Smith's Summer Slice

Reminder:

The building is closed this summer for renovations. Classrooms are getting new lights, ceiling tiles, and floors. The hallway floors, ceilings, and lights will be done next summer with HVAC.

Dear Families,

I hope that you are still enjoying the summertime. I am getting more excited every day about the first week of school. We are still not able to get into our building, but I did take a sneak peek at the classroom with the project manager. The classrooms are going to look beautiful. The new lights, ceiling tiles, and floors are a wonderful upgrade. We will have work done next summer to do the hallways and HVAC.

On a different note, I know that this is the first email that our 6th-grade families are receiving, and I want to officially welcome you all! We cannot wait to have our newest Titans on campus. Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions, comments, or concerns. This week is a busy week, but I am taking my computer home every night to work through emails. So please feel free to email me!

smithaj3@fultonschools.org

With gratitude,
AJ Smith
Principal, Elkins Pointe Middle School

It Takes a Village

All 6th and 7th graders for the 2026-2027 school year must provide two documents for residency verification. If you have a returning student in 8th grade, you will need to submit proof of residency if there has been an address change.

Visit this link to fill out the form and attach your documents:

https://form.jotform.com/smithaj3/residence-verification-form

You must attach one current Utility Proof AND one current Residency Proof from the lists below:

Utility Proof Options:

• Water Bill

• Electric Bill

**Please Note: Gas Bills CANNOT be accepted

Residency Proof Options:

• Home Mortgage Bill

• Home Sale Contract

• Current Apartment/House Lease

• Section Eight /HUD Housing Document

• Current HOA Bill

• Current Year Tax Bill or Assessment

Please be sure to fill out the form and attach both documents prior to the first day of school on August 4th.

Who:

All students and parents of Elkins Pointe Titans for 2026-2027 are invited.

What:

An opportunity to walk your child's schedule, meet the teachers, and get all the curriculum information needed for the school year!

When:

July 30, 2026

6th Grade: 9:00 - 12:00

7th and 8th Grades: 1:00 - 3:00

This is NOT a drop-in event; please arrive early to meet all the teachers and get all the information you need for the year!

Where:

Elkins Pointe Middle School

11290 Elkins Road

Roswell, GA 30076

Enter through the front doors to the rotunda (pictured above).

Why:

We want you to be informed and involved! Getting a practice run at walking your schedule will help you be more successful on day one of school. It is also a time to sign up for clubs and athletics. You will get your bus information and more!

How:

Please arrive early, as the parking lot will fill fast. You can expedite the process by locating your schedule in Infinite Campus. If you are unable to do that, your first period will be listed in the gym. Once you arrive, you will walk straight to your child's first period class.

As you prepare for an exciting new school year, be sure to stop by the Elkins Pointe PTSA table during Information Day!

Join the PTSA and become part of a community of parents, guardians, teachers, staff, and students working together to make our school even stronger. Your membership helps fund programs, support teachers, recognize students, and create opportunities that benefit every child.

Join here for the 2026-27 School Year https://jointotem.com/ga/roswell/elkins-pointe-ms-ptsa

While you’re visiting on Information Day, consider bringing new school supplies (see list below) to donate to our Giving Closet. Simply drop your donations in the shopping basket at our table. Your generosity helps ensure every Elkins Pointe student has the supplies they need for a successful start to the school year.

Be sure to stop by our table for:

• 🎉 Fun prizes and giveaways
• 🤝 Information about PTSA membership
• 📅 Volunteer opportunities that fit any schedule
• 💙 A chance to make a difference in our school community

Whether you have an hour a month or a few hours a semester, there’s a place for you! Volunteers are needed for a variety of activities, including:

• Making copies for teachers
• Handing out pizza and treats during staff appreciation events
• Selling items in our Titan store on Wednesday before school

This year, there is a price increase for all meals by $0.25. Please make sure to check out the chart below. Also, if your child was on free and reduced lunch last year, the new applications open on July 25th. These applications must be completed every year. If your child was not on free or reduced lunch last year, don't hesitate to complete the application to see what your child might qualify for.

Parents,

If your child earned all A's, B's, and/or A's and B's in Spring of 2026, you are invited to join us on August 25th for 7th Grade and August 26th for 8th Grade. Both ceremonies will start promptly at 8:30 AM in the cafe.

