07/23/2021
Sharing today’s update from Mr. Hanson:
Good afternoon North Springs families and community!
I hope everyone is enjoying the last 2 weeks of summer break and is getting ready for the start of the next school year. We have been busy getting the building and staff ready for the start of school on 8/9. I am excited for this upcoming school year as we look forward to having a more normal school year than what we have all lived through over the past 18 months.
A reminder that as a school we communicate in many ways to ensure we reach as wide an audience as possible. You can connect with us and follow us at:
• Website: North Springs / Homepage (fultonschools.org)
• Facebook: North Springs High School | Facebook
• Twitter: NSHS () / Twitter
We also utilize the FCS School App to send out communications, as well as what the district sends out. This app allows you to have a one-stop place for all FCS messages, links to important FCS information, such as Here Comes the Bus, school closures, as well as ones from individual schools. My Principal’s Message is available here weekly when you select North Springs. This app is available for both iOS and Android. You can find more information about the FCS app here: Mobile App / App Overview (fultonschools.org)
As we start thinking about next year, I know there have been some questions about masks, social distancing, vaccines, etc., that I can address right from the start. Now, all of this information is current, as of right now Friday 7/23, and is subject to change based on how the pandemic continues to evolve.
Masks will be optional in the building for students, staff and visitors who are vaccinated. Masks are strongly encouraged and recommended for those that are not vaccinated. I know that there will be some students and staff that will continue to wear masks regardless of their vaccination status as we come back to the building, and we will continue to welcome all students, staff and visitors and encourage them to take the necessary steps to make sure they feel safe on campus.
All bus riders will be required to wear masks while riding the bus to and from school.
Vaccines are not mandatory for staff or students. Even though they are not mandatory, I would encourage everyone to take advantage of the opportunity to get vaccinated before school starts. Getting vaccinated is simple insurance to ensure everyone on campus stays safe, and more importantly, so we can avoid situations that might cause school to have to pivot to remote learning in case of spikes of staff/students getting sick. I have been encouraged by the amount of families that have shared their vaccination status with me, and I think that will be one of the most important steps for our school to avoid any quarantine situations as we come back into the building. You can search for COVID vaccine locations here: COVID Vaccine | Georgia Department of Public Health
We will discontinue our policy of conducting health-screenings and temperature checks of students and staff as we welcome them back to the building in August. Our district will have a health screening process for visitors coming into the building, so we can ensure contact tracing.
As we expect all of our students to be back in the building in August, it will be very different in the building than it was last year. Social distancing will not be something we can account for or plan for, and students should expect to be in close proximity of each other in the hallways, classrooms and cafeteria. Remember, the physical building has not changed since we shut down in March of 2020.
Hallways and staircases will return to multidirectional flows.
Most school activities, clubs and sports will be back to normal, pre-pandemic routines. Restrictions on seating and attendance for performances and athletic events have been lifted.
Routine cleaning and sanitizing of high traffic touchpoints will continue. At this time, it is hard to imagine our school being any cleaner and more ready to welcome students back to the building.
Students should be encouraged to bring a water bottle with them daily to stay hydrated. We now have 4 water bottle filling stations located on all floors of the building to allow students to quickly refill water bottles. Our regular water fountains will be uncovered and available for use, but a water bottle is easier to manage.
