The Pulse Post Mar 16th-Mar 20th

Hello Pulse Families,

I hope you and your loved ones are doing well.

Thank you for your continued partnership and commitment to excellence. Below you can find a few important highlights and reminders for this week:

💡 Highlights:

• Superintendent Search: The GCPS Board of Education has named Dr. Alexandra Estrella as the sole finalist to serve as the next Superintendent. We are grateful to the Board of Education and Interim Superintendent, Dr. Al Taylor, for their work throughout this process and excited for what lies ahead for GCPS.

• Advanced Placement Award: McClure Health Science High School has been recognized as one of two schools in Gwinnett County Public Schools earning a Gold Honor Roll Award by College Board, showcasing our commitment and dedication to prepare our students for college and careers.

✅ Reminders:

• High School Final Exam Pilot: Continue encouraging students to attend school daily to qualify for this pilot! The pilot is an exemption procedure for students in grades 9–11 beginning this semester and continuing next semester. Under this pilot, 9-11 students who meet the criteria below in a class would be eligible to exempt the final exam for that course.

Eligibility Criteria

• Course Grades:

• 90 or higher weighted grade average in a course.

• Academic Integrity:

• No cheating or plagiarism infractions

• Attendance:

• 7 days excused and unexcused per period, per semester, excluding ACT

• School Safety: Please remind your child that all students and visitors must enter the building through the front entrance, where proper safety procedures are in place. Keeping our campus secure is a shared responsibility. Students who open side doors to allow others to enter the building may face disciplinary consequences.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support of our students and school community.

Yours in service,
Dr. Hernandez

Principal

During Georgia Board Appreciation Week (March 9–13), we proudly recognize the Gwinnett County Board of Education for their leadership, service, and commitment to student success across GCPS. We especially thank Dr. Tarece Johnson for her continued support and dedication to the students, staff, and families of our community. We are grateful for the partnership and leadership that help our Pulse community thrive.

Youth Art Month is officially underway, and we are excited to celebrate the incredible creativity of our Pulse artists!

Our students will be participating in mARTch Madness, where the community can vote for their favorite female artist and see who becomes the 2026 Champion.

On Saturday, March 8 (11 AM–4 PM), our artists will compete in a chalk art contest at Draw the District, featuring live art, vendors, music, and food.

We are also proud to have four students—Isabella Zavala, Keila Garcia-Arce, Levi Andrade, and Naomi Cruz—representing McClure at the Georgia Capitol Art Exhibit reception on March 11, where they will meet legislators and showcase their work.

Families are invited to see outstanding student artwork at the Tapestry of the Arts, taking place March 17–24 at the ISC, with a family reception on March 17 from 6–7 PM.

Community members can also support our students by becoming an Art Angel, helping us purchase at least 50 frames to build permanent galleries of student artwork throughout the school. A special thank you to Taylor Jordan and James Frew for being our first Art Angels!

Be sure to also save the date for McClure’s Spring Art Show on April 23 after school, where our talented artists will showcase their work to the community!

On Wednesday, Isabella Zavala and Naomi Cruz were able to make it to the Capitol to see their artwork represented in the annual GAEA Capitol Art Exhibit. They were able to celebrate their creative talents with State Representative Marvin Lim and State Superintendent Richard Woods among others! Keila Garcia and Levi Andrade's work were also on display proudly representing McClure's incredible talent!

ALSO......... CONGRATULATIONS TO ISABELLA ZAVALA for having her work "Can You Hear the Music" accepted into the highly competitive Atlanta High School Art Exhibition at the Dogwood Arts Festival in Piedmont Park!

Congratulations to Valedictorian Yasmin Munoz and Salutatorian Atri Roy, who were recognized this week at the Annual Gwinnett County Public Schools Valedictorian and Salutatorian Breakfast Celebration! We are very proud of them!

In the words of our district spokesperson: "It was a true honor to gather together to recognize the extraordinary accomplishments of the Class of 2026's top scholars. Their dedication, perseverance, and commitment to excellence have distinguished you among an exceptional group of peers. We are incredibly proud of you and excited to see the impact you will make in the years ahead. To our families, teachers and staff—thank you for the guidance, encouragement, and support you provide each day. Celebrations like this reflect not only individual achievement, but the collective investment of parents, teachers, principals, and our entire Team GCPS community."

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Gemini now offers free, full-length SAT practice tests in partnership with The Princeton Review, providing students with instant feedback and customized study plans. Students can explore this feature on the AI page of the Student 1:1 Support site, which is bookmarked directly on their Chromebooks.

Ramadan Information & Student Support

• Ramadan is a sacred month observed by Muslims worldwide and is a time of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community.

• Based on the Islamic lunar calendar, Ramadan is expected to begin the evening of Wednesday, February 18, 2026, and conclude on Thursday, March 19, 2026.

  
  

Meal Support for Students

• GCPS will offer meals to students fasting during Ramadan.

