January 2022: Happy New Year!
Chestatee Elementary School
A Letter From Dr. Tennies, Our Principal
Dear Families,
As you know, the Forsyth County School System started the 2022 school year online Thursday, January 6th and Friday, January 7th due to reported COVID data and the impact on school staffing. As the nation’s airlines shared during the holiday, sick employees influenced operational ability. We must have healthy staff to operate schools.
Teachers posted assignments for students to complete asynchronously, (in their own time,) for these two school days. Chromebooks were distributed on Wednesday, January 5th, and many families used our drive thru system to get resources to help with online learning.
It was our sincere hope that we would be able to return to face to face schooling on Monday, January 10th, and that decision was announced on Friday that we in fact can. I am very proud of the work that was completed during our online learning. Our staff worked together to prepare lessons and distribute technology. Families were supportive of their students during these learning days. We all showed the Chestatee Way, and I feel very grateful to each of you.
As we return face to face, we will be implementing the mitigation strategies that were used at the start of our school year which includes:
- Masks strongly encouraged for all students and staff
- Only essential visitors admitted to the building
- Reduced capacity in the cafeteria during lunch times
- Reduced movement throughout the building and reduced interaction between homeroom classes
As we continue to monitor our local data and prioritize good health, please continue to keep students home if:
- Students are awaiting Covid test results
- Someone in your Home is Covid Positive
- Students are presenting symptoms
For more information, please review the Forsyth County Schools Communication Page
Kindly,
Dr. Polly Tennies
Principal
Chestatee Elementary School
770-887-2341 ext. 722004
A Letter from Our Superintendent, Dr. Jeff Bearden
January 7, 2022
Dear FCS Family:
We greatly appreciate your patience and understanding this week. I am pleased to share that FCS will return for face-to face-instruction on Monday, January 10. However, please expect some isolated transportation delays, similar to what we experienced in August.
Our 41 schools will remain open this semester if we can staff them. Please be prepared to pivot if any school is unable to operate due to a shortage of staff. If this occurs, it will transition to virtual learning until we are able to adequately staff the school.
Parents/guardians, PLEASE keep sick/symptomatic children at home. Students or staff awaiting a COVID test result must stay home while waiting for the results. For further information about COVID and our procedures, please refer to our website.
We strongly encourage all staff and students to wear a mask while indoors and to social distance when feasible. Additionally, we strongly encourage individuals to wash hands frequently, keep work areas clean, and cover up coughs and sneezes.
I hope that COVID cases begin to decline this month as rapidly as they increased. Just as we did during 1st semester, we will return to normal operations once our local data shows that it is safe to do so.
Again, thank you all for your patience and understanding. Students need to be in school and we want them to be in school. I’m looking forward to a very productive and enjoyable 2nd semester.
Sincerely,
Jeff Bearden
Superintendent
Calling All Chestatee Families.... This Offer from Mathnasium is Just for You!
Calling all Chestatee families
Call Mathnasuim to learn how we can help this semester be less stressful and help build math confidence in your kids!
Coupon valid until January 31, 2022
Another Great Opportunity for FCS!
December was FULL of Festivities!
Our Chestatee Chorus Performed at the Grand Opening of FoCAL
Students Work Hard in Art
Ellie and Caroline Attended the Honoring Our Heroes Ceremony Sponsored by PTO
A Beautiful New Sensory Pathway
Congratulations to our Spelling Bee Winners- Maran and Jaxon
The Office Received Lots of Positive Office Referrals All Month Long
Our Chorus and Orchestra Performed Together
Thankful for Our One East Community and Little Mill Middle School
Car Line and Bus Line Kept Festive
The Chestatee Band Performed for Our Breakfast Crowd
We had 4 Principals for the Day Winners!
Spreading Good Cheer All Over the Building
Thankful for Officer Angie
Biggest Winner Drawing Winners
Building Community with Students
In building community, we often use the term, "Be a Buddy- Not a Bully." We were very excited to participate in our first, "Greatest Kindness Week Ever" in October to celebrate kindness at the T! The Kindness Grant funds our Buddy Benches on the playground.
