• Promoting reading and encouraging a lifelong appreciation of books
• Providing access to a variety of materials and technology leading the community to information literacy
• Creating authentic and diverse learning experiences through collaboration and planning that will increase student achievement goals and support the school improvement plan

Kindergarten students will practice checking out books next week and will check out to the classroom first. After a few weeks, once they learn this responsibility well, they will begin taking library books home.

Parents may also sign up to be library patrons and check out up to five books at a time. If you are interested in becoming a patron, please email: Anne Dishman, our media clerk at adishman@csdecatur.net to sign up, and she will give you more information.

NEW THIS YEAR! We are once again able to open the library for after-school hours. Students are welcome to visit and check out books after school when accompanied by a parent/caregiver on Tuesdays and Thursdays until 3:30 pm.

In your child's folder last week, you received information about participating in the Birthday Book Program fundraiser for the media center. This is a special way to honor your child on their birthday and also help the library grow its collection of books. Forms and payment are by Friday, August 25. Thank you for supporting the Glennwood Media Center!

We have almost completed our second week of school! There is already some illness circulating, so please review good hygiene habits and handwashing with your children at home. We encourage healthy habits at school, but it helps to have it reinforced at home as well.

When will I receive a call from the school nurse?

I know getting a call from me during the day is not ideal, but rest assured, I want to keep the kids at school as much as you do. Not all calls mean you have to pick up your child. I will not call on minor bumps and skin abrasions, bug bites or short visits to the clinic for stomach aches or cold symptoms. I will always call you when your child has a major head bump or facial abrasions, however many times they do not need to go home. In addition, sometimes for our little ones, just hearing mom or dad’s voice is the TLC that is needed to make it through the day.

When will I need to pick up my child from school due to illness?

• Fever at or greater than 100.0

• Vomiting x 2

• Diarrhea x 2

• Eye that appears bacterial, yellow crusting, oozing

• Coughing, sneezing, runny nose that affects the child’s ability to focus in class/disruptful cough

• Stomach ache that is not resolved with rest or bathroom and effects child’s ability to remain in class.

• Sprain or strain and child will not bear weight.

• Head bump accompanied with loss of consciousness, nausea/vomiting &/or headache.

• Laceration that needs to be assessed for sutures

If a child is sent home in the middle of the day with fever, vomiting, diarrhea, they cannot return to school the next day. Remember, 24 hours fever and symptom free!!!

** A parent reminder: If you tell your child that you will pick them up if they don’t feel well, 9 times out of 10, you will receive a call within the first 2 hours of the school day!!

When is my child too sick for school?

Is it just a cold or is your child too sick for school? Here are a few parameters on when you should keep your child home. If a child is sent home in the middle of the day with fever, vomiting, diarrhea, they cannot return to school the next day. Remember, 24 hours fever and symptom-free without fever-reducing medication!!!

1. Temp at or greater than 100: Fevers are a common symptom of viral or bacterial infection. Children are likely to be contagious to others when they have a fever. Keep child home until they are fever free (without meds) for 24 hours.

2. Stomach Pain: Vomiting or diarrhea, keep at home until symptom-free for 24 hours. No other visible symptoms: a child may be hungry, ate too fast, nervous about school or just wanting to stay home. A bathroom trip might be in order also. Consult a medical provider and do not send a child to school with a stomach ache that is persistent or severe enough to limit activity.

3. Cold/coughing: A child with mild symptoms, no fever and otherwise feeling well may be fine at school. A child with heavy cold symptoms such as deep or uncontrollable coughing or a significant lack of energy belongs at home even without a fever.

4. FLU: A child with flu-like illness (fever and cough) must stay home from school for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever or signs of a fever, without the use of fever-reducing medications. Children are one of the biggest sources for spreading the flu.

5. Sore Throat: a child with a mild sore throat, no fever and otherwise feeling well may be fine to attend school. Keep a child home and contact a medical provider for a severe sore throat and if white spots are seen in the back of the throat, with or without a fever.

6. Pink Eye: Conjunctivitis is a common infectious disease of one of both eyes caused by several types of bacteria and viruses. If a child’s eye is red, irritated and has copious drainage the child should be kept at home until seen by a medical provider & return to school with or without treatment depending on the diagnosis. Bacterial conjunctivitis requires prescription medication and the child must be treated for 24 hours before returning to school.

