Hello Families,

Chestatee was honored as a Distinguished Level PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports) School in the state of Georgia last month. This definitely was a great moment for our school, and the staff who strive to teach expectations and work together for a safe, connected school environment. Earning this award involves performing on multiple assessments, tracking data and seeing progress while making gains with daily management. We are one of the first schools to win the award in Forsyth. I am proud of the positive climate our school radiates.

Sharing expectations with students while keeping our environment positive is important. Our foundation for great learning takes place when students feel safe and connected. Our Teacher Leadership Team has done an incredible job in supporting PBIS throughout the school. Bravo Bucks are a tangible sign that students are showing the Chestatee Way. Responsible, Respectful, Problem Solvers are soaring within our halls. Chestatee will be recognized at the Board of Education meeting on December 13th for the great work with PBIS in the Superior Spotlight. If you would like to learn more about PBIS at the T, please use this link: HERE.

Stay tuned for photos of our Big Winter Raffle winners. Students can enter the raffle with a purchase of a ticket with their Bravo Bucks.

Together we are Chestatee!

Kindly,

Dr. Polly Tennies

Principal

Chestatee Elementary

• Please remember to send in your child’s excuse within 5 days.
• Families can send up to 10 notes from home for absences before doctor notes are required.
• On email excuses to the teacher, it’s easy to add Ms. Stacey (Sholbrook@forsyth.k12.ga.us) to make sure she gets the excuse.
• Any time you go to see the doctor, please ask for a school excuse. If you forget, contact the doctor and ask them to email or fax the excuse. Fax: 770-781-2281.
• Georgia law requires the school to send attendance letters after 5 or more unexcused absences.
• Any time you check your child in/ out on Checkmate, the absence will be unexcused. Please provide a medical excuse if you'd like the absence excused.

Click Here for Details!

Our Eaglebots Robotics team had their first competition. One team went to the finals while another won a design award. We were so proud!

You may be wondering what a High Flyer Ceremony is! This is our first ceremony in two years!

Each month, we will recognize 2 students from each class who have done an amazing job exhibiting the Chestatee Way! Students will receive a special invitation for their families. We will meet in the cafeteria together. We love celebrating the positives in students! We have had these virtually the last two years and are so excited to invite families this week.

Amila used Bravo Bucks to purchase the "Fire Marshal Experience" from our school store. She got to wear pull the alarm and run the drill for November! Thanks, Amila!

Before the basketball game, our chorus sang the National Anthem at Little Mill Middle School. What an honor to sing, and what a fantastic performance. Thanks to Mrs. Roper for leading this group!

Mr. Walker shadowed Dr. Tennies and got to visit our beautiful school.

We are proud to announce Julie Davis, as our November Staff Member of the Month! Our Principal of the Day, Drew Walker, joined Dr. Tennies to congratulate Mrs. Davis today.

This is Mrs. Davis’ fifth year teaching kindergarten in Forsyth County but her first year here at Chestatee. She has previously taught 2nd grade and GA Pre-K. Mrs. Davis received her bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education and Special Education with a reading endorsement. She was very excited to come to Chestatee this year!

Julie and her husband, Russ, have three boys: Jacob, Isaac, and Eli. Their youngest, Eli, is a Chestatee Eagle with his mom! The Davis Family live in North Forsyth and enjoy time with friends and family. You’ll often catch them outside and on their way to deer camp or watching their son, Jacob, play lacrosse. Julie is crafty and loves working on projects. She has a cricket and crochets making hats and blankets.

Julie is known for her calm and patient demeanor. She has received several nominations this year already. One parent stated that she loves the way that Mrs. Davis helps her child feel safe, loved, and understood. Her team loves her contributions and ideas. Our staff loves the way her smile lights up the room.

We are very grateful that Julie is a part of our amazing Chestatee staff. Congratulations to Julie Davis!

A big thank you to our PTO and Mathnasium of Coal Mountain for sponsoring our Chestatee Staff Member of the Month Program!

Do you want to recognize and celebrate the exemplary teaching and contributions by Chestatee Elementary teachers and staff? Click here to write a nomination.

December 7 - Spelling Bee

December 8- MOD Pizza PTO Spirit Night

December 9- 80th day of school/ students and staff are invited to dress in 80s gear.

December 19- Chestatee Chorus and Orchestra Concert

December 20- Snow Much Fun Day and Science Assembly

December 21- Winter break begins

December 26- PTO Spirit Night at Stars and Strikes 4-8:00 PM

January 5- Students return from Winter Break

Winter Party Schedule

12/14 - 1st Grade Class Party 12:30

12/14 - Specialized Instruction Party 9:00

12/15 - 2nd Grade Class Party 12:30

12/15 - 4th Grade Class Party 10:30

12/16 - 5th Grade Class Party 8:30

12/16 - 3rd Grade Class Party 10:45

12/16 - Kinder Class Party 12:30

Families are welcome! All visitors will need to be cleared by our Raptor Security System. Please bring a photo ID. We will send out Pre-registration links next week to speed up the check-in process.

Our PTO board members raise money to help teachers and our school.

You can support our PTO through our fundraisers, Spirit Nights, events, and spirit wear.

There are no membership dues this year.

Contact our PTO at chestateeelementarypto@yahoo.com any time!

