Summerour Blue Devil Blast

Volume 5, Issue 4 - August 29, 2025
Dr. Looney's Message
Important Dates
Upcoming Dates
- August 29 - Progress Reports Go Home
- August 30 - Saturday School
- September 1 - No School - Labor Day
- September 3 - Step Team Interest Meeting
- September 3 - Volleyball vs. Radloff (home)
- September 6 - Cross Country Race (Cumming, GA)
- September 8 - Science Olympiad
- September 8 - Volleyball @ Pinckneyville
- September 9 - Parent Night
- September 9 - Hispanic Heritage Month Begins
- September 10 - Volleyball vs. Lilburn (home)
- September 12 - EES Student Wellness Screener
- September 13 - Cross Country Race (Conyers, GA)
Step Team Interest Meeting
This Week
Leadership Conference
Our Student Council met for a Leadership Conference today in OUR Media Center. Students from all 3 grade levels did great work to increase their leadership skills.
Nominate a Teacher or Staff Member of the Month!
We are ready to nominate September's Teacher of the Month and Staff Member of the Month.
If you or your student has a teacher or staff member who has really made a difference for you, please nominate them with this link. Let us know who you are nominating and why, then click submit. You can nominate as many as you like. Polls will close on Friday, September 5.
Adult ESL Classes - English
Adult ESL Classes - Spanish
Staff & Parent Online Store
Summerour Middle School has opened a new online store for staff and parents. Would you like to purchase some Summerour wear to support OUR school? Check out our new online shop @ My Team Shop. We have jackets, t-shirts, polo shirts, and sweatshirts. We've attached a flyer below if you prefer that method to see what's available.
All orders must be placed by September 8. The store closes after that.
Thank you for your continued support.
Summerour Specific
September IB Learner Profile: Inquirers
IB Learners are inquirers. They develop their natural curiosity. They acquire the skills necessary to conduct inquiry and research and show independence in learning. They actively enjoy learning and this love of learning will be sustained throughout their lives.
University faculties regularly note IB students’ passion for discovery.
Grade Level Information
Welcome to 6th Grade!
Ms. Belinda Terry
6th Grade Assistant Principal
Ms. Tannia Sims
6th Grade Counselor
770.417.2491
Welcome to 7th Grade!
Mr. Al Sadler
7th Grade Assistant Principal
Ms. Yasmi Velasquez Rocha
7th Grade Counselor
Yasmi.VelasquezRocha@gcpsk12.org
770.417.2480
Welcome to 8th Grade!
Ms. Christy Gray
8th Grade Assistant Principal
Ms. Robin Blackwell
8th Grade Counselor
770.417.2487
Welcome to Gear Up!
Dr. Toni Weir
Gear Up Assistant Principal
Ms. Allegra Morgan
Gear Up Counselor
770.797.2960
Gear Up Uniforms
All GearUp students are required to purchase uniforms for the GearUp program. The uniform package is $65 total. Please visit the front office to complete your purchase.
Coming Soon
No Cost Eye Exams & Prescription Glasses
September - December
Gwinnett has partnered with Vision To Learn to provide free eye exams and prescription glasses to children in underserved communities, ensuring they get the eye care they need.
- For children ages 5 to 18
- Available at multiple locations in Gwinnett
- Appointments are required. Book your appointment today!
ATL United Tickets
ATL Hawks Tickets
E-SPLOST Vote Coming November 4
E-SPLOST stands for the Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax. It’s a one-cent sales tax on purchases made in Gwinnett County. Since 1997, everyone who shops, eats out, or attends events in Gwinnett has helped support local public schools through E-SPLOST. E-SPLOST funds are the main source of money for school building projects in Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS). Every five years, the district creates a capital plan to guide these projects. E-SPLOST helps pay for important work like repairing and updating schools, constructing and renovating facilities, improving safety and security, and adding technology and learning tools for students and staff.
In the Norcross cluster, these critical facility renewal projects are part of the upcoming 5-year Capital Plan:
- Beaver Ridge Elementary School — Roof replacement
- Norcross Elementary School — HVAC system replacement
- Stripling Elementary School — Roof replacement, HVAC system replacement
- Pinckneyville Middle School — Roof replacement, HVAC system replacement
- Norcross High School — Roof replacement
More information included on the PDF files below:
2025-2026 School Year
Intramurals Are Ongoing!
Monday - Thursday
8:00 am - 8:50 am
Two Sessions:
- Semester 1: Now through October 16
- Semester 2: January 12 through March 19
Permission forms are required. See Ms. Crider or Ms. Kepper for forms!
Going to a GCPS football game?
- All elementary and middle school students must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
- Only students from Norcross HS, Paul Duke STEM HS, and the visiting team’s high school will be admitted to the game unless they are with a parent or guardian. High school students must present a current ID on StudentVue to enter.
- The Clear Bag policy and a weapons detection system are in place at our athletic stadiums
- Entry: Look for clearly marked Evolv scanner entrances and follow staff directions
- Keep your phones, keys, and wallets on your person while passing through
- Arrive early.
Summerour Birds
Summerour Birds is off to a fun and exciting start! Just this past Friday, three students and Dr. Weir saw this beautiful red-tailed hawk attack three Northern Flickers in the back parking lot. The woodpeckers all escaped - it was awesome (for us and the flickers, not the hawk)!
Faculty, staff, and new students are always welcome to join the bird walk. Every Friday morning at 8 am.
Free 2025 Food Distribution
- 3:00pm until supplies last
- Fresh and shelf-stable foods
- No identification required
- Drive-thru distribution
Locations and Dates:
ROCK SPRINGS PARK | September 9 | December 9
550 Rock Springs Road, Lawrenceville
SHORTY HOWELL PARK | September 23 | December 16
2750 Pleasant Hill Road, Duluth
RHODES JORDAN PARK | October 14
100 East Crogan Street, Lawrenceville
BEST FRIEND PARK | October 28
6224 Jimmy Carter Boulevard, Norcross
LENORA PARK | November 4
4515 Lenora Church Road, Snellville
BRYSON PARK | November 18
5075 Lawrenceville Highway, Lilburn
Reporting Student Absences in ParentVUE
Is your child at home sick today? Go ahead and report it now, so you don't have to send a note later. Parents can upload student's absence excuse(s) in ParentVUE. Below is a slide show that will explain.
Reporting Student Absences on ParentVUE
SB123 (New State Attendance Law)
- SB123 updates Georgia's compulsory school attendance laws. It aims to reduce chronic absenteeism and improve student engagement.
- Essentially, the district aims to support all students who are absent, whether the absence is deemed excused or unexcused.
- Parents and students will see an increase in engagement from the school/district when their child is absent
- Attendance nudges
- Parent outreach from teachers, counselors, school social workers,
PIC/POLs or other support staff
- Parents now have the capability to submit written notes and upload supporting documentation via ParentVUE when their student is absent from school