Mustang Newsletter

Due to the potential for inclement weather in the coming days, we want to be proactive in preparing for the possibility of remote learning next week. Our goal is to ensure that students, families, and staff experience as much consistency and clarity as possible should remote learning become necessary. At Cliftondale, all students have been provided with home learning lessons for up to two days next week in the event that Fulton County Schools switches to a remote learning day.

These assignments have been designed to:

• Require no technology

• Require minimal preparation

• Provide flexibility for families

Given the uncertain weather conditions, we encourage everyone to prioritize safety. Completed choice boards may be submitted to teachers at any time after students return to school.

If you have any questions regarding the assignments, please reach out to your child’s teacher via email or ClassDojo.

• SEMESTER 1 AWARDS DAY: Please join us for our first semester awards day programs as we celebrate the hard work of our students. We will honor students for academic achievements, exceptional character, growth, attendance, and more.
• 
  **WEATHER CONCERNS: Please note that weather may impact our ability to host both programs. As a result, we will reschedule them for the following week. This is only if the weather impacts school for Tuesday and/or Wednesday.
  
  February 3rd- Kindergarten, Fifth Grade, and Third Grade
  February 4th- Second Grade, First Grade, and Fourth Grade
  
  As weather conditions can be unpredictable, we will continue to monitor the situation and keep you informed of any changes as they occur.

• TRAFFIC CONCERNS: Please be mindful that during both drop off and pick up, families should refrain from pulling around other cars. This will ensure safety for our students and families during this time. Parents should use the appropriately spaces to park and follow our traffic markers at all times.
  
  Please remember our Car Rider Etiquettes:

• 
  

  • 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.
  • Please have your student ready to exit the vehicle. This means, make sure his/her bookbag and other belongs are ready and easily accessible. This speeds up the process tremendously!
  • Pull all the way forward.
  • Help your student learn his/her car rider number.
  • Please be patient!
    
    

Cliftondale Families,

We are excited to prepare for our Black History Month Showcase happening on February 19, 2026 at 6:00 PM! Students, families, and school clubs are invited to participate and share their talents as we celebrate African American history, culture, and excellence.

🌟 Performance Types May Include:

• Song
• Dance
• Spoken Word
• Dramatic Presentation
• Other creative expressions honoring Black history

📌 Performance Guidelines:
To ensure a positive, respectful, and school‑appropriate program:

• Attire must follow school dress expectations
• All lyrics, messaging, and content must be free of profanity, vulgarity, or suggestive themes
• Performances should be uplifting, respectful, and suitable for all ages

📝 Want to Participate?
Sign up using the link on the flyer or via: https://bit.ly/26BHShowcase
Deadline: January 30, 2026

Join Cliftondale Elementary School for a special afternoon out in College Park on

February 26th at 7pm to cheer on the College Park Skyhawks who are matched

up against the Raptors 905.

It is time for the election of new members to our School Governance Council. The School Governance Council has both parent/guardian and teacher positions open for election. Parents or guardians of students who will be attending our school during both the 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 school years are eligible to run for the parent/guardian SGC positions.

Our School Governance Council (SGC) plays a critical role in the success of our school. The SGC works with school leadership and the community to help determine the long-term direction of the school, design innovative solutions to increase academic achievement, and serve as school ambassadors to the local community. Specifically, the School Governance Council has the following powers:
• Create, approve, and monitor the implementation of the school strategic plan
• Manage the Request for Flexibility process
• Approve the annual budget recommendations and related allocations
• Participate in the hiring of the principal, in the case of a vacancy
• Provide annual feedback to the Area Superintendent on principal performance

If you are interested in running for a position on the School Governance Council, please complete and submit a Parent/Guardian Candidate Declaration Form. Forms will be available on Monday, February 2nd. We are very excited about the work and value-add of our SGC. We hope that you will consider running for a position! The Candidate Declaration period ends March 27th and voting will take place April 22 – April 29. In the meantime, if you would like more information about the charter system or SGC elections visit our school’s website or our Charter System Overview.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Canty

Dear Cliftondale Elementary Families,

Get ready - our Kids Heart Challenge is launching soon, and we’d love for your family to be part of it! This exciting program not only supports heart health but also teaches students valuable lessons in kindness, wellness, and community.

