Anne writes in…

The 19^th Annual Decatur Holiday Marketplace and Café will take place Friday, December 3^rd from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Saturday, December 4^th from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., in conjunction with the Decatur Tour of Homes.

Clairemont Elementary School transforms into a lively and festive market where more than 95 local and national artists exhibit their wares.  Kick off your holiday season by shopping for unique handmade gifts, paintings, glass art, jewelry, pottery and much more.  Be sure to stop by the café for mouthwatering homemade soups and decadent desserts, as well as toe-tapping tunes performed live by local musicians and carolers.

New this year: On Saturday, kids can enjoy live children’s music in the café from 1-2 p.m. and join in the fun with art activities on Saturday from 2 – 6 p.m.  And as the sun sets on both evenings, don’t miss the new Winter Wonderland Light Display on the school grounds.

Whether it’s your palette or palate that needs pleasing, you’ll satisfy both at the Decatur Holiday Marketplace + Café!   The school is located at 155 Erie Avenue in Decatur.  Admission is free, and all proceeds benefit Clairemont Elementary School programs.

For more information, please visit www.DecaturHolidayMarketplace.com.

Greg Coleson writes in…

I am one of the Walk and Roll coordinators at Clairemont Elementary. We had about ~250 of the ~350 students participate in the Walk and Roll day by either walking or riding their bikes to school today. I thought this was newsworthy because of the rather incredible participation rate.

UPDATE: Dr. Phyllis Edwards official response to the concerned parents can be read HERE. Of particular note, she says that one of the ECLC sites cannot be used for trailers because that proposed piece of property must be used to expand and upgrade the playground.

A week after receiving a letter from a group of concerned parents about the recent decision by Superintendent Phyllis Edwards to move three pre-K classes to the Clairemont Elementary School campus, CSD Communications Director Bruce Roaden tells DM that the Superintendent is “exploring options for where we will place the pre-kindergarten students (if not at Clairemont).”

The letter, written and signed by eight CSD parents, asked the Superintendent to reconsider her recent decision to move two pre-K classes at Decatur High School and one at Oakhurst Elementary to Clairemont’s campus, citing worries that adding classrooms will lead to future overcrowding at the elementary school and wouldn’t be in the best interests of CSD’s long-term development plans.

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Assistant Superintendent Thomas Van Soelen sends along an FAQ regarding a recent CSD’s decision to move three Pre-K classes – two currently at Decatur High and one at Oakhurst – to Clairemont Elementary.

The 1 1/2 page FAQ be read in full at this link (pdf).

The Vice President of Clairemont’s PTA, Beth Hagberg is already calling on residents to join her and “other concerned parents in attending the Tuesday, April 20 SLT meeting at 5:30 pm in the Clairemont auditorium. Please note that the SLT worksession is at 5:30 and the general meeting is at 7:30.”

This is what I get for not checking all my feeds first thing this morning!

The DNO reported earlier this morning that a “malfunctioning boiler” caused a heat outage at Clairemont Elementary this morning and that parents have the option of picking up their kids without “accruing an absence.”

According to the DNO, the boiler is again operational but until the school can return to a comfortable temp, alternative arrangements have been made.

Third grade classes are stationed in their trailers, which are heated comfortably. Other students are gathered in the heated auditorium.

Co-president of Clairemont Elementary’s PTA, Dana Calleja, sends along a flier for this Saturday’s “Get Connected” Health Fair on Electric Ave.

Beth writes in…

Due to all the rain at Greenfest, the Rain Barrel Auction was postponed (ironic, isn’t it?). It will be held this Saturday night, May 16, preceeding the concert on the Square Event.

All 7 of the beautiful rain barrels designed and painted by Clairemont Elementary school kids (one was done solely by their art teacher) are on display in the Decatur Library this week, leading up to the auction.

Rain Barrel Man and Mayor Floyd will be on the bandstand to auction the barrels at 6:30 pm.

This project was created by Clairemont Elementary’s Green Initiative, “Little Sprouts” to educate the students on water conservation.