Talley Street Update

The lost and found is OVERFLOWING! If your student is missing clothing, hats, headbands, lunchboxes, or water bottles, please check the lost and found. Everything left after TOMORROW (Friday, October 6) will be donated!

Roger Cannon will be here on October 11th & 12th to take student pictures.

5th grade- Wednesday, October 11th.

3rd & 4th grade- Thursday, October 12th.

Make-ups/Retakes- TBA

Please look out for an email on how to purchase your favorite pose!

• Latin American Festival: Friday, October 13 from 5-7 PM
  
• Homecoming Spirit Week: October 16-20
• 3rd Grade Family Movie Night: Friday, October 20 at 5:30
• Talley Trivia Night: Thursday, October 26 at 5
• School-Wide Pink-Out Day: Monday, October 30
• Family STEM Night: Thursday, November 16 from 5-7:30
• Early Release Dates: Dismissal at 12:15 on these Wednesdays: October 25, November 29, December 20, January 31, February 2, March 27, April 24
• Talley Rally: All Talley Rally dates as they stand currently can be found on the school calendar

There is a wonderful community based opportunity for you and your family to qualify for free technology through compudopt! In addition to computers, they offer tech education to youth and adults! Checkout their website for more information and to apply for your free technology.

Hello Talley families and caregivers! Let me introduce myself as the new Spanish teacher: Ms. Wollin! I am very excited to start some language fun with your students! I am planning a fun weather game for the 10/17-10/14 rotation of the Talley 6-day schedule, and so I am asking a favor. If you can, please send your students to school with the following clothing items for the day they have Spanish during the 10/17-10/14 rotation. If you have extra to donate for other students, please put them in the Spanish clothing donation box in the lobby on or before 10/17. If this is not possible, your student will still be able to fully participate. Thank you so much and I look forward to getting to know your family!

Food Tasting Event

On October 10 during the school day, students will have the opportunity to try foods from Latin American countries!

Sign Up - Donate Food

Sign Up - Volunteer at the Event

Latin American Festival

Mark your calendars - Talley's Latin American festival is coming up on Friday, October 13, from 5-7 PM!

Student Presenter Sign-Up Form

Spirit Week is October 16-20!

See below for more information about our 3rd grade family movie night on October 20!

Check your student's folder for a chance to attend our fun family Trivia Night! Everyone can participate-questions will be for both adults and kids! Come help support activities like the first day of school bash! We can't wait to see you! If you need another flyer to register, you can find one here!

We are thrilled to announce Talley's First Annual Family STEM Night! With a generous donation by the Decatur Education Fund, we are looking forward to having an AMAZING group of STEM experts join us as well as interactive family sessions where you can learn and build with your child. You will also take home activities that can be done as a family. We need volunteers, so sign up by clicking on the image below!

• READING RALLY: is just around the corner (Oct 13-19). This is the PTO’s big fall fundraiser, and this year’s theme is “Fall in Love With Reading.” We are kicking off with a recess book swap (on 10-13) so every student can take home a new-to-them book. Donate any of your gently-used books suitable for 2nd-6th grade reading levels to the donation box in Talley’s lobby until October 6th, and save the date for this week-long fundraiser. We also need volunteers to help at the book swap. Then come visit the Reading Rally table during the DAC’s Latin America Festival event on Friday, October 13 from 5-7pm at Talley. Join us for fun and free activities—enjoy cider and snacks, Mad Libs, temporary tattoos, and fall crafts kick off this fall fundraiser and literacy drive.

• WALK N ROLL: This Friday the 6th is October’s WNR. 10 house points to the house with the most walkers and rollers. Free coffee from Banjo Coffee.
• CSD DIWALI: Come celebrate Diwali on Saturday 10/28, 5-7pm at Oakhurst Elementary. RSVP Here! Volunteer Here! NaanStop will have a special Diwali meal to preorder soon. Questions: contact soumya.dunworth@gmail.com

• DEI SPEAKER SERIES: The PTO's DEI committee presents: "The 6 Myths - Ways White Folks Avoid Race." This workshop aims to help all of us deepen our understanding of race and racism. It will also strengthen our commitment to making our community a better place.The program will meet monthly and combines short readings and videos for individual and group reflection. Facilitated by Talley Street parent and educator, Charlie Copp. Community Reflections (Zoom): Oct 19, Nov 9, Dec 7 from 8-9pm.To participate, fill out this Google Form. Email questions for Charlie Copp to charlesdcopp@gmail.com

• TREAT (Tigers Relieving Educators at Talley): Sign ups are open here. If you were not able to attend the training on 9-26, feel free to reach out to TREAT coordinator Alaree Malone (treat@talleypto.org) for the info.
• GARDEN COMMITTEE: needs volunteers for a special work session on Oct. 21 from 9a-12p. They will be assembling a greenhouse and redoing the ground cover and pollinator beds. Please bring shovels and wheelbarrows if you have them. 3 House points for students who come to help. The garden also needs your leaves. If you have bags of leaves only, please reach out to jendhowe@hotmail.com and she will come pick them up.
• SPIRIT WEAR: It’s starting to get cool outside! Make sure to order your House sweatshirts (and other Talley tees) to stay warm.

