Jaguar Bytes

Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central, and South America.

The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover 30 days, beginning on September 15 and ending on October 15. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988. September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for the Latin American countries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September 18, respectively.

To commemorate Constitution Day, students read the Constitution's seven articles either through gallery walk, videos, or by reading the textbook. They have already learned about the Bill of Rights and will study the amendments in more depth later. Certain classes will be able to watch a naturalization ceremony or programs from organizations like the National Constitution Center and/or the Bill of Rights Institute on Constitution Day while completing our daily instruction.

We will follow a Special Activities Schedule on Thursday, September 18th for our Fall Pep Rally. The periods on Thursday will go in the following order: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 6, 9. Lunch will take place during 6th and the special activity will take place during 9th period.

Friday September 19th is a Digital Learning Day (DLD). You should visit your Google Classroom course page from each teacher for directions and your asynchronous learning assignment.

Please see our special edition newsletter for all info about Homecoming.

Sign Up Today on MyPaymentsPlus! Click the button below for more information.

We are proud to recognize our outstanding students who earned an academic letter during the 2024–2025 school year! Each student will be honored with their academic certificate during 8th period on the following dates:

• Monday, October 6 – Current Seniors
• Wednesday, October 8 – Current Sophomores & Juniors

We are so excited to celebrate the amazing achievements of our students! These ceremonies will take place during the school day and will highlight the hard work and accomplishments of nearly 900 Jaguars. Due to the large number of students being recognized and to align with our school processes, the celebrations will be student-only events. Thank you for your support and understanding as we honor our students.

We are so proud of our Jaguars for their hard work and commitment to academic excellence!

New crosswalks were painted last week, extending from the side lot. Students with assigned spaces in the Woodland side lot should use these crosswalks when walking from their assigned parking spaces to the sidewalk. The new crosswalks are marked in red in the picture below.

Friendly Reminder: Only packed lunches from home are permitted on campus. Unfortunately, we cannot allow food deliveries from parents or delivery services. Thank you for your understanding!

Gwinnett County Public Schools is reviewing school calendar features for the 2026–27 and 2027–28 school years, and your voice matters. Families, staff, students in grades 6–12, and community members are invited to share feedback on the features that are most important to them. The survey will run from Monday, September 8 to Wednesday, October 8.

Congratulations SKG! We have been named a PBIS Distinguished School Award by the Georgia Department of Education for the 2024–25 school year. This recognition reflects the hard work, commitment, and intentional focus that our schools have placed on building a positive school culture and climate. These schools met all of the state’s data outcome parameters, including a reduction in office discipline referrals, in-school suspension days, and out-of-school suspension days.

Congratulations and thank you for the hard work, teamwork, and dedication that made this possible. Together, we are building safe, supportive, and thriving learning environments for all students.

Congratulations to Ms. Plate and our yearbook staff who recently received a Superior Yearbook Rating from the Southern Interscholastic Press Association! The Southern Interscholastic Press Association (SIPA) is a not-for-profit organization of school media staffs, representing middle, junior and senior high schools and independent schools. SIPA’s purpose is to encourage a high degree of professionalism in scholastic journalism and mass communications in the South. Member programs are from District of Columbia and 16 states across the southeast. SIPA Offers evaluations and competition opportunities for middle, junior, and senior high journalism programs. Seckinger submitted to SIPA for the first time this year, offering our 2024-2025 yearbook for evaluation in the spring of 2025. We received an overall superior rating, the 2nd highest rating a school can receive, with several individual sections receiving the All-Southern recognition, which is the highest rating a yearbook can recieve. This is a huge accomplishment for the yearbook staff!

E-SPLOST stands for the Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax. It’s a one-cent sales tax on purchases made in Gwinnett County. E-SPLOST funds are the main source of money for school building projects in Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS). These funds help pay for important work like repairing and updating schools, constructing and renovating facilities, improving safety and security, and adding technology and learning tools for students and staff. E-SPLOST 2025 is not a tax increase, not an additional tax, and not a property tax. It is a continuation of the current sales tax. The one-cent sales tax lasts a maximum of five years or until the $1.4 billion cap is reached. See the brochures below to learn more.

