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THE BEST

Building Excellence Successfully Together

THE BESTBuilding Excellence Successfully Together

{click translate at the top of the newsletter to view in multiple languages} {click translate at the top of the newsletter to view in multiple languages}

August 8, 2025 August 8, 2025

CALENDAR DATES

August 8 - PTA's Back to School Ice Cream Social, 3-6 pm

August 19 - FCS Board Meeting

August 26 & 27- PTA Meetings and Curriculum Nights (Details TBD)

September 1- Labor Day, No School

KEY NEWS FOR EXPLORER FAMILIES

What a wonderful start to the school year it has been! Our Explorers are already Shining Bright! Ask them about the gold star they received as a reminder that they can shine brightly every single day!


These first five days have been a flutter of learning. The staff has shared and modeled expectations and practiced routines. The students have been to each of the specials classrooms, they’ve listened to stories and squeezed in some playground time between the raindrops. Our Explorers have met new friends and reconnected with familiar ones. They learned about how they can earn gold slips by modeling the expectations of being respectful, responsible and engaged. They will save those gold slips to shop at our new Northwood Exchange prize room. What a joy it has been to have our hallways filled with students once again.


For those families new to Fulton County, and as a reminder for returning families, the district has a process by which they monitor school enrollment via daily attendance at the start of the school year (Ten Day Count or SEAT Count process). Northwood is currently slightly above enrollment projections. I am not yet sure if we will end up with any grade level additions or reductions. This is why we mention that class placements are tentative until after the district provides their guidance. The district will continue to monitor daily attendance through the end of next week.


This first week we completed the required safety drills. Please click here to find a link directly to the FCS School Safety and Security site.


Important Technology Info: Students in grades K through 5 will be assigned a Fulton County device for them to access when the teachers direct them to do so. It’s important to know that students are responsible for the care of those devices as fees/fines will be assessed to families if there are damages. The district has put together a document with important technology related information, attached below. There is an opportunity for families to purchase a device protection plan during their Infinite Campus Census Update. If you have already updated IC, then device protection can be purchased by calling the District Technology Service Center (TSC) to request it be added to your student’s account. The TSC helpline is 470-254-4357 and their hours are 7 AM – 9 PM including weekends. Please note that the protection plan must be purchased within the first 30 days.


The Georgia Early Literacy guidelines are in place; look below for the attached parent notification letter from Fulton County Schools that outlines the impact of the legislation and how schools will proceed with screening processes.


With gratitude,

Heather Q. Rucker, principal

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Optional Device Protection Flyer.pdf
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FCS25-26StudentDeviceOne-to-OneHandbook.pdf
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Initial Screening 8-3-25.pdf
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CENTENNIAL HS HIGH 5 FRIDAY AT NORTHWOOD

Centennial High School student-athletes kicked off their High 5 Friday initiative at Northwood this morning. Members from CHS football, softball and cheerleading teams enthusiastically greeted Explorers at carpool and bus arrivals, encouraging them to have a fantastic new school year!

KINDERGARTEN CLASS OF 2031

It's been a successful first week of school! We are excited to have all of our Explorers back in the building and would like to extend a special welcome to Northwood's Kindergarten Class of 2031.

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ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL

The bus routes are running smoothly now with busses being loaded in the afternoon and rolling off campus in good time. The carpool process is still a work in process as we have a large number of families participating in carpool.


If you choose to do carpool in the mornings, make sure to plan enough time to get through the carpool lane. Students are to be in their seats by 7:40 – not still unloading from the car or walking down the halls. Between 7:10 and 7:40 drivers should not exit the vehicle. If the bell has rung, then parents should park and walk their child in to sign them in. Students should only exit and enter the vehicle from the passenger side.


Detailed info can be found in the attachment below.

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Parent Carpool and Bus Info - back to school 2025.pdf
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ATTENDANCE AND DISMISSAL EMAILS

ATTENDANCE EMAIL

If your child is absent from school, please submit an email to your child’s teacher AND northwoodattendance@fultonschools.org within five days of returning to school.

Please include:

  • Child's first and last name
  • The absence date(s)
  • Reason for absence(s) *attach doctor's note if applicable


DISMISSAL EMAIL

All check-out changes must be in writing or emailed to NWESdismissal@fultonschools.org. You can send a note with your child in the morning or drop off the note during the day before 12:30 pm. No changes will be accepted through phone call.


Please include:

  • Child’s first and last name
  • The date and the specific change, i.e. bus to car rider
  • Please copy your child’s homeroom teacher on the email as well.
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PLANNED ABSENCE? USE THE PRE-APPROVED ABSENCE AND REMOTE PARTICIPATION FORMS

PARTICIPATE REMOTE LEARNING DAY REQUEST

Participate Remote Learning Day Request

Students may request up to 5 remote learning days per semester and receive attendance credit for being present through remote participation. To receive participated remote credit, students must follow the participated remote directions outlined below.


  • Notification of PR Day must be made prior to the start of the instructional day to teacher(s). Students should make all requests for remote learning days one school day prior to the requested date when possible.
  • Remote learning days cannot be requested on summative evaluation days.
  • All work must be submitted within 2 days of the return from the remote learning days.
  • The absence will be marked Unexcused in IC until this form is completed and turned in to the Assistant Principal. Once the teacher has signed that the assignment is complete and hands this form into the office, the absence will change to PR (Participate Remote).


PRE-APPROVED ABSENCE FORM

Pre-Approved Absence Request Form

Students may request Pre-Approved Absences for family events and special family circumstances. Consideration for Pre-Approved Absences will be based on the following criteria.


