Eagle Edition

Bill Howard, Principal ~ Jill Tolsma, Instructional Coach ~ Michelle Reynolds, School Manager

Email: bill.howard@csdecatur.net
Location: 440 East Ponce de Leon Avenue, Decatur, GA, USA
Phone: 404.370.4435 * Website * Facebook

We are officially in the home stretch of the school year, and the energy around the building is incredible! From student-led conferences to creative pivots in the face of Georgia weather, this week has truly shown what it means to be part of the Glennwood Crew.

I want to start with a huge thank you to everyone who helped make our Field Day such a resounding success. From the smiles on our students' faces and the excitement buzzing through the hallways, it’s clear our kiddos (and our parent volunteers!) had an absolute blast. An extra special thank you goes to Coach Meg for the incredible amount of time and hard work she put into planning such a seamless and awesome school-wide celebration.

Today was a momentous day for our 2nd Grade Eagles! It was inspiring to see our students take the lead during their conferences, showing off the hard work and growth they’ve achieved this year. A huge thank you to our 2nd-grade teachers and our Specials teachers for their tireless work in helping our Eagles find their voices!

Additionally, I want to extend a massive thank you to our 2nd-grade parent volunteers. When the storm unfortunately forced the cancellation of our trip to Southern Belle this week, our parents took the initiative to help create a fantastic school-based field trip experience. You all stepped up to ensure it was still a memorable day for our students, and we truly appreciate your flexibility and dedication!

Get ready, Glennwood! Next Monday, Sam Taylor from Ms. Kaplan’s Crew will be "Principaling" with me for the day. Sam has already been hard at work, and his first official order of business is a school-wide Sports Day! On Monday, May 4, we invite every student and staff member to wear clothes representing their favorite teams or sports. Sam has a few other surprises up his sleeve that we’ll announce to the students on Monday morning, so stay tuned! I’m looking forward to seeing everyone’s sports spirit.

Starting next week (Tuesday), we begin our final round of STAR testing for the year. We can't wait for our students to show how much they’ve grown since August! To help them feel their best, please ensure they get:

• A good night’s sleep

• A hearty breakfast

• A morning pep talk!

A little extra confidence goes a long way. Let’s remind them to just do their best - we are already so proud of them.

We have a couple of VERY busy weeks coming up! Please be sure to keep an eye on our calendar to make sure you don't miss any of the fun. Thank you for your continued partnership as we navigate these final weeks of the school year!

In partnership,

Bill Howard
Proud Principal, Glennwood Elementary

Last week in Community Circle, we had representatives from the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund come and speak to us about how gorilla species are critically endangered. The next level is extinct. 😪 Families can make a meaningful difference in protecting critically endangered gorillas by supporting the work of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, which is dedicated to conserving gorillas and their habitats in central Africa. Species like the mountain gorilla remain at risk due to habitat loss, poaching, and disease, making community support more important than ever. Here are a few simple ways your family can help:

• Donate or symbolically “adopt” a gorilla through the Fossey Fund to support daily conservation efforts
• Spread awareness by sharing information about gorilla conservation with friends and on social media
• Choose eco-friendly products that protect forests and reduce habitat destruction
• Support organizations and brands committed to wildlife conservation
• Encourage children to learn about gorillas and their ecosystems to inspire future stewardship
• Recycle cell phones and old electronic devices

Every small action contributes to the survival of these incredible animals and helps ensure they continue to thrive for generations to come. Be sure to watch A Gorilla Story narrated by David Attenborough which was released on Friday, April 17 on Netflix. Find the movie trailer HERE.

Did you know that by recycling your old, unused cell phones you could help save gorillas in the wild? That’s right! Cell phones and other small electronics contain a mineral called coltan, which is being mined all over the world, including from the areas in Africa that gorillas call home. When we recycle our small electronic devices, we reduce the demand for coltan and the destruction of gorilla habitat.

Glennwood will be participating in Zoo Atlanta's Gorillas on the Line....Answer the Call conservation effort now through September 1. If you have any old devices you'd like to recycle to help this campaign, please drop them off in the front office now through September 1, 2026.

Accepted items include: cell phones, smart phones, tablets, smart watches, GPS units, MP3 players, e-readers, digital cameras, handheld gaming systems, headphones, and accessories. Laptops cannot be accepted. Before recycling your devices, we suggest backing up your devices and saving any data you might want to keep. Reset the device back to factory settings and remove any cases and screen protectors.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Dee Anna Rittenhouse at drittenhouse@csdecatur.net.

Over the past few weeks, I completed themed lessons in K-2 on feelings and coping skills. This week, I began a concluding lesson on change/transitions. The main focus of the lesson is to learn how to manage feelings surrounding transition. We discussed that there are many different types of changes that people experience over a lifetime, and, even given the same type of change, people can have different emotional reactions. We may even change our view of a situation over time. We learned some different coping strategies surrounding change and transition, and that not all change is bad. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have questions or would like suggestions surrounding supporting students during times of change.

