September 22, 2014
FALCON
FLYER
Monday is the official communication day for F.AVE. Check those backpacks
today for important information including classroom newsletters.
Notes from Mr. Roaden –
I hope everyone had an enjoyable fall break. We’re ready for the
second term – I hope you are!
I’m happy to announce that our website is up-dated with curriculum
information (website helps, homework agreements, etc.,) for both
grades. I think you will like the information you find there and it
will be helpful to you as you help your students. The tabs are on the
left side of the website and say fourth grade and fifth grade
curriculum.
We had our first Village Gathering on September 12. What a great
morning! Thanks to the students and teachers who participated.
The next Gathering is November 6.
Bike safety training has begun for fourth grade students. This is a
great partnership we have with the City of Decatur. I look forward
to seeing our students on their bikes!
Bike Derby is coming October 4! Get your bikes ready to roll!
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4/5 Academy at 5th Ave.
Bruce Roaden
Principal
broaden@csdecatur.net
Karen Newton
IB Coordinator
knewton@csdecatur.net
Rodney Thomas
Dean of Students
rthomas@csdecatur.net
Joann Baker
Administrative Assistant
jobaker@csdecatur.net
101 Fifth Ave.
Decatur, GA 30030
404-371-6680(telephone)
404-371-9573(fax)
September
23
PTO Meeting F.AVE Media Center
7:00 PM
__________________________
October
F.AVE SLT ELECTIONS WILL BE HELD OCTOBER 10TH.
The Two candidates are:
Pam Bee-Lindgren. My husband and I have lived in Decatur for
a total of 22 years, and I spent last year learning the F.AVE Way
with a fourth-grader. This year two of our three children are here.
I have studied Decatur's charter system contract, CSD's Strategic
Plan, and F.AVE.'s School Improvement Plan in preparing to run
for the SLT, and I will be just as prepared and proactive as an
SLT member. I have leadership experience on a similar board,
where I was involved with or directly oversaw communication,
hiring, community-building, curriculum, strategic planning, etc., for
a local preschool. I identify challenges in situations and work
2
Individual Picture Day
More details to follow
__________________________
October
4
F.AVE Bike Derby
11:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Registration Is Open
See page 4 for details
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collaboratively to propose, implement, and evaluate solutions. I
want to see all children make achievement gains, from kids
needing support to meet standards to kids needing to find
opportunities to go beyond standards, even if getting there is not
easy. My particular passions are all things STEM-related-particularly the beauty of math. I want to find ways for kids to
discover and be inspired by that beauty. I've worked across the
spectrum in math, from tutoring and running "Math Madness" at
Clairemont to being involved with math and science enrichment
here at F.AVE. Let's identify the obstacles and get moving.
Sometimes it's not easy to make changes, but let's not be afraid
to fail, learn, and come back with better solutions. I have the
experience in physics and public policy to help get this done; I've
worked everywhere from large organizations like NASA to a local
Atlanta start-up. Additionally, I have some specific ideas for
improving communication and building trust within the F.AVE.
community, and even though I'm naturally on the shy side, I make
a deliberate effort to reach out and get to know people. I've built
bridges and I don't give up on relationships just because they're
sometimes difficult. In sum, I believe I have the background,
experience, and determination to make a positive contribution to
the both the SLT and F.AVE. as a whole this year, especially in
the areas of curriculum, community, and communication. I would
very much appreciate your vote.
Luis Pena, PhD, has extensive research and evaluation
experience in academic and community settings, including
elementary, middle and high schools, and community based
organizations that focus on improving academic outcomes for
undeserved students. He has directed evaluation projects for
various organizations including the Los Angeles Multicultural
Educational Collaborative, and the Lennox Unified School District.
Prior to moving to Decatur, Georgia, Luis was a Research Analyst
at First 5 Los Angeles, an organization dedicated to improving
school readiness and preparation for children in Los Angeles
County. Luis believes that his background in education and
statistics will be an asset to Fifth Avenue's School Leadership
Team. Luis received his doctorate in Educational Psychology
from UCLA's Graduate School of Education.
Media Center Book Clubs have started meeting!
We have two book clubs running: Georgia Book Awards and
Newbery Winners. Georgia Book Award Club meets twice a
month, and our first meeting is September 25. The Newbery Book
Club meets once a month, and our first meeting was September
11. We will meet in the media center on Thursdays after school
until 4:00. If your child is interested in joining, please come by the
media center to pick up information and a permission slip.
Students must have a permission slip to attend!
September 22, 2014
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October
10
F.AVE Film Night
6:45 PM F.AVE Cafeteria
__________________________
October
10
F.AVE SLT ELECTIONS
~ stay tuned for Election details
__________________________
October
21
F.AVE Coffee Chat ~ IB
7:45 AM F.AVE Cafeteria
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Upcoming 5th Grade
2015 Tybee Field
Trip Dates
W-F 3/25 – 3/27 McFaddin, Black
& Hardwick
M-W 3/30 – 4/1 DiGiacomo, GT
Shershin, Wright
W-F 4/1 – 4/3
Coates
Stewarts,
(Davis)
M-W 4/13 – 4/15 Zimbardo, Fiber
Prophet
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A Special Note
from the
School Nurse
See page 4
Previously scheduled community meetings on 9/24 and 9/25 have been
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postponed.
The Renfroe Middle School design firm and Decatur High School design-build
team have requested additional time to refine and further develop their
architectural plans prior to bringing them to the CSD Board of Education and community
for their review and comments. City Schools of Decatur will communicate the new dates
and times of the community meetings as soon as they are scheduled.
