Mustang Newsletter

Happy First Friday, Mustangs!

What an incredible first week of school! We sincerely thank our dedicated staff and wonderful families for your patience, cooperation, and continued support. This week, our students and teachers worked together to build welcoming classroom communities. Students participated in “Getting to Know Me” activities, practiced our Mustang M.U.S.T. expectations, learned classroom routines and procedures, and began engaging in instructional content.

A special thank-you goes to our PBIS coach, Mrs. Brown, for leading our first PBIS Town Hall meetings! Students reviewed behavior expectations for the classroom, bus, restrooms, playground, and cafeteria. They also learned how they can earn rewards by consistently demonstrating positive behavior. We encourage you to ask your child about our Mustang M.U.S.T. expectations and how they can demonstrate them in every setting, every day!

Let’s continue building on this great start and keep the Mustang momentum going! 💙🐴

Here's to an incredible year of learning, growth, and excellence!

💙💛 Every Student. Every Day. One Step Closer to Excellence. 💙💛

• SCHOOL HOURS are 7:40 a.m. to 2:20 p.m. Our school front office is opened 7:00 am - 3:30 pm daily.
• MORNING ARRIVAL PROCEDURES: Morning arrival for students is 7:10 am-7:40 am. Students arriving after 7:40 am will be marked tardy as the instructional daily begins promptly at 7:40 am. ** Students should not be dropped off prior to 7:10 am as we do not offer before school care.
  

• BREAKFAST/LUNCH: 📌 We’re excited to share that breakfast and lunch are completely free for all Cliftondale students this school year! 🍽 Breakfast Hours: 7:10 AM – 7:40 AM

  Please note: Students arriving after 7:40 AM may not have access to breakfast, so we encourage timely arrival to ensure they start the day with a nutritious meal.

• During school hours, students may not have restaurant food in any FCS cafeteria at any given time.
  

• DISMISSAL: Parents can check students out early anytime up until 2:00 pm.

• TRANSPORTATION CHANGES: Please keep in mind that changes in transportation must be in writing and shared with your child’s homeroom teacher and the front office staff.

• At Cliftondale, parents are permitted to escort students to class during the first five days of school only. Beginning Monday, August 10th, parents who wish to walk their child into the building should use the front office entrance, which will serve as our designated “Hug and Go” zone. Our staff members will be readily available throughout the building to support students who may need assistance transitioning to class. Thank you for partnering with us to ensure a safe, smooth, and independent start to each school day!

• Please be alert at all times! We have students exiting vehicles, parents and students crossing the street, and staff supporting students as they exit their vehicle. Please be attentive to all mustangs.
• Please do not park in the car rider loop. The car rider loop is for quick drop offs only. If you would like to exit your vehicle and escort your child into the school, please park in a nearby visitors parking space. Parents may escort students to class up until 7:35 am daily.
• For morning drop-off, parents are expected to ONLY use the car rider loop where staff members are monitoring students. Parents SHOULD NOT release students from their vehicles in the parking lot.
• Parents SHOULD NOT park along any red curb.
• Parents SHOULD NOT pass other vehicles in the car rider line or while in the school parking lot.
• Please have your student ready to exit from the passenger side of the vehicle. This means, make sure his/her bookbag and other belongs are ready and easily accessible. This speeds up the process tremendously!
• For car rider drop off & pickup, please pull all the way forward to cone #1.
• Help your student learn his/her car rider number for afternoon pickup.
• Please be patient!

AUGUST 2026

• August 3rd: First Day of School
• August 24th--28th: PBIS Spirit Week
• August 26th: Family BINGO Night
• August 27th: Westlake Cluster Annual Title I Meeting: Westlake HS at 6:00 pm

SEPTEMBER 2026

• September 4th: Mustang of the Month at 8:30 am
• September 7th: Labor Day - School Closed/No School for Students
• September 10th: Grandparents Day Brunch - (For prepaid guests only)
• September 10th: 4.5 Week Progress Report (Viewable in Parent Portal)
• September 13th: HBCU Spirit Week
• September 15th: Annual Title I Meeting at 5:30 PM
  Curriculum Night immediately following the Title I Meeting
• September 29th: PTA Meeting - Clintondale Media Center at 6:00 PM

Need help? No problem! Cliftondale has a dynamic team of leaders here to support not only our teachers, but you as a parent as well. We're committed to partnering with you to ensure every student succeeds.

