I had the pleasure of presenting the Glennwood African American Read-In to Dr. Fehrman and the Board last Tuesday evening. Please check out the video below to learn more!

Surveillance Testing Update

We tested over 70 students using a shallow swab rapid test on Tuesday and had 0 positive cases. Yay! We are still in the process of tweaking the process, but overall, it went so smoothly and efficiently! It was an impressive operation that felt very safe and effective. The kids were so cooperative and several of them were laughing as they were tested because it tickled! They did a great job and encouraged one another. We did have a couple of students who felt very nervous and concerned and that is ok- they did not have to participate. Overall, it was an excellent experience. We now have about 100 students signed up for testing. Please consider opting your child in by completing the quick and easy consent form. The more students we test, the more effective the program will be! Please see some pics of our brave kids (with their parents’ permission, of course!). I love the one of our students laughing as she gets swabbed- it really did tickle!

Warmest regards,

Dr. Holly Brookins

Principal

As many of you know, our beloved Kindergarten teacher, Ms. Amy Sanders sadly passed away last year at the start of the school year. We are in the process of planting Amy’s Memorial Garden and will be hosting a tribute to her in our garden area in the back of the school. Please join us for a short program and cookies and lemonade. Amy’s family will also be present at the tribute. Masks and social distancing are required. If you or your child would like to say a few words or read a poem of your choosing, please email Dr. Brookins.

When: October 19th (Amy’s birthday) from 3:45-4:30

Where: Amy’s Memorial Garden (in back of the school)

(If you are a parent who sews and has the time and expertise to help sew cushions for benches that will be installed in the garden in remembrance of Ms. Sanders, please email Susanna Shewan at sshewan@csdecatur.net. Thank you.)

Students are becoming super proficient in accessing their online learning tools at school via CSD's new LaunchPad. Using the QuickCards makes logging in easier. Students have access to these learning tools at home, i.e. MyPath, Raz Kids, Typing Club, etc. If you have not received your child's QuickCard, please reach out to the classroom teacher.

Accessing CSD LaunchPad at Home Instructions

Troubleshooting Steps for Mobile Devices

For using CSD LaunchPad on mobile devices such as an iPad, you will need to help your child log into their Google student account following the instructions above. Additionally, when clicking through LaunchPad to apps, some should work fine on any device. Those that do require a separate login which the ClassLink extension normally automatically fills in (such as the Capstone Library, PebbleGo, or Galileo) will prompt the student for a password if the device they are on does not support extensions (such as an iPad) or are not signed into Chrome (or a personal Chromebook) with their CSD account and have syncing turned on.

Dear Families,

We all share a common goal for our children to be safe and protected from harm. Related to that goal, school counselors are required by OCGA 20-2-143 to present annual personal safety lessons designed to prevent sexual abuse, assault awareness, and prevention education. The Think First & Stay Safe™ program is a research-based program that teaches specific personal safety education through interactive classroom lessons, role-playing, and corresponding activities. Think First & Stay Safe™ enables students to take an active and necessary role in protecting themselves from abuse, assault, and exploitation. CSD school counselors reviewed the program and selected it for our students. This program is also listed on Georgia’s Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Prevention Technical Assistance Resource Guide as a best practice program.

Due to the importance of this topic, I want you to know how you may preview the materials and when the counselor will be presenting this information to your child's class. The materials will be available for preview by contacting Mr. Blase at jblase@csdecatur.net and setting up a time with him. The school counselor will offer the sexual abuse prevention and safety lessons to all K-2 students during the months of October/November. Additionally, this may extend into December if the lessons aren’t completed before Thanksgiving Break.

You can also learn more about the program and research behind this program at www.childluresprevention.com. Please be aware that more information is provided on the website than is actually used in CSD. The plan for CSD includes: the key concepts taught at all grade levels; each grade reviews what was learned in the previous grade(s) and then learns additional lures or tricks. Specifics are provided here.

If you prefer that your child not participate in the sexual abuse and safety prevention lessons, please send an email indicating your preferences to the school counselor, Jonathan Blase, at jblase@csdecatur.net by Thursday, October 21st. Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns. Unless documentation is received, your child will participate in the lessons.

