Beaver Ridge ES Family Newsletter

• Mission
  

  The mission of Beaver Ridge Elementary School is to develop life long learners achieving academic and personal excellence.

• Vision
  

  The vision of Beaver Ridge Elementary is to be a community of empowered and productive lifelong learners.

Website: https://www.gcpsk12.org/beaverridgees
Location: 1978 Beaver Ruin Rd Norcross, GA 30071
Phone: (770) 447-6307
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeaverRidgeES

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beaver_ridge_es/?hl=en

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Dear Parents and Families,

I am excited and honored to welcome you and your children to the 2025-26 school year at Beaver Ridge Elementary! Our school continues to be a place where students thrive in a caring, supportive environment. The dedicated staff at Beaver Ridge are committed to nurturing every child’s academic, social, and emotional development while fostering a love of lifelong learning.

At Beaver Ridge Elementary, equity and excellence are at the heart of everything we do. Once again this year, we are proud to provide all students with essential school supplies, made possible through our Title I funding. This initiative helps remove barriers to learning and ensures that every student has the tools they need to succeed. To help us maintain this support, please complete the Online Free & Reduced Meal Application—your participation directly benefits our entire school community.

We encourage you to stay connected and informed throughout the school year. Please visit our school website, follow us on Parent Square, Facebook, and Instagram for the latest updates and announcements. We also invite you to get involved with the Beaver Ridge PTA. Your participation and support through membership and fundraisers help provide enriching programs and opportunities for our students beyond the classroom.

As a proud member of the Beaver Ridge team, I am committed to working closely with families and staff to ensure your child’s success. Let’s partner together to make the 2025–26 school year a joyful, rewarding, and memorable experience for all students.

With gratitude and enthusiasm,

Martina Luna-Liranzo

Administrative Team

• Martina Luna-Liranzo, Principal
• Jenny Abreu, Assistant Principal (Kindergarten, Special Education)
• Melissa Brandenburg, Assistant Principal (Pre-K, Specials, 3rd Grade)
• Nicole Browne, Assistant Principal (1st and 2nd grade)
• Reginald Watkins, Assistant Principal, (4th and 5th grade)

July 30 Meet Your Teacher Day

Aug 4 First Day of School

Sept 1 Labor Day (Systemwide Holiday)

Sept 19 Digital Learning Day #1

Oct 9-13 Fall Break (School Holidays)

Oct 22-23 Early Release

Students who were enrolled under any of the following conditions: Residency Affidavit, Permissive Transfer, Kinship Caregiver Affidavit, or Homeless status, must renew all proof of residency forms and documents to be enrolled for the 2025-2026 school year.

Teacher and classroom assignments will only be available for students with current, updated proof of residency. To ensure students can meet their teacher before the first day of school, parents are strongly encouraged to update these documents by July 30.

Please note the Registrar will not be available on Meet Your Teacher Day. During the month of July, staff will be available for assistance Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and by appointment prior to Meet Your Teacher.

To avoid delays, please plan accordingly and complete all requirements on time.

Beaver Ridge Elementary will have our Meet Your Teacher Day (MYTD) for the 2025-26 school year on Wednesday, July 30th from 8:30 AM - 11:30 AM. Parents can also be notified of teacher assignments via the Parent Portal. In addition, classroom assignments will be posted on our school windows in the back courtyard July 30.

During MYTD, parents of students with current registration forms for the 2025-2026 school year will have the opportunity to verify transportation, complete breakfast and lunch application, and receive information for afterschool clubs, PTA, etc.

Beaver Ridge Elementary School is once again excited to provide our students with Back-to-School supplies. These supplies will be available in classrooms on the first day of school for all enrolled students and will remain at school for instructional use.

If you choose to purchase additional school supplies for your child, they may be kept at home for use with projects and homework.

Please note: The following items will not be provided and will be needed:

• Backpack
• Water Bottle

Click here to view the Gwinnett County Public Schools Back-to-School Guide.

