09.29.26 Cub Connection

Join Ivy Creek Counselors for Coffee & Conversation in the Leaders in Training Room on September 30th from 9:00-10:30 AM.

Topics will Include:
*PTA/Volunteer Events
*Everyday Counts-The Importance of Attendance
*Academic Knowledge & Skills
*Understanding AI at Ivy Creek

RSVP using the QR code above or with this RSVP link.

We are so excited to once again be participating in the reflections program! This year's theme is "What My Culture Means to Me". All submissions should be created specifically for the reflections program and be inspired by the theme.

Reflections Art Program entries will be due September 30th! The online submission form can be completed any time between now and September 30th. Physical submissions for photography, literature, and visual arts will be accepted September 28-30th.

Visual Arts, Photography, and Literature submissions are displayed anonymously in the Media Center and all submissions are judged on Interpretation of Theme, Creativity, and Technical Skill. First and Second place winners in each category and age group (K-2 and 3-5) will be forwarded on to the area contest, with a potential to continue to state and nationals! Last year, we had three students qualify for State and one State age-level winner.

We are so excited to see the artwork our students will create this year for Reflections!

Rules for each category can be found here - tinyurl.com/ICESReflectionsRules

Online submissions can be completed here - tinyurl.com/ICESReflectionsSubmit

Feel free to reach out to ivycreekreflections@gmail.com with any questions!

We hope your family will consider participating in the Food Fight this year! The need in our community is greater than ever. The Pantry at Hamilton Mill assists approximately 2,500 families each month thanks to the generosity of donors and volunteers.

The Food Fight is a wonderful way for our students to learn about the spirit of giving back to their community while having a friendly competition with their classmates. The Seckinger and Collins Hill Cluster schools are competing for the Food Fight trophy, which will be awarded to the cluster that collects the largest donation. The winner will be announced at the football game on Friday, October 2nd.

Ivy Creek is hoping to collect 8,000 items, which will feed over 150 families for one week! The highest contributing class in each grade level will receive a Pizza and Popsicle Party!

There are several options to lend your support:

• Have your child bring canned food items to their homeroom teacher.

• Drop items off at school.

• Donate money online (https://www.successfund.com/fnff26) $1=1 can and will be added to classroom totals. (SKG Student Council will use the funds to purchase specific food items for the Pantry.)

• Share the donation link with friends and family! Anyone can contribute on behalf of your child's class!

• Volunteer to help organize our donations: Food Fight Volunteers

Thank you for supporting this worthwhile cause!

Come join our school for a spirit night onThursday, October 8th @ 5pm! Swing by to grab and easy dinner, let the kids play and support your school Be sure to mention Ivy Creek when you check out. Hope to see you there!

Mark your calendars for Thursday, October 22nd as we celebrate our diverse school community! Join us for food trucks, cultural performances, arts & crafts, a fashion show, henna, and more.

Want to participate? We are looking for families who would love to share their heritage! Scan the QR code on the attached flyer or visit the Multicultural Night Registration Form to sign up to host a booth, share traditional food, perform, or contribute. All families are welcome!

Contact Laura.Spencer@gcpsk12.org if you have questions!

It's time to schedule your Parent-Teacher Conferences on October 28th and 29th. Ivy Creek Elementary is offering a convenient online scheduling system to book a time to discuss your child's progress. See directions below.

The UGA Redcoat Band has planned this special event for students on October 25th. Check out the details on the Regular Registration link. Registration closes Oct 4th!

• Elementary School Session: 9:45am-12pm

• Includes a custom DRCBD t-shirt, music-therapy inspired games, a live reading of Dreaming of the Redcoat Band Day by author Richard Gnann (books available for purchase day-of!), paper shako (Redcoat Band uniform hats) craft, and a snack

• Middle/High School Session: 12:45-3pm

• Includes a custom DRCBD t-shirt, a performance from our Derbies pep band, sectionals and a mock Dawg Walk, Hairy Dawg appearance, official Redcoat Band uniform try-ons, and a snack

If you attend this event, be sure to look for Mrs. Stewart's daughter, and former Ivy Creek student, Rebecca Stewart!

The Book Mobile 5K will be held on the last Saturday in October which happens to be Halloween this year! We would love to have lots of Ivy Creek families participate!

Visit the Book Mobile 5K Registration page to sign up. Register for the Fun Run ($18) or the 5K ($30.) You'll receive a t-shirt (that glows in the dark!) and all runners 18 and under will choose a FREE book from the Bookmobile on the day of the event!

Keep in mind that the Book Mobile will be handing out books at Ivy Creek at an event in May where every student will receive a FREE book! It's one of our favorite events of the year!

If you aren't able to participate in the event, but would like to make a donation to the program, check out the "donate" option on the registration page linked above.

We are excited to invite you to join your student for lunch in the cafeteria during their designated lunch schedule! Having family members visit for lunch is a special experience for our students, and we look forward to welcoming you.

To ensure a smooth, enjoyable, and secure environment for everyone, please keep the following guidelines in mind:

• Scheduling: Keep in mind that classes rotate weeks to welcome visitors for lunch. Remember to check with your child's teacher to ensure it is their class's week to have visitors on the day you want to visit.

• Check-In & Security: All visitors must check in at the main office upon arrival. Please bring a valid driver’s license or state ID for scanning and step through our Evolv weapons detection system. Your visitor pass must remain visible at all times while on campus.

