Talley Street Update
August 25, 2022
September 1, 2022
CogAT Administration
The online CogAT assessment will be administered to 3rd graders on September 7-9. The CogAT measures a range of reasoning skills most linked to academic success in school. Please review the letter sent home in today's communication folder for more information.
If your child has an IEP/504/ESOL plan with accommodations for testing, we need you to know your preference for your child's participation in CogAT testing. Please review the information on this form about CogAT and the choice to opt your child out of testing. A paper copy is also available in your child's folder. If you decide to opt out, please respond (paper or digital) no later than Tuesday, September 6.
Only students with IEP/504/ESOL plans may opt out of the CogAT test. Please feel free to email me at awilliams@csdecatur.net with questions.
Thank you,
Ms. A. Williams
School Testing Coordinator
CSD Updates
CSD Strategic Plan and Input Survey
Please make plans to join us for the Strategic Plan Community Input Session on September 6th at 6:30 pm in the Beacon Hill Middle School cafeteria. This meeting is open to all staff, students, parents, and community partners. This session will be the primary input gathering meeting for stakeholders to share their vision for what CSD can become in the next five years. We look forward to seeing you there!
If you are unable to attend this session, click here to participate in the survey.
Superintendent Search Community Conversation
The City Schools of Decatur Board of Education values input and feedback. The community is invited to engage in a facilitated conversation to share feedback for consideration as the Board prepares to develop the leadership profile for the Superintendent position. The Board is excited to offer two in-person opportunities for the community to engage and share their thoughts. You may attend either September 14, 2022, or September 28, 2022. A survey will be available for those unable to participate in one of the in-person events.
Although it is not required to attend, we are asking for anyone wishing to attend one of the in-person sessions to please register via this form.
Registering ahead of time will help us better plan the events and breakout sessions.
Event details:
Session One: Wednesday, September 14, from 6-7:30 pm in the Decatur High School cafeteria.
Session Two: Wednesday, September 28, from 6-7:30 pm in the Decatur High School cafeteria.
DHS Cheerleading Minicamp Fundraiser
The DHS Cheerleaders are hosting a minicamp to help promote Bulldog Spirit while raising funds to support the DHS cheer program.
If your child is between the ages of 4-12 and wants to experience cheering in the Homecoming parade and before the Homecoming Football game, sign up today for the minicamp!
Camp dates: September 12 - 14 Minicamp 4:30 - 6:00 pm
September 29 Practice and Mini Camp Swag Pick-Up 4:30 - 6:00 pm
Parade and Game date: September 30
Cost: $50
Click here to sign up. If you have any questions, please contact Ashaki Stinson (astinson@csdecatur.net) or Saadia Foy (sfoy@csdecatur.net).
DHS Colorguard Experience
The DHSColorguard is hosting a youth night on Friday, September 9, for kindergarten through 8th-grade students who would like to participate with the Marching Band Color Guard for a gameday experience.
Click here to learn more. If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Stevenson (lstevenson@csdecatur.net) or Jessi Lang (jbowen@csdecatur.net).
School Nutrition Updates
- Parents of students with special diets or allergy concerns should submit a new medical statement each year. Please contact Monique Breedlove at mbreedlove@csdecatur.net or (470) 237-0368 ext. 7608 to update your student’s records or for additional information.
- CSD School Nutrition continues to experience supply chain issues that may influence menu changes. Menu changes may not be updated online as they occur. However, we will work to substitute a like item to the best of our ability.
- September 6-9, eat a rainbow at lunch! See the picture for information.
K-5 Super Saturdays
Click here to register for Super Saturdays. If you have questions about Super Saturdays, please contact Erica Godfrey, District Intervention Specialist & MTSS Coordinator, at egodfrey@csdecatur.net.
Talley Updates
¡Feliz mes de la herencia Hispana/Latina!
Our kick off activity will be Thursday, September 15 - ¡Balia conmigo! - Bring your dancing shoes! We will take a closer look at the history and culture of some traditional Hispanic/Latino music and dances.
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 contact sbrewton@csdecatur.net or ttate-perez@csdecatur.net.
October 13 (Thurs) - Hispanic/Latino Heroes, Leaders and Changemakers Wax Museum - Students will portray notable Hispanic/Latino leaders who have made important contributions to American history, society and culture. The Google Sign Up Form will be available starting next week.
Talley Library Updates
Author Visit - 3rd Grade
3rd Graders will be visited by Investigators author/illustrator John Patrick Green on September 30! Book order forms went home in blue folders today. Please contact Mrs. Long (along@csdecatur.net) with any questions.
Celebrating an INCREDIBLE month of checkouts!
Our readers were absolutely on fire in August! During the first month of school, we did over 5,000 checkouts in the library. You can keep up with out book checkout stats on the homepage of our library website!
Recorders Needed for Music
New Music Specials coming soon. Time to dust off your recorder (or find it) and have it in your backpack as we change our specials rotation in about two weeks. If you do not have a recorder please contact Ms. Jessup, tjessup@csdecatur.net or go to this link and order.
Attention Talley Street Title I Parents and Families!
We hope your student has had a great start of the school year! As a reminder, your input on our school's Title I program is valuable and it helps us improve our work with our students and their families.
You're invited to attend the Title I Parent Input Meeting on Thursday, September 1, 2022 at 6:00 PM. to share your feedback on our Title I program documents. Please plan to attend one of the two meeting times. Your input is greatly appreciated!
