Eagle Edition
February 11, 2021
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, February 12
Virtual Community Circle
Ms. Bettis's Class Hosting
February 15-19
Winter Break
Thursday, February 25
African-American Read-in and Assembly
(Details below)
Friday, February 26
Virtual Community Circle - Black History, Our History
2nd grade hosting
Where Learning Takes Flight
February Design Principle: Diversity and Inclusion
"Use what talent you possess: the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best."
~Henry van Dyke
Celebrating Black History, Our History at Glennwood
Key Dates for Your Calendar
- Thursday, February 25th, from 8:45-9:30 - Each Glennwood classroom (both in-person and virtual classrooms) will virtually host a special guest who will read aloud a selected book written by an African American author. The goal is that all staff, students, and guest readers are reading, listening to, discussing, and celebrating the work of African American authors during that time.
- Thursday, February 25th, from 1:00-1:30 pm - Live stream a virtual closing assembly for Black History, Our History, hosted by former Glennwood parent and host/founder of the podcast, Creative Tension, Dr. Elliott Robinson. We will also host Dr. Meria Carstarphen, former Superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools, who will give a final reading and Ms. Monica Nelson, former Glennwood music teacher, who will sing the Black National Anthem, Lift Every Voice and Sing to wrap up our celebration. Families, we'd LOVE for you to tune in for this special closing event if you're able to join us. Here is the live stream link to join.
- Friday, February 26 at 8:30 am - Black History, Our History Community Circle on Friday, February 26 with 2nd grade hosting - the video link will be eBlasted to families on the morning of Feb. 26 and students will have the opportunity to view during their morning crew meeting with their homeroom teacher
Important Information About Gifted Review
Each year the gifted review team looks at existing student data to discuss students’ needs and determine if a further evaluation for gifted identification is needed. If you are interested in having your child reviewed and possibly evaluated for gifted services eligibility, you may complete a Recommendation for Review Form (found at the website below) and turn it into the Gifted & Talented Specialist at your child’s school before March 8th. No additional information is needed. The Gifted & Talented Specialist for Glennwood is Susanna Shewan. For more detailed information about the evaluation process and to obtain a copy of the Recommendation for Review Form, please contact the Gifted & Talented Specialist for your school at sshewan@csdecatur.net
Staff Spotlight - Anne Dishman
I am the Media Clerk here at Glennwood Elementary. As I tell the kids, that is a fancy title for librarian - which is a person who works with books. I LOVE books, which is why I love my job so much. As you know, library lessons and check-outs look a little different right now, but the important thing is we have a wonderful collection of books available for all our students! When we are all back together, we will get to spend quality time in the Media Center reading, meeting guest authors, visiting with our friends the Berry College eagles and much more.
My family and I live right around the corner from Glennwood. My husband Alan and I have two children - Pete, who is a 6th grader at Renfroe Middle School and Claire, who is a senior at Decatur High School.
PTA DEI Committee's Equity Series "Myths of Racism" Continues February 23rd at pm on Zoom
We invite the Glennwood community to join us for the next session of the Glennwood PTA's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee's Equity Series "Myths of Racism" on Tuesday, February 23rd at 8pm on Zoom. This month, we will discuss the myth "Racism is Caused by Ignorance." Participants are encouraged to review a short (less than 5 minutes) video, but not required. No prior participation is necessary. We welcome all to join in the series at any time! If you would like to participate, please email Charlie Copp at: charlesdcopp@gmail.com. We hope to see you there!
Yearbooks, Yearbooks, Get Your Yearbooks!
Yearbook ordering time is upon us families; we’d LOVE to see all your photos from both virtual and face to face learning activities, but our photo supply is a bit scarce. The 2020-2021 school year is one that will “go down in history,” and we want to capture the memories. Feel free to share your pictures in the Glennwood Elementary School (Decatur, GA) Parents Page Facebook group OR email them to natasha@vorspel-rueter.com. Be sure to include your child’s first & last name as well as their (original) teacher’s name & grade.
YEARBOOK PICTURES
We have an opportunity for virtual and in-person students to have socially distanced school pictures taken. If your child is an in-person learner and you would like to decline your child having their picture made, please email your teacher.
The photographer will be set up outside with two tents, six feet apart. The photographer will use a lens that can zoom in from a distance. He will be under one tent and as each child is photographed, they will step underneath the 2nd tent. They will briefly remove their mask for the picture only.
