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College Heights Connection
October 19, 2023
Principal's Message
I hope you are enjoying the wonderful Fall temperatures. On Monday, we kick off our Literacy Week. There are many parent engagement opportunities. Classroom teachers have been including ways to participate in their weekly newsletters so be sure to sign up. Don't miss the annual Book Parade on Friday, October 27th beginning at 9:00 am. The Book Parade is one of our favorite school events! Immediately following the parade the PTA will announce the Read-To-Me-A-Thon winners. Don't forget to log your reading minutes!!
Lastly, the school's Sunshine committee is looking for donations for their bake sale which will be held during Monday's Family Literacy Night. All donations can be dropped off at the front desk. Thank you for your support.
Have a great weekend,
Principal Garland
School News and Announcements
Pre-K Early Release Day- October 25th
Just a reminder that the Pre-K early release day is Wednesday, October 25th. We will continue to follow the same schedule from previous early release days.
- Two hour early release. Students eat lunch at school.
- Bus riders will be dismissed at 11:45/12:00.
- Walkers/car riders and community after school will be dismissed at 12:15-12:30.
- Families enrolled in community after school programs should contact the program directly on their early release details. The Phoenix school will not be able to accommodate the early release hours.
- Students enrolled in the College Heights after care program will remain in their rooms for rest time and will transition to their after care location at 2:30 pm.
November 7th - School Closed (Teacher Professional Learning Day)
As a reminder, College Heights will be closed to ALL students (Pre-K and 0-3 students) on Tuesday, November 7th.
College Heights Pre-K families will be provided with a Pre-K Learning Choice Board with age-appropriate, easy to implement, active learning ideas to support your child's remote learning day. Pre-K teachers will send home the learning choice board in your child's communication folder no later than Friday, November 3rd. If you have any questions, please reach out directly to your child's teacher.
Click here for more information about the purpose of this day and what it will look like for College Heights students.
Literacy Week - October 23rd-27th
Click here for all the details on Literacy Week activities. We hope you can join us.
Please note the time for the Wednesday virtual parent workshop has changed to 11:00 am due to the Early Release Day.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
The College Heights staff is honoring breast cancer awareness during the Month of October. There are several opportunities for parents to support our efforts:
- Purchase a raffle ticket for $5 for your child's teacher(s) or any other College Heights staff. With each ticket the staff will receive a raffle ticket to win a fitness tracker. Just check in at the front desk and purchase a ticket starting Monday, October 2nd. All funds raised will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Greater Atlanta Chapter.
- Hat and scarf/head wrap drive: Many chemo patients are in need of hats and scarves/head wraps for the winter months. We are asking families and staff to consider donating new hats and head wraps/scarves to be donated directly to the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory. A donation box will be located in the front lobby.
- Pink Tree: Our "pink tree" will be set up in the front lobby for staff and families to tie a pink ribbon in honor of a loved one who has been impacted by breast cancer. You will also receive a ribbon to wear yourself.
- Highlight and Support: Pink out! Wear all pink on Monday, October 30th.
Media Center news
We are very excited to host the Scholastic Book Fair next week! The fair will be open all week from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm and also from 6:00-7:00 pm on Monday evening and Friday evening. Pre-K families, we hope you will park and walk your kids in next week so you can see all our books!
We'd love to have some volunteers. If you can help, please click here.
Click here for our Scholastic Book Fair website, which gives you all the details on this year's fair.
Here are the books we read this week in the library:
Stumpkin by Lucy Ruth Cummins (Pre-K)
The Scarecrow by Beth Ferry (Pre-K)
Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson (Preschool)
This is a Ball by Beck and Matt Stanton (Preschool)
Wild About Us! by Karen Beaumont (Preschool and Toddler)
Hocus Pocus, It's Fall! by Anne Sibley O'Brien (Toddler)
Maisy's Big Book of Kindness by Lucy Cousins (Toddler and Miss Asia's Older Ones class)
Little Blue Truck's Halloween by Alice Schertle (Miss Amaryst's Young Ones class)
Spirit Week Fun - Hat Day!
Ms. Caretha looking pretty in pink
Is that the Spreter twins with their clothes on backwards?
