Titan Talk

Dear Titan Families,

Whether you are ready or not, the first day of school is almost here.

We have slept in, stayed up too late, watched a little too much TV, enjoyed vacations, made memories with friends and family, and embraced all the adventures that summer brings. Summer has a way of helping us slow down, but school has a way of bringing us back together.

As the summer adventures begin to wind down, the school adventures are just beginning.

For many families, that means returning to routines. It means setting alarms again, having the daily debate about getting out of bed, making sure everyone is dressed and ready for the day, and hearing the classic one-word response of "fine" when you ask how school was. Every family has its own version of what "school season" looks like, and every child experiences it differently.

That is what makes this journey so special.

Every student who walks through our doors carries a unique story, unique strengths, and unique challenges. As your principal, my goal is to help provide the very best middle school experience possible for every child. Of course, we will focus on the academic lessons our students need to learn, but some of the most important learning happens beyond the curriculum. We will help students develop friendships, navigate challenges, learn responsibility, build resilience, and discover more about who they are becoming.

Because the truth is, middle school is hard.

It is exciting, rewarding, funny, memorable, and sometimes messy. Students are changing rapidly, finding their voices, testing boundaries, building confidence, and figuring out where they belong.

If you are a 6th grade parent, welcome. This stage may feel brand new, and there will be moments that surprise you. If you are an 8th grade parent, you may be starting to see glimpses of the young person emerging from some of the sassiness and uncertainty that often shows up during the middle school years. Wherever your child is on this journey, I encourage you to lean in.

Lean in through love.

Lean in through curiosity.

Lean in with patience and grace when it is needed most.

Middle school can be difficult for students, but it can also be difficult for parents. There are days when you will wonder if you are saying the right thing, doing the right thing, or helping enough. Please know that you are not carrying that responsibility alone.

We do this together.

We do this as a village.

When we partner with one another, the load gets lighter. When families and schools work together, our children get the very best of us. They gain a community that supports them, believes in them, and challenges them to grow into the people they are meant to become.

So as we head into this final weekend before school begins, I hope you allow the excitement to build. Enjoy these last few days of summer. Make a few more memories. Take a few more pictures.

And then get ready.

Monday will be here before we know it.

As for me, I know I won't sleep a wink Sunday night. I'll be far too excited for the big day and for the opportunity to welcome our students back where they belong.

We cannot wait to see you on Monday.

With gratitude,

AJ Smith

Principal of Elkins Pointe

"It takes a village."

Please join PTSA by clicking here to sign up, renew, or donate today!

School Opens at 8:25 AM

Students can walk to class at 8:45 AM

Announcements run at 8:50 AM

Class Starts at 8:55 AM

Lunch -

6th Grade 10:58 - 11:28

7th Grade 11:42 - 12:07

8th Grade 12:36 - 1:01

***For the first week, these times will be off as we work to get everyone fed.***

School ends at 4:05 PM

No after-school activities the first week.

Buses and carpooling will run slowly in the first week. Please plan accordingly.

• 2-inch binder (* Zippered binders are NOT required, but students may use one if they wish)
• 8 dividers
• 1-2 packs of paper
• 12 pencils
• 1 pencil pouch
• 2 composition books
• 1 pack of highlighters
• 1 pack of pens
• 1 pack of index cards
• Backpack (* Students may use a backpack with a laptop compartment)

Watch for important bus route updates for the 2026-2027 school year

What’s happening:

Fulton County Schools will be updating and improving bus routes over the summer for the 2026-2027 school year.

• Bus routes may be updated for some streets and neighborhoods.
• Pick-up and drop-off times could shift significantly.
• Most bus stop locations will remain the same, but there could be some changes.

What parents should do now:

• Review your child’s bus information before the first day of school.
  
• Check the Here Comes the Bus app regularly for updates, delays, and notifications.
• Final route information will also be available in Infinite Campus – Transportation tab.

TRANSPORTATION NORTH

Serving schools in Alpharetta, Milton, Roswell, Johns Creek, Sandy Springs

410 South Main Street

Alpharetta, Georgia 30009

Phone: 470-254-2970

"Here Comes the Bus" 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!

