Monday, November 8, 2010

DeKalb County School System Board Of Education vote on Chamblee Charter High School

The Chamblee Charter High School PTSA encourages parents and community from the CCHS feeder schools to attend the BOE meeting to support the use of the QSC (Quality School Construction) Bonds for the construction of a new building for CCHS. This meeting could determine whether Chamblee receives a new High School or the eventual closure of Chamblee High School and redistricting of students.

when: Monday, November 8 @ 6:00pm
where: DCSS Central Office, 1701 Mountain Industrial Park, Stone Mountain, GA
what: Board of Education will be voting on QCS Bonds.

Additional way you can help? You can communicate directly with the DCSS Board members, in particular with Jim Redovian (who will continue to serve until January 2011 even if he loses the runoff) Pam Speaks and Don McChesney who are our representatives and will be decisionmakers. Send emails or voice mail to Board of Education members stating your support for a new school.

You may cut and paste this web link to the email addresses of Board of Education members.

https://eboard.eboardsolutions.com/AboutBoard.aspx?S=4054#31066 (or go to the DCSS website and click on leadership and click on Board of Education). Parent groups believe it is important to maintain a respectful tone and stick to one issue: a new building for CCHS. We suggest a "bold face" subject line of the email like "Please designate QSCB for Chamblee CHS building" or "Please fund new building for Chamblee CHS" because board members receive numerous emails and we want ours to stand out. It would be best to leave all other issues, no matter how important, to later discussions surrounding redistricting.

Please forward this message on to all in the Chamblee High School feeder school area.

Friday, November 5, 2010

Healthy Lifestyle Family Fair

Recipes for a Healthy Lifestyle Handbook:

We were not one of the recipients for the grant from the National PTA...we'll keep trying. Funding the printing of the upcoming Recipes for a Healthy Lifestyle Handbook is secured through the sponsors and participants we have attending the Healthy Lifestyle Family Fair.

Intake / input forms will go home EACH Thursday this month to gather the resources / recipes for the handbook from our school body. The handbook will be built over Dec/Jan and distributed in Feb/Mar. Chapters include actual food recipes, sharing shopping tips for where we find favorite nutritional foods, tips for incorporating activity into daily living, favorite books for sending healthy messages, taming the snack monster, family volunteer opportunities, a chapter that captures kids quoting coach Tate and more. Should be a resource book that our school body reads because they are helping to write it.

Healthy Lifestyle Family Fair:

Paid (not the non profits) and registered:

i9 sports (game w/ prizes), YMCA (possible jumpy), Atl. Ctr for Holistic Medicine, Children's Dentistry (giveaways, balloons, etc.), Brookhaven Dental, Adrenaline Fitness (something experiential), Natural Body Spa (chair massage, info on 'going green' w/ cosmetics), Daisy Troops (serving cider), Live Well Studio (screening, instruction), Foundation for Wellness Professionals (screenings), Chamblee Farmers Market, APA PTA will host a table to talk about volunteering / contributing in school community (opportunity to sign up).

Confirmed booths / tables via email: Curves, Operation Bootcamp (mini - bootcamp instruction), Pure Life Healthy Homes, Dr. Tucker, and the Thursday Farmers Market at Ashford Dunwoody and J. Ferry, Whole Foods (hopeful cooking demo), Rite Aid (blood pressure checks), Dekalb Co. Parks and Rec and City of Chamblee Parks and Rec., DCSS Nutrition Dept (to share what's happening w/ our school food programs)

Some of the bigger organizations simply do not 'play' at this level, and certainly do not 'pay to play'.

We've still got lots of invites out w/ interest in supporting us at some point, but for a variety of reasons unable to participate now. It's been a super relationship builder for us. Many are intrigued by our work / efforts and want to be a part of making sure we're successful in supporting the health of our children and community. Once we've completed our contact list in an excel spreadsheet, it will be forwarded onto the PTA business team for future relations (it's close, just need a few blanks filled in).

Big Peach is donating 250 bags and 2 $25 gift cards, Nuts and Berries 10 $10 gift certificates and Adrenaline Fitness a 3 month membership that we'll use as a door prizes. Visitors will be eligible for door prizes upon completing a few health and wellness related questions, answers easy to find w/ our sponsors. Kaiser is giving us pencils.

The PTA hospitality committee has agreed to help greet our visitors and our wellness committee (can you help?) will share the goals of the school's Wellness Council. A SHORT intake form will capture the emails of visiors for immediate feedback in a 5 question survey to be sent w/in a week of the fair and will help determine how many visitors we drew in from outside our school family.

Announcements of our Healthy Lifestyle Family Fair have gone to our sister schools, the Brookhaven Reporter, Brookhaven Buzz, Atlanta Parent and Dekalb Neighbor. Emails to the neighborhood associations should be out this week with hyperlinks to some of our supporters. Adrenaline Fitness said they'd be talking it up. There is hope of a few flyers going on our sponsors / supporters doors / store fronts this week.