• YEARBOOK PRESALES are open! Secure yours at the early bird rate of $20 until Dec 31. On January 1, the price rises to $25. Don't miss out! Order at yearbookordercenter.com with code 25231

Stay up to date with all PTO events and news by following us on Instagram and Facebook and becoming a member on our PTO website.

Meeting schedules will be adjusted and publicized monthly

DECATUR -- The City Schools of Decatur Board of Education has announced the board meeting schedule for Tuesday, October 10. Meeting times will adjust each month according to the length of the agenda and published monthly in compliance with the Georgia Open Meetings Act.

In August, the board announced the decision to hold earlier meeting times, aligning with the board's strategic goals of ensuring organizational effectiveness and efficiency. Except for the executive session, all meetings will continue to be live-streamed and open to the public.

The October 10, 2023, board meeting schedule is as follows:

Executive Session: 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Prework Session: 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Work Session: 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Board Meeting: 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Public Comment: 6:30 p.m. – 6:50 p.m.

The following agenda items will be discussed:

• 2025-26 Calendar

• Legislative Priorities

• Policies: Visitors to Schools, Controversial Issues, and Grading Systems

• Beginning 2023-24 Assessment Data Update

• Dyslexia Awareness Month Presentation

• Dr. Whitaker’s 90-Day Plan

• Board Salary and Benefits

• Cybersecurity Presentation

In our continuing efforts to support the well-being of all students, City Schools of Decatur (CSD) will administer a universal screener of social, emotional & behavioral health. CSD adopted the BASC-3 BESS as the universal screener for behavior and administered the screener to grades 3, 6, and 9 as a test pilot during the spring of 2023. Students in the same grades will take the student self-report of the screener at their school during the fall and spring administration dates. The Fall administration of the BASC-3 BESS opens on October 9th and will remain open through October 27th.

Parents of students in grades 3, 6, and 9 who do NOT wish for their students to participate in the screener should complete and submit the Opt-Out form by Sunday, October 8, 2023. To learn more, access the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). School counselors are available via email to respond to additional questions.

Planning is underway to progressively add grade levels each year into the annual administration plan until all students in grades 3-12 have an opportunity to take the BASC-3 BESS. It is our hope that this proactive approach toward student well-being helps to ensure that early screening and intentional support aligned to the needs of our students will make a difference in their overall academic, emotional, social, and life success.

Join the Decatur High School Varsity and JV Cheerleaders during Homecoming Week for a mini-camp for all students in grades K-5. For more information (including how to register), see the flyer linked below!

The Lady Bulldogs Basketball Program will be hosting a one day camp as a fundraiser October 28th, from 9am-noon at DHS Gym for the upcoming season. Come out and learn some skills, drills, and have some fun! If you all could share this information with your students and parents, this would be greatly appreciated.

Did you know that more than 50 families in the City Schools of Decatur are experiencing homelessness and financial instability? The burden of being temporarily unhoused or food insecure can be overwhelming, particularly for young people. This is where the Decatur Education Foundation’s Lighten the Load program steps in, offering hope, support, and opportunities to those students who need it most.

DEF collaborates closely with City Schools of Decatur social workers, McKinney-Vento administrators, counselors at the Beacon Hill Middle School and Decatur High School student centers, and the Decatur Housing Authority. Together, we provide a comprehensive range of support services. Through the Lighten the Load program, we ensure students have access to snacks during the school day and weekend food packs, guaranteeing that hunger is not a barrier to learning. We provide students with clothing, toiletries, and essential personal items to boost their self-esteem and confidence. And for families facing immediate crises, we offer emergency assistance to provide a safety net during tough times.

Your support can truly make all the difference. With your generous contributions, you have the power to keep a child in school, provide nutritious meals, and offer a safe and secure place to sleep at night. You can join this life-changing mission by contributing to the Lighten the Load program at www.decatureducationfoundation.org/donate.

A Season of Giving is a neighbor led organization which helps purchase gifts directly for local children and seniors!

To apply for assistance, please complete an online application at https://aseasonofgiving.org/child-application/ by November 4th.

**NEW** Applications may be submitted for any child ages infant through 12th grade!

If you are not in need of assistance, please consider supporting our efforts. To become a donor for A Season of Giving, complete the form at https://aseasonofgiving.org/sponsor/. To volunteer, complete the form at https://aseasonofgiving.org/volunteer/.

Get ready, get ready! Fun Hoops Basketball Club is now at First Camp After-School Proogram located at 308 CLAIREMONT AVE DECATUR GA 30030.

Fun Hoops Basketball Club is a weekly basketball class held on Wednesdays. This class will help you get better in the game of Basketball while having fun. It's for ages 5-11 (boys and girls). Scan QR code or use link below!

https://forms.gle/YqvJx4a6hXnwPyjB7

You can find more information on the following Facebook pages:

Talley Street Principal

Talley Street Upper Elementary School PTO

Talley Street Upper Elementary School Parents

Talley Street Artists

Talley Street PE

And these Instagrams:

@talleytigergram

@talleystemstagram

@talleystreetgarden

@TalleyPTO

For news from our counselors, check out their website:

Counseling Website

For more about the Talley Street PTO, visit their website here: https://talleypto.org/.