Talley Street Update

This week's news from Talley Street Upper Elementary

October 17, 2024

Important Upcoming Dates

Plastic Film Recycling Drive: October 15-November 1
Walk n Roll: October 18
3rd Grade Movie Night: October 18 @ 5:30 p.m.
Communities in Schools' Literacy Trunk or Treat: October 29 @ 5:30 p.m.
Early Release Day: October 30 @ 12:15 p.m.

CSD Digital Learning Day: November 5
Walk n Roll: November 8
Author Visit: November 11 (book orders due October 25)
PTO Meeting: November 13 @ 6 p.m.
Little Shop of Stories Spirit Night for the Library: November 15
Early Release Day: November 22 @ 12:15 p.m.
Thanksgiving Break: November 25-29

Dear Talley Street Community,

We have seen an increase in injuries related to students wearing Crocs. This is especially true in PE and the playground but the nurse has reported that wearing Crocs is causing injuries throughout the building as well. We strongly encourage students not to wear these at school. Safety is our number one priority. Thank you for your cooperation.

Billy Heaton

Principal

Talley School Leadership Team (SLT) Meeting

Please join us for Talley's next SLT meeting! It will be on Monday, October 21 in the media center or you can join virtually.

School Photo Orders

To purchase photos taken during last week's retake session, please use the link below! The event will expire on October 28. Please email Charlie Cannon (cwcannon23@gmail.com) with any questions.

View and Order Retake Photos

Banner with the Talley tiger that is saying "What's happening at Talley Street?"

Personal Safety Counseling Lessons

In accordance with Georgia state law, school counselors Mrs. Weaver and Mr. Alan will soon begin teaching personal safety lessons to third, fourth and fifth grades between October 28 and November 15. These lessons are designed to help prevent sexual abuse through the development of awareness and prevention strategies. CSD utilizes the Think First & Stay Safe™ program to deliver these lessons. You can learn more about the program here. A preview of the program will also be offered to interested guardians at the following times: October 21 at 1 p.m. or 5 p.m. If you would like to attend a curriculum preview please fill out this interest form. If you are interested in a preview but cannot attend either scheduled session, please email Alan Pendrick at alan.pendrick@csdecatur.net. If you would not like your student to participate in our personal safety lessons, you must send written notice via email to your student's counselor: Kimberly Weaver at kiweaver@csdecatur.net or Alan Pendrick at alan.pendrick@csdecatur.net.

Third Grade Movie Night - October 18

Third grade families, please join us for a movie night on Friday, October 18 at 5:30 p.m. in the gym!

Movie night poster: tickets are $5 per person to your teacher or at the door. Third grade movie night in the Talley gym. Watch Inside Out 2 on Friday, October 18 at 5:30 p.m.

Author Visit - Orders Due October 25

Talley is so excited to host acclaimed author, Nicole D. Collier, on November 11! She will be doing a session with all grades that day. If you would like to order an autographed copy of her book, The Best Friend Bracelet, forms and payment are due back to Mrs. Long by Friday, October 25! Paper copies went home in folders this week and a digital form is linked below.

Author Visit Order Form

Third Grade Recorders - Forms Due October 28

Hello parents, here is a link to the information letter that is coming home in your child's backpack.

In January, we will begin recorder playing in music! The students are already excited.

Recorder Parent Letter

Literacy Trunk-or-Treat - October 29

Please join us for our first literacy trunk-or-treat festival, hosted by Communities in Schools! Click here for more info.

Join our Plastic Film Recycling Drive - October 15-November 1

Our first plastic film recycling drive is happening now!

Drive Information

From Tuesday, October 15 through Friday, November 1, Talley will be hosting a plastic film recycling drive with the help of Ridwell. During this period, families are encouraged to collect from home all types of plastic film they normally might throw in the garbage. This includes zipper bags, bubble wrap, air pillows, grocery bags, plastic shipping envelopes, bread bags, newspaper bags, produce bags, outer wrapping, dry cleaning bags and cereal bags. Then, on Monday, November 4 and Wednesday, November 6, all clean (free of food!) and dry recycled material should be brought to Talley for pickup. The House that recycles the most plastic film will earn 20 house points!