Red Ribbon Week:

Resources for distribution to parents with the plan of activities will go home this Thursday. Buttons are numbered, ribbons cut and ready for tree decorating, red paper for the art essay portion of our week, all ready to go to teachers by the week's end. At our weekly meeting this Friday, our team will stuff the prize baggies for the winners each morning. The schedule of events (wear red day, turn your back on drugs day, etc.) has been coordinated w/ Mrs. Witeczek and Mrs.Fallon. Mrs. Witeczek will do the morning messages and prize distribution. The art / essay papers should be on display for the Healthy Lifestyle Fair.

Wellness Newsletter:

Placed in teacher boxes today. PLEASE share feedback if you have any...good or bad. Printing costs paid for the year by Dr. Philip Hurd, Atlanta Natural Health Clinic. 2 months, due to "translation issues" from one program to another, the printing has had to be repeated. The glitch has been figured out and we should be 'good to go'.

PTA Wellness Month:

In addition to Marcie Hannish offering to do dance instruction for the kids during "teacher directed PE", we have potential mini bootcamp, possible yoga and safety instruction from Think First, a foundation through CHOA (Thanks, Jessa). Details will be reviewed upon approval by Mrs. Fallon and a sign up sheet prepared for teachers to utilize these optional programs. We've secured some supportive handouts (recipe books w/ coupons, coloring books, etc.) to distribute through the month and will have theme days similar to what we did last year during our wellness week (no screen, family walks, etc - detailed in the APWC newsletter)

other updates:

Jill is coordinating the Wellness Committee's obstacle course at the Fall Festival this Sat., apples will be provided by Costco (and maybe Kroger). Any leftover apples will be given out at the Lifestyle Fair.

An Activity Cart for teacher directed PE is tabled right now, no change. Still 'on the list'.

We've secured a yoga instructor (per teacher request) that will donate her time 1 class each Monday at 3:15. At this point, we have a commitment for the remainder of the 1st semester and a few other instructors 'waiting in the wings' to share the load 2nd semester.

We always welcome your feedback, concerns, interest, help, etc.
Our best,
Lisa Engle and Kelly Combs

Thursday, October 21, 2010

DeKalb County High School 2020 Visioning Meeting

WHO: Parents, students, faculty, staff, and taxpayers of DeKalb County Schools

WHAT: Public charrettes on the 2020 Facilities Master Plan and the Redistricting and Consolidation Plan for DeKalb County Schools

WHERE and WHEN:1. Chamblee High School, Tuesday November 9, 6:30 – 8:30 PM
2. Towers High School, Wednesday November 10, 6:30 – 8:30 PM
3. McNair High School, Monday November 15, 6:30 – 8:30 PM
4. MLK High School, Tuesday November 16, 6:30 – 8:30 PM
5. Stephenson High School, Wed. November 17, 6:30 – 8:30 PM

WHY: Our school district continues to strive to provide an excellent education for the students in our care. Much progress has been made and more needs to be accomplished. Most important among those challenges are our school facilities. We want to develop a
facilities master plan that addresses those building needs, while being accountable to the taxpayers of DeKalb County.

Your input on these matters is very important to us. Developing a consensus on creating a vision for the DeKalb County School System in 2020 requires a comprehensive and involved process with a broad base of public input to be successful. This charrette process adds a new dimension to educational planning by getting the community engaged from the very beginning.

HOW (it works):The charrette process allows every person an equal opportunity to express his/her views in a comfortable environment by allowing people to express their opinions by multiple methods and work through ideas in a responsive group. Here’s how the three step process works:

1. Presentation. A trained presenter gives a brief PowerPoint presentation that establishes the goals for the project and explains the charrette process.

2. ResponseCard® and Feedback. The audience becomes actively engaged inthe charrette through the use of an interactive wireless keypad called a ResponseCard®. The ResponseCard® enables the participant to vote on issues concerning redistricting and consolidation of schools and the development of the facility master plan. After each question, the audience receives immediate feedback in the form of a bar
graph that displays the response trends of the entire group. This allows the audience to immediately identify insights, trends, and consensus. As a result, we can gather "unbiased" responses and then share what the group is thinking for immediate feedback and small-group discussion.

3. Small-Group Discussion. Trained facilitators engage small groups in a “drill down” of the predominanttopics discovered during the large-group session. These smaller sessions are more conducive to free-flowing discussion as a result of the information gained from the initial presentation.

The feedback from these charrettes will be summarized and presented to the Board at its December 6, 2010 6:00 PM work session.

For complete information on this posting. please visit the DeKalb County Public School website at http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/vision-2020

Friday, August 13, 2010

Volunteer for Taste of Chamblee

The 2010 Taste of Chamblee will continue the tradition of involving many in the community as a way of extending our hospitality to those visiting our area and enjoying the festival. With all the planning we have done, it is unquestionably the hospitality of our volunteers that make the festival an event to remember...

