Gwinnett County Public Schools will return to in-person learning for the 2021-22 school year. This decision takes into account students’ academic and social-emotional needs, the improving pandemic conditions (lower rates of infection), the availability of vaccinations for teachers and other school staff, and guidance from health experts and organizations. Plans for the fall reflect the district’s commitment to safety for its students and staff, with continued mitigation efforts such as the wearing of masks, provision of PPE, and strict cleaning regimens. GCPS will continue to rely on guidance from the CDC and other health partners in developing plans for the return to in-person learning in the fall.

While all students will be scheduled for in-person instruction for the fall as the default, the district will offer families the opportunity to opt out of in-person learning, allowing their children to participate in a modified digital learning option. This modified version—which will have digital students learning from digital teachers, some of whom may be at a different location including Gwinnett Online Campus—is intended to eliminate the need for teachers to teach concurrently.

Parents contemplating the modified digital learning option for their children for next school year should consider the following in making their decision:

• For staffing and scheduling purposes, parents are asked to consider the decision to opt out of in-person instruction as a year-long commitment. However, if a family later determines it is best for their child to return to in-person learning, there will be an opportunity for them to do so at the end of the first semester.

• Digital learning will be different in the fall. For example, a student may be taught by a teacher from a school other than his or her own school. Middle and high school students may take some courses through Gwinnett Online Campus or Georgia Virtual School. In addition, course offerings for digital learners may be more limited than those available for students attending school in-person.

• Digital learning is not optimal for every student. Some students did not do as well academically, socially, or emotionally in the digital learning environment. Parents should consider how their child did during digital learning in making the decision for the 2021-22 school year.

• Parents may opt out of in-person learning for one child if they feel it best serves that child and choose to have another child attend school in-person.

Please note that only those families that wish to opt out of in-person learning for their students will need to complete the online form available in the Parent Portal or using the ParentVUE app for those that have Parent Portal accounts.

If your student is currently receiving services through an Individual Education Program (IEP), the Georgia Department of Education has issued guidance calling for an IEP Team meeting “to discuss and consider a student’s educational placement, which includes discussion and consideration of the location of those services and any potential harmful effect on the student or on the quality of services that the student needs, in accordance with IDEA.”

For this reason, IF you select digital instruction for your child for the 2021-2022 School Year, your student’s case manager will contact you to schedule an IEP meeting to discuss the appropriateness of instruction through the digital platform.

The deadline to submit the opt-out form is Sunday, April 4, at 11:59 p.m.

If you do not have a Parent Portal account, click here for information about the Parent Portal and here for a Parent Portal Registration Form. In order to register for the Parent Portal, you will need an email address. There are a number of providers who provide email accounts free of charge. Free examples include Gmail, Yahoo, mail.com.

As spring semester is underway and spring break approaches, we want to share details regarding Honor Roll and Principal’s Honor Roll recognition for our end of year awards. You will receive 9-week progress reports noting your child’s performance through March 30th. This report will be emailed home on Friday, April 2.

Any missing student work noted on the progress report should be submitted no later than Friday, April 16. Submitting late work after the Friday, April 16 deadline will not change a student's eligibility to be recognized for academic performance.

The grades on the April 23rd progress report along with the grades on the first semester report card will determine if a student is recognized for academic performance this school year.

We encourage parents to monitor their child’s grades every week through the use of the parent portal.

Recognition at the local school this year will include:

Honor Roll - All A’s & B’s for the year (including individual connections classes)

Principal’s Honor Roll - Straight A’s for the year (including individual connections classes)

Recognition Ceremony for specialty awards will be by invitation.

We look forward to honoring our deserving students.

Should you have any questions, please contact your child's grade level Assistant Principal.

Car Rider drop off is from 8:55 – 9:15 am each morning.

Parents will follow the designated path through the front parking lot.

Please do not stop early to have your child exit your car as this impedes our ability to safely unload. Parents should remain in their cars at all times and pull all the way up until the line stops.

Due to the increased volume of cars, this process may take some time and your patience is greatly appreciated.

Any student who is a face to face learner will be counted absent if they do not attend school. Face to face learners are expected to be in attendance each day.