Greetings, Families! Happy February, Valentine's Day is my favorite holiday and a wonderful day to celebrate in elementary school. It is lovely to celebrate our friendships and relationships this month.

As you know, our Board of Education named Jennifer Williams the Chestatee Principal for 2024-25. I cannot express how happy this makes me. Ms. Williams is an experienced principal in our One East Community. She has both curriculum and Title I experience. But best of all, she is compassionate, driven, and focused on relationships. I'm wondering if Valentine's Day is her favorite holiday too!

Retirement is a difficult decision when a person loves the people and the work. My decision became easier when I knew Ms. Williams would become the next leader of the T. Transitioning from one principal to the next is very important. Ms. Williams and I are working closely for a smooth transition. She has been very intentional with meeting the stakeholders.

• She came to our school and met with each staff member the day after she was named our new principal.

• She is currently having one-on-one meetings with each staff member.

• She attended our job fair to meet new candidates for next year and has been actively interviewing and searching for the best possible future teachers for our school to fill any open positions.

• We attended the district Title I meeting to plan next year’s extra funding and resources.

• She will visit with our Local School Council next week.

• She will meet with the PTO Board members in late February.

• There will be "Pizza with the Principals" on February 28th before an Internet Safety Night at East. (I hope you can make this event!)

Ms. Williams has had an amazing start in just one month at Chestatee! On her days here, she is learning all the great things we do at the T. There will be many more opportunities for you to get to know our new principal. Our staff has rolled out the red carpet for her, and I invite you to do the same.

Together WE are Chestatee!

Kindly,

Dr. Polly Tennies

Principal

Dear Chestatee Families,

I am excited to introduce myself as the new principal of Chestatee Elementary for the 2024-2025 school year.

I have been an educator in Forsyth County schools for 21 years. After graduating from the University of Florida, I began my career as a first-grade teacher at Chattahoochee Elementary. I also taught at Silver City Elementary and Cumming Elementary, later serving as Cumming's assistant principal for two years. In 2017, I returned to Chattahoochee as assistant principal for four years until being named principal of Chattahoochee. I have served in this role for the past three years.

I am thrilled to continue to lead in the One East community as it has become my home. It is my goal to continue to learn more about the rich traditions of Chestatee and get to know you and your children so that I may best support our school community. It is truly an honor to follow Dr. Tennies and continue the great work that happens each day. Dr. Tennies has mentored me as a leader, and I am grateful for her support. She and I will be working through a transition plan to allow me to visit Chestatee to meet with our Local School Council and staff in the next few months.

I look forward to partnering with you, your children, and this amazing staff!

Sincerely,

Jennifer Williams

Principal

Chattahoochee Elementary

Chestatee's Week for Registering is February 5-9. If you aren't able to get an appointment, we will open up more appointments on May 6th.

There's 3 Easy Steps to Registering.

1. Register online. You'll need to use a computer instead of your phone. Allow 45 minutes or so.
2. Make an appointment.
3. 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.

Click Here for the Details!

• 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.

Students MUST stay home or will be sent home if they have:

• A temperature that is 100.4 or higher
• had vomiting in the last 24 hours
• had diarrhea in the last 24 hours
• a rash with itching or fever
• pink eye (if drops are prescribed, child may return after 24 hours of treatment).
• strep throat
• ring worm (may return after 24 hours of treatment and area musted be covered with a bandage while in school until area is resolved).
• A frequent/persistent, or disruptive cough
• Frequent/persistent complaints of pain/discomfort
• been on antibiotics for contagious symptoms less than 24 hours
• the need to see a physician

Your child may return to school when:

• no fever of 100 degrees of greater for 24 hours without fever reducing medicine.
• Diarrhea and /or vomiting must have stopped for a full 24 hours with the aid of medication before returning to school.

If your child has seen a physician and has been ordered antibiotics, please keep your child home for 24 hours after you have started the antibiotic.

These protocols are in place to protect the wellbeing of our student body.

Kristen Knottek, BSN, RN

School Nurse

Chestatee Elementary

770-887-2341 ext. 722151

f41520@forsyth.k12.ga.us

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.

Thanks to Mrs. Kelly Fitzpatrick for coordinating this event. Congrats to our first place winners!

Myles- 3rd grade Joanna- 4th grade Lila- 5th grade

We are so proud of Mahi!

Lucy is a 2nd time recipient of the Forsyth County Education Foundation Scholarship through Valdosta State University and was awarded the grant Friday morning. She is studying with other FCS professionals working to become counselors. Way to go, Mrs. Murray! We are grateful to have Mrs. Murray as one of our counselors.

