Weekly Update
November 10, 2022
Dear Winnona Park Community,
It was amazing to have so many of you over for lunch today. The Thanksgiving Luncheon is one of my favorite traditions at CSD. Feeding 270 kiddos in an hour and 40 minutes on a normal school day is a logistical feat in itself. But adding 250 adults into the fray, well, let’s just say it was a challenge. Thanks to all who attended and thanks for your flexibility.
Have a great weekend.
Sincerely,
Greg Wiseman,
Principal, Winnona Park Elementary School
Crossing Guard Appreciation Week!
Crossing Guard Appreciation Week is scheduled for next week. Our Crossing Guards are the heroes of our safe routes to school and play a very important role in school transit, every school day. They are there rain or shine, in that late summer heat and that winter cold. Hopefully you have gotten to know them by name and thanked them for their service.
Please show your crossing guards some extra appreciation from November 7th to the 11th. Consider giving thank you cards and other tokens of appreciation. Whatever you choose, please go the extra mile to show your appreciation for all the crossing guards on your route to school and the very important work they do help the kiddos get to and from school safely.
School Pictures are Ready to View Online and Purchase!
From packages to single prints, and even full size digital downloads, you should be able to find just about everything to fit your needs. If there is something you'd like to order that you don't see or have any questions, please reach out to me.
A couple of important things to note:
- To ensure accuracy, all picture orders will be delivered directly to the address you indicate during checkout.
- All orders placed by November 18th will receive 10% off! That 10% savings will go directly back to Winnona Park Elementary School. Simply enter code WP10 during check out.
- Class pictures are available in 5x7 and 8x10, so you will see four class pictures for each class; one sweet and one silly in each size.
To login and view pictures: https://www.wanderphotography.com/f967811010
Your viewing password is your child's student ID number
If you have any questions don't hesitate to reach out to me at any time. Thank you again for your business and supporting Winnona Park Elementary School with your purchases.
Lesley Cortright, former WPES parent & professional photographer
770.295.8702
Tomorrow’s Community Circle - Kindergarten
We invite parents of kindergarteners to Community Circle tomorrow morning. Gather by the cafe door near the pond after drop off and you will be let in from there.
From Nurse Jen and the Department of Public Health
Please click here for the latest information on this year’s flu activity in Georgia.
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.”
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/
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.
CSD News and Announcements
Nutrition Department
The Nutrition Department is in the process of reaching out to parents about student negative meal balances. These efforts to send the low-balance communications will continue weekly through the automated infinite campus messenger or a personal phone call. Some accounts may have had outstanding balances prior to being approved for free or reduced meal benefits. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Nekee Mathis at nmathis@csdecatur.net. or (470) 237- 0368 ext 7607.
Note: A free and reduced lunch application can be completed anytime during the school year. Currently, the district policy allows students to receive meals, not extra items, for example, i.e. bag of chips. However, a child's negative meal balance will continue to incur debt as they receive meals. Click on the links below if you need help adding a reminder to your school email account, adding a low balance alert on your nutrition meal account, and/or adding funds to your school nutrition account.
K-5 ARC Parent Literacy Meeting
There will be an American Reading Company (ARC) Literacy Curriculum In-Person Parent Meeting with Amelia Larson, Executive Vice President of Innovations and Academic Partnerships, on Wednesday, November 15, 2022, from 6:30 - 7:30 pm in the Wilson Center Boardroom, 125 Electric Ave. Decatur, GA 30030. Please join us to find out more about what your child is doing during their literacy block.
Report Cards in the Parent Portal
K-8 report cards will be posted to the Infinite Campus Portal Thursday evening. You’ll be able to find them under the Documents section. Information on accessing the portal is available at https://www.csdecatur.net/portal, and information on CSD’s broader work around grading is available at https://grading.csdecatur.net.
Report Cards in the Parent Portal
K-8 report cards will be posted to the Infinite Campus Portal Thursday evening. You’ll be able to find them under the Documents section. Information on accessing the portal is available at https://www.csdecatur.net/portal, and information on CSD’s broader work around grading is available at https://grading.csdecatur.net.
