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Weekly Update

Weekly Update

September 5, 2024

Dear Winnona Park Community,


I’m proud to announce that Winnona Park Elementary has earned “Operational Status” from the Georgia Department of Education as a PBIS school (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports). The rationale for Winnona Park moving from Emerging to Operational Status was that "Winnona Park has met all four outcome data measures and continues to make progress in all areas of PBIS, rarely using OSS or ISS as disciplinary actions for their students' behavior incidents."


Great job Winnona Park Crew!


Sincerely,

Greg Wiseman

Principal, Winnona Park Elementary School

Special Reminder

Beginning Thursday, September 5, 2024, the Wildcat Weekly will come via CSD Weekly from the City Schools of Decatur email. Parents will automatically receive CSD Weekly. However, community subscribers who have opted out of CSD news will only receive future school newsletters by subscribing here and selecting to receive news from “City Schools of Decatur.”


CSD Weekly includes links to all school newsletters and provides the latest district news, enabling families with students at multiple schools to conveniently access updates using one source. Additionally, CSD Weekly aims to improve consistency in messaging about district and community news by communicating it in a centralized location.

Important Dates

  • Sept 6 - First Grade Families at Community Circle

  • Sept 9 - PTA Meeting- ALL Are Welcome

  • Sept 11 - Walk-N-Roll

  • Sept 12 - Spirit Night - Bad Daddy’s Burger

  • Sept 23-27 - Fall Break

First Grade Parents Invited to Community Circle Tomorrow

We welcome first grade parents to Community Circle tomorrow morning! There is not enough room in the cafe to invite all parents at once, so we will we invite one grade level at a time each week. All Community Circles for the year are on the WP calendar, highlighting which grade level’s parents may attend.


If you are attending Community Circle, please gather by the pond outside the cafe after morning drop-off. Parents will be let in the cafe at the appropriate time. We will go over the parent expectations in the cafe, but here are some of the highlights:


  • All parents enter and exit through the cafe door near the pond.

  • Stand along the outside perimeter of the cafe. Please spread out.

  • Younger siblings (if brought) should stay with a parent, not with WP child’s class.

  • Be present, sing along, and participate. Please stay off phones and chat with your friends before and after Community Circle.

  • Put phones away. Don’t post school activities on social media.

  • Don’t impede classes as they exit by chatting with your child. Teachers want to get to their classes with the same number of kiddos they left with.

Upcoming MTSS Webinar

If you have questions about the letters in your child's folder and want to learn more about the (MTSS) Multi-tiered System of Support, there is an informational webinar on September 11th at 6 p.m. Log on to hear more from our district leaders from the Teaching and Learning Department. You can also discuss the report with your teacher during the Fall conference.

Important Information about Gifted Review

Each fall semester, the Gifted Review Team looks at existing student data to discuss students’ needs and determine if further evaluation for gifted identification is needed. If you are interested in having the team discuss your child’s needs, you may complete a Recommendation for Review Form (found at the website below) and turn in to the Gifted & Talented Specialists at your child’s school before Wednesday, October 2. No additional information is needed.


The Gifted & Talented Specialists for Winnona Park Elementary School are Martina Baerman and Michele Stroud. For more detailed information about the review process and to obtain a copy of the Recommendation for Review Form, please contact mbaerman@csdecatur.net and mstroud@csdecatur.net or visit the CSD Gifted website.


Winnona Park will host a Gifted Referral Process Coffee Chat on Tuesday, September 17, from 8-8:30 a.m. in Trailer C. Ms. Baerman and Ms. Stroud will review this process and answer any questions you have. This chat is for parents who are interested in the gifted identification process. Therefore, if a child is already identified as gifted, the meeting is unnecessary.

From the Media Center

Click here for this week's Media Center Newsletter.

Winnona Park PTA

Please visit our PTA website to stay connected with upcoming events

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

Find us on:

Facebook

Instagram

Walk, Roll, Scoot Your Way to School

Our next Walk-N-Roll is Wednesday, September 11 (8-8:15 a.m.). Walk-n-Roll is a community initiative designed to encourage students and their families to walk, bike, or roll to school instead of driving. This fun and healthy program promotes physical activity, reduces traffic congestion around schools, and fosters a sense of community among participants. It's a great way for kids to start the day energized and engaged, while also contributing to a more sustainable environment. Don’t forget your coffee mug to enjoy some coffee from Banjo Coffee!


Spirit Night! Bad Daddy’s Burgers - September 12

Take a break from cooking with Bad Daddy’s Burgers at our first Spirit Night of the year. Go between 4 pm and 8 pm on Thursday, September 12 and make sure to mention you are with Winnona Park. A portion of your bill will be donated back to Winnona Park!


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!

CSD Community Partners

Help Your School Win a $1000 Music Grant!

Attend DEF's Battle of the Bands, a family-friendly community concert, and you could help your school win a $1000 music grant! Head to the Legacy Park lawn on Friday, Sept. 6 from 5-9 p.m. for a fun evening of live music, yummy food, and community! Four CSD bands will be bringing the tunes – you BYOB (bring your own blanket) and your school spirit! The school with the largest percentage of representation will win the 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! Buy tickets here.

*If cost is an issue, please email Drew@DecaturEducationFoundation.org.

Winnona Park Elementary School
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