Eagle Edition
April 21, 2022
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
Calendar of Events
Thursday, April 21
PTA Parents Night Out
The Marlay House
6:00-9:00 pm
(Details below)
Friday, April 22
ECLC Pre-K Visits GL
9:00-10:00 am
April 25-29
Spring Book Fair with Little Shop of Stories
Thursday, April 28
Kickball Game (Students, Parents and Staff) and Book Fair Shopping - 5:00-7:30 pm
Friday, April 29
Outdoor Community Circle
First Grade Hosting
8:30-8:55 am
May 2-6
Staff Appreciation Week
Friday, May 13
Walk and Roll to School
Outdoor Community Circle
Virtual Talent Show
Friday, May 20
Field Day
Where Learning Takes Flight
April Design Principle: Collaboration and Competition
"Have no friends not equal to yourself."
~Confucius
Hello Glennwood Families!
We have had a great week at Glennwood! There was an important update in Fehrman’s Friday Follow Up regarding our literacy curriculum in CSD. I am including it again here to make sure you see it. Early literacy is something I am passionate about. I feel strongly that we need to give our incredibly talented teachers and staff the tools for their toolbox and the right training to help our kids become strong and lifelong readers. Please read this important update to learn more about what CSD is doing in the area of early literacy!
We are so proud of the work that has been done in the last two years in CSD to align our comprehensive reading program, designed to best serve the needs of all students, with the Science of Reading and ensure all students receive a firm foundation in structured phonics. Please see this overview of our English Language Arts Curriculum Birth-Grade 12.
In the past year, in addition to the training CSD teachers and staff have been doing around LETRS, ARC, and Fundations, we have also been partnering with Norma Jean McHugh to provide a 70-hour training to teachers and staff in the Orton-Gillingham (OG) approach. The OG approach is a direct, explicit, multisensory, structured, sequential, diagnostic, and prescriptive way to teach literacy to all students. Norma Jean is a Fellow of the Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators, and we are thrilled that she is sharing her knowledge with our educators! Thus far, we have done a summer cohort and are in the process of a monthly Saturday cohort with plans to repeat both of these cohorts for the upcoming summer and school year.
Here is some feedback from a teacher that participated:
“I'm putting in a plug for this!! I've been teaching for 17 years, and I have NEVER had a professional development program have such a great impact on my core teaching beliefs as this Orton-Gillingham program. No matter the grade or the subject you teach, or the level of kids you teach, this training will benefit you and your students. This program is so eye-opening into the world of how we can help struggling readers AS WELL AS grow strong readers into even stronger readers. I cannot recommend it enough! If you have questions, several of us are in the program now and several completed it last summer. Reach out to any one of us!”
Thank you to the Decatur Education Foundation, the Georgia Department of Education, and the International Dyslexia Association for providing grant funding to help us purchase materials and provide training for our teachers.
Warmest regards,
Dr. Holly Brookins
Principal
TONIGHT!
Spring Book Fair with Little Shop of Stories - April 25-29
Our spring book fair will be held April 25-29. It is presented by Little Shop of Stories sponsored by PTA as a fundraiser for our media center. Our media center will receive 20% of all sales. Students will create wish lists and preview the book fair early next week. If parents wish to purchase books, you have a few options:
1. Send cash or check (payable to GL PTA) with students to school. Students will have the opportunity to shop at the book fair with their homeroom class.
2. NEW THIS YEAR! Little Shop is offering Book Fair Bucks.
We are now able to accept Book Fair Bucks at all Little Shop of Stories book fairs.
Book Fair Bucks are available for purchase online in any amount from $1- $1000.
Book Fair Bucks are perfect for:
- Parents who do not want to send cash to school with their children
- Grandparents who want to spoil grandchildren and support the school
- Gifts for teachers and librarians to purchase whatever they like from the book fair.
3. Shop online at Little Shop of Stories book fair website. Books will be delivered to the school for students to take home.
4. We will offer afterschool shopping Monday-Thursday from 2:45-3:30 pm with one night event on Thursday, April 28 from 5:00-7:00 pm. We need a few parent volunteers to help with the book fair sales. Please SIGN UP HERE. Please remember to wear masks. Credit cards will be accepted for the outdoor sale. The book fair will end Friday, 4/29 at 12:00 pm.
Please email our book fair coordinator Ginger Schmeltzer with any questions at gschmeltzwer@gmail.com. Thank you in advance for supporting the Glennwood Media Center!
