Eagle Edition
Glennwood Elementary ~ Where Learning Takes Flight
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
Calendar of Events
One Crew, One Book Reading Campaign Ongoing - Register Here
Friday, April 3
Flamenco Performance at 9:00 am (K-2)
April 6-10
Spring Break
Wednesday, April 15
- Drew Brockington Book Orders Due
- Viewing of Virtual Talent Show - GL Auditorium, 6:00-7:00 pm
Thursday, April 16
K-Day! at GL - 9:00-11:00 am and 4:00-6:00 pm
Friday, April 17
- Walk and Roll
- Community Circle at 8:30 am - First Grade Hosting (April Birthdays Recognized)
Friday, April 24
Field Day
Thursday, April 30
Where Learning Takes Flight
Three Dimensions of Student Achievement
- Mastery of Knowledge and Skills
- Character Building
- High-Quality Work
Hello Glennwood Families,
We are heading into our Spring Break with so much to celebrate! It has been a busy and beautiful week, and I am constantly reminded of how much talent and heart exist within our school community.
We are incredibly proud of our young artists whose work is featured in the District Art Show. Today (Thursday) is the last day the artwork will be on display, so if you haven't had a chance yet, please swing by the Solarium to see the incredible talent we have here at Glennwood! While you’re there, be sure to visit the DEF table—they are selling t-shirts featuring a student-designed logo that you won’t want to miss. The show is open from 4-7pm tonight.
Tomorrow morning, we are thrilled to welcome a Flamenco dancer to Glennwood! A huge thank you to Sra. Ramos for organizing this wonderful cultural experience for our Eagles. It is going to be a high-energy, joyful way to kick off our break.
This is sponsored through a Decatur Education Foundation educational grant that was awarded to Sra. Ramos and our Spanish program. Thank you, DEF!
Calling All Rising Kindergarteners (2026-2027)
Included in this week’s Eagle Edition is a flyer for our upcoming K Day. If you have a rising Kindergarten student for next school year, please review the flyer and use the SignUpGenius link to grab a time slot. This is a vital chance for us to connect with new families and give our future students a warm introduction to Glennwood. Along with getting to know the building, students will participate in a quick assessment so we can gauge where they are academically as we prepare for the fall.
A Note on At-Home Learning & Screen Time
I want to take a moment to address some of the feedback we’ve received regarding screen time and our use of digital platforms. Our goal is always to support your child’s growth while remaining flexible and mindful of your family's home routines.
I want to be very clear: the use of Freckle and LaLilo at home is, and has always been, completely voluntary. We offered these as a way for students to get extra practice on a familiar platform, but they are not required. We appreciate all the minutes that we’ve seen add up, and for some of our Eagles this has been the perfect way to practice and get motivated to keep learning. However, we understand that additional screen time doesn’t fit into every household's evening, and that is perfectly fine. There are so many ways for our Eagles to grow and achieve their goals!
With Spring Break starting, we want to encourage "real-world" learning. If you’re looking for ways to keep those brains growing without a screen, we suggest:
Reading for fun: Pick up a great book (like The One and Only Ivan!).
Math in the wild: Go for a walk and count every stop sign, or identify car colors while driving.
Exploring: Just get outside, enjoy the fresh air, and have fun!
We love seeing our Eagles stay engaged no matter what that looks like. If your family finds a creative way to learn over the break, we’d love for you to share it with us via this Google form. This is entirely optional, but it’s a great way for us to celebrate the unique ways our students continue to learn.
I hope everyone has a fantastic Spring Break filled with sun and fun! We look forward to seeing all of our Eagles back on Monday, April 13th.
In partnership,
Bill Howard
Proud Principal, Glennwood Elementary
Sign Up for Field Day Volunteers - April 24
Hi Parents! Field Day will be here before we know it. The official date is April 24 but we have two potential rain dates (May 1 and May 8) in place. Here is the volunteer sign-up form. Please limit to two family members to allow other families spots as well. Looking forward to a great day! Sign up to volunteer HERE!
WE INVITE FAMILIES TO JOIN US!
🖤🦍💚Discover the Power of Reading Together!🖤🦍💚
It's not too late to sign up! Thank you to all 100+ families who have already signed up to participate! Please register to participate in One Crew, One Book at Glennwood by following this link.
For those of you who missed Community Circle on March 27, we shared a special video message from Newbery Medalist and author of The One and Only Ivan, Katherine Applegate. If you would like to see this video, please find it HERE.
If you have any questions, please contact Dee Anna Rittenhouse at drittenhouse@csdecatur.net.
Today is the Last Day for the CSD Art Exhibit!
This week, I finished a lesson in 2nd grade on our SOAR norms and how they specifically apply to being a successful student in the academic setting. We read a book by basketball great, Lebron James, called I Promise that perfectly summed up what the SOAR norms look like both in and out of school. We then played a SOAR spinner game where students answered questions related to how the SOAR norms help them get good grades, do well on tests, and maximize their learning. They ended by doing a group poster on one of the SOAR norms. Next year, we will continue to emphasize what the SOAR norms look like for successful students.
Additionally, this week, I began a lesson in Kindergarten and 1st grade on feelings. The lesson is a Pokemon themed lesson and we played a fun game helping Ash catch all of the Pokemon while identifying feelings and feeling strategies. We also read a feelings book from the Teach Your Dragon series. I hope everyone has a happy, healthy, safe Spring Break!
Author/Illustrator Visiting Glennwood on May 1st
In conjunction with the Little Shop of Stories Annual Children's Book Festival, Glennwood will be hosting author/illustrator Drew Brockington on May 1st. If you would like to order a book for your child, please check folders for the order form. Orders and payments are due Wednesday, April 15th! (For more information on these books, please see below.)
District News
In search of additional members for the 2026-2027 Board & Committees – contact president@glennwoodespta.com if you are interested or want to learn more.
Sign Up Links
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
Give PTA a FOLLOW on Social!
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
Join GL PTA Facebook
Join GL PTA Instagram
Join GL Parent Facebook
Community News
DEF Awards Now Open!
Honoring Exceptional Educators
An integral part of the Decatur Education Foundation’s mission is to recognize and celebrate the exceptional educators who support the youth of Decatur. Your generous contributions enable us to foster an environment where our outstanding educators are celebrated and empowered to make a lasting difference for our youth. Please consider nominating an educator for one of the awards. More information HERE.
Calling all Bulldog parents! 🐾
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 Meetings:
April 13 at 6:30 PM
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!🐾