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Strengthening our community one student at a time.

Principal's Message

 

Dear Parents and Students,

As principal of Swainsboro Elementary School, it is my pleasure to welcome everyone back for another great year.  We are all excited to have students back in our classrooms and hallways filling them with energy and enthusiasm for learning. It is our mission to provide our students with the “Power to Succeed.” Our vision is for our students to excel in the positive ABC's of learning: Academics, Behavior, and Character in a safe, orderly, and positive learning environment. This will require creating a learning environment which is centered around students, directed by teachers, and supported by home and community.

This will be my first year as principal of Swainsboro Elementary, and I am committed to our community and firmly believe that all students can be successful learners. All signs point to another incredible and productive school year. Our skilled and devoted staff is already planning and preparing for your child(ren). Our enthusiastic office team is registering new families, and updating student files. We are a caring community with the common goals of nurturing responsible, caring students and promoting high-level learning.

Our catch phrase for our students this year is “Do Right!”  We strive  to instill positive attitudes and behaviors. Students following our phrase of “ Do Right!”, will be successful at Swainsboro Elementary.   

In the concept of  “Do Right!”, we expect all of our students to follow our school-wide expectations and rules. 

School-Wide Rules    

  • Treat everyone with respect.

  • Keep your hands and feet to yourself. 

  • Use quiet voices inside the building. 

  • For everyone’s safety, follow all directions given by teachers and adults the first time. 

We are looking forward to a productive partnership with you to ensure our children can achieve their highest potential. We recognize that in order to be successful in school, our children need support from both the home and school. We know a strong partnership with you will make a great difference in your child’s education. As partners, we share the responsibility for our children’s success and want you to know that we will do our very best to carry out our responsibilities. 

We ask that you guide and support your child’s learning by ensuring that he/she: 

1) Attends school daily and arrives on time, ready for the day’s learning experience 

2) Completes all homework assignments given by teachers 

3) Reads daily to develop a love for reading and to improve literacy skills 

4) Shares school experiences with you so that you are aware of his/her school life

 5) Informs you if he/she needs additional support in any area or subject

 6) Knows that you expect him/her to succeed in school and go on to college…….

 

We strive to challenge each student to grow in his or her academic abilities and to be ready for the next grade level by the end of the school year. At SES, we have great teachers who spend hours planning and creating classroom activities to engage our students in learning. Our teachers use best practices and analyze student data to improve student performance. We believe all students can learn with different strategies that foster student growth. 

At SES, teaching and learning is focused on meeting and exceeding the Georgia Standards of Excellence for every child. Varied levels of instruction provide a framework to challenge advanced students and support those who are struggling, while creating a well-rounded classroom experience for students learning at grade level. Our teachers are highly qualified at every grade level to give support and opportunities for quality instruction, assuring that all children have access to the Georgia Standards of Excellence. 

Our goal is for all students to achieve at or above their current grade level in all core subject areas. As a Title I School, we continue to pledge to provide a quality curriculum based on research and best practices, to utilize differentiated instructional strategies for students based on individual needs, to grow and learn as professionals, to welcome the input of parents, and to provide a safe and orderly environment for our staff and students. 

Student attendance at school is a serious matter.  This year, we will continue to focus on decreasing the number of students missing over 5 days of school. Please work with us to ensure that your child is at school every day by 8:00 a.m.  Arriving on time and staying at school all day, every day is a critical factor in the academic success of your child.  With ”Truancy” guidelines, regular attendance, being on time, and not leaving early is very important. We will continue to ask parents to show their picture ID or driver’s license when signing out your child for early release. We will also continue to provide parents with car dash cards for pick-ups in the afternoons.

We hope that you will find our website helpful and informative. Our weekly newsletters will be posted on our school’s webpage. Additionally, you may see an update of events and quick announcements on our Facebook page.

Each year brings positive change. This includes some additions to our staff. We are delighted to welcome Calissa Mason, Keylee Johnson, Allison Blackburn, Kathryn Braddy, Mallory Wheeler, Kelly Logan, Mystie Mingledorff, and Savannah Ferrell, Rebecca Palmer, Victoria Wheeler, and Hollie Davis to our SES family.  We feel each of them will be an asset to our school. 

I am honored to serve as the principal of Swainsboro Elementary School. It is truly a privilege to be a part of a community where parents, teachers, and students care for each other and strive to build positive relations that support academic and social growth. Please feel free to contact me at 478.237.7266 or lbnorton@emanuel.k12.ga.us.  

Together, I know we will make this school year one of growth and achievement for all SES students.

Sincerely, 

Lara B. Norton, Principal