TCE TIGER TALK Newsletter

Safety is always our first concern at Tiger Creek Elementary and Catoosa County Public Schools. I wanted to welcome and introduce a new layer of safety being provided by the District called “SchoolDog.” “SchoolDog” is a web-based application where documentation of safety concerns and positive outcomes from regular procedures are kept in a database where real-time data can be used to track and maintain safety information for all Catoosa County schools including Tiger Creek.

We also want to welcome our new SRO, Tyler Smith, who will be an integral part of these procedures and keeping track of the data necessary to have one of the safest schools in all of Georgia.

If you ever have concerns or questions about Sielox, “SchoolDog,” or any safety issue please let me know by email- dbeard@catoosa.k12.ga.us Go Tigers!

Mr. David Beard,

TCE Principal

Welcome back, Tigers! It's hard to believe we're already a month into the new school year. The first few weeks have been full of learning and laughter, and it's wonderful to see all of our students settling in and making new friends.

Attendance Matters

A huge thank you to all our families for your commitment to good attendance. Being at school on time every day is one of the most important things a student can do to be successful. It ensures they don't miss out on important lessons and helps them build a strong foundation for the rest of the year. Keep up the great work!

Character Trait of the Month: Courage

This month, we are focusing on the character trait of courage. Courage is about being brave enough to do what you know you should, even when you're scared or nervous. We want to encourage our students to have the courage to try new things, stand up for what's right, and ask for help when they need it. It takes courage to learn and grow, and we're excited to see our Tigers show their bravery in big and small ways.

A Note on Our Car Rider Line

To keep our car rider line moving smoothly and safely, please remember the following:

Do not get out of your car to buckle your child in while in the car line. This holds up the entire line and can be dangerous. Instead, please pull ahead past spot number 1 to a designated buckling station. Once you are safely parked, you can then get out and help your child buckle up. Also, please remember that staff members cannot buckle students in. This is for your child's safety and to ensure we can keep the line flowing. Thank you for your cooperation in helping us make our dismissal process safe and efficient for everyone.

Mrs. Jayme Dills,

TCE Assistant Principal

Looking for a way to stay up-to-date with technology and keep your students safer online? Catoosa County Public Schools and the Georgia Department of Education are excited to provide you with resources to help protect your family online with Parent ProTech's on-demand platform at no charge!

Click here to Sign Up

Your Parent ProTech access includes:

• A library of videos and guides to help parents make confident, informed choices about technology
• A complete K-12 digital citizenship curriculum for classroom use, meeting SB 351 requirements
• Tools that help families and educators make smart tech decisions to keep kids safe online

Click the image to access a guide to help you with the knowledge and tools that you need to help decode the digital world your children navigate daily. Help keep your children and our community safe.

ESPLOST is a voter-approved 1% sales tax dedicated specifically to funding capital improvements in local public schools. It cannot be used for salaries or daily operations — only for facilities, safety, technology, and transportation. The previous ESPLOSTs have helped fund both infrastructure of schools as well as fund curriculum and technology throughout our county.

Previous ESPLOST FUNDS were used here at TIGER CREEK:

Purchasing:

MAP Reading and Math Software

Benchmark Advance Grades K-5 (Reading & Language Arts Curriculum)

I-Ready Toolbox Grades K-5 (Math Software)

Lexia/I-Ready Intervention Seats (Reading Software)

Amria Learning Grades 4-5 (Reading Screener)

Pear Math Assessment

Playground Equipment

Upgrading:

TCE Auditorium Renovation

Phone Conversion

Sielox Safety Software

New Intercom System

Seal and Restripe Parking Lot

The School Board of Education is seeking community input to ensure that ESPLOST VII projects reflect the priorities of Catoosa County citizens. Citizens may provide input about ESPLOST VII projects by sending an email to esplostviiinput@catoosa.k12.ga.us

Parents, please note that all elementary schools will dismiss starting at 11:00am on Friday, September 19th! Students will go home their normal way unless you send in a note saying otherwise.

Mrs. Bridges will hold the Fall Parent Advisory Council (PAC) Meeting & Volunteer Orientation on Thursday, September 25, 2025. The PAC Meeting will start at 10am and the Volunteer Orientation will follow at 11am.

We value family engagement at our school and want you to

have a voice in decision making. All parents and guardians

are invited to join our Parent Advisory Council (PAC).

WE want your input!

If you have any questions and to RSVP to both events,

Please email:

Sara Bridges, Family Engagement Coordinator

sbridges.tce@catoosa.k12.ga.us

Scan the QR Code above with your phone's camera to access the Title 1 Fall Parent Survey. Please complete this brief survey as soon as you are able. It will remain open through Wednesday, September 17th!

We will use the information gathered from this survey to determine which Title 1 family events & workshops we will host this year and to provide you with any information on different topics. The survey will also let us know the best times and methods to conduct parent meetings and workshops.

We value our home-school partnership and this survey gives you the opportunity to help us with decision making at our school! I will be giving a treat to all students who has a parent/guardian or family member fill out the survey.