• All Grayson, Maxwell, Dual Enrollment, and Work-Based Learning students have been provided with an ID card and neon green lanyard. Students should wear their lanyards with card around their neck when entering and exiting campus each day without exception. This helps our Attendance Office staff to readily identify our Grayson/Maxwell/DE/WBL students and aids them in our check in and check out process.
  

• All students must enter and exit through the Attendance Office each day. Students are not allowed to enter or exit through any other door on campus. Students must exit through the Attendance Office to leave campus. Grayson/Maxwell students that ride the bus will enter through the attendance office when they return to campus each day. Please wear your ID/lanyard as your come into the building.
  

• If any student has lost or has not yet received their ID or lanyard, they may pick these up in the main office.

Thank you for continuing to support our efforts to create a safe, secure, and welcoming environment for all at Seckinger High School. Please let me know if you have any questions. I may be reached at the contact information below. Thank you!

The window to register for AP exams is fast approaching. In light of this fact, we will be hosting two STRICTLY OPTIONAL virtual parent meetings to review the process for registering for AP exams and to answer any questions. Please see the links below to documents and tutorial videos on how to register for AP exams as well as other important information about the AP exam registration window. Questions may be directed to our AP Coordinator, Chris Bess, via email at chris.bess@gcpsk12.org or via phone at (678) 288-0834.

When?
The AP exam registration window for yearlong exams in www.MyPaymentsPlus.com will open on September 26 and will close on November 9, at 11:59 PM.

How?
We will host STRICTLY OPTIONAL virtual parent meetings on Wednesday, September 17, and Wednesday, September 24. Both meetings will start at 6:00 PM. See links below for handouts and tutorial video for how to access www.MyPaymentsPlus.com to register for AP exams. Please use the links below to access the meetings on those dates/times.

• Parent Tutorial Handout for MyPaymentsPlus
• Tutorial Video for MyPaymentsPlus for AP Exam Registration
  
• Virtual Advanced Placement FAQ Parent Meeting Link - Wednesday, September 17 @ 6:00 PM
• Meeting ID: 262 878 106 550
• Passcode: mF98Yp2H
  
• Virtual Advanced Placement FAQ Parent Meeting Link - Wednesday, September 24 @ 6:00 PM
• Meeting ID: 229 588 598 169 5
• Passcode: KL27ub2r

How much?
GCPS students enrolled in AP Courses:
After the student pays for the initial $15 registration fee, GCPS will pay for 1 exam ($99.00) per student, as long as the student is enrolled in the course for which he/she is testing. Each additional exam is $99.00. Starting this year, this also includes AP Capstone Exams, AP Seminar or AP Research.

GCPS Students who are Free/Reduced Lunch students and enrolled in AP Courses
Gwinnett County Public Schools will pay for all exams after the $15.00 registration fee.

GCPS students NOT enrolled in Gwinnett County Public Schools AP Courses:
The cost is $99.00 per exam.

Additional Resources
2026 AP Exam Dates/Times
Seckinger High School Advanced Placement Website
SKG SY 25-26 AP Catalog

GCPS Students who are Free/Reduced Lunch students and enrolled in AP Courses
Gwinnett County Public Schools will pay for all exams after the $15.00 registration fee.

REMINDER: If your child receives Free or Reduced-Priced lunch, the deadline to ensure your benefits are uninterrupted is September 15th, 2025. Please visit the link to complete a new free and reduced-priced lunch application for this school year. A new application is required every year, and only one application is needed per household. Application: https://gwinnett.nlappscloud.com. You can check your child’s eligibility or print your proof of benefits letter here: https://admin.nlappscloud.com/StatusLookup?districtId=1626

GCPS Free and Reduced Meal Applicaton Information
SKG AP Exam Registration Free & Reduced Lunch Info
SY 25-26 GCPS Online Free and Reduced Application

Any student grades 9th-11th who missed picture day for any reason may request to retake until September 26, 2025. Picture Make Up Day is October 1.

Did you know that missing just two days a month can add up to chronic absenteeism?

