News from Elkins Pointe Middle School Edition 2013-2014 Issue 8

October 25, 2013

Hello, Titans!

What a great week here at EPMS! Our 8th graders gave their very best for the ITBS test, the Reflections students were celebrated, our Orchestra concert was fabulous, and teachers are trying their new Kagan Cooperative Learning strategies from our workshop last week. A special thank you to parents who reached out to me with clarifying questions about the unfortunate events of last week. I always prefer that you come to me rather than listen to speculation.

On Monday we celebrated our students who received all A's and B's on their recent progress report. Pictured here is 7th grade. We had a wonderful day of sunshine and fun on the Titan field. Each grading period we plan to celebrate different achievements, and this group thoroughly enjoyed this celebration.

This week at EPMS

Let's Celebrate!

Did you know that EPMS has the honor of hosting not one but two exchange programs from Japan this year? That's right! During the first week of November, we will welcome a group of teachers from Japan who are visiting the United States to learn about our education system in addition to a group of students a few days later. These students will stay with host families in the EPMS community, allowing them to have a great cultural immersion experience during their short stay. We are so proud of our spectacular Japanese program and our illustrious Johnson Sensei who makes all of this possible.
This morning our gracious PTSA hosted a wonderful breakfast for all students that participated in this year's Reflections Competition. The winners were announced at the breakfast, and we would like to extend our proud congratulations to the following students:

o In Visual Arts:

6th graders Thomas Penhallegon (1st place), Jordan Shroyer (2nd place)
7th graders Brielle Trygg (1st) and Alexandra Cross (2nd)
8th graders Rhea Daswani (1st) and Perla Osta (2nd)
Special Artist Mikala Drake (1st)

o In Photography:

6th graders Casey Lyons (1st) and Connor Haajj (2nd)
7th graders Madelyn Puckett (1st) and Stephanie Albregts (2nd)
8th graders Lindye Kent (1st) and Savannah George (2nd)

o In Literature:

6th graders Owen Carney (1st) and Brooke Hicks (2nd)
7th graders Isabel Barnard (1st) and Lucas Rary (2nd)
8th graders Kayla Parish (1st) and Katelyn Williams (2nd)

o In Music Composition:

7th grader Orhan Eribac (1st)
8th grader Megan Haines (1st)

o In Dance Choreography

8th grader Gabby DuChateau (1st)

o In Film & Video

6th graders Danny Travers (1st) and Joshua Kornetzke (2nd)
7th graders Ashlyn Osborne (1st) and Elizabeth Nicholson(2nd)
8th grader Hannah Paul (1st)
Overall Winners: Danny Travers (1st) and Ashlyn Osborne (2nd)

Way to go Titans!

Let's Stay Informed

Listed here are the candidates for our Local School Governance Council. Over the next weeks, I will share information about them and invite them to attend events and introduce themselves. If you have not picked up your Home Access Center username and password yet, please do so. Not only can you check your students grades and stay informed but you will also need it to vote. Remember we will select one 1 year parent and two 2 year parents.

First Name	Last Name	Role	Email	Term
Daryl	O'Hare	Parent/Guardian	doharecsc@gmail.com	1-year
Alegra	Goulbourne	Parent/Guardian	alegrag@gmail.com	1-year
Laurie	Cullen	Parent/Guardian	claurie@bellsouth.net	2-year
Casey	Mellor	Parent/Guardian	caseymellor@hotmail.com	2-year
Jennifer	Koon	Parent/Guardian	jkoon@bellsouth.net	2-year
Kristine	Allen	Teacher	allenkm@fultonschools.org	1-year
Susan	Grigsby	Teacher	grigsby@fultonschools.org	2-year
Karen	Jones	Teacher	jonesko@fultonschools.org	2-year
Todd	Wilson	Teacher	wilsonte@fultonschools.org	2-year

We are excited to kick off our Red Ribbon Week starting Monday.

Monday- "Being Drug Free has a lot to offer" - Students wear red and will be randomly selected to get a gift from a grab bag.
Tuesday- "Let's 'sock' out drugs!" Wear your crazy socks and see how much fun you can have drug free.
Wednesday- "Let's team up against drugs." Wear your favorite team sports T-Shirt.
Of SPECIAL NOTE - On this day I have invited Roswell Police to bring the K-9 unit to EPMS and do a sweep of the school. While this sweep is announced in an effort to educate the students, Roswell PD will return periodically throughout the year for similar sweeps that will be unannounced. It is important that our students understand the legal ramifications of doing drugs as well as our strong commitment to keeping EPMS drug free.
Thursday- "Put a cap on drugs" - Wear your favorite cap (hat) to school.
Friday- "I pledge to live drug free" - Students will sign a red poster board in their advisement classes, pledging to be drug free. On Friday, students will also have the unique opportunity to attend an assembly during Connections: "A DOSE OF REALITY" presented by LINDA DUTIL, RN. In her experience as an emergency room nurse, Linda Dutil, R.N., has seen the impact of poor decisions young people sometimes make. As a result of these experiences, she has developed an educational and attention-grabbing 45 minute assembly program titled, "A Dose of Reality."

Would you be interested in volunteering for our school media center? Whether it be on a regular basis or for special events, Mrs. Grigsby is always looking for help. Please email her at: grigsby@fultonschools.org.
If you are interested in being part of Reading with Titans this year but have not had time to contact us, we are getting ready to start soon! Please email Ms. Alice Smith if you are interested, smitha1@fultonschools.org.
Where do you grocery shop? Get FREE MONEY for our school every time you shop- Kroger, Publix or Target -we get $$$$! Kroger has a new program. Click here for details on how to register. Publix cards are at the front desk, and Target dollars are tied to your Red Card if you choose EPMS! This is one of the only fundraisers that we do for general school funds, so your support means more than you know.

Club News

Interested in Wrestling? Roswell JR Hornets is recruiting wrestlers for our 2013-2014 season Who: OPEN TO ALL STUDENTS (male and female) Ages 7 through 14 as of 12/31/13. Practices Start November 4, 2013 for both Middle School and Elementary School (Playing football? No problem, we have plenty of football players who start later). Middle School Division - Mondays 7:00 to 8:30. Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:00 to 7:30. Elementary School Division - Mondays and Wednesdays 6:00 to 7:30. All practices are at the Underground. 925 Woodstock, RD Suite 102B. Next to Mellow Mushroom.
Roswell Jr Hornets Girls Lacrosse Tryouts - Tryouts for 7th and 8th grade girls who are interested in playing for the Roswell Jr Hornets girls lacrosse team will be held on Nov 9 at 9AM to 12 noon at Roswell North Elementary. Sign ups are through the Roswell Recreation and Parks web site. The course number is 33018-03. Any questions email Ron Dover at rondover@charter.net

I hope that all of you have a lovely weekend with plenty of sunshine and rest. Maybe I will see you at the 6th grade game for the Junior Eagles and Junior Hornets on Saturday, or maybe the Lowe Lane Festival that same afternoon. Either way, enjoy your time and come back to us safely on Monday.

Your partner in education,