Eagle Edition
August 18, 2022
Glennwood Elementary ~ Where Learning Takes Flight
Holly Brookins, PhD, Principal ~ Summer Clayton, Assistant Principal ~ Jill Tolsma, Instructional Coach
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
Friday, August 19
First Outdoor Community Circle (Staff & Students Only)
Monday, August 22
8:00 pm
Thursday, August 25
SLT Voting Ends at 5:00 pm
Thursday, September 1
PTA Meeting and Curriculum Night
5:30 pm
Friday, September 2
First Walk and Roll to School
Outdoor Community Circle - Ms. Marion's Class Hosting (Families Invited)
Monday, September 5
Labor Day Holiday (No School)
Thursday, September 15
Early Release Day
12:00 pm
Friday, September 16
Early Release Day
12:00 pm
September 19-23
Fall Break
Where Learning Takes Flight
August Design Principle: The Responsibility for Learning
"You can't escape the responsibility of tomorrow
by evading it today."
~Abraham Lincoln
Hello Glennwood Families,
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, September 1.
We are excited to offer an in-person option this year after being virtual for two years. 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 make sure to read the information in the newsletter about our SLT election for 2022-23. Thank you to our three parents: Timothy Cox, Heather Harris and David Petermann who all volunteered to run for our vacant SLT position this year. Please make sure to read their bios prior to voting. The voting ends on Thursday, August 25 at 5:00 pm.
Warmest regards,
Dr. Holly Brookins
Principal
GL SLT Election Votes Due by August 25!
Thank you to parents who volunteered to fill the vacant position for the School Leadership Team for the 2022-23 school year! Each Glennwood family will have the opportunity to cast a vote for the SLT election. There is ONE vote per STUDENT at GL. If there are multiple adults in a household, please coordinate your vote so that there is only one per GL student. The candidate with the highest number of votes will be the new parent representative on the SLT.
Cast your vote using this Google Form. Bios for each candidate may be found HERE. Please cast your vote by 5pm on Thursday, August 25th. The new parent representative will be announced via eblast on Friday, August 26th.
Covid 19 Updates
Based on the recent updated COVID-19 guidance from the CDC, the City Schools of Decatur will be modifying the following procedures:
- COVID-19 communication emails will be sent to the affected classroom/group only. We will no longer send schoolwide communications informing of a positive case.
- CSD will not be offering surveillance screening in any school. COVID-19 testing will continue to be offered at the Wilson Center from 6:15 am-9:15 am Monday-Friday.
The CDC’s COVID-19 community guidance, as well as its Operational Guidance for K-12 Schools and Early Care and Education (ECE) Programs, also includes the following updates:
Those exposed to the virus are no longer expected to quarantine
Unvaccinated people now have the same guidance as vaccinated people
Students can stay in class after being exposed to the virus
It is no longer recommended to screen those without symptoms in most settings
The recommendation to cohort has been removed
Test-To-Stay information has been removed
Please continue to notify your school nurse if your student tests positive for COVID-19. Please include the first day of symptoms or the day of the positive test(if no symptoms), and we will reach out to you regarding isolation and return to school dates.
Immunizations
If your child is currently up-to-date on their childhood vaccines, you do not have to send in any forms to me. If your child is not currently up to date on vaccines, is on a delayed schedule or has an out-of-state immunization record, please reach out to me and I can assist you. Students are required to have current immunization records or notarized immunization exemptions(GA form 2208) to be enrolled in GA public schools. Of note, COVID vaccines are not considered required childhood vaccines for school enrollment
More Information
Please provide a change of clothes that can be kept in your child's locker. The playground is muddy, kids spill things, and all kids, even the 2nd graders, have bathroom accidents. The school has a very limited supply of extra clothes and underwear. If your child needs a change of clothes, and we do not have something to fit, we will call you to bring in a change. Having an extra set in their locker will alleviate interrupting your day and will help the child return to class asap.
If you have any older clothes that you were planning on donating, pants and shorts for both boys and girls, we will gladly take them! Also, if you would like to make a donation of underwear, we really could use them. Thank you!
If you have any health-related questions or concerns, please contact me at ebarrington@csdecatur.net or 404-370-4435
Save the Date for Fall Picture Day!
Deana Kingsbury Photography (www.deanakingsbury.com) will be on campus the week of September 12th to photograph Glennwood students! Photos will be taken outside on the playground. Images are candid, playful and offered in black/white. Individual photos will also be taken in color for yearbook photo and for purchase. Proofs will be available via an online gallery within a few weeks of the shoot and all prints ordered will be delivered to school. Purchased JPG files will be available for download via email provided. Questions? Email Deana at deana@deanakingsbury.com.