• Limited Seating: We host 10 to 12 classes in the cafeteria during each lunch block. Because space is extremely limited, we kindly ask that only one guest per student attends.

• Designated Seating: Visitors and their students (only) will eat together at the designated Visitor Table.

• Arrival and Departure: Please meet your student directly in the cafeteria once you have checked in and depart from the cafeteria when their lunch period ends.

• Safety First: For the safety and security of all students and staff, visitors are not permitted to walk students back to their classrooms after lunch.

Thank you for your partnership in keeping our school safe, organized, and welcoming for every student. We appreciate your cooperation!

It's time for the school science fair! It's open to all grade levels. If you are interested in participating, please see Mrs. Beard in STEM.

Yearbooks and 5th Grade Recognition Ads are on sale now! Visit https://www.treering.com and use Passcode: 1016941015053998 to order before the April 15th deadline.

You may personalize your child's yearbook by designing pages that will be printed only in the yearbook you order for your child. Each order comes with two FREE custom pages and you have the option to purchase additional two-page spreads to further customize your book.

5th Grade families may also purchase Recognition Ads to celebrate their 5th Grade child's accomplishments. These are sold separately on the same site and will be printed in ALL yearbooks.

If you have questions, please email our Yearbook Committee at ivycreekyearbook3@gmail.com.

Gwinnett County Public Schools offers a Birth to Five program for you and your child at elementary schools across the county! Class takes place for 90 minutes each week from August -May. For more information about the Play 2 Learn program, please email Pam Stewart at pam.stewart@gcpsk12.org

Food Fight Volunteers: Volunteer to help collect and organize our Food Fight donations!

If you would like to receive volunteer emails from us during the 2026-2027 school year, please fill out the 2026-2027 Volunteer Email Form. We'll email you periodically to let you know how you can help the school, and you can then sign up for the specific things that work with your schedule. We start a new list each year, so please sign up again - even if you've been on the list for years!

Show your school spirit and join us every Friday for Spirit Wear Friday! Rock your favorite school gear, cheer on our school community, and let’s fill the halls with school pride! Whether you’re a longtime spirit-wear fan or looking for something new, our Spirit Wear Store has lots of new products and fun designs to choose from. Grab your gear, wear it proudly, and let’s make every Friday a celebration of our school!

Please visit our online store for 2026-2027 to see the latest designs and order. Spiritwear USA

Make sure you write in your child's name and teacher and select Pickup so it can be delivered to the school or you can pay to have it shipped directly to your home.

We hope you'll get involved with our PTA this year! Please visit the PTA website at www.ICESPTA.cheddarup.com. Join us as a PTA member for only $10! It helps support us and the school.

Don't Forget to Order your Class Shirts by September 9th! This is the shirt that your student will wear for all class events like field trips and field days. You'll also want to order your Spirit Wear to cheer on and support our community and show school pride!

Once a month we have Spirit Nights around the community to help support our school as well. Come out and join us in the fun! If you'd like to get involved further, we always have a need for volunteers for different events throughout the year!

Follow us on our social media @Ivy Creek Elementary PTA to stay connected and keep up to date with all the current news and events as we post them.

Please feel free to email us at IVYCREEKPTA@gmail.com with any questions you may have for the year! We look forward to working with you!

Visit the Hamilton Mill Branch of the Gwinnett County Public Library for fun programming in the month of October! Visit www.gwinnettpl.org or contact 770-978-5154 for more information.

Elementary school students are invited to participate in the SKG Trunk or Treat event on October 22nd, 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM in the Seckinger High School parking lot!

Seckinger is hosting a golf tournament at TPC Sugarloaf in November! If you are interested, visit https://skg-golf.perfectgolfevent.com/ to register!

A goal of this tournament is to raise funds to create an on-campus golf area that serves as a hands-on learning space, blending multiple subjects into a real-world project. This interactive lab would allow students to apply classroom knowledge to design, build, and maintain a functional, environmentally responsible facility. In addition, the space would serve as an inclusive learning center for elementary, middle, and high school students who may not otherwise have access to the game, providing opportunities to develop skills, confidence, and a lasting interest in golf.

We invite local businesses to partner with us in bringing this vision to life. If your organization would like to get involved through sponsorship or resource sharing, we would love to discuss how we can work together. Please contact Craig Begalle at craig.begalle@gcpsk12.org with any questions or inquiries.

If you would like to attend a Seckinger Football game this season, visit GoFan.co to purchase tickets!

Students ages 5 and Up are invited to participate in Winter Basketball with the SKG Athletic Association. Visit skgaa.sportngin.com for more information!

Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) is inviting parents and community members to apply for the district’s Instructional Resources Review Committee (IRRC), a group charged with evaluating digital instructional resources.

Feedback from the IRRC and teacher reviews will be considered in the selection of resources to pilot in the district. This year’s IRRC will convene on Dec. 3 at the J. Alvin Wilbanks Instructional Support Center (ISC) located at 437 Old Peachtree Road, NW, in Suwanee. Instructional resources will be reviewed for courses in the areas of French, German and Spanish.

• Learn more about the IRRC and complete the application online.
• The deadline to submit completed applications is Oct. 25.

Address: 3443 Ridge Rd, Buford, GA 30519

Phone: (678) 714-3655

Website: https://www.gcpsk12.org/IvyCreekES