All families are required to log in to the Infinite Campus Parent Portal and verify emergency contacts and household information through the “Census Update” feature. This ensures schools can contact you quickly in case of an emergency. Each student must have at least one emergency contact who is not a parent or guardian.

To read Board Policy - JGFC Emergency Release of Students and Dismissal Precautions, CLICK HERE

A special thank-you to one of our amazing parents, Ms. Williams, and the Georgia Department of Community Supervision for their generous back-to-school donation!

Cliftondale received backpacks filled with an abundance of school supplies to support our students. If your child needs a backpack or additional supplies, please contact our parent liaison, Ms. Render, by email at renderhh@fultonschools.org

We are incredibly grateful for our community’s continued generosity and support!

A special thank-you to Cliftondale United Methodist Church for its annual donation of school supplies! We truly appreciate your partnership, generosity, and continued support of our students, families, and school community.

My name is Tierra Baker (you can call me Ms. Tierra or Ms. T), and I am excited to introduce myself as your new School-Based CHRIS 180 Mental Health Therapist! I will be stepping into the role previously held by Anna Joiner, and I look forward to becoming a part of the Cliftondale family this school year.

As a school-based therapist, my goal is to support students' emotional well-being by helping them build confidence, develop healthy coping skills, strengthen relationships, and navigate life challenges in a safe and supportive environment.

If you know of a student who may benefit from therapeutic services, please submit referrals through your school's established process or connect with the appropriate school staff, who will forward the referral to me.

I am honored to join the Mustang family and look forward to partnering with students, families, teachers, and staff throughout the school year.

Although breakfast and lunch is free for all students, students may purchases extra food portions or snacks. As we are a cashless school, students should not bring cash to school for these purchases. All funds must be added online through MySchoolBucks. Parents should visit MySchoolBucks to add funds to their child's account in order for students to purchase ice cream, snacks, or extra food portions during lunch.

Thank you for your support in helping us maintain a safe and efficient cafeteria experience!
FCS School Nutrition

Our Back-to-School Newsletter contains important information to help you and your child prepare for a successful school year at Cliftondale Elementary School and within Fulton County Schools. We encourage you to review the information at your convenience and refer back to it throughout the year.

MORNING ARRIVAL

• Students may arrive between 7:10 a.m. and 7:40 a.m. Instruction begins promptly at 7:40 a.m., and students arriving after this time will be marked tardy. Please note: Students should not be dropped off before 7:10 a.m., as Cliftondale Elementary does not provide before-school supervision.

• Important: Parents may accompany their children to class during the first week of school only (August 4–8, 2025). To ensure the safety of all students and staff, all visitors must exit the building through the front office entrance no later than 7:35 a.m

BREAKFAST & LUNCH

• Breakfast and lunch are free for all Cliftondale students. Breakfast Hours: 7:10 a.m. – 7:40 a.m. Students may purchase additional food items or snacks. Families can add funds to their child's account through MySchoolBucks. Please note that outside restaurant food is not permitted in any Fulton County Schools cafeteria during the school day.

• No Outside Restaurant Food is allowed in the cafeteria. Additionally, outside restaurant food may not be delivered to students through DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub, or any other food delivery service. We warmly welcome you to join your child for lunch. When visiting, you may purchase a meal from our cafeteria or bring a lunch from home to enjoy together.

  Thank you for your cooperation in helping us maintain a safe, healthy, and consistent dining environment for all students.

SCHOOL PAYMENTS

• Cliftondale Elementary is a 100% cashless school. All payments for student activities and school-sponsored events must be made through the Fulton County Schools Online School Payments system.

SCHOOL UNIFORMS

• Cliftondale Elementary remains a uniform school. Students are encouraged to wear the school uniform daily. Our uniform consists of navy blue, yellow/gold, or white polo shirts with khaki or navy bottoms. Uniforms and school spirit wear are available through the Cliftondale online spirit store.
  