Comments, concerns and questions continue to be gathered and posted on the Master
Planning website found here: http://www.csdecatur.net/master-plan/
Additionally, previous community forums were recorded and the videos have been posted
to the Master Plan website. Readers may also find a link on the website to archived
Master Plan work accomplished prior to August 2014, as well as a comment widget to
collect the community's feedback on the Master Plan.
Buy your tickets to DEF's Boil 2014 - October 9th!
The DEF Boil 2014 is turning up the heat on October 9th! Party with 400 friends and
neighbors while enjoying great food, drinks, Live Auction packages that you won't find
anywhere else and new this year -- a Fund-a Need Challenge to raise $10,000 in 10
minutes! The best part? All proceeds from this event are reinvested back into Decatur
schools. For a preview of our great auction items, go to www.defboilauction.com. Tickets
are $60 ($30 for CSD employees) and include an event t-shirt, but only if you purchase
your tickets by September 26! You can also purchase a ticket for a CSD employee -either designate a specific person or add to the ticket pool for CSD employees who are
interested in attending. Get yours here: www.defboil.com!
Ready, Set, Run!
Did you LOVE running the Tour deCatur last March? No need to wait 6 more months to
break out your running shoes - sign up for the Oakhurst Arts Run on October 11th, hosted
by DEF with our friends Decatur Arts Alliance. This 5k showcases the Oakhurst
neighborhood and kicks off the Oakhurst Arts & Music Festival. Funds raised will support
art grants and the Mary Miller Decatur Youth Fund which provides scholarships for city
programs. Sign up at oakhurstartsrun.com. City of Decatur and CSD employees are
eligible for discounted registration - call 404-377-0641 for a promo code. 18 and under
are just $15, general registration is $25. T-shirts are only guaranteed for those who preregister by September 26!
CSD shows DEF some love!
THANK YOU to the 93 CSD employees who have signed up this year for DEF's payroll
deduction program bringing the total of employees enrolled to well over 250. These
monthly gifts which will total over $15,000 annually help ensure that every child in Decatur
has opportunities to reach his or her full potential.
Important Information about Gifted Review
Each semester the gifted review team looks at existing student data to
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discuss students’ needs and determine if further evaluation for gifted
identification is needed. If you are interested in the team discussing your
child’s needs, parents may complete a Recommendation for Review Form (Appendix
HH of the Pupil Progression plan) and turn it in to the gifted specialist at each school, with
samples of the student’s work, before Friday September 26, 2014 . No additional
information will be accepted. Student work that is submitted will not be returned. The
gifted specialists for the 4/5 Academy at Fifth Avenue are Lynn Holden, Bill Withers and
Jackie Theisen. For more detailed information about the review process, please refer to
the Pupil Progression Plan at the following link.
http://www.csdecatur.net/instruction/pupil-progression
REGISTER NOW for F.AVE’s signature fundraiser: The Decatur Bike Derby
The Decatur Bike Derby will be held at F.AVE on Saturday, October 4th beginning
at 11:00 a.m. The Bike Derby is F.AVE’s major fundraiser, and it’s a terrific
Decatur community event designed to promote cycling fun, fitness and friendly
competition.
This year’s Bike Derby will feature activities for children of all ages, including: age- and
grade-level bike races, a bike obstacle course, bike safety-checks, face-painting,
delicious food from Universal Joint, and much more.
CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS! We need your help to stage this great event, particularly
in managing our Derby Café. If you are interested in helping in any regard, please email
Don Calder at ddolcalder@yahoo.com.
ONLINE REGISTRATION and SPONSOR DONATION can be found at
http://www.decaturbikederby.com. Be sure to register early, so you can be guaranteed an
event t-shirt! Are you interested in becoming one of the Derby’s financial sponsors?
Family sponsorships can be arranged, by printing and completing forms available online.
A Word form the School Nurse about Enteroviruses
In recent days, the media has been rampant with stories about Enterovirus 68,
alson known as EV-D68. Enteroviruses are very common viruses; there are
more than 100 types. It is estimated that 10 to 15 million-enterovirus infections
occur in the United States each year. Enterovirus D68, also called EV-D68, causes respiratory
illness, and the virus can be found in respiratory secretions such as saliva, nasal mucus, or
sputum. The virus likely spreads from person to person when an infected person coughs,
sneezes, or touches surfaces. There is no specific treatment or vaccine for EV-D68 infections just
as there is no treatment or vaccine for the common cold.
Although there has been a lot of attention given to EV-D68 in the media, most people with the
infection will have an illness that is mild and self-limited, requiring only treatment of the symptoms.
Children with asthma or other respiratory conditions may be more severely affected.
The best way to prevent the spread of this virus is the same way to prevent most illnesses
among children: encourage good hand washing/hand sanitizing and keep children home
who are not well. Students should not come to school with fever over 100 degrees and
should stay home until fever-free for 24 hours without benefit of medication such as ibuprofen or
acetaminophen. In addition, consider keeping your child home if he or she is sneezing or
coughing so frequently that the spread of infection is likely to occur,
Leslie Garrett, RN, BSN, NCSN
School Nurse
4/5 Academy at Fifth Avenue 404-371-6637
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Proof of Residency for all 4th Graders must be brought
into the F.AVE office by Friday September 26, 2014 if you have not
already done so.
The Board of Education of the City of Decatur does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national
origin, disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, or gender identity in its employment practices, programs,
activities, or student placement