* For Clarity - When the flyer states the grade level is your student's CURRENT grade level.

No email invitations will be sent. Please verify your child's final grades on Infinite Campus.

For questions, please reach out to AJ Smith at smithaj3@fultonschools.org or Ashley Russ at RussA@fultonschools.org

Watch for important bus route updates
for the 2026-2027 school year

What’s happening:

Fulton County Schools will be updating and improving bus routes over the summer for the 2026-2027 school year.

What this means for families:

• Bus routes may be updated for some streets and neighborhoods.
• Pick-up and drop-off times could shift significantly.
• Most bus stop locations will remain the same, but there could be some changes.

What parents should do now:

• New route information will be available July 17, 2026.
• Review your child’s bus information before the first day of school.
• Check the Here Comes the Bus app regularly for updates, delays, and notifications.
• Final route information will also be available in Infinite Campus – Transportation tab.

Why it matters:
Reviewing transportation details early can help families have a smoother start to the new school year.

What’s next:
Additional reminders and updates will be shared throughout the summer.

Questions?

Contact North Transportation 470-254-2970

Fulton County Schools uses SchoolCash Online as our preferred method of payment for school fees — from field trips and yearbooks to athletic fees and more. It's free, secure, and takes less than two minutes to set up.

Get started here: https://fultonschools.schoolcashonline.com

How It Works

SchoolCash Online is the industry-leading platform for safe and secure school fee management, trusted by schools across North America. After you create a free account, you will be notified automatically of all your child's associated fees — so you're always in the loop. You can then browse, purchase, and pay online at any time, from any device.

Why It's Worth Signing Up

• Pay anytime, anywhere — no cash sent to school with your child

• Automatic notifications when new fees or activities are posted

• All your children's fees are managed from one account

• Full payment history and receipts available at any time

• Your payments go directly to the school's bank account, freeing up teachers and staff to focus on students

Register in Under 2 Minutes

Visit https://fultonschools.schoolcashonline.com and click Register. You'll need your name, email address, and your child's school details.

Need help? Visit schoolcashonline.com/Home/Support to reach the SchoolCash Online parent help desk.

Cell Phone Expectations:

• Phones are to be put away upon entering the building each morning
• Phones should not be visible (no back pockets)
• Phone use will be permitted once the dismissal bell rings each day at 4:05 PM
• If a phone is seen, it will be collected and turned in at the front office.

Discipline Cycle for Phones:

• If a teacher or administrator collects a student’s cell phone and/or headphones, the student’s parent/guardian will be notified and be required to pick-up the device in the front office when school is dismissed. Office hours are 8:30am – 4:30pm.

Dress Code:

• Underwear should be hidden under clothing at all times.
• Stomachs and belly buttons should be covered at all times.
• Hats and hoods are not permitted, except for religious reasons.
• AirPods and phones should not be worn. If headphones are needed, the teacher will allow wired use only.

Discipline Cycle for Dress Code Violations:

• Every offense will be a correction of the behavior in real time.
• Headphones and AirPods will be collected and turned in at the front office.
• Showing underwear or stomachs will be given a shirt from the donation collection at the school. Students will be required to wear this shirt for the remainder of the day.

Parents,

The above list is for your child, but we are also asking that you help stock up the teacher's classrooms by donating the following items:

• Tissues (Kleenex)
• Clorox wipes,
• Markers
• Glue Sticks
• Hand Sanitizer
• Expo Markers (Dry-Erase Markers)

We kindly ask that you submit all donations to the PTSA table at Information Day!

Thank you for helping us stock up on supplies to ensure the best learning environment for your child.

Join us as we bring Georgia Studies to life on an exciting three-day adventure across our state! Students will visit Georgia Southern University, experience history firsthand during the interactive Student Militia Program at Old Fort Jackson and enjoy a stop on Tybee Island before spending two nights in Savannah. Highlights include a ranger-led tour of Fort Pulaski National Monument, hands-on learning at the Tybee Island Marine Science Center, climbing the historic Tybee Island Lighthouse, and exploring Savannah's Historic District aboard a guided trolley tour. The trip also features an evening Savannah Riverboat Dinner Cruise with music, dancing, and beautiful river views. On our final day, students will visit Georgia's historic capital, Milledgeville, touring the

magnificent Old Governor's Mansion, a Smithsonian Affiliate Museum, and enjoying lunch at Georgia College & State University before returning home. This unforgettable journey combines Georgia history, government, coastal ecology, and college exploration into an engaging experience that brings classroom learning to life.

