News from the Nest
Evansdale Weekly Newsletter - December 16th Edition
Please Take the Updated STEM Survey
Parents,
Please take a few minutes to complete our brief STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) survey. If you did this a few weeks ago, we ask that you take this updated survey as there have been a few small changes. We are looking for people that have careers in STEM fields, had careers in STEM related fields, have hobbies related to STEM, or people that simply want to help in our classrooms as the students work through STEM challenges. Also, if you have friends or other family members that would be willing to help us out, please pass this survey along to them. Thank you.
Link to survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1NI5GQdDmvLyGb1i4yqUh1YA-OhKwol7Bb0oSeyO9OFQ/edit
Mrs. Chattman's Marshmallow Reading Challenge...
Mrs. Chattman is challenging all Evansdale Eagles to read at least 280 minutes (average of 20 minutes/day) over the Winter Break. Every time a student reads (or you read with him/her) for 20 minutes, he/she can put a mini marshmallow* in a ziploc bag. Ideally, he/she should have at least 14 marshmallows in a bag by the end of the break. All students need to return their bags to their teachers on January 5th. The class with the most marshmallows will win a hot chocolate party with Mrs. Chattman in January. Look for a flyer in your student's couriers next week.
*Students may use real marshmallows, cotton balls, or paper marshmallows for this challenge
Holiday Class Parties
Chess Club Winter Session
This winter session will resume on January 6th and end on February 10. It is important to let your child know these chess club dates.
Thanks
Coach Rodney
Do You See What We See?
A Night at the Apollo
Parents and Students,
On February 28, 2017 Evansdale will be celebrating Black History Month with an amazing program. The theme is "A Night at the Apollo". If you would like your student to participate in the program, please return the form that is going home in the courier today by no later than Tuesday, December 20th.
A Musical Note from Ms. Luhrs....
Dear Parents/Guardians and Students,
Thank you to everyone who attended A Night of Music on Monday, December 12th. Mr. Walden, Mr. MacNamara, and myself were very pleased with the turnout and were proud of our students' performances. We loved playing our holiday favorites with you and hope you enjoyed it as well! Thank you again for supporting the music program here at Evansdale.
Sincerely,
Ms. Luhrs
Jackets and Coats and Hats...Oh My!
Severe Weather Conditions Procedures &Communications Plan
The safety of students, personnel, and volunteers is paramount to Evansdale Elementary School during times of severe weather conditions. Emergency protocols have been established by DCSD and distributed throughout all schools within DeKalb. If there is a sudden severe weather alert, such as a tornado warning, students and teachers will assume the safety positions within the designated areas of the school.
Parents: Steps to take so you are informed during such emergencies:
- Tune to local news broadcasts to receive the most current information about changing weather conditions.
- Sign up for the Remind text alerts from Mrs. Chattman today. Do it before a weather emergency hits.
- Download the DeKalb County School District Mobile App from your smart phone. This will give you updated information from the County in an expedient manner. Be sure to go into the app and follow Evansdale Elementary School.
- Monitor the DCSD website - www.dekalbschoolsga.org for the latest information about weather conditions, school closings, early or late dismissal times, extra-curricular activities, and any other timely information.
- PTA may also send out information via text and/or social media.
- Parents may call the front office and/or attendance office with questions, however, communication may be limited in order to keep all personnel safe within the building. The telephone number of the front office is (678) 874-2702.
In the event of extreme and sudden weather conditions, students and staff will shelter in place and the school offices will be closed for check-out until an "All Clear" is given by the Central Office of the DeKalb County School District. Once the severe weather alert is over, the principal or designee will send out a text message through the Remind system to inform parents of the "All Clear" and the restoration of normal operating procedures. Please do not try to come to the school to check your child(ren) out during these times.
Sagamore Hills Elementary Math Tournament
Coming Soon....Jump Rope for Heart
Lakeside High School Foundation 5K This Saturday
DCSD Announces New Newsletter - TrustED
Be sure to sign up for the TrustED Newsletter from DCSD. This mobile friendly e-newsletter is coming soon and will include top stories and must-know information about the DeKalb County School District. Don't miss out on Communications You Can Trust! Click on this link to sign up today.
http://dekalbschoolsga.us14.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=97086bb4e88e475bb0ee1cb33&id=2f6b8d5883
Lakeside Cluster Summit News
Hello Lakeside Cluster Summit participants—
Our next Lakeside Cluster Summit meeting will be Thursday February 2nd at 6:30pm at Evansdale Elementary School. On Monday night, the School Board approved the SPLOST V project list which includes a major addition at Lakeside High School, multi-million dollar renovations at Henderson Mill Elementary School and Hawthorne Elementary School and smaller improvements to Evansdale, Briarlake, Henderson Middle, Oak Grove, and Sagamore. Pleasantdale Elementary is still in process for the construction of a new building under SPLOST IV. Details can be found here:
I believe our advocacy as a cluster was significant in ensuring that multiple schools in our cluster were on that list.
When the Lakeside Cluster Summit formed in January 2016, we decided to focus on two goals for the year: (1) advocating for our cluster under the SPACES initiative that formed the basis for the SPLOST V project list, and (2) increasing inclusivity and tolerance in our diverse cluster. For 2017, we will continue to focus on Diversity and Tolerance under Laura Morse’s leadership, and while we will monitor the SPLOST V progress, we are now in the position of selecting a new priority. Thank you to Henderson Mill Elementary School principal Mitch Green for successfully leading the SPACES subcommittee.
The following is a list of potential areas of focus that we created at previous Lakeside Cluster Summit meetings. Please review this list and think about what topic we should make our next priority.
· Budgeting for the Cluster
· Reaching out to the Spanish speaking community
· Avoid competition within the cluster
· Capacity and growth
· Infrastructure—roads, sidewalks, parking
· Long term planning
· Academics
o ensuring students enter the next school level prepared (review data on subgroups of each school population)
o Reduce fear about Henderson among elementary school families
o AP scores
o CCRPI scores
o Graduation rates
o Other indicators
· Grant money for cluster wide efforts
· 65% budget to go to school house
· Region 2 coordination
· Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (currently used at Henderson Mill and other schoolshttps://www.pbis.org/ )
At our February 2nd meeting, we will discuss a new priority for the Lakeside Cluster Summit. If you have additional ideas to add to the above list, please let me know.
Also at our February 2nd meeting, we will select a Vice Chairperson for the Lakeside Cluster Summit. My daughter will be graduating from Lakeside this spring, and we want to plan for leadership to continue the efforts of the Lakeside Cluster Summit next school year. Ideally, the next leader will have a child in either Lakeside High School or Henderson Middle School in order to have experienced our cluster coming together in one schoolhouse, but the most important thing is to have someone who is committed to the future of all of the students in our cluster. If you would like to serve as the Vice Chairperson of the Cluster Summit and then become the Chairperson for 2017-18, or if you would like to nominate someone to this role, please contact me.
One final item: Henderson Mill Elementary School is hosting a 12 week Parent School Partnership Program in Spanish beginning January 10th. Please share this information with your school communities—all parents/guardians from the Lakeside cluster are welcomed to participate and learn new strategies to ensure their child’s success.
Please let me know if you would like me to add anyone to this email list or if you would like to be removed from the distribution list.
I hope everyone has a happy and safe holiday season. I am looking forward to our cluster continuing to work together in 2017.
Randy Faigin David
404-210-9647
12/21 Class Parties, 1-2 p.m.
12/21 Last Day of First Semester
01/05 First Day of Second Semester
01/09 Fifth Grade Field Trip - Civil Rights Museum (new date for 12/15 trip)
01/12 First Semester Honors Day
01/18 Kindergarten Round Up
01/21 Sagamore Hills ES Math Tournament, 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.