CSD District Dispatch
News from around CSD: November 13, 2020 edition
Table of Contents:
- Dr. Dude's Thanksgiving message to the CSD Community
- Board of Education Information and Updates
- General CSD News
- District News from the Wilson School Support Center
- School News You Can Use
- School "Shout Outs"
- Messages from our Partners
- Events and Important Dates Around the District
Thanksgiving Message to the CSD Community
We are certainly living through unusual and trying times, and during this season of Thanksgiving I want to let you know how thankful I am for the Decatur community. I am truly fortunate to be the superintendent of City Schools of Decatur: a school system dedicated to working with and inspiring students to grow and develop their ability to learn, think, and inquire. We knew these last few months wouldn’t be easy or perfect, but as a community we’ve risen to the challenge. We should all take great pride in this accomplishment.
I am so very thankful for every person who is part of the CSD community -- students, teachers, principals, staff, parents, and friends. I want you to know that I see your efforts and appreciate all of your contributions. During this season of gratitude, I hope we can all remember who we are as a community -- resilient, committed, innovative, diverse, and so much more. The entire City Schools of Decatur community has demonstrated remarkable courage, compassion, patience, and strength during these difficult times.
I am thankful for all of the stakeholders who have stepped up to share their knowledge, expertise, and perspectives. I will host a series of town halls for the CSD community on the next several Thursdays at 5:30 pm (November 19, December 3 & 10). I hope these town halls will provide students, families, and staff information on the status of the District’s plans and initiatives and an opportunity to invite questions from the community that we will attempt to answer during the town halls.
Further communication about these town halls will be sent out closer to November 19 with information about how to ask questions and participate. I hope you are able to join me.
City Schools of Decatur has a lot to be thankful for. I encourage you, during this coming break, to take a moment to relax, recharge, and enjoy your time with your family while continuing to practice safe and healthy habits. As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, let us rededicate ourselves to making a difference, to help change the world, and to learn to live and breathe together.
Thank you for your efforts and tremendous work during this extraordinary time.
Dr. David Dude
Superintendent
Board Meeting Information
Did you know all of the Board Meetings for this upcoming year are listed on the district's calendar, https://www.csdecatur.net/calendar? The next Board Meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 8.
These monthly Board Meetings often occur on the second Tuesday of the month. Check this page https://www.csdecatur.net/boardmeetings for more details and the next meeting date. Also, the Board agenda can be found at www.csdecatur.net/board prior to each meeting. Previous Board Meetings can be viewed in our Board of Education Meeting Video Library at www.csdecatur.net/boardvideos.
The most recent Board Meeting held on November 10, can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/0QgX6QNYfXE.
Board Meeting Updates:
At the November 10 Board Meeting, the Board voted to approve the calendar changes which were previously announced in the October 16 District Dispatch. The board also received an update from the Senior Homestead Exemption Committee regarding their two-prong approach and heard more from Dr. Dude about the CSD Community Stakeholder Planning Committee and steps toward opening for in-person learning.
General CSD News
CSD COVID-19 Stakeholder Planning Committee
Did you know there is a dedicated page to the CSD COVID-19 Stakeholder Planning Committee? You can find it here: https://www.csdecatur.net/cspc.
The COVID-19 Stakeholder Planning Committee (CSPC), which was referenced in the last Decatur Dispatch newsletter (https://www.smore.com/2a01r), was formed to capitalize on the enormous talent and expertise in the Decatur community. The CSPC will advise the school district on its response and plans related to COVID-19. Specific objectives will be completed through subcommittees in order to maximize and expedite the work of the committee.
To ensure transparency with the full CSD community of stakeholders, this web page has been created to post information and work products from the CSPC. You can also find the list of subcommittee members, and minutes will be taken at each committee and subcommittee meeting and posted on this page. Any work products from the committee, including the final report, will also be posted on this page. The committee and each subcommittee will meet regularly, and the final report from this committee is due by November 20.
CSD District Pods Update
We have been busy pulling together Pods across the district to address our students’ and families’ needs. We have opened 10 Pods in five buildings across our district. Over the last few weeks, our Pod team has recruited 40 facilitators and continues to recruit and train more staff to open additional pods in the near future. Thank you to our parents for your patience as we get this up and going, and thank you to those who have worked hard to get these pods opened so quickly to address the needs of over 100 of our kids.
