Talley Street Update
August 25, 2022
September 29, 2022
Lost and Found Purge
The lost and found is overflowing and will be purged TOMORROW, September 30. Please have your child check and see if anything is theirs before it the end of the school day tomorrow.
CSD Updates
Hispanic Heritage Month
We celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 to October 15) to recognize the achievements and contributions of Hispanic American champions who have inspired others to achieve success. The observation began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988. The theme for 2022 is "Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation ."
View related records on the National Archives’ Hispanic/Latino Heritage resource page and in the Archives Catalog.
More information about this month is available on our Equity website.
Gradebook Visibility
On Friday, families will be able to log into Infinite Campus and see their students’ grades as reported in the gradebook. To access the gradebook, log into Infinite Campus and select “Grade Book” from the left-side menu. More information is available at https://grading.csdecatur.net.
Special Education Department Meeting
Community Spotlight Meeting- Threshold Community Program
Mr. Dave Nelson, Executive Administrative Director of Threshold Community Program, will share an overview of supports provided by this program.
Services include but are not limited to:
Individual and group counseling
College and career support
Social skills building
Academic tutoring and support for middle, high school, and college students
Target Audience: Parents of students ages 14-18 with an IEP.
Date: September 29
Time: 6-7pm
Location: Virtual (Register Here)
Click here - Special Education Department - for our September Newsletter.
For questions, email Cheryl Grant at cgrant@csdecatur.net.
ESOL Parent Meeting and Title I Annual Parent Meeting
Attention all ESOL & Federal Programs Parents and Families!!!
Please Save the Date for our ESOL Parent Meeting and Title I Annual Parent Meeting hosted on Thursday, October 6, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. at the Wilson Center Central Office,125 Electric Avenue, Decatur, GA 30030.
Come learn about our ESOL & Title I Programs in CSD and the support your student will receive this year. We will have treats, music, games, and Vegan S'mores for the whole family to enjoy.
Additional Information about the meeting can be found on the flyer linked here.
This meeting will be recorded.
If you have questions about the ESOL Parent Meeting and Title I Annual Parent Meeting, please contact Paris Hardnett at phardnett@csdecatur.net or Willie Washington at wwashington@csdecatur.net.
Superintendent Search
Thank you to everyone that attended the Superintendent Search input sessions facilitated by GSBA. You can still provide input by participating in the survey linked here. The survey will close on October 8.
Talley Updates
¡Feliz mes de la herencia Hispana/Latina!
Week of September 26 and October 3 - ¡Vamos a comer! Tastings of authentic Hispanic/Latino cuisine will be served to the Talley Community. If you would like to prepare or donate a traditional dish that serves bite size portions please sign up using the link below! If you have questions, please contact sbrewton@csdecatur.net or ttate-perez@csdecatur.net.
October 13 (Thurs) - Hispanic/Latino Heroes, Leaders and Changemakers Wax Museum - Come see our students' incredible work from 5-7 PM!
House Points App
Talley Families,
Our school uses a House Points system to engage students and encourage active participation in our school and our community. You can see your child's achievements by joining the app. I hope that you are excited to finally join in on the excitement of the House App!
Your child should have brought home a letter today in their Thursday folder with a code for you to use to join the app. If you did not get a letter, please let your child's homeroom teacher know. You are able to download the RCA House Points app on your phone, or you may visit https://rcahousepoints.com.
One quick note about earning points: students may not earn points every day or even every week. We are truly looking for "above and beyond" reasons when we award points in the House App. So, when your child earns a point, please mention it at home ... it's a big deal! Also, encourage your kid(s) to be an outstanding Talley student who is working toward earning points for their house.
Finally, please join us in keeping track of who will win the first ever House Points Championship in May! It's going to be EPIC!! Remember, we are 6 Houses 1 Talley. Go TIGERS!!
History Bee
This year, Talley students will be participating in the Who Was? History Bee! In the bee, students will answer questions related to important figures from history. Classroom bees will take place during the month of October, and the school-wide bee will happen in November. School-wide winners will participate in a written regional bee. One winner from each region will receive a $2,500 savings bond, a Who Was? library set for themselves, and a Who Was? library set for the school.
The History Bee is open to all students in grades 3-5. If your child would like to prepare for the bee, they can do so by reading the Who Was? books in the Talley Library or the DeKalb library! Students can also borrow Who Was? books on the Sora app by signing in with City Schools of Decatur and connecting to the DeKalb library for even more options.
Questions? Reach out to Mrs. Long (along@csdecatur.net)!
