Eagle Edition
October 29, 2020
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
October 29-30
Two More Days!
Fall Virtual Book Fair with Little Shop of Stories
Monday, November 2
Teacher Professional Learning Day (No School for Students)
Friday, November 6
Virtual Community Circle
Ms. Phillips' Class Hosting
Wednesday, November 18
Lunch n' Learn with Mr. Blase
11:45-12:30 pm
Topic: Anxiety
Thursday, November 19
Virtual Author Visit with Susan Horne
Where Learning Takes Flight
October Design Principle: The Having of Wonderful Ideas
"Everything you can imagine is real."
~ Pablo Picasso
Hello Glennwood Families!
I hope everyone enjoyed the Book Character Parade yesterday! I am so sorry that I wasn’t able to be there but I really enjoyed all of the pictures that the staff sent me. I usually dress up for Book Character Day as Fancy Nancy, one of my favorite book characters. Since I wasn’t able to attend, here is a picture of me as Fancy Nancy with my daughter, Gracie, dressed as The Littlest Witch from two years ago when she was in K at our former school! Time goes by so fast, doesn’t it?
Speaking of kids and parenting, I wanted to acknowledge that I know that although everyone is doing an amazing job, virtual learning has its challenges for everyone. I came across this Alicia Keys/One Voice Children’s Choir YouTube video that I shared with our staff yesterday morning to tell them that I think that they are doing a good job! I also wanted to share this with you, as parents, to tell you that I think you are doing a good job! I could really relate with the dad who was sitting on the couch with his computer and phone out, while the kids were running circles all around him! Anyone else? LOL! I am proud of our students, staff and families for engaging and doing such a GOOD JOB at a hard time! Please continue to give yourself and others grace at this time. THANK YOU for all you are doing.
You may have seen that there is a district COVID team that will be coming together to guide the district in terms of reopening when it is safe to do so. I will be a part of that team. I am looking forward to collaborating so we have a strong plan when it is safe to come back to the buildings. Our own school's COVID team has done excellent work in planning and preparing. At this time, our school meetings are paused but will resume soon. I am continuing to work on our procedures and manual and will incorporate any additional guidance gleaned from the district meetings. We are also working on a video for parents but again, I do want to see what additional guidance we will receive. As a school, we are engaging in professional development around concurrent learning so we are prepared to continue to deliver engaging instruction.
As always, please reach out with any questions or concerns!
Warmest Regards,
Dr. Holly Brookins
Please consider supporting our Media Center with the book fair! Two Days Remaining!
On the Same Page with Equity Work
The Glennwood Equity and Diversity team has begun an On the Same Page reading initiative. All classroom teachers will read a book every 6-8 weeks that will invite discussion around themes related to equity in a way that feels comfortable and feasible for teachers and students. The kick-off for the first book was on Monday, October 26th with Jacqueline Woodson's The Day You Begin.
Counselor News from Mr. Blase
This week was our final week of formally teaching SEE Learning schoolwide. Moving forward, we will still have Wellness Wednesdays; however, students will not be required to attend during their class times. This week, we summarized and recapped everything we had learned in SEE Learning. We focused upon the Resiliency Zone and noted the sensations that arise when we are bumped out of our Resiliency Zone (i.e., the High and Low Zones). We also emphasized the importance of kindness and compassion and how this not only benefits others, but also benefits ourselves with the way we feel and even our physical health. The district has instructed that at this point, SEE Learning is on pause, as we would like to continue this program of learning in the future. I may continue teaching some of the lessons throughout the year.
Author Visit with Susan Horne on Thursday, November 19
Exciting news! Our former instructional coach, Susan Horne has published her first children's book, The Old Fashioned Way. She will be hosting a virtual author visit on Thursday, November 19 at 1:30 pm for grades K-2. The author visit is hosted courtesy of the publisher and Little Shop of Stories. Susan will sign and personalize all purchases of the book. You may access a copy of the book order form HERE or download the pdf copy below.
Since we are virtually learning, please email drittenhouse@csdecatur.net with your completed order form and/or simply email the order information if you are unable to scan the completed order form. We will accept payment for the book when you pick it up which we will arrange at a later time. The Glennwood Media Center receives 20% of all sales. All orders are due by Monday, November 9th. Thank you in advance for supporting us, Little Shop and Susan Horne. This will be a real treat for students!
Wellness Wednesdays Update
Thank You PTA for the AWESOME Virtual Dance Party!
Last Wednesday, the 28th, marked our first ever at-home Decatur Farm to School’s (DF2S) district-wide taste test, featuring RADISHES! Did you get to participate and try CSD Nutrition Department’s lovely Garlic Roasted Radishes? If so, please be sure to answer those survey questions with the QR code! And how about those radish seeds that came with them? Both CSD and Wylde Center’s DF2S will be growing radishes, too, so make sure you plant your seeds, so we can all grow them together!