Connection Sessions
Connection Sessions are conversations between CSD's Equity Director, various invited guests, and the CSD POGM* community. During each session, community members are introduced to a person who is integral to supporting the school system while we discuss thoughts, interests, and concerns regarding City Schools of Decatur. Each session uses a racial equity lens - always asking the question - "What does race have to do with this?"
These sessions may not always have the answers, but they provide an opportunity for members of Decatur's POGM community (as well as all others) to explore perspectives, pose questions, and share thoughts.
Each meeting starts at 6 pm. Access it by using the following link: https://tinyurl.com/2yuj2tbs.
November 14th, 2022 - Courtney Burnett, Chief of Staff, CSD
December 19th, 2022 - Karen Newton-Scott, Principal, FAVE
* People of color, despite being minoritized in the US, are a global majority. Thus, previously entitled BIPOC Connection Sessions, the name of this event is now Connection Sessions for POGM (People of the Global Majority). There is conflict regarding the use of the term BIPOC and this article details many relevant concerns. In short, the term BIPOC, which stands for Black, Indigenous, and Other People of Color, elevates some cultures over others in a way that does not reflect the respect each culture deserves.
District-Wide Intervention Information
If you have questions about interventions, please contact Erica Godfrey, District Intervention Specialist & MTSS Coordinator, at egodfrey@csdecatur.net. You can register for Super Saturdays here.
Community Partner Announcements and Updates
Register TODAY for Run With the Dogs (RWTD) 2023!
Join us on Saturday, January 28, 2023 for Run With the Dogs, a Decatur tradition now in its 19th year.
We’re back at Beacon Hill Middle School for the 5K and Pup Trot, and we are pleased to announce that this year’s race is an official qualifying event for the Peachtree Road Race!
The nomination period for the Face of the Race has closed, and the race committee will narrow down the adorable candidates to four finalists. Make sure to check our website (rwtd5K.com) beginning on November 11 to cast your vote for this year's winner. One vote per email address will be accepted during the voting window, which ends at 11:59 pm on November 16. The 2023 Face of the Race winner will be announced on the race website and social media on November 18.
Run With the Dogs is an annual fundraiser of the Decatur Bulldog Boosters and supports the athletic programs at Decatur High School and Beacon Hill Middle School. All race participants will receive the coveted long-sleeved T-shirt designed by local artist Adam Pinsley.
Click here to register. For more information, visit rwtd5K.com.
Decatur Prevention Initiative
The Decatur Parents Network is collaborating with DHS staff and the Student Center to offer an evening for parents and caregivers on November 17 @ 6:30 at the Student Center. For more information and to register, go to https://bit.ly/DecaturParentsNetworkNov17.
GaDOE Posts New ELA Standards for Public Comment
Based on the recommendation of State School Superintendent Richard Woods, the Georgia Department of Education has posted new K-12 English Language Arts (ELA) standards for a 30-day public comment period. If approved, the standards will be implemented in the 2024-2025 school year, following teacher training.
Click here to review the draft standards and provide feedback.
The draft standards leverage the insight and expertise of thousands of Georgians to support ELA instruction that is Georgia-developed, age and developmentally appropriate, and provides a strong foundation beginning in the early grades. Drafted by Georgia ELA teachers with input from educational leaders, parents, students, business and industry leaders, and community members, the standards are designed to be clear, understandable, and present a balanced amount of content to cover in each year – so that students can truly master concepts rather than simply being quickly exposed to them.
The survey will close at 5:00 PM EDT on 12/5/2022.
Decatur Education Foundation
Are you great at math, science or languages? Your skills could help a Decatur student in just one hour per week as a Virtual Pal Tutor! We pair 2nd-8th grade students with upper high school or adult tutors to help with homework, organization and motivation. It’s an easy way to give back to your community in a meaningful way (and for high school students to earn volunteer hours). Click here to apply: https://forms.gle/VJuyncb7qce6R7Jq5
Can’t volunteer but want to help out? You can donate to our Lighten the Load program which keeps the snack pantry stocked at Beacon Hill Middle School. For those families in our community experiencing food insecurity, we also have a weekend backpack program. Both have unique Amazon wish lists that are updated monthly. You can donate directly to them using these links:
Beacon Hill Middle Snack Program: /a.co/d0HJHTr
Weekend Backpack Program: https://a.co/6Etc74W