Talley Street Update
May 5, 2022
Dear Talley Street Community,
I hope everyone is having a great week. I want to send out congratulations to our LINKS' students and teachers! Talley Street's LINKS' students have been competing in the Continental Mathematics League (CML) throughout this school year. The final results were recently released and Talley tied with the highest score in the nation! In addition, our 3rd grade LINKS' students placed first in the state and region! These are both wonderful accomplishments! Shout out to Ms. Fiber, Ms. Tate-Perez, Ms. Trauner and all of their amazing students! Have a great afternoon!
Billy
For Rising 5th Graders
Attention 5th Grade Families: Moving Forth Ceremony
Please join us in honoring our 5th Grade Talley Tigers as they move on to middle school in a Moving Forth Ceremony in our gym!
Friday, May 27th
- 8:30-9:30 - Moving Forth Ceremony: Sanders, Fredette, Block, Brown, Camirand, Benzin
- 10:00-11:00 - Moving Forth Ceremony: Friedrich, Girard, Farley, Kramer, Thompson, Young, Speyer, Primack
*Parking will be limited so please consider walking or carpooling.
6th Grade Exprience at Renfroe
Dear Parents of Rising 6th Graders,
I hope you and your families are well. While 5th graders are wrapping up their years at FAVE and Talley, we are planning for their arrival at Renfroe Middle School for the 2022-2023 school year. I can’t wait, and I hope parents and students alike are looking forward to school next year. The jump from 5th grade to 6th grade is more of a hop really, and our 6th grade team is amazing at making the transition seamless. 2022-23 will be a great school year!!
Please see the information below concerning your child’s 6th grade experience next year at Renfroe Middle School. We need your input so we can complete schedules for next year.
Thank you.
Greg Wiseman
Principal, Renfroe Middle School
Choosing your Child’s World Language Class for 6th Grade
Middle school students can choose one of three World Languages: Spanish, French, or German. All rising 6th graders will choose their World Language at school next week. Please discuss this choice with your child.
Connections Classes at RMS
Middle School students have five core subjects, lunch/recess, and two connections classes every day. RMS master-scheduler, Assistant Principal Sarah Talton-Buck is working hard building the schedule for the 2022-23 school year. For her to complete her job, we need rising 6th grader input (parents are invited to help too) concerning Connections. Students choosing to participate in Chorus, Band and Orchestra will need to indicate their intent (by registering on the websites for each program below).
Click here to learn about the RMS Chorus program and to request enrollment for next year
Click here to learn about the RMS Band program and to request enrollment for next year
Click here to learn about the RMS Orchestra program and to request enrollment for next year
Renfroe Gifted Information Session for Rising 6th Grade Students
I am going to offer a virtual information session on Wednesday, May 11, for parents of rising gifted 6th graders who would like to know more about gifted services at Renfroe.
Please help spread the word by posting this slide in your upcoming newsletters and sending an email to parents of kids on your gifted rosters.
Let me know if you have questions or concerns. Thanks so much!
Renfroe Gifted Services Information session slide
Laura Gary, EdS
RMS Gifted Specialist
CSD Updates
Launchpad for Learning Camp
Launchpad for Learning Camp
It's finally here! Launchpad for Learning registration is now open! Just log in to your Infinite Campus Parent Portal, choose the appropriate school store, click on the Launchpad for Learning icon, choose the week that you would like to register your student for, and checkout! Watch this video for a brief, step-by-step demonstration of how to register on the Infinite Campus Parent Portal.
What is Launchpad for Learning?
Launchpad for Learning is an exciting, 2-week summer camp hosted by the City Schools of Decatur for students in grades K-8 in the 2022-23 school year. The Launchpad for Learning Summer Camp will be held July 11-22. Launchpad for Learning Summer Camp is an exciting opportunity for students to be introduced to upcoming grade-level standards with hands-on activities, field trips, and much more!
Questions? Contact Eddie Johnson at ejohnson@csdecatur.net.
CSD Super Saturdays for K-5 Students
Come get hands-on experience with grade-level standards!
The next Super Saturday is on May 14 from 9:00 am- 12:00 pm at Fifth Avenue Elementary.*
Super Saturdays are open to all K-5 CSD students but space is limited.