You can read more details and submit your request to be considered for a pod here: District Learning Pods. Questions can be directed to wcpod@csdecatur.net.
COVID-19 Safety, Facilities, and Healthy Schools Manual
This procedure manual serves as a support for our schools and district to effectively mitigate the spread of COVID-19 once students and staff return to our buildings for in-person, face-to-face instruction. The manual establishes clear, usable criteria and procedures for school administrators, school nurses, and other staff to follow regarding mitigation procedures in CSD. This manual can be found at the bottom of the Opening 2020 page. Check this page regularly for the latest version.
District News from the Wilson School Support Center
CSD Accreditation Review
Every five years, we undergo an accreditation review. Our last accreditation was completed in 2016, which means it is time for another review. The timing is challenging, and we’re not permitted to delay this process. We will lean into this review and use the information gleaned from it to celebrate our work and set priorities for improvement.
The accreditation process is an opportunity to validate the great work we do against industry standards. Using research-based standards and evidence-based criteria, we will deeply examine policies, programs, and practices to determine how well various aspects of the district work together to meet our vision and the needs of every student.
A few things have changed since our last accreditation. The most noticeable is that the organization managing our accreditation has changed: AdvancED (SACS) and Measured Progress merged to form Cognia. The process has not fundamentally changed: it still involves system and school teams gathering data and self-assessing our performance against standards. Cognia has three main standards (leading, learning, and resources) and seven quality factors (clear direction, healthy culture, high expectations, impact of instruction, resource management, efficacy of engagement, and implementation capacity) in lieu of the five standards used by AdvancED. Also, Cognia calls the accreditation visit an “engagement review.” Due to COVID-19, the engagement review will be held entirely virtual for our K-12 schools. Additionally, the engagement review will not include any classroom observations for K-12. College Heights is also completing their accreditation this year, but there will be a few in-person visits for College Heights.
Throughout November, school and district teams will train on the processes and procedures for the engagement review. Starting in November and wrapping up by mid-December, stakeholders will complete surveys on culture, climate, and engagement. Throughout November and continuing into January, school and district teams will gather evidence and summarize their findings. By mid-February, our completed work will be submitted to Cognia. In March, we will finalize the engagement review schedule and select stakeholders to participate in focus group interviews. Cognia will conduct our engagement review in the last week of March. We expect to receive the final accreditation report by the end of April.
Additionally, principals will begin creating school accreditation teams over the next few weeks, consisting of staff, SLT members, and other stakeholders. Wilson Center and other administrative staff will likewise be tapped to support this important work. Stay tuned for additional information from your principal about how families and community members can support the accreditation review. As a result of the accreditation process, we will celebrate our areas of excellence and identify targeted priorities to guide our improvement efforts.
Part of the accreditation process is gathering stakeholder feedback. Surveys will be conducted at the district and local school level. The link below is to gather information from our families and community regarding engagement in our district decision-making processes.
Please access the City Schools of Decatur Family and Community Engagement Survey with this link.
Curriculum and Instruction:
Concurrent Learning Information
As we move to the next phase of teaching and learning in City Schools of Decatur, some classrooms will use the concurrent model, where teachers serve both students who are face to face in the physical classroom and those who participate virtually. We have created this brief presentation to provide families with a general overview and the work we are doing to prepare for the return of students to our buildings.
This document is designed to explain expectations for those classrooms and should be used to supplement our virtual learning guidance and our in-person instructional practices, which will be modified based on the health and safety guidelines related to COVID-19.
Report Cards
This week, report cards were posted for K-12 students. You can view report cards in either Infinite Campus for K-5 and Managebac for 6-12.
K-5 Report Cards: Here is a presentation to explain how to access the K-5 report card in Infinite Campus. We also have a useful video. Finally, here is a letter that will help you access the report card and interpret the scores.
6-12 Report Cards: For Middle and High School students, report cards will be sent as usual to parent emails and through Managebac. You can find additional information on the DHS IB curriculum and grading on their website here. For Renfroe, information on IB and grading for Renfroe families, please click here.