The schedule will be as follows:
Monday, 9/12
Kindergarten
9:00am - Kaplan
9:40am - Ronco
10:10am - Rose
Tuesday, 9/13
First Grade
9:00am - Jones
9:40am - Turnipseed
10:10am - VanDuzer
Wednesday, 9/14
Second Grade
10:00am - Bennett
10:40am - Marion
11:10am - Marquez
Thursday, 9/15
Make up for absent kids
Birthday Book Fundraiser for Glennwood Media Center
The Glennwood Birthday Book program gives you the opportunity to both honor your child on their birthday and help our library collection continue to grow. To honor your child with a birthday book donation, simply send $20 cash or check (made payable to Glennwood Elementary School) by Friday, August 26. We welcome friends or other family members to participate in this program, as well. Families are not limited to one book.
After receiving your donation, your child will choose a new library book during his/her birthday month during library time. We will affix a book dedication label to the inside of the book your child chooses indicating that the book is donated in their honor to our library. We would like for you to write a special message that will be printed on the label. For example:
Happy 7th Birthday to our Great Reader! We love you Andrew! Mom and Dad August 2022
In honor of Lydia’s 9th Birthday! Lots of love, Nana and Papa July 2022
Your child may keep the new book for two weeks before he/she must return it to the library. This book checkout will be in addition to their regular library book(s). Each participant will have their picture taken with their new book, and we will send the picture to you as a token of our appreciation.
The form was sent home in communication folders this week. The form must be submitted, along with payment, by Friday, August 26. If you did not receive a copy, you may download and print a copy HERE.
July and August birthdays will be celebrated in September and June birthdays will be celebrated in May during library lessons. Additionally, Glennwood student and staff birthdays are announced over the intercom with morning announcements and also in Community Circle. We will send more information about birthday announcement dates soon.
Walk & Roll - Fun Parent Volunteer Opportunity!
We are gearing up for another fun year of Walk & Roll, and we are bringing a fun addition back to the mix! This school year we will resume the three “Walking School Buses” in conjunction with each of our scheduled Walk & Roll dates. Parents and children who want to join in the fun and walk with a group are welcome to participate. Those parents unable to walk or roll due to schedule conflicts may drop off their child at any of the bus stops listed below and volunteers (in bright orange vests) will walk with your child to school. These groups can accommodate walkers only; if your child wishes to bike or scoot to school, please make other arrangements. Walking School Buses will be canceled in the event of rain, and we will NOT have Walking School Buses in the afternoons, so please make sure your child has transportation home after school.
And, here’s where you come in...Walk & Roll Parent Volunteers Needed!!
Parents serve as Walking School Bus leaders, and each route (see below for route details) requires 2-3 parents each month (7 Walk & Roll dates/school year). Please consider signing up as a regular (every month) or occasional (have your name placed on a list to be contacted as needed) Walking School Bus leader. It is a small commitment, but a wonderful way to help your own and other children to participate in the fun of our monthly Walk & Roll days and to benefit from the exercise! Reach out to Amanda McMillan at almcmil@gmail.com with any questions or to sign-up!
The Glennwood PTA operates a website that makes it easy for you to gather information, volunteer, and engage. Our website offers our families a calendar of PTO/School events, a choice of Personal and/or Family memberships, Spirit Wear Store, and a password-protected directory of students and parents (If you wish to be included).
1. Please visit: www.GlennwoodPTA.org
2. Click My Info/Sign In
3. New User? Click here to register
4.The password is: soareagles
5. Follow the prompts to set up a user account and add students/teacher assignments/etc. You can also volunteer for the many opportunities listed on the website.
Staff Appreciation Committee
PTA volunteers, please save the date! (Wednesday, September 14th)
We would appreciate your support on our efforts to stock, clean and organize the staff lounge for the start of the school year. Our goal is to make the lounge welcoming for Glennwood’s awesome staff! More details coming up soon. Stay tuned!
Glennwood Annual Chili & Stew Cook Off
Mark your calendars! Sunday October 23rd, afternoon. If you are interested in cooking or organizing, please email James Herndon at: Jamesherndon3@gmail.com
Glennwood Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee
Glennwood DEI committee meetings will resume this year on the 4th Monday of the month. There will be in-person and Zoom options! Please join us for an evening of community building, discussion and planning of Glennwood and CSD-wide DEI events!
To get involved, please complete this sign-up.
The first meeting will be Monday, Aug 22, 8 pm at the Gillespie-LaFond house 323 Glendale Ave, Decatur, GA 30030.
Please direct any questions to GlennwoodDEI@gmail.com
To access the meeting virtually, please visit Glennwood’s PTA DEI Website.
CSD School Nutrition Department
Accommodating Students with Disabilities and/or Special Dietary Needs
City Schools of Decatur will make accommodations for children with disabilities whose disability or special dietary need restricts their diet when that need is certified by a licensed physician. Milk intolerance is not considered a disability or food allergy. For modifications or substitutions to the school meals, the school’s Nurse or Nutrition Manager must have a written Medical Statement to Request Accommodations for Disabilities in the School Meal Programs Form on file that is signed by a licensed physician or licensed health care professional who is authorized to write medical prescriptions under State law.
Parents should submit a new medical statement each year or verify the accuracy of the medical statement yearly that a child requires special dietary meals or substitutions. Please contact Monique Breedlove at mbreedlove@csdecatur.net or (470) 237-0368 ext. 7608 to update your student’s records or for additional information.
