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Weekly Update

Weekly Update

October 24, 2024

Dear Winnona Park Community,


Halloween is one of my favorite holidays on the calendar. My street in Decatur goes all out and it’s so much fun for kids and adults alike. I hope Winnona Park families have a fun and safe Halloween evening. The school day on Thursday, October 31, is just that, a regular school day. There may be some fun activities the teachers will do in their classrooms, but students are to report to school wearing normal school-day clothes. No costumes, please.


Sincerely,


Greg Wiseman

Principal, Winnona Park Elementary School

Important Dates

  • Oct 24 - Spirit Night - Naan Stop (Order Link)
  • Oct. 25 - Community Circle - CANCELLED

  • Oct 26 - Diwali Celebration

  • Oct 30 - Early release at 12:50 p.m.

  • Nov. 1 - Community Circle - First Grade Families

  • Nov 2 - Community Gardening Day

  • Nov 5 - Remote Learning Day - No school for students

  • Nov. 6 - Open check-out in the Media Center after school until 3:15 p.m.

  • Nov 11 - PTA Meeting

  • Nov 13 - Walk-n-Roll

  • Dec 5 - Picture Day makeups

Community Circle Cancelled Tomorrow

Due to the fact that most of the Community Circle Band will be elsewhere Friday, we have cancelled Community Circle. We will pick up again next week with first grade parents attending.

Picture Day Make-Ups

If your child was absent last week when we took school pictures, we will have make-ups on Thursday, December 5.

Media Center News

Media Center Book Check-Out for Families

Come visit our Media Center and check out up to five books at a time for your student! We will be open on Wednesdays until 3:15 p.m. beginning Wednesday, November 6.


Destiny Notices for Books Checked Out

Earlier today I sent out notices to first and second grade families letting you know what books your student has checked out. If the books are overdue, please help your child locate the books. Do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions - I can help check their backpack, book boxes in the classrooms, etc. Thank you! izeff@csdecatur.net.

Save the Date - Family Education Sessions

Mark your calendars!

Dr. Lindsey Hicks, our school counselor, will be hosting Parent Book Chats on Friday, January 24 from 9-10 a.m. and Wednesday, January 30, at 6:30 p.m. in the Media Center. We’ll be discussing Jennifer Breheny-Wallace’s book Never Enough. The book ventures into what achievement culture looks like, how it impacts our kids, and suggestions for a different approach. I welcome you to read the book before joining us, but advance reading is not required. If you have any questions, please email Dr. Hicks at lindsey.hicks@csdecatur.net.


Digital Wellness - Join the Conversation

Join Ilene Zeff, our media specialist, and other families from our school community as we start a conversation about digital wellness. After sharing information about digital wellness and the impact of screen use on young children’s brains, we will reflect on screen use within our own families and discuss strategies to begin to better manage the technology in our lives. Sessions are scheduled for Wednesday, February 26, 6:30-7:30 p.m. and Friday, February 28, 9-10 a.m. in the Media Center. If you have any questions, please email Ms. Zeff at ilene.zeff@csdecatur.net.

Winnona Park PTA

Please visit our PTA website to stay connected with upcoming events

We have a new website! Visit www.wpespta.org to stay connected with upcoming events. Find us on Facebook and Instagram.


Read-A-Thon Update: There’s still time to donate!

There’s still time to make a difference! Our Read-A-Thon fundraiser is off to a great start, but we need your help to keep the momentum going. Every dollar raised supports vital programs at Winnona Park Elementary, enriching our students' learning experience. Encourage your readers to keep collecting donations through October 31. Whether it’s from family, friends, or neighbors, every bit counts in helping us reach our goal. Let’s show how powerful our community can be when we come together. Thank you for your continued support—together, we’re making reading a superpower!

Visit the site for more information.


Diwali celebration

Join us to celebrate the Indian festival of Diwali at Oakhurst Elementary on Oct. 26, 5-7 p.m., brought to you by the CSD PTA/PTO DEI committees! Food, drinks, crafts, music, performances, and more! Dance workshop at 5:30pm.

This is a great opportunity for older students to volunteer for a fun community event. CLICK HERE TO VOLUNTEER


🔥 NEW SWEATSHIRTS ALERT! 🔥

Our latest Winnona Park PTA sweatshirts are here, just in time for the cooler weather! 🧥❄️ Available in various styles to suit everyone’s taste—perfect for showing off your school spirit! 💛💜

Order yours online today!


Current Volunteer Opportunities


WPES Yearbook: Candid Photos

The WPES Yearbook Committee wants to see all you've been doing in school this year! Please email your photos of Winnona Park Wildcats in action to yearbook@wpespta.org. We love photos of school events, field trips, student groups, and school work! Important: Please include student names and teacher/grade in your email if known


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

Thank you to everyone that has already joined the PTA this year. As a reminder, joining the PTA is an annual event. We’ve also combined our membership drive with a fundraiser, asking families to make a donation. 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!

Community News

Decatur Education Foundation

Supper & Sips Returns!

Grab your friends and neighbors and help us celebrate the return of Decatur Education Foundation's highly-anticipated fall FUNdraiser - Supper & Sips! Join us on Thursday, Nov. 14th, from 6-10 pm at The Chapel on Sycamore for an evening of food, fun, and fellowship - all for a good cause. The Supper provides crucial support for DEF, allowing us to continue our work addressing unmet needs, providing enriching opportunities, and supporting our educators.


Get your tickets today or email Meagan@DecaturEducationFoundation.org if you are interested in sponsorship opportunities.


STEP UP for Decatur Youth!

DEF was founded more than 20 years ago by a group of residents who wanted to ensure that EVERY student in CSD had what they needed to learn and thrive. Today, DEF's mission remains focused on Decatur's kids and educators, and we are still 100% reliant on the support of the Decatur community. DEF puts the community's contributions where they will have the biggest impact on our students, and DEF's Step Up Circle is a special group of supporters that allows us to operate programs like Lighten the Load, Teacher Innovation Grants, behavioral health support, arts programming, and so much more. There are also benefits - for both businesses and individuals - to joining DEF's Step Up Circle (beyond the warm and fuzzy feeling you get from supporting Decatur's kids!). Visit DEF's Step Up Circle webpage to learn more about the different giving levels.

Winnona Park Elementary School
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