Click here to register and to learn more about the program. (*Location subject to change.)
Extra Mile Award
Students: Do you know a teacher or CSD employee who has gone “the extra mile” this year? Nominate them for the CSD Extra Mile Award! The Extra Mile Award is an annual award that allows students to show their appreciation for the teachers or staff they feel go above and beyond what is expected of them.
Students (not parents) at any grade level can write an essay describing how their teacher (or staff member) goes the extra mile (parents can help younger children write the essay). The essays should be detailed and describe how the employee goes above and beyond.
Click here to submit a nomination. Students can also find the form any time via LaunchPad (it’s the purple icon labeled “Extra Mile Award nomination”). The deadline is May 25.
These awards will be presented at the CSD Opening Day Celebration in July.
Questions? Contact cburnett@csdecatur.net or 404-371-3601
CSD Night at Atlanta United Game
City Schools of Decatur has secured discounted ATL UTD tickets for their match on Saturday, May 28 vs. Columbus Crew. All students, family, and friends that purchase through this link will save up to 50% off tickets plus reduced fees while supplies last.
$5 from every ticket will go back to support City Schools of Decatur. The top 20 students who sell the most tickets will also get to participate in the player high-five tunnel experience before the match! Be sure to enter the name of the student who you received this offer from and select your school at the drop-down during checkout.
Offer expires May 14 or until tickets are sold out. Click this link https://fevo.me/csd to learn more.
2022-2023 Comprehensive LEA Improvement Plan (CLIP)
The City Schools of Decatur is now in the process of soliciting feedback and input from all stakeholders as we revise our CLIP for the 2022-2023 school year.
We ask that you take an opportunity to review the CLIP documents found on the CSD Website linked HERE and then use the Feedback form linked HERE to provide your input and feedback by Friday, May 20, 2022.
Talley Updates
Field Day Shirts - Volunteers Needed!
The PTO is providing Field Day t-shirts for all of our students and staff! We need your help to make sure over 700 t-shirts get unpacked, organized and distributed before Field Day. Please SIGN UP to help sort and hand out the shirts.
Career Day
Kelly Yang Author Visit for AAPI Heritage Month!
Mystery Readers Needed - AAPI Heritage Month
Please sign up to be a mystery reader as part of Talley’s Asian American & Pacific Islander American Heritage Month & in support of our children learning more about the unique and distinct AA & PI cultural traditions. Consider being a Mystery Reader and sharing your favorite story or book written or illustrated by artists of Asian American or Pacific Islander heritage. We could really use your authentic perspective and input. AAPI Books for Elementary Students.
Talley Parents - We Need Your Help!
Title I Parent Input Meeting
Please come and join us for our Title I Parent Input Virtual Zoom Meeting!
During this meeting we will review:
- CSD Comprehensive LEA Improvement Plan (CLIP)
- Title I School Targeted Assistance Plan
- Title I District & School Parent & Family Engagement Plans
- Title I School-Parent Compact
Title I Parent Input Meeting
Thursday, May 5, 2022 at 6:00 p.m.
Virtual Zoom Meeting Link: https://csdecatur.zoom.us/j/99969216229?pwd=dDRDOEVJKzhObDZ5cEM2SnVJZIIVQT09
For Parents of 5th Grade Boys
Boys Changing Voice Workshop on Thursday, May 19, 4:15-6:30 pm at Renfroe
"Boys' voices begin to change sometime in middle school. Many 6th graders experience a gradual lowering of their vocal range and a loss of higher pitches they once could sing. To accommodate these changes, Renfroe has three tenor/bass choirs which meet during the school day where boys can comfortably sing and safely pass through multiple stages of voice change."
This workshop will provide students with an opportunity to sing rounds and partner songs with our RMS Tenor/Bass ensemble, play singing games, eat pizza and get a free chorus t-shirt. Parents will be invited to an "informance" at 6pm in the Renfroe cafeteria.
Year of the Tiger
The GOTR Blue Team completed its Community Action Project this week. They made posters to educate the Talley Community about the plight of the White Tiger. They also did research to share with our school community. See what they learned below!
