Beaver Ridge ES Family Newsletter
January 2026
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Beaver Ridge Elementary School
Student Dismissal- 2:45 PM (early check-outs end at 2:00 pm)
Office Hours- 7:30 AM- 4:00 PM
Mission
The mission of Beaver Ridge Elementary School is to develop life long learners achieving academic and personal excellence.
Vision
The vision of Beaver Ridge Elementary is to be a community of empowered and productive lifelong learners.
Website: https://www.gcpsk12.org/beaverridgees
Location: 1978 Beaver Ruin Rd Norcross, GA 30071
Phone: (770) 447-6307
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeaverRidgeES
Dear Parents and Guardians,
As we welcome the new year, January is a time to celebrate growth, reflect on accomplishments, and look ahead to exciting learning opportunities for our students. We are especially proud to recognize our students’ hard work during our Fall Semester Award Ceremonies, and we appreciate your partnership as we continue to support academic progress through midyear assessments.
This month and early February are filled with opportunities for family engagement, enrichment, and memorable experiences; from hands-on learning during STEM Night, to meaningful conversations at our Title I Testing Workshop, to real-world learning during our first graders’ field trips to the Botanical Garden. We are also mindful of the importance of rest and reflection as we honor Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Upcoming Events at a Glance
Fall Semester Award Ceremonies
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January 7: Kindergarten, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade
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January 8: 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade
iReady Midyear Assessment: January 12–16
Local School Council: January 13
Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Student/Staff Holiday): January 19
Picture Day Make-Ups: January 20
STEM Night: January 27
1st Grade Field Trip to the Botanical Garden: February 3 and February 5
Digital Learning Day (DLD): February 6
Title I Testing Workshop: January 17
We look forward to sharing these moments with our students and families!
Thank you for your continued support, encouragement, and involvement in our school community. Together, we are setting the tone for a successful and inspiring start to the year.
Warm regards,
Martina Luna-Liranzo
Principal
It’s hard to believe that we’re already preparing for the midyear i-Ready® Diagnostic assessment. The midyear i-Ready® Diagnostic assessment is an important benchmark assessment for understanding your student’s growth, which is why it’s so important they try their best. These results allow us to better support them in achieving their goals for the year.
The most important thing we can do is prepare students and motivate them to put forth their best effort.
Here are a few things you can do to help support your student:
· Make sure they get a good night’s rest before taking the Diagnostic!
· Talk to your student about why the midyear i-Ready® Diagnostic assessment is important. You can say things like:
- The midyear i-Ready® Diagnostic assessment helps you find out how much progress you’ve made since the beginning of the year.
- It allows your teacher and me to celebrate your accomplishments!
- Try your best, and do not rush—but don’t spend too much time on a question either.
- Remember, questions on the assessment based on your answers to earlier questions. You will see some questions you don’t know. That is okay! Just try your best.
· Let them know you’re excited to celebrate their progress.
Thank you for your continued partnership in your student’s learning.
The Georgia School Climate Survey is a state requirement that replaces the Georgia Health Survey. The survey is aligned with Georgia’s Systems of Continuous Improvement and is designed to provide more actionable data for the district and school leaders to make schools a safer and more engaging place to learn. Additionally, our School Climate Star Rating is dependent upon the participation and completion rate of this survey.
The Family Survey is brief and centers around family engagement and communication and engagement ideas.
Please click on the link below for the family survey.
School Counselors: Nisy N.Jaya & Jessica Dugan
INTERNET SAFETY
In order to support your children online, use these practical tips to help children have safer online experiences and develop their digital resilience.
1.Talk to siblings.
It’s a good idea to talk to any older children about what they do online and what they show to younger children. Encourage them to be responsible and help keep their younger siblings safe.
2. Stay involved.
Encourage them to use their tech devices in a communal area so you can keep an eye on how they’re using the internet and also share in their enjoyment.
