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

Hi parents! Just a reminder that Field Day is TOMORROW, Friday April 24! Please send your child in comfortable closed-toed shoes (Crocs with the back strap on are ok), sunscreen and hat, swim or regular shorts, a t-shirt (they will be receiving their Field Day shirt at school to put on the morning of Field Day) and a change of dry clothes. Students may wear a bathing suit under their shirt. Kids will be participating in some water activities in the afternoon and may get a little wet (if they choose to).

Only parents who signed up to volunteer will be allowed to attend Field Day as space is limited. Siblings are not allowed to attend Field Day with parent volunteers. Volunteers- be on the lookout for an email from Coach Meg with further instructions.

Thank you for your assistance! We're looking forward to an amazing day!

Coach Meg

Our K–2 students have been busy learning and growing in the media center! Over the past three weeks, classes have focused on important cybersafety lessons using the Common Sense Media curriculum, where students learned age-appropriate ways to stay safe, make smart choices online, and be kind digital citizens. We have also continued our exciting One Crew, One Book journey with The One and Only Ivan, enjoying book talks and discussions about the characters, themes, and lessons from this special story. As an added treat, I am sharing an iMovie featuring a few of our kindergarten students as they share their thoughts and excitement about the book. We hope you enjoy hearing their wonderful ideas!

Join us for Ivan’s Afternoon Trivia Adventure, a fun and engaging family event for Glennwood families as we celebrate our One Crew, One Book reading of The One and Only Ivan! Families are invited to participate in a lively, kid-friendly trivia experience filled with laughter, teamwork, and a chance to test your knowledge of Ivan and his friends.

The event will be offered on two different dates—Thursday, April 30 and Wednesday, May 13—from 3:00–4:00 PM in the media center - families may choose which date works best for them. Pre-registration is required to attend in order for us to make enough preparations for everyone and create teams. Please register at this link.

Please register by TODAY, Thursday, April 23. Families should have completed reading the book before their designated trivia date. Light snacks will be served, and we look forward to continuing our reading journey together in a fun and memorable way!

If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Rittenhouse at drittenhouse@csdecatur.net.

(Pictured first grader, Jerry Polk, next to the Ivan statue at Zoo Atlanta)

We are pleased to share that Jodi Carrigan will be visiting Glennwood students for a gorilla talk on Monday, April 27 at 9:30 am. Jodi is the curator of primates at Zoo Atlanta and was Ivan's principal zookeeper the last 10 years of his life. Ivan was very special to her and she will share some really cool stories about him and gorillas in general. This will be an amazing opportunity for our students and one of our most fun events for our One Crew, One Book campaign. If you are interested in attending as well, please email Mrs.Rittenhouse at drittenhouse@csdecatur.net as space is limited. Thank you!

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.

After winning a DEF Student Innovation grant for their project Fanning Curiosity, freshman students Sonoma Oster and Andrea Roytershteyn led a group of 40 high school students to Glennwood to help our 2nd graders learn about electricity and renewable energy. The students, with the help of the high schoolers, built solar-powered fans and went outside to test them. The students even got to take their projects home to further their learning outside of school and share it with their families. Thank you to the DEF for making this incredible opportunity possible! We all had a great time!

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 23, 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

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!🐾