Chestatee Families,

As we begin November, National Gratitude Month, I think about how thankful I am for our school community. We had an amazing turnout at the One East Fall Festival last week. There were more than 4,000 people in attendance! Thank you to all our staff members who volunteered, and to you, our families, for providing candy for the trunk or treat and for joining us in the fun!

We are also thankful that you were able to join us for parent-teacher conferences last month. We value your time and appreciate the opportunity to connect with you. While parent-teacher conference days are listed on the school calendar during October and March this year, we look forward to partnering with you all year long. November is Family Engagement Month in the state of Georgia. We want to continue to strengthen our connections and appreciate your feedback on how we can best work together to support our students.

Finally, I am grateful for our district and district leaders. Our new superintendent, Mitch Young, visited Chestatee in October to meet with our Local School Council, PTO Board, admin team, and entire school staff. We had the opportunity to ask questions and share more about Chestatee. We learned about his vision and plan to increase impact throughout our district. All work starts with relationships, and I am proud of the relationships we have in the Chestatee community.

Together, we are Chestatee!

With gratitude,

Jennifer Williams

Principal

There are so many events this month! What a great way to show we are connect and our families are engaged. This video discusses several of the upcoming events.

We are so excited for YES Day! Thank you for all of your support of Boosterthon! Students gave suggestions and then voted on what they would enjoy as a grade level for YES Day.

Here's a breakdown of Ms. Williams' answers!

To Specialized Instruction- YES! You can have a movie and PJ day on Friday. YES- We will get you popcorn to enjoy too!

To Kindergarten- Yes, you can have a movie with PJs and day of fun! This can include centers, recess, indoor recess etc.

To First Grade- YES! You can have a movie and pajamas on Friday. Yes- you can bring a stuffed animal too!

To Second Grade- Yes! You can have a picnic with the principals. We’ll even bring blankets and music.

To Third Grade- YES! You can have a NO WORK Day! This can include PJs and a movie. You can also have free time, indoor recess, or whatever your teacher agrees to do.

To Fourth Grade- YES! You can have snow cones. We had to book this and some kids will have field trips, so we booked Frozen Frenzee on Wednesday, 11/6! Yes, you can wear PJs and watch movies on Friday too.

To Fifth Grade- YES! You can have movie and PJ day. YES, you can wear hats. And YES, I, Ms. Williams will even wear red and black. Keep in mind that I am a Florida Gator!

YES DAYS will be awesome! Thank you for your great suggestions!

• 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.
• If your child is checking out from the clinic, the absence is excused.
• When 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.

Students can be "written up" for showing the Chestatee Way! Ms. Williams calls each student to the office to get a prize and picture. She loves seeing these role models in her office.

Each month, we have a ceremony to recognize students in each classroom for showing the Chestatee Way. Families are invited for these special events. We love when students are responsible, respectful, problem solvers.

Mr. Young came to Chestatee to spend time with the Local School Council and PTO Executive Board. He then met with faculty to share his vision for FCS.

We celebrated our bus drivers with a delicious breakfast and gift. These folks are fun to celebrate!

We celebrated Homecoming with EFHS by dressing up each day. We also had the 50th day of school!

We are proud to announce Faye Cherico as our Staff Member of the Month!

This is Ms. Cherico’s third year teaching first grade at Chestatee Elementary. Ms. Cherico received her Bachelor's Degree from the University of North Georgia for Early Childhood Education and Special Education.

Ms. Cherico has been nominated for Staff Member of the Month several times. She has been described as patient and kind. Faye works so well with others, and she is an asset to her first grade teammates. Her students adore her, and it is fun to visit her classroom! Faye grew up as a student in Forsyth County Schools!

Faye got engaged in June to Harrison, and she will become Mrs. Murdoch when they get married. Together they love hiking, nature, sports, and spending time with family and friends. Faye is close with her family, and she loves watching her niece Aubree do gymnastics. She grew up in Forsyth County Schools!

We are very grateful that Faye works at the T. Congratulations to her on this great honor. A big thank you to our Chestatee Elementary PTO and Mathnasium of Coal Mountain for sponsoring our Chestatee Staff Member of the Month Program!

We need your input! Please let us know if there is a staff member who is making a difference for your child!

November 5th- Professional Development Day/ Student Holiday for Election Day.

November 8th- Last day to submit 5th grade ads for the yearbook. www.chestateeyearbook.com

November 11th- Veteran’s Day Celebration. Veterans Day Information and RSVP

November 12-21- Scholastic Book Fair

November 13th- Enrichment Club for Enrolled Students/ Students dismiss at 4:00

November 14th- Picture Retake Day

November 19th- International Night 6:00-8:00 PM: Sign up here!

November 20th- Enrichment Club

November 21st- High Flyer Ceremony 9:00-9:30 (by invite)

November 21st- National Parent Involvement Day

November 25-29- Thanksgiving Break

Resources from our Counseling Department.

Resources for Food Help

Food Help- Spanish

Mentoring Info

President- Kandi Wetzel

Co-Vice Presidents- Jennifer Grindle, Liana Hall, and Nicole Tierney

Secretaries- Meg Killingsworth and Christy Pittman

Treasurer- Emily Morgan

Parliamentarian- Julia Weart

Contact our PTO here!

Boosterthon Fundraiser- over $30,000

Successful School Events, Biscuit Tuesdays, Spirit Nights

Well Established Board

Volunteer and Family Involvement

Items Purchased this Year with PTO Funds

2 Water Bottle Fillers

New Stage Curtains

Decorated and Designed Staff “Haven”

Decorated and Designed Professional Learning Room

$4000 in Teacher Grants

Refreshed Reading Garden and Kindergarten Garden

Carline Upgrades/ Pavilion

Clinic Supplies

Supported Vertical Alignment and Family Events

Indoor Recess Games for ALL Homerooms

Staff Morale/ Teacher Appreciation

It took 3 car loads to get the candy to East for the Fall Festival! Thanks to all for the donations. PTO sponsored Best Ice Cream on Wheels for the class in each grade level with the most bags donated. Congratulations to:

PK- Mrs. Ireland and Mrs. Durand

Specialized- Mrs. Grindle

K- Mrs. Davis and Ms. Wright

1- Mrs. Shelton

2- Mrs. Mullinax

3- Mrs. Clark

4- Mrs. Vaca

5- Mrs. Husted

Overall Winner- Mrs. Wade

Our Spirit Nights continue to be a success! We raised over $360 from our Culver's Night and $160 from Mellow Mushroom. Thank you for your support, Families!

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