Falcon Flyer

Important Events & Dates from F.AVE

January 9, 2025

In this Issue

Ms. Hanson's Notes

Inclement Weather Information
Chromebook Distribution Information
Grades Available in Parent Portal
School Climate Survey
5th Grade Wahsega Field Trip Information
Upcoming Events at a Glance

F.AVE News

GR8 Reads Book Club Sign Up for January - Mock Newbery month
Library Game Hawker Podcast - S2, Ep.10 - 5th grader Ameli
Young GA Authors Competition

F.AVE PTO News

F.AVE PTO Meeting - Wednesday, January 15 at 6:30 PM

CSD News

Run with the Dogs 5K

Scroll down to learn more!

Ms. Hanson's Notes

Happy 2025! CSD has canceled school on Friday due to the impending winter storm. Be safe, and also have some fun out there. Get out early to play in the snow. The forecast looks like the precipitation may change to freezing rain later in the day.

If schools are closed Monday due to power outages, icy roads or other situations, we are sending home a reading and math activity for students to complete.

If schools remain closed past Monday, we are sending home Chromebooks, chargers and a Quick Card with a QR code today that directs students to the CSD Launchpad (all students are familiar with this). This information is also available in an announcement in your parent portal. Students will be able to access Google Classroom, Freckle and other CSD platforms. Teachers will reach out to families to let them know availability online for both a morning and afternoon session. We understand that power outages or connectivity issues may affect your ability to access online learning. We will be flexible with our expectations and do our best to accommodate any challenges that families may face. If you need help or are having issues with the chromebook, please click here for troubleshooting tips.

All Chromebooks and chargers should be brought back to school the day we return.

Another activity to consider is to have your child enter the 2024-2025 Young Georgia Authors (YGA) Writing Competition. See the blurb below for details. The deadline for submissions is January 17.

GRADES

We’re excited to share that your child’s report card for the first semester will be available for review today at 4 p.m. You can access it through the Parent Portal.

This is a valuable opportunity to celebrate your child’s accomplishments and identify areas where they can grow. If you have any questions or concerns about their progress, please feel free to reach out to their teacher.

Thank you for your continued support in your child’s education!

CSD Closed on Friday, January 10 Due to Severe Weather

CSD has continued to monitor the weather due to the potential of severe weather conditions. The safety of our staff and students is always our top priority. After consultation with local and state officials and the National Weather Service, CSD schools and buildings, including ECLC and the Frasier Center, will be closed tomorrow, Friday, January 10, 2025. All athletic and after-school activities for Friday and Saturday are canceled.

Out of an abundance of caution in case of a continued closure on or beyond Monday, January 13, students in grades K-5 and Adapted Curriculum classes will be sent home with work packets and a CSD Chromebook for an independent learning day. Grades 6-12 will continue to take Chromebooks and chargers home to access Google Classroom for assigned work.

Staff and families should continue to check email, the CSD website, and social media channels for updates.

School Climate Survey

F.AVE will take the new Georgia School Climate Survey this year. Each parent or guardian is invited to take the family version to answer questions about the current school or schools you have a child or children attending. If two or more children attend the same school, please only complete one survey for that school.

The survey measures what you think about how the school engages with families. Answers are not linked to names in any way. When typing answers, please do not give names or information that you don’t want to share with this school. Data will be shared with school leaders to help improve the school and will be published on the GaDOE website.

Please help by sharing your honest opinion on this 22-question survey. To take the survey, please click this link.

For more information about the surveys, please review this presentation from the Georgia Department of Education.

5th Grade Wahsega Field Trip

5th Grade Parents,

Your child's teacher is sending home the information and forms for our overnight 5th grade field trip to Wahsega. Please return your forms and payment to your child's teacher by Friday, January 24.

TRIP A: MARCH 5-6: Vickery, Wise, Terry, R. Stewart
TRIP B: MARCH 6-7: H. Stewart, C. Williams, DiGiacomo, Miller

Upcoming Events At a Glance

January

January 14 & 16: 3rd Grade Field Trip to Fernbank

January 16: Annual MLK/CSK Awards Ceremony

Monday, January 20: MLK Holiday

January 21 & 23: 5th Grade Field Trip to Fernbank

Wednesday, January 22: Early Release, dismissal at 12:15

F.AVE News

GR8 Reads Book Club Sign Up

Click the flyer below to sign up for our January 15 GR8 Reads book club! It is our Mock Newbery month, and we will be reading books that experts think might with the 2025 Newbery Medal, awarded at the end of January. If you would like to preview the choices, click here.

F.AVE Library Game Hawker Podcast - New Episode!

5th grader Amelie tells us all about the exciting adventure fantasy book The Crooked Sixpence, by Jennifer Bell, the first book in the UnCommoners series. Listen to hear about uncommon objects, lost memories, and a city beneath a city. Click the graphic below to listen!

Podcast Graphic Season 2 Episode 10 The Crooked Sixpence The UnCommoners by Amelie

Young Georgia Authors Writing Competition

The Young Georgia Authors Writing Competition is a yearly state-wide writing competition open to any student enrolled in a Georgia public school, grades K-12. Participation is completely voluntary for students, but we hope to get many quality entries! Please contact jbroman-fulks@csdecatur.net with any questions. Happy writing!

Here are a few guidelines to help you through the process:

any genre is allowed (short story, poetry, essay/literary criticism/analysis, journalism, academic/research reports, personal narratives, any other original student writing)
writing piece must be created by the student without the help of others
entries do not have to be work completed for a class assignment
1900-word maximum length
individuals only, no group entries
can be typed or legibly hand-written on only one side of the paper
writing pieces should be turned in to homeroom teachers or shared with jbroman-fulks@csdecatur.net by Tuesday, January 14 - be sure student's name and homeroom teacher are clearly written or typed on writing piece
one winner will be chosen per grade level by a team of scorers to represent CSD at the regional competition

F.AVE PTO News

PTO Meeting - In Person

Wednesday, January 15 at 6:30 in F.AVE Media Center

CSD News

Run With the Dogs 5K Is Back!

Run With the Dogs 5K and Pup Trot, presented by Green Orthodontics, is a 21-year tradition supporting Decaturs Bulldog Boosters. In addition to being a Peachtree Road Race qualifier and a great community event, all proceeds support 19 sports programs at DHS and BHMS, which include 57 teams and over 1,100 student athletes.

Grab your friends and your pups and join this fun event on January 25 to support an amazing cause. All 5K and Pup Trot participants who register before Saturday, January 11 will receive our iconic long-sleeved t-shirt designed by artist (and Decatur lacrosse coach) Adam Pinsley. Register early for the best rates!