• "Here Comes The Bus"
• NHTSA Safety Tips

Here Comes the Bus has how-to videos for using the app on a mobile device and a computer.

All 'How-To' Videos

• Creating an Account
  • Mobile
  • Desktop Computer
• Logging in on Mobile
• Add/Remove a Student
• Tracking your Student's Bus and More
• Notifications
  • Changing Settings
  • Turning On/Off Email and Push Notices
• Configure your Email/Mobile Device
  • Scan your Bus

In the morning, the carpool for ALL grades is in the front of the school on the side where the playfield and track are located.

MORNING CARPOOL DROP OFF:

• ALL GRADES is in the FRONT of the school - No exceptions!

AFTERNOON CARPOOL:

• 6th grade on the SIDE of the building in the Employee Lot
• 7th & 8th grade is in the FRONT of the school.

Carpool policy is in place for these reasons:

1. Safety of ALL Students
   
2. Speedy Carpool
   
3. Safe and Quick Bus Departure

Please help us to make arrival safe and expeditious for everyone by adhering to the policies outlined above. Thank you!

People and pets are asked to stay inside of their cars! People and pets waiting outside of vehicles results in the following:

• Slows down of the carpool lane.
  
• This adds to the overall congestion (1,100+ students exit the building at once).
  
• Crowds the concrete medium in front of the school.
  
• Obstructs the sidewalk in front of busses.
  
• Blocks parking spaces in the Hembree Lot.
  

Bringing pets or siblings outside of your car means taking additional time to put everyone back inside the car. Also, meeting your child outside the car contributes to foot traffic and creates a prolonged dismissal.

SAFETY FIRST: All of the extra people, pets, etc., distract our students from focusing on safely getting to their means of transport.

The Hembree Springs Parking lot is off-limits for Pick-Up and Drop-Off. All car riders will be redirected to the carpool pick-up area. Parents parking in the Hembree Springs Lot will be redirected to the carpool lanes.

No Student Pick Up or Drop Off in HSES Parking Lots.

• Pick-up/Drop-off will no longer be permitted in HSES Lot for safety reasons.

• Student car riders will be redirected to the carpool waiting area.
  

• The School Resource Officer will redirect cars parked in the Hembree Springs Lot to the carpool lane via Hembree Road. Cars will not be permitted onto Elkins Road from the traffic signal on Elkins Road (between Hembree Springs Lot and Elkins Pointe Bus Lanes).

• No cut thru between Hembree Springs and Elkins pointe between 3:30 - 4:30 pm. Parents should not travel through Hembree Springs into the Elkins Pointe parking lot because of safety concerns. Please travel on Elkins Road to access the carpool lanes. Traveling in the Elkins Pointe and Hembree Springs parking lots interferes with Fulton County bus arrival and departure. The first wave of Busses arrive at 3:30 pm, and the last wave of busses departs at 4:30 pm.

Join the PTSA!

It's time to join the PTSA and Team Up with the Titans! Join or renew your PTSA membership and become part of a community of parents, teachers, staff, students, and community members working together to make our school even stronger. Your membership helps fund educational programs, support teachers, recognize students, and create opportunities that benefit every child and make our school thrive! Membership is $10 per person, and additional donation levels receive incentives like reserved performance seats, special event invitations, and more. See the attached flyer for details and click here to sign up, renew, or donate today!

August 18 PTSA General Meeting - We invite all parents and guardians to join us in the Media Center for our first PTSA General Meeting on Tuesday, August 18, at 9 a.m., after “Coffee with the Admin.” This is a great opportunity to meet our Elkins Pointe administrators; connect with fellow parents and PTSA Board members; hear about school initiatives; and enjoy complimentary coffee and light snacks. Your input is valuable, and we look forward to seeing you there!

Parents are invited to come to the Elkins Pointe Middle School entrance from 8:20 to 8:55 Monday morning as we cheer on students and welcome them back for the first day of school! Show up with a smile and your Titan!!

*Wear Titan colors (blue & gold) or Titan spirit-wear!