3. Find Parental Controls.
Install parental controls on your home broadband and any internet-enabled devices to manage internet safety. Set up a user account for your child on the main device they use and make sure other accounts in the household are password-protected so that younger children can’t access them by accident.
4. Agree on boundaries.
Be clear what your child can and can’t do online – where they can use the internet, how much time they can spend online, the sites they can visit and the type of information they can share. Agree with your child when they can have a mobile phone or tablet.
5. Search safely.
The best way to find out what your child is doing online is to talk with them about what they do and what sites they like to visit. Ask them to show you or play online games together to learn about the platforms and teach them good e-safety habits.
6. Check if it’s suitable.
The age ratings that come with games, apps, films and social networks are a good guide to whether they’re suitable for your child. For example, the minimum age limit is 13 for several social media sites, including TikTok and Instagram. However, there are some social media platforms made for children which they can use safely.
7. Play and browse together.
Learn about your pre-teen’s favorite video games, platforms and online interests by joining them. Remember, their online life is their real life — so take an interest. Give them the opportunity to show you some of their favorite things.
These practical tips are adapted from: https://www.internetmatters.org/advice/6-10/
If your lease or rental agreement is set to expire this month, it is required that you schedule an appointment to update your residency information. To prevent unenrollment, please ensure that all documentation verifying your residency is submitted promptly.
- Reach out to Ms. Vanessa Esparza Cortes at vanessa.esparzacortes@gcpsk12.org via email if your lease is nearing expiration.
- Please reach out to Ms. Nicole Montero at nicole.montero@gcpsk12.org via email if you need assistance with updating your proof of residency.
Happy New Year to our Beaver Ridge families! We are grateful for your partnership and look forward to continuing to work together in 2026 to ensure our students’ success.
Giselle Gomez & Nicole Montero
Learn How to Grow Your Own Garden!
Come learn how to create and maintain a vegetable garden and make compost at home. We will also share tips for gardening in small spaces, spring planting, and how to care for your lawn. Beginners and experts are welcome.
Tuesdays: February 3, 10 and 24
11:30 - 1:00 pm
For more information please contact our Parent Instructional Coordinator Giselle Gomez - 770-326-8093 or our Parent Outreach Liaison Nicole Montero - 770-447-2680
Sponsored by UGA Extension Gwinnett
ParentVUE Workshop
Join us to learn how to navigate ParentVUE with confidence! We will show you how to check your student’s grades and attendance, submit absences, upload doctor’s notes, and access important school information. This session is designed to help families stay informed and support student success. All parents and guardians are welcome!
Wednesday, January 21 at 11:30 am
For more information please contact Ms. Gomez at 770-326-8093 or Ms. Montero at 770-447-2680
Family Engagement Tips
Have a ton of rhyming fun
Rhyming games can help children increase their vocabularies and general knowledge. And they are easy to play anywhere! If your child is trying to learn the names of the states, for example, say, "I'm thinking of a state that rhymes with plane. What is it?" (Maine). Take turns asking the questions. Or, try making rhymes for words on your child's vocabulary list. Having fun with words develops your child's love of language.
Imagine Learning at Home!
Imagine Learning at home for your student
An interactive, personalized way to support their growth in language, literacy, and math. With engaging content that adapts to their pace, it’s the perfect tool for extra practice and boosting confidence outside the classroom.
The Plan - The Promise - One Document, Two Purposes
Plan
The Plan outlines how the school will work with families to support student success. It includes ways parents and teachers can partner together to help students improve academically, making sure everyone knows how to get involved.
Promise
The Promise is a simple agreement created by parents, students, and teachers. It’s a commitment to work together to help students meet their learning goals.
You can find The Plan…The Promise on our website, at the Parent Center, or in your ParentSquare account.
Play 2 Learn
Every Wednesday 9:30 - 11:00 am
For more information please contact Giselle Gomez at
770-326-8093
We Need You!