Equity and Student Support
SEE Equity
SEE Equity sessions 1-3 have concluded for this semester. SEE Equity lessons 4-9 will begin in spring 2021 with a six-week synchronous curriculum. To learn more, you can view this document. This series will serve as a tool to better prepare students for facilitated, synchronous discussions related to race, privilege, policy, and justice.We want your opinion on our new Equity webpage!
We are working to create a new page to highlight CSD’s Equity work, and we want stakeholder feedback to evaluate clarity and organization. If you are interested, please sign up here.
Supporting Students in the Context of the 2020 Election:
Any potential for change can be difficult for children and youth, but especially change that occurs in the context of unrest and for individuals who have experienced systemic inequity and marginalization.
- Tips for Parents: The tips and related resources in this document are intended to help you support your children.
- Tips for Educators: These tips and related resources can help educators support all students during this time.
Facilities and Operations
Once we return to our school buildings, you may find that our facilities have undergone significant improvements. The Facilities and Maintenance Department has been busy these last few months working to make these upgrades at each of our school buildings.
Meal Delivery Reminder
There will be no meal deliveries during the week of Thanksgiving Break, Monday, November 23-27. There will also be no meal deliveries during the Holiday Break from, Monday, December 15 through Tuesday, January 5, 2021.
For information about how to sign up for meals, go to https://www.csdecatur.net/nutrition.
Research and Analytics
Revised Assessment Calendar
The 2020-2021 Assessment Calendar has been revised to reflect state policy changes and local schedule changes. Highlights of the revisions are:
PSAT will be given to 10th and 11th graders on January 26.
CogAT will be administered on January 27, 28, and 29.
MAP will be given in March grades K-10.
GMAS End of Grade has been moved a week later in the Spring (April 26)
The STAMP test for World Language Proficiency will not be administered this year.
MAP and CogAT will only be given in person. Please review the revised assessment calendar to keep up with when tests will be administered. Future revisions may occur as state policy and local plans change. Heidi Whatley (hwhatley@csdecatur.net) can answer any questions regarding assessment for the 2020-21 school year.
2020 Graduation Rate
Decatur High School's graduation rate is 94.9%. Congratulations to staff and students on this achievement!
Graduation rate measures whether students are graduating from high school with a regular diploma within four years. 94.9% of our students who began high school in the 2015-16 school year graduated in the 2019-20 school year (within four years). Georgia’s overall graduation rate is 83.8%.
When a district achieves a graduation rate above 90%, a goal is set by the GaDOE through the Georgia College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI) to maintain the graduation rate above 90%.
Below is the City Schools of Decatur’s summary of graduation rates for subgroups that were large enough for the state to set a goal. We have maintained above a 90% graduation rate or improved our graduation rate for the subgroups highlighted in green. Although we are very proud of this achievement, our goal is to see 100% of our students graduate, and we will continue working until we reach that goal.
Staff Support
Accommodations for Staff
Staff Support wants to thank our employees for working with us during the accommodation process. Our goal is to make sure you feel safe and supported in both in-person and virtual working environments. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we all work through this difficult time.
State and Federal Programs
November is National Parent Engagement Month, and the City Schools of Decatur Title Programs Department would like to take a moment to acknowledge and celebrate our parents and guardians for their continued support and contribution to their child's academic and social success. Your involvement at home and school plays a significant role in your child's overall success in school and beyond. So A BIG shout out and thank you to parents for all you do! Please be sure to see our two upcoming webinars in the events and important dates section at the bottom of this newsletter.
Communications and Government Affairs
Take Action Tuesday
We have started highlighting students making our community a better place with our new #TakeActionTuesday Facebook posts. So far, we have had three of these posts. Our first spotlight was on Qudus Morris, who created a fundraiser to help the homeless. He has already raised almost $8,000, which will go to benefit Nicholas House!
Our second Take Action Tuesday acknowledged a fantastic group of DHS students involved with the Beacon Hill Black Alliance for Human Rights’ Confederate Monument Removal Committee. These students organized an impressive cultural event to celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day on October 11. This event also honored the Indigenous-African connection as they believe that their stories are intertwined.
The third Take Action Tuesday highlighted a group of students who started the Environmental Club. They hold virtual meetings on Mondays and during Wellness Wednesdays, where they pick up trash at local parks, including Mead Road Park and McKoy Park. They are currently working on a partnership with the Wylde Center to start a community compost. The club was started by Lili Duggan and Violet Whitfield. Most of the members are from FAVE and a few of their younger siblings at Oakhurst. We are proud of these students who are being the change they want to see in our world!