This September, we’re spotlighting the importance of showing up—because every day counts. Families and students are encouraged to stay engaged, reach out for support, and make attendance a priority.

If your student is struggling with attendance, please contact their counselor or administrator for assistance.

Your voice matters! Register to attend a Community Gathering this September! Each Gwinnett County Board of Education member will host a Community Gathering to help shape the candidate profile of our next superintendent.

These meetings are open to the GCPS community. Each gathering will include a brief overview of the search process and then a facilitated small-group discussion designed so that all voices are heard. Interpretation and childcare services will be available at each meeting. You can register in advance, but everyone is welcome to attend the community gatherings.

Tuesday, September 16, 2025 - Mr. Steve Gasper, District III

North Gwinnett High School Commons, 6-8 p.m.

Wednesday, September 17, 2025 - Mr. Steven B. Knudsen, District II

Mill Creek High School Media Center, 6-8 p.m.

Monday, September 22, 2025 - Ms. Rachel Ruffin Stone, District I

Grayson High School Commons, 6-8 p.m.

Tuesday, September 23, 2025 - Dr. Adrienne Simmons, District IV

Shiloh High School Commons, 6-8 p.m.

Wednesday, September 24, 2025 - Dr. Tarece Johnson-Morgan, District V

Meadowcreek High School Commons, 6-8 p.m.

Register by clicking the following link: GCPS Community Gathering Registration

PTSA Reflections Contest: Students can create entries based on the theme "I Belong!". Categories include Visual Art, Photography, Dance, Literature, Music, and Film. Entry forms and rules located in T431. All completed entries and forms are due by Oct 14 to Mr. Lasseter in T431.

The SKG Dance Team is holding a car wash on Saturday Sept. 13th from 9-1!

See attached document for the lunch menu each week.

Intensive Credit Recovery (CR) is a program for students who did not pass a class required for graduation. Students can take a condensed version of the course to earn credit towards graduation. Successfully completed CR grades will appear on a student’s transcript, but they will NOT replace the failed grade.

When are the Intensive CR sessions offered? Intensive CR session and registration dates will be published throughout the school year. Students must attend BOTH days of the face-to-face sessions. Our next session is October 17-18, 2025.

How does the program work?

• Seckinger HS utilizes Georgia Virtual School Credit Recovery courses. These are self-paced online classes with embedded tests and a final exam.

• NCAA does NOT recognize this Credit Recovery program for eligibility purposes.

• Special Education and 504 accommodations are NOT supported by the Credit Recovery program.

• CR is offered at a standard, College Preparatory class level. Resource, Co-Taught, Honors, Gifted, Accelerated, and Advanced Placement courses are not available.

• Students should bring their own food to consume on a break during the CR sessions.

What is the cost for Intensive Credit Recovery?

• $50 payable on MyPaymentsPlus.com (non-refundable)

• If a student is retaking a GAVS CR course, there is an additional $25 fee that must be paid.

What are the requirements for participation?

Students must meet attendance and behavior expectations. Students who do not meet such expectations will be withdrawn from Intensive CR. Payment will not be refunded, and students will not be rolled over to a future Intensive CR session. Students will need to re-register and re-pay to take the missed course in a future Intensive CR session.

How do I sign my child up for Intensive Credit Recovery?

1. Log in to your mypaymentsplus.com account and click on Events and School Fees.

2. Follow the prompts to pay for Seckinger HS After School Credit Recovery.

3. IF your student is taking a credit recovery course for the second time, there is an additional $25 GAVS CR Retake Fee that must be paid.

4. Your student’s counselor will review the transcript and ensure they are registered for the correct Credit Recovery course.

   
   

Direct any questions to your student’s assigned counselor via email or by calling 678-288-0791.

If you have questions prior to the Senior Parent Night please fill out the form using the button below.

