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Westchester Weekly

Westchester Weekly Thursday Nov. 11 2026
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News from the Principal News from the Principal

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Greetings, WE families,

It was a festive luncheon today! Thank you for coming and enjoying Thanksgiving lunch with the children. It is always great to have you join us. Here are some photographs from our lunch today.


Only five more days until our Thanksgiving break. As you travel to and from your activities over break, I want to encourage you to spend some time counting with your child. These are skills your child is working on during our Math Foundational Friday. The counting skills increase every 9 weeks. We want to make sure that all children have a solid understanding of number sense as they move through mathematical skills. Take a look at the counting tips listed below.


Don't forget to mark your calendars for these upcoming Westchester events:

  • November 16th-21st: Dine Out- The Dinner Shoppe

  • November 20th: Community Circle - All invited

  • November 23rd - 27th: Thanksgiving Break


From your very grateful principal,

Christine Knox



🔆SPOTLIGHT🔆 🔆SPOTLIGHT🔆

Counting Skills Counting Skills

Counting and number sense are critical foundational skills for all mathematical computation and reasoning. We want our students to develop a deep understanding of numbers, including the value of a set and the digits within a number. It is also important for them to understand where a number falls relative to other numbers. These skills begin to develop with oral counting. Students also need to count ➡️ forward and ⬅️ backward. Pick a number within the grade-level range and have your child count fluently forward and backward. Pay close attention to our decade numbers. Can your child make a smooth transition to the next ten or hundred?

A three-column chart outlining counting milestones and math skills for Kindergarten, First Grade, and Second Grade.
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Cardboard Creatures  created by 1st Grade with student's pictures
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pictures of students doing their cardaord creature
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Calendar of Events Calendar of Events

Event calendar for November 2026 decorated with an autumn theme, featuring key dates such as Election Day, school dine-out nights, Thanksgiving break, and a "Welcome Back" note on the 30th.
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Click Here to add the Westchester Calendar to your calendar!

STAR Assessment STAR Assessment

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Dear Westchester Families,


During the weeks of November 30 through December 11, we will be administering the STAR Math (K-2), STAR Early Literacy (K-2), and STAR Reading (2nd grade) tests. STAR is a computerized adaptive test which helps teachers, parents, and administrators improve learning for all students and make informed decisions to promote a child's academic growth. Students take the STAR tests in the fall, winter, and spring. By taking it 3 times a year, teachers and parents are able to see how their student is growing in the areas of reading and math throughout the school year. We will use this data to help us make informed instructional decisions for our students. The tests will be administered by classroom teachers and proctors in their classrooms. STAR reports will be shared through Thursday communication folders following the conclusion of testing.


If you have any questions please reach out to our Instructional Coach, Christie Manasso.

Christie Manasso

Family Resources
Sample Test at Home Practice

BASC-4 BESS Report

Decatur schools administered the BASC-4 BESS to students in grades K, 1, and 2 for the Fall semester during the month of October (and will administer it again for the Spring semester during the month of March). The purpose of this universal screener is to identify students who might benefit from follow-up with a trained school professional, such as a school counselor or school social worker, to see if a student might be a candidate for additional support. Additional support might include short-term small group counseling support, more frequent check-ins with the student or providing parents/guardians with referrals to agencies that can provide a therapeutic approach.

If your student’s teacher-reported scores show an “extremely elevated” risk, parents/guardians will be provided the score report and will be contacted by school staff to discuss the results and ways to support your student. City Schools of Decatur ultimate goal is to work together to help scholars achieve their dreams and ensure they feel happy, healthy and safe to give their best effort to learning.

You can review this K-2 Parent Letter for more information about the universal screener and if applicable, information for how to read the report. Please reach out to your local school administrator or school counselor if you have any questions regarding the report or the additional support that may be available to assist your child in school.

A guide titled "Understanding Your Child’s BASC-4 BESS Score Report" featuring a color-coded table that classifies T-score ranges into Normal, Elevated, and Extremely Elevated Risk levels across two columns of assessment indices (BERI, ERI, IRI, SRI vs. ARI, PRI).
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K-2 Parent Letter

Donations for Cuba

Thankful for the donations! Judith and her sister are packing this up to take to Cuba hospitals over the Thanksgiving break!