This month we are showcasing our Connection Teachers! These ladies work so hard for our students to have a fantastic year! Not only do they teach all the K-5th students, can remember all their names but they also recognize their parents' vehicles from calling cars in the afternoons! They are on multiple committees and in charge of many student programs and events! We are very blessed to have them here at TCE!

A big TCE welcome to school social worker Danielle Pettyjohn. Ms. Danielle has previously been at Clouds Springs Elementary and Westside Elementary. We are thrilled to have her join our team at TCE. Ms. Danielle will be in the counseling office on Tuesdays and Thursdays and can be reached at dpettyjohn@catoosa.k12.ga.us.

Helping Hands food bags and other resources will be starting this fall. Give me a call at (706) 935-0722 or email at chaynes.tce@catoosa.k12.ga.us if you would like to access that program or have questions about any resources offered by the Counseling Office.

If you feel overwhelmed, reach out to the counseling office. Mrs. Haynes and Rex are here for you every day. Take courage--we are all in this together!

Aiden, Mrs. Dills, and Hunter fed Rex a special lunch of fly larvae and butternut squash. Rex loves to have visitors in the counseling office and especially enjoys climbing on shoulders and having his picture taken. He is very generous with his worms and crickets, but he's not offended if you'd rather eat your own lunch.

Which class will bring in the most cans for the food drive?

Stay tuned to find out!

Fun ways to practice Reading and Math at home with your child:

READING:

• Family Story Night – Take turns reading a chapter or picture book out loud together.
  

• Scavenger Hunt – Make a list of spelling or sight words to find around the house or while running errands.
  

• Bedtime “Commercial” – Have kids give a 1-minute “commercial” about the book they’re reading to encourage summarizing.
  

• Book-to-Movie Challenge – Read a book together, then watch the movie version and compare.

MATH:

• Cooking & Baking – Measuring cups = fractions in action. Double or halve a recipe for practice.
  

• Grocery Store Math – Compare prices, estimate totals, or find the better deal.
  

• Board Games & Card Games – Yahtzee, Monopoly, Uno, or even simple card games build number sense.
  

• Sports Stats – Track favorite player stats, calculate averages, or keep score during a family game.
  

• Math Scavenger Hunt – Find shapes, angles, or numbers around the house or neighborhood.
  

• Money Practice – Let kids handle change, add up purchases, or run a “store” at home

• Daily Estimation – Guess how many steps to the mailbox, then check. Estimate how long dinner will take, then time it.

Jill Bishop

TCE Academic Coach

Our students love their grandparents and want to show them how much!

Come celebrate with us on Thursday, September 11th!

The 1st & 2nd graders will be performing, doughnuts in the cafeteria and enjoy the Book Fair.

1st & 2nd Grade Performers need to be in their homeroom classroom at 5:45pm to get

ready for the performance. Remember, performers need to wear Disney Shirts or

solid light colored shirts with jeans or dark slacks.

Our September PTO Meeting will be on Monday, September 29th at 6pm!

We will meet in the TCE Auditorium and will be working on plans for the October Fall Festival.

All parents are welcome to join us.

Now that school is back in session, please be extra careful while driving, especially before and after school hours. Also, please take a moment to look at the above diagram shared by the Catoosa County Sheriff's Office which depicts the different types of roadways in the county and shows when you must stop for a school bus.

Catoosa County Sheriff's Deputies will be closely monitoring traffic in and around schools and bus stops to help ensure the safety of our children.

Our own SRO will be up on the road by the top parking lot during morning arrival time around 7:30am to 8:00am each morning. He will also be there during dismissal from around 2:30pm to 3:00pm. He is there to ensure that our students, their families and any traveler is safe during these heavy traffic times. Please pay attention to him, and follow his directions to ensure every one's safety.

Thank you for your continuous support! As always we ask everyone to stay vigilant and communicate, SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING

Stay Safe,

PLEASE REMEMBER:

You must have your ID to enter the building.

“See Something, Send Something” provides a platform to capture a photo of suspicious activity or send in information with written text. Information received in the app is sent directly to the Georgia Information Sharing and Analysis Center (GISAC) where the tips can be evaluated and provided to law enforcement across the state as needed. The application is available at no cost for iPhone and Android phone users, as well as iPad users.

The service, provided by My Mobile Witness, Inc., uses privacy protection software to safeguard users’ personal information and the integrity of tips. The system allows citizens to engage with GISAC without tracking locations or storing any personal information. Submitted tips are immediately removed from the mobile device and purged from the My Mobile Witness system following delivery to GISAC.

NOTE: This system is NOT intended for emergency situations. For situations requiring an immediate response, call 911 or your local law enforcement directly.

To download “See Something, Send Something,” click the correct phone type below:

Skip the Car Line Fundraiser has ended for the 1st Semester:

Congratulations to our 3 Winners:

Adalynn Davis - Pre-K

Emberlyn Adams - 1st Grade & Oaklyn Adams -Pre-K

Leldon Wilson -2nd Grade

Skip the car line will begin on Tuesday, September 2nd.

1st Quarter Celebration

Groovin' at the Disco Dance Party!