After-School Activities
Join the Coaching Team at Talley Street as a MENTOR for girls in 3rd-5th grade!
We need coaches!
We cannot have ANY teams at Talley if we do not have enough coaches.
We are in need of volunteer IN PERSON coaches for next season! Coaches are MENTORS who help inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum (provided by Girls on the Run), which creatively integrates running. At Girls on the Run we inspire girls to recognize their inner strength and celebrate what makes them one of a kind. It is NOT required to be a runner, athlete, or identify as female to be a coach! We cannot have any teams at Talley if we do not have enough volunteers to coach. Please consider joining our coaching team next season! Here is what you can expect:
Fill out a coaches application and complete a background check
Attend a virtual training session AND an in person training session with GOTR Atlanta
Attend a virtual pre-season Talley Coaches Meeting
Commit to 1-2 days a week of coaching (Mon/Wed or Tues/Thurs from 2:30-4:00) during the season
Support your fellow co-coaches, take turns leading lessons based on the detailed GOTR Curriculum you will be provided
This program has proven to have a positive impact on the girls who participate. Be prepared for it to have a positive impact on you, too!
Fall 2022 Dates
Dates for the Fall Season are TBD
The season typically lasts 10 weeks and we do not practice when there is no school.
Please reach out to Natalie Bundschu at nbundschu@csdecatur.net if you or anyone you know is interested in coaching this season. We would love to have as many coaches as possible and are happy to work with your availability. If possible, we would especially love coaches who could commit to coming back to coach once or twice a year for future seasons.
PTO Corner
Talley Street PTO Nominations
We are looking for the next generation of leaders for the Talley PTO Board and Committees!
We especially need a co-President, co-Vice President, and co-Treasurer to make sure the institutional knowledge is passed along before the current Board members’ students graduate from Talley.
We will also need people to take the reins on the Fundraising Committee to make sure the Reading Rally and TigerFest continue to raise support for our school!
For the past 3 years we have been so lucky to have incredibly dedicated parents step up to make sure the Talley PTO continued to support our school through a difficult pandemic. We’ve worked hard to provide things like yearbooks, spirit wear, room parent support for the classroom, social activities, diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, teacher/staff appreciation activities, Safe Routes to School activities, teacher grants and more.
Please review the Nominating Form and see what Board position or Committee you’d like to take on for the 2022-23 school year!
TigerFest
Thank you to all of the Talley families and staff who came together to help make the inaugural TigerFest fundraising event happen! So many volunteers pitched in to help make things run smoothly and to ensure the kids had a safe and fun time!
We are excited to share that we anticipate at least $27,000 raised through TigerFest will help fund the Talley PTO for the 2022-23 school year! Thank you all so much! We could not have done this without your support!
The PTO Board and TigerFest Committee learned a lot this year and deeply regret that some families who would have liked to attend were not able to due to closing the wristband sale. As we look towards next school year, we will continue to work within the precautions necessary to mitigate Covid cases. We will plan to accommodate more attendees and volunteers so that everyone who would like to join us for TigerFest 2023 can do so.
It was a gift to share a day of fun, games, music, food, and shopping at the artist market and silent auction with so many Talley Tigers! We can’t wait to do it again next year!
Pie in the Face
If your child has TigerFest Pie Face Bucks they did not get to use OR were unable to attend TigerFest due to the close of the wristband sale, there is a make-up Pie Face opportunity. Please register them to throw a cream pie at Principal Heaton on Field Day! (https://forms.gle/R21Mmgo8dAubtcuA6)
Please do not register your child if they attended TigerFest and already had the opportunity to participate in the Pie Face booth.
Please contact Sara Weathersby with questions at president@talleypto.org.
Yearbook
The 2021-22 Yearbook will go on sale on the PTO website on Monday, 5/2/22! The price is $15.
Go to the Talley website at www.talleypto.org -> Store tab -> Yearbook
From there you can choose to buy a yearbook or donate one.
If you prefer not to use the website and pay with check or cash, please contact yearbook@talleypto.org to make payment arrangements.