DISMISSAL PROCEDURE

• Students may be checked out early until 2:00 p.m. Parents must report to the front office with a valid photo ID. Students will only be dismissed according to their designated transportation method (bus rider, car rider, van rider, or after-school program). If your child is a car rider, you must join the car rider line. We appreciate your patience, as dismissal traffic is often heavy.

FCS BUS TRANSPORTATION

• During Open House, families may verify their child's bus assignment and bus stop information with the Transportation Department. Please remember that all bus stop times are approximate. For questions regarding bus assignments or stops, contact the Fulton County Schools Transportation Department at 470-254-6060.

SCHOOL YEAR TRANSPORTATION CHANGES

• All transportation changes must be submitted in writing to the front office using the Transportation Change Request Form by 1:30 p.m. Forms are available in the front office, and families are encouraged to keep extra copies at home for use throughout the school year. Transportation changes will only be accepted from the student's enrolling guardian.
• To help minimize classroom interruptions and ensure your child's dismissal plans are received, please do not send transportation changes directly to teachers during the instructional day (7:40 a.m.–2:20 p.m.). During this time, teachers are actively engaged in instruction and may not be able to view or respond to emails, ClassDojo messages, or other communications on time
  

STUDENT DEVICE PROTECTION PLAN

• Every Fulton County Schools student receives a school-issued device to support learning. Parents/guardians are responsible for the full replacement or repair cost of lost or damaged devices. To help avoid unexpected expenses, families are encouraged to enroll in the Optional Student Device Protection Plan, which provides affordable coverage throughout the school year.

BIRTHDAY/CLASS CELEBRATIONS

• To maintain a safe and consistent learning environment, parents, family members, and friends may not bring birthday cakes, balloons, flowers, pizza, goodie bags, gifts, or other treats to school. Classroom birthday parties and snacks are also not permitted. Families who wish to celebrate a birthday or other special occasion may purchase a Smart Celebration Package through the school cafeteria. Orders must be placed at least two (2) school days in advance. For additional information, please contact our Nutrition Manager, Ms. Curry, at curryd1@fultonschools.org.
  

• Visitors are asked to dress appropriately while on school property, in a manner that is tasteful, safe, and suitable for the school environment. Clothing or accessories that are distracting, unsafe, or contrary to maintaining a positive school atmosphere are not permitted. This includes unusual or disruptive styles, garments with inappropriate messages, and clothing—such as dresses, shorts, skirts, or tops—that is excessively short, tight, or revealing. Thank you for helping us maintain a respectful and safe environment for all students.

2026-2027 FAMILY HANDBOOK

• Cliftondale’s 2026-2027 Family Handbook provides a wealth of information for parents about Cliftondale Elementary and our school-wide expectations. We encourage all families to review it thoroughly. Printed copies will be distributed to all students during the first week of school. An electronic version will also be accessible at all times on our school’s website and included in our weekly newsletter.

Each student in Fulton County Schools (FCS) is issued a school-owned device to support learning in and out of the classroom. Parents/guardians are charged full price for damaged and lost devices. To help families avoid unexpected repair or replacement costs, we offer an Optional Student Device Protection Plan that provides affordable coverage throughout the school year.

What the plan covers:

• Accidental damage
• Loss or theft
• Device replacement or repair without disruption to your student’s learning
  

How to enroll:

You may sign up for the Optional Device Protection Plan during the Online Census Verification process in the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. For more information, including plan details and coverage terms, please download the FCS Student Device Handbook.

Distraction-Free Education Act

House Bill 340 | Fulton County Schools

In alignment with Georgia’s new Distraction-Free Education Act (House Bill 340), all Fulton County elementary and middle school students (Grades K–8) are prohibited from using or accessing personal electronic devices during the school day.

Prohibited Devices Include (but are not limited to): Cell phones, Smartwatches, Laptops, Tablets, E-readers, Smart glasses, Headphones, Any device with wireless communication, messaging, internet access, gaming, video recording, or social media capabilities. These devices must remain powered off and stored away during school hours, including classroom time, lunch, recess, and transitions. We appreciate your support in helping us create a focused, distraction-free learning environment for all students.

Cliftondale remains a uniform school, and we will continue to encourage all students to wear our school uniform Monday - Thursday.

Our uniform consists of:
Top: Navy blue, yellow/gold, or white
Bottom: Khaki or navy blue

Thank you for your continued support in helping us promote school pride and a sense of community!