We are approaching the end of the school year and have many exciting things planned for our students including student-led conferences (SLCs). Student-led conferences are an EL Education practice that allows parents to become the “authentic audience” for their children as they lead detailed discussions of their learning around various learning targets. SLCs engage the entire school community by including students, families, as well as staff (who may also attend conferences) in the process of communicating student achievement and growth.

Below are the dates/times for each grade level’s student-led conferences. Please mark your calendars. More details about this event, including a sign up link (to sign up for a 15-20 minute time slot) will be forthcoming from your child’s classroom teacher.

• Kindergarten: May 12, 1:50-2:30 or May 13, 1:50-2:30

• 1st Grade: May 13, 3:00-4:00

• 2nd Grade: April 30, 9:05-10:20

Though students, not teachers, lead these conferences, teachers have the responsibility of identifying areas of growth, helping to select student work, and helping students practice how to share academic goals, strategies and habits of scholarship in advance. SLCs are a very important way to engage children in understanding and taking ownership of their learning. We also believe that this conference structure will help our students prepare for their exciting futures in careers and/or colleges. Student-led conferences will include learning in both ELA, Math, and the Habits of Scholarship. Family members, you are critical partners in helping support your child's learning and growth by fully participating in this event. We look forward to seeing you there!

Thank you in advance for your support,

Bill Howard, Principal

Jill Tolsma, Instructional Coach

Read the April 30, 2026, issue of CSD Weekly, the district-wide newsletter.

Parents, we need your help! Glennwood Staff Appreciation Week is approaching and we are doing an on-site car wash for all staff on Thursday, May 7th! We will wash the outside and vacuum the inside of their cars. We're looking for volunteers to help assist our professional car washer. No experience necessary! In addition to volunteers, we are in need of a few supplies listed below. If you have any questions, please contact Emily or Kate at staffappreciation@glennwoodespta.com. SIGN UP HERE

In search of additional members for the 2026-2027 Board & Committees – contact president@glennwoodespta.com if you are interested or want to learn more.

Garden Gnomies - Every other Friday

Eagle Bucks School Store - 3x a month

Purchase or Donate a 2025-2026 Glennwood Elementary Yearbook here! Please order by April 30th.Questions? Email: Yearbook@GlennwoodESPTA.com

Stay up-to-date with all things Glennwood and tag us! Our PTA Facebook Page on IG and FB, as well as our parents' page: Glennwood Parents' Page

We’re so excited to have you joining the Talley Street Elementary community next year!

As you’re getting settled, we wanted to share a little opportunity — the Talley Street PTO is looking for volunteers for the 2026–27 school year. Whether you want a leadership role or just want to plug in where it’s needed, there’s a spot for you.

Elected positions open for nominations:

• Co-President
• Co–Vice President
• Treasurer
• Communications Lead
• Members-at-Large (one per grade)

We also have plenty of committee openings for folks who want to help out in smaller ways — check out all the options at the link below!

No experience needed, and every little bit helps. Deadline: May 1st

Learn more & submit your interest: bit.ly/2627nom

Decatur Soccer invites youth ages 5-13 (rising K-8th grade) to register for its 3v3 Soccer Tournament, powered by Decatur WatchFest 26, a fun, flexible, and community-focused event led by DHS soccer players and coaches. Join us Saturday, June 20, 8:30-noon at the Decatur High School Stadium with plenty of parking and just a short walk from the Decatur MARTA Station and Decatur WatchFest.

Kids can form a team of up to five players and sign up at the link below for just $75 per team (payable separately via GoFan). With no uniforms required (pennies provided) and small-sided 3v3 match play run by our DHS players, this format keeps things simple while maximizing touches, engagement, and fun for every player.

The tournament is open to girls, boys, and co-ed teams (co-ed teams will play in the boys bracket), with divisions based on rising school year: K-1, 2-3, 4-5, and 6-8. This is a great way to celebrate Decatur WatchFest and FIFA World Cup 26™ while supporting the Decatur Soccer program, and giving your child a fun soccer experience without a big time commitment. Just gather a group, register here, and show up ready to play!

Want to help make game days fun, exciting, and memorable while supporting our student-athletes? Join the Decatur Bulldog Boosters (DBB)! From mascot races, toy tosses, and concessions to Friday night lights, alumni relations, and community events, DBB helps bring the Bulldog community together while raising funds and providing support for student-athletes and athletic programs at BHMS and DHS.

Come to our next meeting to learn more about DBB!
📅 Upcoming Meeting:
May 11 at 6:30 PM
📍 Location: Hospitality Suite, DHS PAC
Help us continue building Bulldog traditions and supporting our athletes—no experience needed, just Bulldog spirit!🐾