Important Information about Gifted Review
Each fall semester the gifted review team looks at existing student data to discuss students’ needs and determine if further evaluation for gifted identification is needed. If you are interested in having the team discuss your child’s needs, you may complete a Recommendation for Review Form (found at the website below) and turn it in to the Gifted & Talented Specialist at your child’s school before October 5th. No additional information is needed. The Gifted & Talented Specialists for Talley are Nicole Fiber (nfiber@csdecatur.net) and Stephanie Trauner (strauner@csdecatur.net). For more detailed information about the review process and to obtain a copy of the Recommendation for Review Form, please contact the Gifted & Talented Specialist for your school or visit the following website: https://www.csdecatur.net/Page/581.
Garden Announcements
The garden committee will be selling plants and teas at walk and roll on October 7th. Come get some fall veggies for your garden (kale, collards, lettuce, strawberries or cilantro) or try some tulsi or hibiscus tea. Likely will have some house plants and bouquets for sale too!
Follow us on Instagram… @talleystreetgarden
Caterpillars are abundant in the garden this time of year, please talk with your student about being respectful and just observing them; please do not handle them.
Roselle Plant (turns into hibiscus tea)
Roselle Plant (turns into hibiscus tea)
Gulf Fritillary Caterpillars
PTO Corner
Talley's Class Fund PayPal Pool
The Class Fund Pool is not a donation to the PTO. It is still open until September 30!
In years past, Room Parents have collected and managed an individual class fund to cover the cost of teacher gifts and extra supplies for the classroom. There was a broad range of participation across classes and the amount of money in each fund varied a great deal from class to class. In order to make the funds equitable, the Room Parent Coordinators (RPCs) will collect one Class Fund Pool to be divided equally among all Homeroom and Specials teachers. The RPCs will distribute funds for each teacher to one of their Room Parents (RPs) via PayPal.
Contributions to the Class Fund Pool can be made by PayPal to rpcoordinator@talleypto.org. We ask that anyone wishing to participate in the Pool please make contributions for the year during this time so that money can be distributed one time to all RPs.
The Class Fund Pool is not a donation to the PTO. These funds go directly to supporting teachers by providing equal funds for teacher birthday, holiday, teacher appreciation and end of year gifts. The class funds can also be used to purchase additional or special classroom supplies that may be needed throughout the year. RPs will continue to be responsible for how their individual class fund is budgeted and for reporting to their class how money is spent.
Snack Cart
Please help show your appreciation for our wonderful Talley Teachers and staff! Our 5th grade families are kindly being asked to sponsor our Snack Cart for the month of October . The snack cart rolls out every other Friday for the teachers/staff.
Please drop off all Snack Cart donations (labeled Snack Cart) to the school by October 6. Thank you!
**Everything must be individually wrapped**
***If the snack sign up is full, consider donating anyway! All items are appreciated and will be enjoyed.***
If you'd like to Instacart or Amazon:
Talley Teacher Snack Cart
2617 Talley St, Decatur, GA 30030
Questions? Please email Courtney Sollie at courtneysollie@gmail.com
Walk & Roll
CORRECTION: DATE CHANGE
Please join us on our next Walk and Roll, Friday October 7th, as we celebrate International Walk and Roll Day.
We will have coffee and music at the flagpole entrance. We will also be handing out swag to students as they enter the building .
Also, our Garden Committee will be there selling fall veggie starts, bouquets, tulsi and hibiscus teas and some house plants!
Questions?! Please email Elizabeth Ingram and Mallory Donaldson at: SRTS@talleypto.org
Reading Rally
Get Ready. Get Set. READ!
The 2022 PTO Reading Rally Celebrating the
6 Houses of Talley will be held for 10 days:
WEDNESDAY 10/12 @ 8:00 AM - FRIDAY 10/21 @ 5:00 PM
Goal: Read 100,000 minutes & raise $15,000
READING RALLY HOUSE CELEBRATION SCHEDULE
WHAT IS THE TALLEY READING RALLY?
This read-a-thon fundraiser encourages students to read, while giving them a chance to raise money for the PTO. The Reading Rally is one of the largest PTO fundraisers of the year. Funds raised support school-wide events, DEI and STEM programs, school garden and wellness initiatives, teacher appreciation activities, teacher grants, and/or other needs as they arise in our school community. This year students will be competing as Talley Houses.
HOW DOES THE TALLEY READING RALLY WORK?
Parents can sign up for a PTO user account (if you don’t have one already) and create a Reading Rally campaign for your child. Click here for instructions.
