Talley Street Update

Dear Talley Street Community,

I hope everyone had a great weekend and enjoyed the nice weather! It is getting to be the time of year where the school’s PTO will be sending out information about ordering school supplies for next school year. Many of you still have the school supply boxes you ordered for this year at the school. Below is a link for you to let the school know if you would like the supply box sent home with your child, if you would like to pick it up at the school, or if you would like to donate the supply box to the school. Due to COVID-19, the school purchased most of the supplies that the students have been using. If you do not remember if you ordered the supplies, please email Eva Parks at eparks@csdecatur.net. Have a great week!

Billy

Hello Talley Families!

Our Specials classes have been working with students on our IB Units of Inquiry called “How We Express Ourselves.” You will have an opportunity to see some of that student work when it is displayed in Talley Rallys over the next few weeks. Our traditional “Night of Expressions” had to be reconfigured this year, and we will be using time in Talley Rally to show off this learning. Here is the schedule for these “Night” of Expressions in Talley Rally: Art on 3/19, Spanish on 3/26, Music on 4/2 and PE on 4/16.

As you know, Talley is currently an IB candidate school in IB’s PYP (Primary Years Programme). Here is some additional information about the PYP:

IB’s Primary Years Programme (PYP) was introduced in 1997. The goal was to produce a common curriculum framework for young children. The desire was to provide continuity of learning and to develop international-mindedness in its learners.
IB has several different programmes - Middle Years (MYP), Diploma (DP) and Career (CP) Programmes - to serve students of all ages. The PYP is similar to these programmes in that they all have foundations in international-mindedness, the IB learner profile, and a broad, balanced, conceptual and connected curriculum.
The PYP takes a transdisciplinary approach to teaching and learning, meaning that the PYP model moves learning across, between, and beyond disciplines.
The PYP Is offered by many kinds of schools in over 109 countries. There are about 2,000 schools worldwide offering the PYP.

You can read more about IB and the PYP here. Please reach out if you have any questions about IB by emailing me at jmuhlhausen@csdecatur.net.

From Our Finance Department

The City Schools of Decatur is in the process of establishing the Fiscal Year 2022 budget and is seeking feedback on the current draft of the CSD 2021-2022 Budget. We are interested in input from the community on any budget suggestions, concerns, or questions that they may have. Please enter your feedback in this form regarding this draft of the budget so that the Superintendent and Finance team can consider them. Thank you for taking the time to provide this valuable feedback.

K-5 ELA Curriculum Adoption

Hello K-5 CSD Parents,

We are excited to announce we are currently going through a K-5 ELA curriculum adoption. Please view the following information to learn how you can participate in this exciting process.

Next Steps for Parents:

Start here at the K-5 Parent Curriculum Adoption Information Sheet.
Review the EdReports for ARC Core and Wit & Wisdom.
Review the materials linked in this folder.
After reviewing the materials, please submit your input on this form by Monday, March 29, 2021 5:00 PM.

We are truly looking forward to receiving your input as we move through this curriculum adoption process.

Thanks,

Maima Simmons

District Literacy & MTSS Coordinator

Kids and Companion Yoga Class for Talley Families

Kids, grab a grown-up and join us for some evening yoga in this 4-week class taught by 3rd-grade teacher Kara Morrison. We will stretch, laugh, breathe, move, and relax. The theme of all our classes will be kindness, so each week we'll also practice cultivating kindness for ourselves and others.

This class will meet from 7 - 7:45 PM on the following 4 Thursdays:

March 11, March 18, March 25, and April 1st

Check out this flyer for more information and for the zoom link.

Personal Safety Counseling Lessons

In accordance with Georgia state law, school counselors Mrs. Weaver and Mr. Alan will soon begin teaching personal safety lessons to 3rd Grade (3/22-3/26), 4th Grade (3/29-4/2), and 5th Grade (4/12-4/16). These lessons are designed to help prevent sexual abuse through the development of awareness and prevention strategeies. CSD utilizes the Think First & Stay Safe™ program to deliver these lessons. You can learn more about the program at www.childluresprevention.com. A preview of the program will also be offered to interested guardians at the following times: 3/11 at 1:00 PM or 3/16 at 6:00 PM. If you would like to attend a curriculum preview please fill out this interest form. If you are interested in a preview but cannot attend either scheduled session, please email Alan Pendrick at jpendrick@csdecatur.net.

If you would not like your student to participate in our personal safety lessons, you must send written notice via email to your student's counselor: Kimberly Weaver at kiweaver@csdecatur.net or Alan Pendrick at jpendrick@csdecatur.net.

Yearbook Reminder!

It's not too late! If you missed picture day and still want your Talley Tiger's portrait in the yearbook, you can upload a photo from home. Be sure to include your student's name and grade.

Fifth-grade families, please submit your yearbook dedications by Friday, March 19. Our school code is 203291. You do not have to order a yearbook to submit a dedication.

Questions? Email yearbook@talleypto.org.

Talley Spirit Night with NaanStop on March 18th!

NaanStop is partnering with the Talley PTO for a pop-up fundraiser! NaanStop will donate 10% of order proceeds to the Talley PTO.

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, $39.99).

