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A Note from the Principal, Lakasha Lee
Greetings Hawk Families!
Safety Drill
House Bill 147, known as the Safe School Act, now requires all Georgia public schools to perform an intruder drill before October 1st of each school year. In an effort to bring some coordination to this new law for the benefit of our schools, the Fulton Schools Department of Safety & Security has developed the following implementation plan:
- ALL FCS elementary schools will do the intruder/active shooter drill tomorrow, September 8th.
- Please have a conversation with your children tonight about the drill. This is the first time that the students will hear the official announcement through our Centegix system. The drill will include features that are not commonly seen or heard throughout the school.
- They will also see things such as the strobes in their classrooms which will blink red and there will be an intercom announcement that says: This is a hard lockdown. This is a hard lockdown. This is a hard lockdown. Ensure all students are inside a classroom and lock the doors. Turn off the lights and move away from sight. Maintain silence. Do not open the door.
Please remind your children that this is just a DRILL. Our staff are prepared, and they will prepare the students to do what we would normally do during a drill- they will go in their classroom or closest (depending on where they are), lock the door, turn off the light and hide. The drill will take place for a few minutes. Once the drill is over, Ms. Truesdale will make an announcement over the intercom to let everyone know that the drill is over.
Although the active shooter drill is an important step in making sure we keep our school safe, we know the drill may be frightening for some of our students. Please find below a couple of websites that contain helpful information on how to talk to your child about this drill. If you feel your student needs additional support, please reach out to one of our school counselor, Ms. Kelsey Edwards at edwardsk3@fultonschools.org.
Below are some additional resources, in case you want to refer to them as you talk to your children:
https://www.erikson.edu/blog/how-to-talk-to-young-children-about-active-shooter-drills/
Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Families and Educators (nasponline.org)
Attendance
September is Attendance Awareness Month. Building strong, trusting relationships that promote a feeling of belonging is fundamental to improving student attendance and engagement. Let’s help students make a habit of good attendance early and often!
Did You Know?
- Regular school attendance in elementary school improves the chances that your child will read on grade level.
- Chronic absenteeism (missing 18 or more school days per year) is a primary cause of lower academic achievement even when the absences are "excused" or understandable.
- Students who attend 90% or more of the school year are more likely to graduate from high school on time.
- Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with schoolwork, dealing with peer conflicts or facing some other potentially serious difficulty, and help is available.
Fulton County Schools Attendance Policies
JB Attendance Operating Guidelines
Student Success Skills Home Connection
Next week students will learn about having a growth mindset. A well-known researcher, psychologist Carol Dweck, determined that a student's belief in his or her ability to learn had a greater impact on the student's academic success than his or her intelligence. Students with a fixed mindset believe that intelligence is determined at birth; whereas students with a growth mindset believe that anyone can learn through hard work and effort. Science supports the growth mindset theory. Helping students understand how they learn and how they can develop a growth mindset positions every student on the path for greater academic success. Please be sure to check out the SSS Home Connection to learn how you can support your child with this skill at home.
Recurring School Information
Curriculum Resources
As a general resource, Fulton County Schools has a portal dedicated solely to curriculum for all subjects. The Fulton County Parent Curriculum Hub is loaded with useful information and resources for families to help with understanding curriculum expectations for each grade level. You may follow this link to access this valuable resource https://safari.fultonschools.org/PORTAL.
Emergency/Fire Lane
We need your continued help and cooperation with parking. You may have noticed that we have now coned off parking to pick-up and/or drop-off in the front of the school. The Fire Marshal’s Office has asked us to remind motorists that it is illegal to park in any Fire Lane on school district property at any time as it is a safety issue for emergency vehicle access. Violators who park illegally in a Fire Lane on school property are subject to a fine. Thank you for your understanding in keeping safety paramount for our school community.
Early Check-outs
Our dismissal begins at 2:20pm. Early checkouts must be completed before 1:45 pm. Please make every effort to avoid early checkouts, if possible. Our instructional day does not end until 2:15 pm. Teachers and support staff are working with our students from bell-to-bell to maximize teaching and learning.
North Springs High School Spirit Night
North Springs will be having an elementary spirit night for their home game on September 8th. Students wearing Ison Springs gear will get into the game for free. There will be inflatables, face painting, games, etc. Let’s support our feeder school and show our school spirit!
Let’s Talk Fire Safety
Join Sandy Springs Together via Zoom for Sandy Springs Speaks: Let’s Talk Fire Safety & Trash on Tuesday, September 12, at 7 p.m. Here’s your opportunity to speak with members of Sandy Springs Code Enforcement and the Sandy Springs Fire Department about fire safety, trash pickup, pest control and more.