Once the campaign has been approved, your child will be able to log the number of minutes they read each day, share the campaign on Facebook, send a campaign link to sponsors, and collect donations through their online campaign. Sponsors can donate a flat amount or pledge an amount per minute read. For more information, check out this Reading Rally Presentation.
Donations can be collected through the PTO website through October 31st.
Sponsors can also submit checks payable to the Talley Street PTO (with Reading Rally on the memo line). Checks can be mailed to the school at 2617 Talley Street, Decatur, GA 30030.
Help Needed: Sorting Spirit Wear
Volunteers are needed to sort Spirit Wear on Wednesday, Oct 12 @ noon. Please sign up using the link below!
PTO's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Please join us for the first ever Talley Family Book Club! We will read, talk, snack, craft and play together!
This is an in-person event limited to 30 students and their participating guardians. Please sign up via the Google Form link.
A big Thank You to the Talley DEI Committee and Jambo Books for sponsoring this event!
Please contact us at president@talleypto.org with any questions.
Community Updates
Save the Date: Diwali Festival
Come celebrate Diwali, the Festival of Lights, on Saturday, October 22, from 5-7pm at Oakhurst Elementary School. More event details to follow! If you would like to volunteer or have ideas for the event, please reach out to Priti.bandi@gmail.com
Decatur Parents' Network
The first live Decatur Parents Network event in over two years is happening on Sunday, October 2 at 2:00 pm at the Decatur Recreation Center. This is a great opportunity to connect and learn, whether your kids are in grade school, middle school or high school (or older).
Check out the picture below for more information. Registration and more details can be found here.
City of Decatur
Attention!! All teachers and instructors who are Artists, Actors, Chefs, Scientists, Engineers, and Designers! If you are looking for a Summer opportunity that engages kids and aids in the exploration of kids' interests, look no further. E Camps Summer program will offer a variety of interest each week. Camps are presented in four categories: Cooking, Theatre, STEAM, and Explorations.
If you would like to share your expertise and talents with our participants by facilitating an enrichment camp please use the link below to apply.
Here is the link for the 2022-2023 E-Camp Summer Application: https://decaturga.seamlessdocs.com/f/ECamp2023.
Decatur Education Foundation
Our friends at Gathered & Grounded still have some spots available for a group session just for teens called Unwind Sundays during the month of October. Sessions are from 8-9pm on October 2, 9, 30 and November 6th and are designed to provide a safe place for teens to prepare for their week. To sign up go to www.GatheredAndGrounded.com. DEF is providing scholarships for families for which the attendance cost is prohibitive.
Calling all School PTAs: It may seem a long time away, but it’s really not: Mark your calendars (and start planning) for Mead Road Mardi Gras Parade and Party on February 4, 2023. This homegrown event raises important funds for music grants for City Schools of Decatur, and we want every school represented at this year’s parade! Business sponsorships are now available and complete details are here: www.meadrdmardigras.org
Madison Soap Box Derby
MADISON AVE DERBY - REGISTRATION OPEN
Don't miss your chance to be a part of one of Decatur's most iconic neighborhood events! Driver registration is now open for the 11th Annual Madison Avenue Derby, the non-motorized racing event where amateur racers of all ages design and build human-powered soapbox cars to compete against the clock in a downhill race!
Join the excitement as a racer or spectator on October 15, 2022, for a day of family-friendly fun - proceeds from the event this year go to support the Friends of Refugees! REGISTER TO RACE NOW
A Season of Giving
A Season of Giving/Christmas Decatur is back to its traditional method of neighbors purchasing gifts directly for local children and seniors!
To apply for assistance, please complete an online application at https://aseasonofgiving.org/application/ by October 28th.
If you have any trouble with the form, questions or concerns, please email us at aseasonofgiving@decaturga.com or leave a message on our voicemail (404.378.8068).
If you do not need assistance, we would love your help!
Donors will purchase gifts from an individual wish list specific to a child (through 8th grade) or senior citizen. If you would like to be a donor, please complete our online form.
If you would like us to do the shopping for you, please donate directly at https://legacydecatur.org/give/ and select A Season of Giving!
Social Media and Contact Information
You can find more information on the following Facebook pages:
Talley Street Upper Elementary School PTO
Talley Street Upper Elementary School Parents
Talley Street PE
And these Instagrams:
@talleystreetgarden
Follow the media center on Twitter:
For news from our counselors, check out their website:
For more about the Talley Street PTO, visit their website here: https://talleypto.org/