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!

Congratulations to these students for being great role models for responsibility. Families were invited to celebrate these students on January 18th. We always have a great crowd!

This club comes together once a month for projects to help our school.

Dr. Tennies loves to meet with students for lunch. Students can purchase this experience with Bravo Bucks.

We have videos showing on our morning news and a great book display in our media center!

We are so grateful to Forsyth County Schools for this beautiful furniture!

Thanks to Stephanie Schroeder (Olaf Rock) and Adele Thomas (We Love Chestatee).

We love our families to help.

Thanks to Mason for purchasing this experience!

100 Days Smarter

Especially with 101 Dalmatians!

We are proud to announce first grade teacher, Beth Shelton, as our January Staff Member of the Month!

This is Beth Shelton's 22nd year of teaching. Mrs. Shelton received both her Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Auburn University. She has taught both general and special education in various grade levels.

Beth and her husband, Scott, have two children. Their daughter, Paige, attends East Forsyth High School and is a former Chestatee Eagle. Mason, their son, is in fourth grade at Chestatee. The Sheltons live in the Chestatee community and love spending time as a family. They are very involved in sports and love taking trips to the beach.

Mrs. Shelton has been nominated many times this year. She also received the Staff Member of the Month Award when she was a kindergarten teacher two years ago. Parents love that Mrs. Shelton creates an engaging environment where students want to be. She also is an excellent communicator with families and keeps them up to date both on the school’s happenings and ways to help at home.

We are very grateful that Mrs. Shelton is a Chestatee Eagle. Congratulations to Mrs. Shelton 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!

Do you want to recognize and celebrate the exemplary teaching and contributions by Chestatee Elementary teachers and staff? Click here to write a nomination.

Important Dates:

2/5-2/9- National School Counselors Week

2/7- Enrichment Club until 4:00/ Please send a snack.

2/8- High Flyers Ceremony at 9:00 by invitation. Click this link to pre-register.

2/8- Live to Give Club until 3:15

2/13- Culver's PTO Spirit Night

2/14- Fifth Grade Oratorical Contest 8:15AM

2/14 Hey Day- EFHS students visit

2/14- Enrichment Club

2/16-2/20 No School for Students

2/21 Enrichment Club!

2/22- Jeremiah’s Italian Ice Spirit Night

2/23- PTO Family Bingo Night at 6 PM in the cafeteria.

2/23 Last day to order a yearbook: https://chesyb.weebly.com/

2/28- Enrichment Club

2/8- One East Internet Safety Night and Pizza with the One East Principals 5:30-7:00

February 8th- 9:00-9:30 AM

Pre-register here if your child is being recognized! This speeds up our check-in process.

Dear Chestatee Families,

We wanted to share an important update about our school for the upcoming school year. Effective for the 2024-2025 school year, Chestatee Elementary has been designated as a Title I school.

Title I is a federal program that provides additional funding to schools, and this designation allows us to enhance our educational programs and support services to better meet the needs of all our students.

The additional funding provided by Title I can be used to:

• Increase academic support programs
• Provide additional teachers
• Deliver professional development to our educators
• Foster family engagement initiatives
• Purchase resources to enhance instruction

We are excited about the opportunities that this designation brings to our school community. It reflects our ongoing commitment to providing the best possible education and support for every student.

If you have any questions or would like more information about the Title I program, please don't hesitate to reach out to Meg Killingsworth at mkillingsworth@forsyth.k12.ga.us or 770-887-2341 ext. 723002.

We value your partnership and look forward to working together to ensure the success and well-being of all our students.

Kindly,

Dr. Polly Tennies

Chestatee Elementary Principal

https://ow.ly/BA4s50Qvy9z

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!

Participants should choose a real life hero and submit an entry.

• One page
• Typed or handwritten
• Turn in to front office/ Attention PTO
• Due by Friday, 2/23

PTO will choose a winner from each grade level to submit to the FCS PTO Council by 3/1.

All students who submit a writing will receive a prize.

Winners in each grade will receive a special Chick Fil A lunch with our Principals and PTO representatives. Winners will also be featured on social media, the school news show, and in the newsletter.

Dear Families,

The main reasons for keeping your child at home are as follows:

• If he/she is too sick to be comfortable at school
• If he/she will spread a contagious illness/disease to another child

Remember: Students must be fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications before returning to school. Students must also be vomiting and diarrhea free for 24 hours before returning to school.

