Talley Street Update

• Winter Orchestra Performance: December 12 @ 5:15 p.m., DHS Performing Arts Center

• Chorus Performance/Marshmallow Roast: December 12 @ 6:30 p.m., Decatur Square

• Early Release: December 19 @ 12:15 p.m.

• Winter Break: December 20-January 6

• Talley Family Math Festival: January 16 @ 5-7 p.m.

• Young Georgia Authors Contest Deadline: January 17 @ 9:30 a.m.

Grown-ups, we are seeing an uptick in issues at drop-off in the morning. Please PLEASE adhere to the following policies:

• Pull ALL THE WAY forward -- to the very end of the red curb past the cafeteria. Do not stop moving until you've gone as far as you can!
• Unless the line of cars in front of you has stopped, do NOT stop in front of the school or awning.
• Once you stop, if you are along ANY PART of the curb that is inside the parking lot (most likely, it's red) -- please have your child get out of the car. They do not need to be in front of the school to exit your vehicle. Ideally, we will have kids exiting from the very end of the red curb past the cafeteria all the way to the side of the building near the crosswalk.
• Say your goodbyes before you stop the car. Ensure they have already collected their belongings. This will allow them to hop out of the car quickly.
• Do not get out of your car.
• Pay attention to the adults directing traffic.
• Remember - the tardy bell rings at 7:45!

We would be so grateful if everyone could follow these simple directions. It's especially challenging on cold and rainy days, since so many folks drive. We can do this more efficiently if all drivers are responsible and compliant. Thank you!

Please join us for the orchestra's winter performance on Thursday, December 12, at the Decatur PAC at 5:15 p.m.!

Save the date! Talley's first family math festival will be held on Thursday, January 16, in the cafeteria and gym. There will be math games from 5-7 p.m. This event is free for the whole family!

Calling all K-12 storytellers, writers, and authors!

Do you have a story to tell? Here’s your chance to share your story with the world!

We’re looking for poems, short stories, narratives, informational writing pieces, or any other original student writing that highlights your amazing skills as a writer.

Here are a few guidelines to help you through the process:

• Only entries that meet the guidelines will be considered.
• The writing piece can be no longer than 1,900 words.
• The writing needs to be original student work, created without the help or support of others, including adults.
• The writing piece can be handwritten on 8 1⁄2 x 11 paper or typed. Handwritten and typed pieces must be on only one side of the paper.
• Submit only the writing - no staples, binding, cover, or lamination is allowed.
• Use a paperclip for multiple sheets, do NOT staple your writing.
• To submit: ALL ENTRIES DUE BY WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2025 AT 9:30 A.M.
• Give to your teacher OR email to Ms. Block: mblock@csdecatur.net

One writing entry from each grade level will be selected to move on to the district-level competition. All participating students will be recognized, and parents will be contacted the week of January 20, 2025 if their student’s entry is selected to move forward.

Re-SOCK-ling and MORE!

Thank you to all the families who have sent in old socks for textile recycling. Our first shipment was sent for processing and weighed in at more than 18.5 pounds! We are preparing a second box now that should be similar in size. This will be an ongoing collection, so keep on sending them in.

The Talley Green Team is overseeing collection of a variety of other hard-to-recycle items that are commonly used at home. All items may be brought to Ms. Stuart's classroom (fourth grade hallway) to be packed up for processing. Click on the links below for more information:

• Drink pouches: This collection is sponsored by Honest Kids, but ALL BRANDS of aluminum foil and plastic drink pouches (including straws!) may be sent in. Please squeeze excess liquid from the pouches.
• Kroger Brand flexible packaging: This includes all flexible packaging under the Simple Truth™, Private Selection®, Kroger® Brand, Comforts®, Pet Pride®, Luvsome®, Abound® labels.
• Laundry detergent tubs and pouches: This collection is limited to Tide and Gain laundry tubs and lids (Laundry jugs can be placed in Decatur's curbside recycling.); Tide and Downy pouches; Tide, Dreft and NBD. fabric care packaging; NBD. Eco-Box packaging; and NBD. bottles with triggers.
• Air freshener aerosols: This program is for Febreze brand aerosols only.
• Swifer cleaning refills: This program is Swifer brand specific and is for USED duster refills, dry pad refills and wet pad refills only. NOTE: Wet pads should be dry before sending in. Cardboard packaging should be placed in your curbside recycling.

DID YOU KNOW that the average U.S. household creates 25% more waste during the holidays? As you undertake holiday shopping, remember to break down your cardboard boxes for curbside recycling. Plastic film like bubble wrap, shipping envelopes, outer wrapping and air pillows can be recycled through our biweekly Ridwell collections, which will resume in the new year. (Stay tuned for our official start date!) If you're interested in Ridwell's home pick-up service, it's not too late! Sign up at get.ridwell.com/talley by December 15.

WANTED: Recycling Enthusiasts

If you're interested in joining the Talley Green Team in the new year, please reach out to Kathryn Roberts, our Green Team leader. Students and their parents/guardians are welcome!

• Don’t miss out – Final weeks for the yearbook pre-sale! Yearbooks are $23 through 12/31/24; they will increase to $28 on 01/01/25. Order at bit.ly/talleyyearbooks24. Please consider donating a yearbook. If you need financial assistance, a discount code is available; contact Ms. Weaver (kiweaver@csdecatur.net), Talley school Counselor. Contact yearbook@talleypto.org with any other questions.

• Last Thursday, 12/5, PTO treated Talley teachers and staff to a coffee cart (hosted by barista Max Baender), cookies, and holiday gifts (from your generous donations to the Teacher Fund!). Please join us in thanking our amazing Talley crew as we wrap up the fall semester!
• Save the Date for Talley’s inaugural Math Night! Come spark math joy on Thursday, 1/16. More details to come soon!

• Does this belong to you?: The PTO is helping the school to reunite lost and found items with their owners! This is just a sample of all that we have collected. Please visit our photos and then reach out to lostandfound@talleypto.org (or in the comments of our social posts) with the item, your child’s name, and your child’s homeroom teacher and we will return it to them. See all items here.

• Enter the Author Contest: Ms. Block is collecting any original student writing to submit to the Young Georgia Authors Contest. All entries due by Friday, 1/17 at 9:30 am. Contest details here: bit.ly/4gkN4iC
• Have you taken photos around Talley or at school events? Please share them with us to include in the yearbook! Send photos to yearbook@talleypto.org.

• Instagram @TalleyPTO

• Facebook page

• Facebook Parent & Community Group

City Schools of Decatur has a long history of honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King by celebrating many of our students who embody the values of freedom, justice, democracy and service. Through an annual program, we highlight their dedication to using these values to impact our community positively. This year, the award will be presented to two students from each upper elementary school, four from middle school, and four from high school.

Click here to learn more about the application guidelines. Application deadline: December 18.

Please take our school’s climate survey and make your opinion count! This survey expires March 31, 2025. Survey participation is critical because the data will be used to calculate School Climate Star Ratings for the 2025-26 school year. City Schools of Decatur appreciates the contributions of parents, students, and staff!

Do you have plans for a new garden or class project for spring? Are you full of fantastic ideas for incorporating farm-to-school principles into a teaching unit? Need funds for a "green" field trip?

The Wylde Center Decatur Farm to School Committee invites you to apply for a grant for 2024/25. Teachers, administrators, PTA members, and parent volunteers can apply on behalf of their CSD school. Please get your applications in before December 13, 2024.

Read recent issues of the Talley Street Update. below. Older issues of CSD Weekly may be found on CSD's district newsletter webpage.

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/.