Three Gwinnett Schools Earn 'Family-Friendly' Honor

PEACHTREE CORNERS, GA -- Three Gwinnett County Schools have been named among Georgia's six most "family friendly" campuses.

Peachtree Elementary School in Peachtree Corners, Hopkins Elementary School in Lilburn and Norton Elementary School in Snellville were named 2016 winners of the Georgia Family-Friendly Partnership School Award by the Georgia Department of Education.

Buford Elementary School, part of the Buford city school system, also was selected.

The schools were selected because they represent the best in customer service for Georgia families.

"Each winning school has created inviting, easily navigable environments where helpful, courteous staff members are eager to assist students and their families," the department said in a news release. "Through these efforts, the schools are building partnerships with families to improve student achievement. Each of the schools also provides unique, engaging, and innovative parent engagement programs that are successfully reaching all families in the school."

Each school applied to the department's Parent Engagement Program describing programs in their schools. Applications were reviewed by a team comprised of representatives from the Georgia Department of Education, the Georgia Association of Educators, Voices For Georgia's Children and the state school superintendent's Parent Advisory Council.

Nine finalists were identified, and members of the review team made surprise visits to each school, posing as parents looking for information or assistance.

The team also conducted walk-throughs of each school and interviewed school staff, parents, students and community members.

State schools Superintendent Richard Woods will visit all six schools in the fall and will present a plaque and a welcome mat for their front entrance.

"I wish to congratulate each 2016 Family Friendly Partnership School awardee," Woods said. "The emphasis these schools have placed on creating warm, family-friendly environments is wonderful to see. When schools work in partnership with parents and families, students succeed."