THE COLT CONNECTION
September 25 ,2026
THE COLT CONNECTION
September 25 ,2026
Kelly Mill Families,
We made it to FALL BREAK!Β After such an exciting and busy week, I think we can all agree that a week to slow down, recharge, and enjoy some time together is well deserved!
Before we get too deep into the break, I want to celebrate a few things that made last week so special.
First, THANK YOU for making Boosterthon such a tremendous success! Our KME community raised more than $75,000 to support our PTO!Β These funds go right back into our school and will help provide incredible opportunities and experiences for our students and staff. We can't wait to see those dollars in action! When we work together, everyone benefits!
A HUGE shoutout to our PTO Boosterthon Committee! The planning, promoting, organizing, and capturing of all the excitement was truly outstanding. We are so fortunate to have a PTO that pours so much time and energy into making Kelly Mill a special place for our Colts.Β
We also had an amazing 7 Mindsets Family Night! It was wonderful to see so many families gathered together, embracing the mindsets and our Colts Who C.A.R.E. philosophy. The conversations, connections, and creations made for a special evening, and I know the memories made will last well beyond the event. Thank you to our incredible counseling team and to the staff members who gave up their evening time with their own families to spend it with our KME family. We appreciate you!
And finally, a HUGE shoutout to our KME Chorus and Show Choir for their incredible performance at the Braves game!Β What a special experience for our studentsβespecially getting to sing the National Anthem at the final home game of the season! Thank you to Ms. Fulkerson and Ms. Myers for your dedication to our music program and for creating memorable opportunities like this for our Colts. These are the experiences our students will remember for years to come!
As we head into Fall Break, I hope each of you finds time to rest, recharge, laugh a little, and enjoy the people you love most.Β
Thank you for continuing to show up for our school and making Kelly Mill such a special place to be.
We are so grateful for our KME community!Β
Have a wonderful Fall Break!Β
Love,
Mrs. Moity
One more opportunity for our KME families: We are currently gathering interest from parents who may be willing to participate in a Parent Focus Group on November 2 or 3. This is simply an opportunity to let us know if you are interested and available. We will follow up with selected participants at a later date with additional details.
Interested in participating? Please complete the short interest form and provide your name. Submitting the form does not guarantee a spot in the focus group; it simply lets us know you are interested and available to participate.
Important Dates:
September 28th- October 2nd - Fall Break
October 8-16 Fall Scholastic Book FairΒ
October 13 - West High School Homecoming Parade (5th grade attends)
October 16th - Online Learning Day for Students/Parent Conferences - PTO Fall Festival
October 19th- FCS District AIM Day - Professional Development for Staff
October 27th - West Fest and Trunk or Treat
October 12th -16th
Join us for a Family Shopping Event!Β
Wednesday, October 14th
3:00-5:30
Volunteering at the book fair is one of the most fun &
rewarding ways to get involved. Visit the Kelly Mill Partner
Connect website (Click Here) to complete the volunteer
agreement & sign up.
Contact Mrs. Collins at scollins@forsyth.k12.ga.us with any
questions. All proceeds benefit the KME Media Center.
Dear Forsyth County Schools Families,Β
We want to hear from you! FCS is asking families to share feedback about your experiences in our schools. This survey is an opportunity to tell us what is working well and where we have room to grow.
The District Improvement Survey is open through October 8, 2026. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey and share your perspective. Please complete one survey for each school your child(ren) attend.Β
FCS Family Survey - click here!Β
All survey responses are anonymous. Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. Your perspective matters, and we appreciate your partnership in helping FCS continue to serve our students and families well.
Sincerely,
Forsyth County Schools
Dear Families,
This is a reminder that our school counselors will begin teaching the MBF Child Safety Matters lessons beginning the week of October 12th. As shared in the district communication, these age-appropriate lessons help students develop personal safety skills, recognize unsafe situations, identify trusted adults, and build healthy relationships in accordance with Georgiaβs Erinβs Law requirement.
