Weekly Update
August 25, 2022
Dear Winnona Park Community,
Curriculum Night is next week, Thursday, September 1. It is an opportunity for parents (no children) to hear from teachers what their children will be learning in the first half of the school year. There will be two identical sessions.
6:00-6:15: (Report to child’s classroom) Recorded message from Principal Wiseman
6:15-6:45: Session 1 - Your child’s teacher will go over what your child will be learning
6:45-7:15: Session 2 - (Identical to session 1. Go to a specials teacher, your 2nd child’s teacher (if you have a 2nd child at Winnona Park), or get date night started early.
Special Education and EIP teachers will be joining the classes they collaborate with. Curriculum Night is not a time for an individual conference between teachers and parents. That time is coming soon.
Thank you
Greg Wiseman
Principal, Winona Park Elementary School
SLT Voting Ends Tomorrow
The Winnona Park School Leadership Team (SLT) is an elected committee consisting of parents/guardians, WP staff members, community members and other personnel. WP has three parent 2-year terms expiring this year.
There is ONE vote per STUDENT at Winnona Park. If there are multiple adults in a household, please coordinate your vote so that there is only one per WP student. The three candidates with the highest number of votes will be the parent representatives on the SLT.
Polls close tomorrow (Friday, August 26th) at 4:00 PM.
Cast your vote using this Google Form.
Bios for each candidate can be found here.
Media Center News
WP Food Truck, Book Swap (and DHS football game) Friday, September 9, 5:30-7:30
Mark your calendars to join us for food, music, games and popsicles on Friday, September 9th. Gezzo’s West Coast Burritos, Sweet Auburn BBQ & King of Pops will be on sale from 5:30-7:30 pm. We will also host a used book exchange table (bring a book/take a book)! If you have books to donate, you may drop them in the book bin just outside the main door of the school starting Monday, August 29th.
Bring your family, friends and a picnic blanket for a night of community and fun on the Winnona Park Field.
Afterwards, head over to the DHS football game where anyone wearing WPES swag gets into the game for free. Go Wildcats and Go Bulldogs!
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.
From City Schools of Decatur
CSD Strategic Plan Input Session and Survey
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.
August Events:
August 24 at 4:00 pm: American Reading Company (ARC) Virtual Parent Education: The Science of Reading Is More Than A Movement
August 24 from 6:30 - 7:30 pm: City Schools of Decatur and American Reading Company (ARC) Virtual Parent Education with Dr. David Liben, Consultant and Author of Foundational Skills Development and Amelia Larson, Executive Vice President of ARC Innovations and Academic Partnerships
Meeting ID: 914 0253 9081 and Passcode: 632209
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.
August 22nd, 2022 - Dr. Maggie Fehrman, Superintendent, CSD
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.
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
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 Soapbox Derby
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)