Talley's Staff Lounge Amazon Wishlist
If you are looking for ways to show Talley Teachers and Staff appreciation for all their hard work, please consider this Amazon Wish List. Thank you for all your support!
Community Updates
Decatur Parents Network
Join us for the next Parent Chat on May 9th, 7:30 pm-8:30 pm. The timing isn't quite right to get back to in-person parent meetings, but nothing stops us from gathering on Zoom.
A member of the leadership team will facilitate the event. There will be a suggested theme for discussion at each meeting, but the primary intent of these chats is to foster connection with those in attendance. PLEASE NOTE: These chats will not be recorded.
Register and learn more at https://www.decaturparents.net/events/parent-chats.
Decatur Education Foundation
It’s National Teacher Appreciation Week! Your words of love and appreciation mean everything to our teachers -- Express your appreciation for a teacher or CSD staff member with a Step Up tribute: Go to www.stepupforteachers.com, make a $25 contribution and you can leave a tribute message for your favorite CSD employee, and we’ll notify the honored person. For $50 you can honor two CSD staff members AND have a yard sign delivered to your Decatur address! To celebrate our DHS seniors, we also have yard signs for the Class of 2022! Your contributions support Teacher Innovation Grants and provide an encouraging boost that our teachers need to finish the school year!
A huge THANK YOU to everyone who donated to our Renfroe and Talley snack program! Those programs have enough snacks for the rest of the school year! There are still a few items left on the Weekend backpack program, to which you can donate from this link: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1IVCVGY0GCF9S?ref_=wl_fv_le
To our DEF treasure hunters – we’ll be announcing the winners of the treasure hunt raffle NEXT WEEK, so stay tuned to DEF social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook and Twitter). It could be YOU! The treasure hunt is still active for anyone who would like a fun family activity, click HERE for info.
CSD DEI's Spring Festival
Hello Families!!
Bring a picnic blanket and come out to enjoy CSD PTA's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committees' Middle Eastern and South Asian Spring Festival on Saturday, May 7th at Ebster Recreation Center’s gymnasium, and outdoor courtyard from 11am-2pm.
Performances, food and educational/cultural booths highlighting diverse crafts and holidays such as Nawruz, Eid, Hidrellez, Holi, Baisakhi, and Ugadi.
This event is FREE for all CSD elementary students and teachers! GET TICKETS NOW
Food will be available for purchase. Pre-order food from Naanstop here.
Other food vendors include: Bhojanic, Truva Turkish Kitchen, Sweet Sweet Syria, and more!!
Finally, we need YOUR help! If you’d like to volunteer your time or supplies, please SIGN UP here.
Thank you! We are so excited for the first Spring Festival and look forward to seeing you there
Brave + Kind Bookshop: Conversation with Dhonielle Clayton, Angie Thomas, and Nic Stone
Brave + Kind Bookshop, Renfroe Middle School, the Decatur Library and the Georgia Center for the Book present New York Times Bestselling Author Dhonielle Clayton who will chat about her new book The Marvellers with Nic Stone and Angie Thomas on Friday, May 6th at 7 PM, in-person at Decatur High School. The Marvellers is a fantasy adventure set in a magic school that celebrates cultural traditions from around the world. This event will be held outside, weather permitting.
Free Registration Here:
Decatur Prevention Initiative
1. The Speakers Series for May 3 @ 7:00
Decatur Parents Network invites parents to join us for a non-judgemental webinar about marijuana's impact on the young brain. This is NOT a discussion about legalization, decriminalization, or adult use. We are putting all that aside to just have a chance to hear about the potential impact on use by young people. The presenter is Dr. Merrill Norton, CMAC, ICCPP-P of Chemical Health Associates, and professor emeritus from UGA's College of Pharmacology. Register for this webinar at https://bit.ly/DecaturParentsNetworkMaySpeakerSeries
2. Our virtual parents' chat for next month is scheduled for May 2 @ 7:30
"We can't protect our children from everything, but we can educate ourselves and support each other. Many of our parents have requested more time for interaction and NETWORKING. Join us for our NEW monthly, informal parent chats. The next one is May 2 at @7:30 p.m. Please Register Here ahead of time; space is limited."
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/