Congratulations to our High Flyers Recognized for Being Capable!
Congratulations to our Staff Member of the Month for December- Amanda Schwartz!
We are proud to announce Amanda Schwartz as our December Staff Member of the Month! Mrs. Schwartz is our first teacher ever to be selected for a second time!
Mrs. Schwartz graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay with a degree in Early Childhood Education. She also received her Master's in Educational Technology from Lesley University and her Specialist's in Curriculum and Instruction from Piedmont College. She has taught 4th, 1st, and 2nd grades.
Amanda and her husband, Brad, have three children and live in the North Forsyth community. Matthew is in third grade while Tucker is in first grade like his mom. Their youngest, Evelynne, will join Chestatee next year in kindergarten! Amanda's parents, Ron and Lynne, relocated to Georgia from Wisconsin to be closer to their sweet family. However, the Schwartz family still makes lots of trips up north to visit Brad's family in Wisconsin. Amanda is a huge fan of both Alabama and the Green Bay Packers. Their family enjoys watching football, being active in their church, and staying very active through sports. Amanda is a runner and has accomplished many races!
Mrs. Schwartz has received many nominations over the years. She strives to connect and partner with every family, and parents had such kind words about Mrs. Schwartz. They love her communication and ways of keeping families updated. Parents also noted that she takes time to do extras and go over and beyond all the time. She will do whatever it takes to see students succeed, but first she loves each child. One parent summed it up with, “That is above and beyond dedication and exemplifies how much Mrs. Schwartz cares for her students. That level of care goes farther than you know.”
We are very grateful that Amanda is part of our amazing Chestatee staff. Congratulations to Mrs. Amanda Schwartz!
A big thank you to our business partners, Ultimate Auto Glass and Electronics, and Mathnasium of Coal Mountain for sponsoring our Chestatee Staff Member of the Month Program!
Teacher and Staff Member of the Month Nominations
2021-22 PTO Information!
Our PTO is a GREAT Way to Get Involved!
Our PTO board members raise money to help teachers and our school.
You can support our PTO through our fundraiser, events, and spirit wear.
There are no membership dues this year.
What's Coming Up at the T?
Science Fair January 13
MLK Day: January 17
Academic Parent Teacher Team Meetings- January 20
Academic Parent Teacher Team Meetings- January 27
Grades K, 1, 2 and specialized instruction classes will meet virtually at 6 PM.
Mid-Winter Break February 18-22
Science Night at the T! March 15
Come do science experiments with the NFHS Science Ambassadors!
Important Cafeteria Information
Our Communi-T-y is the BEST!
Browns Bridge Church
Boosterthon
Daves Creek Families and Staff
Sawnee EMC
Partners in Ed- Faye and Rusty Tarsches from Mathnasium of Coal Mountain Support Our School!
Mathnasium Word Problems of the Month
Lower Elementary:
Question: A shark eats 10 fish on Monday, 9 fish on Tuesday, 8 fish on Wednesday, and so on. If the pattern continues, how many fish does the shark eat over the course of 1 whole week?
Upper Elementary:
Question: A giant pacific octopus weighs 110 pounds. A blue-ringed octopus weighs 4 ounces. How many blue-ringed octopuses weigh the same amount as a giant pacific octopus?
Answers:
Lower Elementary:
Answer: 49 fish
Solution: The pattern is that the shark eats one fewer fish each day. So, since there are 7 days in a week, the shark eats 10 + 9 + 8 + 7 + 6 + 5 + 4 = 49 fish.
Upper Elementary:
Answer: 440 blue-ringed octopuses
Solution: A pound is 16 ounces, so it takes 16 ÷ 4 = 4 blue-ringed octopuses to make up a pound. So, 4 × 110 = 440 blue-ringed octopuses weigh the same as a 110-pound giant pacific octopus.
Community Opportunities
Watch DOGS Kick OFF- Postponed!
We have 2 options for WDs:
Carline Help:
Wear a WD shirt (we have one to borrow if needed), and help on car line by smiling, greeting kids, and helping them get out of the car.
We have high hopes of this option returning this spring!