For those that didn’t get a chance to get seeds, NOT TO WORRY! The Wylde Center will have them available at their front porch. Swing by soon and get yourself a pack to grow at home!
Be sure to post your progress online and tag CSD Nutrition Dept. and DF2S, as we would love to hear from you. Happy Fall Growing!
SHOP THE DBB ONLINE AUCTION AND SUPPORT OUR BULLDOGS
The Decatur Bulldog Boosters Online Auction is NOW OPEN with lots of great items to bid on, including a Belle Isle Moonshine basket, a Chipper Jones signed baseball, Ace Hardware gift cards, 2021 Braves tickets and much more!
Bidding begins Oct. 15 at 9 a.m. and runs through Oct. 29 at 11 p.m.
Your bid will go a long way to help support 685 student-athletes, on 25 teams, representing 14 sports at Decatur High and Renfroe Middle Schools, so start bidding today at https://www.32auctions.com/Decaturbulldogs.
News from City Schools of Decatur
Teacher Workday Reminder!
Reminder: Monday, November 2nd is a teacher workday and students will not have school.
Meals: There will be no CSD meal delivery on Friday, October 30 but there will be meal deliveries on November 2.
Wellness Wednesday
While students completed their synchronous SEE Learning unit last Wednesday, October 28, Wellness Wednesday will continue through January. There will be no live classes going forward for SEE Learning but students are invited to participate in asynchronous offerings from the Wellness Wednesday website, https://www.csdecatur.net/wellnesswednesday. Individual schools may offer additional options.
Meal Service to Continue
The CSD Meal Service will continue for the foreseeable future until we hear otherwise. If you would like to sign up for the Meal service please visit our Nutrition department's webpage where you can order meals for the next week. "TakeOutSpots." Meals can be picked up at our TakeOutSpots at Decatur High School, F.AVE, and Talley Street from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
If you choose to have your meals delivered to a local bus stop, we suggest signing up for "Predictable Ryde" through the CSD Transportation Department. Link to website here: Predictable Ryde Bus Tracker App Registration. The app is free, its purpose is to provide notifications as the school bus approaches your stop for meal delivery. For the steps on how to set up your app, please visit
From Transportation: Bus registration
In anticipation of the eventual opening of in-person school, Transportation will be sending emails in November with your assigned route information and how to register for your child to ride the bus. If you intend for your student to ride the CSD bus to or from school at any time this year, please complete the registration form sent in the email from CSD's Transportation department this November. This will serve as your official CSD bus registration as well as the "Predictable Ryde" registration, once registered you will then need to set up the app which will allow you to track your child's bus.
If you have any questions, please contact the Director of Transportation, Lowanda Bowman at lbowman@csdecatur.net. Thank you.
CSD Special Ed November Virtual Meetings
Assistive Technology and How it works!
Hosted by: Yael Cohen and Frank DeFilippo
November 5, 2020
6:00pm - 7:00pm
RSVP to Cheryl Grant cgrant@csdecatur.net
Yael Cohen, Occupational Therapist and Frank DeFilippo, Special Education Coordinator will present assistive technology tools to support students in CSD.
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Navigating Employment & Social Security Benefits
Hosted by Sally Atwell
November 12, 2020
6:00pm - 7:00pm
*Target audience- parents of eighth grade & high school age students with an IEP
RSVP with Cheryl Grant cgrant@csdecatur.net
Sally Atwell, Benefits Navigator will guide families through an overview of how individuals with special needs can maintain disability benefits while working under the WIPA program (Work Incentives Planning and Assistance).
Community Work Incentive Coordinators provide information on:
- How your Social Security benefits and other State or Federal benefits would change if you were employed
- Work incentives such as Plan to Achieve Self Support, the Trial Work Period, and Impairment Related Work Expenses
- Other programs and services that can help you create a plan for successful employment.
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Understanding Evaluation and Eligibility
Presented by Vickie Wingard
November 19, 2020
6:00pm - 7:00pm
RSVP to Cheryl Grant cgrant@csdecatur.net
News from the Decatur Education Foundation
In non-pandemic years, we would be gearing up for our big fall party, Supper & Sips. Since we can't gather together in support of Decatur's kids to enjoy some delicious local food, drinks and fun games, we're launching our "Just Another Thursday Night at Home." While you won't enjoy the party and camaraderie of the Supper this year, you can still have that great feeling of fellowship by supporting our families with a gift to DEF. To participate: put on your jammies, pour yourself a beverage, get cozy on the sofa and click here
Do you have some positive support to give to a Decatur student? DEF is still seeking some adult male volunteer mentors for their AIM Scholars Mentoring Program. AIM mentors are paired with 3rd grade students and “meet” regularly throughout the year. In just 2-4 hours per month, mentors help connect their mentees with educational and enrichment activities so they can find their passions and develop life skills. For more information, please visit decatureducationfoundation.org/mentoring
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.