Just place your order before 5pm on Wednesday and your order will be available for pickup Thursday 5-5:45pm

Link to menu: https://bit.ly/NSorderDecatur

- Pickup/drive-thru at Avery St/Bucher Dr. in the Winnona Park neighborhood

- Pickup instructions will be sent with confirmation

- Pickup will be available between 5p-5:45p on Thursday March 18th

- Masks/distancing required at pick up

- Order in advance before 5p on Wednesday, March 17th

The Myths of Racism and Beyond: Personal and Community Reflections

Please join us in January for the next The Myths of Racism and Beyond: Personal and Community Reflections, sponsored by the DEI Committee.

Whether you are a social justice champion or wrestling with these topics for the first time, this workshop will help all of us deepen our understanding of racism and strengthen our commitment to action.

Through independent individual reflections in a personal journal and group sessions reflecting as a community once a month, our Talley Street Upper Elementary community will examine the power of race and discuss its impact across racial lines. Everyone is invited to provide their voice, perspective, and experiences with the power of race.

The series will cover the article “The 10 Myths White People Believe About Racism,” with a paired bite-sized reading and short racial equity video assigned each month. It will include time for independent individual reflections through a personal journal and time for community reflections during group discussions once a month.

The remaining Community Reflections will be Thursdays from8-9 PM on Zoom on the following dates:

Mar 18

Apr 22

May 13

If you are unable to attend all sessions, you can work through the personal reflections asynchronously and join the community reflections as you can.

To participate, please fill out this google form. Email Charlie Copp with any questions. Charlie is a CSD parent and will help facilitate the series along with fellow Talley parent Elliott Robinson.

Decatur Education Foundation News

Two Chances to Win a Butter & Cream Gift Card!

Everyone who registers for the Tour deCatur “Run Where You Are” Tour deCatur 5K and Fun Run by March 15th (Monday) will be entered into a raffle to win a Butter & Cream gift card! Just go to www.tourdecatur.com to sign up. Once there, you can also order event t-shirts and download your race bibs. OR you can create your own race bibs, post them on Instagram and/or Facebook with #Tourdecatur2021 and you’ll get a Butter & Cream gift card! Two ways to win ice cream!

Grand Re-opening of the Decatur Student Center coming soon at DHS!

The Decatur Student Center at DHS is close to opening its doors to a completely renovated space for all of its students’ nonacademic needs. Thanks to a generous $25K donation from Decatur City Church to Joe’s Fund, DEF’s behavioral health initiative, the Decatur Student Center has a new look and feel and includes dedicated space for one-on-one counseling, group counseling, and a ZenDen where students can go to relax and regroup. We’ll be posting photos and virtual tours soon. In the meantime, if you’d like to join the Joe’s Fund Challenge with a donation, please visit www.decatureducationfoundation.org/joesfund. You can help us match Decatur City Church’s gift to double the impact to ensure that we can continue to address the wide and varied needs of all of our kids.

Wylde Center Farm to School Newsletter

Calling all teachers and families! Each month, Wylde Center's Education team creates a Farm to School newsletter jam-packed with seasonal garden tips and recipes, curricular connections and kid's books we love, updates on our outreach and Farm to School work, and grants and professional development opportunities for teachers. It is our pleasure to share the ideas we generate, and the people and organizations doing similar work that inspire us, all as a way to support your own efforts at Farm to School in the garden and classroom. Sign up here!

Talley Street Passive Fundraising

Amazon Smile

We're now on Amazon Smile! Log into www.smile.amazon.com and log into your Amazon

account, then select Talley Street Upper Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization, then save and the PTO will start getting quarterly deposits!

One important tip - you MUST be logged in via smile.amazon.com while shopping for us to

receive any funds.

Kroger Community Rewards

We are set up to receive funds from Kroger. From your account screens, select Community

Rewards and search for “Talley Street Upper Elementary School PTO." Select it and then you

should be all set. Every time you use your Kroger card, the PTO will benefit!

Box Tops

Box Tops have gone digital! Download the app, Box Tops for Education. Enter your

information, select Talley St., scan receipts and done! We will no longer be collecting paper box

tops. If you have any issues using the app, you can submit (via the app) the item not being

recognized on your receipt for credit.

Publix Partners

Looking for an easy way to support Talley Street PTO?

Who knew Passive Fundraising could be SO easy!! You don' need the key chain card anymore.

Follow the easy instructions on the link:

http://www.corporate.publix.com/community/corporate-campaigns/publix-partners

We’re set up as: Talley Street Upper Elementary School – Decatur, GA

www.csdecatur.net/opening - a repository for all documents, announcements, and communications about how CSD is handling the 2020-2021 school year.

www.csdecatur.net/nutrition - How to order meals

www.csdecatur.net/transportation
www.csdecatur.net/bustracker - How to sign up for the new Predictable Ryde Bus tracking app used for meal delivery, soon for the Fly-brary, mobile book delivery and when in-person learning resumes to track students on their buses
https://virtual.csdecatur.net/tech-help (how parents and staff can put in a tech support request)

https://virtual.csdecatur.net/students - classroom login information

https://virtual.csdecatur.net/parents - Virtual Learning Handbooks