Summerour Blue Devil Blast

Volume 5, Issue 2 - August 15, 2025
Dr. Looney's Message
Important Dates
Upcoming Dates
- August 16 - Saturday School
- August 16 - Garden Group in Spanish
- August 18 - Volleyball @ Berkmar MS
- August 20 - Volleyball vs. Sweetwater MS (home)
- August 20 - Curriculum Night
- August 21 - GCPS Board of Education Mtng. (Suwanee)
- August 23 - Garden Group in Spanish
- August 25 - Volleyball vs. Trickum MS (home)
- August 26 - Cheerleading Tryouts
- August 27 - Volleball @ Richards MS
- August 27 - Cheerleading Tryouts
- August 28 - Local School Council Meeting
- August 30 - Saturday School
- August 30 - Garden Group in Spanish
- September 1 - No School - Labor Day
- September 3 - Volleyball vs. Radloff (home)
This Week
First Cross Country Race Tomorrow
Race Day
Saturday, August 16
Apalachee High School
Times:
Boys Varsity - 10:15 am
Girls Varsity - 10:45 am
Coed Junior Varsity - 11:10 am
Annual Title I Parent Meeting
OUR Annual Title I Parent Meeting will be on:
Wednesday, August 20
5:30 pm
Summerour Cafeteria
It will be followed immediately by Curriculum Night at 6 pm.
Join OUR faculty and staff for a night of information about the Title I program and the middle school curriculum. If you have questions or need transportation, call Ms. Carlson (770.582.7545).
Free t-shirts for the first 70 attendees!
English
Spanish
Curriculum Night
- 5:30 pm - Title I Parent Meeting
- 6:00 pm - Attendance Matters Briefing
- 6:15 pm - Clubs, Activities, and Connections
- 6:40 pm - Curriculum with Your Child's Team
- 7:10 pm - Dismissal
Attn: Parents of Special Education Students
Gwinnett County Parent Mentors Present
For All Families of Students Receiving Special Education Services in Gwinnett County Public Schools
Topic:
“Establishing a Positive Foundation for the New School Year”
This session is highly recommended for families of students at all levels (elementary, middle, and
high school). Getting back into a routine following the summer break can be hard! This session will
provide you strategies and information to help get the new school year off to a good start. We will
be discussing ways to build collaborative partnerships with the staff at your child’s school; daily
routines; self-determination; organizing paperwork and school records; and self-care.
Presented by:
Dawn Albanese - Parent Mentor
GCPS Special Education Department
Thursday, August 21, 2025
10:00am – 11:30am Session - In Person
J. Alvin Wilbanks Instructional Support Center, 437 Old Peachtree Road, NW, Suwanee, GA
30024, Building 200, Central Gwinnett Room 2.111
Registration link for 10:00am session:
https://forms.gle/bj99Nme4kJjGxeMK6
OR
6:00pm – 7:30pm Session – Virtual
Several days prior to the scheduled meeting date, you will receive an email containing the meeting link
Registration link for 6:00pm session:
https://forms.gle/GspWrHwi8qkh622Y7
If you have any questions, please contact Dawn Albanese: dawn.albanese@gcpsk12.org , (678) 301-7212
**Interpretation services available upon request. Please make request at least a week in
advance of the scheduled meeting date. Spanish Interpretation is already secured**
CharacterStrong at Summerour
This week, our students took part in their first Character Strong lesson of the year! These lessons, which will continue throughout the year, focus on building important social-emotional skills like empathy, teamwork, and positive habits—helping students feel connected, supported, and ready to succeed.
We’re excited to see how these conversations and activities will help our students grow, both in and out of the classroom!
Family Orientation - English
Family Orientation - Spanish
Adult ESL Classes - English
Adult ESL Classes - Spanish
Going to the Norcross football game tonight?
NHS wants all our fans to have a great experience when they visit campus. There are a few guidelines for those attending NHS athletic events:
- 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 the Evolv weapons detection system will return to our athletic stadiums. Game Home Side Entry: Look for clearly marked Evolv scanner entrances and follow staff directions. Keep Your Items: Phones, keys, and wallets can stay on your person while passing through. Please plan to arrive early.
Mr. Troutt's Students
Mr. Troutt's Students
Summerour Specific
Intramurals are Underway!
Enjoy these picture from our morning Intramurals this week. If your students hasn't joined up, we'd love to see them in the mornings, starting their day with some exercise and some appropriate, face-to-face socialization. Come and join us!
Monday - Thursday
8:00 am - 8:40 am
Permission slips required: see Ms. Crider or Ms. Kepper for a form
Summerour Orientation Agreements on ParentSquare
Welcome to Summerour Middle School!
To help ensure a smooth transition and a successful start to the school year, we kindly ask that you review and complete your child’s Orientation Agreement forms.
All required documents — including the Attendance Protocol, Parent AKS, The Plan/Promise, Code of Conduct, and more — are conveniently available in one place on ParentSquare.
Please log in to your ParentSquare account to access, review, and sign all necessary forms.
Thank you for your continued partnership and support!
PTA Seeking Treasurer
Please join our PTA!
We would love for you to volunteer but we also accept donations!!! Help your PTA make a difference in your school!!
Scan the QR code or click: https://jointotem.com/ga/norcross/summerour-ms-pta
Grade Level Information
Welcome to 6th Grade!
Ms. Belinda Terry
6th Grade Assistant Principal
Ms. Tannia Sims
6th Grade Counselor
770.417.2491
6th grade science learning the properties of rocks and minerals!
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
7th grade Language & Literature works on speaking skills
Welcome to 8th Grade!
Ms. Christy Gray
8th Grade Assistant Principal
Ms. Robin Blackwell
8th Grade Counselor
770.417.2487
Scholarly pursuits in Miss Harris' 8th grade Language & Literature classes
Welcome to Gear Up!
Dr. Toni Weir
Gear Up Assistant Principal
Ms. Allegra Morgan
Gear Up Counselor
770.797.2960
Coming Soon
SmarterME: It's Time to Enroll!
SmarterME Academy is an awesome after-school opportunity provided to Summerour students. It provides STEAM and music, sports and recreation, health and well-being, homework help, tutoring, and information for parents. Please consider enrolling and getting ahead of your child's after-school needs!
2025-2026 School Year
Have you met OUR basketball team, yet?
August IB Learner Profile: Risk Takers
IB Learners are risk takers. They approach unfamiliar situations and uncertainty with courage and forethought, and have the independence of spirit to explore new roles, ideas and strategies. They are brave and articulate in defending their beliefs.
IB students transition well to challenging university settings and show resilience and determination in their work. In academics, they have the confidence to approach new or unfamiliar subjects or material.
Free 2025 Food Distribution
- 3:00pm until supplies last
- Fresh and shelf-stable foods
- No identification required
- Drive-thru distribution
Locations and Dates:
BRYSON PARK | August 26 | November 18
5075 Lawrenceville Highway, Lilburn
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
Reporting Student Absences in ParentVUE
Is your child at home sick today and you know about it?
Want to go ahead and report it now, so you don't have to remember to send a note later?
Now parents can upload their student's absence excuse(s) in ParentVUE. Linked below is a Google Slide Show that will let you know how you can report your child's excused absence as it happens.