Talley Street Update
December 2, 2021
Dear Talley Street Community,
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving break! We continue to have students showing up to school without a mask. Our supply of extra disposable masks is very low. Once this supply is depleted, students will be given a cloth mask. We ask that all students come to school wearing a mask and have extra ones in their book bag. Masks are required to be worn at all times except when eating a snack or lunch. 1:45 PM is the cutoff time for early checkouts. After 1:45, parents should remain in the car rider line until dismissal. Thank you for your cooperation with this policy. We are doing our best to continue with outdoor lunch for the rest of the semester. We will begin to transition to indoor lunch in January. If you need to communicate with your child during the school day, please call the school and not your child’s cell phone. Cell phones must be turned off and in students’ book bags during the school day. Students wearing smart watches should also have those turned off during the school day. One December 14th, we will be having our practice “lockdown drill.” Lockdown drills are required by the state to be held twice a year. Teachers will be discussing the drill with the students before the 14th to prepare them and to help with any anxiety that the drill may cause. I will notify parents after the drill is finished. Please continue to have your child check for missing items on our lost and found rack. It is getting full; items remaining after 12/17/2021 will be donated to local charity. Have a great Friday and weekend! Go Tigers!
Billy
CSD Updates
CSD Transportation
The weather is changing and if your transportation plans include riding a school bus you must register. All CSD riders must register to ride the bus through The Transportation Portal Bus Planner https://csd.mybusplanner.com/. This will let us know who is riding and also how we communicate with parents. If you are interested in tracking the bus, please sign up for Here Come The Bus.
CSD ARP ESSER LEA Plan
CSD is reviewing its current CSD ARP ESSER LEA Plan. We are extending a period of stakeholder feedback and input on our current plan through December 10, 2021. You may view the current plan on the CSD Website at the URL listed below. You will also find a Stakeholder Feedback Form there to provide any feedback or input that you may have on our current Plan. If you have any questions, please contact Willie Washington at wwashington@csdecatur.net. Thank you.
CSD ESOL & Federal Programs Coat Drive
CSD Community Members, We Need You! As the colder months are approaching, and as we are moving into the holiday season, the CSD Federal & Title Programs Department is kicking off a Coat Drive during November and December to help our families in need to stay warm this winter!
We will have a drop-off bin at each CSD school and at the Elizabeth Wilson School Support Center to collect coats and will collect coats beginning Monday, November 8 - Monday, December 13. We ask that all donations be NEW items to help us maintain the integrity of our families.
MTSS Department presents CSD Super Saturdays for K-5
Please complete the form to register your K-5 CSD student(s) for a Super Saturday session. CSD teachers and highly recommended staff will conduct engaging hands-on enrichment activities with small groups (1:10) of students on one (1) Saturday per month. The instructional focus will change from month to month (Math, STEM, ELA/Reading, etc.). All sessions will run from 9:00am- noon. This is FREE to all CSD K-5 students, but space is limited based on teacher availability. Registration will close at noon on the Friday before the session OR when all spaces have been filled. You will receive a confirmation email from Google upon successful registration.
REGISTER HERE: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfYbU9CnNyx9e-u_qgoCTzjpS2cizbb2IkpppQJaWcitw8n0g/viewform
School Nutrition
Separate a La Carte items are extra sale items that must be purchased without charging your account. Students MUST have already have money on your infinite campus student account or cash/check to purchase a la carte items! Please see the graphic for more information.
Georgia Student Health Survey
This year we will administer the Georgia Student Health Survey to students in their classrooms, and parents and guardians can complete the Georgia Parent Survey at this link https://gshs.gadoe.org/parents.
The Georgia Student Health Survey is an anonymous, statewide survey instrument that identifies school safety and climate issues that impact student achievement. In order to provide a safe and supportive learning environment for your child, the Georgia Department of Education collects survey information from students during the school year. The survey takes approximately 20 minutes to complete and covers various topics such as school climate and safety, alcohol and drug use, and mental health. If you would like to examine the survey questions, please find the survey questions here at the GSHS webpage on the right side of the web page under related documents.
All student survey data is anonymous and self-reported. The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) gives you the right to opt your child out of participating in the survey. The survey will be given to all students. If you do NOT wish for your child to participate in the Georgia Student Health Survey, please complete this Opt-Out form by December 17th.
CSD Hawks Night
Looking for a great way to kick off the Holiday Break? Join our District at the State Farm Arena for City Schools of Decatur Night as the Hawks take on the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday, Dec. 19 at 7:30 PM.
Each ticket includes $10 worth of food and beverage credit. A portion from each ticket purchased through this offer will benefit the Decatur Education Foundation.
Tickets can be purchased through the provided link: hawkspromos.com/CSD
Talley Updates
Book Fair NEXT WEEK!
Next week, Talley will be hosting it's FIRST in-person book fair since 2019, and we are absolutely thrilled! All of the important information is below.
- The book fair will run Monday-Friday (December 6-10).
- Books can be purchased in-person as well as online.
- For online ordering instructions, click here! Orders must be placed through the Little Shop of Stories book fair website. The website also has information on Book Fair Bucks, donating a book, and FAQs.
- Some of our teachers have started to make wishlists for classroom libraries. If you would like to purchase a book for a teacher from their wishlist, use click here!
- This is a huge fundraiser for our library! Thank you so much in advance for your support!