You can find out more about Take Action Tuesday and learn how to submit a student on the CSD Facebook page. Do you have a suggestion for a student working to make the world a better place in small or big ways? Complete this form, and they may be highlighted next! Please be sure to include a photo!
Information Services
Network Update
We are conducting an update to the network the afternoon of November 13. This may cause some CSD-owned devices to have difficulty getting online Friday afternoon/evening. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Hotspots
Some users of CSD-owned hotspots might see the hotspot's Wi-Fi network change to GADOE. If that occurs, the hotspot's password will slip to Verizon2020. We apologize if this causes difficulties getting connected. We are working with Verizon to identify and resolve the cause of this unanticipated disruption. As always, please refer to https://virtual.csdecatur.net/tech-help for troubleshooting information and tech support contact options.
School News You Can Use!
College Heights ECLC
College Heights wrapped up our annual literacy week. Highlights including our virtual book parade, mystery readers, and our PTO Read-to-Me-a-Thon fundraiser. Families read over 32,789 minutes and raised over $11,128. We are super proud of our staff and families for an amazing event. Check out this awesome slideshow that wraps up their literacy week!
Clairemont Elementary
The Beacon Hill Black Alliance, in conjunction with Clairemont Elementary and Decatur High School, worked to connect high school mentors with black elementary school students to form a reading buddies program. Initiated by DHS tenth grader Spencer Jack, the program’s goal is for older students to provide reading support to younger black students while building lasting relationships across schools. Clairemont students have been matched with DHS reading buddies who will guide them through reading and discussing culturally responsive texts. Clairemont Elementary would like to thank the Beacon Hill Black Alliance, specifically Elizabeth Hogan, Spencer Jack, Kunle Oguneye, Carmen Sultan, Kamina Pinder, Dawn Bolton, and our very own Stacey Foster for sponsoring this program for our students!
Glennwood Elementary
Book Parade, Spirit Week, and Teacher Flash Mob
Glennwood Staff hosted a drive-thru book character dress-up parade for students to celebrate reading and book fair week. Students were so excited to see some of their favorite book characters as they drove through the parade with their families. At the end of the parade, each student was given a copy of I Spy a Pumpkin, written by Jean Marzallo. The parade was sponsored by the Glennwood Library Fund, Glennwood PTA, and Little Shop of Stories.
Glennwood PTA hosted Virtual Spirit Week October 19-23 with a fun daily theme such as Pajama Day and Favorite Emoji Day. As a culminating event to spirit week, PTA hosted a virtual dance party on October 22 for the whole school with DJ Willy Wow.
Glennwood Staff created a special (socially distanced) flash mob surprise to share with students during Community Circle on October 23. The event was a super fun collaboration by staff, and students loved seeing their teachers put on their best spooky dance moves. You can watch the video HERE.
Oakhurst Elementary
Last month the Oakhurst Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion subcommittee of the PTA organized two great events. The first was a parent event with acclaimed experts to help Oakhurst parents navigate anti-racism discussions with our children. Second, there was a reading of the book "Something Happened in Our Town" to expose 1st and 2nd graders to some of the injustices endured recently in our nation. Thanks to Briana Pigford and Anne Shin for leading this important work in our school community.
Westchester Elementary
Congratulations to our fabulous Westchester Wolves for pulling off our first and very successful Move a Thon! They moved non stop, and with all their energy and love of their school, raised $8,900, and collectively moved 36,560 minutes!
Kindergarten: Mr. Wagner’s Class with 3,079 minutes
1st Grade: Mrs. Querubin’s Class with 4,891 minutes
2nd Grade: Ms. Duszak’s class with 6,690 minutes
Winnona Park Elementary
WP's Socially-Distant Library Visits
The Winnona Park library is now open on Wednesdays for in-person, socially distanced browsing. Since our library is close to the school entrance, people simply line up on the front walkway and enter as appropriate for proper social distancing. With directional signs, spacing spots on the floor, and a plastic shield at the circulation desk, we have been able to observe district social distancing guidelines while getting more books to students who need them. We have been able to support students in selecting books that are just right for them, which may be more challenging to do online. Thanks to all who have safely participated so far!