7. Strep Throat: If your child is diagnosed with Strep Throat, they must be kept home until antibiotic treatment has started.

When do I have to notify the school due to illness?

Please notify the school if your child has been diagnosed with strep throat, chickenpox, scarlet fever, Covid19, lice or any other contagious illness. It is very helpful if you notify the school nurse (ebarrington@csdecatur.net) in addition to the teacher and school manager (mreynolds@csdecatur.net).

What about medications?

All medications must come to the clinic in their original container. Over the counter medications need to be new and unopened when you bring them in. Prescription medications need the pharmacy label attached. A medication form needs to be filled out for any medication, even over-the-counter (OTC) meds, to be given at school. Prescription medications require the prescriber's signature while OTC medications can be signed by the guardian. Prescribed or over-the-counter medications brought in baggies, in unmarked containers or that are expired can not be given.

We do not provide OTC meds. We do not provide COUGH DROPS!

What if my student needs a special action plan?

If your child has any medical action plan, ie: food allergy, seizure, diabetes, asthma, etc., a new action plan, signed by the physician, is required each school year. Please send in updated action plans asap.

Immunizations: If your child is currently up-to-date on their childhood vaccines, you do not have to send in any forms to me. If your child is not currently up to date on vaccines, is on a delayed schedule or has an out-of-state immunization record, please reach out to me and I can assist you. Students are required to have current immunization records or notarized immunization exemptions (GA form 2208) to be enrolled in GA public schools. Of note, COVID vaccines are not considered required childhood vaccines for school enrollment.

Vision, Hearing and Dental Forms (3300): Any student that is new to the school district in the state of Georgia must have a 3300 form on record. This form assesses vision, hearing, dental and nutrition. This can be done at the pediatrician’s office or the health department. If you need any assistance with this, please let me know.

For any health-related questions or concerns, please contact Nurse Beth at 404-370-4435 or ebarrington@csdecatur.net.

Decatur Education Foundation Grant Process Opens

FOR CSD STAFF, PRINCIPALS & TEACHERS —

Decatur Education Foundation Announces Teacher Innovation Grants and Student Innovation Grants

The Decatur Education Foundation is excited to invite you to apply for a Teacher Innovation Grant for the 2023-2024 school year! DEF's Teacher Innovation Grants are designed to support teachers in the City Schools of Decatur by providing funds for innovative educational experiences. And for the first time ever, we’re offering students the opportunity to apply too! Student Innovation Grants give students a voice in their education and encourage them to explore creative solutions to problems and challenges.

Awards for our Innovation Grants range from $200 to $3,000. The application deadline is August 31, 2023, and the grant awards will be announced on September 14, 2023. For more information and to apply, visit:

https://bit.ly/DEFTeacherInnovationGrants

https://bit.ly/DEFStudentInnovationGrants

FOR CSD STUDENTS & FAMILIES —

Decatur Education Foundation Announces Teacher Innovation Grants and Student Innovation Grants

The Decatur Education Foundation is excited to announce that applications are open for our Teacher Innovation Grants and — for the first time ever — Student Innovation Grants! These grants are designed to support teachers and students in the City Schools of Decatur by providing funds for innovative educational experiences. Awards for our Innovation Grants range from $200 to $3,000. The application deadline is August 31, 2023, and the grant awards will be announced on September 14, 2023.

Last year, we awarded over $35,000 in Teacher Innovation Grants, and this year we want to double it! For more information and to support DEF’s Innovation Grants, visit DecaturEducationFoundation.org. To apply for a Student Innovation Grant, visit: https://bit.ly/DEFStudentInnovationGrants.

The Wylde Center Decatur Farm to School Mini-Grants Now Available

Do you have plans for a new garden or class project? Fantastic ideas on how to incorporate farm-to-school principles into a teaching unit? Or maybe you need funds for a "green" field trip?

The Wylde Center Decatur Farm to School Committee invites you to apply for a grant for 2023-24. Teachers, administrators, PTA members, and parent volunteers can apply on behalf of their CSD school. Please get your applications in before September 22, 2023.