Simpson Elementary Receives 2012 National Blue Ribbon Award

The Peachtree Corners school was among seven Georgia public schools in the nation to be recognized.

On Tuesday, Simpson Elementary School was honored in Washington D.C. as one of the nation's 2012 Blue Ribbon Schools. The Peachtree Corners school was one of only seven Georgia public schools to receive the award - and the only Gwinnett County school to be recognized. A total of 314 schools across the nation were recognized in a ceremony that was held by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. Each school that attended received a plaque and a flag to signify its status as a National Blue Ribbon School. "The Simpson community is thrilled that our school was named a 2012 National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence," said Bron Gayna Schmit, the school's principal. "It is a great honor to be one of 269 schools selected from over 100,000 schools…

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Simpson Elementary Student Honored at Rotary Club Luncheon

Elena Domenech, a first grader, was recognized recently by the Peachtree Corners club as its "Student of the Month."

The Peachtree Corners Rotary Club recognizes a student who has done something outstanding whether academically, athletically or through community service. Recently Simpson Elementary School student Elena Domenech, from Mrs. Berrigan's first grade class was recognized as the Rotary Club's Student of the Month. Elena received a framed proclamation that read: Elena has attended Simpson Elementary since kingergarten, and we are very proud of the exceptional learner and leader she has become in such a short amount of time. As a learner, she accepts every challenge given to her by her teachers. Whatever the task, Elena strives to be the best at it. She shows an enthusiasm for learning and works hard each and every day. Simpson Elementary is …

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Simpson Elementary Named 2012 National Blue Ribbon School

The U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, announced on Friday that the Peachtree Corners school had been awarded the prestigious national title.

On Friday Simpson Elementary School was recognized as a 2012 National Blue Ribbon School. The Peachtree Corners school was one of only 269 schools across the nation to receive the prestigious national title. The recognition honors public and private K-12 schools where students perform at very high levels or where significant improvements are being made in students' levels of achievements, according to a press release by Gwinnett County Public Schools. The schools chosen for the title are recognized in one of two performance categories. Simpson received recognition in the "Exemplary High Performing" category. "This recognition affirms that setting high expectations for excellence in all areas of school life and focusing on teaching and …

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Carol's Corner

Volunteering, Meeting the Needs of Others Part of Her Life

Wendy Willis does many things to better our community. Most recently she has headed up a tutoring program at a local school in Peachtree Corners.

Most of us here in Peachtree Corners lead busy lives. With so many tasks to complete it’s hard to see beyond those commitments. How refreshing it is to find someone who not only takes care of herself but works hard to meet the needs of others. Wendy Willis is one of those people who seeks opportunities to serve others in our community. As a child she says her parents instilled in her, “the importance of using my gifts and talents to give back to the community.” Growing up in Germantown, TN when it was a fledgling community, Willis watched both of her parents become deeply involved in volunteering to help the establishment of the area. When she was in college Willis became active in the big brothers and sisters organization. She told me …

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Local Students Win International Competition

Simpson Elementary and Norcross High School student compete - and win top awards at the Future Problem Solving International Conference.

PEACHTREE CORNERS -- Students from Simpson Elementary School and Norcross High School won a number of top awards at a recent annual international competition aimed at engaging students in creative problem solving. Competing in the Future Problem Solving International Conference June 7-10 at the Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana were: Simpson Elementary School: Norcross High School: Allison Fisher, rising senior at Norcross High School, was named Grand Champion of the Senior Division Global Issues Individual Competition with her 1st place finish. Michelle Fisher, rising sophomore at Norcross High School, won 4th place in the Middle Division Global Issues Individual Competition.  Anna Steingruber, from Simpson Elementary, was part …

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Judy Putnam

9:18 am on Thursday, June 28, 2012

Linda, thanks for letting me know. I've corrected the misspelling in Davis Stewart. What a terrific achievement these Simpson ES and Norcorss HS have achieved. What awesome kids!   more ›

Retiring Simpson ES Teacher Honored

Kathy Russo was recognized by GCPS as the Georgia Future Problem Solving Program "Coach of the Year."

After nearly four decades in the classrom, Kathy Russo, retired from Simpson Elementary School at the end of the 2011-2012 school year. But before she closed the door to her classroom one last time, she was honored by Gwinnett County Public Schools for her work in coaching gifted education students for an annual competition called the "Georgia Future Problem Solving Program." Russo, who taught Gifted Advanced Content Mathematics and Intervention at the Peachtree Corners school, lead the students to a first place finish in the state competition this year. Her teaching career began 38 years ago, 22 of those years have been with GCPS. Russo was part of the inaugural staff at Simpson when it opened in 1993. She joined GCPS in 1990 as a special…

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Peachtree Corners Brownie Troop Collects Books for Local School

The gift of books was gathered and presented from one group of elementary students to another.

  When Girl Scout Brownie Troop 1106, which meets at Simpson Elementary School, decided to do a service project to promote literacy, they contacted Heart of America Foundation, which in turn got in touch with Norcross Elementary, recognizing a need for more reading materials there. The Peachtree Corners troop decided to set a goal of 30 books per Brownie, hoping to net a total of just over 300 books. On Fri. Nov. 4, the troop met Carolyn Lee, Parent Coordinator for the local school, out front with their donation of 875 books. The troop said that Lee was “amazed and thankful” for the donation, which surpassed expectations.  “Every person at Norcross Elementary the girls encountered on their tour of the school was excited and thankful for …

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Students Participate in International Walk to School Day

Peachtree Corners and Berkeley Lake schools participated in International Walk to School Day- "Walk It, Bike It, Like It" on Wednesday.

Students at various schools in the Peachtree Corners and Berkeley Lake cluster schools joined millions of other students from across the United States and 40 other countries to participate in International Walk to School Day- "Walk it, Bike it, Like it" Wednesday. The event, launched and piloted in 1994 in Great Britain, was first adapted in the United States in 1997 in Chicago and Los Angeles schools with the support of the non-profit organization “Partnership for a Walkable America”.  Currently, over 35 countries and 2,800 schools in the US participate in International Walk to School Day. Millions of students from Argentina to India to Nigeria to New Zealand and Turkey choose to take part in walking to school on WTS day. The Safe Routes …

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Carol's Corner

Simpson Elementary Students Participate in Fund Raising Event

Peachtree and Simpson elementary schools, along with others in Norcross Cluster work on Chairs for Charity for the upcoming Norcross Art Fest.

The Norcross cluster schools, which include Peachtree and Simpson elementary schools, are participating in a project called Chairs for Charity. This fund raising event will be held at the upcoming Norcross Art Fest this Saturday and Sunday in downtown Norcross on Oct. 1 - 2. Groups and local citizens donate the chairs and stools to be used for this event. Arlene Beckles, chairperson of Chairs for Charity for the second year, collects these and then distributes them to the schools. Before they reach the students the chairs, and this year mailboxes, are “sanded, primed, and given a color base coat by parent volunteers,” explains Simpson Elementary art teacher Tracy Callas.  At a booth at the Norcross Art Fest the chairs, stools and mailboxes…

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