Welcome Back to Talley!
July 21, 2022
Dear Talley Street Community,
Welcome to the 2022-2023 school year! We are so excited to begin the new year and are looking forward to having the students back in the building. Our amazing custodial staff has worked very hard this summer to get the school building ready for our opening. As of today, we have 659 students registered to attend Talley Street. We will have nine 3rd and 4th grade classrooms and ten 5th grade classrooms. Currently, our class size per homeroom is 22 to 25 students per class. Below you will find important information. Please read over it very carefully. If you have any questions, please email me at bheaton@csdecatur.net. I look forward to a wonderful school year!
Billy
Meet Our New Staff
We are excited to welcome our new Talley Tigers. Ruth Scott is coming to Talley as our new Title 1 teacher. Tiffany Lundy has moved to EIP. Ms. Scott is a long time employee with CSD. As many of you know, Ms. Scott has most recently been the principal of Winnona Park Elementary School. Ashley Forman is coming to Talley Street from Dunwoody Elementary School in Dekalb County. Ms. Forman will be teaching 5th grade. Haviland Miller will be teaching 3rd grade. Ms. Miller is not new to Talley Street; she served as a long term substitute in 3rd grade last school year. LaTonya Randolph is coming to Talley Street from the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement where she served as a Literacy Specialist supporting teachers across the state with the Science of Reading. Ms. Randolph will be teaching 4th grade. Annie Speyer will be moving to a co-teaching position. Ms. Margo Metcalf-Capps will be taking over Ms. Speyer’s classroom. Ms. Metcalf-Capps is coming to Talley Street from Oregon. We will also have a new paraprofessional, stellar substitute, and school nurse. We are in the process of interviewing for those positions.
Arrival and Dismissal
Arrival - 7:20-7:45
Dismissal - 2:15-2:45
There are several current and upcoming construction projects happening near Talley Street that will greatly impact our transportation plans. For this school year, it will be even more important to follow all school guidance. If students qualify for CSD bus transportation, it is HIGHLY recommended that families take advantage of this opportunity. The fewer cars we have at arrival and dismissal, the smoother things will run. School begins promptly at 7:45. Students may arrive as early as 7:20. Please plan accordingly. Our tardy policy will be strictly enforced; Any student arriving at or after 7:45 will be considered tardy and will need to be checked in by a parent/guardian. Our instructional time is tight.
We begin instruction at 7:45, which means students need to be in classrooms by this time. Car riders enter the front doors nearest the school’s parking lot. Bus riders and walkers enter the building from the Talley Street entrance. Bikers enter the building from the parking lot entrance. Bike racks are available in front of the gym. Car riders should enter Talley Street from S. Columbia and make a right hand turn into the school’s parking lot. Parents may only make right-hand turns to enter and exit the school parking lot.
Dismissal is at 2:15 pm. Early check-outs are not permitted after 1:45 pm. After 1:45 pm, parents will need to wait until 2:15 pm to pick up their child/children. We realize that emergencies happen and sometimes parents will be late in picking up their child. Last year, we had students there some days until 4:00. Examples like this should be for emergencies only and school personnel should be contacted ASAP. If a parent is consistently late, the school will be forced to contact CSD’s Department of Student Support. Thank you for your cooperation.
Dismissal Changes:
Parents are encouraged to discuss dismissal plans/procedures daily with students to ensure a smooth transition. For all dismissal changes, please email your child’s teacher, and Ms. Parks (eparks@csdecatur.net) no later than 12:00 PM to ensure changes have been noted.
*For emergency changes after 12:00 PM please call the front office*
Transportation
During the 2022-2023 school year, face coverings and masks will be Strongly Recommended on all buses. Any students who prefer wearing masks in the building must bring their own, as we will not supply them in the school. Our staff work around the clock to regularly disinfect buses and open windows to provide a safe ride for your child.
Will your child need transportation? Please fill out the 2022-2023 student transportation request form found at the link below:
Student Transportation Registration Form
Are you looking to stay in the loop when your child is traveling on the bus to and from home on the School Bus? Download our Here Comes The Bus App that gives you real-time bus location and alerts to help you get your children to the bus stop at just the right time.
Meet and Greet
Please join us on August 1st from 1:00 to 3:00 pm for our Meet and Greet. This is an informal time for students and parents to come to the school to meet the teacher and walk around the school. This is not a time for detailed questions for the teacher. The school will be holding a curriculum night on August 25th at 6:00 pm. The curriculum night will be where parents can ask teachers specific questions. More information on the curriculum night will be forthcoming. Talley’s PTO will be holding a popsicle social on Saturday, August 6th from: 3rd grade 10-11am, 4th grade 11-12pm, and 5th grade 12-1pm.
Class Placement
Beginning Tuesday, July 26th, after 3:00 pm, you can access the Parent Portal to view your child’s classroom teacher assignment.
Parent Portal: The Parent Portal allows parents to view their child’s attendance records, assessment records, and lunch balance. It also contains an online lunch payment option. Parents can customize their contact information to ensure they receive emergency school and CSD robo-calls. Families new to CSD should have received an email from Infinite Campus with a prompt to set up a parent portal account. If you are a returning parent and are unable to login to the portal, please email our School Manager, Eva Parks (eparks@csdecatur.net) and add “Parent Portal Access” in the subject line.
Communication
School Nutrition
For information about our school nutrition program, please contact Tiffany Lawrence, Director of School Nutrition, at tlawrence@csdecatur.net.