We need volunteers!
Small groups are allowed in to volunteer but must be fully vaccinated. Click on the link below to sign up!
Join the Talley Street Girls on the Run team!
Girls on the Run Spring 2022 Lottery Registration: Now Open
LOTTERY REGISTRATION FOR THE SPRING 2022 SEASON IS OPEN THROUGH 11:59 PM TUESDAY, JANUARY 25.
PTO Corner
Passive Fundraising
Have You Started Your Holiday Shopping? Please keep these passive fundraising options as you shop this fall.
Register the *Talley Street Upper Elementary Parent Teacher Organization* as your charity on Amazon Smile. When you shop from the Amazon Smile URL, a percentage of eligible sales will be donated to the PTO.
We have also partnered with Minted again this holiday season for discounts on holiday cards and gifts. Use code FUNDRAISETALLEY at checkout to save 20% and the PTO will receive 15% of sales.
Please visit our Passive Fundraising page for more information!
Questions? Please email Kim Mohl at: fundraising@talleypto.org
December Snack Cart
Thank you to our fifth grade families who made the November Snack Cart a success! Our teachers and staff appreciated the goodies and the kind cards.
This month, our THIRD grade families are asked to donate individually wrapped pastries, grab and go fruit, some non-perishable items or thank you notes that will be distributed on December 13th. These items need to be dropped off no later than Friday, December 10. Please sign up HERE!
*Items can be dropped off at the front desk or you may want to check Amazon or Walmart for delivery to the school. Questions? Please reach out to Jennifer Williams the PTO 3rd Grade Member at Large (AtLarge3rd@talleypto.org)
The 6 Myths: Ways White Folks Avoid Race
Come join us for a 6-week reflective journey for parents and faculty to discover the impact of race and racism in our lives. The series will continue on Tuesday, December 7th.
Please sign up HERE! (Use your Infinite Campus email address. ALL participants will be verified.)
Facilitators:
Charlie Copp, MS
Elliott Robinson, JD, MDiv
Sponsored by Talley’s PTO Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee
Safe Routes to School
Save the date for the next Walk n’ Roll on Friday December 10, 2021. This is the last Walk N’ Roll of this year 2021!
For more information and safety tips and updates, please visit our Safe Routes to School page.
Questions? Please email Emily Beard and Elizabeth Ingram at: SRTS@talleypto.org.
Amazon Wishlist
New items added! Please help the PTO stock the Teacher’s Lounge and Nurse’s Office. This Amazon Wishlist contains a range of items Talley staff can use.
Community Updates
Decatur Education Foundation
Could you be a mentor? We have two mentoring programs for which we’re seeking 15 women and 15 men volunteers to serve as mentors. Our AIM Scholars mentoring program pairs third-grade students with an adult mentor who help them by supporting their Academics and explore their Interests; Mentors also help their students connect to educational and enrichment opportunities. Our REACH Georgia program pairs five 8th graders with mentors to help navigate high school and preparation for college. Right now we just need one more male REACH mentor. In just 2-4 hours per month, you can have a meaningful impact in the life of a student. For more information, please visit www.decatureducationfoundation.org/mentoring
Tutors needed: Can you help out a Decatur student virtually one hour per week? If so, we’d love your help! Please click here to apply: https://forms.gle/LoiZxoi6WvSe6WEr6
Decatur High School Alumni – the next alumni newsletter is coming soon, are you on the email list? If not, you can sign up at www.decatureducationfoundation.org/alumni. And you can update your profile at any time if you’ve got some exciting accomplishments to share with your classmates. Go Bulldogs!
Decatur Holiday Marketplace at Clairemont Elementary
Run With the Dogs 5K to benefit Decatur Bulldog Boosters
Run With the Dogs (RWTD) registration is open and the event will be LIVE this year!
If you think you have the perfect dog to be featured on this year’s t-shirt as the Face of the Race, please enter the contest. Just post a photo of your dog, plus a blurb about why your dog should be selected as the Face of the Race, to www.facebook.com/RWTD5k or on Instagram with the hashtag #RWTD5K. All contest entrants must register for the race for their dogs to be considered. Photos can be submitted until November 21. Voting on the four finalists will begin November 29 and the "Top Dog" will be announced December 6.
The race is on Saturday, January 29, 2022, with a brand new course starting and ending at Renfroe Middle School. This year the race will feature chip timing for the first time ever!
Run with the Dogs 5K is an annual fundraiser of the Decatur Bulldog Boosters and supports the athletic programs at Decatur High School and Renfroe Middle School. All race participants will receive a long-sleeved T-shirt, which will once again be designed by local artist Adam Pinsley.
Register here for Run With the Dogs!
Decatur Parents' Network Event
Winnona Park Tree and Candle Sale
The annual Winnona Park Elementary School Christmas Tree and Hanukkah Candle Sale has begun! We source our beautiful and fresh Fraiser Firs from the Cool Springs Nursery in NC. Our Premium Hanukkah candles are hand-dipped from the Rite Lite brand and can be picked up locally prior to Nov 29. Trees can be delivered within 3 miles of the school for a small fee or can be picked up at the school Friday December 3 late afternoon, or December 4. https://winnona-park-es-pta.square.site There is an expected tree shortage this year, so do not delay!
Social Media and Contact Information
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
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/