CSD News and Announcements
CSD Community Diwali Celebration - October 28
Please join CSD to celebrate Diwali, the Indian festival of lights, at Oakhurst Elementary on Oct. 28, 5-7 p.m. (rain date Oct. 29)! Food, drinks, holiday crafts, books, music, performances, fireworks, and more. This is a great opportunity for older students to volunteer for a fun community event. Brought to you by the CSD PTA DEI committees.
Flu Vaccine Event
The CSD School Health Team is partnering with the DeKalb County Board of Health to offer flu vaccines to the City Schools of Decatur school community. Students, staff, and families are welcome to attend. Parents/Guardians interested in their student receiving the flu vaccine must be present at time of service. Please bring your ID and insurance card for billing. Accepting private and Medicaid Insurance, with the exception of Kaiser and TriCare Insurance plans.
Wear it Pink Day
CSD schools and staff will observe Wear It Pink Day in observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Wear It Pink is typically observed on the last Friday of October. In 2023, this colorful event will take place on October 27th, allowing individuals and organizations to wear pink and participate in related activities to support the cause.
PTA News and Announcements
Read-To-Me-A-Thon is happening NOW! It's not too late to sign up.
Help College Heights shoot for the moon with NEW and UPDATED library books by participating in our Read-To-Me-A-Thon from October 18-25!
Readers with the highest number of logged minutes will receive prizes and classrooms and age groups with the highest participation will be celebrated after the Book Parade on Friday, October 27th.
To register your reader, click here, and for more information, check out the flyer below!
Trunk or Treat - RSVP by TOMORROW
The College Heights PTA will be hosting a trunk-or-treat at 6 pm on October 27th outside of the school, followed by a screening of "Mickey and Friends Trick or Treats" at 6:45 on the lawn.
We encourage children AND adults to come dressed for the occasion! Prizes will be awarded for the best costumes.
Be sure to bring lawn chairs/blankets for the movie. We will have Chick-fil-A for sale, so save room for dinner!
Please RSVP by October 20 here.
Community Partner News and Announcements
Support Positive Behavioral Health with the Decatur Education Foundation
At the Decatur Education Foundation, we're passionately committed to transforming the lives of our students and creating an environment where they can truly thrive. We understand that there are significant challenges that our students face every day — Last year, we provided over $28,000 in behavioral health grants through Joe’s Fund and empowered 60 CSD employees and community members with vital suicide intervention skills through the ASIST training.
But here's the truth: We can't do it alone. We need your help. By supporting the Decatur Education Foundation, you're investing in the future of our community. You're ensuring that our students have the support they need to overcome challenges and thrive. Join our Step Up Circle, a circle of dedicated families and local businesses who make an annual commitment to #ourkids. Discover how you can be a catalyst for change by visiting www.decatureducationfoundation.org. Together, we can make a difference.
MAD AVE DERBY: FINAL DAYS TO REGISTER!
Register to race as a driver or save the date to cheer on your favorite cars during a day of family-friendly fun at the 12th Annual Madison Avenue Derby on Saturday, October 21st, 2023! This year’s event benefits Urban Recipe, an organization that addresses food insecurity in metro Atlanta. Driver registration open thru 10/5 or until spots sell out. T-shirts available by pre-order thru 10/4 - all proceeds benefit Urban Recipe! www.madavederby.org
A Season of Giving
A Season of Giving is a neighbor led organization which helps purchase gifts directly for local children and seniors! To apply for assistance, please complete an online application at https://aseasonofgiving.org/child-application/ by November 4th.
**NEW** Applications may be submitted for any child ages infant through 12th grade!
If you are not in need of assistance, please consider supporting our efforts. To become a donor for A Season of Giving, complete the form at https://aseasonofgiving.org/sponsor/. To volunteer, complete the form at https://aseasonofgiving.org/volunteer/.
Save the Date
October 16-20 - College Heights Spirit Week
October 18-25 - Read-To-Me-A-Thon sponsored by the College Heights PTA
October 19 - School to Heart to Home Virtual Parent Workshop
October 25 - Early Release Day (Pre-K)
October 23-27 - Literacy Week and Scholastic Book Fair
October 27 - Trunk or Treat and Movie Night sponsored by the College Heights PTA
November 7 - School Closed (teacher workday)