Gear-Up Days
We are planning for a regular Gear-Up Day this year with students and families coming into the building normally. Gear-Up Days are the opportunity to come into the building, get your schedules, meet your teachers, sign up for lockers, get textbooks and laptops, and see the clubs and organizations we have to offer at North Springs. Rather than 2 Gear-Up Days as in the past, we will have one Gear-Up Day that is broken down by grade level on Thursday, August 5th. We will also have a pre-Gear-Up Day virtual meeting to help orient parents and students to the important details they need to be aware of during Gear-Up Days. Details about specific times for each grade level and other information can be found in the attached document below. The document has all the information you need to know about Gear-Up Days, such as:
A checklist of all the tables and people you need to visit/see,
Information about the Spartan Nation PTO Fast Pass,
Information about how to join the Spartan Athletic Booster Club,
For our parents that are new to North Springs, we will host a virtual Teams Meeting, Wednesday 8/4 at 6:00 to help guide you through Gear-Up Day. The link to this meeting can be found here: Pre Gear-Up Day Meeting
Gear-Up Day is a huge undertaking, and we are always looking for veteran Gear-Up Day parents to help volunteer their time to make the day a success. If you would like to volunteer to help out for any time Thursday 8/5, please click here: Spartan Nation Volunteers: NSHS Gear Up Days 2021 (signupgenius.com)
Freshman and Sophomore Academy (aka, the FreshMore Academy)
North Springs has had a vibrant freshman orientation experience for our students entering 9th grade. Our Freshman Academy is centered around helping our students transition into high school and growing their academic resiliency, their self-advocacy, and building their growth mindset. With so many of our students learning virtually last year, we know that we have a large population of rising sophomores that missed out on the Freshman Academy experience. We are excited to expand our Freshman Academy experience this year to include those rising sophomores, and including it in the FreshMore Academy. The attachment below highlights some of the exciting things we will be doing with both grade levels this year to help get their high school careers started on the right foot!
Guidance Counselor Changes
Due to a drop in expected enrollment this year, our Counseling Department has shrunk by one person. As a result of this, we have had to shift the alpha-responsibilities for our counselors around to accommodate all of our students. The 2021-2022 alpha groups for our counselors will be:
Mr. Mark Ellis [email protected]
All 9th Grade
10th grade alpha A – Jimenez
Ms. Ava Butler [email protected]
10th grade alpha Job – Q
11th and 12th grade alpha A – Lewis
Ms. Chanell Chabazz [email protected]
10th grade alpha Ra – Z
11th and 12th grade alpha Lib - Z
Dress Code and Student Expectations
As we prepare to welcome many of our students back to the building for the 1st time in 18 months, we will have to reset student expectations for behavior and for dress code. We will review the Student Code of Conduct with our students during the 1st days of school to ensure students know those expectations. Students will be expected to acknowledge their understanding of the Student Code of Conduct. The FCS Student Code of Conduct can be found here: Student Discipline / Department Overview (fultonschools.org)
Dress Code expectations have not changed since we were last in the building together. Two quick highlights that all parents and students need to know about and that we monitor and enforce starting the 1st day of school.
No hats, bonnets, do-rags, hoods, etc. Students will be asked to remove them as the enter the building.
No crop tops, low-cut shirts or clothes that allow for bare-midriffs to be shown.
ACT and SAT Tutoring Sessions
Please share the following Applerouth information regarding free SAT and ACT Strategy Sessions and free proctored Practice Tests with our Seniors and Juniors:
Applerouth will be hosting free SAT and ACT strategy sessions July 27th and 29th and free proctored practice tests on August 7th and 8th.
Students will learn key test-taking strategies during these sessions and receive detailed score reports to help map out their study plan. To sign up, please visit https://www.applerouth.com/julyjumpstart/
9th Grade Residency Verification
As a reminder for all our incoming freshman, Fulton County requires verification of residence for rising 9th graders dated less than 30 days prior to the start of school. If you have previously submitted proof of residency when you enrolled prior to July 1st, you will need to submit updated copies of the forms to prove residency. The list of approved documentation, and a link to the Fulton County Schools website is listed here as well. https://www.fultonschools.org/Page/7299
There are two ways to submit the required documentation. Drop off copies of the form types listed below to the school. Copies of these documents may be dropped off at the school any time before 8/9 between 8:00 and 3:00 daily. There is a bin in the front office at the main desk where these may be dropped off. You may also email scanned copies of the forms to our school Registrar, Ms. Bryan at [email protected].
Types of residency verification proof:
One Utility Proof: (must be current)
Water Bill
Electric Bill
One Residence Proof: (must be current)
Copy of home mortgage
Lease/Renters agreement
Current bank statement
Copy of Section 8/HUD housing contract
Copy of home contract
Homeowner’s/Renter’s insurance card
Current paycheck stub
State driver’s license /ID with current address
Current HOA bill/statement
During Gear-Up Days, we will collect these residency verification documents if you would like to bring them in on Thursday 8/5. Fulton County allows students to enter school for 30 days so that verification of residency may be provided without students missing school. Students who have not had their residency verified will be withdrawn on Thursday, September 17th.
