Weekly Update

July 25, 2024

Dear Winnona Park Community,

We are looking forward to seeing the entire WP community tomorrow at our Meet & Greet from 1:00-3:00. There is much more about this and other back-to-school information below.

We will welcome students for our first day of school on Tuesday, July 30th. Our school hours are 8:15-2:50. Students may be dropped off in the mornings at 8:00 am. Breakfast will be offered between 8-8:15 each morning. Dismissal begins at 2:50.

So we are prepared to safely dismiss your child on the first day of school (and beyond) please see the blurb below entitled “New Change of Dismissal Routine.” Look for the email today from “PickUp” and log into the system as soon as possible so we know where your child goes during our dismissal routine.

Lastly, I am so happy and proud to announce that Najah Blackwell has been hired as a 2nd-grade teacher for this school year. Last year, Najah was a kindergarten paraprofessional in Kelly McCool’s class. We are so fortunate to have Najah stepping up into a classroom teaching position.

See you soon!

Greg Wiseman,

Principal, Winnona Park Elementary School

• July 26th, 1 - 3 PM - Meet and Greet. Kindergarten(1:00-2:00); 1st and 2nd grade(2:00-3:00) - . Drop in to meet your teacher, then head outside for a popsicle

• July 28, 4 pm: PTA Kindergarten Popsicle Social

• July 30, 8 am: First Day of School AND PTA Coffee and Donuts Parent Social sponsored by Revolution Donuts

• August 7, 8:30 am @ WP Media Center: Room Parent Info Session for parents interested in serving as Room Parents

• August 14: Walk-n-Roll

• August 16, 5:30 pm: PTA Welcome Back Picnic

Parents will be able to log into the Parent Portal at 4:00 PM on Thursday, July 25 to see their child’s teacher. Class placement is a high priority for our staff and we implement a very deliberate process to place students each year. If you experience difficulty with your parent portal account, please call our office manager, Cathy Sikes for help at 404.370.4490.

All K-2 schools have their Meet & Greet scheduled for Friday, July 26 from 1:00-3:00. Join Winnona Park teachers & staff for a very special afternoon! Find your classroom, meet your new teacher, and get a sneak peek of what this year has in store. The main purpose of the Meet & Greet is just that: for parents, students, and teachers to meet and greet one another. It’s also for students to familiarize themselves with the school and the classroom. There is no formal program for this event. The Meet & Greet is not the time for a prolonged conference-style conversation with teachers. In order to keep car traffic in the neighborhood and foot traffic in the school at a minimum, Kindergarten families may arrive between 1:00 and 2:00, while 1st and 2nd graders may arrive between 2:00 and 3:00. All families should arrive at the front door and WP staff will direct you to your classroom. School Manager Cathy Sikes will be in the Teachers’ Lounge to help parents with Parent Portal, Free & Reduced Lunch applications, and CSD bus route questions.

Once you are done in the classroom, make your way outside for popsicles in the pavilion (weather permitting) and check out our new WP Spirit Wear! King of Pops will be provided by the PTA for the kiddos.

We will welcome students for our first day of school on Tuesday, July 30. Our school hours are 8:15-2:50. Students may be dropped off in the mornings at 8:00 am. Breakfast will be offered between 8-8:15 each morning. Dismissal begins at 2:50.

First day of school preparation is not for the faint of heart! Celebrate a successful return to school with fellow parents, and treat yourself to doughnuts and coffee after drop-off at the purple & gold picnic tables in front of the school! Sponsored by the Winnona Park PTA with treats provided by Revolution Doughnuts & Coffee.

Starting 7/25/24, we will be using a system called PickUp Patrol to help us track dismissals. PickUp Patrol (PUP) provides you with a convenient way to make changes to your child’s dismissal plans and help ensure that our students are accurately dismissed each day.

