MUSTANG NEWS

HAPPY MARCH!!!!

It was a great week at Cliftondale Elementary School! Below you will find helpful information as your plan for this upcoming week.

• SCHOOL BOARD APPRECIATION WEEK: Fulton County Schools is joining in a statewide celebration to acknowledge the work and dedication of our local school board members. The week of March 13-17, 2023 has been proclaimed School Board Appreciation Week in Georgia. Each member contributes her own strengths to the district, and these different contributions and perspectives make our Board a formidable group. We thank them for their leadership, their commitment to our students and our community, and for supporting our mission, “Where Students Come First.”

• THIS IS THE FINAL WEEK TO REGISTER FOR THE 2023-2024 PK LOTTERY‼️
  Do you have a child that will be 4 years old on/before September 1, 2023, and you reside within the Fulton County Schools District? If so, mark your calendar for FCS PK lottery registration. Information regarding registration for the lottery is accessible on the attached flyer. Parents must register in order to be considered for the lottery. Registration is March 1st-March 17th. CLICK HERE to register for the PK Lottery

• READ ACROSS CLIFTONDALE: On Monday, March 27, 2023, we will begin celebrating Read Across Cliftondale Week! Please see the attached flyer for the daily activities that will occur. Each day we will celebrate reading, with the main celebration occurring on Monday, March 27th. To begin the day, we are inviting guest readers to join us in reading read-aloud to students from 8:00 am-9:00 am. If you would like to volunteer to read to your scholar’s class, please complete the form by scanning the QR code below. You will be asked to select and rank your preferred time from 8:00 am- 9:00 am. If you have more than one scholar within the building, please complete the form twice. If you would like to volunteer to read, please sign up by March 20, 2023. We really hope you join us in celebrating Reading Across Cliftondale! CLICK HERE to volunteer to read to a class.
  
  
• SGC ELECTIONS: Candidate Declaration Window Now Open! The window for parents and teachers to declare candidacy for their school's School Governance Council opens on February 1. During this time, individuals interested in serving a 2-year term (July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2025) will have the opportunity to complete a Candidate Declaration Form. The declaration window will remain open until March 24 with voting to take place in April. Schools have been provided an electronic elections toolkit and the Governance Team is finalizing additional elections materials including posters, handouts, and lawn signs. These materials will be sent out near the end of the month and should arrive at schools in early February for SGCs. Cliftondale is looking for (1) parent representative to join the council beginning August of 2023. Please CLICK HERE to complete the candidate declaration.
  
  

• STUDENT CONDUCT: Student safety is our top priority in FCS and at Cliftondale Elementary School. We take maintaining a safe and secure learning environment extremely serious. Although it's not officially Spring, "Spring has sprung". Over the last few weeks, we have had several incidence of student misconduct and students encouraging misconduct. Please speak with your student about his/her behavior while at school or on the school bus. Students exhibiting behavior that is in violation of FCS Code of Conduct will receive consequences as displayed within FCS Code of Conduct. This does include transportation. All students are permitted to ride FCS transportation. However, those with unsafe behavior will be removed from the all FCS transportation for 3-5 days minimum and parents will be required to transport their student to and from school. Absences will not be excused for students whose parent/guardian is unable to provide transportation.
  
  Please be reminded that we in FCS have a strict cell phone & personal communication device policy as displayed in our Code of Conduct, and we at Cliftondale adhere to this policy at all times. All personal communication devices are required to remain in student’s bookbags in the “off position” during the full school day. In addition, inappropriate recording and sharing of inappropriate & misconduct (via airdrop, social media, nearby share, etc.) will be a Tier 3 offense with a consequence of up to 5 days of out of school suspension.
  
  Have you checked your child's phone lately? Have you checked their recent photos, social media accounts (IG, FB, Tik-Tok, etc), cellphone call-log, group text/group chats? I strongly encourage you to check your child's phone frequently. A lot of the disciplinary issues we see within the school can be solved if you are checking your child's phone and handling situations before they reach the school. We appreciate your support!
  
  

• NO SCHOOL MARCH 13TH-MARCH 14TH: Enjoy this extended weekend!
  
