Westchester Weekly
Newsletter August 25, 2022
News from the Principal
Hello Westchester Community,
It is hard to believe that we are already winding up the first month of school. September is just around the corner. I hope you have marked your calendars for September 1st and are planning to join us for Curriculum Night. This is an evening for parents to hear about their child’s grade level expectations, routines and even some ways to help your child at home. Due to the nature of this meeting, we ask that you make arrangements for childcare. Parents will go directly to the grade level location for a brief video message from myself and the PTA. It is exciting that we will have our newly elected PTA board members by next week. Our grade level teachers will share important information for continued success this year.
As always, we are making considerations for group gatherings. Therefore we will have a staggered time schedule so that we can manage the number of parents in our larger locations. We plan to offer two sessions to help accommodate families with more than one child.
First Grade - Report to the Auditorium at 5:30. At 6:00 we will allow our 2nd grade parents to enter the auditorium. Any first grade parents that have a child in Kindergarten will move to the cafeteria. After a brief video, the first grade parents and teachers will exit the auditorium. Parents that have a second grade student will remain in the auditorium.
Second Grade - Report to the Auditorium at 6:00. We will begin with a brief video presentation and at 6:15 the 1st grade level session will begin. At 6:40 teachers will wrap up and move to the 2nd session if needed. 6:45 -2nd session begins and wraps up at 7:15.
Kindergarten - Report to the Cafeteria at 6:00. We will begin with a brief video presentation and at 6:15 the 1st grade level session will begin. At 6:40 teachers will wrap up and move to the 2nd session if needed. 6:45 -2nd session begins and wraps up at 7:15.
Our PTA will have a table in the front lobby for membership and spiritwear. Masks are strongly encouraged during this event. If you are not able to attend, the grade level information will be shared with parents through our website.
Thank you for your support in making this the best year ever!
From your grateful principal,
Chrisitine Knox
Calendar of Events
August
- 8/23-25th- MAP Test for 2nd
- 8/30- Picture Day!
- 9/1- Curriculum Night- 5:30 pm -7:15 pm
- 9/5/22- Labor Day- No School
Picture Day
District-Wide Intervention Information
School Nutrition - Accommodating Students with disabilities and/or Special Dietary Needs:
City Schools of Decatur will make accommodations for children with disabilities whose disability or special dietary need restricts their diet when that need is certified by a licensed physician. Milk intolerance is not considered a disability or food allergy. For modifications or substitutions to the school meals, the school’s Nurse or Nutrition Manager must have a written Medical Statement to Request Accommodations for Disabilities in the School Meal Programs Form on file that is signed by a licensed physician or licensed health care professional who is authorized to write medical prescriptions under State law.
Parents should submit a new medical statement each year or verify the accuracy of the medical statement yearly that a child requires special dietary meals or substitutions. Please contact Monique Breedlove at mbreedlove@csdecatur.net or (470) 237-0368 ext. 7608 to update your student’s records or for additional information.
Parents that need to request milk substitutions for their students should complete a “Medical Statement to Request Milk Substitutions form.” This form will need to be on file for a student to receive lactose-free milk in lieu of 1% or Fat-Free 8 oz milk, which is included with a full tray. Students that do not have this form on file but want lactose-free milk will need to pay $1.00 for lactose-free milk or $0.50 for 1% or Fat-Free 8 oz milk. All students that do not purchase a meal will be charged for the milk choice they select.
The Accommodations form and the Milk Substitutions form are located here.
DHS Color Guard Invites You!
Parent Literacy Events
The Teaching and Learning Department is excited to host several parent-focused literacy events this school year. The August and September sessions are listed below. Stay tuned for information about additional programs scheduled for the remainder of the school year.
September Events:
September 15 at 4:00 pm: American Reading Company (ARC) Virtual Parent Education: Comprehensive Literacy for Turbulent Times - The Power Behind a Knowledge Building Curricula
If you have any questions about these events, please contact the Teaching and Learning Department at csimon@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.
September TBD, 2022 - Adena Walker, Chief of Human Resources, CSD
October 17th, 2022 - Billy Heaton, Principal, Talley Street
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.
