Eagle Edition
April 15, 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
April 16
Virtual Community Circle
LINKS students hosting
April 19
SLT Meeting at 4:00 pm
April 19-23
STAR/STAR EL Testing
April 23
Virtual Community Circle
Kindergarten Hosting
April 26-30
Teacher Appreciation Week
(Sponsored by GL PTA)
May 4-5
MAP Testing for IP Learners K/1 Math
May 6-7
MAP Testing for IP Learners 2nd/Reading & Math
May 10-14
Spring Book Fair with Little Shop of Stories
Wednesday, May 12
MAP Make-Up Testing for IP Learners
Where Learning Takes Flight
April Design Principle: Collaboration and Competition
"Have no friends not equal to yourself."
~Confucius
Hello Glennwood Families!
We are so excited to welcome more students back with us this week and for the rest of the year! Our in-person and virtual students and staff are doing such incredible work. It is hard to believe that we are almost at the end of the school year!
We are already beginning to plan for the next school year. With that in mind, I would like to ask for parent/guardian feedback to help us with class placement for next year for our K-2 students. You know your child well and we welcome your input as we think about what environment best suits your child’s learning style. We spend a lot of time creating balanced, thoughtful class lists and I want to include you in that process as your voice is important to us. Please do not request a specific teacher but share some general thoughts with us! This is for our rising K-2 students who will remain with us at Glennwood next year. This form is due by Friday, April 23 and it is optional but very important. We want to do our best to ensure a good fit for your child!
For in-person families:
Because we have an influx of car riders, some of whom are new to Glennwood and our procedures, I want to review some important safety measures we have in place:
* Please wait at the top of the hill until instructed to drive down to the drop-off/pick-up lane.
* If at all possible, please have your child exit the car on the right side. It helps our staff ensure the students safely get to the sidewalk and up the stairs.
* Please DO NOT pull out around cars/bus in front of you unless a staff member indicates that it is safe to do so. We have placed cones in the center lane. This is for the safety of our students and staff.
* In the morning, if you arrive LATER than 8:20, please park your car and walk your child to the front door of the school to be buzzed in.
* In the afternoon, if you arrive LATER than 12:05, please park your car and go to the front door of the school to pick up your child.
Please watch this important video for a refresher on some of our procedures for in-person students and families! (I have shared this before!)
Warmest Regards,
Dr. Brookins
Principal
This week, I finished the Think First & Stay Safe Child Lures' Safety Lessons in all grades. I also taught a lesson in Kindergarten on bullying using the kid's book, The Band-Aid Chicken by Becky Rangel Henton. The kids really enjoy the story of a chicken who gets pecked-on when she first comes to the farm. She must make the decision whether to continue the pecking order when another new chicken arrives the following day or to stand up against the behavior. We discussed the 4 types of bullying behavior and the difference between bullying vs. conflict. Kids learned what it takes to stand up to bullying as well as some of the challenges to being an upstander.
Next week, I will begin a unit with 3 lessons in all the grades utilizing our EL Education Habits of Scholarship. The first lesson will be on collaboration, followed by lessons on perseverance and craftsmanship. More information will follow!
Staff Spotlight - Sara Jones
Hello! My name is Sara Jones, and I am a first grade teacher. This is my 8th year teaching elementary school and my first year teaching at Glennwood. My past teaching experiences include kindergarten, first grade, second grade and intensive reading.
I grew up in Florida and love going back to visit my family, the beach and Disney World. I have education degrees from the University of Central Florida and the University of South Florida. I began my teaching career in Port Richey, Florida and moved to the Atlanta area in 2011.
I live in Avondale Estates with my husband and two children. My son is in 5th grade and my daughter is in Pre-K. Our household also consists of our dog, Blue, and our rabbits, Rosie and Oreo. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, traveling and trying new recipes.
Want to learn more about EL Education? Here are some short videos with lots of great information! EL is an important part of what we do at Glennwood!
