THE NORCROSS ELEMENTARY EAGLE

Dear Families,

We’re excited to welcome all of our students and families back for a fresh new year of learning and growth. We hope your winter break was restful and filled with moments of joy. As we step into January, our classrooms are buzzing with energy, new goals, and renewed enthusiasm.

This month, students will be diving into new units, reconnecting with classmates, and building on the strong foundation they created in the fall. Our staff is ready to support them every step of the way.

Thank you for your continued partnership and for being such an important part of our school community. We’re looking forward to a wonderful start to 2026 together.

#NorcrossStrong

Sincerely,

Dr. Kassia Sutton
Proud Principal of Norcross Elementary

Need after-school care? Please see the information below. Our goal is start the program in January. Complete the link below if interested.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QV27DBP

At the Y, afterschool hours are filled with exploration, adventure, and excitement! Children can grow in a welcoming environment with a strong focus on social-emotional learning, engaging clubs, and an enhanced curriculum. Families can save over $700 per child by becoming Y members. Programs are available at multiple YMCA locations and schools across the area. For more information, feel free to email Maya Ferguson at mayaf@ymcaatlanta.org or call the Robert D. Fowler Family YMCA at 770-246-9622.

¡En la Y, las horas extracurriculares están llenas de exploración, aventura y emoción! Los niños pueden crecer en un ambiente acogedor con un enfoque en el aprendizaje socioemocional, clubes atractivos y un plan de estudios mejorado. Las familias pueden ahorrar más de $700 por niño al hacerse miembros de la Y. Los programas están disponibles en varias ubicaciones de YMCA y escuelas en toda la zona. Para más información, puede enviar un correo electrónico a Maya Ferguson a mayaf@ymcaatlanta.org o llamar a la Robert D. Fowler Family YMCA al 770-246-9622.

Please read and review our student handbook.

January 5 - Students return to school

January 13 - ACCESS Testing

January 15 - 100th Day of School

January 16 - STEM Projects due

January 19 - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Student Staff Holiday)

January 21 - STEM Night & STEM Fair at 5:30pm -7:00pm

January 26 -28 - Dental Screenings

January 30 - Local School Council Meeting/Student of the Month

Families, we want to share an important update about our English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program. Students who participate in ESOL will soon take the annual ACCESS for ELLs assessment. This test is required for all English learners and helps us understand each student’s progress in learning English.

The ACCESS test measures growth in four key language areas:

• Listening – understanding spoken English

• Speaking – expressing ideas clearly in English

• Reading – understanding written English

• Writing – communicating effectively through writing

The results help teachers plan instruction that supports each student’s language development and academic success. There is no need to study or prepare at home—students simply come ready to do their best.

Thank you for partnering with us as we support our multilingual learners. If you have any questions, please reach out to our ESOL team.

The health department will be at Norcross the last week in January to provide free dental cleanings for 1st, 3rd, and 5th-grade students. Please see the attachment for more details.

Your student will receive a dental health form today. If you would like your child to receive this service, please complete the form and return it to your child's teacher.

Thank you,
Mrs. Crapo and Ms Gonzalez

February 2 - Kids Heart Challenge Begins

February 6 - Digital Learning Day

February 11 - EES Student Survey

February 12 - 16: Februar Break/No School

February 18: Family Luncheon for 1,3, 5, & ASD

February 19: Family Luncheon for K, 2, & 4

February 20: Progress report sent home

February 26: Literacy Night

February 27: Student of the Month

Book Fair: February 19 - 27

Our 3rd through fifth graders will participate in the Georgia Milestones Assesment in April.

Teachers will send home work, assignments and resources for the day.

Meals will be provided via bus distribution for all scheduled SY26 Digital Learning Days.

Below are the future dates:

• Friday, February 6th
• Friday, March 13th

Buses will distribute lunches on the DLD days. Students do not need to be validated as GCPS students. Meals can be served to anyone 18 and under when we do bus distribution.

Projected bus schedule for bus distribution days(times approximate):

• Drivers arrive at schools 9:45-10:00
• Load lunches 10:00-10:15
• Leave schools 10:15-10:30
• Arrive at 1st stop 10:45-11:00

Please join us for our Local School Council Meeting on Friday, January 30 at 7:30am in the Media Center.