Teams Link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_MGQ4ZDYzZTgtMjJiOS00ZjFiLWEyNzEtMzBhMjU1ZDFmNGI5%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%227de65cf9-3f2e-4e67-a469-965b0d085fbb%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22ccb074ac-fb35-4989-94b9-9ada73d674ac%22%7d

Link to Register: https://forms.office.com/r/cDLaexm0cA

Camp MAGIK, a healing camp for bereaved children and adolescents, is announcing its Fall 2025 camp session. These sessions will be held at the North Georgia Christian Camp October 3-5, 2025. Applications need to be postmarked or emailed no later than September 22, 2025.

Camp MAGIK is well suited to all youth ages 6 through 18 who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling or other close loved one, especially youth who have experienced a traumatic loss. Professional bereavement counselors, trained in grief and trauma, lead all counseling sessions. This is our 30th year providing this evidence-based service to the community.

There is also a retreat available for adults who want to process their own grief with other adults who are grieving – please see announcement.

Our camp sessions are FREE OF CHARGE to all participating children, adolescents and parents/guardians.

The Counseling Canopy will be hosting a College Essay Writing Workshop. You must also register by filling out this form: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040A49A5A629A4F94-58063144-college

Scholastic Images is taking Class of 2026 Yard Sign Orders!: Seniors! Don’t miss out, order your Custom Seckinger Yard Sign online now through March 15, 2026. Click the link below to place your order! https://form.jotform.com/ScholasticImages/SKGYardSign All Yard Signs will be delivered with the Cap & Gowns on Wednesday, April 1st during all lunches.

🎓 The Senior Shop is OPEN! 💙✨ Your exclusive class apparel is here — but only for one month! All orders must be placed no later than September 14th. Pick-up dates and times will be announced after the order window has closed. Scan the QR code or click https://sfnd.io/seckingerseniors to get shopping!

Congratulations to Nic Jokhan who received 5th place in the JV1 Boys Race and Isabel Hicks who received 2nd place in the JV1 Girls Race!

• Only Seckinger HS students and opposing HS students will be permitted in games without a parent. High School IDs will be checked.
  
• Students must leave school on game day and can return thirty minutes before the start.
  
• All games are available for purchase online. Visit the GoFan website here: https://gofan.co/
  
• All elementary and middle school students must be accompanied by an adult at all sporting events.

See attached for a list of clubs and when they meet. E-mail the club sponsor listed for more information. Click here to see the list of clubs or scan the QR code below.

The second Student Council meeting of the school year will be Tuesday, September 16 @2:20pm in the theater. This is also the deadline to join Student Council. Membership dues must be paid by this date.

For those 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students who received an email inviting them to join Beta Club on August 19th from Ms. Williams (emille.williams@gcpsk12.org), be sure to join Beta Club NOW! ALL members must pay dues each year via My Payments Plus.

Big news, Seckinger High School families! You can travel to Peru in Summer 2027! We’ll walk the cobblestone streets of Cusco, marvel at the Sacred Valley, ride the train to Machu Picchu, and explore the Larco Museum in Lima. Travel like this changes you—students return with more confidence, global awareness, and skills they can use for a lifetime. This informational meeting on September 16 at 6:30PM will be virtual—join us online to learn more. Register here: https://bit.ly/41ACPlm This is a non-school sponsored trip.

Click the button above for a list of dates and times for help sessions for each subject. Please read the reminders below about the SKG Help Sessions:

• Please arrive on time to ensure you receive timely assistance and do not miss any important information.

• Come prepared with questions or specific topics you'd like to review during the help sessions. This will help you get the most out of your time.

• You can attend any help session for your course—even if the teacher isn’t the one you normally have. All teachers are here to support you!

• If you need to meet with a teacher outside of the days and times listed here, please be sure to email or speak with them directly to schedule an appointment. Don’t assume they’ll be available without confirming first.

To support your child’s individual needs and interests, we offer multiple ways to connect with your family to address questions.

• Phones – Our main line is 678-288-0800.
• Email – You may email Administration with your child’s name, questions, and a preferred method of contact, email or phone. Administration Directory
• SKG Student Handbook - Check out the Student Handbook for useful information to help you navigate Seckinger HS.
• SKG Student Calendar - Follow our SKG Student Calendar to keep up with all events at Seckinger.
• Social Media - Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.