Here’s how to get started:

👉 Sign up today by downloading the AHA Schools app on your iPhone or Android

🔍 Search for our school or use this direct link: http://www2.heart.org/goto/CliftondaleElem

Once you’re signed up:

• 💖 Make a personal donation to kick off your child’s fundraising journey.
• 📣 Spread the word—send a quick message to friends and family to ask for their support.
• 🦸 Complete Finn’s Mission to learn lifesaving skills and become a Heart Hero!

Why it matters: Students will explore heart-healthy habits and build strong character traits. Plus, your whole family will learn life-saving skills like Hands-Only CPR and how to recognize the warning signs of a stroke. By participating, you are helping kids born with special hearts, like our friend Ridge - learn more about his story in this video.

In each grade level, the classroom with the most students registered will earn Choice Day in PE! Participating students will also get to attend a Jump Rope Party!

Let’s come together to make a lasting impact—one heartbeat at a time!

Contact Coach Allen if your have questions at allenm15@fultonschools.org

The Fashion Club is hosting Friendship Day Pictures on February 13th. This is a great way for students to celebrate their friendships with a fun photo session.

Cost: $12 per package (two students per photo)
Includes: 4 printed 4x6 photos. Pictures will be distributed on 2/18.

Parents may contact Mrs. Hill if you have questions at hilla5@fultonschools.org

JANUARY 2026

• January 5th: Teacher Workday - January Staff Meeting
• January 6th: Students Return - Semester II Begins
• January 10th: FCS Spelling Bee - North Springs HS
• January 12th-March 3rd: 2026-2027 PK Lottery Registration 📌
• January 16th: Semester I Grades Posted in Parent Portal
• January 19th: MLK Day - NO SCHOOL
• January 27th-28th: Semester I Awards
  January 28th: 1st, 2nd, and 4th grades
  January 27th: Kindergarten, 3rd, and 5th grades

• January 12th-March 3rd: 2026-2027 PK Lottery Registration 📌
• February 6th: MOTM
• February 13th: Friendship Parties
• February 13th: Friendship Picture Day
• February 13th: 4.5 Week Progress Reports Posted in Parent Portal
• February 16th: Teacher Workday - No School for Students
• February 17th: Professional Development Day - No School for Students

MARCH 2026

• January 12th-March 3rd: 2026-2027 PK Lottery Registration 📌
• March 9th-13th: Math Bee Spirit Week
• March 12th-13th: School Math Bee
• March 13th: St. Patrick's Day
• March 16th: Professional Development Day - NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
• March 17th: Spring Picture Day
• March 20th: 9 Week Progress Reports Posted in Parent Portal
• March 24th: Title I Parent Input Meeting
• March 26th: Title I Parent Input Meeting

APRIL 2026

• April 6th-10th: Spring Break - NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
• April 13th-24th: GAA Administrations -3rd-5th Grades
• April 23rd: Title I PK Parent Transition Meeting
• April 27th-May 8th: GMAS Administrations - 3rd-5th Grades

MAY 2026

• May 4th-8th: Teacher Appreciation Week
• May 13th-15th: Semester 2 Awards Days - Times/Dates TBD
• May 21st: Last Day of School - Enjoy your summer!

📄 2025–2026 School-Family Compact & Parent-Family Engagement Plans

Please take a moment to review Cliftondale Elementary’s 2025–2026 School-Family Compact and Parent-Family Engagement Plan (PFEP), as well as Fulton County Schools’ Parent-Family Engagement Plan.

Parents, school staff, and students partnered together to jointly develop the School-Family Compact and PFEP. Input was gathered through annual surveys, feedback forms, and spring input meetings. The School-Family Compact explains how families and teachers will work together to ensure all students reach grade-level standards at Cliftondale Elementary School.

🔹 Need Help or a Printed Copy?

If you have questions about Title I, need assistance with completing the digital acknowledgment, or would like a printed copy of any documents, please contact our Parent Liaison:

Ms. Hope Render
📞 470-254-3040
📧 renderhh@fultonschools.org

ANNUAL TITLE I TECHNOLOGY WORKSHOP: Many thanks to the families that attended our Technology Workshop. If you missed it, the full presentation is attached for you here. Please use the link below to review the Title I presentation from Tuesday. Please make sure to complete the evaluation link at the end of the presentation. Your feedback is greatly appreciated!
https://bit.ly/Evaluation_FE

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.

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

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

Scan the QRCode on the flyer or CLICK HERE to enroll your child(ren).