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Informational flyer for the Young Georgia Authors Writing Competition 26–27 detailing entry overview, accepted writing types, key competition dates, and evaluation guidelines.
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Click ⬆️ for a pdf file

YOUNG GEORGIA AUTHORS WRITING COMPETITION🏆 YOUNG GEORGIA AUTHORS WRITING COMPETITION🏆

To enter: ALL ENTRIES DUE BY FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13TH

  • Email or give to your teacher by 11/13/26.

Here are a few guidelines to help you through the process:

  • Only entries that meet the guidelines will be considered.

  • The writing piece can be no longer than 1,900 words.

  • The writing needs to be original student work, created without the help or support of others, including adults.

  • The writing piece must be handwritten or typed on 8 ½ x 11 paper and must be on only one side of the paper.

  • Submit only the writing - no staples, binding, cover, or lamination is allowed. Use a paperclip for multiple sheets, do NOT staple your writing.


One writing entry from each grade level will be selected to move on to the district-level competition.

All participating students will be recognized at an upcoming Community Circle, and families will be contacted if their student’s entry is selected to move forward to the district-level competition.


For questions, please reach out to Christie Manasso at cmanasso@csdecatur.net

Click here for an entry form

Dine Out- November 16th-21st! Next week! Dine Out- November 16th-21st! Next week!

Promotional flyer for Westchester Elementary's Dine Out Spirit Week at The Dinner Shoppe taking place November 16th – 21st.
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Support your school and enjoy delicious, fully-prepped dinners from The Dinner Shoppe! 10% of proceeds will be donated to Westchester! November 16th-21st Dinner options that fit your family’s needs: Oven-ready Casseroles and Soup Kits Our oven-ready casseroles are available all day for pick-up! Stop in for a last minute dinner fix or stock your freezer! Let us know you are with Westchester when visiting us! Fully-Prepped Meal Kits Every month, we offer a different menu of delicious fully-prepped dinners - just thaw and cook in 30 minutes or less! Order ahead online for pick-up or delivery! 48 hour notice required for online orders. Just type “WESTCHESTER” in the ‘Note to Seller’ box when placing your order! Thanksgiving Dinner Make this Thanksgiving easy, stress-free, and delicious with our oven-roasted turkey and fully-prepped sides - just assemble in your own casserole dishes and bake! Thanksgiving menu items can be preordered online for pick-up or delivery. Just type WESTCHESTER in the “Note to Seller’ box at checkout!
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Here is the PDF
Check out the menu for 11/16-21st

District News District News

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Read this week's CSD Weekly for district-wide news and information.

Parent Pro Tech
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Tea with Tech

CSD invites all parents to the second session of "Tea with Tech," which will cover updated screen time data and introduce CSD's new Chief Information Officer, Hoke Wilcox, who will host a Q&A.


This new quarterly series is designed to help families learn about and better understand the technology their children use every day. Enjoy a cup of tea, bring your questions, and learn how we can work together to keep our students safe and supported in the digital age.


Friday, November 13, 2026, 9 a.m., Beacon Hill Middle School



Pro tec

Staying safe, smart, and balanced online just got a whole lot easier for everyone in our school community. 📱💻

The Georgia Department of Education and City Schools of Decatur are providing a free online tool to help families protect their children online: Parent ProTech, available to all parents in our school district. It offers guidance, video tutorials, and practical tips to help you navigate the digital world your child is growing up in. From managing screen time to understanding social media and online safety, Parent ProTech equips you with the knowledge and tools to support your child’s digital well-being.

How to sign up for Parent Protech

1. Visit Parent Protech.

2. Complete the information to create your account. Select "Add Child" to customize your view of Parent Protech resources.

3. Select Create account.

4. Select the For the Home tab to view tools, videos, and other resources.

Check out what is inside:

📲 Easy breakdowns of the latest apps, games, and trends.

🛡️ Top safety tips that encourage our Wolves to be Respectuful, Responsible, Safe and Kind online.

Reminders Reminders

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Elementary School

Who to Contact: Please see who the best contact is for your questions for a quicker response.
Website: https://westchester.csdecatur.net/
Location: 758 Scott Boulevard, Decatur, GA, USA
Phone: 404-370-4400
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/?hl=en

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