Friday, October 3rd

60 tickets/points to attend & NO Major writeups

We are Ready!

We are Respectful!

We are Safe!

We help make our school TIGERRIFIC!

This year is off to a great start! Kindergarten and First Grade students are learning American Sign Language during Media Center connections. So far, we have learned the alphabet and several animal signs!

The Fall Book Fair will be September 8-12, and will be open during Grandparent's Night. To preview the fair and set up your child's eWallet, use the link below.

https://www.scholastic.com/bf/tigercreekelementaryschool1

To prevent injury of themselves and others: EACH STUDENT MUST WEAR TENNIS SHOES TO PARTICIPATE IN PE!

NO crocs, hey dudes, boots, flip flops, sandals or slides allowed!

Please see that your student is dressed appropriately for PE on their designated days. Students who do not have proper footwear will walk laps in the gym instead of participating in games.

PE Schedule by Homeroom Teacher for this 9 weeks:

Monday & Tuesday: Schmidt, Thomas, Vess, Helton, Cothern, McClure

Wednesday: McNair, Medina, Cross, Gray, Eberhart, Stoner

Thursday & Friday: Montoya, Collins, Kominczak, Saylor, Eaton, Pursley

Now that we are back in school, it is time to talk about ways to help prevent spreading germs.

• Through handwashing with soap & water for at least 20 seconds is the crucial step to prevent illness.
• Washing hands often.
• Sneezing or coughing into your elbow or covering your nose/mouth with a tissue.
• Carrying hand sanitizer that contains at least 70% isopropyl alcohol.
• Staying home if you are sick.
• Avoiding people who are sick.

Proper hand hygiene can significantly decrease illness-related absences in schools.

How to Wash Hands Properly:

• Wet Hands: use clean running water to wet hands and wrists
• Apply Soap: Apply soap & lather your hands
• Scrub Thoroughly: Vigorously rub your hands together for at least 20 seconds

• Rinse Well: rinse hands & wrists with clean running water keeping hands tilted downward.
• Dry: Dry hands & wrists with a clean dry cloth or disposable towel.

Click the virtual room below to learn more about germs and handwashing!

Thank you to all who took the time to look over our Title 1 Annual Meeting and filled out the Sign-In sheet. The Title 1 Annual Meeting Presentation and Meeting Minutes will be posted on the school website under the Title 1 Tab. You may access it at anytime during the school year.

The Title I Family Resource Center is a dedicated space in our school for families. Located in room 100, is a place for parents to check out items to use with their children, to work on school volunteer projects and also to obtain helpful info. Title I documents, community events and the Parent Resource Library are all located here. The Resource Library can be used by parents to help their student(s) reach their full potential. We have books and academic materials that can be checked out by parents to use at home to help improve their student(s) reading and math skills. These items can help make learning more fun and exciting. Contact Mrs. Bridges to check something out.

If you or someone you know needs help getting their GED, please email me, I have information and contacts to help.

Mrs. Bridges has a coffee & cocoa bar for staff & volunteers as well as a large area to work in. If you are interested in volunteering in any type of way, please stop in and see her in Room 100, or email her at sbridges.tce@catoosa.k12.ga.us Her office hours are: 7:30-11:30, Monday-Friday.

You may have a teacher-parent conference at any time during the school year. If you have any concerns, please let the teacher/school know as soon as possible. If you have updated medical info, or want more information on the way your child learns or learning standards contact your child’s teacher by emailing the teacher, calling the school at 706-935-9890 and leaving the teacher a voice message or by sending in a written request to the teacher. Your child's teacher will get back to you as quickly as possible.

We value your input on TCE Title 1 Components such as the Policy, Budget, School Improvement Plan, etc... Parents are welcome to contribute comments at any time. If you have any questions/concerns, please see Mrs. Sara Bridges, Parent Involvement Coordinator, or our Administrators: Mr. Beard, or Mrs. Dills.

Additional Title 1 Information & Resources:

2025-2026 TCE Title 1 Annual Meeting

Testing in Georgia

Components of a Title I Schoolwide Plan

Georgia Standards of Excellence

How to Communicate with Your Child’s Teacher

2025-2026 TCE Parent & Family Engagement Policy

2025-2026 CCPS Parent & Family Engagement Policy

Title 1 Input Card

Mrs. Sara L. Bridges

TCE's Parent Involvement Coordinator

Email: sbridges.tce@catoosa.k12.ga.us

Click above to explore the virtual room on Rules at School!

Click above to explore about the Good Citizenship Virtual Room!

Learn about how to become you can have good citizenship.

Click above to explore the Labor Day Virtual Room!

Click the Grandparent Virtual Room to learn all about Grandparents and why we celebrate them!

The Library at Catoosa offers a variety of services, such as monthly activities for all ages, an outstanding Genealogy collection, and over 100,000 items in print and audiovisual formats to check out. At the library, they provide free Internet, access to Microsoft Office programs, GALILEO, GADD, and so much more! Our Catoosa County Library is a member of PINES, a public library lending network of more than 300 libraries throughout Georgia. Click the link to see more of what is happening at your local Library!

https://www.catoosacountylibrary.org/