College Heights Connection
March 21, 2024
Principal's Message
Dear Families,
We have had a busy week here at College Heights with lots of learning and outdoor play. Spring Break is approaching and we hope you are making plans for a fun and restful week away from school. Please make sure you are reading all communications from the school and classroom teachers. There are a lot of important events and activities coming up in the next few weeks as we head toward the end of the 2023-2024 school year. Thank you for all you do to support College Heights.
Have a great weekend,
Principal Garland
School News and Announcements
Pre-K Families - Parent Coffee Chat on May 3
Pre-K families, please save the date of May 3 at 8:30 am for an informative parent coffee chat on making the transition from Pre-K to Kindergarten. More details will be available after Spring Break. We hope you will join us.
Media Center News
Author Visit - Brendan Wenzel
We are delighted to welcome author and illustrator Brendan Wenzel to College Heights in April! He will be visiting Pre-K and three year old students to talk about his new book, Two Together, a lively story about the adventures of a dog and cat. Families are invited to purchase a copy of Two Together and/or two of his other popular books, They All Saw a Cat (Caldecott Honor winner) and Inside Cat. These books will be signed by Mr. Wenzel when he comes to visit. Click here to access the form. Order forms and payments are due Wednesday, April 10.
Media Center This Week
Pre-K students finished their second week of our Kevin Henkes author/illustrator study. Families, please feel free to stop by the library to check out Kevin Henkes books to share with your children.
Other books we read this week:
Trucks Galore! by Peter Stein, illustrated by Bob Staake
Bear Finds Eggs by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Jane Chapman
Go Away, Big Green Monster! by Ed Emberley
Did You Take the B from My _ook? by Beck and Matt Stanton
Missing DEI Cart Books
We hope you are enjoying the diverse and inclusive books available on the DEI cart across from Caretha's desk. This cart is available to families for self checkout during school hours. Please feel free to come check out some books to read to your families during spring break week.
We are missing several cart books. A list of these books can be found below. If you have any of these at your homes, will you please check them back in to the cart at your earliest convenience so that others can enjoy them? Thank you!
Be a bridge
Being you: a first conversation about gender
Binny's Diwali
Children of the world
Counting on community
Dreamers
Festival of colors
Ho'onani: hula warrior
Holi colors
How to raise an antiracist
I am human: a book of empathy
Just ask!: be different, be brave, be you
Little Black Lives Matter
May we have enough to share
Pancakes to parathas: breakfast around the world
Pink is for boys
Playing at the border: a story of Yo Yo Ma
Please, baby, please
Rainbow weaver = Tejedora del arcoiris
The gender identity guide for parents
The making of butterflies
Yes! No! a first conversation about consent
Seen around College Heights
Mr. Peyton's class has a new friend: an adorable gray bunny! Mousa the rabbit will be coming to visit the classroom every Friday. Chet is demonstrating how to pet the bunny with gentle hands.
Pre-K students were delighted to meet two therapy dogs from Happy Tails Pet Therapy. We learned all about how these dogs help people. This in-house field trip is part of Pre-K's Pet Study unit.
College Heights observed World Down Syndrome Day today in style! Check out these crazy, mismatched, colorful socks!
Pre-K Families: Win Money for Your Child's College Education
Georgia's Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) and Georgia’s Pre-K Program are partnering with the Path2College 529 Plan, the official college savings plan for the state of Georgia, to sponsor this year’s "Path from Pre-K to College" sweepstakes. Four children from across the state will be randomly selected to win a $1,529.00 contribution for their Path2College 529 Plan. The four Pre-K programs that the winners attend will also win a $1,529.00 check made payable to their Pre-K program. Click here to enter the sweepstakes. The deadline to enter is March 31, 2024. See official rules here.
Lost and Found
CSD News and Announcements
CSD ELA K-8 CURRICULUM ADOPTION TIME! Your Feedback is Needed
The City Schools of Decatur Literacy Department, alongside the ELA K-8 curriculum adoption committee, identified and reviewed five programs on the approved Georgia House Bill 538 High-Quality Instructional Materials List. The proposed curricula are available in the following locations through March 25, 2024, for examination and feedback:
Option 1: Visit the Elizabeth Wilson School Support Center lobby located at 125 Electric Avenue, Decatur on Monday-Friday from 8:00 am-4:00 pm.
Option 2: Digital access of the City Schools of Decatur ELA Adoption webpage is available.
After reviewing the proposed ELA K-8 curricula, complete the survey below that applies:
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
Student Restorative Practices and Code of Conduct Handbook (SRPCCH)
It’s time for the yearly review of the Student Restorative Practices and Code of Conduct Handbook (SRPCCH), and we value your feedback and contributions. Please use the provided link or QR code to access the Stakeholder Review Feedback Form. The deadline to submit feedback and input is March 31, 2024.
FY25 Budget
The City Schools of Decatur is in the process of establishing the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget. We are interested in input from the community on any suggestions, concerns, or questions. Please click here to provide your feedback. Click here to access the entire FY25 Preliminary Budget 5-Year Financial Review presentation.
America Rescue Plan (ARP) Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund Feedback Surveys
City Schools of Decatur is reviewing its ARP ESSER LEA Plan and ARP ESSER Budget. We are soliciting stakeholder feedback through April 10, 2024. Please use the link below to view the plan and budget and share your input: https://www.csdecatur.net/Page/4415
Community Partner News and Announcements
PTA/PTO/PTSA/Bulldog Boosters Upcoming Events
March 23: Talley Tigerfest from 11-3 p.m.
Volunteers (older students or adults) needed for Tigerfest! Click here for more details.
March 23: Westchester Holi Event from 2-4 p.m. (College Heights PTA is a co-sponsor of this event)
April 21: Community Eid Celebration at Glennwood Elementary
Save the Date
March 27 - Early Release Day (Pre-K)
April 1-5 - Spring Break (school closed for all students)
April 18 - School to Heart to Home virtual parent session
April 24 - Final Early Release Day for 2024-25 school year (Pre-K)
May 3 - Parent Coffee Chat: Making the Transition from Pre-K to Kindergarten
May 9 - Field Day
May 16 - Pre-K Parade