RISING 2ND GRADE PARENTS: In Fulton County Schools, all students entering 2nd grade, 7th grade, and 10th grade will be required to submit proof of residency prior to the start of their enrollment in the aforementioned grades. All proofs of residency must be provided with the parent(s)/ guardian(s) name and address.

Utility Proof- Please provide a copy of your most recent utility bill

• Electric monthly statement; OR
• Water monthly statement
  
  **Gas bills are not accepted in Fulton County Schools
  
  

Residence Proof: - Please provide a copy of (1) of the items provided below:

• Home Mortgage Bill;
• Home Sale Contract;
• current Apartment/House Lease
• Section Eight/HUD Housing Document; OR
• Current HOA Bill
  
  

Parent/guardians MUST provide the (2) proofs of residency from the approved list as detailed above to our school Data Clerk, Ms. Allen at allenk3@fultonschools.org OR in-person via our front office. Please make sure to include each student's first and last names with the residency documents. Parents may review the full policy by clicking the provided link: http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/fcss/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=9TZHPX4902EC

Are you registered for your Campus Parent Portal Account? If not, REGISTER TODAY! Everything you need as a parent is contained in the parent portal. You can monitor your student's grades throughout the school year, review your child's schedule, download progress reports and report cards, update your contact information, register other students within your household, withdrawal your student and so much more! If you already have an account, you do not need to register again. New users should click the link provided to register: Parent Portal Registration

*Please note, if you DO NOT have an email address on file, you will be unable to register via the provided link. Please call the school and ask for our Data Clerk, Ms. Allen.

"Here Comes The Bus App" is a free, easy-to-use website and app that enables you to see the location of your child’s school bus on a smartphone, tablet, or personal computer. This way, you know when the bus is near your stop, so you can send your child out at just the right time. No more worrying about whether your child has missed the bus! If you have questions or concerns regarding your child's assigned bus or bus stop, please contact FCS Transportation Department at 470-254-6060 OR contact our supervisor:

Cheowana Henderson, Supervisor
Hendersonc1@fultonschools.org

Charisse Weigner, Special Needs Supervisor
weignerc@fultonschools.org

• The app will request a school code, which is 87428
• How do you access your student's student ID number? Parents may access their child's student ID number from the parent portal in Infinite Campus.
  
• If you add your child and the bus number or bus stop is incorrect, please contact our supervisor, Ms. Henderson
• If you add your child and their is no bus route displayed, please contact our supervisor, Ms. Henderson.

School safety remains a top priority for us in Fulton County Schools. We take maintaining a safe and secure learning environment very serious. I expect all Cliftondale students, parents and staff members act in a manner that keeps everyone safe. I strongly encourage all parents to review the Code of Conduct, and speak with your child about his/her behavior. When incidence of misconduct arise, consequences will be assigned based on the infraction as detailed within the Code of Conduct.

APEC is an external community partner that collaborates with Fulton County Schools to provide on-campus after-school enrichment programs for students. These programs offer additional learning opportunities, enrichment activities, and supervised care beyond the regular school day, supporting students' academic, social, and personal growth.

Parents interested in enrolling their child in the APEC after-school program should contact APEC directly using the phone number or website provided for registration, program information, and availability.

CLICK HERE to enroll your child(ren).

📧cliftondale@apecprep.com

📲470-701-4973

Principal: Mrs. Canty- cantya@fultonschools.org

Assistant Principal: Mrs. Long- longt@fultonschools.org

Curriculum Support Teacher: Yazmin Hicks- hicksz@fultonschools.org

School Counselor: Sara Porter - porters5@fultonschools.org

504 Coordinator/MTSS - Tanya Hall- hallt5@fultonschools.org

Instructional Support Teacher: Dr. Shabo- shabog@fultonschools.org

Literacy Coach: Ms. Haley - haleyb1@fultonschools.org

Literacy Coach: Ms. Johnson- johnsonkr1@fultonschools.org

Math Coach: Mrs. Everett - everettba@fultonschools.org

Parent Liaison: Ms. Render- renderhh@fultonschools.org

School Social Worker: Ms. Christian - christians2@fultonschools.org

APEC Afterschool Enrichment - cliftondale@apecprep.com