What a great week we have had at Glennwood! Our Eagles are SOARing through week three doing such a wonderful job of learning the new routines. You will have an opportunity to hear more about their school day routine at our in-person Curriculum Night on Thursday, August 31.

Each teacher/grade level team will offer two identical sessions so that you may choose which one fits your schedule best. Also, if you have two students in different grade levels at Glennwood, you’d be able to attend the session for each child.

Prior to the Curriculum Night, our PTA will host its first general meeting at 5:30 pm in the auditorium. Please plan to attend this meeting to hear about getting involved with our amazing PTA. They do so much to support our staff and students at Glennwood, and they have some fun events planned for this school year. (If you haven’t joined the PTA yet, please see the instructions in the PTA section below.) Parent support through PTA and for our school in general is a big reason Glennwood shines so brightly!

Lastly, please consider nominating yourself to serve on our School Leadership Team (SLT). SLT is an elected committee consisting of Glennwood parents/guardians, staff members, a community member, and a district representative. The purpose of the SLT is to make decisions that support the continuous improvement of the school in accordance with the provisions of the District Charter. This year we will have THREE parent vacancies on the SLT and will have the SLT election in late August. If you are interested in filling one of the vacancies, please complete this form. Nominations are due by August 25. If you have any questions regarding the SLT, feel free to contact me.

• Current representatives:

• Dr. Holly Brookins (GL Principal)

• Amelia Copp (Staff)

• Marnie Kaplan (Staff)

• Courtney Simon (District Rep)

• Heather Harris (Parent)

• Lisa Loveall (Parent)

• Lauren Wattenmaker (Parent)

• Sarah Jones (Parent)

Please complete the form if you are interested in running for one of our open parent positions! Nominations will close August 25th and bios will go out August 28th. Elections will take place August 31st in conjunction with Curriculum Night. The voting link will also be sent via eBlast.

Warmest regards,

Dr. Holly Brookins

Principal

It's been another wonderful week here at Glennwood! I'm currently wrapping up my school counselor introduction lesson with all the classes. Next week, I will begin my formal counseling lessons in all the classes. I will let you know those topics and ways that you can reinforce concepts at home. I have a number of exciting ideas planned for this year. I would like to do a parent book club. I will send out more info in the future to gauge interest. I would also like to do coffee chats with parents on relevant topics for families. Last year, I did a Lunch N' Learn on Family Meetings that I may present again this year. I'm always open to potential topics if you have suggestions. As always, you can reach me at jblase@csdecatur.net. If you would like to make a student referral, please use this form and I will reach out.

Corporate Sponsorship

If you are a Glennwood Elementary parent, friend or relative and your place of business would like to become a corporate sponsor for our school, we would love to have your support! Funds raised through corporate sponsorships benefit students, teachers and the entire school. This is also great exposure and advertising for your business.

Please consider donating a silent auction item for our Casino Night Silent Auction in March. Small promotional items are welcome with your silent auction item. (Flyers, Cards, balloons, etc.)

If you refer a business to the PTA before August 31st, you get a Glennwood Elementary mug and a car magnet.

Questions? Please email our VP Laura Scott at: VP@Glennwoodespta.com

PTA Memberships

Why should I join the PTA? Your PTA membership provides valuable benefits to your child, your school, and your community. When you become a member of PTA, you increase our collective strength. By adding your name as a member, you will increase the impact we have on representing our school and PTA.

Get your PTA membership before August 31st and get a chance to win one of two Glennwood Elementary Totes.

Join us today by visiting our website here!

Questions?! Please email Kara Dupuis at: Secretary@glennwoodespta.com

Room Parent Volunteers Needed

If you'd like to help as a Room Parent Volunteer this school year 2023-2024, please sign up HERE. We have only one parent signed up for Ms. Kaplan, Ms. Taft, Ms. Marquez and Ms. Bennett's classrooms and would love to have a second room parent to assist in those classrooms!

No experience is needed, just the desire to help our teachers, students and school community.

If you have any questions, please email our Room Parent coordinator, Sarah Loya, at: RPCoordinator@glennwoodespta.com

Thank you for your support!

Spirit Night at Kafenio

Save the date! Our next Spirit Night is scheduled for August 29th at Kafenio. Dine in or take out available. Have Kafenio take care of your dinner plans while supporting our school. (A percentage of the sales will go towards supporting our school.) Menu available here!

PTA General Meeting

Please join us, right before Curriculum Night on August 31st at 5:30 pm for our first General Meeting of the year. SpiritWear will be available for sale.

We hope to see y’all there!

Back to School Play date (Hosted by our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee)

Let’s celebrate back to school with all our Glennwood friends and families! Please join us for popsicles, chips and refreshments on August 26 from 2pm to 3pm.

Questions?! Email our DEI Co Chairs Nichole Rodriguez and Ashley Page at: DEI@GlennwoodESPTA.com

You are invited to attend City Schools Of Decatur's Programs Overview

Virtual Meeting

Thursday, September 7, 2023

Come and learn more about support programs available to CSD students. Local, state, and federal programs support the success of our students. Programs are designed to ensure that all students have a fair, equal and meaningful opportunity to obtain a high-quality education.

The programs featured will be:

• MTSS

• ESOL & Federal Programs

• Special Education

• Gifted

• Equity and Student Services

To join the Zoom Meeting, click here

Meeting ID: 984 4400 9352
Passcode: 425842

We look forward to seeing you there!

If you have any questions you would like answered, please use the link below to submit your questions before the meeting

Dr. Whitaker’s Listening Sessions

Students, staff, family, and community members are welcome to attend any session across the district. See the schedule below for the remaining sessions being offered.

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this guide is to ensure access to developmentally appropriate and instructional resources for cultural celebrations and heritage months in the City Schools of Decatur. Schools and staff can find schoolwide activities and events, classroom activities, professional development for faculty and staff, and more information on a wide range of cultures represented in our district and beyond. Also featured are previous activities, events, and resources from local schools, which can serve as points of reference for future planning. Some months include celebrations for other historically marginalized and underrepresented groups, such as individuals with disabilities. If you have any comments, feedback, ideas, or questions related to this guide, contact Anthony Downer II, Equity Coordinator, at adowner@csdecatur.net.

GENERAL RESOURCES

In addition to the City Schools of Decatur Equity website, check out these organizations:

• Berkeley County Schools (WV)

• City of Decatur Asset Mapping and Business Directory

• Clairemont Elementary School “Extinguishing the -isms” presentation

• Cult of Pedagogy

• Edutopia

• Georgia Department of Education

• Harvard Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging

• Learning for Justice

• National Public Radio (NPR)

• Public Broadcasting Station (PBS)

• Scholastic

• Smithsonian Institution

RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCES

Review some considerations for Ramadan and other religious observances.

• Buddhism

• Christianity

• Hinduism

• Islam

• Judaism

Each month the team will share highlights of cultural celebrations. See below for August:

AUGUST

Black August

• AJC

• Black Organizing Project

• Center for Constitutional Rights

• Movement for Black Lives

• The Black Collective