• Meals will be available for students to pick up and take home from February 17, 2026, through March 19, 2026.

• As we have done in the past, the cafeteria will have a designated service window open specifically for students observing fasting.

• Meals will be available at the end of the school day, prior to students heading to buses or car rider pickup.

• Families who would like their student to receive meals next week should complete the registration form by Thursday, February 19, at 4:00 p.m.

  
  

Spaces & Accommodations

• During lunch segments, students may choose to remain in the Commons or relocate to the Media Center.

• Students may use a designated area in the Media Center or request a private space through Mrs. Sly.

• Students who wish to reserve a quiet space to pray during the school day may reach out to their school counselorfor coordination.

• Parents visiting the school who would like accommodations for prayer may let a staff member know, and we will be ready to assist and coordinate those accommodations.

  
  

Our Commitment

• We are committed to honoring our students’ cultural and religious identities and supporting an inclusive and respectful learning environment for all.

Please email your student's counselor or Assistant Principal if you have any questions or concerns.

ParentSquare is our primary communication tool for school and district updates. Families can customize how and when they receive messages (email, text, or app notifications) to stay informed in the way that works best for them.

🔗 Learn how to customize your ParentSquare notifications here:
https://www.gcpsk12.org/students/handbook-information-for-students-and-families/parentsquare/customizing-your-parentsquare-experience

Please click on the link to view the January edition of our Senior Newsletter:

Senior Newsletter - January Edition

Ms. Anderson

candice.anderson@gcpsk12.org

Senior Counselor

For everyone’s safety, we encourage families to arrive earlier during carpool. Earlier arrival helps reduce congestion and keeps our students safe.

If your student arrives late to school, they will need to scan their Student ID barcode in order to receive a tardy pass. Students can access their barcode easily in StudentVUE:

1. Log into StudentVUE.
2. Click the ID icon in the bottom left corner.
3. Swipe up to display the Student ID barcode.

Please encourage your student to practice accessing their barcode ahead of time so check-in can be quick and smooth!

Link HERE

Families, please remember that students must be picked up within 15–30 minutes after an event concludes. Late pickups may result in students losing the privilege to participate in future after-school activities.

To keep dismissal safe and efficient during after-school events (such as Pink Out, Hispanic Heritage Festival, International Night, Black History Month Cookout, etc.) , please review our pick-up plan and traffic flow map before you arrive.

To help ensure smooth dismissal, please review our After-School Pick-Up Map and Plan below:
📍 View Pick-Up Plan / Map

Thank you for helping us keep all students safe and ensure that events run smoothly and on time!

Click here

Dear Parent/Guardian:

Children need healthy meals to learn. Gwinnett County Public Schools offers healthy meals every school day. Breakfast costs $1.75; lunch costs $2.50 for elementary and $2.75 at middle and high schools. Your children may qualify for free meals or for reduced-price meals. The reduced price is $.30 for breakfast and $.40 for lunch. The following information includes an application for free or reduced-price meal benefits and a set of detailed instructions. Below are some common questions and answers to help you with the application process.

• All children in households receiving benefits from Georgia SNAP or TANF are eligible for free
• Foster children that are under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court are eligible for free
• Children participating in their school’s Head Start program are eligible for free
• Children who meet the definition of homeless, runaway, or migrant are eligible for free
• Children may receive free or reduced-price meals if your household’s income is within the limits on the Federal Income Eligibility Chart. Your children may qualify for free or reduced-price meals if your household income falls at or below the limits on this chart.

1. Free or reduced meal prices for a healthy, nutritious student meal.

2. Additional funding for technology and internet access.

3. Discounts on fees associated with the college application process.

4. Discounted fees for SAT, ACT, and AP exams along with other scholarship opportunities.

5. Increased funding to support education.

Everyday, Chick-fil-A sells lunch during all lunch periods, Monday–Friday.

Menu items include:

• Chick-n-Strip™ Slider – $3.50

• Grilled Chicken Cool Wrap® (Half) – $4.50

Payments accepted: Cash or Card.

💌 Pulse Posts – Sent every Friday via ParentSquare with updates, reminders & celebrations

📱 Follow Us on Instagram:

• @mcclurehealthsciencehigh
• School-wide News & Events

📆 Check the School Calendar:

• 🔗Linked Here

Stay informed about important dates, breaks, and events

🗣️ Talk to Your Student:
Ask about what they're learning and how they're adjusting

📖 Family Engagement Tips

Check out these tips on how to engage with your student at home: 2025 eTips

MHSHS Website | Student & Family Handbook | GCPS Portal | GCPS 25-26 School Calendar |

GCPS News |

McClure Health Science High School

3921 Club Drive, Duluth, GA

770-806-7900

MHSHS Website

The Back-to-School Guide is a digital resource with district information about the new school year. Previously called the “Virtual Back-to-School Backpack,” the Back-To-School Guide will be available after July 11, 2025, by clicking HERE