If you have any questions about the lessons, please contact your school counselors, Janeen Anderson or Michael Burbrink:
Janeen Anderson - janderson6@forsyth.k12.ga.us; 678-965-4953 ext. 440206
Michael Burbrink - mburbrink@forsyth.k12.ga.us; 678-965-4953 ext. 440134
Thank you for partnering with us to support the safety and well-being of our students.
26-27 PTO Information
You all are AMAZING! We ended up raising 75K for KME! We are mind-blown and canβt wait to be able to help fund and support teacher grants, student programs, enrichment materials, school improvement, community events & outreach, staff hospitality and so much more. Every dollar earned goes back to the school and our KME community, and we are SO thankful for your generosity and support with Boosterthon! You absolutely COOKED! π₯π§π½βπ³
Cooler air and falling leaves are around the corner! We are celebrating all things fall fun at Kelly Millβs second annual Fall Festival. If you went last year, you know it was an amazing community event for everyone! We will have inflatables, games, a dunk tank, pumpkins, food trucks, vendors and more! Weβre looking forward to another great year, so mark your calendars for October 16th! Fall Festival tickets are officially on sale NOW! π https://kellymillpto.com/fallfestivaljumppass
If youβre a business or vendor & want to partner with Kelly Mill for the Fall Festival, weβd LOVE to hear from you. We had around 600 families join last year, so it would be a great time to partner with us!Β Please contact vicepresidentaf@kmepto.org for more info!Β
Octoberβs Chick-fil-a breakfast is just around the corner. Order chicken minis, chicken biscuits or buttered biscuits for your favorite students and staff! Pre-order online by Tuesday, October 6th. Breakfast will be delivered to homerooms on Friday, October 9th. https://kellymillpto.com/5th-grade-biscuit-sale
Kelly Mill Family, our mission to build a fully inclusive playground for every child in our county is in full swing! We recently celebrated a huge milestoneβour very first $25,000 corporate donation from a generous local construction company!
To help us cross the finish line, weβre asking every KME family to help us make one connection. Do you own a business, work for a local company, or know a business leader in Forsyth County?
Through the PEACH Education Tax Credit, Georgia businesses and taxpayers can redirect their state income tax dollars directly to our playground project. Itβs a dollar-for-dollar credit, meaning local businesses can make a huge, lasting impact for our kids at $0 net cost to their bottom line!
Whether it's connecting us with a corporate partner or making an individual family donation, every effort helps us move from the sidelines to the center of play.
π Click Here to Donate or Share the PEACH Tax Credit Details!
We are looking forward to welcoming parent lunch visitors and volunteers after Labor Day! If you are interested in visiting for lunch or volunteering in any capacity this year there are a few important steps for you to complete.Β
LUNCH VISITOR REQUIRED STEPS:
Visit the Kelly Mill Partner Connect website. Click here!Β
Click Become a Fan! Once you register you will get notifications every time we add a new opportunity.
The link to sign up for lunch visits will be live next Friday. Sept 4th.Β
VOLUNTEER REQUIRED STEPS:
Visit the Kelly Mill Partner Connect website. Click here!Β
Click Become a Fan! Once you register you will get notifications every time we add a new opportunity.
Complete the KME Volunteer Agreement Form.
This training is a requirement that must be completed EVERY YEAR before working with students in the building. Here are a few examples:
Room Parents
Immigration Day Volunteers Β (click direct link)
Mystery Readers
Class Party Helpers
Class Volunteers
Field Trip Chaperones
Please note, this training is not required to join your child for lunch. Lunch visitors will begin after Labor Day
ππ WEST FEST IS BACK! ππ
The West Community of Schools invites you to West Fest β a FREE community event for all ages! πππ
π Tuesday, October 27, 2026
β° 5:30β7:30 PM
π West Forsyth High School
Bring the whole family for an evening of food, music, games, and family fun!
