May 2024
Chestatee Elementary: Serving the Community Since 1931
A Letter from Dr. Polly Tennies, Our Principal
Hello Friends,
May is a time for memories. It is a time for celebration and a little bit of fun. We’d like to share a few of the special events that will be happening at the T to make our students smile.
Here are highlights for our month:
May 8th- High Flyer Ceremony
May 9th- K, 2, 4 Field Day
May 10th- 1, 3, 5 Field Day
May 13th- Timeline through History Fifth Grade
May 15th-May 22th: Class parties by grade level
May 20th-Step Up Day
May 22th- Fifth Grade Awards and Celebration Day
May 23rd- Fifth Grade and Senior Walk
When we have a lot of visitors on campus, safety is always our number one priority.
Please remember these tips when visiting:
All visitors need to come through our front office, sign in and wear a badge while on campus.
Pre-register all your guests if you can. This will help speed up your check-in process.
Bring your photo ID, so we can verify your badge or print you one.
Come early and be patient.
We are very grateful for our Raptor system to ensure that all visitors on our campus are safe to be here.
If you plan to check your child out after a party, you will checkout in the main office as usual. Our office staff will move quickly. This process takes time. Again, thank you for your patience.
Before we know it, May will be a memory. We are excited to make those great memories this month. Together, We are Chestatee!
Kindly,
Dr. Polly Tennies
Principal
Important Reminders
Cafe Reminders
- Reminder to FCS Families: Please make sure that for the last month of school your child has adequate funds available in MyPaymentsPlus or sufficient cash/check is sent in to cover their meal purchases. Starting Monday, May 6 through the end of the school year, students without adequate funds will receive a courtesy snack. Also, any families with negative cafeteria balances must deposit funds before the school year ends. Students who graduate or withdraw and have funds left in their meal accounts should visit https://www.forsyth.k12.ga.us/page/396 to close out their accounts.
2024-25 Kindergarten Information
Kindergarten Registration Info Here! More Appointments Will Open May 6th!
There's 3 Easy Steps to Registering.
- Register online. You'll need to use a computer instead of your phone. Allow 45 minutes or so.
- Make an appointment.
- Come in person or meet virtually. Bring your documents.
Registration is at the Technology Training and Innovation Center on Dahlonega Hwy. behind the Board of Education Building.
We Welcomed 2024-25 Kindergarten Students on April 30th
- 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.
A Note from Nurse Kristen
School Pay
School Pay is a new program we will use for all payments EXCEPT meals. My Payments Plus will still be used for cafeteria accounts. Click here.
Field Day is Here!!
Field Day Details with Mrs. Waters and Mrs. Grindle
Let's Give a Round of Applause!
Our Science Fair Winners Went to State! Congrats Miles, Joanna, and Lila!
Congrats to Students for Receiving Positive Office Referrals
Students can be "written up" by any staff member for showing Strategies, Effort, Attitude, and/ or Kindness. Dr. Tennies calls these students to the office for a picture, prize and talk together. This is a big deal!
High Flyer Ceremony: April 18
Congratulations to these students for being great role models and showing the Chestatee Way. Families were invited to celebrate these students on April 18. We always have a great crowd!
Eagles' Rock
Thanks to Lauren Stone and Ashleigh Ronan for the beautiful rock designs!
Live to Give Club
This club comes together once a month for projects to help our school. We celebrated the club in April with an ice cream party.
A Look Back at April
Exceptional Children's Week
Meeting Students and Preparing for Next Year
Pizza and Popcorn from PTO
Fifth Grade Glow Day to Review this Year's Skills!
Rising Readers with Ms. Sarfaty
Thanks to Forsyth County Public Library for Bringing the Bookmobile!
Families have asked what kids learn in Pathways, so the team put together a great video. There is also information on our website. https://www.forsyth.k12.ga.us/Page/3290
Congratulations to the April Staff Member of the Month- Dr. Polly Tennies!
We surprised Dr. Tennies on the morning news with the Staff Member of the Month Award! Thank you to all who wrote a beautiful nomination. The words mean so much.
We are proud of what our Chestatee family has accomplished under Dr. T's leadership as our principal. She has created a culture of collaboration, kindness and partnerships. We are excited for her next chapter of life but also want her to know how much she is loved and appreciated. Dr. Tennies is looking forward to retirement and spending more time with her husband, Khoi, her parents in Pennsylvania, her two sons and her daughter-in-law.
We are very grateful for Dr. Tennies’ thirteen years of service as principal of 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!
Teacher and Staff Member of the Month Nominations
What's Coming up at the T?
Important Dates this Month!
Important Dates:
5/1 Enrichment- Please send a snack. Club students will dismiss in carline at 4:00.
5/6 Lunch Visitors Resume
5/8 High Flyers Ceremony- Pre-register here
5/8 Enrichment
5/8 PTO Spirit Night at Freddy's in Dawsonville
5/9 Field Day for grades K, 2, and 4
5/10 Field Day for grades 1, 3, and 5
5/15 Specialized Instruction 11:30 Party/ 10:00 5th grade graduation for Specialized Students
5/15 Last enrichment
5/17 Pre-K party 10:00
5/17 PTO Boys Night Out at the Aquatic Center
5/20 4th grade party 9:45
5/20 3rd grade party 12:30
5/21 Kindergarten party 8:30
5/21 2nd grade party 12:00
5/22 1st grade party 8:30
5/22 5th Grade Graduation Ceremony 10:30
5/23 5th Grade/ Senior Walk at 10:30
5/23 Early Release for Last Day of School
5/23 Freedom Mill PTO Spirit Day
Celebrating High Flyers!
May 8th 9:00-9:30 AM
Pre-register here if your child is being recognized! This speeds up our check-in process.
Our PTO is a Great Way to Get Involved!
Our PTO board members raise money to help teachers and our school.
You can support our PTO through our fundraisers, Spirit Nights, events, and spirit wear.
There are no membership dues this year.
Contact our PTO at chestateeelementarypto@gmail.com any time!
Our Boosterthon Buddies Came by with Retirement Gifts!
Farm Night at Warbington Farms!
Save the Date for the Last Day of School Spirit Day at Freedom Mill!
Heading to NFMS Next Year? Save the Dates for May 8th or 9th.
Our Communi-T-y is the BEST!
Domino's in Dawsonville
Domino's graciously donated pizza boxes for all of our second graders.
One East Community Corner and Camps
Community Corner and Resources
Online Tutoring with Next Generation
All students are invited to sign up and can take advantage of online tutoring as many days as needed for $75 a month. There are reduced fees for students on free or reduced lunch. Inquire with Next Generation.
A Few Words From our Family Engagement Coordinator
Dear Families,
We had a great turnout for our third APTT meeting. In many schools, the last meeting isn’t well attended. It’s spring. It’s ball season. It’s busy. But our attendance was as good as winter! Thank you for partnering with us!
Each child received a packet of summer learning activities. A reading log, choice board, and math fact practice were included in the packet. Summer slide is real, and we hope that students will do something academic daily during the two months off.
Whether it’s first thing in the morning, right before bed, after work or dinner or after pool time to calm down, find your time. Log that learning for a celebration in August!
We really encourage you to find your routine for the summer and settle into that. You’ll be glad you did in August!
Together WE are Chestatee!
See you soon,
Meg
Meg Killingsworth
770-887-2341 ext. 723002
Don't Forget....
Kroger and Publix will donate money too...
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!
Chestatee Elementary School
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