Parent Volunteers Needed for Device Distribution Day! Our school is looking for parent volunteers to assist with Device Distribution Day on Tuesday. Volunteers will help support staff as students receive their school-issued devices and ensure the process runs smoothly and efficiently. This is a great opportunity to lend a hand, meet other families, and help our students get off to a successful start. Even a small amount of your time can make a big difference.

Interested in volunteering:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C4BACA72CAAFF2-64954391-device

Do you want to volunteer at Elkins Pointe? We have a number of new volunteer opportunities this year, and we’d love to see you at our school! Complete this quick form to let us know what you’re interested in.

The beginning of the year is THE TIME to order your YEARBOOK and get THE BEST price!

Click HERE to order your YEARBOOK for ONLY $45! The price will only go up, up, and UP!

Last year, Elkins Pointe sold out of yearbooks and families were pleading to buy them at $65. So please, purchase your yearbook early for the best price and to ensure that your child will not miss out!

📚💙 A Huge Thank You from Elkins Pointe PTSA! 💙📚 Last weekend our PTSA volunteers were hard at work stuffing welcome baskets for our amazing teachers and staff, along with filling backpacks with school supplies for students to help kick off a fantastic school year!

We’d like to give a huge THANK YOU to all of the amazing parent and student volunteers who came out to help at Monday’s Elkins Move-In Mania! The halls were full of energy as volunteers tackled everything from moving desks and tables to hanging college pennants, decorating bulletin boards, and helping get classrooms ready for an exciting new school year. After this summer’s building renovations, the extra hands and muscle made an incredible difference!

And we were absolutely thrilled to receive your school supply donations at Information Day. The generosity and support of our Titan community truly is something special!

Thank you to everyone who has donated, volunteered, and supported these efforts. Together, we’re making a difference—one backpack, one classroom, and one student at a time! 💙💛

August 11 EPMS Spirit Night at Village Burger - We know the beginning of the school year is super busy, so keep your dinner plans simple! On Tuesday, August 11, Village Burger Alpharetta will host an Elkins Pointe Spirit Night from 4 - 8 p.m. Ten percent of proceeds will go to EPMS! Be sure to mention Elkins Pointe when ordering.

All 6th and 7th graders for the 2026-2027 school year must provide two documents for residency verification. If you have a returning student in 8th grade, you will need to submit proof of residency if there has been an address change.

Visit this link to fill out the form and attach your documents:

https://form.jotform.com/smithaj3/residence-verification-form

You must attach one current Utility Proof AND one current Residency Proof from the lists below:

Utility Proof Options:

• Water Bill

• Electric Bill

**Please Note: Gas Bills CANNOT be accepted

Residency Proof Options:

• Home Mortgage Bill

• Home Sale Contract

• Current Apartment/House Lease

• Section Eight /HUD Housing Document

• Current HOA Bill

• Current Year Tax Bill or Assessment

Please be sure to fill out the form and attach both documents prior to the first day of school on August 4th.

Parents, please note this important information from the Fulton County District Health Services:

For enrollment in Fulton County Schools, students must have a Certificate of Immunization (Form 3231) that is either marked "Complete for Attendance” or has an expiration date in the future. Expired certificates will not be accepted.

We strongly encourage you not to delay in having your student vaccinated. Georgia law only allows two types of exemptions from immunization requirements: Medical exemption (must be documented by a healthcare provider) or Religious exemption (must be documented using the Department of Public Health Form 2208 – Affidavit of Religious Objection to Immunization), signed and notarized. Every student must have one of the following on file: A valid Georgia Certificate of Immunization (Form 3231) or a signed, notarized Religious Exemption - Department of Public Health (Form 2208). Parents/legal guardians are also responsible for securing and maintaining a copy of the Form 3300 – Vision, Hearing, Dental, and Nutrition Screening.

Students who do not meet Georgia's immunization requirements will be excluded from school until the required updated documentation is provided, per state law. For more information: Visit the Georgia Department of Public Health Immunization Section: http://dph.georgia.gov/immunization-section or the Fulton County Schools website: www.fultonschools.org. For specific questions, please contact your healthcare provider or local health department.

What is a Parent Canvas account? Parents and guardians can set up a Canvas account and pair it with student account(s) using a student pairing code. Once the observer is paired with their student(s) they will be able to see the courses that those student(s) are in.