Ultimate Showdown: Kids vs. Parents/Staff Kickball Game
Last week was our last day for weekly COVID testing at Glennwood. Going forward, if Glennwood is made aware of a COVID positive student or staff member (who was present at school during their contagious period), a class and school-wide email will be sent to notify families. Identification and notification of close contacts will no longer occur. We will have point-of-care COVID tests available in the nurse's office for students who develop symptoms at school. Parents will need to provide consent for all point-of-care tests. You can view the mitigation rubric here: UPDATED - Mitigation Implementation Rubric [APRIL 2022]
Just a reminder, school policy states that a student who has a fever can not return to school until the student remains fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication. Thank you all for your support in keeping your child home when they are sick.
If you are cleaning out old clothes, we will gladly take some (5T to M/L). We need mostly bottoms and are really low on underwear.
As always, if you have any questions, please call 404-370-4435 or email ebarrington@csdecatur.net.
Here's the info needed for the talent show:
Talent Show Letter - Rules and Guidelines
Virtual Talent Show Sign-Up Form - Due date extended to April 25
Video Submission Form - Due April 29
GLENNWOOD PARENTS' NIGHT OUT - April 21 - TONIGHT!
Join us for an an opportunity to relax and mingle with other Glennwood parents/caregivers who are PTA members while enjoying some good food and spirits. Everyone’s favorite band Polly Holliday will perform too! RSVP at glennwoodpta.org. See attached flyer for details!
Glennwood Staff Appreciation Week, May 2-6th
Glennwood's Staff Appreciation Week will take place May 2-6. Please join us in expressing our gratitude and appreciation for our amazing teachers and staff during this most unusual school year! The schedule of events is below. Stay tuned for more detailed information from your room parents with regards to specifics of this week long event.
Monday, May 2: Gifts of Appreciation
Tuesday, May 3: Mini Massages
Wednesday, May 4: Donuts and Handcrafted Cards/Crafts
Thursday, May 5: Smoothies
Friday, May 6: Principal Appreciation Day and Catered Luncheon
If you have any questions or would like to help out, please reach out to Staff Appreciation Co-Chairs, Cristina Stevenson at cristina.stevenson@gmail.com or Haley Stevens at haleycstevens@gmail.com.
The PTA would like to thank the first-grade families for supporting our bagel brunch table for our staff last week. The staff enjoyed all the goodies so very much. See pictures below.
The very first author visit will take place on April 27th at Brave + Kind Books in Decatur at 5pm (see attached flyer). The author is Antwan Eady and his book is entitled, “Nigel and the Moon.” We are encouraging everyone to bring out their elementary school kids for this inaugural event.
For more ways you can support this author visit and the work of R2D, please visit here: https://readerstodreamers.org/author-visit
Middle Eastern and South Asian Spring Festival Celebration - May 7
The Oakhurst DEI is planning a Spring Festival celebrating Middle Eastern and South Asian (MESA) cultures on May 7 at Ebster Recreational Center. They have MESA food vendors, and performances. We hope it to be a fun family event celebrating various spring holidays in this region, such as Ramadan/Eid, Hidrellez, Navruz, etc. If there are any Glennwood families interested in contributing craft ideas, performances or being a food vendor, please reach out to Lorraine Irier at Oakhurst lorraine.irier@gmail.com
Clairmont DEI hosted a discussion on bridging the opportunity gap between white and black students. The recording is posted below:
Coming Soon! keep an eye out for an announcement on an in-person event- cocktails and conversation- to be hosted by the DEI committee.
News from City Schools of Decatur
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 from who you received this offer and select your school at the drop-down during checkout.
The offer expires May 14 or until tickets are sold out. Click this link https://fevo.me/csd to learn more.
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
2023-2024 and 2024-2025 Academic Calendar Stakeholder Feedback Surveys
It is time to gather stakeholder input on the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 academic calendars. Please review the linked calendars. Each calendar has three options for stakeholders to review. The “standard” option for both years follow the current calendar setup, with two early release days before fall and winter break. “Option 1” calendars have an early release day once a month. “Option 2” calendars have a mix of early release days and digital learning days. The incorporation of additional early release days will play an essential role in providing our teachers time for much-needed professional learning (PL). While PL can occur during the school day, it requires the use of substitutes or combining classes.
After reviewing the calendars, please provide feedback via this survey link. The survey for feedback will remain open through May 13. Stakeholder feedback will be reviewed and taken into consideration before a recommendation is made to the Board for approval of the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 academic calendars in August or September.
Save the Date---Launchpad for Learning Camp
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! Be on the lookout for more information.