Crew lessons: The Colors of Us
Last week, all WP students participated in Crew lessons designed around the book: The Colors of Us by Karen Katz. Students discussed skin tone, how people are all different shades and colors, and ways we are similar and different. We are committed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and will continue to create opportunities to engage in these conversations with our students. If you are looking for ways to expand on these conversations at home, the resources below are a great place to start:
Fifth Avenue Upper Elementary
All About Me
From Mr. Holliday - "After weeks of deep inquiry into what it means to be members of a community, our crew completed and presented an “All About Me” project which highlighted aspects of their lives, “beyond being ‘just’ a student.” This assignment is a fantastic way for students to share and learn more about each other. For example, after watching one young lady’s presentation, a student quipped, “I’ve been in class with her since second grade, and I didn’t know she was into ANY of these things!” During this time of extended virtual learning, this project has become especially important. Right now, our kids don’t really have any of those “down time” opportunities to chit-chat about the little things that they enjoy. They don’t get to mingle on the playground and connect over each other's interests. It’s been incredible watching them make those connections this week, even if it is limited by a screen.
Awesome Author Visit!
Yesterday, November 12, F.AVE’s 5th-grade students had the opportunity to attend a live virtual author event with Alan Gratz! Alan Gratz is the author of several F.AVE favorites, including Refugee, Allies, and the upcoming Ground Zero.
Talley Street Upper Elementary
5th grader Sacha Twemlow has shown the IB learner profile traits of risk-taker and communicator by creating and producing our weekly virtual Talley Rallies. Over a month ago, Sacha reached out to Coach Kelly Nichols, expressing an interest in helping to execute the weekly rallies. He has worked closely with Coach Nichols to gather videos and photos from staff and students and has put them together in meaningful ways. The Talley Street community is proud of and grateful for Sacha's ambition and talent!
The Talley school equity team, in conjunction with the PTO’s Diversity and Equity Committee, has started a monthly discussion series on The Myths of Racism and Beyond. Whether you are a social justice champion or wrestling with these topics for the first time, this workshop, for parents and faculty, will help deepen the understanding of racism and strengthen the commitment to action.
Renfroe Middle School
7th grade ELA has begun an exciting non-fiction unit with Stamped by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds. The unit centers on the Inquiry statement, “It is my responsibility as a global citizen to understand the social histories of my world and the consequences of decisions made that impact those in my society.” Book discussions and activities will center around the critical thinking of this inquiry. RMS partnered with DEF and the Decatur community so that all 7th-grade students could read Stamped. The teachers, alongside equity coordinator Dr. Banks, have been working hard to develop and prepare a unit with this book that resonates and speaks to the 7th graders at RMS. Pearl McHaney was instrumental in helping raise funds to purchase enough books for every seventh-grader, teacher, and RMS administrator. Stamped is tailored for the young adult audience and is one of many ways RMS will be addressing antiracism in our community. Students picked up books and are excited to begin this work. RMS is looking for expertise in our community and volunteers, particularly POC, who are willing to share experiences and make connections to the book and our community. We want to help create experiences and provide connections to what they are reading. If you are interested in providing support, please complete this form. We currently have a variety of virtual volunteer opportunities to connect with students and this work. Thanks to everyone who donated funds for the purchase of these books!
Decatur High School
Congratulations to DHS Senior Kriston Esnard, winner of the 2020 Mike Sadler Award at Kohl's Scholarship Camp. With the character, academics, and on-field excellence that reflects that of the late Michael Sadler, your 2020 Mike Sadler Award has been presented to Class of 2021 kicker Kriston Esnard of Decatur High School (GA). Kriston has won multiple field goal competitions against 200+ campers over the past year at Kohl's events.
DHS Varsity Softball wrapped up a quick, but successful season. The team finished 4th in the region and qualified for the State tournament.
The Decatur Varsity Football Team is undefeated with a 0-5 record, which solidified their place in the State tournament! They have two more games in the regular season: November 13 away vs. Southwest Dekalb and November 20 away vs. St. Pius. If the Bulldogs win either of their next two games, they will likely host the first round of the State tournament. The Marching Band continues to practice and play at each home Football game. And our Cheerleaders are also adding to the exciting environment.
