Weekly Update
August 4, 2022
Dear Winnona Park Families,
We had a fabulous first three days of school here at Winnona Park. Personally for me it was an amazing experience being back, after being assigned to lead the middle school for five years. Many things are the same, and many things have changed for the better. The funniest moment for me was the end of the day Tuesday. I completely forgot how wiped-out kindergarteners are at the end of the first day. They looked like zombies walking to dismissal.
A huge thank you to all of you for following our arrival and dismissal procedures. We appreciate you partnering with us to make these transitions as stress-free and as safe as possible.
Have a great weekend.
Greg Wiseman
Principal, Winnona Park Elementary School
Do you have a Change in your Dismissal Plans?
Plans change and emergencies happen. If something comes up that changes your child’s normal dismissal routine, please complete this form by 1:00. Do not email your teacher, just complete the form. You will find this form under each teacher’s email signature and on the WP website under “Families>Dismissal.”
Community Circle
One of my all-time favorite rituals at WP is our community circle. It’s a great way to end the week with our learning community. For the first few weeks of school, only staff and students will participate in Community Circle. We need to run through this procedure a few times before it is open to public consumption. We will let parents know when parents are invited to participate. One change is that Community Circle will take place Friday mornings from 8:30-8:50 instead of Friday afternoons.
Show your WPES Spirit!
At WPES we wear our support every Friday! Make sure your family gets your Spirit Wear before it's gone! Numerous adult and kids t-shirt options plus kids hoodies for the cold weather to come! Please include your child’s name and teacher in the notes section when checking out.
The online store is available at https://winnona-park-es-pta.square.site/
From Nurse Jen
Welcome to the 2022-23 school year! My name is Jen Eagle and I am the Winnona Park school nurse. I look forward to getting to know our new students and families and welcoming back our returning students. Please review these back-to-school health reminders and reach out to me anytime with questions. The easiest way to contact me is through my email at jeagle@csdecatur.net. Additional health information is located on the school nurse section of our Winnona Park website.
Please note CSD’s school health requirements for students:
A current Georgia 3231 Certificate of Immunization record or completed Georgia Department of Health form 2208 (Affidavit of Religious Exemption to Immunization)
For students requiring medication(s) at school, a completed CSD Authorization of Medication form for each medication. Please note that all prescription medication requires a provider’s signature on the form. I will not be able to dispense medication without this form completed in its entirety. Non-prescription/OTC medication only requires a parent signature. For safety reasons, K-2 students are not permitted to self carry medication at school.
Medical Care Plans(asthma, diabetes, allergy, seizures) for your child must also be updated prior to each school year. For the safety of your child and to ensure the most accurate, up to date health information, we are unable to accept a medical care plan from the previous school year.
Join the Fabulous WP PTA
The WP PTA Rocks! As you can see from the events above, they are super-involved in all back to school activities and much, much more. The PTA works to enhance the educational experience of all Winnona Park students by supporting teachers and staff, organizing fundraisers for items not covered by the school budget, and planning and hosting community-building events. Through fundraising efforts, the PTA supports many offerings and initiatives including classroom libraries, teacher and parent grants, field trips and guest speakers for all students, facility enhancements, and various community-building events. Click here to view the PTA welcome letter to learn so much more about the WP PTA.
Arrival and Dismissal
Providing safe arrival and dismissal routines are a high priority for our staff. Please carefully read over the following arrival and dismissal procedures.
Please visit CSD Transportation to register for bus service and to sign up for the “Here Comes the Bus” app.
Be on the lookout for the WP dismissal form on Tuesday, July 26 when you learn your child’s class assignment.
School Nutrition
Families wishing to apply for Free & Reduced lunch may do so via the Parent Portal. Once logged on, follow these instructions.
Other breakfast, lunch, and menu information can be found on the CSD School Nutrition website.