Below is a link to learn more about the purpose of the local school council.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1o0ss24hVtveiv--DPoKph7UsqN5Vc_m2/view?usp=sharing

Andrea Eberhart and Venice Hinds are our instructional coaches. Their role includes supporting teachers and students.

Use the link below for activities to ENGAGE!

Please use the link to access news from our parent center.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ROnMNAZajW5DJU7lrkewREJtAf8qT8ac/view?usp=sharing

Coming Soon!

Improving student academic and behavior outcomes is about ensuring all students have access to the most effective and accurately implemented instructional and behavioral practices and interventions possible. Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) provide an operational framework for achieving these outcomes.

Below is a picture our PBIS Matrix

Have a great summer!

PBIS Information for Families
https://www.pbis.org/family

Positive Behavior
https://www.parentcenterhub.org/pbs-resources/

Dr. Fain is our PBIS Coach.

christi.fain@gcpsk12.org

1. Create screen-free times and places in your home, such as meals and bedtime. Set do-not-disturb on phones when you want undistracted time. For younger children, it helps to have consistent and predictable media routines and time limits. Use built-in timers to make it easier for young children to transition away when time is up.

2. Have regular discussions as a family about your online activities. Discuss new areas of learning, fun discoveries, as well as difficult experiences–for both parents and children. This fosters open discussion about a sometimes-challenging topic.

3. Talk about social media. Start regular, open-minded conversations with your children (even the youngest ones!) about their media use, and yours. You don't have to be an expert on each platform to have meaningful discussions! Ask questions like: What do you like about social media platforms? How do you feel when you're on social media? And when I'm on social media? Have you seen anything concerning?

4. Make sure your kids know they can come to you about their experiences online, even if they feel embarrassed or worried. Let them know you're there to support them through challenges, since we're all learning as we go.

5. Help children understand what's real and what's edited, how to recognize ads or inappropriate content, and when influencers are being authentic versus outrageous.

6. Talk about how media and emotions connect. We sometimes crave social media when we're stressed or want to share our joy. At the same time, what we see online shapes how we feel. This is an important insight for both children and parents.

7. Set a good example. Include your own habits in discussions about social media usage. Be aware of when your attention is on your device and what you may be role modeling. When you must use your device around your family, tell your kids what you're doing and how you're supporting others online.

8. Check settings. When your child or adolescent starts a new social media or video game account, set parental controls and privacy settings at the most secure level. Discuss safety rules for who they can chat with online, how to report problematic posts and whether they can make purchases. Get familiar with how the platform works by reading about it or having your child take you on a tour.

9. Watch for signs of problematic media use. In adolescents, this could include withdrawing from friendships and hobbies. In younger children, signs include arguing about the media constantly and lack of interest in other activities. At all ages, another red flag is if time on social media, devices or video games interferes with physical activity, healthy eating or bedtime.

Happy New Year! As we begin this fresh chapter together, the start of a new year offers an excellent opportunity to pause, reflect, and focus on what matters most—our well-being.

This year, we invite families to set family wellness goals that support both physical and emotional health. Wellness doesn’t have to be complicated. Simple practices such as sharing meals, taking family walks, creating calming bedtime routines, practicing gratitude, or spending intentional, screen-free time together can make a meaningful difference.

When families prioritize wellness together, children learn lifelong habits that support balance, resilience, and self-care. Small, consistent steps can create a home environment filled with connection, calm, and encouragement.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. Wishing you and your family a healthy, peaceful, and joy-filled year ahead.

MyPaymentPlus Offers Free 24/7 Access To

• Student cafeteria balances and purchase history
• Prepayments for breakfast/lunch, with auto-pay capability
• Meet Your Teacher Day (Open House) documents
• Other fees and activities such as yearbooks, spirit wear, field trips and more!

Using your MPP Account

https://instruction.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/content/enforced/2323043-Federal_Programs_Communication_Center/MyPaymentsPlus/MPP.setup.HOW_TO.mp4?ou=2323043

Creating an Account - Spanish

https://instruction.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/content/enforced/2323043-Federal_Programs_Communication_Center/MyPaymentsPlus/Spanish%20version%20(detailed).pdf?_&d2lSessionVal=j8rIvA3AnIlKoIU3fgtWbW8eI&ou=2323043

A Parental Guide: Reviewing and Acknowledging Orientation Agreements & Title I Documents

https://instruction.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/content/enforced/2323043-Federal_Programs_Communication_Center/MyPaymentsPlus/MPP%20How%20to%20review%20report.mp4?_&d2lSessionVal=j8rIvA3AnIlKoIU3fgtWbW8eI&ou=2323043

