Talley Street Update
May 19, 2022
Dear Talley Street Community,
I want to continue to give you some information about the 2022-2023 school year. Talley is very excited to be transitioning to a House System next year! At the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year, students and staff will be randomly sorted into six houses representing different character traits: Giving, Friendship, Courage, Kindness, Unity and Dreamers. The House System is a unique and creative cross-age group approach to building a community that will strengthen the social and academic lives of students. It will work hand-in-hand with the current PBIS expectations that are already in place at Talley. Traditionally, schools are split up into grades and students never interact with older or younger peers. In a House, students are able to interact with peers from other grade levels. Houses provide students with a culture of belonging. Throughout the year, each student’s personal accomplishments are rewarded with points that collectively count toward their House. This gives students an opportunity to be recognized and thanked by their peers daily for their individual contributions to the overall team. And that culture of belonging goes beyond just the students! Parents are encouraged to become a part of their child’s House too! We look forward to building a lasting program at Talley that will benefit students for years to come. More detailed information including a "House Handbook" will be available at the beginning of the school year. You can find more information about this program from the school we are modeling our system after, the Ron Clark Academy at the website below: https://ronclarkacademy.com/houses/. #1Talley6Houses
Many of you received the news yesterday that the in-person talent show has been canceled. This decision was not made lightly. I know our students and staff are very disappointed. The cases of COVID have been increasing rapidly since last week. We want to protect our students and staff and also have a successful last week of school. Our 5th grade class has their “Moving Up” ceremony next week. They are the first group of students to go through all three years at Talley. I do not want to do anything that could cause problems for the ceremony and we want all of our 5th grade students to be healthy and to attend. Our entire school community is exhausted dealing with the COVID pandemic. There have been so many disappointments over the last couple of years. Sadly, the talent show is one of them. Though some decisions are not popular and cause parents to be upset, please know that in every decision I make, I do what is best for all of our students and staff. If you have any concerns, you are welcome to reach out to Ms. Parks to schedule a time to meet with me to discuss. As always, I appreciate your continued support of Talley Street Upper Elementary School.
Billy
Summer reading is upon us!
Please contact Mrs. Long (along@csdecatur.net) if you have any questions!
Information for Rising 6th Grade Families
Puberty and Hygiene Lesson
Attention 5th Grade Families: Moving Forth Ceremony
Please join us in honoring our 5th Grade Talley Tigers as they move on to middle school in a Moving Forth Ceremony in our gym!
Friday, May 27th
- 8:30-9:30 - Moving Forth Ceremony: Sanders, Fredette, Block, Brown, Camirand, Benzin
- 10:00-11:00 - Moving Forth Ceremony: Friedrich, Girard, Farley, Kramer, Thompson, Young, Speyer, Primack
*Parking will be limited so please consider walking or carpooling.
Rising 6th Graders with 504 Plans
Hi Parents of Students with 504 plans!
Many of you are probably wondering what those plans will look like and/or the process in 6th grade. For rising 6th grade students with 504 plans, the process at Beacon Hill (Renfroe) is as follows:
- All teachers, including connections, receive 504 accommodation plans for the students they teach during pre-planning. Accommodations are in place for day 1 of school.
- During September, you will receive a 504 plan review notice, unless it's re-eligibility time. We need a solid 6 weeks to get to know our new Bulldogs and to determine if existing accommodations are appropriate at the middle school.
- During the Sept/Oct 504 Review meeting, the team will make any necessary changes to the 504 plan keeping sharp focus on addressing the impairment and major life activities affected as noted on the plan. You don't need any new paperwork, etc. We are only looking at accommodations, not eligibility.
We can't wait to meet our new 6th graders!
Dr. Guenthner
Beacon Hill 504 Coordinator/MTSS Lead
RMS Band Registration
CSD Updates
Tripod Survey
As mentioned in the Friday Follow-Up, we invite you to share your input to help us improve our efforts to make CSD a more inclusive and equitable school district. The Tripod DEI survey is designed to capture perceptions of how diversity, equity, and inclusion issues play out in school. Specifically, the survey measures perceptions of 1) school commitment to DEI, 2) school climate in general and specific to DEI, 3) integration of DEI into classroom and co-curricular activities, 4) everyday discrimination, and 5) meaningful interactions between social identity groups. Complete the survey here. If you have any questions, contact Dr. Lillie Huddleston (lhuddleston@csdecatur.net).