For information/to sign up, please send an e-mail to Tom Hogan thogan09@gmail.com

Sponsorships

It is not too late to take advantage of this very unique and valuable marketing opportunity. The festival is expected to draw 15,000-20,000 patrons from our region. If you or someone you know has a business that may benefit from having a 10x10 booth, please know that sponsorships will be accepted through Thursday, August 19th. For full information, please visit the festival website at www.thetasteofchamblee.com. Questions can be sent to Laura@premiereventslive.com or thogan09@gmail.com.

Saturday, August 7, 2010

GM Plant Meeting for Community

Doraville is looking for community input for its livable centers initiative, or LCI, study of the former General Motors redevelopment. A public meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 16 at the Doraville Civic Center on Central Avenue. There, organizers will explain the goals of the redevelopment, whi...ch include creating a mixed-use and walkable downtown for the city. www.tunspan.com/doraville

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

I-85 Express Lane Update

GEORGIA DOT AWARDS HOT LANES CONVERSION PROJECT TO LOCAL CONTRACTOR

ATLANTA – The Georgia Department of Transportation has awarded more than $31.3 million for 16 construction projects across the state, including $11.7 million for the conversion of 16 miles of high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes to high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes in Gwinnett and DeKalb counties.

The HOV to HOT project was awarded to World Fiber Technologies, Inc., of Alpharetta, for $11,721,523. The I-85 Express Lanes project will install 18 miles of fiber and signage along Interstate Highway 85 between Chamblee Tucker Road and Old Peachtree Road and along State Route 316 between its intersection with I-85 and Riverside Parkway. When completed a year from now, the HOT lanes will offer more choices to all motorists, including single occupant vehicles and more reliable trip times in the corridor. Transit buses, motorcycles, alternative fueled vehicles and vehicles with three or more passengers will be allowed to use the inside (left) HOT lane for free, while single- and double-occupant vehicles will be allowed to use the lane if they choose to pay a variably priced toll.

“All of these projects, especially the HOV to HOT conversion and the two bridges, are representative of Georgia DOT’s determination to find ways to enhance mobility and always, always maintain safety, even though our budget continues to shrink. As we finalize construction plans with the contractor we will send you those details. Right now we expect construction to begin in the next four to six weeks,” Georgia Transportation Commissioner Vance C. Smith, Jr., commented.

Georgia DOT urges travelers to call 511 for updated information about these or any other construction project on interstates and state routes. Georgia 511 is a free phone service that provides real-time traffic and travel information statewide, such as traffic conditions, incidents, lane closures, and delays due to inclement weather. Callers also can transfer to operators to request assistance or report incidents 24 hours a day, seven days a week. More information is available at www.511ga.org.

The November 2 general election ballot will include a proposed constitutional amendment to allow the Georgia Department of Transportation to enter into multiyear construction agreements to reduce long-term construction costs paid by the state. This measure would not add any new taxes; it would allow better use of funds currently collected. It would help Georgia DOT bridge its current funding gap and allow it to continue to utilize every available state motor fuel dollar to improve, maintain and grow Georgia’s transportation system. To learn more about SR 821, please visit: http://www.dot.ga.gov/informationcenter/publicinformation/Pages/SR821.aspx.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Taste of Chamblee Announces Entertainment Line Up

The Taste of Chamblee has announced the entertainment line up for the August 21st street festival. The festival has free admission, with food, entertainment, and fun for everyone. For more information about the festival, please visit the website at www.thetasteofchamblee.com or join the Facebook goup "Taste of Chamblee".

11:30
Corrie Jean & The Posse
Country/Variety
www.myspace.com/corijeanmusic

1:00
Open Mic winners
Singer/Songwriter
www.chambleearts.org

3:00
Whole Lotta Dixie
Dixieland/Rock
www.wholelottadixie.com

4:15
Martay The Partay
Rock/Classic Rock
www.myspace.com/martayrocks

5:30
Blair Crimmins
Swing
www.blaircrimminsandthehookers.com

7pm
The Mustangs
Variety
www.themustangs.net

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

July CBA Meeting

Please join The Chamblee Business Association for our General Meeting tomorrow, Thursday July 15th at 8:00am.
Doors open at 7:45 am with Continential breakfast and networking before the meeting.

Our featured speaker will be Gus Persons, Service Center Director, Epps Aviation.
We will also have a brief overview of The Taste of Chamblee and new enhancements to our Chamblee Business Association website.

We look forward to seeing you tomorrow morning!

Chamblee Business Association
General Meeting
Chamblee Civic Center 3540 Broad St
Doors open 7:45 am
Meeting starts 8:00 am
Meeting concludes 9:00 am
Member fee $5.00
Guest fee $10.00
First time visitor FREE

www.chambleebusinessassociation.com