Weekly Update
November 17, 2022
Dear Winnona Park Community,
Recently the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion(DEI) committee of the Winnona Park PTA published a memo concerning the rise of racist and derogatory language used by students in CSD schools. This memo was shared with CSD Equity leaders and CSD school principals. You can read the memo here.
As an EL Education school, the Winnona Park Crew strongly believes that the character development of our students is just as important as their mastery of skills and knowledge, and producing high-quality work. Empathy and Caring, as well as Diversity and Inclusion are two of our 10 Design Principles of EL Education and our DEI committee goes a long way in supporting these principles at Winnona Park. CSD’s Equity team is also an amazing resource for schools as we develop racial equity, equitable curriculum and instruction, and equitable policies and procedures.
I’d like to thank the DEI committee for bringing this important issue to our attention and for supporting our school with so many diversity-focused initiatives and resources.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving break.
Greg Wiseman
Principal, Winnona Park Elementary School
From Dr. Huntington and the Counseling Department
Click here to view the contents of the letter. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Y78FcwM35dkLF11zibfLJQgy2QPouu2WcEJOI_FZj-M/edit
From the Media Center
Although I love for students to read over the school breaks, if you are traveling, please leave our library books at home.
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.
- 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
Extended Day Tutoring Session 1 Ends
Thursday, November 17, is the last day of Extended Day Tutoring for Session 1. Session 2 will begin in February 2023. Eligible students will receive an invitation letter.
Jingle Jog 2022 on Saturday, December 3rd at 9 AM
Get your bells, wear your ugly sweaters and come move your bodies with the Winnona Park Crew at our annual Jingle Jog fun run. Kids (and adults, if you like) will warm up with Coach Beauchamp and then get your groove on while we make laps around the field. We will have a DJ, bells and hot cocoa for the kids after they finish the run.
Register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfWLBTc8QELbZzdm63e1xiKt5ueae4b0sXKznK5M6dL4bCg6Q/viewform
Volunteer, please sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4BA4A82EA1F58-jingle
Tomorrow’s Community Circle - First Grade
We invite parents of first graders 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 - UPDATED
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.
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.
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
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.
Decatur Education Foundation
Giving Tuesday is coming up on Tuesday, November 29, 2022, and is a global day of generosity – a day to support the causes that are meaningful to you and your community. With a donation to DEF, you are helping us support Decatur’s kids. It’s our mission to help EVERY student in Decatur learn and thrive. Every kid learns differently; every kid has different needs. We help students through our programs that address racial and economic inequity, opportunity gaps, food insecurity, and behavioral health needs.
Please consider making a donation of any amount (every dollar counts) at www.decatureducationfoundation.org/donate. Together we make a difference for our kids.
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: https://a.co/d0HJHTr
Weekend Backpack Program: https://a.co/6Etc74W
Run with the Dogs
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.