  

Kind Regards,

Principal Canty

This past week, we welcomed our Zone 3 Superintendent, Mr. Ron Maxwell and our Zone content leaders to Cliftondale to review the amazing instructional practices taking place daily. Our students did an exceptional job.

This week, we celebrated Exceptional Children's Week. Exceptional Children's Week is a special opportunity to honor and celebrate our exceptional students and the amazing staff who support them. Please enjoy a few pictures from our popcorn and popsicle social.

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 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 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 Wednesday, February 1st.

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 24th and voting will take place April 12 – April 19. 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.

Mrs. Canty

Our 5th Grade Students and Teachers will be hosting a St. Patrick's Afterschool Dance Party on MARCH 16TH. The party is immediately following dismissal and ends at 5:00 pm. This event is opened to all Cliftondale Mustangs PK-5th grades. *ONLY Paid students with a signed permission slip will be permitted to attend. Payments must be made using Online School Payment.

Please mark your calendar for our 3rd-5th grades Georgia Milestones Parent Workshop on March 22nd 5:00 pm-6:00 pm. During this event families will learn about what the GMAS is, how results are used, what the assessment looks like, and we will provide valuable resources to support scholars at home. It will be a great night of learning together to help ensure our students are prepared for spring testing. We look forward to seeing you there!

On Monday, March 27, 2023, we will begin celebrating Read Across Cliftondale Week! Please see the attached flyer for the daily activities that will occur. Each day we will celebrate reading, with the main celebration occurring on Monday, March 27th. To begin the day, we are inviting guest readers to join us in reading read-aloud to students from 8:00 am-9:00 am. If you would like to volunteer to read to your scholar’s class, please complete the form by scanning the QR code below. You will be asked to select and rank your preferred time from 8:00 am- 9:00 am. If you have more than one scholar within the building, please complete the form twice. If you would like to volunteer to read, please sign up by March 20, 2023. We really hope you join us in celebrating Reading Across Cliftondale! CLICK HERE to volunteer to read to a class.

JOIN US FOR CAREER DAY 2023! Career Day gives students an up-close look at different career paths. Career Day allows community members and leaders the opportunity to come into the classroom to share insights about their career and details about necessary education and training for career success. Please RSVP for Career Day by CLICKING HERE. Please share the flyer and registration information with family members and friends.

Our Girls Are Real and Distinguished on Purpose mentorship clubs will be hosting a Semi-Formal Sneaker Ball dance party on March 23rd 5:00 pm-7:00 pm. This event is opened to all Cliftondale Mustangs PK-5th grades. *ONLY Paid students will be permitted to attend this event. Payments must be made using Online School Payment. Parents may pay now through March 13th OR tickets are sold out.

NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS ON:

• Monday, March 13th
• Tuesday, March 24th

Cliftondale ES is full of deserving teachers! CLICK HERE for additional information and to sponsor a teacher.

There will be a Summer Learning Virtual Community Meeting taking place on Thursday March 30 from 6:00 pm – 6:45 pm. The purpose of this meeting is to share information with our families about Summer Learning 2023, including afternoon enrichment opportunities available at specific summer learning sites for some students. Click here to join the meeting

• March 13th: Professional Development Day-NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
  
• March 14th: Teacher Workday-NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
• March 14th: Semester 2: 9 Week Progress Report Posted in Parent & Student Portal
• March 14th-March 17th: School Board Appreciation Week
• March 15th: Spring Picture Day
• March 16th: St. Patrick's Dance Party 2:45pm-5:00 pm
• March 22nd: GMAS Night 5:00 pm-6:00 pm
• March 23rd: Career Day
• March 23rd: Sneaker Ball 5:00 pm-7:00 pm
• March 27th: Read Across Cliftondale
• March 28th: Kindergarten Field Trip: Georgia Aquarium
• March 29th: 5th Grade Field Trip: Sandtown Middle School
• March 29th: FCS's Title I Input Meeting
• March 30th: Cliftondale PBL Showcase
  
