Talley Street Update
This week's news from Talley Street Upper Elementary
Dear Talley Street Families,
I hope this letter finds you well. My name is Antonio McGaha, and I am the new Site Coordinator with Communities In Schools (CIS) of Atlanta. I will work with our scholars to support their academic, regular attendance, and personal development goals. Communities In Schools' mission is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.
What our scholars can expect to receive:
- Academic Support and Progress Monitoring
- Mentoring and Advocacy -G.E.N.T.S and Y.L.O.E Programs
- Choose Success Community Service Project
- Literacy Project
- Incentives and Rewards to encourage and motivate student attendance, good behavior, and academic achievement.
Once I receive the parent consent forms permitting vetted scholars to participate, I will meet with them to begin working towards achieving their unique goal of thriving as leaders. The program is designed not to interfere with their instruction during the day; however, we will tailor it to their needs, incorporating elements such as lunch break, check and connect, and special celebrations to acknowledge their achievements.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the above mentioned information, please email me at amcgaha@cisatlanta.org, antonio.mcgaha@csdecatur.net or stop by room 206 to speak with me.
Sincerely,
Antonio McGaha, BSW | Site Coordinator
Talley Street Elementary
STEM Needs
Please bring paper towel and toilet paper rolls to school! Ms. Reno needs them for STEM. Thank you in advance!
Talley Robotics Challenge Teams (4th and 5th Grade): Now Accepting Student Applications
Are you passionate about STEM? Do you enjoy problem-solving, teamwork, and creativity? Are you in 4th or 5th grade? Then the Talley First Lego League (FLL) Robotics Challenge Team may be for you! Discover the thrill of engineering, problem-solving, and teamwork. Design and program LEGO robots, research real-world challenges, and present innovative solutions in exciting team competitions. For more information, visit: FIRST | For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (firstinspires.org).
Talley Robotics is currently seeking students who want to be on a team that uses creativity, collaboration, and design skills to solve problems. Please note, this is a competitive team, not a club. Teams generally practice once a week for two hours after school and will compete in at least one FLL regional competition in December (more if teams advance past regionals). Participants are expected to regularly attend practices and competitions (barring emergencies/illness) and actively participate and engage. The cost to participate is $125 per season (needs-based scholarships are available).
Applications are available here. The deadline to submit an application is Thursday, August 21st at 11:59pm. For questions please contact Talley STEM teacher Ms. Reno at (areno@csdecatur.net)
Author Visit: Emily Bowen Cohen
Our first author visit of the school year will take place on Monday, September 15! Author Emily Bowen Cohen will be visiting all Talley students to talk about her graphic novel, Two Tribes. In this book inspired by her life, the author explores her experiences growing up in the Jewish and Muscogee cultures. Book order forms went home in communication folders today. It is also linked below. Students should turn in their money and completed forms to their teacher by August 22!
Families Invited to Webinar about CSD’s Balanced Assessment System
Families are invited to join a webinar on Wednesday, August 20 at 6 p.m. to discuss ELA standards, curriculum, and the CSD Balanced Assessment System, hosted by CSD's Teaching and Learning department.
We will share examples of how the standards have changed, information on cursive writing, and the new curriculum. We will also review how our Balanced Assessment System works, featuring interim assessments, STAR, and student reports. This is a great opportunity to learn more about what your child will be learning this year and how you can support them at home. Join webinar here. You will receive your student's most recent STAR testing reports in next week's Thursday folders.
Students Invited to Apply for Superintendent's Student Advisory Council
Superintendent Dr. Whitaker invites student leaders and interested students to apply for the Superintendent's Student Advisory Council. Councils are divided into age groups and invite student members to share their perspectives and experiences with the Superintendent on a variety of issues, offering a two-way system of communication between students and the Office of the Superintendent.
Students are also asked to attend each meeting (see dates below) at the Wilson Center after school in the Superintendent's Office. The deadline to apply is Friday, August 22, at 5 p.m. Selected students will be notified by Friday, August 29, 2025. Apply for the Superintendent's Student Advisory Council here.
Social Media and Contact Information
You can find more information on the following Facebook pages:
Talley Street Upper Elementary School Parents
And these Instagrams:
@talleystreetgarden
For more about the Talley Street PTO, visit their website here: https://talleypto.org/.