Happy February, Families!

As you know, our Board of Education named both of our assistant principals as principals for the 2025-26 school year. Dr. Angela Perry was named principal of Brookwood Elementary, and Mrs. Abby Gaines was named principal of Mashburn Elementary. Both ladies are extremely talented and dedicated leaders, and although we will miss them greatly, I cannot express how happy I am for them and their new schools. They will be amazing principals! It has been a true honor to work with Angela and Abby.

In the coming months, we will be working hard to hire the best team for our Chestatee family. Change is inevitable, but change brings opportunity. I’m excited to see the opportunities coming our way!

On another note, I would like to express my appreciation to our Chestatee PTO and volunteers that made the Snowflake Ball a huge success. What an event and night to remember! This month we are very excited about BINGO Night on February 21st. Our PTO is coordinating this event, and I have heard that EVERY player will win a prize! We have STEAM Night on February 25th too, which is a free night to come and experiment! It will be filled with science and math learning. We hope to see you there!

Together we are Chestatee!

With gratitude,

Jennifer Williams

• 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.

Luke did a great job representing Chestatee at the district spelling bee! Thanks, Luke!

We have lots of hard workers using Lexia to improve reading! We had a special midyear celebration to recognize these students.

Students can be "written up" for showing the Chestatee Way! Ms. Williams calls each student to the office to get a prize and picture. She loves seeing these role models in her office.

Each month, we have a ceremony to recognize students in each classroom for showing the Chestatee Way. Families are invited for these special events. We love when students are responsible, respectful, problem solvers.

Congratulations to Ms. Sherri Nelson for being named Chestatee Staff Member of the Month!

Safety is our number one priority in Forsyth County Schools, and driving kids is a huge responsibility. Ms. Sherri is one of our dear bus drivers who goes over and beyond every day. Ms. Sherri was nominated by a mother who wrote, “Ms. Sherri is one of our family’s biggest blessings ever. She picks our little girl up and drops her off with a smile. She loves her students. Bus drivers have a huge responsibility transporting our precious cargo each day. I wish we could take her all the way through school.” On top of her regular route, Ms. Sherri drives the EFHS interns to us each day and also runs the LMMS “Breakfast Club” route. These extras ensure that FCS students get extra support or experiences. We are very grateful for Ms. Sherri and for all of our drivers.

A big thanks to our Chestatee Elementary PTO and Mathnasium of Coal Mountain for sponsoring our Staff Member of the Month Program.

We need your input! Please let us know if there is a staff member who is making a difference for your child!

Click here to complete the Georgia Family Climate Survey.

2/2 Enrichment Enrollment Ends www.schoolpay.com

2/3-2/7 Kindergarten Registration for 2025-26 Students- Click here.

2/4 CFA Biscuits start back

2/5 Enrichment Club- Students dismiss at 4:00.

2/10 Live to Give

2/12 Enrichment Club

2/12 PTO Spirit Night at Johnny's Pizza- Keith Bridge

2/14-2/18 Student Holiday for Mid-Winter Break

2/18 Professional Development Day- No school for students

2/19 Enrichment Club

2/19 PTO Spirit Night at Panera Bread

2/20 High Flyer Ceremony- by invite

2/21 BINGO Night 6:00-8:00 (Doors open at 5:30- no presales)

2/25 STEAM Night

2/26 Enrichment Club

Resources from our Counseling Department.

Resources for Food Help

Food Help- Spanish

Mentoring Info

President- Kandi Wetzel

Co-Vice Presidents- Jennifer Grindle, Liana Hall, and Nicole Tierney

Secretaries- Meg Killingsworth and Christy Pittman

Treasurer- Emily Morgan

Parliamentarian- Julia Weart

Contact our PTO here!

Boosterthon Fundraiser- over $30,000

Successful School Events, Biscuit Tuesdays, Spirit Nights

Well Established Board

Volunteer and Family Involvement

Items Purchased with PTO Funds 2023-24

2 Water Bottle Fillers

New Stage Curtains

Decorated and Designed Staff “Haven”

Decorated and Designed Professional Learning Room

$4000 in Teacher Grants

Refreshed Reading Garden and Kindergarten Garden

Carline Upgrades/ Pavilion

Clinic Supplies

Supported Vertical Alignment and Family Events

Indoor Recess Games for ALL Homerooms

Staff Morale/ Teacher Appreciation

Items Purchased So Far with PTO Funds 2024-25

4th grade STEM bins for entire grade level

Over $3000 in teacher grants so far (11/24)

Bus driver appreciation

New Camera in newsroom

Refreshed Outdoor Gardens

Staff Morale

Teacher Appreciation Items

Coming soon- Benches in bus lane and playground equipment

Reading is my thing! I love a good story, and sometimes I even enjoy reading to learn. For the past few years, we have read different books in a Chestatee Book Club. This year, we are going to read The Anxious Generation. Our Board of Ed is actually reading this too, and it came highly recommended by one of our parents. Here is more information about the book. You're invited to join if you have the time!

Our meeting dates will be: February 19, March 5, March 19, and April 9 at 11:30.

Email me if interested!

Sincerely,

Meg Killingsworth

Family Engagement Coordinator

mkillingsworth@forsyth.k12.ga.us

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