Damian Powell
Assistant Principal

and Athletics Administrator
 

Testing Update

 

Dear Parents,

 

Our students will take District Post Assessments starting Friday, March 8th through Wednesday, March 13th.  Exams will take place in the following order: Friday-Social Studies, Monday-Science, Tuesday-Language Arts, and Wednesday-Math.  These exams have been developed to measure student learning in all core classes.  Your child’s District Assessment grade will be counted in their final grade. Please encourage your student to make preparing for these exams a top priority.  Take a look at the study tips below so that you can reinforce at home with your child.

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• Be prepared. ... be sure you've studied hard.

• Keep organized and on task.

• Keep hydrated and eat well-balanced meals.

• Exercise to eliminate stress.

• Get enough sleep the night before the test.

• Listen closely to any instructions.

• Read EACH test question carefully.

• Focus on addressing each question individually. 

• Relax and just do your PERSONAL BEST!!!

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Athletics Update:

 

Dear Parents,

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Your eight graders are on their way to high school. Time stands still for no one. Now is the time to ask your child questions like, “What are you looking forward to in high school? What do you want to do? Who do you want to be? We have a unique opportunity for our students to get a preview of many of the great activities and experiences available to them when they transition on to South Gwinnett High School.

 

Snellville Middle School is proud to host an Athletics Pep Rally for eighth graders on Tuesday, March 26th during eighth-grade Connections. Students will learn more about athletics in high school and how to get involved early. The event aims to promote student involvement at the high school level. We believe that sports create a positive environment where students can learn discipline, skills, and techniques that help them in life and give them a positive outlet. We believe that everyone should be involved and everyone fits in somewhere. Be a part of something bigger than yourself. Proud2B!

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PBIS Update

 

Dear Parents,

 

On February 25th our students enjoyed the fruits of a collaborative partnership between the SMS Counseling Department and our PBIS Program.  February is Heart Month, which is a time to bring awareness to the importance of physical, mental and emotional health. We created the idea of having a field day to promote positive physical health.   Students danced, hula-hooped, played basketball, raced with crazy goggles, and competed in tug of war. Throughout the school year, students receive “STARbucks” for displaying positive behavior.  They elected to spend this “money” as an entry “fee” to participate in this grand event.  The kids had a blast as we reinforced our PBIS motto; Be Ready, Respectful and Responsible!

 

The last PBIS celebration of the year will be a HUGE pizza party where students will pay 50 STARbucks to attend with a friend. Please encourage your child to display good behavior and make good choices, so they don’t miss out on the FUN!!.

 

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Damian Powell, Assistant Principal
Damian_Powell@gwinnett.k12.ga.us

Title I Administrator
Athletic Director
ESOL Administrator
Testing Coordinator

770-736-4469

Dr. Twanitta L. Martin

8th Grade Assistant Principal,

Testing, Special Education

 

Greetings,

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Welcome to Marvelous March! Where did the time go? We have 3 months remaining for this school year. This month your child will have an opportunity to practice the Georgia Milestones Assessment System (GMAS) in the computer labs. This is our first year administering GMAS online.  A letter explaining what's new and the same this year for GMAS will be sent home this month with your child.

 

Attendance is very important and key to your child’s success. Students are more likely to succeed in academics when they attend school consistently. It’s difficult for the teacher to build your child’s skills and progress if your child is frequently absent.

 

Make sure your child comes to school Ready- to learn; Responsible: accountable for his/her academic and behavioral actions; Respectful- showing politeness to others- (Teachers, Staff, peers,)

 

March/April/May, 2019

 

Events to put on your calendar:

• District Assessments- Interim- March, 2019

• Student Holiday (if no make -up day)- March 29, 2019

• Spring Break- April 1-5, 2019
   

• EOG/EOC GMAS Milestones- April 9-May 9*

• EOG Grade 8- SS- April 9, ELA-April 10-12, Mathematics- April 29-30, Science May 6

• EOG Grade 7- ELA- April 17-19, Mathematics –April 22-23

• EOG Grade 6- Mathematics- April 15-16, ELA- April 24-26

• EOC- GMAS- 8th  Algebra I- May 1-2; Biology- May 7, HS Physical Science May 8-9

                

To earn promotion to the 9th grade,

• students are required to pass five out of six subjects each semester. Language Arts and Mathematics must be two of the five subjects passed.

• Should a student not earn promotion to 9th grade, he or she may have the opportunity to attend summer school to learn the AKS curriculum not mastered during the school year. Students may attend summer school for no more than two semester-long classes.

• In Georgia, 8th grade students also are required to achieve Grade Level or Above on the Reading and Vocabulary domain of the Language Arts Georgia Milestones End of Grade (EOG) Assessment and achieve the performance level of Developing or higher on the Mathematics Georgia Milestones EOG Assessment. Students who do not meet either of these state promotion requirements may be required to retest after summer school.

• A Special Education student’s promotion is determined by his or her Individualized Education Program (IEP).

• Promotion for an English Learner (EL) or a student with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) is guided by his or her English Learner Proficiency Plan

 

Summer School Dates: June 10- 28, 2019.

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Please don’t hesitate to call me at 770-736 -4471, or email me at Twanitta_pouncey@gwinnett.k12.ga.us

http://gcps-twanittapouncey.onmycalendar.com

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Dr. Twanitta L. Martin

8th Grade Administrator

Special Education Administrator/504 Coordinator/SST Coordinator

Testing Coordinator- CogAT, PSAT, Milestones

Title IX Coordinator