W.E.stchester Weekly
News from the Principal
Greetings WE Families,
January is shaping up to be a pretty unusual month so far. Hopefully, everyone stayed warm and our remote learning days have been enjoyable for everyone. We tried again to provide clear and timely communication so that families could prepare for the change. Please let us know if there is anything we could do differently during these times of uncertain weather. We want to try to prepare for the unexpected.
Unfortunately, we had to cancel our Dine Out and Math Night this week. It is best to be cautious this week and let this winter weather move out. I am looking forward to what the groundhog will say in a few weeks. I have had enough winter this month. We look forward to scheduling Math Night with our local Decatur business, Mathnasium, in February.
And just like that, we are coming to the end of January. Mark your calendars for the upcoming events:
January 29th: Dine Out - Mojo Pizza
January 31st: Community Circle - All invited
February 12th: Dine Out - Community Q
February 17th-21st: Winter Break- No School
February 26th: Early Release
February 28th: Community Circle - All invited
Stay safe and warm, and we are excited to see you back in our school tomorrow.
From your very grateful principal,
Christine Knox
CSD will Resume Normal Operations on Friday, January 24. Expect Bus Delays.
City Schools of Decatur recognizes the challenges this week's virtual learning days have caused to families and the disruption to education. However, the safety of our students and staff remains our highest priority. Essential personnel were on-site today to warm up buses, inspect routes, clear ice and snow, and evaluate all facilities. These actions are part of our standard operating procedures for recovery after a winter storm.
DeKalb County has lifted the state of emergency. CSD looks forward to welcoming students and staff back tomorrow, Friday, January 24, 2025, as we will resume normal operations. However, bus riders please be patient, as some buses will experience delays due to icy conditions at Hillcrest Dr., Mt. Vernon at Glendale, Missionary at Inman, North Decatur Rd. going East, and Clairemont at Maediris. These bus routes will be adjusted to ensure they can safely transport students. Families should use the Stopfinder app for updated pick-up and drop-off times and information. Late bus riders will have the chance to eat school breakfast.
Walkers should be cautious on sidewalks and dress warmly. Car riders are encouraged to drive slowly. Athletics and after-school activities will resume as scheduled.
As a reminder, elementary students should return to school with the Chromebooks and chargers that schools provided last Friday.
Be safe and stay warm, CSD!
Have You Registered for the School Safety & Security Summit, Jan. 27?
CSD Hosts Public Hearings for Homestead Exemption Opt-Out (Georgia HB-581)
CSD will host five hearings in January for the public to learn more about the district's plans to exercise the one-time option for local governments to opt out of Georgia House Bill 581, which establishes a statewide floating homestead exemption and cap on property taxes.
The schedule for the remaining public hearings is:
Thursday, January 30, 10 a.m. (virtual only, access the meeting here)
Thursday, January 30, 6:45 p.m. (virtual only, access the meeting here)
Passed during the 2024 Legislative Session, HB 581 impacts property taxes for cities, counties and school districts by capping the annual increase in property values for tax purposes, effective January 1, 2025. The bill aims to provide property tax relief for local residents, using the Consumer Price Index as an inflationary index. Since school districts rely heavily on property taxes for funding, this cap could impact the availability of CSD schools' resources and programs.
The Board of Education will follow the legal procedures to opt out of the exemption, including holding the three virtual public hearings. Following the hearings, the board will vote to adopt an opt-out resolution at the February Board of Education meeting and file the resolution with the Secretary of State by March 1, 2025.
Reminders
School Lunch Policy: Please be sure to maintain a positive lunch balance for your child. This will help us avoid any unexpected lunch changes for students. Check your Parent Portal frequently to make sure your child has adequate funds for the cafeteria. You may also find the Parent Portal app (for Apple or Android) to be more convenient.
Winter Break Camps at the Wylde center
Hello Everyone,
Happy New Year! We are super excited to announce that Wylde Center Winter Break Camps have returned. We are offering the Wylde Winter Nature Camp at Oakhurst Garden and Cooks Gone Wylde at our Edgewood Garden.
Below are the links from our website:
Wylde Winter Nature Camp at Oakhurst Garden
Cooks Gone Wylde at Edgewood Garden
Wishing you a warm evening,
Sue Ellen
Annual School Climate Survey Open
Please take a moment to participate in CSD's climate survey relevant to your school and ensure your voice is heard! Remember, these surveys will be available until March 31, 2025. Your participation is vital, as the data collected will help determine the School Climate Star Ratings for the 2025-26 school year. City Schools of Decatur values the input from parents, students, and staff!
Take the Westchester Family Climate Survey through March 31, 2025.