Weekly Update

December 5, 2024

Dear Winnona Park Community,

Winnona Park parents have the opportunity to take the new Georgia School Climate Survey. Each parent or guardian is invited to take the family version to answer questions about the current school or schools you have a child or children attending. If two or more children attend the same school, please only complete one survey for that school.

The survey measures what you think about how the school engages with families. Answers are not linked to names in any way. When typing answers, please do not give names or information that you don’t want to share with this school. Data will be shared with school leaders to help improve the school and will be published on the GaDOE website.

Please help by sharing your honest opinion on this 22-question survey. To take the survey, please click this link.

For more information about the surveys, please review this presentation from the Georgia Department of Education.

Sincerely,

Greg Wiseman

Principal, Winnona Park Elementary School

Important Dates

Dec 6 - Community Circle - First Grade Families
Dec 9 - PTA Meeting
Dec 11 - Walk-N-Roll - Please bring your own coffee mug to help us reduce waste!; After-school library check-out
Dec 13 - Community Circle - Second Grade Families
Dec 17 - Kindergarten Celebration of Learning
Dec 19 - Early Release Day for students; No Community Circle
Dec 20 - Jan 6 - Winter Break

From the Counselor’s Office

Hello, Families! My December class lessons will center on kindness and compassion. I’d love for our entire community to join our efforts and spread “a cup of cheer” with the WP teachers and staff. You’re invited to write a note of cheer (kindness or gratitude) to any WP staff member. All notes submitted to the box in the front lobby will join the school display. All notes will be distributed to recipients before Winter Break.

Please click this link for more details and templates to prepare your cup of cheer!

Thank you,

Lindsey Hicks

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 Thursday, January 31st, 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

Stay connected with upcoming events: https://www.wpespta.org/

Find us on:

Facebook

Instagram

🔥 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!

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!

City Schools of Decatur News

School Climate Survey

Please take our school’s climate survey and make your opinion count! This survey expires March 31, 2025. Survey participation is critical because the data will be used to calculate School Climate Star Ratings for the 2025-26 school year. City Schools of Decatur appreciates the contributions of parents, students, and staff! Click on the following links for your school's survey.

STAR Early Literacy, Reading and Math Assessments: December 2-6 and 9-13

K-12 students will take the STAR Early Literacy, Reading and Math Assessments during the winter assessment screening period of December 2-6 and December 9-13. CSD measures results from this winter assessment screening period against results from the previous fall screening period to track growth and adjust instruction to best meet students' individual needs. These assessments are crucial for ensuring your child's continued success. Families may use these directions to opt-in to receive the results of the STAR assessments upon completion. For questions, please contact our Testing Coordinator Eddie Johnson - ejohnson@csdecatur.net.

City Schools of Decatur Community Partners

Decatur Farm to School Committee

Do you have plans for a new garden or class project for spring? Are you full of fantastic ideas for incorporating 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 2024/25. Teachers, administrators, PTA members, and parent volunteers can apply on behalf of their CSD school. Please get your applications in before December 13, 2024.

2024-2025 DF2S School Grant Application

About Us

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

Newsletter Archives: Read older issues of the Wildcat Weekly by visiting our school website. Clikc on the link in the top photo or in the "Newsletter" button in the middle of the page. Older issues of CSD Weekly may be found on CSD's district newsletter webpage.