Kristen Knottek, BSN, RN

School Nurse

Chestatee Elementary

770-887-2341 ext. 722151

f41520@forsyth.k12.ga.us

Not only did Faye and Rusty support students' learning with rulers for Eureka Math, they helped at the Snowflake Ball and brought instructors to help too!

Dr. Crews and her team brought their tooth fairy program to our Pre-K, kindergarten, and second grade classes. Each student received a goody bag too!

Thanks to David and Savannah for the Chick Fil-A biscuits for our staff!

Thanks to Pamela McKethan and Jason Bates for the teacher treats and information.

These high school students collect and deliver food bags weekly for our Blessings in a Backpack program.

If you are looking to volunteer this year, we would love to have you! Please watch the mandated reporter video (10 minutes) and sign off on the confidentiality form. Click here for everything you need. https://docs.google.com/document/d/11sucZ7O2QGJMRh5Vr9UwvOpr7UpaRIaCLc8HklX8vjQ/edit?usp=sharing

Meg Killingsworth will take these signed forms in the office. We also have hard copies.

Do you or someone you know have 30 minutes a week to make the difference of a lifetime? Mentors are positive adults the spend time with one student each week building relationships and confidence in the child's life. Please contact Robin Mitchell at rmitchell@forsyth.k12.ga.us or ext. 722455 to discuss the possibilities.

Research confirms that quality mentoring relationships have powerful positive effects on young people in a variety of personal, academic, and professional situations. Mentoring leads to better attendance, academic learning, self-confidence, and higher graduation rates.

As we kick off 2024, please join us in celebrating National #MentoringMonth. Still looking for a resolution for the new year? We are short mentors at many of our schools. Visit www.forsyth.k12.ga.us/mentoring to find mentor training dates to make a difference in the life of a child.

Watchdog Dads

Calling all male role models! Watchdog Dads are welcome at the T!

Our WatchDOG (Dads of Great Students) is an awesome program where positive role models come and spend the day with us! From car line to the morning news to visiting classrooms, our guys will have a blast helping us at the school.

There are two ways to help:

#1- Wear a WD shirt (we have one to borrow if needed), and help on car line by smiling, greeting kids, and helping them get out of the car.

Carline Signup

#2-Wear a WD shirt and spend the day with us! You'll visit the carline, the school news, your child's class, Pathways classes, lunch and recess. You'll be busy and tired at the end of the day!

WD Signup for the Day

Click here for all the information!

Questions? Contact Meg Killingsworth

770-887-2341 ext. 723002

Email Meg

Hello Chestatee Families!

I sure do love our families, and since February is a month for love, I wanted to do a fun article of reasons why! I actually listed 15 of my top reasons from the month of January! Know that I could go on and on. You continue to amaze me, Families. Thank you for making my job so much fun! P.S. You'll see a common theme in each reason.

15 Reasons Just From January to Love Our Families

15 Executed an amazing event for our girls

14 A PTO Board dedicated to helping make our school be amazing

13 Amazing volunteers who come and help set up, serve and take down

12 Amazing families who help their girls look beautiful for an event

11 Amazing families who bring their girls to dance the night away

10 An amazing turnout to our second APTT meeting during the cold winter months

9 An amazing response on surveys seeking feedback and input into next year’s planning

8 An amazing Local School Council who helped voice needs of the school

7 An amazing Parent Advisory Council who meets quarterly to give feedback

6 An amazing carline filled with volunteers willing to dress up and wave at 7:00 AM on Friday mornings

5 Amazing families who smile and wave at our staff as they drop their little ones off for the day

4 An amazing group of volunteers who come weekly to help teachers in classrooms

3 An amazing response to our Watchdog Dad program with male role models spending the day at the T to work with students

2 An amazing following on social media and our school’s platforms

1 An amazing partnership between our school and families.

Underlying theme- you are amazing! Thank you, Chestatee. I feel so very fortunate to come to our lovely school each day.

Together WE are Chestatee!

See you soon,

Meg

Meg Killingsworth

770-887-2341 ext. 723002

mkillingsworth@forsyth.k12.ga.us

http://chestateeyearbook.com/

@JOSTENSYEARBOOK, @JOSTENSADVISERANDSTAFF, #YEARBOOKWEEKSWEEPSTAKES, #YEARBOOKLOVE

If you ask to connect your Kroger Plus card to Chestatee Elementary, they will donate a certain percentage of the profits to our school. You can find out more about how to do this if you CLICK HERE.

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!

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