THE MIGHTY OAK
September is National Hispanic Heritage Month
September 7............................NO SCHOOL- Labor Day
September 8............................Dogwood Pizza Spirit Night
September 9............................Fall Picture Day
September 9............................Robotics Club
September 16..........................Rescheduled 3-5 Curriculum Night
September 7.............................Day 6
September 8.............................Day 7
September 9.............................Day 7
September 10.............................Day 7
September 11.............................Day 8
Hard Lock Down Drill
At Gwin Oaks we conduct regular, mandatory, and scheduled drills throughout the year to prepare staff and students for potential emergencies. On Tuesday, September 8, we will conduct an emergency lockdown drill. During this drill, students will remain in their classrooms with the door locked and the lights turned off. Our school resource officers will be on site to help facilitate the drill.
While this practice is an important part of maintaining school safety, we understand it can feel unsettling for some students. If you feel your child may need preparation, please take a moment to talk with them ahead of Tuesday. Our teachers will also explain the drill in age‑appropriate, reassuring terms to help students feel comfortable.
Student Universal Wellness Screener + Listening & Learning Tour Survey
- GCPS is administering the Educational Effectiveness Surveys (EES) Student Universal Wellness Screener to students in grades 3–12 from September 1-25, 2026. The wellness screener will provide schools and district staff with valuable data about the academic, social, and emotional needs of students. The results will be used to identify students needing additional support in the areas of Academic Behaviors, Social Behaviors, and Emotional Behaviors. The 22-item screener should take students less than 10 minutes to complete.
- In conjunction with the EES screener, students in grades 4 through 12 will be asked to respond to a 19-question survey as part of our Superintendent's Listening & Learning Tour. The Listening & Learning Tour survey is designed to help Dr. Estrella learn more about the experiences of GCPS students students in grades 4 and 12what’s most important to them. This survey should take 5-7 minutes to complete.
- Parents/caregivers who do not want their child to participate in these surveys may out in ParventVUE or submit a request in writing to the school by August 28th. Click here for the directions. Parents can continue to opt-out after the date. Gwin Oaks will administer the survey the week of September 14th.
Ice Cream Sales Begin September 11! 🍦
We are excited to announce that ice cream sales will begin on Friday, September 11. Ice cream will be available for purchase during students' lunch periods, and all items are $1.00 each. Thank you for supporting this fun tradition at Gwin Oaks.
Gwin Oaks Parent Workshop
We will be offering a parent workshop on all things being a parent of a elemetary student. We will discuss everything from school apps to resources for guiding your student. If you are new to our school or need a refresher on all the details, this might be the best place for you to start. (spanish translation will be available)
Date: September 8th
Time: 6pm
Locaton: Online- Teams (link provided later)
Help us celebrate the amazing people who make our school shine.
Have you noticed a staff member modeling our core values or Ready, Respectful and Responsible? As part of our Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program, we want to ensure that our staff members feel as encouraged and supported as our students do. We know our teachers and staff are doing incredible things every day—from going the extra mile in the classroom to offering a helping hand in the hallways—and we want to hear about it from you!
Why Shoutout?
Positive recognition is a cornerstone of our school culture. When parents share their appreciation, it builds a stronger community and boosts the morale of the dedicated professionals working with your children. Whether it’s a small gesture or a major milestone, no shoutout is too small.
How It Works
It is easier than ever to recognize a staff member. You don't need to write a formal letter; simply click the link below and fill out our quick recognition form.
Recognition Type ..................What to Include
Teacher Shoutout .................. A classroom or school moment that made a difference for your child.
Staff Shoutout..........................Appreciation for our bus drivers, custodians, or office staff.
Submit Your Shoutout Today
Click the link below to access the form and brighten a staff member's day:
Thank you for being such an active and supportive part of our school family!
Dismissal
Our end of day bell rings at 2:45 PM. Please note that no students may be checked out after 2:00 PM. If you arrive after 2:00 PM, please join the car rider lane for afternoon pick-up.
All buses will be navigating afternoon routes and may experience delays during the first few days of school. To ensure every student learns the dismissal process safely, we allow extra time for loading buses, especially for our Kindergarteners and 1st graders. Rest assured that your child will arrive safely at their designated bus stop.
Thank you for your patience with our police officers, crossing guards, staff members, and bus drivers as we work together to get everyone home safely!
Car Rider
Please do not line up for dismissal before 2:00 PM, and kindly keep driveways and crosswalks clear.
To help our afternoon line move as quickly and safely as possible, please follow these guidelines:
Display your car rider number prominently so staff members can record it.
If you do not have a car rider number, please have your photo ID ready for pick-up verification.
Student safety is our top priority. We truly appreciate your patience and partnership with our police officers, crossing guards, staff members, and bus drivers as our students learn these new dismissal routines!
Communicating with Your Child's Teacher
Open communication with your child's teacher is essential for a successful school year!
ParentSquare and email are the best ways to reach out to your child's teacher directly.
Common reasons you might need to contact the teacher include:
Transportation changes: Please notify us as early in the day as possible if your child's dismissal routine changes.
Lunch & dietary needs: Questions regarding lunch accounts, packed lunches, or food allergies.
Absences & appointments: Early dismissals or planned absences.
TUTORING HELP WITH GWINNETT COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Brainfuse from the Gwinnett County Public Library. Brainfuse offers live tutoring and study tools for K-12.
FALL BOOK FAIR
Flyers will be sent home next week.
The eWallet link is below. Please DO NOT purchase a gift card, since they can not be used at the Book Fair.If you have any questions please contact Ms. Amolo through Parent Square.
BEANSTACK READING CHALLENGE
The first Beanstack Reading Challenge will start on Sept. 8 and end on Oct. 2. Students will set a goal to read for at least 10 days or 10 consectative days and answer a couple of questions related to each book.
How to log in on Beanstack
On the Browser
Go to Launchpad
Click on Library Resources
Click on Beanstack
On the App
Download the Beanstack app
Search for your school
Type in your child's credentials:
Username = student number
Password = Four digit birthdate, i.e. mmdd
For example, if their birthday is February 4, my 4 digit birthdate would be 0204
There will be 5 reading challenges. Students who complete 4 out of the 5 reading challenges will attend a Glow in the Dark Reading Celebration in May. If you have any questions please contact Sharon Amolo through Parent Square.
Morning Car Rider Reminder
Each morning, car rider drop-off begins at 7:35 am. We request you enter the car rider line no earlier than 7:35 am and no later than 8:05 am. This is the time frame during which the line will be moving for arrival and ensures that your child will not be tardy for school.
Book it for the Bus
Mark your calendars for a fun, community-wide event supporting literacy in our district!
Date & Time: Saturday, October 31, 2026 at 8:30 AM
Location: J. Alvin Wilbanks Instructional Support Center (ISC)
Registration: Sign up today at bookmobile5k.com
The school with the most participants will win a visit from the book mobile!
Gwin Oaks Elementary
400 Gwin Oaks Drive
Lawrenceville, GA 30044
Elementary 770-972-3110
The mission of the faculty and staff of Gwin Oaks Elementary is to facilitate a safe and supportive environment where excellence in learning for all children results in responsible
and productive citizens and lifelong learners.