City Schools of Decatur Summer Programs-Save the Date
CSD is delighted to share that we will offer an in-person summer program for students who qualify in grades K through 12. The program will run June 6-23 from 8:30 to 11:30 am, Monday through Friday. Students will be invited to participate in the summer program based on the eligibility criteria described in the linked document. Participation in the summer program is not required or mandated for any student. However, we highly encourage students who qualify to engage in this opportunity as it will set them up for success in the next grade level. For the summer program, which will be held at Fifth Avenue Upper Elementary and Decatur High School, the availability of student transportation is limited. Click here for more information.
Decatur Student Center
Leading Family Meetings
Tired of family arguments where everyone is upset?
Tired of feeling as if your family is disconnected?
Tired of your family not knowing the schedule for the week?
Then perhaps Family Meetings are for you! Participants will learn how to conduct effective family meetings that will benefit all family members and encourage cohesiveness. Family Meetings have been shown to increase family members’ self-esteem, communication & conflict resolution skills, sense of belonging & resilience.
When: Wednesdays, beginning April 27, 2022
What: 5 weekly, 45-minute Zoom sessions from 12:00 - 12:45
Cost: FREE and limited to 6 families
Click here to learn more about these sessions.
School Nutrition Department
Free and Reduced Priced Meal Applications
If you have not completed a free and reduced lunch application this year, please be sure to get it completed prior to the last day of school. Please remember a new application must be submitted each school year since the previous year's application will not work. Applications can be completed online.
It is quick, convenient, confidential, and free. Paper applications may be picked up at your school or requested through the school nutrition office. If you complete a paper application, please send it back to your child’s school as soon as possible. This will be helpful because this year’s eligibility status will last for 30 days when school begins on August 2, 2022. *You will complete a new application for SY22/23 while your child maintains the temporary 30 days status.
Changes Coming to School Nutrition
During the April board meeting, the Board tentatively approved that school nutrition breakfast and lunch costs will increase by $0.50 for each grade level.
City Schools of Decatur meal prices for SY22/23 are listed below:
Meal Prices after a child has received 1 meal at the regular grade-level rate will be the Adult Price. However, if your child wants to buy only milk or purchase additional meals or extra sale items like chips, they will need to have money placed on their online meal payment account.
City of Decatur Children and Youth Services
The City of Decatur’s afterschool lottery remains open through 6 pm on Friday, April 22.
Families with children entering K-5th grades in August 2022 may enter eligible children in the lottery for their school’s location of Animal Crackers (K-2) or Whiz Kids (3rd-5th). For more information on how to enter the 2022-23 Afterschool Lottery, please visit the Forms & Documents page on www.decaturga.com/cys.
Please contact cys@decaturga.com or call 404-378-1082 with any questions.
DEF Treasure Hunt
Got some free time during spring break? Grab the kids, head outside for our TREASURE HUNT! It’s free, takes 1-2 hours to complete and there’s a sweet treat at the end!
Participating is simple: 1. Download the free app “ActionBound.” 2. Click on this QR code:
3. Complete the hunt for a chance to win some cool prizes like a week of summer camp at Little Shop or ColorWheel!
DEF has created a fun treasure hunt to help families celebrate our 20 years in the community! Participating is simple: 1. Download the free phone app “ActionBound.” 2. Click on this QR code.
3. Complete the hunt for a chance to win some cool prizes like a week of summer camp at Little Shop or ColorWheel!
Help with Food Insecurity
At Decatur Education Foundation, our mission is to eliminate the problems our kids face so they can learn and thrive. You can help us do that through your donations of time and funds. To address food insecurity, we have several Amazon wish lists that are renewed monthly. Renfroe and Talley are accepting donations at these links:
It’s time to Step Up for 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. DEF will 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!
Dine out for DEF
Plan to dine out for DEF next THURSDAY, April 28th! NaanStop and Greg Kodesh Realty are partnering to donate 20% of sales to the DEF! NaanStop is a family-owned Indian restaurant serving our mother's recipes. We're offering family meals including 2 entrees, fresh-baked naan, handmade samosas, basmati rice, and chutneys (feeds 4).
Just place your order before 5 pm on Wednesday, April 27th, and your order will be available for pick up between 5 - 5:45 pm on Thursday, April 28th. Pick up location provided when order is confirmed.
- Link to menu: http://naanstop-decatur.square.site
- Pickup/drive-thru at Avery/Bucher in Decatur between 5-5:45 pm. - Order in advance before 5 pm on Wednesday, April 27th. It is first-come, first-served so get your orders in before they sell out!