Talley Street Update

• Rock Your Socks Day: March 21
• Early Release: March 26 @ 12:15 p.m.
• Rising 6th Grade Parent Night: March 27, 6:30 p.m. @ BHMS
• TigerFest: March 29
• CSD Art Show: April 1-3, 4-7 p.m.
• Talley Bingo Night: April 3, 6 p.m.
• Spring Break: April 7-11

Hello Talley Families!

As you are aware, state testing is quickly approaching! Our testing dates are as follows:

• Wednesday, March 26th-SECURE practice testing (school-wide)

• Monday, April 21-ELA Section 1

• Tuesday, April 22-ELA Section 2

• Wednesday, April 23-ELA Section 3

• Thursday, April 24-Math Section 1

• Friday, April 25-Math Section 2

• Monday, April 28-Science Section 1 and 2-5th grade ONLY

There are few things we need your support with to ensure your child’s testing success. Please encourage your child to get plenty of rest the nights before testing. Make sure your child is eating a healthy, well-balanced breakfast. We serve breakfast every day from 7:20-7:40. Encourage them to take their time while testing. This is not a race. It is a celebration of how much they have learned and grown over this school year. Lastly, school begins at 7:45. Please make sure your child is at school on time and each day of testing. Testing is highly structured and time is a critical factor. If you are looking for ways to help your child with GA Milestones, please refer to https://www.gaexperienceonline.com/ for resources and testing practice.

During testing, students are allowed to have a peppermint because research shows that mint helps with brain stimulation; however, they cannot eat snacks or other candies during testing. Their teachers will allow snacks after testing. Please refrain from sending candy with your student during this time.

If you have any questions, please contact Lateefah Mosley at lmosley@csdecatur.net. As always we appreciate our Talley community. Your partnership is invaluable.

We are excited to see you at Tigerfest on March 29! Please plan to walk if possible. The parking lot is for volunteers and the band only.

Below is the link you can use to purchase your child's class group picture. You can also scan the QR Code. They are offering the class group picture in 5x7 & 8x10.

You are invited to an informational evening at Beacon Hill Middle School. Join us to discover what middle school is all about!

• What: The nuts & bolts of the middle school program presented by the Beacon Hill administrators, school counselors, veteran 6th grade parents, and student ambassadors. A Q&A will follow our presentation.
• When: Thursday, March 27th, 2025
• 6:30-7:00pm -- Student-led Tours (optional)
• 7:00-8:00pm -- Parent Orientation Session
• Where: Beacon Hill Middle School
• For Whom: 5th Grade Parents/Guardians ONLY (*Students will tour BHMS in early May)

Questions? Contact Ragan Hudson, 6th Grade Counselor (404-370-4440, ext. 5019; rhudson@csdecatur.net) OR Jordon Muse, Support Services Counselor (404-370-4440, ext. 5020; jordon.muse@csdecatur.net).

The BHMS PTA works to build a dynamic and engaged school community that contributes to a safe and equitable educational environment for all of our students. We love to show appreciation to our teachers and staff, as well as promote programs, initiatives and school spirit to enrich our students and school.

We are seeking rising sixth-grade family members who would like to join in our efforts for the 2025-2026 school year. We are in need of all levels of involvement as members of our executive committee or volunteers for a specific event. Learn more about what we do and how you can get involved by completing our Volunteer Interest Form.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, half of all U.S. waste ends up in landfills, and only 24% gets recycled. However, with some simple changes, we actually can make a difference.

Plastic film waste is an item most households generate every day. (Think of all those plastic shipping envelopes, grocery bags and zipper bags we use!) While plastic film cannot be processed through most curbside collection programs (It jams the machinery!), it can be recycled through special collections and used for other products.

Through Talley's partnership with Ridwell, plastic film collections have been a huge success this school year. Our biweekly collections have kept hundreds of pounds of plastic film out of our local landfill. Now we have an opportunity to earn free pickups for the entire 2025-2026 school year. To make this happen, we need 10 families to sign up for Ridwell's home pickup service between now and May 23 using the following link:

Unsure if Ridwell's service is right for you? Read what Talley staff, family and friends who joined in the fall have to say...

"Recycling with Ridwell is very convenient for my family. We (myself, two teenagers and a spouse) are now aware of just how much plastic we use. It helps us make better packaging decisions as consumers, and we feel great that we are taking care of most of the plastic we do use. Ridwell is easy to work with. They send reminders, pick up on time and give reusable bags each time. I love the categories that we get to recycle as well, like, cords, bread tags and even books that can't be donated." — Jen S.

"As a new Ridwell user, I have nothing but great things to say about the service. The app is intuitive, and I appreciate all of the reminders leading up to our Ridwell pickup day. Olin (age 5) helps to sort our plastics and quickly learned that his favorite fruit bar wrappers go in the Ridwell bin, not the trash. Our family has definitely reduced the amount of household trash that ends up in a City of Decatur bag, and we can all feel good about less waste going to a landfill!" — Anna Marie W.

"We love the service. Our son's involvement has been fun, too!" —Pualani S.

NOTE: We will award 5 points to each house that recruits new membership. Thank you for supporting our school sustainability efforts!