Our boys and girls Cross Country teams finished their season this past Saturday at the State Meet. The girls' team finished in 4th place! Our boys' team finished as the GA State Runners-up, finishing two points behind the leading team. Junior Christian Gonzalez was the individual State Champion! Senior Eoin McNally finished just seconds behind as the individual Runner-Up.
2020 marks the inaugural season of Flag Football for Girls. Our girls are 2-1. They have two games left and will make the playoffs.
HUGE congratulations go out to Christian Gonzalez and Eoin McNally. They have been named to the 2020 Powerade All-Metro Cross Country Team. This is a big honor - only 21 boys from the metro Atlanta region are named to this team each year.
On Saturday, October 25, we had our final marching band parent performance – a series of small chamber ensembles performed in the courtyard and stadium for family and friends. While typically marching band is all about producing a halftime show, it was pretty cool to use this as an opportunity for our students to receive smaller and more differentiated group instruction and the ability to foster community amongst the instrument sections.
For more details on DHS Athletics, be sure to check out the Decatur Bulldog Boosters here: https://decaturbulldogboosters.org/custom-page-4/.
School Shout Outs!
Each month, the District Dispatch features shoutouts from parents and students to our excellent teachers and staff at one of our schools. This month we are featuring Talley Street Upper Elementary School teachers and staff.
If you would like to shoutout your child’s teacher or a staff member, send an email to Sarah Jones at sjones1@csdecatur.net. Also, at the end of the school year, nominate your child’s teacher for the Extra Mile award. Keep an eye out for more information on how your student can nominate a teacher or staff member as we get closer to the end of the school year.
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Shout out to 4th-grade teacher, Mr. Foy, for having a superhuman amount of patience and a positive attitude during virtual learning!
Shout out to Ms. Reno and Ms. Rogers for making the kids look forward to each class! My son is engaged and excited for class, and he is genuinely interested in how you present the topics. I also appreciate all the patience and long hours you put in to make sure our kids are learning lots as well as having fun.Shout out to Ms. Reno and Ms. Rogers who keep these kids engaged and interested. The kids have so much fun they don't even realize they are learning! Both teachers take the time to really get to know their students and encourage their strengths as well as helping them to grow. I couldn't have dreamed of two better teachers for my son. Thank you both!
Shout-out to Nathan Benzin for delivering Halloween candy IN PERSON so he could talk to his homeroom students. Masks, social distance, etc., were observed, but it made a difference for my 5th graders. The Benzin/Camarind team has THREE sets of identical twin girls, and Mr. Benzin had candy for the twins not in his homeroom, too!
Shout-out to fourth-grade teacher Ms. Scott for sending hand-written notes to all of her students. It was a lovely surprise in the mailbox for my daughter!
Shout Out to Ms. Spoeth and Ms. Reynolds for leading a creative, hands-on fossil project for 3rd graders!
Shout 0ut to Ms. Fredette and Ms. Sanders, who keep their 5th graders engaged and organized. They are great at problem-solving and being flexible when there’s a problem with virtual learning.
Shout Out to 4th Grade Teacher Mr. White! He goes above and beyond to connect with each child each day. He does his best to make virtual school fun and keep the kids engaged! Thanks Mr. White for all you do!!
Shout out to Mr. White for being very present with our kids and keeping them learning and engaged.
Shout out to Ms. Edwards, 3rd-grade teacher who is so dedicated to her students and making sure they are learning.
When Lane had a rough day, Ms. Edwards called her after school to talk! We are so thankful for Ms. Edwards, who is caring, observant, and goes above and beyond!
Shout out to Mrs. Barrenger for her enthusiasm and dedication to her students. She has done an incredible job building a classroom community virtually!
Shoutout to Mrs. Woodbridge for being an engaging and loving teacher. She is always willing to go above and beyond. We have had her for 3 years now and our family is for the better because of her. We love both of them and are so grateful for them.
Shout out to Mrs. Wren for making each child feel heard and appreciated.
Shout out to Ms. Young and Mr. T! They show their students (and parents) that they truly care on an ongoing basis!
Shout out to Ms. Ellspermann, 3rd-grade teacher, who has gone above and beyond to teach her students and keep them engaged in learning. She rocks!!
