Eagle Edition
October 8, 2020
Glennwood Elementary ~ Where Learning Takes Flight
Holly Brookins, PhD, Principal ~ Jill Tolsma, Instructional Coach, Karen Hearn, School Manager
Email: hbrookins@csdecatur.net
Website: https://www.csdecatur.net/glennwood
Location: 440 East Ponce de Leon Avenue, Decatur, GA, USA
Phone: 404.370.4435
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gleagles/?modal=admin_todo_tour
Eagle Happenings
Friday, October 9
Virtual Community Circle
Ms. Marquez's Class Hosting
October 19-23
Glennwood Spirit Week
Wednesday, October 21
Decatur Farm to School Take Out
Thursday, October 22
PTA Virtual Dance Party
5:30-6:30 pm
Monday, October 26
Teacher Planning Day (No School)
October 26-30
Fall Virtual Book Fair with Little Shop of Stories
Where Learning Takes Flight
October Design Principle: The Having of Wonderful Ideas
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
~Eleanor Roosevelt
Hello Families!
Just a reminder to please complete the survey to select your learning choice for this term if you haven't done this. You can access it here. This is critical information for us in regards to planning for our return to in-person learning. The learning choice you make now is not binding at this point in time and will hold until the end of December. At that time, you will be able to make another learning choice model for the next term beginning in January, pending data, etc. I do ask that your choice remain as consistent as possible as shifting in numbers greatly impacts our planning.
Speaking of planning, the Glennwood COVID-19 Readiness Team has been meeting each week to plan processes and procedures to keep all of our staff and students safe and engaged during this shift. I am so grateful for the team- each one of them is an expert in their field. They have all given of their time, which is a precious commodity, to ensure that we are following all CSD, CDC, DPH and other critical guidelines and recommendations as we navigate the return. We have been working through guidance for every aspect of what a safe return to the building will look like from arrival until dismissal and everything in between, while keeping in mind that we have virtual learners, as well.
We are preparing a plan that is robust, safe, and meets the needs of our specific community. Once we have everything planned we will communicate the plan to you. Some things students can expect when returning to school include (among many other details):
Mandatory masks for staff and students, except when eating and for brief, outdoor, mask breaks
Social distancing to the largest extent possible
Education for students and staff on hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette
Frequent cleaning and disinfecting
Contact tracing in collaboration with local health department
Plexiglass “sneeze guards” at every student table, in the lunch line, at the front desk, and other “high traffic” locations
Limited movement/transitions throughout the classroom and the building
Lunch in the classroom (and outdoors as weather permits)
High quality instruction delivered through Google Classroom for all students.
Limited sharing of school supplies
If you see one of the members of the COVID-19 team, please tell them thank you as they have been working incredibly hard on behalf of the Glennwood community!
Glennwood COVID-19 Team Members
Dr. Holly Brookins- Principal
Jill Tolsma- Instructional Coach
Dee Anna Rittenhouse- Media Specialist
Beth Barrington- School Nurse
Jonathan Blase- School Counselor
Karen Hearn- School Manager
Missy Rose- K teacher
Nancy Turnipseed- 1st-grade teacher
Ashleigh Marion- 2nd-grade teacher
Marnie Kaplan- 2nd-grade teacher
Mike Calanan- K paraprofessional
Michelle Reynolds- K paraprofessional
Coach Meg Inscoe- PE Teacher
Kathryn Pierce- Music Teacher
Susanna Shewan- LINKS teacher
Kelly Stinson- SLT rep; Master’s in Public Health; expertise in Tuberculosis research and infection control
Anne Taylor Carros- Architect
Daniel Newman- Project Manager
Brian Bardorf- Project ManagerDr. Marcia Fowler- CSD representative/ Director of Professional Development
Dr. Haley Stevens- PTA president; PhD in Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Dr. Paige Armstrong- Epidemiologist and emergency medicine physician
Dr. Amanda Gillespie- Director of Speech Pathology, Emory Voice Center
Dr. Ian McCarthy- Health Economist
Dr. Julie Gutman- Medical Epidemiologist (new member! 10-08-20)
Dr. Sujan Reddy- Infectious Disease Specialist
Dr. Maura Simpson - MD, FACP
Please reach out with any questions. Thank you!
Warmest Regards,
Dr. Holly Brookins
What the Hispanic Culture Means to You
Reflections from Sadie Granims
My stepdad is from Argentina and my little sister, Amélie, is Argentine-American. I really like the food in Argentina but I mostly love the big family I have there! This is a picture of me and my sister Sylvie with my Aunt Guada, who is one of my favorite aunts! (2nd-grade student in Ms. Marion's Class)
Reflections from Maggie Starkel
My great-grandmother lives in a town called Ajijic on the coast of Lake Chapala in México. My grandparents live there half of the year as well. We visit and love the culture, food, and language. (Kindergarten student in Ms. Mason's Class)
Maggie's Family In Ajijic, México
Hispanic Heritage Month
Puerto del Lago, México
Glennwood Celebrates Children's Author and GL Alumnae, Carmen Deedy
In celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, we are spotlighting the amazing Carmen Deedy, a Glennwood alumnae and Cuban-American Carmen Agra Deedy is the author of twelve books for children, including The Library Dragon, The Cheshire Cheese Cat, Martina the Beautiful Cockroach, and 14 Cows for America, a New York Times Bestseller. The Rooster Who Would Not Be Quiet! (Scholastic Press) was released in 2017 and Rita and Ralph's Rotten Day was published in March 2020. Her personal stories first appeared on NPR’s All Things Considered. Funny, insightful, and frequently irreverent, Deedy’s narratives are culled from her childhood as a Cuban refugee in Decatur, Georgia. She is the host of the four-time Emmy-winning children’s program, Love That Book! (taken from carmenagradeedy.com)
(Pictured to the right on an author visit to Glennwood with our beloved Sra. Forero)
Enjoy listening to Carmen Deedy's telling of one of her timely and best-selling picture books, The Rooster Who Would Not Be Quiet!