Sincerely,

Jonathan Blase

Glennwood School Counselor

It is the time of year to prepare for flu season. It is recommended that most people older than 6 months of age have a yearly influenza vaccine. Glennwood Elementary and the Dekalb Board of Health will be hosting an outdoor flu clinic on October 19th from 3 PM to 5 PM. The clinic will be located by the blue picnic tables in front of the school. It is open to staff, students, and families with no appointment required. If you would like to participate, please bring your ID, insurance card, and payment (cash, check or credit/debit card are accepted). Students must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Most insurance plans cover flu shots. Prices are $40 for a standard flu vaccine and $77 for a high dose (65 and older).

As we move into fall and cooler weather, this is a friendly reminder to keep students home if they have any symptoms of illness. While a negative Covid test is reassuring, there are many other viruses that are circulating currently. Students who are coughing, sneezing, or congested (especially if a child would require frequent mask changes from these symptoms) should stay home until symptoms subside. As always, if a student has a fever, they can not return until they are fever-free for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medications.

If you have any questions, you can reach me at ebarrington@csdecatur.net or 404-370-4435

1. Glennwood PTA First Annual Stew and Chili Cook-Off at Glennwood Elementary! October 23, 12:00 PM

Can you out cook Mr. Holloman?! Got a better recipe than Mr. C?! Sign up your team! Veggie, Vegan, Traditional, Chili, Soups, Stews, all welcome! If your family has a great soup or stew recipe you'd like to share, we hope you will join us for this event!

Email jamesherndon3@gmail.com to create a team.

The band Polly Holiday will be playing from 1-2 pm.

Tickets are available at https://glennwoodpta.org/. Tickets are $10 and get you ALL the samples, plus free mac and cheese for the kids! (Tickets not required to hang out at Glennwood, listen to good music, and make friends!)

All proceeds go to Glennwood's PTA.

Financial assistance is available - please reach out to Dr. Brookins for more information.

2. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee Updates

The DEI will meet the 2nd Monday of the month, 8pm, via zoom:

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/96934475378?pwd=TElsMW5jT1p0WExvZXVnVENFTUhlUT09

Meeting ID: 969 3447 5378
Passcode: 815625

This year, the DEI committee would like to celebrate the similarities and differences of our Glennwood families. If your family has a special celebration or cultural event you would like to share with our greater community, or if you would like to help plan an event for one of the recognized month celebrations (for example- Asian American Heritage month), please reach out to Amanda Gillespie at GillespieAI@gmail.com.

Join the DEI book club! Have a book your family loves that centers a BIPOC or gender-diverse character? Let us know! We'd love to share it with the school community, or even feature your family reading the book in a video in an upcoming newsletter!

The Carlos Museum currently has an exhibition, Each/Other featuring two Indigenous artists. It runs until Dec 12. Stay tuned for a collaboration between CSD DEI and the museum for some fun art projects for kids related to the exhibit. Emory University and the Carlos Museum were founded on Muscogee (Creek) land.

3. Glennwood Staff Snack Cart/Table

This year, to show our appreciation for our amazing staff, Glennwood PTA will be rolling out a regular staff snack cart/table. We are asking each grade level to "stock the cart" for a given month; each grade will be asked to do so twice this year. We kindly ask that each family participate in one of the two opportunities for your grade level (the intention is that a family only need to participate once).

For November, we're asking kindergarten families to host a "Gratitude Table" for our staff. If you're a K family, please visit the Sign Up Genius here to sign up to bring in something for our staff. Due to COVID protocols, all items must be individually wrapped and store-bought (not homemade). Please drop off your items with Ms. Hearn at the front office November 15-17th anytime during school hours and the PTA will assemble the snack table for our staff to enjoy on November 18. If you have any questions, please reach out to Staff Appreciation Co-Chairs: Haley Stevens (haleycstevens@gmail.com) or Cristina Stevenson (cristina.stevenson@gmail.com). Thank you!

The Power of the NOW & COMP Waivers

Jackie McNair, Parent Mentor of Gwinnett County, will present a detailed explanation of the New Options Waiver (NOW) and the Comprehensive Supports Waiver Program (COMP) for CSD families. These waivers can provide a financial bridge to assisting your student in having a positive outcome once they transition out of school. In this meeting, Ms. McNair will share how her family manages and utilizes the waiver to assist with sustainable supports for post-secondary transition.

*It is important for families to apply for these waivers while their child is in school.

