Weekly Update
March 2, 2023
Dear Winnona Park Community,
Yesterday was an inspiring day at school. For collaborative planning, teachers were able to observe their peers at what they do best. Along with the Winnona Park Admin Team and our EL Education School Designer, each grade level observed other teachers with the focus on how teachers craft and utilize Learning Targets to focus their lessons, and how students use Learning Targets to track their progress in the lesson. The best professional learning a teacher can experience is to observe and learn from a colleague.
It’s alway a bit nerve wracking when 7-8 folks descend on your classroom in the middle of a lesson, however, we have developed a culture that we all have something to share and we can always learn from one another. The Winnona Park students were not the only ones that learned a few things yesterday.
Have a great weekend.
Sincerely,
Greg Wiseman
Principal, Winnona Park Elementary School
Community Circle Tomorrow - Second Grade Families
We invite parents of second graders to Community Circle tomorrow morning. Please gather by the cafe door near the pond after drop off and you will be let in from there.
Love My Bus – Bus Driver Appreciation
For those with children that take the bus to WPES, February was “Love my Bus Month” here in Georgia. While we are already into March, it’s not too late to show appreciation. CSD provided appreciation gifts to our WONDERFUL bus drivers but we’d also like the bus drivers to feel the love from our WPES students! Please urge your child to make a card, draw a picture, give a hug or just tell their bus driver they appreciate them!
Walk-n-Roll to School on Wednesday, March 8!
It’s once again time to celebrate walking and rolling to WPES! What is Walk-n-Roll you ask? “Walk-n-Roll” is a monthly event that encourages families to walk or roll (bike/scooter, etc.) to school for morning drop off. Kiddos that walk or roll to school on Wednesday should make sure to grab a marble to drop into our custom-crafted marble collection device(s). Bonus, there is music and free coffee at the front entrance to the school from a little before 8 am until 8:20 am. It’s a fun way for the kiddos to start their day. It’s also a great way to build community at WPES while highlighting the health and environmental benefits of walking and rolling! Please join us for our next event of the year, stretching your legs and decreasing traffic in the carpool line!
Winnona Park Yearbook - 2nd Grade Tributes!
To honor our second-grade students who are moving on from Winnona Park, the PTA is offering a FREE tribute in the 2022-23 yearbook for all second-grade students. Go to the online form below by March 31 to submit a photo and personal message for your second grader. Email Nikki Llewellyn at winnonayearbook@gmail.com with questions. Thank you! https://forms.gle/Nzf6xoKd7pb85n1b8 (If you do not have a google account, please submit by email to winnonayearbook@gmail.com)
Ramadan Accommodations
Ramadan is quickly approaching. Please let Principal Wiseman know if your child requires an accommodation while at school during this time. We can be very creative at school to help students during lunch time and provide a proper space for observances.
iRUN and PE News
As of Wednesday morning Wildcats have logged 460 miles of walking, jogging, and running. If you have not registered for Tour Decatur there is still time to register HERE. If cost is a barrier for your family please email drew@decatureducationfoundation.org or cbeauchamp@csdecatur.net and request a code which will allow you to register at no cost.
Pace Partners in PE starts next week (weather and field conditions permitting). The goal for Pace Partners in PE is for adults and kids to connect and share their love for moving and being active. All paces (walkers, joggers, & runners) are welcome to join. No worries if you are a walker and your child is a runner. If you would like to join your child’s class for a 30 minute PE lesson sign up HERE. Times and days vary for each class. Scroll through the sign-up form to find your child's PE time and days. If outdoor PE is canceled due to weather an email will be sent each morning to those that are signed up to be a Pace Partner.
Decatur Parents Network Speaker Series
The Decatur Parents Network is a valuable resource for CSD parents that I can’t recommend enough. The next topic for their speaker series is Know the Risks: E-Cigarettes & Young People. This will take place on March 9th at 6:45 at Beacon Hill Middle School. This topic is generally not for the K-2 audience, but your kids will be in middle school before you know it.
Kindergarten Enrollment
Enrollment for new students for the 2023-24 school year starts on March 6th. All current students (including students attending College Heights Pre-K) do not need to re-enroll to move to the next grade band. However, if you have a child attending private Pre-K, please enroll your child for Kindergarten on March 6th. Early registration really helps our planning for next year. Help us spread the word among your neighbors as well. Please go to https://www.csdecatur.net/enrollment to review the enrollment process and required documentation.
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.”
Survey for parents of students who receive IEP services
The IDEA Parent Survey will be open from January 17, 2023 – May 31, 2023. This survey helps the state to determine parents’ perception of the success of parent engagement between them and schools. Each state is required to conduct a parent survey collection process to measure parent/family perceptions. The information is gathered as a component of the State Performance Plan, Indicator 8: Percent of parents with a student receiving special education services who report that schools facilitated parent involvement as a means of improving results for children with disabilities. The data collected is reported as a percentage of parental involvement in the Annual Performance Report for each district. Individual answers are kept confidential. Each response will be coded by a number – not a name.
The PTA Garden Committee Needs Your Help!
In December, led by the talented teachers and gardeners Ms. Messer and Ms. Woodley, WPE children submitted a grant proposal to fund garden repairs, and the children won the grant! EcoRise (https://www.ecorise.org/), who awarded the grant, commented on how impressed they were that the children had prepared the application, and awarded $1,100 toward garden restoration. This is a fantastic opportunity to get the kids and community involved in our outdoor spaces.
We are getting the edible garden ready for the kids to do spring planting of fruits and veggies, and we need parent volunteers. Please take a look at this sign up form and consider coming out to the garden for a few hours of mulching, weeding, and planting! You are welcome to bring your kids to join us.
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/
CSD News and Announcements
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