• March 31st: 3rd Grade Field Trip: Alliance Theater
• April 3rd-April 7th: Spring Break-SCHOOL CLOSED
• April 13th-April 21st: Boosterthon Fundraiser
• April 13th: Title I Parent Input Meeting 5:30 pm-6:30 pm
• April 14th: Title I Parent Input Meeting at 8:30 am
• April 17th: Community Meeting at Cliftondale Elementary School
• April 21st: Semester 2: 13.5 Week Progress Report Posted in Parent & Student Portal
• April 24th: PK-2nd Grade Field Day
• April 25th: 3rd-5th Grade Field Day
• May 1st-May 5th: Teacher Appreciation Week
  
• May 1st-May 12th: Georgia Milestones Testing for 3rd-5th Grades
• May 3rd: Moms on the Move 8:00 am-10:00 am & Dads on Duty 7:00 am-8:00 am
• May 11th: School Nurse Appreciation Day
• May: Grade Level Honors Programs/End of Year Celebrations (TBA)
  
• May 25th: Last Day of School
  

As you know, our 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students will take the Georgia Milestones Assessments in the spring. The Georgia Milestones Assessment System is designed to provide information about how well students are mastering the state-adopted content standards in the core content areas of English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies.

Importantly, Georgia Milestones is designed to provide students with critical information about their own achievement and their readiness for their next level of learning – be it the next grade, the next course, or the next endeavor (college or career).

Informing parents, educators, and the public about how well students are learning important content is an essential aspect of any educational assessment and accountability system. Parents, the public, and policy makers, including local school districts and boards of education, can use the results as a barometer of the quality of educational opportunity provided throughout the state of Georgia. As such, Georgia Milestones serves as a key component of the state's accountability system – the College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI).

Please visit the parent resources provided below from Georgia DOE:

Georgia Milestones Parent QA

Georgia Milestones Study Resource: 3rd Grade

Georgia Milestones Study Resource: 4th Grade

Georgia Milestones Study Resource: 5th Grade

In addition to your child's teacher, our curriculum team is here to support you! If you have questions pertaining the curriculum, understanding a specific skill/standard, need additional strategies to support your child at home, please feel free to reach out to one of our curriculum team experts. They are here for you and happy to support you and your Mustang!

Curriculum Support Teacher: Yazmin Hicks- hicksz@fultonschools.org
-Curriculum Administrator for all curriculum/content areas

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

K-2 Literacy Coach: Mrs. Kalista- kalista@fultonschools.org

3rd-5th Grade Literacy Coach: Ms. Johnson- johnsonkr1@fultonschools.org

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

Thank you to the many parents that attended our Title I STEAM NIGHT. Unable to attend? No problem! The full presentation is linked for you here. After reviewing the presentation, we welcome your feedback through the Evaluation Survey Link. Your feedback is greatly appreciated!

• 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 shared last week:

• 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!

"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

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 contact our Data Clerk, Ms. Allen at allenk3@fultonschools.org

Fulton County Schools (FCS) remains committed to communicating updates and/or changes to COVID-related protocols within the district. Maintaining face-to-face instruction is a top priority for our district. Fulton County Schools will conduct case investigations and contact tracing for positive cases only. Parents should report only positive cases to the Parent portal. Do not submit a report if you are waiting on a pending test result or for an exposure/direct contact. Fulton County Board of Health Case Investigators, FCS School Nurses and FCS Case Investigators will response to student and staff cases. Please be safe, and as always: Do not come send your child to school sick. If your child tests positive, please keep he/she home and isolate (follow the guidance provided by the Case Investigators and your provider). Please submit the positive test results via the PARENT PORTAL

In order to help keep our scholars healthy, we are asking all families to monitor any signs of illness in their children. In the document below, you will find several common childhood illness, symptoms, and guidance how to treat.

Looking for Cliftondale Spirt Wear? Then look no further! Visit our PTA's School Store for all spirt ware and uniform needs.

Principal: Mrs. Canty- cantya@fultonschools.org

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

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

School Counselor: Dr. Ford- fordb@fultonschools.org

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

K-2 Literacy Coach: Mrs. Kalista- kalista@fultonschools.org
3rd-5th Grade 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