The FAST Flyer

As part of our ongoing PBIS program, students were treated to a celebration yesterday. Elementary students enjoyed ice cream on the turf followed by a glow party in Innovation Hall. Our middle school students set out on a scavenger hunt after their ice cream party. Thanks to Ms. Cadogan for putting together this event - the students all had a great time! Check out our social media for pictures.

You may have heard that there is an eclipse coming soon. Based on the timing of the event, the FAST governing board has approved an early release on Monday, April 8. Students will be released at 12:30pm that day. After school care will be available for parents who may not be able to accommodate the early dismissal.

Congratulations to all of our students who participated in the American Heart Association Kids Heart Challenge. Our specials team, led by Mr. Ray, spent Thursday outside with students as they got active playing ball, jumping rope, dancing and generally having fun in the sun. The students had a great time, but more importantly they raised a lot of money for a good cause. Special thanks to all of the parents who donated and helped solicit donations. Students raised over $7,100!

The annual Innovation Showcase is scheduled for April 26, 2024. This annual event is the highlight of the innovation program allowing students to display projects they have been working on throughout the year. At FAST, innovation isn't just a buzzword; it's a way of life.

April 1-5: Spring Break

April 8: Early release: 12:30pm dismissal

April 12: Arts Festival

April 16: Rising Middle School Info Session

April 19: Elementary Talent Show

April 22: EOC exams begin

April 26: Innovation Showcase

We need volunteers to help organize this event.

Please sign up here to help on one of the committees.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094FA8AE2AA4FCC52-47614017-international

Our goal is to represent 20 countries and we need YOU to make this a success! Whether you’re a recent arrival, your family has been in the US for generations, or you’ve lived abroad and would like to share your insight, please consider representing a country with a booth or performance.

Your display can include a tri-fold presentation board or digital slideshow, music, art, clothing, and a craft or food from your country. Each booth will be provided a tri-fold presentation board and up to $50 to fund the items in your booth. Booth and Performance volunteers will also get special parking and access to our VIP lounge with dinner provided!

Fill out the Volunteer Interest Form by clicking the button below.

School begins at 7:40am every day. Students who arrive late are not only missing instructional time, but may disrupt the rest of the class when they come in after class has begun. We have historically allowed students who arrived by 8am to go directly to class without being signed in. Effective immediately, all students who arrive after 7:50am will need to be signed in at the front office by a parent. Please be sure that you arrive on campus early enough to navigate carpool so that your student can be in class on time.

With cold and flu season upon us, please help us prevent the spread off illness throughout the school by keeping your student home if they are not feeling well. You can contact the school nurse at victoria.murray@fastk8.org if you have any questions or concerns.

The school day begins at 7:40am Monday-Friday. All students are expected to be in their classroom ready to start the day by 7:40am. Please allow for enough time to navigate carpool for your student to get to class on time. All students arriving after 7:40 are considered tardy.

All students are expected to be in proper uniform every day. Repeat violations of uniform code will result in a call from the front office with a request to bring the appropriate clothing for the student. FAST uniform includes FAST logo polo or spirit wear, khaki or navy bottoms (or black for middle school). Shirts without the FAST logo are not considered proper uniform.

All questions or concerns you have regarding your student should first be directed to their teacher. Please allow up to 48 hours for a response. If the teacher is unable to provide resolution, you should contact the Assistant Principal for your child's grade. On the off chance that you still have not been able to reach a resolution after contacting the teacher and the AP, you can contact Principal Mary Miller at mary.miller@fastk8.org. Our communication and escalation policy can be found on our website.

While under the auspices of Fulton County Schools, we are governed by our own governing board. Sending your issues directly to Fulton County rather than following the FAST communication chain will cause a delayed response as they will only defer to FAST and forward the issue back to us to address.

FAST is a smoke-free environment. Whether you are in the building, in your car, or anywhere else on campus please refrain from smoking or vaping at all times.

We cannot release students for early dismissal after 2:40pm Monday-Thursday and 1:40pm on Friday as this is too disruptive to our afternoon dismissal process and end of day activities. If you are picking up your child after those times, you must go through the carpool lane which begins at 3:15pm. As a matter of student safety, all students leaving before the end of the school day must be signed out in the front office by an authorized person. Please do not call or text your students for early dismissal. Students are not permitted to have their cell phones during school hours.

Please keep these times in mind when scheduling afternoon appointments and plan accordingly.

Please remember to send your child to school with lunch every day or order through Ordo at ordo.com. Ordo orders must be placed by midnight on Friday for the following week. Lunches must be nut free and ready-to-eat (we cannot microwave lunches).

As a reminder, all visitors - including parents - must check in at the front desk in Innovation Hall upon arrival. No one is permitted to enter Student Hall without having first checked in at the front desk. Parents are not permitted to walk their student to their classroom. We have staff available during morning drop-off to ensure students are attended to.

While we manage morning and afternoon carpool every day, now and then we like to remind our families of some of the rules. It is important that you adhere to the carpool process and follow staff directions as they are there (in all kinds of weather!) to keep our students safe and get you through carpool as quickly as possible.

• Students should only enter and exit vehicles on the passenger side in the carpool area. They should never be walking between cars. This is a safety issue.
• Students should not be retrieving their backpacks from car trunks during drop off or pick up. Please be sure they have access to all of their belongings without having to step between cars. This is a safety issue.
• Please do not navigate around the cones in the carpool area. They are placed there for a reason. This is a safety issue.
• No one should be dropping off or picking up students in front of Innovation Hall unless they have been issued a FAST pass. All other vehicles should go through the carpool queue.
• There are no left turns when leaving campus during carpool - whether or not there is an officer directing traffic.
• If your student is a bus rider that will be picked up at carpool, please be sure to inform your student's teacher as well as the front office.

We appreciate your cooperation in adhering to these rules for the safety of both the students and staff.

FAST leverages various means of communications to keep our families up to date with what is happening at school. Since most people are on social media, we post to different platforms to keep you up to date. If you aren't already following us, check us out on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

A printable version of the 2023-24 school calendar can be found HERE

To keep up to date with the most recent information available from our district offices, please click on the image below.

Email: info@fastk8.org
Website: www.fastk8.org
Location: 11365 Crabapple Road, Roswell, GA, USA
Phone: 678-321-1100
Facebook: facebook.com/FASTK8.School/
Twitter: @fastk8charter

The FAST Flyer is the electronic newsletter at FAST. Feedback is always welcome. If you have any questions, please call the school (678-321-1100) or email the FAST Communications Director at marie.emerson@fastk8.org.