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College Heights Connection
April 18, 2024
Principal's Message
Dear Families,
I hope you are having a great week and enjoying our warmer weather. Save the date! We will be having our annual Field Day on May 9 from 8:30 am-12:00 pm. Rain date is May 14. Teachers will share parent volunteer opportunities. We are asking for bottled water donations. Please drop off donations to the front desk. In addition, our Pre-K parade will be held May 16 at 9:00 am. The parade route is on campus, through the parking lot. The parade typically lasts no more than 30 minutes. Everyone is welcome to attend. Teachers and room parents will share end of year classroom party details.
We are also looking forward to the Preschool Art Show tomorrow at 10:00 am. I hope you can stop by and see the amazing work of our three and four year old artists.
Have a great weekend,
Principal Garland
School News and Announcements
Early Release Day Reminder
City Schools of Decatur's last Early Release Day of the 2023-2024 school year is Wednesday, April 24.
Pre-K - 12:15 PM
Lower Elementary - 12:50 PM
Upper Elementary - 12:15 PM
Middle School - 1:45 PM
High School - 1:35 PM
College Heights' infant through preschool program will remain on its normal schedule.
Media Center News
One More Day to Shop the Spring Book Fair
Thank you so much for supporting the College Heights Spring Book Fair this week. Friday is the last day to shop the fair, so please stop by any time from 7:30 am to 2:30 pm. Preschool families, if you are here for the art show tomorrow, we'd love to see you at the book fair before or after the show.
Book fair shopping hours for the rest of the week:
Thursday, April 18 - 7:30 am-3:30 pm
Friday, April 19 - 7:30 am-2:30 pm (LAST DAY)
*To shop online, use this link (use coupon code CHECLC at checkout)*
Special thanks to our amazing volunteers! We appreciate everyone who came on Monday to help Pre-K students make their wish lists! Thank you to Sarah Wade, Amber Womble, Emilie Lindberg, Emily Londrillo, and Krista Gilliam, and thank you to the Pre-K teachers and paraprofessionals for lending their support as well. Thank you to Lita Duque (our wonderful Spanish teacher) for volunteering her time as well on Wednesday morning, and Heather Hart for helping on Thursday morning.
PTA News and Announcements
PTA Dine Out is TONIGHT!
Why not skip cooking tonight and take the family out for dinner at Chando's Tacos in downtown Decatur? Here's a link to their menu. See details below, and see you there!
PTA Volunteer Opportunity
Staff Appreciation Week
Staff Appreciation Week is just around the corner! Mark your calendars for May 6th - 10th to say thank you to all our amazing College Heights teachers & staff through gifts of treats, lunch, homemade cards and more. Below you will find the full schedule.
Staff Appreciation Week Full Schedule:
Monday- Bring teachers their favorite snacks/treatsTuesday- Bring teachers a handmade card or thank you note
Wednesday- Provide lunch for your classroom teachers
Thursday- Bring in flowers/plants for your classroom teachers
Friday- PTA sponsored lunch for staff
Auditor needed
The PTA is looking for someone who can audit the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 PTA budgets. The PTA has a budget item for this task, it is not a volunteer position. Please email Aiman, the current PTA Treasurer, at draimanmuneer@gmail.com if you are an auditor or a CPA or if you can refer us to one.
CSD News and Announcements
CSD K-Day is today!
All CSD rising Kindergarten students and parents are invited to visit their zoned school to learn about school operations, participate in a brief screener, tour the building, and have FUN. If you missed the morning session, please attend the evening session from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Pre-K families: this is a separate and optional event for you to visit your zoned K-2 school as a family. College Heights Pre-K students will visit their K-2 schools with their teachers on May 2.
Autism Acceptance Month
In April, CSD joins in raising awareness to promote autism acceptance, celebrate neurodiversity and individual differences, and continues to advance inclusivity and connectedness throughout the community.
CSD Celebrates National Librarian Day
CSD celebrates the contributions of our school librarians, who help students find the necessary resources to learn and grow as readers and researchers. Our school librarians also support our staff and administrators every day by helping to communicate important news to our school communities. We appreciate our school librarians for being All In!
Curriculum & Cuisine
Join ESOL & Federal Programs and Teaching and Learning for an evening of curriculum updates and international cuisine! RSVP here.