Videos:
PTA Seeking Board Member Nominations for 2021-2022 School Year
We are currently accepting nominations for the PTA Board Position for the Glennwood PTA for 2021-2022 school year. The board meets once a month (the schedule is flexible) and supports the school through social events, fundraising, and providing outreach/support to our teachers and staff. The PTA is a fun way to be involved at Glennwood! No experience necessary! Please consider serving. The deadline for next year's PTA Board to be elected by the school body is April 30, 2021.
Currently, the following positions are available:
-Secretary of Communications
-Fundraising Chair
The PTA has put together an informational video about the board and what each position entails. We hope you'll take a look here: https://vimeo.com/525010205
If you're interested in serving on the PTA Board next school year or would like more information about any of the positions, please contact Haley Stevens at haleycstevens@gmail.com or president@glennwoodpta.org
Save the Date: Glennwood Staff Appreciation Week April 26th-30th:
The Glennwood Staff Appreciation Week will take place April 26th-30th. We hope you will join us in showering our staff with our gratitude! Details will be shared through the room parent communications, so please be on the lookout for information regarding how you can participate.
Next School Leadership Team Meeting: April 19th, 4:00 pm
Link: meet.google.com/gee-qeja-epr or Join by phone (US) +1 504-702-6584 PIN: 300 835 666#
Agenda
- Review action items
- Public comment
- PTA update
- Update on next wave of in-person return to school
- Second grade "moving up" ceremony ideas - in conjunction with PTA
- Discussion of the article: Kindness Isn't Enough (https://www.learningforjustice.org/magazine/fall-2019/teaching-kindness-isnt-enough)
READY FOR DELICIOUS TAKE OUT? Wednesday, April 21st will be Decatur Farm to School’s Spring Take Out! Order from participating restaurants during their open hours and a portion of your order total will go to DF2S! Proceeds from the Spring Take Out support our DHS student summer internships, Decatur kitchen staff training, conference scholarships for students and teachers, taste tests, and school gardens - just to name a few. Give yourself a break, eat a delicious meal, and support a fabulous cause!
Special Needs Reimbursement Opportunity from State of Georgia
2021-2022 K-12th Grade New Student Registration - CSD Enrollment Process
Step One: Gather your supporting documentation.
Information about the required documents is available on the Required Registration Documentation page. Parents/guardians will be required to scan and upload documents in step 2. Please ensure the documents you upload are in PDF format (although single-page documents can be submitted as a JPEG or PNG file). Before uploading any documents, please ensure the document text is legible.
Step Two: Complete the CSD online registration form. (If you see a login page, please close the browser and re-attempt link.)
Step Three: Email enroll@csdecatur.net. Please send the following information in the email:
- Application number- This number is found in the top right corner of your application. Please write this number down when you begin your application because you will not see it once you submit your application.
- Your child’s name
- Your name
Once this information is received and all required documents have been uploaded, you will receive a confirmation email regarding your child’s enrollment.
Additional Information
Please note: Falsification of any information or document required for residency verification or the use of an address of another person without actually residing there may result in the following:
- Revocation of student enrollment;
- Being held liable to reimburse the district for expenses incurred to educate the student(s); and
- Criminal or civil action for fraud, intentional or negligent misrepresentation, and any other actions allowed by law.
Students currently attending a CSD school are automatically enrolled for the next school year and do not need to go through the registration process. Parents will be asked to verify residency when their student enters kindergarten, 3rd grade, 6th grade, and 9th grade.
Step Up for Teachers!
It's that time of year again -- time to Step Up for Teachers! And what a year it's been. Show your favorite teacher just how much you appreciate their hard work during this unprecedented school year with a loving tribute. Just go to www.stepupforteachers.com make a $25 donation and leave your tribute. We'll notify the honored teacher or CSD staff member and deliver a "We Step Up for Teachers" yard sign to your door in the coming weeks. The Step Up campaign supports our teachers in the classroom through Teacher Innovation Grants. Let's show them some love! Together, we make a difference for #ourschools, #ourteachers, and #ourkids. As a special gift from DEF to our DHS seniors, we are giving every member of the senior class of 2021 a “Congratulations Class of 2021” yard sign. It’s a little something to brighten a lackluster final year of high school. Details about sign pick-up are coming soon.
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.