August In Focus Featuring Superintendent Robert Avossa

The summer break is winding down, and in just two weeks, nearly 93,200 students will head back to our 100 schools. Are you ready? We are!

While our students enjoyed a two-month vacation, our school leadership teams have been hard at work getting ready for their return. Our teachers also are invigorated and excited for the new year to start. For many of them, the summer months were spent working on their own development, such as curriculum trainings and workshops or college graduate programs. These opportunities help them be better prepared to work with our students and guide their learning.

As you and your children return to our schools, you may notice a few differences. Beginning this school year, Fulton County Schools has adopted a new organizational model for our schools called “Learning Communities.” There are four of them -- Northwest Learning Community, Northeast Learning Community, Central Learning Community, and South Learning Community.

Organized geographically, the learning communities allow a decentralized approach to school management and provide schools the opportunity to work more closely together and align resources. Each is managed by an area superintendent and supported by an executive director. While this sounds different, you won’t really see a change in your school’s day-to-day activities. The Learning Communities are how we organize our management structure to better support our schools.

You’ll also hear more about implementation of our Charter System, which officially went into effect in July. The first year of the five-year charter will focus on developing School Governance Councils for 20 schools -- called “Cohort 1” -- throughout the school system. These schools will be a model for others to observe as they elect students, parents, teachers and staff, and community members to serve on their governance councils. If your school is part of the first cohort, it will hold elections in late fall and training for members will occur during in the winter.

These events are a few months away, so for now, we’ll turn our focus to preparing for the first day of school, which is Monday, August 13. As a reminder, school hours, bus schedules, and breakfast/lunch information are located on the school system’s website, www.fultonschools.org, or at your child’s school. Your school might also have already posted school supply lists on their website as well as details about dress codes and other important back-to-school information.

We’re excited to have your children return to us and look forward to another great year. I hope you’ll take advantage of the many opportunities to be involved -- we need you and your support to make your child’s academic life as successful as it can be.

Learning Communities
Each learning community has a dedicated staff who will work to provide services and support to their schools.  Listed below are staff members and additional information for each learning community.

New Principals
Please extend a warm welcome to our new principals for the  2012-2013 school year. Principals are already in schools working with their staff and preparing for students to return on August 13. 

Lori Bolds, McNair Middle School
Jennifer Couch, Hapeville ES
Debra Doss, Creek View ES
Richard Fowler, Woodland MS
Eric Hollinhead, Langston Hughes HS
Tiffany Hutchens, Medlock Bridge ES
Dr. Rako Morrissey, New Prospect ES
Harvey Oaxaca, Lake Forest ES
Maisha Otway, Hillside ES
Dr. Norman Sauce, Barnwell ES
Dr. Trici Smith, Feldwood ES

Student Safety
As students return to school, please remember to observe the following:

• Watch for school bus signals and do not attempt to go around buses that are loading or unloading students.
• Notice school crossing guards and follow their instructions to keep students safe.
• Children often get excited and do not think about other vehicles.  Look for students as they may not be looking out for you.
• Observe posted speed limits around schools.

All Fulton school bus drivers are CPR ready and can provide assistance if students are in distress.

Thank you for helping us keep students safe.

Tips for a Happy First Day
The first day of school can be anxious for students as well as parents.  Below are a few tips for a fantastic first day!

School Nutrition Healthy Choices
This fall, the Fulton County School Nutrition Program is meeting new federal nutrition requirements for school meals, ensuring that meals are healthy, well-balanced, and provide students all the nutrition they need to be healthy and succeed in the classroom.  As a result of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act and USDA requirements, school meals will now meet additional standards requiring age-appropriate calorie limits and portion sizes, as well as larger servings of vegetables and fruits.  Students will also have to choose a serving of a vegetable or fruit as part of their complete lunch meal.

Fulton County school cafeterias have already been practicing many of the nutrition standards newly mandated by the federal government, including serving no trans fats, limiting saturated fat, offering more whole grains, and serving fat-free and 1% milk, legumes, and dark green and red/orange vegetables.

Also, the student paid meal price has increased by $0.10 district-wide.  Lunch at elementary schools is $2.20, while lunch at middle and high schools is $2.45.  Meal Benefit Applications, meal prepayments options (MyPaymentsPlus.com), and all meal price and menu information can be found at the School Nutrition website: www.fultonschools.org/dept/schoolnutrition.  

Charter System Update
Additional information is now available regarding Fulton's charter system status.  Please click here to see a list of the 20 schools that are part of Cohort One.  Updates and information will be added to the Charter System website on a continual basis.

Community/School Involvement
Local schools welcome volunteers.  Volunteers may serve as mentors, read to students, assist teachers, and offer other types of assistance.  It is rewarding and heart-warming to see the difference committed volunteers can make in a child's life.  Consider volunteering at your local school; it is a wonderful way to help students achieve.

SchoolDude
Please be reminded that SchoolDude, a web-based facility rental application, is now live.  Those who wish to schedule the use of a school facility can complete the process online.  To learn more about leasing school facilities, go to the "Quick Links" listing on www.fultonschools.org and select "Facilities Rental." 

A Hope To Dream
Ashley Furniture Homestore founded the A Hope To Dream Program in 2010 to help provide mattresses for children in need. For every mattress the company sells, five dollars is donated to the program. If you know of a child (ages 3-16) who needs a mattress set, please click here to refer a child or to learn more about the program.