Glennwood's FLYbrary Continues
1. Please watch this video tutorial on how to place books on hold.
Check-out period will be up to 3 weeks. However, if you would like for your child to have weekly pick up, plan to return books before the Monday cut off time at 12:00 pm so that new books may be checked out to your child.
Students may check out 4 books at a time.
Books may be returned to the school anytime and placed in the container on the front doorsteps at the front entrance.
- Books may be picked up on Tuesdays from 11:30 am - 3:30 pm. If books are not picked up by 3:30 pm, we will hold them until the following week.
2. Because of the large volume of books that will be checked out one day per week, all student holds must be placed by 12:00 pm every Monday. If a hold is placed after this time, the books will be checked out the following week.
3. Please recycle! Your books will be delivered in a plastic bag. Please return your books in the same plastic bag so that we may recycle these week to week.
If you have any questions regarding GL FLYbrary, please email Mrs. Rittenhouse at drittenhouse@csdecatur.net or Mrs. Dishman at adishman@csdecatur.net. Thank you!
Community Circle Hosting Schedule
Community Circle will continue to be hosted by homerooms on a rotating schedule and shared virtually every other week. Your child's teacher will contact you with more details when it is time to host. If you help your child prepare videos for Community Circle, please follow THESE IMPORTANT TIPS.
October 9, 2020 - Marquez (2nd)
October 23, 2020 - Marion (2nd)
November 6, 2020 - Phillips (1st)
November 20, 2020 - Turnipseed (1st)
December 4, 2020 - VanDuzer (1st)
January 15, 2021 - Rose (K)
January 29, 2021- Mason (K)
February 12, 2021 - Bettis (K)
Virtual Learning Help
If you need to complete a request for a tech ticket, please follow this LINK. Before entering a tech ticket, please check on the CSD's Tech Help Support Page for parents and students first.
Glennwood Spirit Week and Virtual Party (October 19-23):
Its almost time for Glennwood Spirit Week! The week of October 19-23, we'll have a fun daily theme for those wanting to participate during virtual learning, so stay tuned. Then, on Thursday, October, 22nd, join us for the Glennwood Virtual Dance Party from 5:30-6:30pm! The whole school is invited! We'll be doing a Flash Mob Dance, led by Coach Meg, and we may even have a surprise guest! The dance party will be preceded by a short PTA General Meeting, to review and approve the PTA Budget. More details will be provided next week. Mark your calendar now! We hope you'll join us!
Glennwood Spiritwear For Sale!
Glennwood Spiritwear is now available for sale online at the PTA store. The PTA is selling Glennwood t.shirts (be sure to check out this year's new shirt design!), car magnets, water bottles, and more! These items make great gifts for students, parents, and grandparents! Show your school spirit and purchase your spiritwear today! Purchases will be delivered to your front porch. To order, visit: https://glennwoodpta.org/product-category/spiritwear/
SAVE THE DATE!
News from Decatur Bulldog Boosters
Even though fall sports remain in question, there’s still a lot happening at Decatur Bulldog Boosters (DBB). Meet our new assistant athletic director, check out which athletes have committed to which schools and join in weekly workouts to stay in shape. Click here to read all about it, and don’t forget to follow us on social.
Complete Your Learning Choice Selection ASAP!
Please be sure to complete your Learning Choice Selection as soon as possible. Just log into the Parent Portal to make your selection. Your selection will assist in the planning of the next phase of our dual in-person and virtual learning structure. The sooner you respond, the sooner we can finalize our plans; please make it a priority to respond as soon as possible. For more information, refer to the email that was sent on October 1 which you can find here: https://www.smore.com/vy037.
Important Message from Our CSD School Nutrition Department
CSD Meal Service will continue with its current meal distribution delivery process until October 30. Meal Service distribution will transition to pick-up only on November 2.
The school district will continue delivering meals until October 30th for digital learners and any child under the age of 18 (or under the age of 21 for youth with special needs) on each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday until October 30. If you have any additional questions, you can email meals@csdecatur.net.
From the Decatur Education Foundation
DEF needs mentors, could one of them be you? DEF is seeking 15 adult volunteer mentors for their AIM Scholars Mentoring Program. AIM mentors are paired with 3rd-grade students and “meet” regularly throughout the year. In just 2-4 hours per month, 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.
Decatur CREATES Leaders at Glennwood Who S.O.A.R.
S.O.A.R.
Show Self-Control
Offer Kindness
Act Responsibly
Respect Others
*SOARIN' image created by GL art teacher, Kasey Burkhalter*