In addition, students may individually earn five points if their family signs up for Ridwell’s pickup service between now and December 15 and uses the Talley sign-up link. If ten Talley families sign up, then we can earn additional plastic-film pickups for the whole school. If 20 families sign up, we can earn a field trip to Ridwell’s local warehouse for 50 Talley students and learn more about helping our environment.

For More Information...

Regardless of whether your family signs up for Ridwell, all Talley students are encouraged to participate in our plastic-film drive. Help us lead the way in creating a world without waste. For more information, visit get.ridwell.com/talley! (Thank you to Altruismo, the House of Givers, for helping to organize this event.)

Be Part of Our Talley Green Team!

Attention Talley students and parents! Do you have a passion for recycling and eliminating waste? Are you interested in being part of the Talley Green Team? We are looking for students who would like to help with special collections of hard-to-recycle materials and start us on the path of being a zero-waste school. We also will need the help of families who are willing to drop off collected items at the CHaRM Center. If interested, please contact Mrs. Roberts at kathryn.roberts@csdecatur.net.

Library Fundraiser - November 15

Please join us for our second annual Little Shop of Stories spirit day to raise money for our Talley library's programs and collection development! The Talley library does NOT host a traditional book fair, so this is our big fundraiser for the year. We appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you on November 15! Please contact Mrs. Long with any questions!

Reading Rally Ends Tonight at Midnight!: The countdown is on to complete your last squares and get your final donations in! Remember to turn in your bingo cards in homeroom tomorrow, Friday the 18th! Every student who turns in their card will receive a prize. Check out our fundraising progress here!

Walk & Roll is tomorrow, Friday, October 18! Bundle up and stretch your legs (there will be hot coffee for grown-ups!). We will also have spirit wear for sale for the first time at a Walk & Roll!
Oakhurst Porchfest is this weekend! Check out PTO DEI Pride porches on Saturday, October 19. Thank you to our porch hosts!
Be sure to wear rainbow colors next Thursday, October 24 to celebrate LGBTQIA+ Pride Day at Talley.
Join the PTA/PTO DEI committees to celebrate the Indian festival of Diwali at Oakhurst Elementary on October 26, 5-7 p.m. Food, drinks, crafts, music, performances, and more! This is a great opportunity for older students to volunteer for a fun community event.

Thank you to all of our Field Day volunteers! We couldn’t have done it without you!
Virtual Lost and Found Rescue: The PTO has a new initiative to help the school reunite missing items with their owners. Take a peek at the images here, then email lostandfound@talleypto.org with the item, your child’s name, and homeroom teacher to claim it. Interested in helping us with this process? Sign up here.

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Decatur Education Foundation News

Supper & Sips Returns!

Grab your friends and neighbors and help us celebrate the return of Decatur Education Foundation's highly-anticipated fall FUNdraiser - Supper & Sips! Join us on Thursday, Nov. 14th, from 6-10 pm at The Chapel on Sycamore for an evening of food, fun, and fellowship - all for a good cause. The Supper provides crucial support for DEF, allowing us to continue our work addressing unmet needs, providing enriching opportunities, and supporting our educators.

Get your tickets today! Interested in sponsorship opportunities? Email Meagan@DecaturEducationFoundation.org.

STEP UP for Decatur Youth!

DEF was founded more than 20 years ago by a group of residents who wanted to ensure that EVERY student in CSD had what they needed to learn and thrive. Today, DEF's mission remains focused on Decatur's kids and educators, and we are still 100% reliant on the support of the Decatur community. DEF puts the community's contributions where they will have the biggest impact on our students, and DEF's Step Up Circle is a special group of supporters that allows us to operate programs like Lighten the Load, Teacher Innovation Grants, behavioral health support, arts programming, and so much more. There are also benefits - for both businesses and individuals - to joining DEF's Step Up Circle (beyond the warm and fuzzy feeling you get from supporting Decatur's kids!). Visit https://decatureducationfoundation.org/step-up-circle/ to learn more about the different giving levels.

UPDATE: 2024-25 Fit Georgia Assessment Waived

We previously communicated that all students enrolled in a PE class in CSD would be taking part in the state’s new Fit GA fitness assessment this year. However, due to continued, unresolved technical issues with the state’s new Fit GA platform, CSD has decided to waive participation in the Fit GA assessment for the 2024-25 school year. While some classes and students already participated in a pre-test, no classes or students will be post-tested this year.