Special Education Parent Engagement
September Meeting:
disAbility Link - Empowering Youth
Mr. William Thomas, Youth & Diversity Supervisor for disAbility Link, will give an overview of the services and supports offered through the Empowering Youth program for youths ages 14-29. disAbility link provides but is not limited to employment support, self-advocacy, social activities, and peer support.
Target Audience: Parents of students with disabilities ages 14-22 years old
Date: September 15
Time: 6-7pm
Location: Virtual
To RSVP, click this Link or email Cheryl Grant at cgrant@csdecatur.net.
For more information, please see the August Welcome Back Flyer.
If you have questions about interventions, please contact Erica Godfrey, District Intervention Specialist & MTSS Coordinator, at egodfrey@csdecatur.net.
K-5 Super Saturdays
Community Partner Announcements and Updates
Decatur Education Foundation
Live music at an afternoon picnic in a beautiful park – what a lovely way to celebrate our 20th Anniversary with us! Saturday, September 10th from 4-8pm at Legacy Park with live music from The Sundogs and JohnBoy & Surround Sound, and opening acts from two DHS senior musicians, Payton Kashdan and Nate Helfrich! This free community concert is presented by our sponsor, Bark Technologies. Who is Bark? Bark Technologies provides a monitoring service across many digital platforms to detect risk signs of bullying, suicidal ideation, threats of violence and sexual predation. They have partnered with City Schools of Decatur to pilot their monitoring system at Talley Street Upper Elementary in the spring with effective results, and it will be fully implemented for the 3rd-12th grade schools beginning September 6th. Bark also offers an app specifically for parents that not only monitors for safety issues, but also allows parents to manage screen time and filter websites to help set healthy boundaries.
Can you volunteer to tutor, mentor, or coach a Decatur student? We’ve got spots available for all those types of rewarding positions! Make a big impact in as little as 1-4 hours per month, depending on the role you choose. Go to www.decatureducationfoundation.org/mentoring to learn more and sign up.
MADISON AVE DERBY - REGISTRATION OPEN & HELP US CHOOSE THIS YEAR’S SHIRT
Don't miss your chance to be a part of one of Decatur's most iconic neighborhood events! Driver registration is now open for the 11th Annual Madison Avenue Derby, the non-motorized racing event where amateur racers of all ages design and build human-powered soapbox cars to compete against the clock in a downhill race!
Join the excitement as a racer or spectator on October 15, 2022, for a day of family friendly fun - proceeds from the event this year go to support the Friends of Refugees! REGISTER TO RACE NOW
Help us decide on what this year’s t-shirt design should look like by voting on your favorite! VOTE NOW THRU 8/31
Decatur Farm to School
Do you have plans for a new garden or class project? You're full of fantastic ideas on how to incorporate farm-to-school principles into a teaching unit? Need funds for a "green" field trip?
The Wylde Center Decatur Farm to School Committee invites you to apply for a grant for 2022/23. Teachers, administrators, PTA members, and parent volunteers can apply on behalf of their CSD school. Please get your applications in before August 31, 2022. (Link here and on the Wylde Center website > Education > Farm to School)
2022-2023 DF2S School Grant Application
Reminders from Last Week
Media Volunteers
Personal Belongings
Be sure to label all student items with their name. Many unclaimed items land in our Lost and Found each year. Previously, students were able to bring personal “stuffies” and toys to school with them. We are asking that all of these personal items remain at home unless it is a special event that has been communicated by your classroom teacher. If they are brought to school teachers will direct students to keep them in their lockers and not bring them to school again.
School Website
Check out our updated Website. This is a great source of information that’s regularly updated. You can also connect to the PTA website. You will find helpful communication such as the Westchester Family Handbook.
Who Do I Contact?
Visit past newsletters for answers to your questions🤗
Westchester Elementary School
Email: bnation@csdecatur.net
Website: https://www.csdecatur.net/Westchester
Location: 758 Scott Boulevard, Decatur, GA, USA
Phone: 404-370-4400
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westchesterelementarycsd