What You'll Find in the Online Back-to-School Guide:

• Academic and Instructional Resources
• Academic Calendar & Important Dates
• School Meals & Nutrition
• Transportation & Bus Routes
• Handbook Information for Students and Families
• ParentSquare & Digital Resource
• Special Education & Support Services
• and other useful information.

Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 7:30 AM - 4 PM

• All visitors must sign in at the welcome desk and please be prepared to provide some form of identification upon request.

Student Hours: Monday - Friday 7:45 AM - 2:45 PM

• Students should arrive between 7:45 AM- 8:10 AM

GCPS will continue to follow strict guidelines as it relates to safety & security by visitors producing identification when inside the vestibule to check out students (as well as during visiting lunch hours). Also, to familiarize our students with PBIS Expectations at the beginning of each school year, there will be no parental lunch visitation until after Labor Day.

The safety of your child and all children at Beaver Ridge ES, as well as the safety of the school staff and support personnel is very important to us. In order to maintain a safe environment for our school community to teach and learn, it is necessary that we practice our Safe Schools Plan. Our Safe Schools Plan was developed with district guidance. Part of the plan involves conducting training for staff to familiarize them with the school emergency plans.

Annually, the school resource officer and I review and complete a Safe School Plan for our school. Each year, the School Safety Plans for Gwinnett County Public Schools are approved by Gwinnett County Emergency Management Agency and are on file at each local school. These plans are shared with local police and fire jurisdictions.

As part of our Safe Schools Plans, we will be conducting various drills throughout the school year. This letter is to help you understand the importance of this as well as to understand each type of drill.

The students and staff of your school will be practicing 3 primary emergency drills each year. They are “FIRE DRILLS”; “LOCKDOWN DRILLS”; and “SEVERE WEATHER DRILLS.” Each type of drill is explained below.

FIRE DRILLS

The school will conduct a “fire drill” each month that school is in session. This is a state requirement per Life Safety Code 11-7-1. These drills are recorded on the Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner’s website. We want each student to understand and be aware of the importance of this drill and not be afraid when the fire alarm is sounded. By practicing they will know what to do and how to do it.

LOCKDOWN DRILLS

The school will conduct two “Lockdown Drills” each school year. This type of drill will secure the school building and safely shelter all students, staff and visitors inside the building. The purpose of this drill is to keep the students safe from any danger outside or inside the building. During a “lockdown drill” all of the perimeter doors to the school building will be locked and will remain locked until the danger or issue outside or inside the building is removed. To enable everyone to remain safe, no one will be allowed to enter the building or leave the building until the drill is completed.

SEVERE WEATHER DRILLS

The “Shelter-in-Place” drill will be conducted each school year. The purpose of this drill is to be prepared to move to a safe location within the building in case of severe weather or tornados.

Please remember that these safety practice drills are done to help maintain our schools as a safe place to learn and work.

If you have any questions regarding any of these Safety Drills or other safety concerns, please feel free to reach out to me.

Local School Councils meet four times per year in each learning community. The primary goals of local school councils are: to strengthen partnerships between the school and community, to improve academic achievement, to provide support for teachers and administrators, and to bring parents into the decision-making process. We are looking for parents that would like to join our School Council to provide advice and recommendations.

Local School Council meetings will be held at 4:30 pm, prior to PTA or school events, to make it easier for parents to attend. The following are the dates for the meetings:

• 09/16/2025
• 10/14/2025
• 01/13/2026
• 03/17/2026

If you are interested in joining, please complete the following survey:

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Free/Reduced Application: The free/reduced application must be completed each school year if assistance with meals, AP exam registration and/or college applications is needed.

GCPS Student Conduct Behavior Code

GCPS Handbook Information for Students and Families

Attendance Protocol: GCPS Handbook Information for Students & Families

Extracurricular Activities: GCPS Handbook Information for Students & Families

Media Release Opt-Out: GCPS Handbook Information for Students & Families

Parent AKS Overview: Overview of Academic Knowledge and Skills for your student.

Staff will be on the sidewalk to supervise students exiting their cars, beginning at 7:45. Please do not allow your child to exit the car until a member of the staff is present.