Are you looking for ways to partner with us? We are looking for volunteers to assist with Friday folders, bulletin board preparation, assisting in the media center, or volunteering in the Family Center? Please call 770-326-8093 or email Giselle Gomez at giselle.gomez@gcpsk12.org or Nicole Montero at nicole.montero@gcpsk12.org to sign up and/or acquire more information.
Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 7:30 AM - 4 PM
- All visitors must sign in at the welcome desk and please be prepared to provide some form of identification upon request.
Student Hours: Monday - Friday 7:45 AM - 2:45 PM
- Students should arrive between 7:45 AM- 8:10 AM
Students are considered tardy after 8:10.
Early check-outs end at 2:00 pm.
The Coquíes Still Sing
Written by Karina Nicole González Illustrated by Krystal Quiles
Elena’s life is forever changed when her home is destroyed by a hurricane. Even though they are scared and grieving, Elena and her family choose hope and Gratitude for their community and the nature around them as they rebuild their home.
Trombone Shorty
Written by Troy Andrews Illustrated by Bryan Collier
Growing up in New Orleans, Troy has music in his bones. From making instruments out of whatever he can find, to practicing every single day, to leading his own band, “Trombone Shorty” joyfully Perseveres and lives out his dream of becoming a musician.
All the Way to the Top: How One Girl's Fight for Americans with Disabilities Changed Everything
Written by Annette Bay Pimentel Illustrated by Nabi Ali
Jennifer struggles to get around with her wheelchair and sometimes isn’t allowed to attend school at all. She is determined to make a change, so she Perseveres with other activists to help pass the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Two is Better Than One
If you are concerned that speaking another language will interfere with your child’s ability to master English and/or advance in school, consider this: Multilingual students actually perform better on standardized exams in reading comprehension, vocabulary, and math, than their monolingual peers.
Overall, studies show that bilingualism enhances children’s cognitive abilities, boosts school performance, and fosters the development of bicultural adaptation—the ability to feel comfortable and thrive in two cultures. Bicultural adaptation can improve self-esteem, school involvement, and more.
In the home, speaking the heritage language has its own advantages, such as promoting family togetherness and facilitating the transmission of values and cultural norms across generations.
Staff will be on the sidewalk to supervise students exiting their cars, beginning at 7:45. Please do not allow your child to exit the car until a member of the staff is present.
• It is very important to be courteous to other drivers. Also, please drive carefully and put your phone away to ensure the safety of our students and staff. We ask that you remain in your car and not exit. By doing so, you help us to efficiently and safely complete the arrival process with minimal delays.
• Staff will wave you forward and will let you know when it is safe for your student to exit the car.
• Car rider staff will only assist your child in exiting the car if needed.
• Please make sure your child is able to unbuckle their seatbelt and open the car door independently.
• At 8:10, staff will proceed to walk back to their classrooms. If you miss the window, you must park in a Visitor Parking space in the front of the school, and come inside to check your child in.
• On rainy days, you can anticipate a longer car rider line.
• Car Riders must be picked up no later than 3:10 pm. We will walk “late” students to the front office and reach out to a parent/guardian. You will need to pick up your child from the front office and sign a “late” form.
• Please hang your 2025-2026 car rider tag in your rearview mirror.
• Please be patient with us as we are trying to locate and load car riders every afternoon. Also, please practice reciting car rider numbers with your child so that we can load them as quickly and safely as possible!
Thank you for your help and cooperation!
Gwinnett County Public Schools finds that the quickest and most effective way to resolve a concern regarding your child is by addressing it at the most direct level.Addressing Concerns at School graphic
In our school district, we care about each and every student. We also believe that open and honest communication between parents and teachers is a key to student success. Thank you for partnering with your child’s teacher and school to address any concerns.
1. Teacher - First, talk to your child’s teacher or a counselor at school for assistance. Most concerns are resolved at the classroom level.
2. Assistant Principal - If the concern is not resolved at the classroom level, please contact your child’s assistant principal.
3. Principal - If working with the AP does not adequately address the issue, please contact the school principal.