Families reported that they'd love to participate in activities that we could raise some money for the school through meals or fun activities as a family! PTO appreciated that feedback! Say hello to Spirit Nights and CFA Biscuit Tuesdays! We've got lots of fun planned for the year! Our first Spirit Nights were fun and successful! Thanks to Mod Pizza, Launch in Dawsonville, Grapevines, Stars and Strikes, Chick-fil-A and Chipotle!

Mod gave us a check for $372 from the last Spirit Night! Thank you for families for ordering Mod to help our school!

December 26 4:00-8:00- 15% of sales will come back to the school!

We will be installing our second Gaga Pit and adding concrete and turf to the original one with Boosterthon funds! Thank YOU, Families!

Dear Families,

It is difficult to make those early morning decisions as to whether a child is too sick for school. Please use this to help when you are making the decision to stay home or not.

The main reasons for keeping your child at home are as follows:

• If he/she is too sick to be comfortable at school
• If he/she will spread a contagious illness/disease to another child

A child should stay at home:

• If there has been any fever(100.4 or higher) in the last 24 hours.
• If vomiting and /or diarrhea has occurred within the last 24 hours
• If a child has a frequent, persistent cough.
• If a child has a persistent pain (stomach, ear, etc.)
• If an antibiotic was prescribed, the student must be on the antibiotic for 24 hours or longer if directed by a physician before returning to school.
• Bacterial pink eye (red or pink watery eyes that may have white or yellow discharge
• Ring worm (may return after 24 hours of treatment and area must be covered with a bandage while in school until area is resolved).
• Chicken pox (must stay home until all lesions have crusted over
• Wide spread rash
• If influenza, staph infection, communicable childhood disease, illness or organism has been medially diagnosed by a physician, please alert your student's teacher.

Remember: Students must be fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications before returning to school. Students must also be vomiting and diarrhea free for 24 hours before returning to school.

Let me know as you have questions,

Nurse Kristen

Ext. 722151

We couldn't have done it without all the volunteers! We so appreciate all the help on this project!

Ashleigh Ronan took on November and Veterans Day. Stephanie Schroeder painted the Thanksgiving Message. We LOVE seeing the different designs! AMAZING!

Thanks again, Stephanie! We have a bulletin board to show exciting events coming up each month! It's so colorful and eye catching!

From funding for projects to clothing, books, and clinic supplies.... we so appreciate all that the members of Browns Bridge Church are doing for the Be Rich Campaign and #Give Love Serve!

Thanks to Clint for the Home Depot tool box kits! Students learned how to use sandpaper and hammers.

Teachers love special treats! Coffee, hot chocolate, cold soda, desserts, breakfast, lunch, chocolate.... ANYTHING out of the ordinary.... Thank you to the group of volunteers who set up a hot cocoa bar on the Friday before Thanksgiving break. Our staff loved it and felt spoiled!

Email Meg if you are interested in getting a group together to bring a treat!

Calling all male role models! Watchdog Dads are welcome at the T!

There are two ways to help:

#1- 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.

Carline Signup

#2-Wear a WD shirt and spend the day with us! You'll visit the carline, the school news, your child's class, Pathways classes, lunch and recess. You'll be busy and tired at the end of the day!

WD Signup for the Day

Click here for all the information!

Questions? Contact Meg Killingsworth

770-887-2341 ext. 723002

Email Meg

Dear Chestatee Families,

You make me proud, Families! November was Family Engagement Month, and you really shined! It was so amazing to look at all the ways that our folks are involved! You do so much at Chestatee, and it shows in our school, the kids' happiness, and academic success.

Someone once told me that one of the greatest ways to show your love is through your time. Kids often spell love- T-I-M-E. If you haven't had a chance to see this video, please take a look. It shows just one week of family engagement at the T. And that's what I caught. Research shows that most family engagement takes place at home. Reading with your child, helping with homework, asking about the day, reinforcing behavior. Can you imagine how long our video would go if we included everything? Take a look!

Is that not amazing? We have THE BEST FAMILIES!

December will be a busy month, and it will go by quickly. If I could give you a gift, I would give you 2 pieces of advice.

In all the busyness, try to do 2 things. Give some special time to your child each day this month- even if it's only a few minutes. Everyone needs some special attention, and it usually will come back tenfold! My Kate still likes to cuddle every night. She is in fifth grade, and I know that cuddle time is coming to an end soon. So when she says she's ready to cuddle, I make it happen. The other thing I'd say is to remember your self care. A wise lady once told me not to feel guilty for taking some time for me. I felt badly when I left my girls because I worked and left them to go to my job each day. But taking care of others is exhausting and I needed some time away. I finally got into the habit of getting my nails done and taking naps when I need them. I'm better mom when I do! Whether it's taking a nap, exercising, hair, nails, going out, quiet time, or whatever you need, take some time for you. You'll be better for it! You're a gift. Happy holidays and may you enjoy this busy season.

See you soon!

Meg

Meg Killingsworth

Family Engagement Coordinator

770-887-2341 ext 723002

mkillingsworth@forsyth.k12.ga.us

We collect Box Tops to raise money for our school.

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.

If you ask to connect your Kroger Plus card to Chestatee Elementary, they will donate a certain percentage of the profits to our school. You can find out more about how to do this if you CLICK HERE.

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!

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