We are almost halfway through September and man has it been a fast and furious ride! I appreciate all you are doing to keep students engaged and on task. We are enjoying being a part of your collaborative planning meetings each Tuesday. It is a great way for us to keep a pulse check on each team and provide assistance when and where needed. 

I would like to remind you that if you have a personal child with you in the mornings or afternoons, please keep them in your classroom or office. Also, they aren't allowed to be in afterschool meetings so please plan accordingly. Refer to staff handbook for more specifics. 

I feel like it is important for me to address a few things with safety. Remember, safety protocols only work IF we ALL follow them. I encourage you to hold each other accountable. I will not apologize for safety protocols and while some of them may seem inconvenient, they may also save lives. 

• ALL classroom doors are to remain closed and locked at all times (no magnets). This includes when you aren't in the room. Please get yourself in the habit of closing your door each time you leave. 

• All exterior doors are to remain locked and NEVER propped. 

• We will leave the teacher workrooms unlocked, but the doors should be closed. If you see one open, kindly close it. Most of these doors have signs that state they should remain closed. If you notice one that needs a sign, let Allyson David know and she will get one made. 

• The district does not recommend every teacher having a master key. We are however looking in to the possibility of each grade leader having one in order to assist your team if/when needed. Stay tuned...

• Please remind your parents and families that upon entering the school they need to be prepared to show their IDs at the camera BEFORE they are permitted in to the building. 

• All visitors/adults in the building must have a check-in sticker OR a county ID badge at all times. If you notice someone that doesn't, please escort them to the office or call the office and we will come to them.

• If you see something, SAY something!! I would rather be safe than sorry and I will always error on the side of caution. 

While we can't guarantee that our safety protocols are full-proof, we can guarantee that we will all do our best to follow the protocols to the best of our ability in order to ensure as safe of an environment as possible. I appreciate your diligence and help with this matter. I know it is stressful and we can't live in fear. However, we can be proactive and learn from those around us. If you have questions, comments, or concerns please let me know. 

Once again, thank you for all that you do! As Abe Lincoln refers to in his quote, I am thankful for the roses among the many thorns!

Hey everyone, I hope you and your students are settling into your day-to-day school routines! We have completed our first month of school already and routines and procedures are falling into place. Thank you for frequently reminding students of our behavior initiative, P.A.W.S., and what behaviors are expected in all common areas (hallway, lunchroom, bathroom, playground, bus) and your classrooms. We would love to highlight the Wildcats who display Positive, Accountable, Willing, and Safe behaviors consistently. Teachers or Paras may recognize our Wildcats by completing the P.A.W.S.'tive Office Referral linked to the left. 

Field trip planning is in full swing! Grade leaders, as you plan for field trips remember to secure your bus drivers and complete the Field Trip Information Form (linked to the left). Once you have completed the form with all the information, please share it with me and email Lisa Hernandez (Lunchroom Manager) at lisam.hernandez@hallco.org to let her know about the field trip. Also, receipts must be given to students for anything $10 or more. There are receipt books available in the front office. Please remember, that field trips are about educational opportunities for students and require a loss of instructional time in the classroom so please plan trips that are developmentally appropriate and meet grade-level standards. 

Please vote for October's Teacher of the Month and Staff Member of the Month here by  Friday, September 27. You can vote for Lanier's Teacher of the Year and Staff Member of the Year Representative for the 2025-26 School Year. The teachers and staff members listed on the form were selected as a TOTM or SMOM during the 2023-2024 school year,  and are listed in alphabetical order. Click here to vote for our 2025-2026 Teacher of the Year and Staff Member of the Year by Friday, October 1st. 

As many of you know, Lanier's student body is evolving and so are our students' individual needs. One of the fastest-growing subgroups at Lanier is our English Language Learners. Please take a few moments to look over the ESOL Presentation provided by the HCSD. This presentation will help teachers develop an understanding of the WIDA ELD Standards Framework and help provide an idea of the challenges our EL students may face in the classroom. Please click through the presentation to learn more.  Reach out to Mrs. Hunt or Mrs. Souther if you have any questions or need additional support with your EL students. 

• Thank you to Ms. Popham for modeling small group reading instruction for two of our newest teachers. Peer observations are great PL opportunities. If you are interested in observing in another classroom please email me. 
• PLC kickoff ✨ will be on Thursday 9/12/24. Come ready to learn and have GA Literacy Modules 4 and 5 complete ✅!
• K-2 i3 Showcase is November 4th. This is earlier than last year. Just wanted you to be aware as you plan out inquiry projects and what you wish to showcase. As part of Title I we will be building capacity with families in Math for K-2 and then Literacy for 3-5.