December 2021
Chestatee Elementary School
A Letter From Dr. Tennies, Our Principal
Dear Chestatee Community,
On Monday, November 29th we began offering more opportunities to our families at Chestatee due to the decrease in COVID cases throughout Forsyth County. Please read this message for exciting news and school guidelines.
- Parent Volunteers. Parents who coordinate with their classroom teachers will be able to come into the school and assist within the classrooms and media center. A required volunteer video will be emailed to you from your teacher when you reach out to them. A volunteer agreement must also be signed before you begin your service.
If you have questions, Meg, our Family Engagement Coordinator, can assist. mkillingsworth@forsyth.k12.ga.us
- Lunch Guests. Parents may sign up for a café table using our link.
- Click here to register.
- Click Here for Lunch Times
Please limit yourself to one date in 2021, (the next 4 weeks), as we give opportunity for everyone.
Some Guidelines for Lunch:
Meet your child in the lunchroom.
Sit at your assigned table. There are 4 chairs.
Wave goodbye from the lunchroom at the end of the period.
- Big Events. Some special events planned for the next three months.
- Our Chorus and Orchestra will be performing at Chestatee on Thursday, December 16th in the evening for a Musical Concert.
- Class parties will be held at the end of December with Room Parents only supporting the teacher running the party.
- Watch Dog Dad event coming February 1st!
- Snowflake Ball event sponsored by the PTO in January.
- Morning Routine. Students will continue to walk themselves independently to class. We encourage everyone to use the bus and car line efficiently.
- Meetings and Conferences. Parents can choose to do meetings virtually or face to face. These meetings must be scheduled with teachers in advance.
- Entering the School. Our entrance requirement is identification. If you are new to Chestatee, allow extra time for Ms. Stacey, our receptionist, to scan your license into our system before you are issued your badge. A Photo ID is required for entrance.
Kindly,
Dr. Polly Tennies
Principal
Chestatee Elementary School
770-887-2341 ext. 722004
A Safety Message from Officer Angie
Here are 3 tips from Officer Angie to keep your family safe in car line.
1. Please stay seated and in a car seat or seatbelt until your car has competely stopped.
2. Please do not hang out windows, doors, or the sunroof.
3. It is helpful when children can open their own doors.
Even a slow speed crash could be very harmful to your child and family. Thank you for your attention to safety!
Things are Bright at the T!
Brilliant Smiles from Officer Angie's Lunch Guests
Community Helper Visitors Brighten Our Days!
Role Models are Shining Bright with Positive Office Referrals
We Appreciate our Veterans and Wanted to Shine a Light on Them- Veterans Day!
Stem Students' Creations Shine!
Books Light Up Our Imaginations! Engaged Readers Here!
Costumes Brighten Our Days!
Orchestra Club is Dazzling!
Congratulations to Caroline and Ellie- They Shined a Light on their Heroes!
A Radiant Representative- Congrats to Kristin Gomez for Being Selected TOTY Semi-Finalist!
Splendid Math Strategies in Second Grade!
Danny's Donuts to Brighten East's Day and Express Our Gratitude
Radiant Smiles to Show Gratitude at the T!
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 Centered!
Congratulations to our Staff Member of the Month for November- Beth Shelton!
We are proud to announce Beth Shelton as our November Staff Member of the Month! This is Mrs. Shelton’s 20th year of teaching. She has been at Chestatee for 13 years and currently teaches kindergarten. Mrs. Shelton received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Auburn University. She has taught both general education and special education and brings great expertise in reaching all learners in her classroom.
Beth and her husband, Scott, have two children and live in the Chestatee community. Their daughter, Paige, is a freshman at East Forsyth High School, and went to Chestatee. Their son, Mason, is a second grader in Mrs. Hall’s class. Their family enjoys watching Mason play baseball and Paige cheer for the Broncos. They also love going to the beach, playing board games, and going to church at Local Church Forsyth. Beth is an Auburn graduate and proud to be a War Eagle!
Mrs. Shelton has received many nominations over the past few years. Parents have noted that she has created a fun, engaging, and challenging learning environment. They appreciate her great communication skills and her care and love for her students. We are proud to have Mrs. Shelton as one of our fantastic teachers at the T!
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?
Orchestra and Chorus Concert
Winter Party and Jammy Day
Thank you to Room Moms for helping!
First Day of Winter Break
Important Cafeteria Information
Our Communi-T-y is the BEST!
Jalynn Barr from Community Cup
DELICIOUS!
Kimber from Northwest Exterminators
KC Designs Boutique and Baskets
Partners in Ed- Faye and Rusty Tarsches from Mathnasium of Coal Mountain Support Our School!
Mathnasium Word Problems of the Month
Community Opportunities
Watch DOGS Kick OFF on Tuesday, February 1st!
Come hear about the program, register, and get signed up for a day to come to the T!
We will still have the car line option as we always love an extra hand in the mornings greeting students.
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.
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
A Few Words From our Family Engagement Coordinator
As we enter December, we begin to think about gifts. I need you to know that my greatest gift is family. When I say family, I’m considering not just my family and extended family but also our Chestatee family. The kids, the families, the staff, the community, loved ones near and dear to my heart…. Family.
As I look back at November and Family Engagement Month, I have to smile about our families. Reading together, driving our car line, practicing APTT, coming as Watchdogs, sending in items, writing words of gratitude and kindness. As we enter December, it has been so great to see families inside our school again. We have had volunteering in classrooms, visiting for lunch, and attending meetings in person!
Our Chestatee family is a true gift, and I’m thankful to be at the T and to be part of this amazing family. You make me proud, Families. Thank you for being the greatest gift to me, to your children, to our school. May you enjoy your winter break with your family and loved ones. We will look forward to what 2022 brings when we return in January.
See you soon,
Meg
Meg Killingsworth
770-887-2341 ext. 723002
The FORCE is in the Partnership! National Parent Involvement Day was a Blast!
Parent Help Videos are on Our Website!
Families In Action!
We Love Seeing Families Together or Working at Home!
APTT in action! Go Marshall Twins!
We love seeing practice!
Parents find a way to read to classes! Thanks Vicki!
The Nortons are Practicing!
Reading Together- Grace, Kandi and the Pug, Penelope!
DJ Does Extra Dreambox
Thanks to Angela for Reading Several Books!
Thanks to Adam for Sharing a Favorite!
Thanks to Lori for Reading to Hartmann's Class
Thanks to Kim for Reading to Mrs. Carley's Class!
Thanks to Stephanie for a Crowd Favorite!
Thanks to Jamie for Reading About Numbers!
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