Parents that need to request milk substitutions for their students should complete a “Medical Statement to Request Milk Substitutions form.” This form will need to be on file for a student to receive lactose-free milk in lieu of 1% or Fat-Free 8 oz milk, which is included with a full tray. Students that do not have this form on file but want lactose-free milk will need to pay $1.00 for lactose-free milk or $0.50 for 1% or Fat-Free 8 oz milk. All students that do not purchase a meal will be charged for the milk choice they select.
The accommodations form and the milk substitutions form are located here.
Parent Literacy Events
The Teaching and Learning Department is excited to host several parent-focused literacy events this school year. The August and September sessions are listed below. Stay tuned for information about additional programs scheduled for the remainder of the school year.
August Events
August 18 at 4:00 pm: American Reading Company (ARC) Virtual Parent Education: Pursuing Clarity, Insights, and Opportunities in the Science of Reading Debate
August 24 at 4:00 pm: American Reading Company (ARC) Virtual Parent Education: The Science of Reading Is More Than A Movement
August 24 from 6:30 - 7:30 pm: City Schools of Decatur and American Reading Company (ARC) Virtual Parent Education with Dr. David Liben, Consultant and Author of Foundational Skills Development and Amelia Larson, Executive Vice President of ARC Innovations and Academic Partnerships
Meeting ID: 914 0253 9081 and Passcode: 632209
September Events
September 15 at 4:00 pm: American Reading Company (ARC) Virtual Parent Education: Comprehensive Literacy for Turbulent Times - The Power Behind a Knowledge Building Curricula
If you have any questions about these events, please contact the Teaching and Learning Department at csimon@csdecatur.net.
Connection Sessions
Connection Sessions are conversations between CSD's Equity Director, various invited guests, and the CSD POGM* community. During each session, community members are introduced to a person who is integral to supporting the school system while we discuss thoughts, interests, and concerns regarding City Schools of Decatur. Each session uses a racial equity lens - always asking the question - "What does race have to do with this?"
These sessions may not always have the answers, but they provide an opportunity for members of Decatur's POGM community (as well as all others) to explore perspectives, pose questions, and share thoughts.
Each meeting starts at 6 pm. Access it by using the following link: https://tinyurl.com/2yuj2tbs.
August 22nd, 2022 - Dr. Maggie Fehrman, Superintendent, CSD
September TBD, 2022 - Adena Walker, Chief of Human Resources, CSD
October 17th, 2022 - Billy Heaton, Principal, Talley Street
November 14th, 2022 - Courtney Burnett, Chief of Staff, CSD
December 19th, 2022 - Karen Newton-Scott, Principal, FAVE
* People of color, despite being minoritized in the US, are a global majority. Thus, previously entitled BIPOC Connection Sessions, the name of this event is now Connection Sessions for POGM (People of the Global Majority). There is conflict regarding the use of the term BIPOC and this article details many relevant concerns. In short, the term BIPOC, which stands for Black, Indigenous, and Other People of Color, elevates some cultures over others in a way that does not reflect the respect each culture deserves.
Special Education Parent Engagement
September Meeting: disAbility Link - Empowering Youth
Mr. William Thomas, Youth & Diversity Supervisor for disAbility Link, will give an overview of the services and supports offered through the Empowering Youth program for youths ages 14-29. disAbility link provides but is not limited to employment support, self-advocacy, social activities, and peer support.
Target Audience: Parents of students with disabilities ages 14-22 years old
Date: September 15
Time: 6-7pm
Location: Virtual
To RSVP, click this Link or email Cheryl Grant at cgrant@csdecatur.net.
For more information, please see the August Welcome Back Flyer.
News from the Decatur Education Foundation
DEF has several volunteer opportunities that can fit easily into your weekly schedule! We need tutor volunteers for our Virtual Pals Tutoring program. If you can donate 1 hour per week to help a Decatur student virtually, you can apply here: https://forms.gle/YTbDUk8H4iS4qfD57 (High school students can earn volunteer hours!) We also need adult mentors for our AIM mentoring program and volunteer “coaches” for our brand new FOCUS Prep Program that is specifically for high schoolers in preparation for post-high school. For a mentor application, click here: https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/6385892/Mentor-Application. If you’d like to become a coach, click here: https://forms.gle/F73gdN5fxzXqET5o7. You can also find all forms and information at our website, www.decatureducationfoundation.org/mentoring. Together we make a difference for our kids!
Madison Soap Box Derby
Driver Registration Now Open: Madison Avenue Derby on Oct. 15th
Don't miss your chance to be a part of one of Decatur's most iconic neighborhood events! Driver registration is now open for the 11th Annual Madison Avenue Derby, the non-motorized racing event where amateur racers of all ages design and build human-powered soapbox cars to compete against the clock in a downhill race!
Join the excitement as a racer or spectator on October 15, 2022, for a day of family-friendly fun - proceeds from the event this year go to support the Friends of Refugees! REGISTER TO RACE NOW