College Heights Connection

Dear Families,

We have had another wonderful week. I am always amazed at how quickly the students learn their new routines. Children continue to successfully transition from home to school. One of my favorite parts of my job is to see the big smiles on our students' faces as they arrive at school in the morning. The staff is working hard on creating a sense of safety and classroom community.

We have a lot of useful and important information in this week's newsletter. Pre-K parents, please remember the district has implemented an early release day the last Wednesday of every month. Additional information regarding early release days is shared below. I wish you all a great weekend (hopefully with no rain).

Have a great weekend,

Principal Garland

Approximately once a month, all CSD schools release students two hours early so that teachers and staff are able to have important meetings, participate in professional learning, and hold parent conferences.

The Pre-K early release schedule is as follows:

• Two hour early release. Students eat lunch at school.
• Bus riders will be dismissed between 11:45 am-12:00 pm.
• Walkers/car riders and community after school programs will be dismissed beginning at 12:15 pm.
• Families enrolled in community after school programs should contact the program directly on their early release details.
• Students enrolled in the College Heights aftercare program will remain in their rooms for rest time and will transition to their aftercare location at 2:30 pm.
• Early release days generally fall on the last Wednesday of the month, but some early release days occur just before a holiday or break. The 2024-2025 dates are: 8/28, 9/20, 10/30, 11/22, 12/19, 1/22, 2/26, 3/26, and 4/30. There is no Early Release Day in May.
  
• Students in the 0-3 tuition program are not released early; they attend for the entire school day as usual.

Please reach out to Caretha Hall if you have any additional questions.

Join us in recognizing Cynthia Andrews, who has been with the district for 30 years! Cynthia is responsible for student enrollment, manages school finances, and takes care of countless things behind the scenes to keep College Heights running smoothly. She does this with skill, grace, good humor, and with an unwavering love for and commitment to our students, teachers, and families. We love you, Cynthia!

Day-of dismissal changes for Pre-K students must be made prior to 1:00 pm and must be communicated to the school, not the classroom teacher, as teachers are not always able to check email during the school day.

Communicate dismissal changes to Caretha Hall by email or preferably by phone at (404) 370-4480.

Experience a day in the life of a College Heights Chick! We warmly invite you to join us for Curriculum Night on August 21 as we share a typical day in your child's exciting learning journey. Your child's teacher will share insights into the daily schedule, classroom routines, expectations, and provide valuable tips to support your child's success this year. Let's connect and build a strong partnership for your child's educational growth!

Choose one of the convenient 30-minute sessions below:

• Session 1: 6:00 PM - 6:30 PM
• Session 2: 6:30 PM - 7:00 PM

UPDATE: Infant & Toddler Curriculum Night sessions will be held in the library. Preschool & Pre-Kindergarten sessions will be held in individual classrooms.

To best accommodate families with multiple children at College Heights, the same informative session will be repeated during both time slots. This allows you to attend Curriculum Night for each child and learn about their classroom experiences.

We look forward to seeing you!

Friday, September 13, 2024

College Heights Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Overview

More details coming soon!

We have a great one page document that lists the appropriate contacts for all your questions and concerns. Click here to access this resource, which is always available on our website by clicking on the Who do I contact? tab under Quick Links.

Join the College Heights PTO today! It's free!

The 2024-2025 school year PTO Budget vote will occur August 15 at 7pm virtually. You must be signed up with the PTO to vote, so please be sure to sign up!

All CSD Pre-K through grade 12 students will take the STAR assessment instead of the MAP for the 2024-25 school year. The STAR assessment will be administered three times per year, beginning August 12 and then again in December and May. See frequently asked questions about STAR here.

The Teaching and Learning Department will host an informational webinar to provide an overview of STAR and discuss score reports on Tuesday, September 17 at 6 pm. Join the webinar here.

Additional resources:

• To learn more about STAR, click here.

• STAR vs. MAP? View a research study on score correlations here.

Save the date for a virtual meeting to learn more about the following support programs and services available to CSD students:

• Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS)

• Gifted and Talented Services

• ESOL and Federal Programs

• 504 and Psychological Services

• Professional School Counseling

• Behavior Support

• School Social Work

• Special Education

Click here to submit your questions about the Programs Overview before Thursday, August 29, 2024, at 4 p.m. A meeting link will be provided closer to the meeting date.

Join Decatur Education Foundation for a brand new community event! Head to Legacy Park on Friday, Sept. 6th, from 5-9 pm for a fun family evening of live music and community! City Schools of Decatur community circle bands will bring the tunes – you bring your school spirit! The school with the largest percentage of representation will win a music grant for their school ... along with a trophy and bragging rights, of course! We’ll have food vendors and sweet treats to supplement your picnic. Adults are $10, and KIDS ARE FREE! Get tickets here: https://decatureducationfoundation.org/def-events/battle-of-the-bands/ *If cost is an issue, please email Drew@DecaturEducationFoundation.org.

August 21 - Curriculum Night

August 28 - Early Release Day (Pre-K only)

September 13 - Parent Coffee Chat on Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment