News from Elkins Pointe Middle School Edition 2013-2014 Issue 27

April 25, 2014

Happy Friday, Titans!

We have had a smooth week of testing this week. I have been so proud of the students, taking their time and being so careful. With all of the hard work that our teachers have put forth this year, I truly believe we will see great gains in the results this year. One more day of testing on Monday: Social Studies. Be sure your child gets plenty of rest and is here on time, ready to show off what they know!

As we approach these four weeks of school (hard to believe, I know!) there is a lot for us to remember and track with our calendars, especially with all of the time changes due to the snow days. So please pardon the long list of details.

This week at EPMS

Let's Celebrate!

Thank you to our PTSA who has recently funded the purchase of Scientific Calculators for our students that take high school courses. This will be an amazing addition to the hard work that Mr. Kinberg, Mrs. Steedly, and Ms. Pugh do in their classrooms. And since we'll be adding a high school Physical Science Class next year as an option, that class will benefit as well! Thank you, PTSA.
Congratulations to Madelyn Puckett who won the GA River of Words Environmental Poetry and Art Project as a representative for our school. We are so proud of her and the work that her teacher Mrs. Okiyama did to help her prepare.
Congrats to Hannah Nicholson, who recently competed in the Magnolia Arabian Horse Show, where she performed so well that she qualified for the Southeastern Regional Championship in May. Good luck, Hannah!
Our Media Specialist extraordinaire Susan Grigsby was recently honored by the Georgia Tech Research Institute's STEM program (STEM@GTRI) and the Georgia Tech Institute for People and Technology (IPaT) who accepted her poster abstract, MTV 2.0: Video Production in a Standards-Based World. It will be on display at GA Tech on May 15th for the May Explorers Guild Meeting.
Has your child recently received a recognition? Be sure to let me know!

Informational Items:

Don't forget that this Tuesday, April 29th is our first Annual Community Cares Event - 6:00pm! Come on out and give input on our School-Wide Plan for both Title I and Governance Council purposes. Learn more about our recent CCRPI score and participate in conversation about the future of Elkins Pointe.

NOTE TIME CHANGE: Originally I planned to hold a CCRPI meeting at 5:30pm but have decided to make it part of the event at 6:00. See you then!

THIS SUMMER: 2014 Title I Camp HB3 that is offered FREE to K-8th Title I students. June 10 - 20, breakfast and lunch provided. Location will be Mimosa Elementary on the north end. Applications are due by Friday, May 2, 2014. Interested? Click here for the flyer in English and Spanish and go to this link to submit an application: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1OQPbZB39nVO80O-pe_osAgHWH4LEDWM1hoZaBZ7lFxc/viewform
On May 8th, both Roswell HS and Milton HS will be here at EPMS to meet with the 8th grade TAG students during 1st period. This meeting is for students only and will be an opportunity for the students to learn about how TAG works in high school.
On Monday, May 12th, we will have Farmer Visits during lunch. Both dairy and blueberry farmers will visit the school and have displays for students to ask questions and learn about the agricultural process for GA milk and blueberries. A few samples will be provided as well. We hope that this will be of interest to the students and encourage them to think about supporting the local economy.
Would your child be interested in a Robotics Club at Elkins Pointe MS next year? Robotics clubs can be a lot of fun and build skills that are critical to higher order thinking as well as social skills such as teamwork and perseverance. Several parents are interested in hosting a club next year, but first we need to see if there are students who are interested. Do you think your child would be? Let me know by emailing me at springmanm@fultonschools.org.
Don't forget! Beginning with the 2014-2015 school year, children entering 7th grade who were born on or after January 1, 2002 and for new students entering into a Georgia school grades 8th through 12th must show proof of receiving the following prior to entering school:

One dose of Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccine; and
One dose of Meningococcal conjugate vaccine
Click here for more specific detail in: English Spanish

If your child is going to Milton High School next year they should have received a course verification form this week. If your child needs any corrections to their schedule please be sure to return it with the corrections to Mr. Mitchell on Monday April 28th.

END OF YEAR Special Events:

It's time for the 8th grade dance! The students are so excited, and tickets go on sale next week! Click here for the permission form in English and Spanish with all of the details. Be sure to read it carefully as it includes lots of detail including the dress code. But here are the basics:
A Night in Paris
Ticket price: $15.00 (CASH only)
Ticket sales: April 30, May 1-2, May 5-9
(Sales in the atrium before school and during 8th grade lunch)
Permission slip must be returned at time of ticket purchase.
Students must attend school until at least 12:00pm on May 9 and must have note to be released early.

Final Exams will be May 20th - 22nd for all three grades. 6th grade will take their final assessment of the year, while 7th and 8th grade will have cumulative exams. Look for study guides to come home on or before Friday May 16th.

May 23rd, the last day of school will be full of celebrations and award ceremonies. This is a great day for our students to celebrate all of their hard work and for parents to join in the celebration. Students are expected to dress nicely for the ceremonies, though their attire should meet school dress code (no strapless or backless dresses). Times for the Award Ceremonies are as follows: 8th grade at 9:00am, 6th grade at 12:15pm, and 7th grade at 2:15. While each and every 8th grader will be recognized, the 7th and 6th grade ceremonies will be for specific recognition of certain students, not the entire grade level. Parents are welcome to check their child out at the close of the ceremonies, in the front office.