π Trunk or Treat
π Touch-A-Truck
π Inflatables & Games
π Food Trucks
πΆ Music
π¨βπ©βπ§βπ¦ Family Fun
Food and drinks will be available for purchase.
Come out and enjoy an evening that celebrates what it means to Live Our West β a community that is safe, connected, and thriving! πππ
We canβt wait to see you at West Fest!
Did you know your child might be eligible for free/reduced lunch if your household recieves benefits such as EBT and/or cash assistance or meets guidelines based on income or household size.Β
You may apply for free school meals at any time if your income or circumstances change.
Contact Paula Vaughan at pvaughan@forsyth.k12.ga.us for more information.
Because of the support of the 2025 Dr. Jim and Peggie Morrow Glow Run, we gave out 20 $2,500 scholarships to FCS educators who are pursuing further education!
We would like to invite you to participate in the 2026 Dr. Jim and Peggie Morrow Glow Run on 11/1 at Forsyth Central High School to raise funds for more staff scholarships! This year, all participants will receive a custom Glow Run medal and t-shirt.
Mark your calendar and sign up below now for the lowest cost! Pricing will increase in October.
The American Cancer Society is bringing families together in Cumming, Georgia, for a different kind of pediatric cancer awareness eventβone inspired by the heart and imagination of a 12-year-old girl who experienced the impact of pediatric cancer personally and decided she wanted to do something about it.
On Sunday, November 8, the American Cancer Society will partner with 12-year-old Cumming singer-songwriter Tori Gideon for Glitter Star Fest, a family-friendly community event designed to raise awareness for pediatric cancer while giving children a unique opportunity to be part of the mission through music, art, creativity, and service.
The inspiration behind the event began when pediatric cancer touched Tori's life through a close family friend.
Tori was only 11 when she began writing music as a way to process the loss. But what started as a personal response to grief grew into a much bigger idea: What if kids could use the things they love to help other kids?
Together, the American Cancer Society and Tori are creating an event that approaches pediatric cancer awareness through the eyes of children.
Rather than asking kids simply to attend, Glitter Star Fest invites them to participate.
Children throughout the community can create artwork, enter the festival's art competition, participate in interactive art experiences and activities, celebrate children impacted by cancer, and discover that their own talents can be used to make a difference.
The festival will include live music, art experiences, family activities, games, a Walk of Stars recognizing children and families affected by pediatric cancer, and opportunities to learn more about the American Cancer Society's work and mission.
We invite you to join the American Cancer Society, Tori, participating children, and families from throughout the Cumming community to help shine a light on pediatric cancer.
GLITTER STAR FEST
Sunday, November 8 | 4:00β7:00 PM
Cumming, Georgia
Tori Gideon Headline Performance: 5:30 PM
American Cancer Society
Live Music β’ Children's Art Competition β’ Interactive Art β’ Family Activities β’ Walk of Stars β’ Pediatric Cancer Awareness
Media opportunities are available before and during the event, including interviews with American Cancer Society representatives, Tori and her family, participating children, and families impacted by pediatric cancer.
Glitter Star Fest began with one 12-year-old asking what she could do.
The American Cancer Society is helping turn that question into an opportunity for an entire communityβand a new generationβto take action against pediatric cancer.
We hope you'll join us in sharing their story.
https://www.facebook.com/kellymilles
https://www.instagram.com/kellymillelementary/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK3yOl25xfKhKaks4LjrEbg
Did you know we have a podcast?Β If you didn't, you are missing out because we have 216 cities and 39 countries listening in.Β Β Check out the podcast on Apple, Spotify, and more to catch up on all our amazing student and staff content.Β
Apple Link:
Β https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kelly-mill-elementary-podcast/id1667320259
Spotify Link:Β
https://open.spotify.com/show/4zijX7W4e0Tc0z2nAFrwXw