Radloff Newsletter
Week of August 31st
Principal Updates
Greetings, Radloff Families,
We had another great week at the Lighthouse! This week, we recognized our Top 3 Teachers of the Year. Congratulations to the following outstanding educators:
Dr. Cherilyn Nunn – 7th Grade Science and Interrelated Teacher
Ms. Alondra Arevalo – Art Teacher
Ms. Emma Martey – Autism Spectrum Disorder Level 1 Teacher
These exceptional teachers will now have the opportunity to showcase their talents by recording a classroom lesson. Staff members will then vote to determine our school finalist. We wish each of them the very best. This recognition is well deserved, and we are proud to work alongside so many talented educators who help our scholars shine each day.
We would also like to congratulate our Girls Volleyball Team on their outstanding season so far! These scholar-athletes have demonstrated resilience, determination, and tremendous growth while capturing impressive wins. We encourage our Radloff community to come out and cheer them on at their upcoming games:
Monday, August 31 at 6:00 PM at Crews Middle School
Wednesday, September 2 at 6:00 PM in the Radloff Middle School Gym
We hope you will join us for our Family Engagement Event on Monday, August 31 at 9:30 AM at Radloff Middle School. Scholars whose families attend will receive 20 PBIS stamps. Light refreshments will be provided, and we look forward to spending time together as a school community. That same evening (8/31), Dr. Estrella will host a Listening and Learning Tour at McClure High School. Additional information about both events can be found below.
Monday, August 31 will also be our first PBIS Stamp Count Day. To participate in our first PBIS celebration on Friday, September 4, scholars must have:
180 PBIS stamps
No office disciplinary referrals
No Saturday School consequences
We will also have Italian ice available for purchase for $5. If your scholars wish to purchase, Italian ice available for purchase for $5. As we have spoken with scholars throughout the week, we are excited to share that many have already met and/or surpassed the criteria. We look forward to celebrating their positive choices and hard work.
Looking ahead, please mark your calendars for Curriculum Night on Thursday, September 10 at 5:30 PM. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet your scholar's teachers, learn about the curriculum, and discover ways to partner with the school to support your child's success throughout the year.
As we head into our fourth week of school, thank you for sending your scholars to school each day prepared and ready to learn. During the evenings, we encourage you to check bookbags regularly and ensure that scholars are not bringing items that may distract from learning. This is also an excellent time to help scholars organize their materials. Strong organizational habits reduce stress, increase responsibility, and help scholars access their learning more effectively throughout the school day.
Thank you for your continued partnership and support. Together, we are helping our scholars grow, learn, and shine brightly. We look forward to another successful week of teaching and learning at the Lighthouse!
NEW NOTE: Superintendent’s Advisory Council (SSAC) (Apply by September 11th)
Dr. Estrella is seeking Radloff scholars to join the Superintendent’s Advisory Council (SSAC). The SSAC provides students with a unique opportunity to meet with Superintendent Dr. Estrella, share their perspectives, provide feedback on district initiatives, and help shape the future of Gwinnett County Public Schools. This opportunity allows your scholars to demonstrate leadership potential and contribute to a larger conversation to elevate Radloff scholar voices and perspective.
Radloff scholars can find the application link is available in their Launchpad/Student Portal
Once your scholar has completed the application, parents/guardians and Radloff scholars will receive a copy of the submitted application.
- Application Deadline Extended: Friday, September 11, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.
- For more information visit the SSAC website here or click on the link below:
- https://www.gcpsk12.org/about-us/divisions-and-teams/superintendent/superintendents-student-advisory-council
REMINDER: Local School Council Opportunity
We are seeking parents to serve on the Radloff Local School Council. Please see the information below for details. If you are interested in serving, or know someone who would be a great representative, please add their name to the form provided.
Local School Council Interest Form: https://forms.gle/UnFXXmeTrNqyLBLe7
REMINDER: PBIS Celebration
Scholars have been excited about earning PBIS stamps for demonstrating respectful, responsible, and ready behavior.
📅 PBIS Event: Friday, September 4
Students who qualify will enjoy lunch outside with games and time to socialize with friends.
To participate, scholars must:
Earn 180 PBIS stamps by August 31
Have no office disciplinary referrals
Have no Saturday School consequences
Send your scholar with $5, if you want them to purchase Italian Ice.
We love celebrating positive choices and encourage you to remind your scholar to demonstrate respectful, responsible, and ready behavior each day.
