Talley Street Update

This week's news from Talley Street Upper Elementary

August 29, 2024

Reminder: CSD Weekly to Distribute Talley Street Update, Beginning September 5

Beginning Thursday, September 5, 2024, the Talley Street Update will come via CSD Weekly from the City Schools of Decatur email. Parents will automatically receive CSD Weekly. However, community subscribers who have opted out of CSD news will only receive future school newsletters by subscribing here and selecting to receive news from “City Schools of Decatur.”

CSD Weekly includes links to all school newsletters and provides the latest district news, enabling families with students at multiple schools to conveniently access updates using one source. Additionally, CSD Weekly aims to improve consistency in messaging about district and community news by communicating it in a centralized location.

Important Upcoming Dates

CogAT Testing Begins (3rd Grade Only): September 5
Walk n Roll: September 6
Spirit Week: September 9-13
PTO Meeting: September 11 @ 6 p.m.
Family Trivia Night: September 19 @ 5:30 p.m.
Early Release: September 20 @ 12:15 p.m.
Fall Break: September 23-27
Field Day: October 11

Congratulations to Amy Hoying!

Amy has been elected to serve a two-year term on Talley Street's SLT. Thank you to all the parents who submitted their names for the election! Talley Street's next SLT meeting is September 16th at 4:30.

Afterschool Clubs, Meetings, and Programs - UPDATE ON PUP

If your child is registered for an afterschool meeting, club or program such as YLOE, House Leader Meetings, Chorus, Orchestra, Reading Bowl, Afterschool Tutoring, GENTS, etc. (some of these clubs start later in the year) PLEASE enter their dismissal plans in Pick Up Patrol! Registering for the club is not a dismissal plan. For example, even though your child may be registered for Chorus, they may have to take the bus immediately after school to make an appointment on time. Please email jsanangelo@csdecatur.net for any questions.

School Picture Day

Picture day will be on September 17 and 18! See below for each class's assigned date.

3rd Grade CogAT Testing Starts September 5

From September 4-6, all 3rd-grade students will be taking the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT). Unlike traditional achievement tests, which measure how well a student has learned the curriculum, the CogAT assesses a child’s ability to reason abstractly and recognize patterns and relationships in the world around them. Teachers can use CogAT scores to better understand a child’s pattern of strengths and weaknesses. Our school district also uses CogAT scores to identify academically gifted students.

Girls on the Run: COACHES NEEDED!

Hello Tally Family! We are in desperate need for coaches on both M/W and T/Th for Girls on the Run. We cannot have ANY teams at Talley if we do not get more volunteers to sign up for 1-2 days a week. Please see this site for details on becoming a coach and complete the application ASAP if you are able to help us out this season. The application deadline is August 30th! Practices are M/W or T/Th from 2:30-4:00 between September 16 and December 10. We NEED you!

Important Information about Gifted Review

Each fall semester the gifted review team looks at existing student data to discuss students’ needs and determine if further evaluation for gifted identification is needed. If you are interested in having the team discuss your child’s needs, you may complete a Recommendation for Review Form (found at the website below) and turn it into the Gifted & Talented Specialist at your child’s school before Wednesday, October 2. No additional information is needed. The Gifted & Talented Specialists for Talley Street Upper Elementary are Lindsey Combs, Nicole Fiber, and Ashley Forman. For more detailed information about the review process and to obtain a copy of the Recommendation for Review Form, please contact the Gifted & Talented Specialists for your school at lindsey.combs@csdecatur.net, nfiber@csdecatur.net, or aforman@csdecatur.net or visit the following website: https://www.csdecatur.net/Page/581.

Field Day: Call for Volunteers!

Talley Street Upper Elementary Field Day is approaching!

October 11, 2024 - All Grade Levels

We need your help to make field day a success, and the kids love to see you there. There will be a PLAYGROUND/BLACKTOP/GYM segment and a BACK FIELD segment for all grade levels. Students will travel with their homeroom teacher and an assisting teacher, and we just need your help to run the stations.

Schedules and links are posted below. Click on the grade level to be directed to the SignUpGenius. Feel free to email any questions to Coach Jeffferson (tjefferson@csdecatur.net) or Coach Johns (njohns@csdecatur.net).

5th Grade Schedule and Volunteer Link

8:30-10:40 a.m. - Back Field
12:30-1:40 p.m. - Playground, blacktop, gym

4th Grade Schedule and Volunteer Link

8:30-10:40 a.m. - Playground, blacktop, gym
10:30-11:40 a.m. - Back Field

3rd Grade Schedule and Volunteer Link

10:30-11:40 a.m. - Playground, blacktop, gym
12:30-1:40 p.m. - Back Field

2024-2025 Reading Bowl

Calling all 5th graders! Are you an avid reader? Do you like competition? If so, please consider becoming part of this competitive reading club. There will be an information meeting on September 5th, 2:30-3:30 p.m.. If you are interested, you may take a look at the titles that we will be reading this school year here. You do NOT need to read them prior to our first meeting. All reading will begin after our first meeting in September and should be completed by October 31st. Hope to see you there!

Reading Bowl Interest Form

Thanks to all of you who have donated to our Annual Donation Drive, as it comes to a close we are thrilled to report that we raised $5,075!

Here’s a peek at what’s coming up in September:

Our spiritwear online store is now live! Place orders anytime for backpack delivery: talleypto.org/store
Spirit Night: The PTO’s first spirit night (dine out) of the year is coming up on September 18th. Eat out at Bad Daddy’s burger bar and Talley gets 15% back.
Ongoing: Don’t forget to link your shopping cards for Publix and Kroger to Talley to help us with passive fundraising. Even aunts, uncles, grandparents, and neighbors can do it! Check out all the details here: talleypto.org/passive-fundraising

Teacher Gift Fund Collection Begins Today!

At Talley, we believe in the importance of recognizing and appreciating our dedicated teachers throughout the school year. To ensure every classroom teacher receives equitable gifts from our parent community, Talley’s room parent coordinators - independent of the PTO - organize an annual collection of funds from parents in September (8-29 to 9-28). This initiative is designed to simplify the gift-giving process and ensure fairness across all classrooms. This year, the room parent coordinators leading this effort are Ellen Narain, Gina Townsend, and Yara Haddad.

These funds are not handled by the PTO, nor are they donations to the PTO; however, the PTO does provide advertising support and accountability. The funds collected go directly to the teachers, with no transaction or other fees, so 100% of your contribution benefits them.

Last year, parents generously contributed $19,139, allowing us to give each teacher $410 at key moments like holidays, birthdays, Teacher Appreciation Week, and year-end. This year, we’re aiming to raise $20,000 to continue this tradition!

Contribute directly through Ellen’s PayPal Fundraiser and help us show our teachers how much we appreciate them: bit.ly/Teacherfund24

Please reach out to Ellen, Gina, and Yara with any questions: ellennarain@gmail.com.

Follow Us on Social Media!

Help Your School Win a $1000 Music Grant!

Attend DEF's Battle of the Bands, a family-friendly community concert, and you could help your school win a $1000 music grant! Head to the Legacy Park lawn on Friday, Sept. 6 from 5-9 p.m. for a fun evening of live music, yummy food, and community! Four CSD bands will be bringing the tunes – you BYOB (bring your own blanket) and your school spirit! The school with the largest percentage of representation will win the music grant for their school... along with a trophy and bragging rights, of course! We’ll have food vendors and sweet treats to supplement your picnic. Adults are $10 and KIDS ARE FREE! Buy tickets here.

*If cost is an issue, please email Drew@DecaturEducationFoundation.org.