Eagle Edition

Holly Brookins, PhD, Principal ~ Summer Clayton, Assistant Principal ~ Jill Tolsma, Instructional Coach

Email: hbrookins@csdecatur.net
Location: 440 East Ponce de Leon Avenue, Decatur, GA, USA
Phone: 404.370.4435 * Website * Facebook

In February, I was able to conduct Part One of a parent training called Becoming A More Resilient Parent. I have decided to cancel the second half of the training. It was a scripted program, and in the future, I would like to create my own parental training surrounding trauma and resiliency. In lieu of Part Two, I wanted to recap some of what was shared in Part One as well as some strategies that are covered in Part Two.

In Part One, we talked about the healing power of relationships and resilience. We learned that our childhood brain is the foundation of our adult brain. Stress can affect our brain development through exposure to prolonged toxic stress. To help our brains heal, we need to find strategies that help us move from our downstairs brains to our upstairs brains.

Here are some highlights of Part Two:

• Serotonin, the rest and digest hormone, lives in our diaphragm, so when we do deep breathing (like when we exercise or meditate) it circulates through our body, helping us get back “upstairs” to our calm place.

• Positive and supportive relationships build healthy brain connections, just like when we learn something new.

• Resilience is the ability to bounce forward from difficult situations. It can help children manage feelings of anxiety and uncertainty. (The 7 Cs: The Essential Building Blocks of Resilience)

Please let me know if you have any questions. I look forward to presenting again in the future.

Jonathan Blase, Ed. S.

School Counselor

jblase@csdecatur.net

We’re ready to kickoff our Spring Walk & Roll this Friday! For extra fun, rock your wackiest hairstyle. 😎

Reminder: our three "Walking School Buses" can be found below. Whether you're up for a stroll or a roll, join in the excitement with other families. Can't make it? No sweat! Drop your child at one of our stops, and our fantastic volunteers will walk them to school.

Attention all kindergarten families! Please help us show our appreciation by donating items for this month's snack table – sign up here. Please drop off all items to Ms. Reynolds at the front desk by Tuesday, March 18th. The PTA will assemble the snack table on Wednesday, March 19th. We are also requesting cleanup volunteers, so please sign up if you can help with the cleanup.

If you are unable to purchase items for the table, but would like to donate funds towards the event or to restock snacks in the teacher lounge, the PTA is also collecting monetary donations. Donations can be made here with a note that it is for the March Snack Table and we'll take care of it for you. If you have any questions, please reach out to Staff Appreciation Co-Chairs: Samantha Bryan or Hui-Chuan Hodges (staffappreciation@glennwoodespta.com). Thank you!

The Glennwood PTA is looking for new Board and Committee Chair members for the 2025-2026 school year. Join the PTA and become a strong voice for the children in our school, advocate for their well-being, support their success and make a difference in our community!

Please fill out the 2025-2026 Nominating Form.

Please reach out to president@glennwoodespta.com if you have any questions! The deadline to submit nominations is Wednesday, April 2. Board Elections will begin on April 14th and end on April 25. Terms will begin on June 1, with our first meeting on May 12.

You can purchase or donate the 2024-2025 Glennwood Elementary Yearbook HERE! Please order by April 25. Questions? Please email our Yearbook Committee at: Yearbook@GlennnwoodESPTA.com

We’re collecting clothing donations of all kids’ sizes for our students, with a special need for pants in sizes 7-8. New or gently used items can be dropped off at the front office by Wednesday, March 26. Thank you for your support!

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.

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.

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.