• It is very important to be courteous to other drivers. Also, please drive carefully and put your phone away to ensure the safety of our students and staff. We ask that you remain in your car and not exit. By doing so, you help us to efficiently and safely complete the arrival process with minimal delays.

• Staff will wave you forward and will let you know when it is safe for your student to exit the car.

• Car rider staff will only assist your child in exiting the car if needed.

• Please make sure your child is able to unbuckle their seatbelt and open the car door independently.

• At 8:10, staff will proceed to walk back to their classrooms. If you miss the window, you must park in a Visitor Parking space in the front of the school, and come inside to check your child in.

• On rainy days, you can anticipate a longer car rider line.

• Car Riders must be picked up no later than 3:10 pm. We will walk “late” students to the front office and reach out to a parent/guardian. You will need to pick up your child from the front office and sign a “late” form.

• Please hang your 2024-2025 car rider tag in your rearview mirror.

• Please be patient with us as we are trying to locate and load car riders every afternoon. Also, please practice reciting car rider numbers with your child so that we can load them as quickly and safely as possible!

Thank you for your help and cooperation!

We're looking forward to welcoming our new kindergarten students in the 2025-26 school year!

WHO: Parents or guardians of rising kindergartners—children who will be five years old on or before September 1, 2025.

WHAT: Register your child for the 2025-26 school year in an easy, two-step process.

WHY: Completing online registration will help us be ready to welcome your new kindergartner and make sure your child is eligible for summer enrichment activities.

HOW: Much of the registration process, including the uploading of documents needed for registration, will be completed online. Most document attachments (PDF, JPG, DOC, PNG, etc.) are compatible. The file-size limit is 2 MB.

WHERE:

Step 1—Complete online registration on the GCPS website. (Go to www.gcpsk12.org and click on the New Student Enrollment button.)

Step 2—Upload your required documents with your phone or computer, or bring them to the school. You’ll find a list of required documents on the New Student Enrollment webpage. Check the website of your child’s new school for more information. If you’re not sure which school your child will attend, go to School Locator on the district website.

​​​​You should begin online registration now, even if your child’s health records are not up to date. Be sure to complete your child’s health screening and immunizations with the Health Department or your physician before school starts on August 4, 2025.

https://www.gcpsk12.org/schools/new-student-enrollmentregistration/kindergarten-registration

Play 2 Learn is a program for children ages birth to 5 and their parents or caregivers that encourages learning through play. We are fortunate to be able to offer Play 2 Learn at Beaver Ridge ES. Click the link to learn more about the program and about how you can register.

Gwinnett County Public Schools finds that the quickest and most effective way to resolve a concern regarding your child is by addressing it at the most direct level.Addressing Concerns at School graphic

In our school district, we care about each and every student. We also believe that open and honest communication between parents and teachers is a key to student success. Thank you for partnering with your child’s teacher and school to address any concerns.

1. Teacher - First, talk to your child’s teacher or a counselor at school for assistance. Most concerns are resolved at the classroom level.

2. Assistant Principal - If the concern is not resolved at the classroom level, please contact your child’s assistant principal.

3. Principal - If working with the AP does not adequately address the issue, please contact the school principal.

This unified communications platform is designed to keep parents and guardians informed and encourage greater engagement and connection with your child’s school and Gwinnett County Public Schools.

ParentSquare provides a safe way for district administrators, school principals, teachers, staff, and parents to receive and send information, such as:

• Weather-related closings & delays
• School and class information
• Share pictures and files
• See calendar items
• Upcoming class activities

All district and school information will be sent to your computer or phone via email and/or text via ParentSquare. For even more convenience, download the ParentSquare app (available for free for iOS and Android devices).

Please frequently check our website: https://www.gcpsk12.org/BeaverRidgeES, follow us on https://www.facebook.com/BeaverRidgeES and https://www.instagram.com/beaver_ridge_es, and read all emails from Beaver Ridge Elementary School to stay up to date on all current and upcoming events, important updates, and invaluable information.