Business Partner Spotlight

Mathnasium is now offering Elkins Pointe Middle School families a special discount by providing free registration ($50 value) when you enroll by May 31, 2014. Mathnasium is located in the Roswell Corners Shopping Center (Super Target) at 1165 Woodstock Rd., Suite 800, Schedule an assessment by calling 770-518-3333. To learn more and view testimonials, check out www.mathnasium.com. Mathnasium's "Summer Workouts" are the perfect solution to Catch Up, Keep Up and Get Ahead this summer!

Reviewing and Reinforcing math concepts and skills
Providing individualized instruction
Boosting confidence
Helping your child develop a love of math

Where do you grocery shop? Remember that there are simple ways to earn money for the school by simply participating when you go to the grocery store.

If you shop at Publix, remember to pick up your scan card from the front office (or ask your child to do so).
NEW PROCESS: If you shop at Kroger, click here for details.

Need to take your pet to the vet? Even if it's just a simple check up, visit Crossville Veterinary Hospital and earn money for the school! Click here for details.
Interested in Martial Arts? Check out the Crabapple Martial Arts Academy and earn money for EPMS! Click here for details.

Community News and Summer Opportunities:

THIS WEEKEND, DON'T MISS OUT! The 6th Annual Roswell Day of Hope will take place at Mimosa Elementary from noon until 4:00pm. This is a fun event that provides lots of services to the community as well. Features include: a health fair, eye exams, haircuts, food, and of course entertainment and a kids zone. Come on out!
ROAD CLOSURES!! Don't forget that as a result of Taste of Alpharetta, there will be multiple road closures from 5:00am May 8th through 5:00am on May 9th. Vehicles left on the street will be towed at the owner's expense, so please click here for details.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation's Georgia CyberSafety Initiative will present a free parent education workshop on current trends amongst our children and what they are doing with this technology. Please attend and be in the know. The two presentations are intended for parents:

April 27th - Northwestern MS - 2-4pm (Sunday)

April 29th - Cambridge HS - 7-9pm (Tuesday)

8th Annual "It's Just Hair" Cut-a-thon. Do you have long hair? Please consider donating your locks for the 8th Annual "It's Just Hair" Cut-a-thon to benefit Locks of Love and children with long-term medical hair loss. Most of the children who benefit have lost their hair due to an autoimmune disease called Alopecia Areata, a highly unpredictable disease that can cause hair loss in patches or total hair loss including eyebrows and eyelashes. The cut-a-thon will take place on Monday, May 19, 2014 in Alpharetta. Hair must be at least ten inches and cuts and styles are complimentary. Please contact Diane Cooley to register or for more information at itsjusthair@gmail.com or 678.521.5639.
GA Tech would like to invite our middle school girls who are currently in 6th and 7th grade to our upcoming TEC (Technology, Engineering & Computer) Camp, which will be held from June 9 - 13, 2014 on the Georgia Tech campus. This fun and interactive camp is hosted by the Georgia Tech Women in Engineering Program and is designed to give girls an early introduction to the exciting world of engineering with the hope of inspiring them to eventually consider college majors and careers as engineers. More information on the camp can be found in the attached flyer. Unfortunately, this is short notice, as applications are due today, so take a look now.
May 3rd, from 10am - 1pm, Roswell will host their Water Plant Open House & Drinking Water Festival. Click here to learn more.
The Milton Tip-Off Club will sponsor a camp for youth basketball skills. 2014 Summer "Camp of Champions" Basketball Skills for rising 3rd Graders thru 8th Graders will be May 27th thru May 30th, at the Milton High Gymnasium, Full Day Campers (9am to 3pm) and Half Day Campers (9 am to 12pm). See flyer for cost and details or contact the Milton Tip-Off Club, Melanie.Felton@Rocketmail.com. Please see attachment with flyer and registration form.

Upcoming Dates:

April 26 - Saturday School from 9:00 - 1:00 - invitational only, emphasis on Social Studies and Science
April 28 - Social Studies CRCT
April 29
- EOCT for 9th grade Lit (On Pointe)
- Chorus Field Trip
- Report Cards Issued
- Community Cares Event (6:00pm)
May 1
- EOCT for Algebra and Geometry
- Band and Orchestra Field Trip Departs
May 2
- Career Day for 8th grade from 8:50 - 10:36
- Entire School Bell Change: Order of Classes 5,6,3,4,1,2,7
May 6 - Orchestra Concert at 7:00pm
May 7 - EOCT for High School Phys Science (On Pointe)
May 8th
- 8th GR TAG meetings 1st period
- Chorus Madrigal Dinner at 6:30pm
May 9th
- Battle of the TITANS! All day event
- 8th Grade Dance
May 10th - Acceleration Math Test (optional)
May 12th - Band Concert at 6:30pm
May 12 - 14 - Elementary Schools visit EPMS for tours
May 14 - Linda Schultz Community Meeting @ EPMS, 9:30am
May 20 - 22 - Final Exams
May 21-22 - CRCT Retakes for 8th graders who did not pass Reading or Math
May 23rd - Last Day of School, Award Ceremonies:
- 8th grade at 9:00am
- 6th grade at 12:15pm
- 7th grade at 2:15pm
June 2nd - Report Cards Mailed Home, CRCT included if available
June - July
- Office open for registration and walk-ins:
  - Tuesday - Thursday from 9:00 - 3:00
  - Monday and Friday by appointment
- CRCT reports available for pick up (if not available by June 2 mailing)
- Affidavits of Residency and Immunizations may be submitted early
  - NEW: Receive "Golden Ticket" to bypass lines on Information Day