📧cliftondale@apecprep.com

📲470-701-4973

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

Uniforms and other school spirit wear are available through our online spirit store:
https://www.cliftondalestore.com/

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

• NO RESTAURANT FOOD IN THE CAFETERIA: Parents, please be reminded that outside restaurant food is not permitted in our school’s cafeteria. You are always welcome to enjoy lunch with your child, and you may either purchase a meal from our cafeteria or bring a lunch from home. Thank you for helping us maintain a safe and consistent environment for all students.
  
  

• BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS: Parents, family members and friends are not allowed to bring in cakes, balloon bouquets, flowers, goodie bags, gifts, pizza, or any other type of treat to celebrate a student birthday. Teachers are not allowed to celebrate birthdays in the class with a party or a snack either. Rather, parents may purchase a Smart Celebrations Package from the cafeteria. This can be done to student birthdays and/or any other classroom celebrations. Smart Celebration packets should be purchased in the cafeteria at least (2) days in advance. Please contact our Nutrition Manager, Ms. Curry at curryd1@fultonschools.org
  
  

• VISITORS ATTIRE: 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.

• 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!

• 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.
  📌IMPORTANT - Visiting parents may accompany their children to class during the first week of school (August 4-8, 2025) only. This measure is to ensure the safety of all students and staff. All visiting parents will be required to exit the building using the front office entrance no later than 7:35 am.
  

• BREAKFAST/LUNCH: Breakfast and lunch are completely free for all Cliftondale students. Breakfast is available for all students 7:10 am - 7:40 am. Although breakfast and lunch are free, students may purchase extra portions or snacks. Parents should visit My School Bucks to add money to their child's account in order for your student to purchase snacks and extra food portions. During school hours, students may not have restaurant food in any FCS cafeteria at any given time.
  

• SCHOOL FUNDS: We are now a 100% cashless organization. All funds collected at Cliftondale ES for student activities and school sponsored events are accepted only through Fulton County Schools Online School Payments.
• SCHOOL UNIFORMS: Cliftondale remains a uniform school, and we will continue to encourage all students to wear our school uniform. Our uniform consists of a navy blue, yellow/gold, or white top with khaki or navy bottoms. Uniforms and other school spirit wear are available through our online spirit store Home | Cliftondale Store
  

• DISMISSAL: Parents can check students out early anytime up until 2:00 pm. If you wish to check your student out early, please report to our front office with identification. Our students will only be released a bus rider, car rider, afterschool, or van. If your child is a car rider, you must join the car rider line. It will be long as we many of our students are car riders, and we thank you for your patience and your cooperation.
  

• BUS RIDERS/BUS STOP INFORMATION - During Open House, parents can verify their child’s bus assignment and bus stop times. All stop times are approximate times. If you have questions pertaining your child’s assigned stop or assigned bus, please contact FCS Transportation Department at 470-254-6060.

• 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. Please do not depend on teacher e-mail or Dojo messages as some teachers do not have an opportunity to check e-mail/Dojo during the school day.
  

• BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS: Parents, family members and friends are not allowed to bring in cakes, balloon bouquets, flowers, goodie bags, gifts, pizza, or any other type of treat to celebrate a student birthday. Teachers are not allowed to celebrate birthdays in the class with a party or a snack either. Rather, parents may purchase a Smart Celebrations Package from the cafeteria. This can be done to student birthdays and/or any other classroom celebrations. Smart Celebration packets should be purchased in the cafeteria at least (2) days in advance. Please contact our Nutrition Manager, Ms. Curry at curryd1@fultonschools.org
  

• CLIFTONDALE'S 2025-2026 FAMILY HANDBOOK - Cliftondale’s 2025–2026 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.

• 🆕STUDENT DEVICE PROTECTION PLAN: Each student in Fulton County Schools (FCS) is issued a school-owned device to support learning in and out of the classroom. This year, we are switching to charging full price for damaged and lost devices, as opposed to the reduced fees that we have previously charged. 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.

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.

Each member of the Fulton County Board of Education sponsors a monthly meeting open to all members of the community. The sessions provide an opportunity for direct contact with community members and give board members a chance to listen to local issues and concerns.

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: Mrs. Kalista- kalista@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: Dr. Carver- carvera@fultonschools.org
APEC Afterschool Enrichment - cliftondale@apecprep.com