REMINDER: PBIS Family Discussion Questions
Ask your scholar:
How many PBIS stamps have you earned so far?
In which class do you earn the most stamps? Why?
In which class do you earn the fewest stamps? What could help you earn more?
Hard Lock Down Drill (Monday, August 24th at 9:45 am)
On Monday, August 24th at 9:45 am,, we will conduct a hard lockdown drill at our school. Please note that this is only a drill, and there is no actual emergency.
As part of the exercise, you may notice an increased police presence on campus. This drill provides scholars, staff, and families with an opportunity to practice the procedures that would be followed during a real emergency. It also allows Gwinnett County Public Schools and our emergency response partners to evaluate our emergency operations plan and strengthen our overall preparedness and response efforts.
Thank you for your support as we work together to ensure a safe and secure learning environment for all scholars.
REMINDER: Book Break with Author Jewel Parker Rhodes
📅 September 10
We are excited for our first Book Break, featuring acclaimed author Jewel Parker Rhodes.
Through these virtual events, organized by our librarian, Ms. Dunlap, scholars can learn directly from authors about their writing process, techniques, and published works. We encourage families to sign their scholars up to participate.
REMINDER: Standards-Based Grading
As grades continue to populate in ParentVUE, we'd like to remind families that Radloff uses standards-based grading. This approach focuses on a scholar's mastery of specific standards rather than combining scores into a single overall grade. Progress reports will be emailed home on Friday, September 4th. In the meantime, families may continue to monitor grades and academic progress through ParentVUE at any time.
REMINDER: Virtual Author Visits
Book Breaks are virtual author visits. You can sign up to attend a livestream event in the library and even submit questions that could be answered by the author during the event! If you would like to sign up for the next event and/or ask a question, complete this form.
Reminder: Chromebooks & Digital Responsibility
Parents/guardians, we need you to periodically review shared Google Docs and other collaborative online tools used by your scholar to help ensure that communications, comments, and contributions remain appropriate, respectful, and aligned with school expectations for digital citizenship and academic integrity.
Regularly review shared Google Docs, Slides, Sheets, and other collaborative platforms used for school assignments.
Monitor comments, chat features, suggestions, and editing activity within shared documents to ensure appropriate and school-related communication.
Discuss digital citizenship expectations, including respectful online interactions and responsible collaboration with peers.
Encourage your scholar to report inappropriate comments, messages, or content shared within collaborative documents.
Remind your scholar that activity within shared Google documents may be visible to teachers and school administrators and is subject to school conduct policies.
We thank you for your support and for ensuring that your scholar uses this school-issued device appropriately to enhance their understanding of the standards. We also thank you for working with your scholar to ensure that devices are returned fully charged each day.
Reminder; PBIS Event (Lunch Outside) Friday, September 4th
Our first PBIS event will take place on Friday, September 4, and will include lunch and outdoor games. To participate, scholars must earn 180 PBIS stamps during Weeks 1 through 4. Be sure to ask your scholar, "How many PBIS stamps did you earn today?" "What respectful, responsible, or ready action did you demonstrate today to earn your PBIS stamp?"
Reminder: 1:1 Chromebook Devices (Going Home Daily)
This year, scholars will take their school-issued Chromebook home each day. This transition provides additional opportunities for learning and practice through platforms such as Imagine Reading, Progress Learning, i-Ready, Amplify, Desmos, Wayground, and others.
To ensure scholars are prepared for learning each day, please help your child establish a routine for bringing their fully charged Chromebook to school daily. Devices should remain in bookbags so they can be scanned efficiently through the Evolve Express screening system each morning.
Please note:
Scholars are responsible for the care and safekeeping of their assigned device.
Lost or damaged devices may result in financial obligations and, depending on the circumstances, disciplinary consequences.
Chromebooks should be used solely for educational purposes and to support classroom instruction.
Inappropriate use of school-issued technology will be addressed according to district guidelines.
Thank you for partnering with us to make our 1:1 take-home Chromebook program successful.
Reminder: Away for the Day & Board Policy JCDAF
To support a focused learning environment and minimize distractions, Radloff Middle School will continue implementing our Away for the Day procedures, which align with Georgia law and Gwinnett
County Board Policy JCDAF.
During the instructional day, cell phones must be:
Powered off.
Stored in students' bookbags.
Kept in designated classroom storage locations as directed by teachers.
Please reinforce these expectations with your scholar before the first day of school. Cell phones may not be carried on a student's person during the school day and must remain off and away at all times.
