Summerour Blue Devil Blast

• March 1 - Soccer vs. Sweetwater (@ NorcrossHS)
• March 5 - Early Release (1:20pm) & Parent Conferences (7pm)
• March 6 - Early Release (1:20pm)
• March 7 - Gwinnett Writes Exam (6, 7 only)
• March 7 - 8 Gr. Orchestra LGPE
• March 8 - 7 Gr. Orchestra LGPE
• March 8 - Soccer vs. Lilburn (@ BerkmarHS)
• March 10 - Interim Testing: ELA
• March 11 - Interim Testing: MAT
• March 12 - Interim Testing: SCI
• March 12 - [Rescheduled] The Bridge Restaurant
• March 13 - Interim Testing: SS
• March 13 - Basketball Banquet
• March 13 - GCPS Board Meeting
• March 14 - Digital Learning Day #4
• March 15 - Soccer vs. Pinckneyville (@ Berkmar HS)
• March 22 - Student Leadership Conference
• March 22 - Saturday School
• March 29 - Gifted Steppers Competition
• March 29 - JLC Raider Competition (@ ShilohMS)
• March 29 - Soccer vs. Berkmar (@ Meadowcreek HS)

Our school’s soccer teams have two huge matches this Saturday, and they need our support!

• Girls’ Match: 11:00 AM at Norcross High School (playing for #3 in the division!)
• Boys’ Match: 12:30 PM at Norcross High School (playing for #1 in the division!)

Both teams have put in so much hard work this season, and this is a big moment for us. Let’s show up, cheer them on, and help them finish strong!

It's the time o' the year for LGPE. That's "Large Group Performance Evaluation," for the uninitiated. All of our music programs are doing concerts in front of judges for ratings. We've got pictures of Band and Chorus this week. Enjoy!

IB Learners are principled! They act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness, justice and respect for the dignity of the individual, groups and communities. They take responsibility for their own actions and the consequences that accompany them.

IB students are infused with the academic integrity that is a fundamental value of universities and colleges.

8 am

Monday - Thursday

Here are some photos from this week!

As a parent or caregiver, you should take one EES Family Survey for each school in which you have a child enrolled. As an employee, if you also have a child in GCPS, you should take the EES Staff Survey in addition to the Family Survey.

The survey will be available for you to complete through Friday, March 7. We hope you will lend your voice to making Gwinnett County Public Schools the best it can be for our students.

Please use this link to access the Family Survey.

If you missed OUR Georgia Milestones Parent Night...and spaghetti dinner, you missed some great times and some good food. Thanks to La Voz student volunteers from Norcross High School who served up the food and helped to make Wednesday night a success. Thanks to OUR staff who made the spaghetti and the salad. It was a great evening.

Sixth and seventh graders will be taking the Gwinnett Writes Assessment on Friday. This is not for eighth grader this year, only OUR sixth and seventh graders. Please ensure that your child is rested and ready for the exam on Friday.

Gwinnett County Public Schools hosts Tapestry every winter at the Instructional Support Center in Suwanee. It opened up this week. Go visit this week to see the amazing artists from all around the county, but most importantly, go see OUR amazing artist from right here at Summerour.

Dear Parents and/or Guardians,

We all share a common goal for our children to be safe and protected from all things harmful. Related to that goal, Senate Bill 401 requires annual age-appropriate sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention in kindergarten through grade 9. Teen LuresTM Prevention is a research-based program that Gwinnett County Public Schools uses to teach the importance of healthy relationships and its connection to personal safety by way of class discussions, student handouts, video clips and corresponding activities. The program curriculum was submitted and reviewed by the Community Health Education Advisory Committee. The purpose of the Teen LuresTM Prevention program is to enable students to take an active and necessary role in making healthy choices and protecting themselves from unhealthy relationships. A committee of professional school counselors reviewed the program and selected components that were appropriate for middle school.

During the month of February-May, our school counselors will offer lessons from the Teen LuresTM Prevention program to students in grades 6-8. Students will review what was learned in previous grade(s) and then discuss the following lures:

8th : Affection Lure : Trafficking Lure : Pet Lure : 6th & 7th Lures

If you prefer that your child not participate in the Teen LuresTM Prevention lessons, please write, and sign a note indicating your preferences and send it to your child’s teacher or school counselor. Unless written documentation is received, your child will have the opportunity to participate in the teen lures prevention and safety lessons. As always, counselors are available to discuss any concerns you might have.

Sincerely,

Dr. Natalie Looney

OUR students using their Blue Bucks to enjoy some time in OUR Blue Devil Café.

We are pleased to share important information regarding meal accommodations on school days for students observing Ramadan in 2025. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved a waiver allowing schools in Georgia to provide takeaway meals to students fasting during Ramadan.

These waivers allow eligible students to receive breakfast and lunch in a manner that aligns with their religious observance, beginning the week of Monday, March 3, 2025, through Friday, March 28, 2025.