Thursday is Eblast Day
A school wide weekly newsletter/eblast will be emailed to families each Thursday afternoon. This eblast is sent to the email addresses in the parent portal. Please ensure all data in your portal account is updated and correct. The WP website is also a great place to get information about our wonderful school.
School Leadership Team
The WP Elementary School Leadership Team (SLT) is an elected committee consisting of Winnona Park parents/guardians, staff members, a community member, and a district representative. The purpose of the SLT is to make decisions that support the continuous improvement of the school in accordance with the provisions of the District Charter. This year we will have 3 parent vacancies on the SLT and will have the SLT election in late August. If you are interested in filling one of the vacancies, please complete this form by Friday, August 5. If you have any questions regarding the SLT, feel free to contact Greg Wiseman.
Current representatives:
Greg Wiseman (WP Principal)
Kelly Stopp (staff)
Cindy Clark (staff)
Frances Holt (District Rep)
Jabeen Taj (Community member)
Covid Mitigation
City Schools of Decatur is gearing up for a fantastic year!. Please take a moment to review the updated mitigation rubric that will be practiced to optimize safety for our staff and families. More Covid related information will be shared tomorrow in Dr Fehrman's Friday Follow up Eblast.
From City Schools of Decatur
Mandatory Annual Data Update
It is essential for parents or guardians to complete the Annual Data Update before the start of school. The ADU is how you
make sure we have your current contact information
provide your student's health information
complete mandatory district signoffs
Please review the K-12 District Handbook and the Code of Conduct and Restorative Practices Handbook before completing the update. Help drive OUR SCHOOL to be the first to reach 100%! Families new to CSD who enrolled on or after July 14 do NOT need to complete the ADU; new families who registered before July 14 do need to complete it because the ADU has updated handbooks and sign-offs. Go to https://www.csdecatur.net/adu to get started!
K-5 Google Workspace password resets
Friday July 29, students in grades K-5 will have their CSD Google Workspace account password reset to the default password which is student plus their ID number For example, if Chinua Achebe were a student with ID number 98765, his default password would be student98765. After this reset occurs, students may change their password themselves here.
Community Partner Announcements and Updates
Decatur Education Foundation(DEF)
Welcome back to a new school year! We are so excited to be back, it’s going to be a great year! DEF works in partnership with City Schools of Decatur to ensure that every student has what they need to learn and thrive. We have several programs in place to do just that: Virtual Pals Tutoring Program, AIM Scholars Mentoring Program, and a BRAND NEW program for high schoolers, FOCUS Prep Program. We need volunteers for each program to be a success, so please read below to learn how you can help.
Tutoring: We are continuing our Virtual Pals tutoring program in which we pair a 2nd-8th grade student with an upper high school student or adult volunteer to help with homework, time management, and motivation. If you would like to sign your student up for the program, you can go here: https://forms.gle/SjYinSLJkZ363pi57 If you would like to help as a volunteer tutor, you can apply here: https://forms.gle/YTbDUk8H4iS4qfD57 (High school students can earn volunteer hours!)
Mentoring: Covid has made it VERY difficult for our mentor pairs to meet these last two years. We’re renewing the program with fervor this school year, and need male and female adult mentors to volunteer 2-4 hours per month with our new third-grade cohort. For a mentor application, click here: https://forms.gle/DNFkXJyTCKTaFd1S9
FOCUS Prep: Finding Opportunities to Create yoUr Success Prep is just for high school students who want a little extra “coaching” to reach their post-secondary goals. High schoolers will be paired with volunteer coaches who will encourage, motivate, and hold them accountable. Coaches will receive training from College Ave Consulting to know how best to help with career research, college applications, financial aid, and time lines! Time commitment is only 2-3 hours per month for the school year. If you’d like to become a coach, click here: https://forms.gle/F73gdN5fxzXqET5o7. If your high schooler is interested in the program, please click here: https://forms.gle/zYMUsPJQ1Wv7uiNs8
You can also find all forms and information at our website, www.decatureducationfoundation.org/mentoring. Together we make a difference for our kids!