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

Welcome back! I hope everyone had a restful and rejuvenating Spring Break. It has been so wonderful to see our Eagles back in the building this week, refreshed and ready for the final stretch of the school year.

The absolute highlight of our first week back was the incredible turnout for our Talent Show last night. It was truly awesome to see so many of our students take the stage and showcase their unique skills. From singing and dancing to some very impressive hidden talents, it is clearer than ever that we have a remarkably "talented Crew" here at Glennwood!

Watching our students perform with such courage and joy was a powerful reminder of why we do what we do. A HUGE thank you to our music teacher, Mr. Crabb, and our incredible PTA for their hard work and dedication in making this evening possible. It was a night to remember!

If you were unable to attend the Talent Show, the video link was sent out to families this morning via eBlast. Please use the password "eagles" to access the video. There are also a few photos posted below.

I also hope you are all continuing to enjoy our One Crew, One Book journey with The One and Only Ivan. I know that I spent quite a bit of time over the break getting lost in Ivan's story. In fact, it has become a very special tradition for me —I’ve been reading the book over FaceTime with my niece back in Illinois. Even across the miles, sharing the adventures of Ivan, Stella, and Bob has been a wonderful way to stay connected. I’d love to hear how your families are enjoying the book together as well! Be sure to read below about new opportunities for families to participate in activities with One Crew, One Book.

Thank you for your continued support as we jump back into our routines. It's going to be a fantastic finish to the year!

In partnership,

Bill Howard
Proud Principal, Glennwood Elementary

Walk & Roll is THIS Friday, April 17th - lace up your walking shoes and put on your bike helmets! See you on the front steps Glennwood

Hi Parents! Field Day will be here before we know it. The official date is April 24 but we have two potential rain dates (May 1 and May 8) in place. Here is the volunteer sign-up form. Please limit to two family members to allow other families spots as well. Looking forward to a great day! Sign up to volunteer HERE!

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—April 30 and May 14—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 following this link.

Please register by 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.

🖤🦍💚Discover the Power of Reading Together!🖤🦍💚

Registration is ongoing to participate in One Crew, One Book at Glennwood. Please register following this link.

For those of you who missed Community Circle on March 27, we shared a special video message from Newbery Medalist and author of The One and Only Ivan, Katherine Applegate. If you would like to see this video, please find it HERE.

We will have special guests from the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund joining us in Community Circle this Friday to share more about what we can do as a community to help the critically endangered gorillas.

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

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!

In conjunction with the Little Shop of Stories Annual Children's Book Festival, Glennwood will be hosting author/illustrator Drew Brockington on Monday, May 4th. If you would like to order a book for your child, please find the updated order form below. Orders and payments are due Friday, April 17th! (For more information on these books, please see below.)

It's family day at CATSUP HQ, and Major Meowser is waiting for his dad-cat to make a BIG entrance. Anycat who's anycat knows who Buck Meowser is—the first cat to ever orbit Earth. He's a CatStronauts legend! Major's in for quite a shock, though, when CATSUP announces Buck is making a grand return, this time joining the CatStronauts on their mission to remove space junk from Earth's orbit. Perfect time for father-son bonding, right?

Well...Major and Buck can't stop ruffling each other's fur! But when the safety of their spacecraft is threatened, can these two put their paws together to make this mission a success? Author-illustrator Drew Brockington tests the CatStronauts with everything he's got-space litter, environmental peril, and of course, pawesome puns!

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 16, 2026, issue of CSD Weekly, the district-wide newsletter.

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

Honoring Exceptional Educators

An integral part of the Decatur Education Foundation’s mission is to recognize and celebrate the exceptional educators who support the youth of Decatur. Your generous contributions enable us to foster an environment where our outstanding educators are celebrated and empowered to make a lasting difference for our youth. Please consider nominating an educator for one of the awards. More information HERE.

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!🐾

The Decatur High School Student Government is partnering with LifeLine Animal Project to host a dog adoption event this Saturday, April 18th from 1:00PM to 4:00PM at Ebster field. We’d love to see our Glennwood families come out to meet some furry friends looking for forever homes or stop by to give donations to lifeline, anything is greatly appreciated! Hope to see y’all then.

Event Details:

What: DHS & LifeLine Dog Adoption Event

•When: This Saturday, April 18, 2026

Time: 1:00pm- 4:00pm

•Where: Ebster field