Mental Health Awareness in Students Parents and Families Workshop
In honor of National Mental Health Awareness Month (May), the Division of Student Support Services is excited to host a parent workshop to empower parents and guardians with tools to increase their awareness of mental health and support student wellness. The workshop will take place on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. at the Wilson Center (125 Electric Avenue). Parent registration will be required for attendance. Please click the link here to register.
Special Education Parent Survey
Please complete this short survey to help identify family involvement needs within the state and local school districts.
CSD Board of Education Meeting Times
The City Schools of Decatur Board of Education has announced the board meeting schedule for Tuesday, April 23.
Meeting times will adjust each month according to the length of the agenda and published monthly in compliance with the Georgia Open Meetings Act.
The April 23, 2024, CSD Board of Education meeting schedule is as follows:
Executive Session: 12:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Pre-Work Session: 2:35 p.m. – 3:15p.m.
Work Session: 3:15 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Board Meeting: 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Public Comment: 6:30 p.m. – 6:50 p.m.
Except for the executive session, all meetings will continue to be live-streamed and open to the public.
BOE Community Meeting
City Schools of Decatur’s Board of Education Spring Community Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. at Beacon Hill Middle School.
CSD Extra Mile Award
Students: Do you know a teacher or CSD employee who has gone "the extra mile" this year? Nominate them for the CSD Extra Mile Award! The Extra Mile Award is an annual award that allows students to show appreciation for the teachers or staff they feel go above and beyond what is expected of them.
Students (not parents) at any grade level can write an essay describing how their teacher (or staff member) goes the extra mile (parents can help younger children write the essay). The essays should be detailed and describe how the employee goes above and beyond.
Click here to submit a nomination. Students can also find the form any time via LaunchPad (it’s the purple icon labeled “Extra Mile Award nomination”).
The deadline is May 31, 2024.
These awards will be presented at the CSD Opening Day Celebration in July.
Questions? Contact cburnett@csdecatur.net or 404-371-3601
Community Partner News and Announcements
PTA/PTO/PTSA/Bulldog Boosters Upcoming Events
April 21: Community Eid Celebration at Glennwood Elementary (click here to volunteer)
Decatur Education Foundation News
Step Up for CSD Teachers and Staff!
Teachers and staff LOVE receiving Step Up tributes, and they also LOVE being able to write grants for classroom equipment, books, experiences, and technology! That's why participating in DEF's Step Up for Teachers campaign has double the impact for our amazing teachers and staff! These funds support the Teacher Innovation Grants that DEF awards each fall!
For the rest of the school year, visit www.StepUpForTeachers.com, make a donation, and leave a short note of gratitude for a teacher, administrator, or school support member. Tributes will be posted on the website, and notifications will be sent to the individuals being honored. DEF volunteers will deliver your "We Step Up" sign to your home for you! Have a graduating senior? Choose the "Congratulations!" sign instead! Let's cover Decatur in signs of support for our CSD teachers, staff, and graduates!
* If you would like to make a tribute but donation is a barrier, please email Drew@DecaturEducationFoundation.org
Support Student Musicians AND Student Behavioral Health!
DEF's No Ordinary Joe Coffee House Music Series returns on Thursday, May 2 at Waller’s! This event features talented DHS singers, songwriters, and bands and supports Joe's Fund, DEF’s behavioral health initiatives. To get your tickets and learn more about Joe’s Fund, use the QR code or go here: www.decatureducationfoundation.org/noordinaryjoe/
City of Decatur Parks and Recreation
City of Decatur Parks and Recreation commits to providing exceptional experiences that foster healthy living and meaningful connections within our communities. Please visit their website, a one-stop-shop for information about after-school programs, school holiday programs, and summer camps. To stay up to date on all things Decatur Parks and Recreation, follow them on Facebook and Instagram or sign up for their monthly newsletter here!
Save the Date
April 19 - Preschool Art Show
April 24 - Final Early Release Day for 2024-25 school year (Pre-K)
April 25 - Brendan Wenzel Author Visit (Pre-K and Preschool)
May 2 - Pre-K field trip to K-2 schools (staff/students only)
May 3 - Parent Coffee Chat: Making the Transition from Pre-K to Kindergarten
May 9 - Field Day
May 16 - Pre-K Parade