Sign up today:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScm1hmRsHOpz1aKcv29UIpUdD-_K4EiKALb04v05rNta4KW2Q/viewform
After-school Enrichment Opportunities
I am excited to share some wonderful opportunities for your children to engage in enriching experiences beyond the regular school hours. Our school is committed to providing a holistic education that goes beyond academics, and one way we achieve this is through our after-school offerings.
- YMCA After School Care (flyer sent in Thursday folder)
- Martial Arts with Master Pius (flyer sent in Thursday folder)
- Little Vet Dog School
- Thursdays from 2:30pm - 3:30pm
- 9/14 - 10/19
- $273.75/child – scholarships available by application through recreation@sandyspringsga.gov
- K-5thgrade
- 8 - 12 students total
- After “adopting” their very own plush puppy, students will role-play the key responsibilities of a veterinarian, including how to properly perform a nose-to-tail exam. These future veterinarians will learn how to sew stitches, remove ticks, make healthy treats, and vaccinate their dog.
- Registration https://secure.rec1.com/GA/sandy-springs-ga/catalog?filter=c2VhcmNoPTI2NzAyMjA=
- Little Doctor School
- Thursdays from 2:30pm - 3:30pm
- 10/26 - 12/7, excluding 11/23
- $273.75/child – scholarships available by application through recreation@sandyspringsga.gov
- K-5thgrade
- 8 - 12 students total
- Through role-play and activities, students will learn the key responsibilities of a doctor and explore the heart, lungs, and digestion. Students will use real medical instruments (stethoscope, reflex hammer, and blood pressure cuff) and practice scrubbing, suturing, and tying knots like a real surgeon.
- Registration https://secure.rec1.com/GA/sandy-springs-ga/catalog?filter=c2VhcmNoPTI2NzAyNDU=
Birthday Celebrations
Dropping off or sending in birthday treats is prohibited. Our Cafeteria may provide (at a cost to the parent) frozen treats. The price is $1.00 each for your child, and their class. All treats are big 9 allergen-free, unless indicated. There are a variety of flavors and a non-dairy option. The birthday treat meets USDA requirements for smart snacks in school. Be sure to sign-up and pay for this convenience in the cafeteria or order online: https://nutrition.fultonschools.org/CafeTakeout.
Meals
Fulton County Schools offers healthy meals daily at a reasonable price. At Ison Springs, breakfast is free for ALL students. However, lunch is $2.45. Students may qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which is $0.40. Parents can put money on their student’s account for meals and/or extra sales, view account balances and purchase history, and set up low-balance reminders by visiting www.mypaymentsplus.com. Cash or check payments can also be made at school.
The Free & Reduced Meal Benefits Program is a part of the National Child Nutrition Program. This program makes Free or Reduced priced meals available to qualifying households. Qualifications are based on the gross income of all household members and the number of persons living in the house. A NEW application must be completed for the 2023-2024 school year. The household is responsible for payment of meals until the Free and Reduced Application is approved. Free & Reduced Meal Applications available anytime online. Visit www.fulton.schoollunchapp.com to begin the online application process. Families may obtain a paper application from any school cafeteria. If able, families are encouraged to complete an online application as soon as possible. If you go to the website families will be able to receive the QR code and apply directly from your cellphones.
COVID Information
Visit https://www.fultonschools.org/coronavirus for the latest information on our county’s Covid protocols. If you/your child are or were exposed to someone Covid-positive it is imperative that you complete the online reporting form at Covid Reporting Portal and wait for further instructions from Fulton County before sending your child back to school.
Code of Conduct
Our Student Code of Conduct is available on our county website. All parents are asked to acknowledge receipt through the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. Please visit the Infinite Campus Parent Portal website to sign-off on this yearly requirement or for more information on accessing the Parent Portal. Hard copies of the Code of Conduct are available in our front office for interested parents.
Campus Parent/Parent Portal
All parents have access to the Parent Portal. This is where parents can view assignments/grades, progress reports, and report cards. If you have not created an account, please see Fulton County’s website (fultonschools.org). Please call the front office if you need additional information on how to set up an account.
Dismissal Changes
While we encourage our students to go home the same way each day, we understand that changes do happen. If you need to make a change in your child’s transportation home, please complete our Dismissal Change Form and send it to school with your child. Please do not email transportation changes to your child’s teacher – teachers do not always have time to check emails! Please contact our front office at 470-254-4020 if you have any questions about dismissal changes.
Please remember that my door is always open and that I welcome any questions and/or concerns you may have. Feel free to contact me directly at leeld@fultonschools.org.
In partnership,
Principal Lee