• Who is eligible? Current GCPS students who are fasting during Ramadan may receive a takeaway meal service.
• Meal distribution: Meals will be available for pick-up after school only for students who attend school that day. The location to pick up meals will be determined and communicated from the individual school.
• Meal Price: Meals will be provided based on Free, Reduced, or Paid eligibility and pricing.
• Meal limits: Only one breakfast and one lunch may be provided per student daily. Students who receive a takeaway meal cannot receive a meal during the school day.
• Questions: If you have questions or concerns, please email communications@gcpsk12.org.

To participate, each family must register weekly for takeaway breakfasts and lunches by completing this request form by 4:00 p.m. each Thursday. The first deadline was yesterday: Thursday, February 27, 2025, by 4:00 p.m. Reminders will be sent each week of Ramadan to complete the registration form.

Please note that takeaway meals will not be available for the Digital Learning Day on Friday, March 14.

If you do not wish to participate, no action is required.

During this Family-School Partnership Advisory Council (PAC) Meeting, GCPS families will receive information about programs and resources that support our students and families. Topics will include Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science, Academies and Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE), the Multilingual Learners Program, Early Learning and School Readiness resources, the Homeless Education Program, and support for Foster Care students and families.

Click here to RSVP for the Family-School Partnership Advisory Council Meeting (PAC)

Ms. Belinda Terry

6th Grade Assistant Principal

Belinda.Terry@gcpsk12.org

Ms. Tannia Wood

6th Grade Counselor

Tannia.Wood@gcpsk12.org

770.417.2491

Gwinnett Writes Test

Next Friday

March 7

https://jointotem.com/ga/norcross/summerour-ms-pta

Mr. Al Sadler

7th Grade Assistant Principal

Al.Sadler@gcpsk12.org

Ms. Angelica Rosas

7th Grade Counselor

Angelica.Rosas@gcpsk12.org

770.417.2480

Gwinnett Writes Test

Next Friday

March 7

https://jointotem.com/ga/norcross/summerour-ms-pta

Ms. Christy Gray

8th Grade Assistant Principal

Christian.Gray@gcpsk12.org

Ms. Robin Blackwell

8th Grade Counselor

Robin.Blackwell@gcpsk12.org

770.417.2487

https://jointotem.com/ga/norcross/summerour-ms-pta

Attention families with current 8th graders:

Please save the date for our upcoming Rising 9th Grade Night and spread the word!

📆 Thursday, March 6

⏰6:00 - 7:30 PM

📍Paul Duke STEM High School

5850 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard Norcross, GA 30071

Teachers and club sponsors will be available to provide information and answer questions about core courses, CTAE Pathways, fine arts options, and extracurricular opportunities. Families will be able to tour our school building as well.

Eighth grade students will visit Piedmont Park on either May 5th, 6th, or 7th depending on which team students are on from 10:00 AM until 2:30 PM. Students will travel by way of Gwinnett County Public Schools buses. One of the goals for this trip is to provide students with a STEM (Science, Stem, Technology, and Mathematics) experience. Students will investigate physical forces on the playscape equipment at the park. Using what they’ve learned they will have the opportunity to design their own play structure.

Students will have lunch at Piedmont Park before they return to Summerour Middle School.

Students will not bring personal belongings with them on the trip. Students will be given materials for the visit. Absolutely no electronics are allowed on this trip. This opportunity will take place within the school day and will not impact arrival or departure times for students. The cost is $15.00 and includes transportation and a boxed lunch from Jason’s Deli. Please return the permission slip and the money for the trip no later than February 28, 2025. (You may use the QR code attached to pay)

Dr. Toni Weir

Gear Up Assistant Principal

Toni.Weir@gcpsk12.org

Ms. Allegra Morgan

Gear Up Counselor

Allegra.Morgan@gcpsk12.org

770.797.2960

https://jointotem.com/ga/norcross/summerour-ms-pta

March 1 - vs. Sweetwater (at Norcross HS)

March 8 - vs. Lilburn (at Meadowcreek HS)

March 15 - vs. Pinckneyville (at Berkmar HS)

March 29 - vs. Berkmar (at Meadowcreek HS)

Norcross Cluster

Drive Thru Food Pantry

Paul Duke STEM High School

5850 Peachtree Industrial Blvd.

Norcross, GA 30071

10:30 a.m. until food runs out

• Sponsored by the Norcross Elementary counselors
• Food provided by the Atlanta Food Bank

Some multi-media art in OUR art classes

Click this link to let Rosanna Carlson know that you'd like to volunteer to help out at Summerour. You can choose specific days and times to come in weekly OR go through the list of events and groups that could use you. Check it out! Come and be a part of your child's school.

Buy your yearbook at Jostens.com to get a discount! First people to buy get $10 off (at $30), next group get $5 off (at $35, this is a bigger group), and the rest are full price at $40. Once they go to $40 it is the same price in Media Center and on Jostens.com. Order yours now! Go to Jostens.com, click Yearbook and Buy Your Yearbook.

You can receive ParentSquare message notifications 3 ways: email, text, or in the phone app. The GCPS website has a page that explains how to setup or change your notifications. We encourage you to go in to your ParentSquare account and make sure that you are getting the notifications in a way that makes the most sense for you!

Click the link and make sure you are getting notified.

2023-2024 Family Perceptions EES Survey Results