Audience: Renfroe & DHS Parents of High to Mid. impact special needs students

Date: October 14, 2021

Time: 6pm-7pm

Location: Virtual

Click here to RSVP or email cgrant@csdecatur.net

Dyslexia Awareness Event- CSD and International Dyslexia Association - Register HERE.

The 10th Annual Madison Ave Derby is happening THIS SATURDAY starting at 11am! Bring the family out to see some creative and FAST handcrafted machines roll down Madison Avenue while enjoying food from Universal Joint and King of Pops. This year's Derby beneficiary is the Decatur Student Center, located in CSD Decatur High School and equipped to attend to our students' behavioral health and non-academic needs. To learn more about the Student Center, please visit https://decatureducationfoundation.org/behavioral-health/. See you at the Derby!

Homework Help: We are continuing our Virtual Pals tutoring program in which we pair a 2nd-8th grade student with an upper high school student or adult volunteer to help with homework, time management, and motivation. If you would like to sign your student up for the program, you can go here: https://forms.gle/nLrKbwkXyvYjEAJB8

Could you be a mentor? We’re also seeking women and men volunteers to serve as mentors for our AIM Scholars mentoring program (third-grade students) and our REACH mentoring program (8th-grade students). For just a small amount of time each month, you can have a meaningful impact in the life of a student. For more information, please visit www.decatureducationfoundation.org/mentoring

Pop-Up Takeout for DEF! Our friends from NaanStop and Greg Kodesh Realty are partnering with DEF for a dine-out/take-out on Thursday, October 21st, for which they'll be donating 20% of sales to DEF! They offer family meals including 2 entrees, fresh-baked naan, handmade samosas, basmati rice and chutneys (feeds 4). Just place your order before 5 pm Wednesday, October 20th and your order will be available for pick up between 5 – 5:45 pm on Thursday, October 21st - Link to menu: https://bit.ly/NSorderDecatur - Pickup at Avery/Bucher in Winnona Park neighborhood - masks/distancing required. It’s first-come, first-served, so get your orders in before they sell out!

Decatur Acts on Affordable Housing Task Force Report

The City of Decatur has implemented several recommendations from the Affordable Housing Task Force report and will host three virtual focused conversations on the Missing Middle Housing policy to inform final policy recommendations: October 20 from 6-7:30 p.m., October 26 from 11:30 a.m.- 1 p.m., and November 11 from 6-7:30 p.m. Each session will have a short panel discussion before entering into participant breakout rooms for further conversations, concluding with Q&A portion. Visit www.decaturga.com/affordablehousing to learn more about these recommendations and the history of housing in Decatur and to register for the sessions. If you wish to submit a question for the panel email Kristin.allin@decaturga.com.

In addition to the sessions, a community survey is available until November 15 to collect input from the community on potential zoning changes to Decatur’s neighborhoods. Visit surveymonkey.com/r/MissingMiddleHousingSurvey to complete the survey.

A hotline is also available from 1-4 p.m., Tuesday thru Thursday, Oct. 26 – Nov. 11 for the public to call to ask questions, make comments or learn about specific events. During this time period, call 470-868-5114.

Legacy Park Invasive Plant Removal Open House | Saturday, Oct. 16 • 2 p.m.

Trees Atlanta will partner with the City of Decatur to start work on a five-year woodland restoration and regeneration project at Legacy Park. Come out to Legacy Park on Saturday, Oct. 16 at 2 p.m. to learn about the invasive and native plants on the property, Trees Atlanta’s approach to invasive plant removal, and opportunities to get involved and help protect the park’s tree canopy. A short demonstration will follow the presentation, with attendees taking back invasive plant removal techniques and knowledge to their own backyards.

Tree Canopy Conservation Ordinance Open House | Thursday, Oct. 21 • 4-8 p.m.

Residents and property owners are invited to an open house to learn about proposed revisions to the City’s tree canopy conservation ordinance. The open house will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, October 21, 2021, in the dining hall at Legacy Park. A temperature check and wearing of a face covering are required for entry into the building.

The City Commission is considering changes to the City’s tree canopy conservation ordinance, including additional protection for trees located on single-family residential, townhome and multiple-family residential properties and new requirements for commercial developments.

Learn more about the tree ordinance at decaturga.com/dec/page/decatur-tree-canopy-conservation-ordinance-update. In addition to attending the open house, comments can be emailed to treeordinance@decaturga.com.