If you have any questions about the residency verification process or documents, you can visit the FCS website at Office of Student Supports / Residence Verification (fultonschools.org), or reach out to our Registrar, Ms. Bryan.
11th Grade Meningitis Immunization Requirements
Per the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH), effective July 1, 2021, children 16 years of age and older, who are entering the 11th grade (including new entrants), must have received one booster dose of the meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4), unless their initial dose was administered on or after their 16th birthday.
Meningococcal disease is a serious bacterial illness that affects the brain and the spinal cord. Meningitis can cause shock, coma and death within hours of the first symptoms. Unfortunately, the concentration of the antibodies seen after the initial
MCV4 vaccine wanes with time. Therefore, a booster dose is needed to stimulate the antibody production and provide longer-lasting protection against meningococcal disease.
If your teen has not been vaccinated against meningococcal disease, we strongly recommend getting your 11th grader, aged 16 years or older, vaccinated before starting the 2021-2022 school year. Getting MCV4 (meningococcal conjugate vaccine) now will not only help protect your child against the ongoing threat of meningitis, it will also meet the new school entry requirement.
Ask your pediatrician or local health department about other shots your child may need including:
• the human papillomavirus (HPV) series
• the tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis shot (Tdap or Td booster)
• an annual flu vaccine; and
• catch-up immunizations, including chickenpox, MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) and hepatitis B.
If your child does not have health insurance or their health plan won’t cover these vaccines, call your local health department and ask about getting no cost or low cost vaccines. For more information, visit http://dph.georgia.gov/vaccines-children or call (800) 848-3868.
Fulton County students should have this meningitis immunization completed before school starts on August 9th, but have until Friday, September 17th, 2021 to submit proof of immunization. Parents will need to provide an updated copy of their Georgia Immunizations form to the school by Friday, September 17th. Copies of the updated immunization record can be brought to the front office and placed in the document bin at the front desk, or can be emailed to our School Registrar, Ms. Bryan at [email protected].
Yearbook Orders
If you ordered a NSHS yearbook last school year, those yearbooks have arrived at school and can be picked up anytime between 8:00 and 3:00 during the summer. They will also be available during Gear-Up Days. If you are a senior and ordered a yearbook, those have been sent to the address on file, and should have arrived last week.
Fulton County Accident Insurance
Fulton County Schools offers accident insurance to students and families through an outside vendor. If you are interested in purchasing this insurance, please see the attached document below.
Leadership Sandy Springs Movie Nights
Calling all Movie Fans! Leadership Sandy Springs invites everyone to their FREE, outdoor Movies by Moonlight series, on the Green at City Springs. Friday, Aug. 6 is Black Panther, Friday, Aug. 13 is Shrek, and Friday, Aug. 20 is Raya and the Last Dragon!
There will be food trucks at 6pm, movie concessions at 6:30pm and games, music, a costume parade and entertainment before the movies begin at dusk. So wear a costume; bring blankets, lawn chairs, picnics and towels for the children's splash pad and have fun watching great movies, on a big outdoor movie screen. For more information, please visit the Leadership Sandy Springs Movies By Moonlight - Leadership Sandy Springs website.
COVID Reporting for Students
The Fulton County Board of Health and Fulton County Schools have developed an on-line portal for FCS parents/guardians to report student COVID-19 related cases. Please make a report to the FCBOH when your student is COVID-19 positive, has a pending COVID-19 test result, or has been in direct contact with a COVID-19 positive person. Also, please use this resource for official reporting rather than alerting the school and/or teacher. If you must engage the school/teacher, please do so after you have made an official report to the FCBOH. Lastly, to ensure the protection of our school community, please do not allow your child to attend school or school-sponsored events when he/she is ill and/or has any of the above COVID-19 concerns. FCS Student COVID-19 Report Form (qualtrics.com)
Text-4-Help
A reminder for our students and families about the Text-4-Help program. During these extended breaks, students who need assistance lose that connection with school personnel that can help them navigate difficult circumstances. Text -4- Help is that resource for our students that is available year round. Please take advantage of it if you are struggling emotionally during this time. Text SPARTANS to 1-844-201-9946.
There is a lot of information here, and more info will be coming soon as we get closer to the August 9th start of school.
Have a great Friday evening!
Sincerely,
Scott Hanson
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