Shout out to 4th grade Ms. Pacini! She has been so engaged throughout this entire virtual process. She has been very flexible and problem-solving with the kiddo’s needs.
Shout out to Ms. Childs at Talley Street ES for structuring an excellent Parent/Teacher conference and for using data to identify student’s strengths and needs.
Shout out to Mrs. SanAngelo at Talley! She goes above and beyond for her students. She is patient, kind and so encouraging!
Shout out to Coach Nichols at Talley for helping the students have an awesome Wellness Wednesday every week!
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We received so many shoutouts from our parents and students that we could not include them all here! We have created a webpage dedicated to appreciating our wonderful teachers and staff. You can find the additional shoutouts on this page… https://www.csdecatur.net/shoutouts.
Messages from our Partners
Decatur Prevention Initiative
DPI's Youth Action Team (composed of Renfroe Students) have created a scavenger hunt within Decatur to promote drug and alcohol prevention in youth. We would love for this to become a competition within your school. There will be one winner from each school who will receive a $20 Chick-Fil-A gift card.
The competition begins this Friday, November 13, and ends Friday, November 20 with winners announced on December 2.
For more details, click this Youtube Video link.
Decatur Education Foundation News:
In non-pandemic years, we would be gearing up for our big fall party, Supper & Sips, that raises funds to support all of our initiatives for Decatur’s kids. Since we can't gather together to enjoy some delicious local food, drinks, and fun games, we're hosting “Just Another Thursday Night at Home." With Virtual Learning continuing into winter, your support is needed now more than ever. COVID-19 has amplified our families' need for childcare, tutoring, and supplemental food. While you won't enjoy the party and camaraderie of the Supper this year, you can still have that great feeling of fellowship by supporting our families with a gift to DEF. To participate: put on your jammies, pour yourself a beverage, get cozy on the sofa, and click here.
You can have a profound impact on a Decatur student in just 2-4 hours per month. How? By becoming a mentor for our AIM Scholars Program that pairs adult mentors with third-grade students who “meet” regularly throughout the year. Mentors help connect their mentees with educational and enrichment activities so they can find their passions and develop life skills. For more information, please visit decatureducationfoundation.org/mentoring.
City of Decatur News
A Season of Giving/Christmas Decatur
A Season of Giving/Christmas Decatur is beginning preparations for our 26th year of service to the City of Decatur community. As with everything else in 2020, this program will be a little different than we are used to! Due to the pandemic, we will be changing our program to be managed online. If your family would like to request assistance with holiday gifts for children who live with you, through 8th grade, you must complete the SurveyMonkey application by THIS SUNDAY, November 15: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2020ASeasonofGiving If you have trouble with the form, questions, or concerns, please email us at aseasonofgiving@decaturga.com or call our voicemail, 404-378-8068, and leave a message. For those families who do not need assistance and would like to participate, we would love your help! We have changed how we will handle the program for 2020. We will not be collecting physical gifts but providing gift cards to the families requesting assistance. If you would like to help us this year, please donate at https://legacydecatur.com/give/. Please select ‘A Season of Giving / Christmas Decatur’ for the organization in the donation form.
Decatur Strategic Plan 202s
The roundtables process included 800 registrants who contributed thousands of comments. Many of these comments about Decatur’s future were in agreement, but some topics revealed conflicting perspectives about how Decatur should chart its course for the next 10 years.
The 202s will allow for a deep dive into these topics. After hearing from subject matter experts, we will join together in virtual discussion groups to understand tradeoffs and find balance among differing perspectives. Input will be used to form recommendations on how the Strategic Plan should address these issues. The 202s will seek to answer the question: “What does success look like in a community of 25,000 people within a metropolitan region of nearly 6 million people?” Here’s the line-up:
Mobility: Thursday, November 19, 4 – 5:30 pm
Housing: Thursday, December 10, 4 – 5:30 pm
Equity & Racial Justice: Thursday, January 14, 4 – 5:30 pm
Climate Change: January 2021, Date TBD
Speakers will be announced closer to the event. All events will occur on Zoom and will be recorded and available after the meeting. Visit decatur2030.com for details.