After the pictures have been taken, we will receive a link that will be shared with parents. Parents will use the student's ID number to login and view/purchase the pictures.
Picture Day 1: Wednesday March 3rd - In person students 9:00am & 11:00am and Virtual Students 1:00pm & 3:00pm
Picture Day 2: Thursday March 4th - In person students 9:00am & 11:00am and Virtual Students 1:00pm & 3:00pm
For families who would prefer to take their own portrait at home, we will gladly accept those for the yearbook. Please email your pictures to natasha@vorspel-rueter.com; be sure to include your child’s first and last name as well as their original teacher’s name and grade. The deadline to submit a portrait is March 12th, 2021. Here are some fun “portrait from home ideas” that you can do with your student: https://memorybook.com/documents/portrait_ideas.pdf (Please note, if your child doesn't attend the in-person photo session and doesn't upload a portrait from home, she/he will not have a headshot photo in the yearbook.)
YEARBOOK PURCHASES
The 2020-2021 Glennwood Yearbook is now on sale for $20. Orders must be completed by April 6th, 2021 via the Glennwood PTA website. To order a yearbook, go to: Store – Glennwood Elementary PTA (glennwoodpta.org). It is an important Glennwood PTA tradition that every student and staff receive a yearbook. If you would like to contribute this effort, please consider donating a yearbook to a student or staff. You can donate a yearbook for $20 here: Store – Glennwood Elementary PTA (glennwoodpta.org)
DEDICATIONS:
Create Yearbook DEDICATIONS for your child or teachers – the DEADLINE to purchase is March 16th, 2021
**Please note that dedications can only be placed online via the Memory Book website.**
To purchase a dedication:
Step 1
Create a login (or enter the login information from last year) by going to this link: https://www.memorybook.com/online-pay/parent-pay/
Step 2:
Enter our school code 189401
Step 3:
Create/design your dedication
Pricing for Dedications is as follows:
$15.00 for 1/8 page
$20.00 for 1/4 page
$35.00 for 1/2 page
Yearbooks are expected to be delivered on or around mid-May. More details to come!
Pre-K Registration at College Heights
Registration for “New Families” to College Heights began on February 1, 2021. The child must be four (4) years of age on September 1, 2021, to be eligible. Parents/Guardian must complete an online application prior to submitting supporting documents to College Heights Early Childhood Learning Center located at 917 S. McDonough. If you are in need of assistance to complete the enrollment form online, parents may email Patrice Moore at pmoore@csdecatur.net
Step One: Parents/Guardians need to complete this online registration form.
Step Two: Parents/guardians need to bring the following documents to College Heights Early Childhood Learning Center on Monday, Wednesday, or Thursday during the month of February between the hours of 11:00-1:00 pm. Documents must be submitted by February 25th no later than 1:00 pm in order to be considered for the Pre-K lottery.
- Proof of Residency (lease, deed, payment/coupon book, property tax or settlement statement, and a current utility bill). If providing a lease the student’s name must be listed as an occupant.
- Birth Certificate (certified original)
- Immunization (Form 3231)
- Vision, Hearing, Dental, and Nutrition (Form 3300)
- Student’s Social Security Card
- Picture ID of a guardian
Note: Tables will be set up on the front porch. Staff will meet individually with parents to review and copy their documents. No visitors will be allowed into the building. Please come prepared with all documents. All individuals must wear a mask. Individuals will be socially distanced while waiting to meet with staff for their document review.
Timeline for Pre-K registration and lottery process…
Registration: February 1 – 25
Days: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays
Time: 11:00-1:00 pm for the month of February
Lottery: Electronic lottery will be conducted on March 5th, 2021
Notification: Parent/Guardian of students on the waitlist will be notified
via a phone call no later than March 8th.
February is Love your Bus Month! You can celebrate by creating cards or telling your bus drivers how much you appreciate them! Look for more details coming soon on how to celebrate our bus drivers- including a fun video from Westchester's Bike Dudes and Media Specialist Brooke Nation!
From the CSD Special Education Department
IEP 101 for Parents
The CSD Special Education team will give an in-depth look at key sections of the IEP document. The Special Education team members will give clear examples to help families with understanding the IEP. This is a great way for families new to this process to learn about the IEP or for families who may need more clarity.
Our special education staff members look forward to connecting with you and guiding parents through the document.
