Talley Street Update

Save the Date!

Family Math Festival: TONIGHT! September 18, 5-7 PM
Fall Break - NO SCHOOL: September 22-26
Walk n Roll: October 3
Field Day: October 10
Early Release: October 22 @ 12:15

Important - Check Submissions

All checks submitted to Talley should be completed in dark blue or black ink. Please do not send any checks written in red, sky blue, pink, green, etc. The bank cannot process checks written in light colors.

Student Portrait Day

Please see below for which date your child's class has portrait day.

October 14: Bundschu, Farley, Hickson, Thompson, Young, Berglund, Friedrich, Heard, Jackson, Brown, Ellspermann, Dorsey, Gee, Sanders, Heidelberg, Wren. October 20: Childs, Gudrunardottir, Holliday, Nichols, Polding, Welp, Adams, Duernberger, Hill, Kramer, Pacini

Dismissal Changes/Checkouts after Special Events

There will be no checkouts after Talley Rally or 1:45pm. The office will not be able to enter last-minute dismissals. If you would like to change your child to walkup pick up in Pick Up Patrol, please enter that information in advance anytime before noon on the day of Talley Rally. As a walkup pick up, your child will meet you when walkers are dismissed on the sidewalk on the parking lot side. They can also dismiss how they normally dismiss on a Friday or event afternoons. Thank you for your cooperation.

Important Information about Gifted Review (Deadline: October 1)

Each fall semester the gifted review team looks at existing student data to discuss students’ needs and determine if further evaluation for gifted identification is needed. If you are interested in having the team discuss your child’s needs, you may complete a Recommendation for Review Form and turn it into the Gifted & Talented Specialist at your child’s school before Wednesday, October 1. No additional information is needed. The Gifted & Talented Specialists for Talley Street Elementary are Lindsey Combs, Nicole Fiber, and Ashley Forman. For more detailed information about the review process, please contact the Gifted & Talented Specialists for Talley at lindsey.combs@csdecatur.net, nfiber@csdecatur.net, or aforman@csdecatur.net or here is the attached Recommendation for Review form.

CSD Administering BASC-3 BESS (October 6-31)

From Oct. 6-31, 2025, CSD will administer the Social, Emotional and Behavioral Screening (BASC-3 BESS), a brief screening tool for students in grades 3-12 that helps to identify social, emotional, and behavioral strengths and needs so schools can provide timely support. Screener results help schools strengthen classroom practices, offer small-group or individual support, and partner with families to connect students with resources. Together, we can ensure every child feels safe, seen and supported. Find out more in the Social, Emotional and Behavioral Screening (BASC-3 BESS) FAQ.

Families wishing to opt out must complete the opt-out form by September 19, 2025.

Calling All Volunteers - Field Day! (October 10)

Talley Street Upper Elementary's Field Day is approaching!

October 10, 2025 - all grade levels

We need your help to make Field Day a success, and the kids love to see you there. There will be a PLAYGROUND/BLACKTOP/GYM segment and a BACK FIELD segment for all grade levels. Students will travel with their homeroom teacher and an assisting teacher, and we just need your help to run the stations. Schedules and links are posted below. Click on the grade level to be directed to the SignUpGenius. Feel free to email any questions to Coach Jefferson (tjefferson@csdecatur.net) or Coach Johns (njohns@csdecatur.net).

5th grade schedule and volunteer link:

8:30 am - 9:40 am Back field
12:30 pm - 1:40 pm Playground, blacktop, gym

4th grade schedule and volunteer link:

8:30 am - 9:40 am Playground, blacktop, gym
10:30 am - 11:40 am Back Field

3rd grade schedule and volunteer link:

10:30 am - 11:40 am Playground, blacktop, gym
12:30 pm - 1:40 pm Back field

Clarifications on Recycling and the Green Team Store

The Green Team appreciates the large uptick in recycled materials making their way to school. While we wish we could collect everyone's plastic from home, we do not have the storage space to do that. Plastic recycled at school is plastic that is used at school. Plastic film should be brought to school on the days we collect plastic film for House Points; our next collection day is Wednesday, October 8. Items brought for the Green Team Store must comply with the specific list of items listed on the Green Team website. Food-related items should be clean and dry. Please direct any questions to Kathryn Roberts. Thank you for your support!

Interested in joining the Green Team? Please complete our sign-up form. Parent volunteers are greatly appreciated!

Green Team Sign-Up Form

Last chance! Donate to Talley’s Class Fund by tomorrow, September 19th! We are close to our goal of $18,000 – please help us reach it! This fund will be split equally between classrooms to support appreciation gifts for Homeroom and Specials teachers throughout the year (for birthdays, holidays, and Appreciation week). Contributions of any size make a difference! bit.ly/classfund25.

FREE event tonight at Talley! Come spark math joy at Talley’s Family Math Festival this evening from 5pm - 7pm! This is a fun event with open house-style math games for the whole family. We hope to see you there!
Our next Walk & Roll is on Friday, October 3rd! Come join us and stretch your legs when we return from Fall Break.
Field Day is coming up on Friday, October 10th and we’re looking for a few volunteer photographers to help capture all of the action! If you’re interested and available for 1-2 hours between 8:30am-1:40pm, contact yearbook@talleypto.org for more details.

Save the date for

Talley’s Reading Rally

, coming up in mid-October! More details to come!

Talley ‘25-’26 yearbooks are now on pre-sale! They are $23 through 12/31/25 (when they will increase to $28). Order at bit.ly/talleyyearbook25. Please consider donating a yearbook. If you need financial assistance, a discount code is available; contact Ms. Weaver (kiweaver@csdecatur.net), Talley school counselor. For other questions, contact yearbook@talleypto.org.

Join the Talley PTO Parents Group on Facebook (bit.ly/Parentgroup) and follow us on Instagram (@TalleyPTO) to stay connected and receive PTO updates throughout the year!