Elkins Pointe Middle SchoolDecember 1, 2014
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This week
Let's Celebrate!
Informational Items
Special Notice
PTSA News
Upcoming Dates
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This week at Elkins Pointe

 

 

Helloooooo, Titans!

 

I hope that all of you had a lovely holiday, full of joyful times with your family. Personally, I spent time in Colorado with my brother and his family. It was a lovely week to refresh and refocus. As we begin these last three weeks of the semester, we have lots to accomplish, and even more to be thankful for. Over the break, in the few moments of downtime from family excitement, I had time to review our Student Growth Percentiles from the 2014 CRCT. The results just came in, and I am pleased to report that we saw double-digit gains with the following groups of students from 2013-2014.

  • English Language Learner students in Reading, ELA, Science, and Social Studies
  • Economically Disadvantaged students in Reading, ELA, Science, and Social Studies
  • Hispanic students in Reading, ELA, Science, and Social Studies
  • African American students in Science
  • Students with Disabilities in Science

Let's Celebrate!

 

 

Congratulations to the Reflections Winners!

 

Our Titans had a very nice showing at the County-Level ... from a total of 36 winners, nine were Titans (woo-hoo)! The entries designated as "winners" will move on to compete at the Georgia State level of the Reflections contest. We are so proud of all of our County honorees and wish the winners the best of luck in the State competition. Please click here to see students and how they performed in their respective categories.

 

Congratulations Ryan Bohannon! 

 

We are proud of Titan Ryan Bohannon who competed in the Girls USA Level 4 State Gymnastics Meet, November 22nd and 23rd. For the Senior E Division she placed as follows: 2nd place Vault, 2nd place Floor Exercise, 2nd place Uneven Bars, 3rd place All Around. Way to go!

 

Robots come to EPMS!!

 

There is a buzz in the classrooms this year at Elkins Pointe Middle School. It is the sound of servo motors and robots running  around in the class rooms. Mixed with that is the sound of excited middle schoolers who enthusiastically build and test robots under the guidance of faculty and parent volunteers. EPMS is competing in the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) - a worldwide robotics competition targeted toward middle and high school-aged students. Click here to learn more about this new program, sponsored by Ms. Krishna.

Informational Items

 

 

Hoop time!

 

Basketball tryouts for 7th and 8th graders (boys & girls) will be in December. Prospects must have a current sports physical and own transportation home after tryouts, each day at 5:15 (see upcoming dates). For more information, please contact Mr. Mitchell (mitchellbr@fultonschools.org) & Ms. Cousin (cousina@fultonschools.org).

 

 

Coat Drive 

 

Our Kiwanis Club On Pointe group is collecting gently used coats now through Thursday December 18th. Their goal is to collect at least 100 coats to ensure no one goes without a warm coat during the cold winter months. Each year the Warm Coats & Warm Hearts Coat Drive relies on the generosity and compassion of their customers across the country. The students will donate these coats to the Burlington Coat Factory, who collects gently-worn coats and hands them out to those most in need of coats such as the homeless or poor. Did your child grow out of their coat? Please donate coats to the front office at EPMS so that we may help the Burlington coat drive to help those in need.

 

Inclement Weather Policy

 

It's warm this week, but what happens when it gets cold again? Do we have a plan for inclement weather? DEFINITELY. EPMS is prepared with plans for late starts and early releases as needed. Please be sure that we have an up to date email and phone number where you can be reached during the day, so that our calling system can be most effective. In addition, please click here for county-level information: http://www.fultonschools.org/en/Pages/FCSSpotlight.aspx?item=92.

 

WHERE'S THE SOAP?

 

As you may have heard, last year EPMS chose to switch to hand sanitizer rather than soap, in an effort to keep our restrooms cleaner. With soap, some students are tempted to break the dispensers and cover the floor with soap, making it slippery and dangerous. However, with flu season upon us, we will be switching back to soap and hand-dryers over the course of this week. It is our hope that the pattern of behavior is broken and that we will be able to continue with this practice moving forward. Please remind your students to report any incidents of misbehavior in the bathroom to a teacher so that we can keep our restrooms clean!

 

Interested in becoming a substitute teacher?

 

We could certainly use your help! The application window is open now thru 12/19. Click here to learn how to get started.

 

 

Exam Schedule

 

Seen here is the Final Exam schedule for the end of the semester. Please remember that all three grade levels will have exams during this time. Of particular note:

  • 6th and 7th grade will take their final exam of the semester, and 8th grade will take a cumulative exam for the entire semester.

  • In addition, some subjects may give exams that are cumulative in nature, such as Math, due to the nature of their curriculum.

  • Some of our 6th and 7th graders are taking field trips as well, which is why students of certain teachers will take their exam for a certain period a bit early.

  • Please make sure that all students are present for exams, and note that any absences without a doctor's note or principal permission will be unexcused.

 

Special Notice

 

If you follow us on Twitter or Facebook, you have heard the news already. The week before Thanksgiving we bid farewell to our Guidance Counselor, Ms. Shawn Smith. Ms. Smith has decided to move back to Florida to be closer to her family and was recently offered a position that gave her that opportunity. This was certainly a bittersweet good-bye as we were happy for her but sad to see her go. Ms. Smith gave more than 10 years to EPMS, began many special programs, and built long-lasting relationships. We wish her well in her next endeavor and hope to be announcing her replacement sometime this week.  

PTSA News

 

Candy Grams on Sale December 8 - 16!
  
The holiday starts off in a sweet way starting December 8th. Sales will take  place in the Elkins Pointe Atrium Dec. 8-12, and Dec, 15-16 between 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.. A cheerful assortment of candy and goodies, priced between $1.00 - $2.00 will be on sale for students to treat friends & teachers to a sweet surprise and attach a special note. Holiday grams will be delivered to the advisement teachers at the end of the sale for distribution.
We need five (5) parent volunteers each day during the sale from 8-9 a.m. If you can help sell candy grams, please sign up using this link: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0548a4a822a64-candy

 

Nominate Yourself to Be Part of the Committee!
  
PTSA is seeking 3-5 Nominating Committee members to help recruit for the 2014-2015 PTSA slate. This short-term assignment January 2015 - March 2015 is vital to filling PTSA Board & Committee Chair slots. The only requirement for being on the Nominating Committee is that you are a current PTSA member, and you have a willingness to help recruit for the PTSA! If you think it is important to help make our PTSA "Titan Strong" next school year, please contact Linda Oleszczuk at lindamax30@bellsouth.net. The Nominating Committee will be voted in at the next PTSA General Meeting on Tuesday, December 16th, immediately preceding the Band Concert. Please don't delay, contact Linda "O" today! 
Upcoming Dates

 

  • 12/1 - Girls' Basketball (7th & 8th) tryouts
  • 12/2 - Girls' Basketball (7th & 8th) tryouts
  • 12/3 - Boys' Basketball (7th & 8th) tryouts
  • 12/3 - 8th grade Chorus field trip
  • 12/5 - Boys' Basketball (7th & 8th) tryouts
  • 12/5 - Orchestra field trip to RHS
  • 12/10 - Tumbling Exhibition @ Ridgeview
  • 12/10 - Club Pictures
  • 12/13 - Saturday Opportunity School
  • 12/13 - Work the Trail Day @ EPMS
  • 12/17 - 12/19 Final Exams, Grades 6-8
  • 12/19 - Last day to apply to become a substitute
  • 12/20 - 1/5 - Winter Holiday

Have a great week, Titans! 

 

Sincerely,
  
  sig  


Melinda Springman, Ed. S.

Principal
Elkins Pointe Middle School