Gwinnett County Public Schools has established an eight-step progressive discipline process for violations of this policy. Scholars will review these expectations and consequences during the first 20 days of school.
We encourage families to review the resources below to learn more about the benefits of reducing cell phone distractions during the school day.
Additional Resources
Academic Research: https://www.awayfortheday.org/studies-academics
Georgia Law Information: https://www.awayfortheday.org/latest-news/georgia-school-districts-must-have-cell-phone-ban-policies-in-place-by-july-1
Student Accident Insurance
Gwinnett County Public Schools provides families with the opportunity to purchase optional student accident insurance through K&K Insurance.
Families interested in learning more can visit:
Dear Families,
As we begin a new school year, we're excited to welcome your scholar back and look forward to a successful year of learning and growth. One of the most important ways you can support your scholars success is by making sure they come to school every day, on time.
When students miss too many days - whether it's a few here or there or several in a row - they can quickly fall behind in their learning. Even just two days a month adds up and can make it harder for your child to keep up with classmates, stay confident, and feel connect at school.
Good attendance helps your child do well in school now and builds strong habits for the future. If you're facing challenges that make it hard for your child to get to school, please don't hesitate to reach out. We're here to help.
If your scholar needs to miss school for any reason, please contact their homeroom teacher as soon as possible. When students are out, they do miss valuable instruction and classroom activities. Notifying the teacher allows us to prepare and support your scholar in catching up when they return.
Thank you for partnering with us to make this a great year!
Common Teen Excuses are Not Reasons to Skip School
Some teens are full of excuses about why they should be allowed to miss school. Many excuses are indications that your teen needs to make some changes. If your teen claims to need more sleep or more time to work on a project, suggest going to bed earlier or getting more organized. Constantly trying to stay home, however, may be a sign of a larger issue you might want to discuss with your teen's counselor.
Las Excusas de los Jóvenes No Son Motivos Válidos para Faltar a la Escuela
Algunos estudiantes tienen miles de excusas para faltar a la escuela. Muchas de estas excusas son señales de que se necesitan algunos cambios. Si su joven dice que necesita más horas de sueño o más tiempo para trabajar en un proyecto, sugiérale que se acueste más temprano o se organice mejor. Sin embargo, si trata de faltar a clase sistemáticamente, podría tratarse de un asunto más importante que debería hablar con el consejero escolar de su joven.
Click on the words "We Need Parent Volunteers" in the title, the link below, or scan the QR code to sign up.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1nx6HnTQJd23kT-rZl22bMIO-8eHZMzEv3jwiueHtU78/edit
What is Parent Square?
Here are some helpful links that explain about Gwinnett County's new Parent Square message application and how to navigate it.
Parent Portal
It is very important for you to have as a parent. You will be able to keep track of your student's grades, schedule, attendance, behavior, and email your student's teachers at the click of a finger. Furthermore, the 2nd semester schooling option survey is only present inside the Parent Portal.
To explore information about ways to sign up for the Parent Portal, click below.
Step 1: Complete application. (English)
Application (Spanish)
Other applications are available in other language through this link: https://publish.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/gcps/myhome/public/parents/content/parent-info-resources/parent-portal
Step 2: Once the application is completed. To protect your students' records, you will have to verify your identity by showing a valid ID. Your options for are as follows: 1) Come up to the school. 2) After your have scanned and sent in completed and signed application to 637.radloffeoc@gcpsk12.org . Set up virtual appointment for school to verify your identification alongside the application.
Step 3: Wait to receive email from go2gwinnett.k12.ga.us (Please check spam or junk email as the email path may take it there first.)
In order to increase the convenience for you to complete this process, we are offering the fol extended office times.
Frequently Asked Questions: https://publish.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/gcps/wcm/myconnect/f0552031-cfcc-4755-a223-066c9cca70e3/2020-21-Parent-Portal-Signup-Flyer_FINAL.eq.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CVID=nkDFt-Z
Come to the front of the school, ring the bell, and ask for a Parent Portal application.
Louise Radloff Middle School
"We are respectful."
"We are responsible."
"We don't have to get ready, because we stay ready."
Email: Jennifer.Callahan@gcpsk12.org
Website: https://www.gcpsk12.org/RadloffMS
Location: 3939 Shackleford Road Duluth, Georgia 30096
Phone: (678) 245-3400
Facebook: facebook.com/Radloff Middle
Twitter: @RadloffMiddle