Additional information about the meeting can be found on the flyer linked here.
Meeting Link: https://csdecatur.zoom.us/j/99969216229?pwd=dDRDOEVJKzhObDZ5cEM2SnVJZllVQT09
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.
Extracurricular Activities
New After School Club at Talley - Witzzle Pro
When: Tuesdays from 2:30-3:30 (parent pickup at 3:30)
Start Date: 9/27/22
End Date: 11/8/22
Deadline to sign up: Friday, September 9, 2022
How do I sign up: Email one of the teacher leaders (Nicole Fiber, Lindsey Fredette, Noelle Friedrich, or Alan Polding).
Who can sign up: Any student who currently attends Talley. No charge.
What is Witzzle Pro: Witzzle Pro is a super fun game that can be played as a single, small group, or large group. It helps to enhance problem solving skills, order of operations, and has up to 7 different levels of difficulty - so it is a game for any age 6 and up. If you love to play games and like math - this Club is for you! We will have a fun tournament on our last meeting day.
Feel free to also email one of us if you have any questions:
Join Talley’s Inaugural FIRST LEGO LEAGUE for 4th and 5th graders!
Is your child into robots? Maybe they like Legos? What about robots AND Legos? If this sounds up your child’s alley, consider joining the First Lego League Team at Talley. We are excited to partner with Decatur Robotics to give students the opportunity to participate in a critical thinking innovation project and compete in FLL tournaments! This is not just a club, this is a team that requires time, effort, and commitment.
Students must be in 4th or 5th grade to participate. Practices will be held from 3:45-5:45 at Decatur High School each Friday afternoon. As tournaments get closer, students may be asked to attend additional practices. There will be a few Saturday tournament dates beginning in December.
This team is not just a commitment for students, but also parents. We will need volunteers throughout the process to bring snacks, help with setup and take students to and from practice. The cost per student is $125 and some scholarships are available, so we encourage everyone to apply. The link to the application is below and all applications will be due by September 2. Our first practice will be held September 9. If you have any questions, please email Ms. Reno (areno@csdecatur.net).
Girls on the Run - ONE MORE COACH NEEDED!
We are in need of ONE more coach on THURSDAYS from 2:30-4:00! Please reach out to Natalie Bundschu at nbundschu@csdecatur.net if you or anyone you know is interested in coaching this season.
Registration for the Fall 2022 season is now CLOSED. See you in the Spring!
PTO Corner
Talley House Shirt Sorting and Distribution
The House Shirts were delivered earlier than anticipated! We are feeling ambitious that we can get these shirts out to the kids before their House Meetings next Tuesday. If you can help sort shirts Thursday afternoon and/or distribute them on Friday morning, please sign up HERE.
If you have not let us know what size shirt your child needs, please fill out this form to help distribution go quickly. Every child will get a shirt that fits even if you don't get a chance to fill out the form. It will close this evening (8/31) so we can print the final distribution list.
Thanks all for your support of the House System and any time you can give to getting the shirts out to the students!
Talley House System and PTO Website
You can now update your profile on the PTO website and select your Talley House assignment!
Please visit TalleyPTO.org and follow the easy instructions on the image below.
Questions? Please email Communications Director Nydia Almond at: communications@talleypto.org
Talley's Class Fund PayPal Pool
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. The Class Fund Pool is open August 15 - September 30. 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.
Walk and Roll
Snack Cart
Please help show your appreciation for our wonderful Talley Teachers and staff! Our 4th grade families are kindly being asked to sponsor our Snack Cart for the month of September. 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 September 2. 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
Spirit Wear
SPIRIT WEAR ONLINE STORE IS NOW OPEN!
New sweatshirts in youth AND adult sizes representing Talley’s Houses!
Talley Tiger pride T-shirts, aluminum water bottles, magnets, scarves and more also available at our store!
Order online before September 16th! Have your items delivered mid October via backpack. All proceeds go to the PTO’s efforts to support the Teachers and Staff at Talley and to build community among our Talley Tigers and families.
Questions?! Please email Ellen and Gina at: Spiritwear@TalleyPTO.org
Thank you for your support!
Talley’s PTO Board Meeting
Next PTO board meeting is scheduled for Thursday September 8, from 6pm-8pm. Virtual link available at our website.
Yearbook
We need photos for our school’s 2022-2023 yearbook!
If you have some pictures that you’d like to share with the yearbook committee, please send them to: yearbook@TalleyPTO.org
Amazon Wishlist
If you are looking for ways to show Talley Teachers and Staff appreciation for all their hard work, please consider this Talley Amazon Wish List. Thank you for all your support!
Community Updates
Decatur Education Foundation
EVERYONE’S INVITED to our FREE concert at Legacy Park on Saturday, September 10th from 4-8 pm with The Sundogs and JohnBoy and SurroundSound! Opening artists are DHS seniors Nate Helfrich and Payton Kashdan. There will be kids’ activities and student groups selling drinks and treats. DEF is celebrating 20 years in the community, and we want you there! Bring your own picnic and enjoy an evening with your family and friends!
Would you make a great tutor, mentor or coach for a Decatur student? We’ve got spots available for all those types of positions! Make a big impact in as little as 1-4 hours per month, depending on the role you choose. Does your high schooler need volunteer hours? Tutoring is a great way to accomplish that, and high schoolers make great tutors! Go to www.decatureducationfoundation.org/mentoring to learn more and sign up.
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
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:
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/