For customer service & support on your MyPaymentsPlus account, please call 1-877-237-0946

Up-to-date Safety Equipment and Technology

Our school uses a variety of technological tools to reinforce security. These are some—but not all—of the tools in place:

• Cameras — interior and exterior
• VMS and Raptor — visitor management systems that control access doors and screen adults against National Sex Offenders Registry. Every visitor is required to show identification.
• Vestibules — Double glass door entry with bullet-resistant glass film at designated single point of entry for the school (coming soon).
• New for the 2025-2026 School Year : We have a School Safety Officer.

1. If your child has a medical alert/medical health management plan, please contact Lilana Martinez as soon as possible, and complete and return applicable forms to her in a timely manner.

2. We want our students to have a full day of learning, but sometimes illness(es) may interrupt their day. For the safety and health of your child and others, if your child gets ill at school and needs to go home, please do so promptly. If you’re unable to pick them up, please be sure that we have a current list of emergency contact(s) that we may reach out to.

We will continue our focus on the Whole Child through MTSS by using Supportive Community and Academic Press (see picture below). An example of Supportive Community is our Positive Behaviors Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Program and an example of Academic Press is the implementation of the EL Education literacy pilot for Language Arts.

MTSS is a system or framework that integrates assessment and intervention within a school-wide, multi prevention system to maximize student achievement and reduce behavioral problems. It promotes systems alignment to increase efficacy and effectiveness of resources. (Adopted for National Center on Intensive Intervention).

Implementation of MTSS is one of our LSPI goals.

A student who leaves school before the official ending time must be signed out in the office by his/her parent or guardian. Parents must report to the receptionist, not the classroom. The receptionist will call the room for the child after a photo ID (government issued) has been shown. Please remember that each time a child checks out early, we must call the classroom and disrupt instruction for everyone. Children will be called to the Front Office where they will be released to the parent/guardian. The office will not check out students after 2:30 P.M. (11:30 A.M. on early release days). Please do not ask school personnel to make exceptions.

A child will not be permitted to leave the school in the custody of any person other than the child's parent unless that person is listed as a parent/guardian or emergency contact in the school’s database. As telephone numbers and situations change, please make sure you report this information to the school so we have the most accurate information.

Arrival

• Doors open at 8:20am
• Classes begin at 8:50am

Dismissal

• The Day ends at 3:20pm

LOCAL SCHOOL COUNCIL (LSC)

The purpose of the LSC is:

• To help the local board of education develop and nurture participation
• To bring parents and the community together with teachers and school administrators to create a better understanding of and mutual respect for each other’s concerns
• To share ideas for school improvement

PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION (PTA)

We are in need of a PTA board to support our school, our students, and our faculty. The board consists of a president/co-president, vice president, treasurer and secretary. Please contact me at kassia.morris.sutton@gcpsk12.org if you are interested.

https://www.pta.org/home/About-National-Parent-Teacher-Association/Mission-Values

Volunteer

Please partner with us and commit to volunteering at our school. Volunteer activities may include: working in the media center, laminating materials, counting out documents, cutting, and filing. Please contact Eduardina Checo (eduardina.checo@gcpsk12.org) for volunteer opportunities.

September 2025 Family Newsletter:https://secure.smore.com/n/g4wrm

October 2025 Family Newsletter: https://secure.smore.com/n/dbt0qc

Principal – Dr. Kassia Sutton (kassia.morris.sutton@gcpsk12.org)

Assistant Principal – Gr. 4, 5 – Mrs. Contacia Cross (contacia.cross@gcpsk12.org)

Assistant Principal - Gr. 1, 2, 3 - Dr. Katrina Bilal (katrina.p.bilal@gcpsk12.org)

Assistant Principal - K, Special Education - Dr. LaTonya Parker (latonya.parker@gcps12.org)

Counselor - Gr. K/2/4 - Ms. Shelby Gonzalez (shelby.gonzalez@gcpsk12.org)

Counselor Gr. 1/3/5 - Mrs. Amy Crapo (amy.crapo.@gcps12.org)

Location: 150 Hunt Street, Norcross, GA, USA
Phone: 770-448-2188
Facebook: facebook.com/NorcrossElementarySchool-GCPS