Elkins Pointe Middle SchoolAugust 31, 2015

Join Our Mailing List
Quick Links
Follow us on Twitter
EPMS Website
PTSA Website


Quick Links
This Week
Greetings Titans Family!
 
Thank you for coming out to join us for Curriculum Night last week. It was so nice to have the chance to meet and talk with many of you throughout the night.   We appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedules to join us for that important event. 

Last week concluded our 10 day count and we earned a .60 TAG teacher.  I plan to use this three day position to hire an instructional coach to support our TAG department.

 I am thoroughly enjoying my ongoing small group Principal Chats with the students.  Your children are full of ideas and suggestions!  It's been nice to have some time to share my expectations as well as spend a little time getting to know the students better.

We are gearing up for our first early release day experience on Sept 4th.  Our teachers and staff have been hard at work creating some exciting learning opportunities for our students. Below are some of those experiences:

Nature walk to Hembree Springs Park
River of Words Poetry writing lab
Visit to the City of Roswell Water treatment plant
World Language Mural project
Walk of the Roswell Mill
Activity at Teaching Museum North
In house field trip with "The Snake Man"

If you plan to pick your child up on this day, please arrive at carpool by 12:45 so our teachers and staff can move right into their training sessions.  The buses will arrive at 12:45, with dismissal beginning at 12:55.


Let's Celebrate
 
  • PTSA rocks!!!  Please join us on September 24th at 5:00 in the media center to celebrate our award winning PTSA to honor their work and dedication to our school.  Mayor Jere Woods and other city and county leaders will be in attendance to celebrate the accomplishments of our hardworking parents and school community. Cake and refreshments will be served.
  • Go 6th Grade!!!!  The sixth grade won the cleanest hall competition last week.  As a result, all 6th graders were rewarded by having the opportunity to use their technology during lunch.  The cleanest hall competition is a weekly event.  Stay tuned for the winners next week. 
  • Super Staff & Super Parents!!  Many thanks for helping prepare our Back to School packets, during the first couple of weeks of school.  Your support is truly appreciated.

Things to Know

Bring your parent to school (6th grade only)
Sixth grade parents, you are invited to join your child for the first two periods of his/her school day on Tuesday, September 22nd in order to get an idea of what your child experiences every day at EPMS.   Check in will be in the media center (8:30), where you will be welcomed by the administration and receive your child's schedule. At the conclusion of second period, all parents will exit the building through the rotunda. 
 
End of the Day Dismissal
Parking in the parking lot on the bus side poses a safety concern with parents and students walking between the buses to get to their cars.  I ask that you park on the carpool loading side during dismissal.  The safest way to pick up your child every day is to pull into the carpool line and pick up your student curbside.   If you choose to walk up to the building to wait for your child at dismissal, please stand on the carpool side of the building so we can free up the space on the bus side for students to safely and quickly board their buses.  Thank you for your support and cooperation.
 
Picture Day
Picture day is fast approaching (9/15).  Lifetouch is the company we are using.    Please be on the lookout for a Parentnotify email from Lifetouch.  Parentnotify will enable you to receive email reminders and pre-order picture packages.  For questions, email Marcie Suckow @ suckow@fultonschools.org
 
Junior Achievement
This is an awesome learning opportunity for our 6th graders.  They will learn about the importance of finance by attending Finance Park downtown Atlanta and participate in several activities focused on money management. The entire grade level will attend over a three day period (9/14-16).
 
8th Grade Parent Volunteers Wanted
Chaperons are needed for the 8th Grade Run-for-Food field trip on Fri. 9/4 (early release date) from 9:30 to 11:30 am.  Parents, grab a friend and lace up your running shoes to come walk/run the Hembree Park trail with 80 fit and philanthropic students!  If running or walking is not for you, please sign up to stand on the trail and supervise while cheering for the runners.  For more information, contact Meredith Tongue tonguem@fultonschools.orgTo sign up, go to www.SignUpGenius.com/go/20F0548A4A822A64-8thgrade2
 
 
School Store Needs Volunteers
The School Store is looking for help.  A parent volunteer is needed in the morning.  No experience is necessary, just a one-time training by Christie Peterson.  You can even bring your child to help and keep you company!  If you have questions, email Christie at ecjzpet@bellsouth.net and/or sign up using this link http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0548a4a822a64-school
 
Informational Items

Early Release Days
Students will report to school at their regular time and be dismissed from school at 12:55.  Lunch will be served on these days.  Set forth below are our ERDs:
September 4th
October 8th
November 20th
February 11th
March 9th
April 1st

For the remainder of the school day, Teachers and staff will be in professional development training to support project-based learning and differentiation. 

Clubs
Beginning Thursday Sept 17, we will host "Club hour" where students are able to participate in an interest-based experience with peers who have similar interest. Every Thursday, we will run a modified schedule.  Click here to see schedule. 
 
Gifted Screening & Referral
The Fulton County School System screens all students for eligibility for gifted services twice a year. Fulton County uses a systematic approach to identify highly capable students who may qualify for gifted services.  Please click here for additional information.  

Roswell Will Never Forget... 9/11
The Roswell Rotary Club and City will be hosting the annual September 11th ceremony at Roswell Area Park.  If interested, follow this link www.senatoralbers.com for more details.   
 
Orange Fundraiser
Order forms were included on the first day packets and students will need to turn in their forms thru their advisement teachers.  The deadline to place the order is on October 21st for a target delivery during the week of November 16th.  

Upcoming Dates
  • 9/4 - Early Release Day
  • 9/4 - Run for Food
  • 9/7 - Labor Day (No School for students or staff)
  • 9/11 - Chorus Trip
  • 9/12 - Band Jumpstart Clinic
  • 9/14 - Junior Achievement 6th Grade Trip
  • 9/15 - Fall Pictures
  • 9/15 - Report Cards
  • 9/16 - Community Board Meeting
  • 9/22 - 6th Grade Bring Parent to School (1st and 2nd period)


Sincerely,

Kindra L. Smith
  
Kindra L. Smith, Ed.S
Principal
Elkins Pointe Middle
Home of the Titans!