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Family Newsletter

Dear FCS Families, 


It's the most exciting time of the year. We hope you've had a wonderful summer. Our teachers and staff are busy getting everything ready, and we're looking forward to seeing our students and families again soon.


We've gathered everything you need to help your family get ready for the school year, along with helpful ways to stay connected and informed throughout the year.


Thank you for being part of our school community. We can't wait to get started on a great year together!

Mark Your Calendar


πŸ“Œ Open House Events - Visit your school's website for specific event times and details. We look forward to welcoming you and your student for a great start to the new school year! 


πŸ“Œ First Day of School - Thursday, August 6


πŸ“Œ Early Release - Friday, September 4


πŸ“Œ Student/Staff Holiday - Monday, September 7


πŸ“Œ Fall Break - September 28 - October 2


View the complete district calendar for all important dates.

FCS Schools Featured in State Ranking


Eleven Forsyth County Schools elementary schools have been recognized among Georgia's Top 25 Public Elementary Schools by Niche, Inc!


Congratulations to:

πŸ₯‰ #3 Big Creek Elementary

πŸ… #6 Brookwood Elementary

πŸ… #7 Midway Elementary

πŸ… #8 Whitlow Elementary

πŸ… #9 Settles Bridge Elementary

πŸ… #11 Haw Creek Elementary

πŸ… #12 Sharon Elementary

πŸ… #13 Johns Creek Elementary

πŸ… #16 Daves Creek Elementary

πŸ… #17 Shiloh Point Elementary

πŸ… #23 Kelly Mill Elementary 

Visit our Back-to-School Hub for important information on registration, transportation, school nutrition, technology resources, calendars, communication tools, open house details, and much more. This one-stop resource is designed to help families stay informed for the first day of school and beyond.

Visit here to find your child's school website for open house details, transportation procedures, school supplies and so much more!

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ο»ΏVisit here for schools' start and end times

CENTEGIX

Parent Portal

The Infinite Campus Parent Portal is an essential tool for staying connected to your child's education. Through Parent Portal, families can view student information, report cards, schedules, attendance, grades, contact information, and important school documents all in one convenient location.

Visit Infinite Campus Parent Portal to stay informed and connected all year long.

Distraction Free

Distraction-Free Education Logo: A clean, modern logo representing the district's Distraction-Free Education initiative. The logo conveys the message of reducing digital distractions during the school day to encourage meaningful interactions, stronger student relationships, and improved learning outcomes. The overall design promotes the "Disconnect to Reconnect" concept and supports a positive, focused educational environment.

Forsyth County Schools is committed to creating learning environments where students can focus and build meaningful connections through our Distraction-Free Education policy. This policy encourages students to reduce smart device distractions during the school day, supporting academic success, student well-being, and stronger relationships with peers and teachers.

Visit the Distraction-Free Education webpage to learn more about our Disconnect to Reconnect policy.

Dress Code

Dress Code Infographic: A visually organized infographic outlining the district dress code expectations for students. The graphic highlights acceptable school attire and prohibited clothing items, including guidelines related to appropriate coverage, footwear, hats, hoods, accessories, and clothing with inappropriate language, images, or messages. Icons and illustrations are used to help families quickly understand student dress expectations and support a safe, respectful, and distraction-free learning environment.

The FCS dress code helps create a safe, respectful and focused learning environment for all.


The updated student dress code information is available here:

Click here to access the dress code


Transportation

Getting your student to and from school safely is one of our top priorities. Families can visit the Transportation Department website for important information about bus routes, transportation verification, rider expectations, safety procedures, contact information, and answers to frequently asked questions. The site also provides helpful resources to ensure students are prepared for a safe and orderly transportation experience throughout the school year.

Visit the Transportation webpage for the latest transportation resources and information.

Food & Nutrition

Healthy meals help students learn and grow. Our Food & Nutrition Services Department is committed to providing quality meals and exceptional service to students every day. Families can access school menus, nutritional information, allergy details, meal pricing, online meal payments, and information about free and reduced-price meal programs through the Food & Nutrition Services website. Menus are available through MealViewer, making it easy to view daily meal options and nutrition information for your child's school.

Visit the Food & Nutrition Services webpage for menus, meal payments, and nutrition resources.

Online Payments Made Easy

Families have access to two convenient online payment platforms throughout the school year.

MySchoolBucks is used to manage and make payments to your student's school meal account, allowing families to add funds and monitor meal balances.

SchoolPay is the district's platform for all other school-related payments, including field trips, fees, events, spirit wear, clubs, and other school purchases.

We encourage families to set up their accounts before the start of school to make managing payments quick and secure throughout the year.

Attendance


Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow: Why Attendance Matters This Year


Welcome back, families! Good attendance is one of the biggest predictors of student success, and small absences add up fast! Take a look at these facts: 



  • Missing just one day every two weeks means missing a month of school a year, and over 13 years that's nearly a year and a half of lost instruction. 
  • Nationally, 1 in 3 students are chronically absent, and missing 10% of school days (about 18 days) can make it harder for young children to learn to read and can hurt performance at any age. 
  • Tardies are impactful also - being just 10 minutes late daily adds up to half a year of lost schooling over a student’s career.


A few home habits go a long way: 

  • Set a consistent bedtime and morning routine to ensure your child is rested and ready for the day.
  • Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the evening before to reduce morning stress and delays.
  • Avoid extended trips and medical appointments during school hours whenever possible.
  • Develop a β€œPlan B” for travel to school with a neighbor, family member, or another parent in case of emergencies.
  • If your child seems anxious about school, reach out to their teacher or counselor.


A few district policies to know: excusable absences include illness, family death/illness, court orders, religious holidays, scheduled medical appointments, voting, and military family visits β€” family vacations do not count. To mark an absence excused, submit a written notice within five days. Let’s start off strong with regular attendance to make the most out of this school year!

Partner Connect

Partner Connect allows students to go beyond the classroom and into the community where time, talent, and resources provide enhanced learning. This partnership program seeks to create a collaborative framework that not only fosters growth but also strengthens the bond between schools and the broader community.


Our partners are individuals, businesses, post-secondary institutions, community organizations, professional associations, faith communities, government agencies, and other groups who are interested in partnering with our school system. By becoming involved, you are taking an active role in educating our students and ensuring a brighter economic future for Forsyth County.


Visit the Partner Connect website if you are interested in getting involved.


Student Support

Did you know that Forsyth County Schools has an Early Learning Program designed specifically for children ages Birth-5? SPARK! Is designed to support young children and their families with a building a strong foundation of early learning that will lead to future academic success. 


What makes SPARK! special?

  • Weekly 90-minute sessions for children ages birth–5 
  • Led by certified teachers who guide interactive, play-based learning
  • Builds early literacy, language, math, and social skills
  • Families attend sessions together with their child and learn strategies to continue at home
  • Transportation available based on family needs


Registration for the 2026–2027 school year is still open!

Sessions begin the week of August 11thβ€”secure your spot today! 


Come join the SPARK! family to connect, learn, and grow alongside your child in a fun and supportive learning environment. 


For more information or to register, visit: https://tinyurl.com/interestformSPARK


Contact Amy Gravitt, Forsyth County Schools District Family Engagement Coordinator, with any questions at amgravitt@forsyth.k12.ga.us .

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A Safe, Connected, & Thriving Community for All

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Forsyth County Schools | 1120 Dahlonega Highway | Cumming, GA 30040 US

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