Hilltop Happenings Newsletter

• 8/24- 9/4 Discovery Labs Start
• 9/7 Labor Day Holiday
• 9/15 STEAM Night 4:30-6:30 pm
• 9/21-9/25 Fall Break
• 9/29 Fall Pictures
• 10/12 Holiday
• 10/22-10/23 5th grade Rock Eagle Field Trip
• 10/30 Book Character Parade AM/Fall Festival 5:00 pm
• 11/3 Remote Learning Day
• 11/5 Bookfair Kickoff 3:30-5:30 pm
• 11/18-19 Thanksgiving Feast
• 11/23-27 Thanksgiving Break

Dear Families,

It was wonderful to see so many families attend Curriculum Night on Wednesday and Thursday! We appreciate your partnership and engagement as we work together to support student success this school year. Students and staff also enjoyed our PAW Proud Pep Rally on Thursday and Friday, where we celebrated and reinforced our school-wide PAW Proud behaviors. The excitement and school spirit were contagious as students learned the importance of being Proactive, Accountable and Wiling to Lead. We also chose the house colors for each classroom and T-shirt that will be provided by the Husky Fund. Thank you for helping us foster a positive and supportive learning community!

Stefi

At Summit Hill Elementary, bus drivers, students, parents, and school staff all share responsibility for ensuring safe transportation to and from school. All Fulton County Schools Code of Conduct rules apply while riding school-provided transportation and while waiting at designated bus stops. Riding the school bus is a privilege. To maintain this privilege, students are expected to follow all bus safety rules and always demonstrate responsible and safe behavior. This agreement is designed to help ensure that all bus riders are picked up and dropped off safely and efficiently each day.

Parents/guardians are asked to please read the contract carefully with your student(s), sign, and return it to your child's homeroom teacher. A hard copy of the contract will be sent home with students on Friday, August 14, 2026.

PAW Proud Bus Expectations

I agree to follow all bus safety rules and expectations. I will be PAW Proud on the bus by:

1. Arriving at my bus stop at least five (5) minutes before the scheduled pickup time.
2. If I am a Pre-K, Kindergarten, or 1st grade student, having a parent or guardian remain with me until the bus arrives and be present at the bus stop for afternoon drop-off.
3. Staying away from the bus until it comes to a complete stop and loading and unloading in an orderly manner.
4. Following all directions given by the bus driver.
5. Using a quiet voice so the bus driver can hear traffic sounds and communicate safely.
6. Keeping my hands, feet, and other objects to myself.
7. Always remaining seated and not standing or moving around while the bus is in motion.
8. Keeping all objects inside the bus and never throwing anything inside or outside of the bus.
9. Respecting school property by helping keep the bus clean and free from damage or vandalism.
10. Using appropriate language and engaging in respectful conversations with others.

I have read and understand the Bus Rider Contract. I understand that failure to follow these expectations may result in disciplinary action. Serious offenses may result in immediate suspension from the bus and/or school.

Disciplinary Progression for Improper Behavior on the School Bus

1st Offense

• The bus driver or school administrator will notify my parent/guardian verbally or through a School Bus Conduct Referral.
• I will receive a warning regarding the consequences of future misconduct.
• I may be assigned a seat by the bus driver or school administrator until my behavior improves.
• Additional disciplinary measures may be taken in accordance with the Fulton County Schools Code of Conduct.

2nd Offense

• A School Bus Conduct Referral will be issued.
• A school administrator will contact my parent/guardian regarding my behavior.
• I will be assigned a seat and may lose bus privileges for 2-10 school days.
• If bus privileges are suspended, my parent/guardian will be responsible for arranging transportation to and from school.

3rd Offense

• The actions listed above may continue if inappropriate behavior persists.
• I may be required to participate in a Last Chance Agreement before being allowed to return as a bus rider.
• Repeated or serious violations may result in an indefinite suspension of bus privileges.

Parents and Guardians, please complete the Student Code of Conduct acknowledgment in Infinite Campus by August 31st. The Code of Conduct for the 2026-2027 school year is linked below.

If you do not want your child's photo in the yearbook and/or your information disclosed in any directories, please submit this form to Camille Santos by August 31.

When you have a transportation change for your child, please send an email to SHEtransportation@fultonschools.org. You may also call the front office at 470-254-2830.

If you are making a change after 1:45 pm, please call the office. Kim Stengard is our new front office Professional Assistant.

Please join us in welcoming Brian Madej to Summit Hill Elementary as our School Improvement Coach for Mathematics for the 2026-2027 school year!

Mr. Madej brings nearly two decades of experience in elementary education, instructional coaching, and school improvement. Throughout his career, he has served as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, RTI coordinator, curriculum support teacher, and school improvement coach in both Fulton County Schools and neighboring districts. Most recently, he served as the Curriculum Support Teacher at Alpharetta Elementary, where he partnered with teachers and leaders to strengthen instruction and improve student outcomes.

Mr. Madej's educational background reflects his commitment to continuous learning and instructional excellence. He holds an Educational Leadership Tier I certification and an Educational Specialist degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Kennesaw State University. He has also earned endorsements in Reading, Early Childhood Mathematics, and Gifted Education, equipping him to support diverse learners and high-quality instruction across content areas. Mr. Madej earned a Master of Education in Middle Level Education from the University of Georgia and a Bachelor of Science in Education from Central Michigan University, building a strong foundation for his nearly 20 years of service in education.

Mr. Madej is excited to join the Summit Hill community and looks forward to partnering with students, staff, and families to ensure every learner thrives. We are thrilled to welcome him to Summit Hill Elementary!

Carpool begins each day at 7:10 and ends promptly at 7:40. Morning announcements and classes begin at 7:40, so please plan to arrive on time. Your child is never tardy when they ride the bus!

Afternoon dismissal begins at 2:20 and concludes at 2:45. If your child rides the bus, you can track their bus by downloading the app called Here Comes the Bus (the code is 87428 for Fulton County Schools).

Dismissal is usually slow the first week of school to ensure all students are on the correct bus so please be patient! Bus dismissal will begin before carpool dismissal, so it may run a bit later than normal.

If you would like to eat lunch with your child, you may join them for lunch after Labor Day, September 8.

If your child is absent, please email attendanceSHE@fultonschools.org to let us know they will be out. This email goes straight to our data clerk and helps us keep all student attendance on track.

Thank you!

We love to have parent volunteers at Summit Hill so please do the quick volunteer training that is required every year by clicking the link above.

Infinite Campus is the parent portal to access your child's report card and see all student records. You can access information through the link here. Please ensure your contact information is up to date and we know who is allowed to pick up your child in case of an emergency. If you need help with Infinite Campus, Carol Shenk can help you at 470-254-8919.

Volunteer sign-up is now available for Discovery Lab! This PTO Husky Fund-supported program gives every student the opportunity to participate in hands-on science experiments throughout the year. Before volunteering, you must complete the mandatory FCS Volunteer Training. Sign up here to volunteer in your student's lab slot. You must be registered on the PTO website, Membership Toolkit, to access the sign-up. Attention 4th and 5th Grade Parents: Please check which Science Block your student attends before signing up so you can select the correct lab. See you in the Lab!