Meal Prices SY22/23:
School Supplies
Here are a list of school supplies for all grade levels:
Talley 3-5 Basic School Supply List
*Teachers may make additional supply requests during Meet and Greet or during the school year as supplies run low.
1 pair headphones (please label)
12-count Crayola colored pencils
8-count Crayola washable markers
Dry Erase Markers - Chisel Tip - 4 Color Set (Low Odor)
Ticonderoga No. 2 Pencils (sharpened) - 24 Ct
2 black Sharpie Markers
3 Elmer's Purple Washable Glue Sticks
2 Pink Bevel Erasers (Latex Free)
Fiskars Scissors (blunt) - 5 inch
3x5 Ruled White Index Cards - 100 Ct
3x3 Yellow Sticky Notes - 4 Pack of 50 Ct
3 composition books
6 Plastic Pocket and Prong Folders: Blue, Green, Orange, Red, Purple, Yellow
1 Tissue box (*more will be requested during cold season)
3 Containers Disinfecting Wipes
2 Bottles of Hand Sanitizer - 8 oz.
1 Paper Towel Roll
The list can also be found on our website: https://www.csdecatur.net/talley
Talley Street House System
Talley is very excited to be transitioning to a House System next year! At the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year, students and staff will be randomly sorted into six houses representing different character traits: Giving, Friendship, Courage, Kindness, Unity and Dreamers. The House System is a unique and creative cross-age group approach to building a community that will strengthen the social and academic lives of students. It will work hand-in-hand with the current PBIS expectations that are already in place at Talley. Traditionally, schools are split up into grades and students rarely interact with older or younger peers. In a House, students are able to interact with peers from other grade levels. Houses provide students with a culture of belonging. Throughout the year, each student’s personal accomplishments are rewarded with points that collectively count toward their House. This gives students an opportunity to be recognized and thanked by their peers daily for their individual contributions to the overall team. And that culture of belonging goes beyond just the students! Parents are encouraged to become a part of their child’s House too! We look forward to building a lasting program at Talley that will benefit students for years to come. More detailed information including a "House Handbook" will be available at the beginning of the school year. You can find more information about this program from the school we are modeling our system after, the Ron Clark Academy at the website below: https://ronclarkacademy.com/houses/. #1Talley6Houses
STEM
From Ms. Reno:
As the start of the school year approaches, I am so excited about getting our Talley STEM program started! Each student will get the chance to spend time in the STEM lab using their knowledge, imagination, and materials to solve problems with critical thinking. There are a few ways that you can help make this program even more successful:
- There are some materials that we can't buy and that's where you come in! Check around your house and see if you have any of the following laying around and send them in for the STEM lab: 2 liter bottles, smaller round bottle tops (milk gallon, gatorade, soda bottle, medicine bottle, etc), cardboard tubes (toilet paper and paper towel rolls), small action figures, Legos, any old electronics that could easily be taken apart.
- Check out our wish list on amazon and sponsor a stool! https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/24DXMW4HGCSNT?ref_=wl_share
- Join our STEM Instagram to see previews and activities that we do throughout the year! @talleySTEMstagram
COVID Mitigation
As we begin the new school year, Dekalb County is in the high range for COVID cases. Please look out for Dr. Fehrman’s Friday Follow-Up for some pertinent information.
Annual Data Update
It is essential for parents or guardians to complete the Annual Data Update by the start of school because the ADU is how you make sure we have your regular and emergency contact information, student health information, and completed district sign-offs and opt-outs. Please review the K-12 District Handbook and the Code of Conduct and Restorative Practices Handbook before completing the update. Help drive YOUR school to be the first to reach 100% submission! Click here for a larger copy of the graphic further below with directions on accessing and completing the ADU.
School Leadership Team
Talley Street will have two openings for the school’s School Improvement Team (SLT). Parent representatives who will remain on the SLT are Will Epps and Lauren Sudeall. Meredith Parks and Mark Sanders are no longer eligible since their children have moved on to middle school. Information about SLT elections will be coming out soon.
The purpose of the SLT is to make decisions that support the continuous improvement of the school in accordance with the provisions of the Charter. The members of the SLT are accountable to the constituents they serve and shall perform those functions and duties and have those responsibilities of a school leadership team as are set forth in the Charter. The SLT understands that the Charter governs the operations of the City Schools of Decatur. To the extent that there is any inconsistency between these bylaws and the Charter, the Charter shall govern.
The members of the SLT are accountable to the constituents they serve and shall:
- Maintain a school-wide perspective on issues,
- Regularly participate in SLT meetings,
- Participate in information and training programs,
- Act as a link between the SLT and the community,
- Encourage the participation of parents and others within the school community,
- Sign a document indicating any conflicts of interest in serving on the SLT,
- Sign a confidentiality agreement,
- Create committees to implement the goals of the School Improvement Plan,
- Advocate for the school at the Board of Education and Community wide level
- Work to improve student achievement and performance as outlined in the charter, school improvement plan, strategic plan, and Board policies. Including, but not limited to, establishing SLT work group committees to meet the goals identified by the SLT.
Social Media and Contact Information
Social Media and Contact Information
You can find more information on the following Facebook pages:
Talley Street Upper Elementary School PTO
Talley Street Upper Elementary School Parents
Follow the media center on Twitter:
For news from our counselors, check out their website:
For more about the Talley Street PTO, visit their website here: https://talleypto.org/