We will host a short information session about this trip at 12:30 PM on July 30, 2026. This is right before the 8th session for Information Day. Please plan to join us in the gym for more details about the trip.

Book By: September 1st, 2026

At: www.aplus-tours.com

Trip Code: ElkinsPointe2027

Trip Price: $555 per student

School Opens at 8:25 AM

Students can walk to class at 8:45 AM

Announcements run at 8:50 AM

Class Starts at 8:55 AM

Lunch -

6th Grade 10:58 - 11:28

7th Grade 11:42 - 12:07

8th Grade 12:36 - 1:01

***For the first week, these times will be off as we work to get everyone fed.***

School ends at 4:05 PM

No after-school activities the first week.

Buses and carpooling will run slowly in the first week. Please plan accordingly.

As we prepare for the 2026-2027 school year, we want to ensure that all student schedules are accurate prior to Information Day on July 30th. Please see below for a few scheduling reminders as we continue to verify student schedules over the summer.

• The course verification process was completed in two rounds, one during the week of March 9th-16th and again from March 23rd – 30th. During this process, students and parents had two opportunities to review students’ course recommendations and submit any necessary changes.
• Course recommendations are based on the FCS Placement Guidelines.
• Rising 7th and 8th Grade students were able to choose their connections prior to the course verification process. The connection courses that were assigned to each student were available to review during the course verification process in March.
• Academic Course Placement Waiver Forms should be submitted no later than July 29th. We will not accept waivers after that date.
• Schedule changes will not be made after July 31st unless there is a scheduling error (i.e. missing course, duplicate course, incorrect course level).
• Please note that we will not be making changes to student schedules for the following: Change in General Connections Course, Change in Order of Courses, Change in Teacher.
• Mrs. Tew is the Curriculum Assistant Principal over scheduling and can be reached at tewm@fultonschools.org for any scheduling questions you may have prior to the start of the school year.
• EPMS Scheduling Office Hours will be offered over the summer. See the flyer below for details.

Thank you for your help as we prepare for a smooth start to the 2026-2027 school year!

Please see the below information regarding bus lookup, how to register for the "Here Comes the Bus" app, and our carpool lines. Parking in staff parking and the red areas are prohibited during dismissal.

Parents, please note this important information from the Fulton County District Health Services:

For enrollment in Fulton County Schools, students must have a Certificate of Immunization (Form 3231) that is either marked "Complete for Attendance” or has an expiration date in the future. Expired certificates will not be accepted.

We strongly encourage you not to delay in having your student vaccinated. Georgia law only allows two types of exemptions from immunization requirements: Medical exemption (must be documented by a healthcare provider) or Religious exemption (must be documented using the Department of Public Health Form 2208 – Affidavit of Religious Objection to Immunization), signed and notarized. Every student must have one of the following on file: A valid Georgia Certificate of Immunization (Form 3231) or a signed, notarized Religious Exemption - Department of Public Health (Form 2208). Parents/legal guardians are also responsible for securing and maintaining a copy of the Form 3300 – Vision, Hearing, Dental, and Nutrition Screening.

Students who do not meet Georgia's immunization requirements will be excluded from school until the required updated documentation is provided, per state law. For more information: Visit the Georgia Department of Public Health Immunization Section: http://dph.georgia.gov/immunization-section or the Fulton County Schools website: www.fultonschools.org. For specific questions, please contact your healthcare provider or local health department.

Please sign up for tryouts for the EPMS Soccer Team! Please see the link below to complete the interest form for 7th and 8th graders only. After completing the form, upload the FCS Athletics-required documents to RANK ONE. Instructions for required forms are on the website or in Titan Talk. This MUST be completed by Friday, August 8th. Students will not be able to try out without the forms completed on Rank One. Tryouts will be on Wednesday, 8/18, and Thursday, 8/19, from 4:30-5:30 PM. Parents, please pick up your students promptly.

** Please note that these tryout dates have been corrected. The first two editions of Summer Slice also reflect these dates as well.

Please let us know your child's interest in trying out by completing the short form: Soccer Interest Form – Fill out form

Any questions, please reach out to Coach Pickering, e-mail: pickeringb@fultonschools.org