Extra Mile Award
Students: Do you know a teacher or CSD employee who has gone “the extra mile” this year? Nominate them for the CSD Extra Mile Award! The Extra Mile Award is an annual award that allows students to show their appreciation for the teachers or staff they feel go above and beyond what is expected of them.
Students (not parents) at any grade level can write an essay describing how their teacher (or staff member) goes the extra mile (parents can help younger children write the essay). The essays should be detailed and describe how the employee goes above and beyond.
Click here to submit a nomination. Students can also find the form any time via LaunchPad (it’s the purple icon labeled “Extra Mile Award nomination”). The deadline is May 25.
These awards will be presented at the CSD Opening Day Celebration in July.
Questions? Contact cburnett@csdecatur.net or 404-371-3601
Talley Updates
Talley Garden Volunteers
Talley Garden is looking for volunteers next year. We are looking for people that can help one day a week during lunch time (11-1) to help maintain and teach the students that are interested in helping in garden. We are happy to have experience gardeners, but welcome those who want to learn. We are a pretty low-key group that just enjoys getting our hands dirty. If this sounds like fun, please email Jen Serwitz; jendhowe@hotmail.com.
Talley Parents - We Need Your Help!
After-School Activities
Join the Coaching Team at Talley Street as a MENTOR for girls in 3rd-5th grade!
We need coaches!
We cannot have ANY teams at Talley if we do not have enough coaches.
We are in need of volunteer IN PERSON coaches for next season! Coaches are MENTORS who help inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum (provided by Girls on the Run), which creatively integrates running. At Girls on the Run we inspire girls to recognize their inner strength and celebrate what makes them one of a kind. It is NOT required to be a runner, athlete, or identify as female to be a coach! We cannot have any teams at Talley if we do not have enough volunteers to coach. Please consider joining our coaching team next season! Here is what you can expect:
Fill out a coaches application and complete a background check
Attend a virtual training session AND an in person training session with GOTR Atlanta
Attend a virtual pre-season Talley Coaches Meeting
Commit to 1-2 days a week of coaching (Mon/Wed or Tues/Thurs from 2:30-4:00) during the season
Support your fellow co-coaches, take turns leading lessons based on the detailed GOTR Curriculum you will be provided
This program has proven to have a positive impact on the girls who participate. Be prepared for it to have a positive impact on you, too!
Fall 2022 Dates
Dates for the Fall Season are TBD
The season typically lasts 10 weeks and we do not practice when there is no school.
Please reach out to Natalie Bundschu at nbundschu@csdecatur.net if you or anyone you know is interested in coaching this season. We would love to have as many coaches as possible and are happy to work with your availability. If possible, we would especially love coaches who could commit to coming back to coach once or twice a year for future seasons.
Join the GOTR Team at Talley Street!
Join our IN-PERSON teams at Talley Street! Girls on the Run inspires girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum, which creatively integrates running. At Girls on the Run we inspire girls to recognize their inner strength and celebrate what makes them one of a kind. Trained coaches lead small teams through our research-based curricula which includes dynamic discussions, activities and running games. Over the course of the ten-week program, girls in 3rd-5th grade develop essential skills to help them navigate their worlds and establish a lifetime appreciation for health and fitness. The program culminates with girls positively impacting their communities through a service project and being physically and emotionally prepared to complete a celebratory 5K event.
Interested in participating? Registration is OPEN NOW
Questions? Email nbundschu@csdecatur.net or contact info@girlsontherunatlanta.org
Girls on the Run Site Information
Talley Street Upper Elementary School
Two days a week after school until 2:30-4:00 (Mondays/Wednesdays or Tuesdays/Thursdays)
Register Online: Girlsontherunatlanta.org
Paper application available upon request
Space is limited
GOTR uses an income-based sliding scale so that every girl who wants to participate can. Registration fee is available on a sliding scale from $10 to $185.
Includes GOTR lessons, journal, water bottle, 2 t-shirts and 5k registration.
Spring 2022 Registration
Lottery Closes Aug. 30th
Practice Begins Week of Sep. 12th
End-of-Season 5K Dec. 3rd
Last Week of Programs Dec. 5th
We do not practice when there is no school.