  • Pre-Approved Absence Request Form is received 5 days prior to planned absence.
  • Attendance review indicates student is not at-risk of chronic absenteeism. Please note that students with 17 or more absences per year fall within the chronic absenteeism attendance band. Even though they are pre-approved, these absences count towards the 17.
  • Academic review of classes shows student is on-track with work completion.


Please visit the Northwood ES website here for more details about the forms.

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STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT & DISCIPLINE HANDBOOK: PLEASE REVIEW & SIGN OFF

Each year Fulton County Schools asks families and students to read and discuss the Student Code of Conduct & Discipline Handbook; and then sign off that you have read it. Please follow the steps below to access the handbook, and then sign off electronically in your Infinite Campus Parent/Student Portal Account. At Northwood, we will follow up by August 29, to make sure all families have signed.


  • Please read and review the Code of Conduct with your student(s). Student Discipline Code of Conduct


  • Here is a (link) with instructions on how to complete the Acknowledgment of Receipt Form. All parents and students (over 10 years old) MUST sign this form found within their INFINITE CAMPUS PARENT/STUDENT PORTAL ACCOUNT. How to Sign Acknowledgment of Receipt

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STUDENT SUCCESS SKILLS

Student Success Skills are Fulton County School's standards for the skills needed to demonstrate mastery of academic and interpersonal skills needed for college, career, and life success. These six skills are taught in all schools, by all teachers, to all students.


Parents, please click the link below for more information; and to set up your Rethink Account which provides access to all the lesson content.


Student Success Skills Parent Packet 25-26SY English.pdf

Student Success Skills Parent Packet 25-26SY Spanish.pdf

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FCS TAG SCREENING & REFERRAL INFORMATION

Families that would like to review the TAG eligibility guidelines please click the PDF link below. You can also access the FCS TAG website here.

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Notification Parents Screening and Referral Process Gifted Students 2025-26.pdf
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OUR CLINIC CLOSET NEEDS CLOTHES

Accidents happen - in the classroom, at recess, at lunch or the bathroom. When our Explorers get messy they often head to the Clinic to get cleaned up. We keep extra clothes on hand for those quick changes. Our clinic closet is in need of boys bottoms, but we appreciate all donations. If you have any clothing items you'd like to contribute you can send them in with your student or drop them off at the front desk. Thanks!

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VOLUNTEER REGISTRATION

Looking to volunteer? All volunteers will need to complete the Fulton County Schools online registration process. For more information and to begin the process, please click the link below.


https://www.fultonschools.org/community/become-a-volunteer

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Important Information for Second Grade Families

Per District policy, ALL second-grade families are required to provide the school with two proofs of residency before entering second grade. Copies can be dropped off at the front desk or emailed to our Data Clerk, Amy Dulion, at dulionaw@fultonschools.org.

CAFETERIA NEWS CAFETERIA NEWS

MySchoolBucks

Pay for school meals and fees securely online! With MySchoolBucks, parents can also view cafeteria purchases, access meal balances, register for activities, purchase event tickets, browse school items, and more.

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Lunchtime Reminders

Parents may eat lunch with students after the first two weeks of school - starting August 18th. Teachers eat with the students during the first week, and the students are learning the routine the second week. We also encourage nutritious lunches; therefore sodas, canned drinks, fast food, candy, energy drinks, etc. are discouraged. We kindly ask that you refrain from bringing these items to school or sending them in lunchboxes.

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MENU CALENDAR

The Fulton County School Nutrition Program is dedicated to serving all students nutritious, safe and customer acceptable meals in support of academic achievement. Click the link below to see what thery are serving up today.


Nutrition.fultonschools.org/MenuCalendar

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MISSING SOMETHING?

Parents, please encourage your students to check regularly for lost items in the Lost and Found. Please mark all student belongings clearly with the child's name so that it can be identified. Unclaimed items are donated to local charities after the last school day of every month. August's date is Friday, August 29th.

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HAVE YOU JOINED THE PARENT PORTAL?

The Infinite Campus Parent Portal provides quick and easy access to information for all enrolled students in their household. Find grades, attendance, assignments, schedules, ID numbers, school announcements and more. If you haven't already joined, please do so today as Fulton County Schools is transitioning to managing everything via the portal.


For more information, access the Parent Portal Booklet for Infinite Campus here.

NORTHWOOD'S ANNUAL BACK TO SCHOOL ICE CREAM SOCIAL

🍨Join us this Friday for a sweet celebration! 🎈


Kick off the school year and help us celebrate Northwood Elementary’s 30th Birthday with a FREE cup of ice cream — courtesy of Northwood PTA!


📅 Date: Friday, August 8, 2025
🕒 Time: 3:00 – 6:00 PM
📍 Whit's Frozen Custard
1570 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell, GA 30076


🎉 Vanilla, Chocolate, & an Italian Ice Flavor (dairy-free) will be available.


📣 See you there!

YEARBOOKS ARE ON SALE NOW!

It’s time to pre-order your 2025-2026 Northwood Yearbook—celebrating our 30th anniversary with this year’s theme: REWIND! Reserve your copy now for just $36 before the price goes up on January 1st.


Click here to order: yearbookordercenter.com/job/26362 — and don’t forget, 5th grade families can purchase a dedication ad to honor their student!


Questions? Email us at Yearbook@northwoodpta.com.

COMMUNITY AND CLUSTER NEWS COMMUNITY AND CLUSTER NEWS

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ABOUT US

Heather Q. Rucker, Principal

Michelle Levine, Assistant Principal


Together We SHINE!

Email: NorthwoodAttendance@fultonschools.org
Website: https://northwood.fultonschools.org/
Location: 10200 Wooten Road, Roswell, GA, USA
Phone: 470-254-6390
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NorthwoodElementaryPTA/
Twitter: @FCS_NWES or @NWES_Principal

Heather Rucker
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