How It Works:

1. Parents will enter their child’s regular dismissal into the system. This is called their Default Plan.

2. Whenever your child is following a plan other than their Default Plan you’ll submit the change using the PickUp Patrol app. Examples of a plan change:

• Your child is sick and will not be attending school today.

• Your child has a doctor's appointment and will be leaving early.

• Your child normally rides the bus but is getting picked up today.

• Your child will be arriving late.

• Your child is getting picked up by someone other than yourself.

4. Register: TODAY you will receive a registration email from “PickUp” with a link to set up your account. The web app is free for parents and you can use it from your phone or computer. When you receive the registration email, log in right away to confirm your child’s default plan.

Emails or phone calls to Cathy Sikes (csikes@csdecatur.net) will be accepted for dismissal changes for the first two weeks, but starting August 12, all changes should be submitted through PickUp Patrol.

Thank you for using PickUp Patrol to make safety a priority and to ensure our dismissal process is efficient for all campers.

If you have any questions, please first check the PUP Parent Guide. If you still need help, contact us here in the office at csikes@csdecatur.net or PickUp Patrol at support@pickuppatrol.net.

Providing safe arrival and dismissal routines is a high priority for our staff. Please carefully read over the following arrival and dismissal procedures.

Arrival Times

Arrival for Walkers

Arrival for Carpool

Dismissal Times

Dismissal for Walkers

Dismissal for Carpool

Dismissal for Bus Riders (Please visit CSD Transportation to view bus routes and to register for bus service.)

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 learn more about the PTA and upcoming events.

All families (Returning and New Kindergarten) must complete the Annual Data Update (ADU) before the first day of school. The ADU is how families provide critical contact information, update health information, and do sign-offs for the handbook and code of conduct. Directions on how to complete the annual update can be found at https://www.csdecatur.net/adu It is important for all parents to update/confirm each child’s enrollment information. If you run into any issues completing the annual data update, please call the office at 404-370-4490.

Join the PTA and Support the School with our New Membership Drive

This year, we are excited to announce a revamped approach to our membership drive aimed at making it simpler and more impactful for families to support the school. Instead of multiple small fundraising efforts throughout the school year, we are launching an annual donation drive. This new approach is designed to streamline the process for parents and ensure that we can fully fund our valuable programs from the outset.

All contributions from this annual drive will directly benefit our students and teachers by supporting essential programs. The funds will cover:

• All field trip costs for the year

• Support educational initiatives like the community garden, STEAM materials, Books-in-a-Bag, and DEI programs

• Teachers will also receive a stipend for classroom materials at the beginning of the year

• Ongoing teacher and staff appreciation activities

• Yearbooks for every student

• School social events

• And so much more!

Your generous donation will ensure that these programs thrive and that our children continue to have enriching educational experiences. And your PTA membership is included in all levels.

Visit our website for more information or select your membership level!

Do you have or know a business that would benefit from exposure to the Winnona Park Community? Check out our new sponsorship opportunities.

POPSICLE SOCIAL - ATTENTION ALL KINDERGARTEN FAMILIES!

The Kindergarten Popsicle Social is a wonderful Winnona Park tradition that provides an opportunity for new kindergarteners and their families to get to know the Winnona Park community. Join us on Sunday, July 28th at the playground behind the school!

It's time for Winnona Park Room Parent signup! We are seeking 2-3 parents/caregivers per class to serve as Room Parents. Please click HERE to sign up today!

Volunteering as a Room Parent is a great way to get involved with your student's WP experience. Room Parents are responsible for communicating to their classes about upcoming PTA events and initiatives, and managing funds for teacher gifts. Teachers may also occasionally ask their Room Parents to support classroom activities. And please mark Wednesday, August 7 at 8:30 am on your calendars -- we will have a brief Room Parent orientation in the WP media center.

You can access this week's District newsletter here.

Email: csikes@csdecatur.net
Website: https://ga02000365.schoolwires.net/site/Default.aspx?PageID=13
Location: 510 Avery Street, Decatur, GA, USA
Phone: 404-370-4490