*You can register anytime during the registration period. Team participants selected by the computer will receive an automated e-mail stating they are on the team. Girls who are not placed on the initial team will be placed on a waiting list and will receive an email from GOTR.
PTO Corner
Spirit Night TONIGHT!
The last Spirit Night of the 2021-2022 school year will be held at Raging Burrito this Thursday (today), May 19th from 5 PM to 9 PM. It should be a great night to enjoy dinner and drinks on the patio!
Be sure to let your server know that you are dining out with the Talley Upper Elementary PTO and we will receive a percentage of sales (dine in or carry out only).
Thanks so much for your support of the PTO this year!
Safe Routes to School
SAVE THE DATE!
Our LAST Walk N' Roll is FRIDAY, MAY 20!
For more info, go to talleypto.org/safe-routes-to-school
2022-2023 Talley PTO Board Election Ballot
Talley’s PTO is pleased to share the candidates on the slate for the 2022-23 Board.
Please take a moment to VOTE. Please select a candidate or the "Other" option to write-in a candidate. Last day to submit your votes is May 23rd.
If you have any questions or would like more information on each candidate, please reach out to nomination@talleypto.org.
Thank you for your support!
Snack Cart
Please help us show appreciation to Talley’s wonderful Staff! This is a great way to say a big Thank You for all their hard work this school year 2021-2022.
We would like to remind you that our 5th Grade families are kindly asked to sponsor the Snack Cart for the month of May. The Snack Cart will roll *every Friday for the month of May. (*Please, drop off all Snack Cart items, labeled and at school no later than Thursday, the week Snack Cart rolls.*)
Attention: Also if you haven't been able to sign up for the Snack Cart, but would like to before the school year ends, we welcome you to participate no matter which grade your child is.
**Everything must be INDIVIDUALLY WRAPPED.**
Thank you very much for your support!
Questions? Please reach out to 5th Grade Member at Large Tiffani Edney: atlarge5th@Talleypto.org
Yearbook
We would like to remind you that the 2021-22 Talley Yearbook is for sale at the PTO website! The price is $15. Please visit our website at: https://talleypto.org/product-category/yearbook/
If you prefer not to use the website and pay with check or cash, please contact yearbook@talleypto.org to make payment arrangements.
Talley's Staff Lounge Amazon Wishlist
If you are looking for ways to show Talley Teachers and Staff appreciation for all their hard work, please consider this Amazon Wish List. Thank you for all your support!
Community Updates
Decatur Farm to School
Do you have plans for a new garden or class project? You're full of fantastic ideas on how to incorporate farm-to-school principles into a teaching unit? Need funds for a "green" field trip?
The Wylde Center Decatur Farm to School Committee invites you to apply for a grant for 2022/23. Teachers, administrators, PTA members, and parent volunteers can apply on behalf of their CSD school. Please get your applications in before August 31, 2022. (Link here and on the Wylde Center website > Education > Farm to School)
2022-2023 DF2S School Grant Application
Decatur Education Foundation
The WINNERS of our DEF Treasure Hunt have been chosen! Congratulations to hunting groups “Cat Squad” and “The Two and Only People who say buy” who represent Winnona Park and F.AVE respectively. The winners have been emailed about collecting their prizes.
Only ONE more week of school! It’s not too late to express your appreciation for a teacher or CSD staff member with a Step Up tribute: Go to www.stepupforteachers.com, make a $25 contribution and you can leave a tribute message for your favorite CSD employee. DEF will notify the honored person. For $50 you can honor two CSD staff members AND have a yard sign delivered to your Decatur address. Do you have a graduating senior? We also have Class of 2022 yard signs to celebrate your DHS senior’s rite of passage. Your contributions support Teacher Innovation Grants and provide an encouraging boost that our teachers need to finish the school year! (If a contribution is a barrier, please email your tribute and request to drew@decatureducationfoundation.org.)
Social Media and Contact Information
Social Media and Contact Information
You can find more information on the following Facebook pages:
Talley Street Upper Elementary School PTO
Talley Street Upper Elementary School Parents
Follow the media center on Twitter:
For news from our counselors, check out their website:
For more about the Talley Street PTO, visit their website here: https://talleypto.org/