Weekly Update

November 7, 2024

• Nov 8 - Community Circle - 2nd Grade families

• Nov 10 - 16: Crossing Guard Appreciation Week

• Nov. 11 - PTA Meeting

• Nov 12 - School Safety at Winnona Park - 8:30 AM in the Media Center

• Nov. 13 - Walk-n-Roll. AND Open check-out in the Media Center after school until 3:15 p.m.

• Nov 14 - Thanksgiving Lunch

• Nov 15 - Community Circle - Kindergarten families

• Nov. 18 - 21 - Fall Book Fair

• Nov 19 - Spirit Night @ Corner Slice

• Nov. 22 - Early Release Day. Community Circle - STUDENTS AND STAFF ONLY

• Nov. 25-29 - Thanksgiving Break

• Dec. 5 - Picture Day makeups

Get ready to lace up and go green! Our next Walk and Roll is set for Wednesday, November 13. Don’t forget to stop by for some coffee. And, as we focus on creating a healthier planet for our kids, we’re asking families to help reduce waste by bringing their own mug (BYOM). Let’s cut down on disposable cups and make our event as eco-friendly as possible. Walking, rolling, and reducing waste is a powerful way to show our commitment to the environment. See you on the sidewalks!

One of the best days of the school year is the annual Thanksgiving Luncheon, where families join us for a Thanksgiving feast for lunch. This will occur on Thursday, November 14th at the times shown in this table. Adults guests must prepay for their lunch by Friday, November 8 via Parent Portal or cash.

● Online Payments: Payments for the luncheon will not be accepted after Friday, November 8th.

● Difficulty with Online Payments? Contact Nekee Mathis (nmathis@csdecatur.net,

470.237.0368 ext. 7607) for assistance.

Cash Payments (Up to two guests per student - $5 each):

● Option 1: School Collection: If parents are unable to make an online payment,

please place cash payment in a sealed envelope with the following information: Parent(s) name, child's name, teacher's name, and the number of tickets purchased. Place the envelope in the student’s communication folder.

● Option 2: Direct to Cafeteria: Alternatively, parents can go directly to the cafeteria

where staff can collect the necessary information and process the cash payment.

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

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.

Fall Book Fair

Our Fall Book Fair will be held from Monday, November 18-Thursday, November 21. You can find more details here. I will be sending out the volunteer sign-up in a separate email.

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.

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

Find us on:

Facebook

Instagram

Current Volunteer Opportunities:

• WPES Restaurant Row Bird Feeder Maintenance

• WP Reading Fluency

Crossing Guard Appreciation Week (November 10 - 16)

Let’s show some love for our fantastic crossing guards! To recognize their dedication in keeping our kids safe every day, the WP PTA will give them thank-you gifts. But a heartfelt 'thank you' from our community goes a long way, too! We encourage students and parents to make cards to say 'thanks' to let our crossing guards know how much we value their hard work and commitment. We have put together this list of all of the crossing guards that support our school.

Mark Your Calendars: Spirit Night @ Corner Slice

Join us for Spirit Night at Corner Slice on November 19 from 4-9 pm! 🍕 When you dine in, take out, or order delivery through Corner Slice’s website, 15% of your purchase goes back to our school! Every bite counts, so let's make it a deliciously successful night for our community.

Note: Orders placed through UberEats, DoorDash, or Grubhub don’t qualify, so order directly from their site!

https://cornersliceatl.com

🔥 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!

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.

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