Spend the Day:
Wear a WD shirt. We'll have a schedule for you to follow helping students around the school. Enjoy lunch with your child, recess time, car or bus line, and helping small groups of students in classrooms.
Signup for the day.... Coming Soon
Questions? Contact Meg Killingsworth
770-887-2341 ext. 723002
A Few Words From our Family Engagement Coordinator
Dear Chestatee Families,
Happy New Year! I hope your 2022 is off to a good start. We are so excited to be back from winter break and can’t wait to begin a new semester back at the T! The semester started differently than expected, and our staff is grateful to be coming back face to face. We loved seeing families back in December, and we are hopeful that visitors will be back soon for lunch, helping in classrooms, and end of year activities.
Over these past few weeks, I have looked back at the major lessons I have learned through virtual learning. I like to call these lessons, “The 3 P’s" for Plan, Pivot, and Progress.
Plan: I have always been a planner. When things do not go as planned, there are times that I have been frazzled. If you know me well, you might know I don’t like being frazzled. So, over the past few years, I have learned to make a “Plan B.” Plan B is what do I do if…. It started when my girls were babies, and their sitter couldn’t work. I came up with a Plan B with my neighbor and mom. They assured me that they could help me in that case. I now have a Plan B….If my kids are sick, if my kids get quarantined, if there’s more online learning days. I have a plan for me to keep working when things happen. Luckily, my mom is available, my husband can work from home, and I have trustworthy neighbors that I can call. A Plan B helps me sleep better!
Pivot: Shifting to virtual learning was a surprise to me. We all saw our staff pivot and make a quick, calculated shift in how we would reach students. We have really gotten great at pivoting in the past two years. As we get further into the winter months, we may need to pivot again. Right now, we will go day by day and pivot as needed.
Progress: 2 years ago, when we went virtual, it threw us all for a loop. Teachers had to learn quickly how to use a computer program to teach kids all day long. Parents had to learn quickly how to manage their own children as their teacher. It was hard and very tiring, but it is amazing to see how much we learned through that trying time. Look at the progress we have all made! Students find the technology easy- even our youngest students! Parents have learned how to navigate the program and help support learning at home. Teachers have perfected how to teach virtually and stay connected to students over a computer screen. We have come so far and made so much progress!
The 3 P’s…We’ve come a long way, Chestatee! I’m thankful for all we have done together. I can’t wait to see you!
See you soon,
Meg
Meg Killingsworth
770-887-2341 ext. 723002
The FORCE is in the Partnership Between Home and School!
Parent Help Videos are on Our Website!
Families In Action!
We Love Seeing Families Together or Working at Home!
Sophia and Bryn learn together after donuts!
The Brundidge kids start with waffles!
McKinley gets help from Murphy!
Zeke is loving learning!
Mom and Addison work side by side!
Owen oversees Blake's work.
Liam cuddles up on the couch.
Liam and Finn really are working in there!
The Schwartz family is getting it done together.
Kayden was happy to work in his favorite hat and comfy clothes!
Auvin and Mattie help their little sis, Grace!
A 25 for the Adkins Kids Earns Ice Cream!
Virtual PE for Celeste and Griffin
PJs and a neck pillow make learning better for Hayden!
REMEMBER THE MOMENTS BIG and SMALL!
From the best friend, to the teacher who inspired your child beyond belief, these years are theirs to live.
Don't Forget....
Box Tops/ Soup Labels
The procedure will be changing in the near future (we will keep you posted!)
For now, keep filling out your Box Top Sheets and turn them in to Ms. Donna in the front office.
Kroger and Publix will donate money too...
Publix Partners with Chestatee also. You only need to put your phone number in as you checkout. Publix will donate a certain percentage of their profits to Chestatee from your purchase!
We love our Partners in Education!
Chestatee Elementary School
Email: chestateees@gmail.com
Website: http://www.forsyth.k12.ga.us/site/default.aspx?domainid=260
Location: 6945 Keith Bridge Road, Gainesville, GA, United States
Phone: 770-887-2341
Facebook: facebook.com/ChestateeES
Twitter: @chestateees