Thank you to all who sent in their plastic film for collection this week. This month's winner was the House of Amistad! Because of spring break, our next collection for house points will be Wednesday, March 26.

The climate survey for Talley Street is open through March 31, 2025. These surveys are the measures by which GaDOE determine each school’s climate, and the results are a part of each school's CCRPI results. Schools with fewer than 15 family responses or less than 51% of student and staff participation will lose one star from their overall School Climate Rating. Your voice is valued and vital! Please take the Talley Street Family Climate Survey.

The 2025-2026 CSD enrollment opens on Monday, March 3, for rising Kindergarten students or students new to CSD. Registration may be completed entirely online. Find more registration information here.

New Families: See CSD's Key Contacts & Resources for Families, available in multiple languages.

REMINDER: If your currently enrolled student has a sibling who will be new to CSD for the 2025-2026 school year, you must register this new sibling via the Parent Portal.

1. Select "More" from the menu in the Parent Portal.

2. Select "Annual Data Update."

3. Select "2025-2026 New Student Registration."

As part of the enrollment process, you will also need to email residency documentation to CSD's district enrollment specialist, Patrice Moore, at pmoore@csdecatur.net, as the Parent Portal will not allow you to change or upload this field. Information about required residency proof documents is available on the CSD website. Please contact pmoore@csdecatur.net or 404-371-3601 x1063 for assistance.

• Last Chance for Early-Bird Tickets to TigerFest! Get yours for $20 per student today! (adults are free but must register): bit.ly/tigerfest25 . Tickets increase to $25 tomorrow, 3/14.
• Volunteers Needed! Adults who sign up will be entered to win a $50 gift card to Kelly’s Market. 1 shift=1 entry.
• Adult Volunteers (Age 18+): https://signup.com/go/jHGzOmx
• BHMS/DHS Student Volunteers: https://signup.com/go/yYyGbpW
• Auction: Bidding opens on 3-21. Preview now!: bit.ly/4iJeBeU

• Order your yearbook! $28 at bit.ly/talleyyearbooks24. Consider donating one, too! A discount code is available for financial assistance; contact Ms. Weaver (kiweaver@csdecatur.net), school Counselor. Not sure if you’ve ordered yet?: Ask yearbook@talleypto.org.

• Instagram @TalleyPTO

• Facebook page

• Facebook Parent & Community Group

We’re thrilled to announce an amazing opportunity for our future cheerleaders! The BHMS cheer coaches are hosting a Cheer Mini Camp on March 18th and 19th.

📅 Dates: March 18th-19th

🕐 Time: 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
📍 Location: BHMS Gym

This mini camp is the perfect way for kids to get a taste of cheerleading, learn new skills, and have a blast with our awesome coaches! For registration, we’re collecting the camp fee via GOFAN (preferred method), or you can use money orders or checks made out to Decatur Athletics. Please note, cash will not be accepted.

Registration Link: https://gofan.co/event/3344102?schoolId=GA72664

The City of Decatur offers the Animal Crackers program at all K-2 school sites and the Whiz Kids program at all 3-5 school sites. Enrollment for incoming students is done through a lottery process, which opened on February 20 and closes on April 18, 2025. The lottery spin will be April 25, 2025. Full details on registering for the afterschool lottery are on the City of Decatur website at How to Register for 25-26 Lottery on the Forms and Documents page. Contact the Out-of-School Time Division for more information at dprd@decaturga.com or 404-377-0494.

Families can find various afterschool options for students for the 2025-26 school year on the CSD website.

Tour deCatur Registration is Open

Get ready, get set, get registered for Decatur Education Foundation's 23rd annual Tour deCatur! Sign up at www.tourdecatur.com.

The fun happens on Saturday, March 15, at the Decatur High School stadium. This year, in addition to the 5k (a Peachtree qualifier), the 1-Mile Fun Run, and the adorable Tot Trot (for our friends ages four and under), DEF is offering a "None-Run" for anyone who wants to support Decatur kids without breaking a sweat! This is DEF's largest fundraiser and supports programs and initiatives that remove obstacles, provide opportunities, support educators, and strengthen the Decatur community.

This year's Bulldog Bash is Saturday, March 22 at Independent Distilling Company. The event will feature a live online auction with everything from artwork, experiences, trips, restaurant gift cards, sporting event tickets, self-care and much more. Plus, Hapa Kitchen will serve delicious Hawaiian comfort cuisine. All proceeds support Decatur Athletics, including more than 1,100 student-athletes on 57 teams representing 19 sports at DHS and BHMS. Buy tickets here.

You can find more information on the following Facebook pages:

Talley Street Principal

Talley Street Upper Elementary School PTO

Talley Street Upper Elementary School Parents

Talley Street Artists

Talley Street PE

And these Instagrams:

@talleytigergram

@talleystemstagram

@talleystreetgarden

@TalleyPTO

For news from our counselors, check out their website:

Counseling Website

For more about the Talley Street PTO, visit their website here: https://talleypto.org/.

Read recent issues of the Talley Street Update below. Older issues of CSD Weekly may be found on CSD's district newsletter webpage.