Decatur Anti-Racism Speaker Series December Speaker
Speaker: Tim Wise
Thursday, December 3, 6-7:30 pm
Tim Wise is among the most prominent antiracist writers and educators in the United States. He has spent the past 25 years speaking to audiences in all 50 states, on more than 1,000 college and high school campuses, at hundreds of professional and academic conferences, and to community groups across the country. He has trained corporate, government, entertainment, media, law enforcement, military, and medical industry professionals on methods for dismantling racism in their institutions. Visit decaturga.com/speakerseries to register and view recordings of past speakers.
Decatur Active Living is offering Sports Conditioning for Ages 8-14
Decatur Active Living will be offering a four week, one-hour conditioning program for boys and girls ages 8-14. The sessions will be held twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays beginning November 18; the number of participants will determine the exact times. Class sizes will be limited, and all safety protocols will be in place. Classes will be held on Ebster Field.
The purpose of conditioning is to get youth in shape, teach them how to create healthy habits, and get athletes prepared for their next athletic season.
Registration is via RecTrac and begins November 12. Cost is $75 for residents, and $100 for non-residents. For more information, please contact Stacy.Green@decaturga.com.
Decatur Farm to School
Are you looking for some awesome Decatur Farm to School SWAG? Look no further! We have freshly designed t-shirts, caps, face masks, and tote bags ready for purchase. All proceeds from merchandise sales will benefit the Wylde Center’s Decatur Farm to School program, including CSD garden maintenance, CSD mini-grants, DHS summer internships, scholarships to attend conferences, twice-a-year vegetable taste tests, and educator-led programs in the classrooms and gardens.
Pre-order your merchandise before November 23 at the link below and pick up at the Wylde Center’s Oakhurst Garden in Decatur the week of December 14. Customers will be contacted via email with additional instructions when products are ready for pick up. Interested in having your order shipped? Let us know by responding to your confirmation email following your purchase. Thank you for your support!
https://wylde-center-online-shop.myshopify.com/collections/decatur-farm-to-school-merchandise
Important Dates Around the District
Upcoming School Calendar Reminders:
No school for Holiday break, December 14 - January 4, 2021.
Wellness Wednesday
While students completed their synchronous SEE Learning unit on October 28, Wellness Wednesday asynchronous lessons will continue through January. There will be no live classes going forward for SEE Learning, but students are invited to participate in asynchronous offerings listed on the Wellness Wednesday website - https://www.csdecatur.net/wellnesswednesday. Check out the variety of asynchronous lessons, especially the GroundedKids Yoga video series on the Wellness Wednesday page. Individual schools may offer additional options.
From WP PTA:
Holiday Tree, Wreath, and Candle Sale
The Winnona Park PTA is gearing up for its Annual Holiday Tree, Wreath, and Candle Sale on December 5. This year's fundraiser will feature Fraser fir trees, wreaths, and Hanukkah candles, all delivered directly within a 5-mile radius. Pre-Order your holiday items now to ensure free delivery! https://winnonaparkpta.org/product-category/holiday-sale/
Special Education November Virtual Meetings
Supporting Student Behaviors Virtual Meeting (in the classroom and at home)
November 18, 6-7 pm
RSVP to Cheryl Grant cgrant@csdecatur.net
Supporting Student Behaviors: Ms. Reynolds will present behavior strategies to assist families and their students with the transition from virtual learning to in-person schooling. She looks forward to connecting with parents and offering meaningful support during these new ways of delivering the curriculum.
Understanding Evaluation and Eligibility
Presented by Vickie Wingard
November 19, 6-7 pm
RSVP to Cheryl Grant cgrant@csdecatur.net
Vickie Wingard has been a School Psychologist with the City Schools of Decatur for the past 25 years and has worked with all age groups from preschool to high school. She has extensive experience conducting psychological evaluations and leading special education eligibility teams in the decision-making process. She also works closely with the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) Teams at her assigned schools. She is an important resource for identifying research-based interventions and progress-monitoring tools to document students’ Response to Intervention (RtI), a requirement for special education consideration.
Have a date you'd like us to add to the next newsletter? Email Sarah Jones at sjones1@csdecatur.net. Thanks!
About the CSD District Dispatch
Email: sjones1@csdecatur.net
Website: csdecatur.net
Location: 125 Electric Avenue, Decatur, GA, USA
Phone: 404-371-3601
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cityschoolsofdecatur