IEP 101 For Parents (Virtual Meetings)
Date: February 24, 2021
Time: 6pm to 7pm
RSVP to Cheryl Grant cgrant@csdecatur.net
From CSD Nutrition Department
Menu Service Update
Exciting news, CSD’s Nutrition Department will allow siblings that are attending in-person school to take home extra meals for their siblings under the age of 18 beginning on February 22, 2021. The form for requesting this service can be found here https://forms.gle/iUCUfC2KyrSpjdkY7. This service is only available for siblings. If your child receives a meal from a school site, they may not pick-up meals at Decatur High School. Also, we ask that parents requesting this service consider their student’s ability to transport the extra meals because our in-person students are our youngest learners. Meal pick-up will continue for virtual students at our TakeOutSpot at Decatur High School on MWF between 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM. If your child is eating with us and requires vegetarian meals OR has a special dietary need, please fill out this google form: https://forms.gle/eyo5veaaAN8iBczp6. In addition, parents of students with special dietary needs are required to return the completed form “Medical Statement for Accommodating Disabilities” to our Food and Nutrition Supervisor at sblack@csdecatur.net. Please note that a healthcare provider must fill out and sign this form. Thank you for your patience as we work through new processes this school year.
Quick Reminders:
Required Forms for Special Dietary Needs:
If your student is requesting lactose- free milk, we must have the “CSD Milk Substitution Form”; completed by either a parent/guardian OR a healthcare provider. Once parents of students with special dietary needs have completed the required online forms, please see the process for picking up their meals on this webpage.
From the City of Decatur
2020 Strategic Planning Input Nears Completion
These front-end input opportunities for the 2020 Strategic Plan will be wrapping up soon, but it’s not too late to get your ideas on the table. Share any remaining thoughts online in our Virtual Forums which can be accessed at http://bit.ly/300tKT6.
Calling All Decatur Youth. We want to hear from YOU!
The Strategic Plan will help guide the City in deciding what’s most important to Decatur residents like YOU in the next 10 years.
Visit https://decatur2030.com/resources/ and look for the Youth Input section to share your ideas by March 15, 2021. Choose your response type and email your ideas to childfriendlydecatur@gmail.com. If you drew a picture, please take a photo and email it to us.
Once input has completed, recommendations will begin to emerge for public review and comment so stay tuned for that as we move further into 2021.
From the Decatur Education Foundation
Load Up with New Books for Winter Break!
DEF is hosting a Covid-safe book sale at Legacy Park’s Cochran Building (the gym) just in time for Winter Break. There’s a large selection of gently used children’s books from toddler to high school at bargain prices! You can sign up for 20-minute shopping slots here.
The Tour Must Go On!
Due to Covid-19, DEF can’t host its annual Tour deCatur 5K and Fun Run in its usual in-person form. This year, we are offering a “Run Where You Are” 5K and Fun Run on the weekend of March 27th. 5K participants can register at www.tourdecatur.com where you can also order an event shirt. We hope this event will encourage the community to go outside to celebrate our health and the onset of spring. For some participants, this year’s Tour could be a goal to achieve or a fun family activity, and for others, it might just be exciting to have something to put on the calendar! 5K participants can submit a photo of their tracked time, and race results will be posted on the race website and on the DEF Facebook page in the week following the race.
The Joe’s Fund Challenge
Decatur Education Foundation and Decatur City Church are excited to announce they have joined forces to launch the Joe’s Fund Challenge! Decatur City Church’s Be Rich Campaign recently donated $25,000 to DEF’s Joe’s Fund which supports our kids’ behavioral health. Joe’s Fund, initiated by the family of Joe Bodine after his death in 2016, has been instrumental in the creation of the Decatur Student Center at Decatur High, as well as the recent expansion of services to Renfroe Middle School.
Together, DEF and Decatur City Church is challenging our community to help us raise an additional $25,000 to double the impact we can make collectively. Your contribution to Joe’s Fund today will help expand the behavioral health programming at the high school and middle school and will allow us to offer behavioral health grants to every K-5 school. Early intervention can help arm our students with the coping skills they need to face future challenges. Help us help our kids. Gifts to Joe’s Fund will ensure that we can continue to react to address the wide and varied needs of all of our kids. To take part in the challenge, please visit www.decatureducationfoundation.org/joesfund. Together, we make a difference!
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*
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.