

A Parental Guide: Reviewing and Acknowledging Orientation Agreements & Title I Documents

https://instruction.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/content/enforced/2323043-Federal_Programs_Communication_Center/MyPaymentsPlus/MPP%20How%20to%20review%20report.mp4?_&d2lSessionVal=j8rIvA3AnIlKoIU3fgtWbW8eI&ou=2323043

For customer service & support on your MyPaymentsPlus account, please call 1-877-237-0946

Up-to-date Safety Equipment and Technology

Our school uses a variety of technological tools to reinforce security. These are some—but not all—of the tools in place:

• Cameras — interior and exterior
• VMS and Raptor — visitor management systems that control access doors and screen adults against National Sex Offenders Registry. Every visitor is required to show identification.
• Vestibules — Double glass door entry with bullet-resistant glass film at designated single point of entry for the school (coming soon).
• New for the 2025-2026 School Year : We have a School Safety Officer.

1. If your child has a medical alert/medical health management plan, please contact Lilana Martinez as soon as possible, and complete and return applicable forms to her in a timely manner.

2. We want our students to have a full day of learning, but sometimes illness(es) may interrupt their day. For the safety and health of your child and others, if your child gets ill at school and needs to go home, please do so promptly. If you’re unable to pick them up, please be sure that we have a current list of emergency contact(s) that we may reach out to.

We will continue our focus on the Whole Child through MTSS by using Supportive Community and Academic Press (see picture below). An example of Supportive Community is our Positive Behaviors Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Program and an example of Academic Press is the implementation of the EL Education literacy pilot for Language Arts.

MTSS is a system or framework that integrates assessment and intervention within a school-wide, multi prevention system to maximize student achievement and reduce behavioral problems. It promotes systems alignment to increase efficacy and effectiveness of resources. (Adopted for National Center on Intensive Intervention).

Implementation of MTSS is one of our LSPI goals.

A student who leaves school before the official ending time must be signed out in the office by his/her parent or guardian. Parents must report to the receptionist, not the classroom. The receptionist will call the room for the child after a photo ID (government issued) has been shown. Please remember that each time a child checks out early, we must call the classroom and disrupt instruction for everyone. Children will be called to the Front Office where they will be released to the parent/guardian. The office will not check out students after 2:30 P.M. (11:30 A.M. on early release days). Please do not ask school personnel to make exceptions.

A child will not be permitted to leave the school in the custody of any person other than the child's parent unless that person is listed as a parent/guardian or emergency contact in the school’s database. As telephone numbers and situations change, please make sure you report this information to the school so we have the most accurate information.

Arrival

• Doors open at 8:20am
• Classes begin at 8:50am

Dismissal

• The Day ends at 3:20pm

LOCAL SCHOOL COUNCIL (LSC)

The purpose of the LSC is:

• To help the local board of education develop and nurture participation
• To bring parents and the community together with teachers and school administrators to create a better understanding of and mutual respect for each other’s concerns
• To share ideas for school improvement

PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION (PTA)

We are in need of a PTA board to support our school, our students, and our faculty. The board consists of a president/co-president, vice president, treasurer and secretary. Please contact me at kassia.morris.sutton@gcpsk12.org if you are interested.

https://www.pta.org/home/About-National-Parent-Teacher-Association/Mission-Values

Volunteer

Please partner with us and commit to volunteering at our school. Volunteer activities may include: working in the media center, laminating materials, counting out documents, cutting, and filing. Please contact Eduardina Checo (eduardina.checo@gcpsk12.org) for volunteer opportunities.

September 2025 Family Newsletter:https://secure.smore.com/n/g4wrm

Principal – Dr. Kassia Sutton (kassia.morris.sutton@gcpsk12.org)

Assistant Principal – Gr. 4, 5 – Mrs. Contacia Cross (contacia.cross@gcpsk12.org)

Assistant Principal - Gr. 1, 2, 3 - Dr. Katrina Bilal (katrina.p.bilal@gcpsk12.org)

Assistant Principal - K, Special Education - Dr. LaTonya Parker (latonya.parker@gcps12.org)

Counselor - Gr. K/2/4 - Ms. Shelby Gonzalez (shelby.gonzalez@gcpsk12.org)

Counselor Gr. 1/3/5 - Mrs. Amy Crapo (amy.crapo.@gcps12.org)

Location: 150 Hunt Street, Norcross, GA, USA
Phone: 770-448-2188
Facebook: facebook.com/NorcrossElementarySchool-GCPS