College Heights Connection

Dear Families,

I hope your week is off to a great start! We are still collecting shelf-stable and plant-based milk donations at the front desk for the Decatur Education Foundation (DEF) Milk Drive. While our first delivery to DEF was a huge success, we would love to keep the momentum going with more contributions. Additionally, tomorrow is the final day to register for our Pre-K Fall Break Camp, so please review the camp details below to grab a spot before registration closes.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Sarah Garland

Principal, College Heights Early Childhood Learning Center

September 21-25 - Fall Break (Pre-K only)

October 5-9 - School Pictures

October 12 - Teacher Work Day (Pre-K only)

October 21-30 - Read-To-Me-A-Thon sponsored by PTO

October 26-30 - Literacy Week

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

October 30- Annual Book Parade

November 3 - Teacher Workday (school closed for 0-3 and Pre-K students)

Links to 2026-27 CSD district calendars:

0-3

Pre-K

Say cheese! Individual school pictures will take place the week of October 5-9. Our photographer is the very talented Melle Houston, and she is excited to take photos of our adorable College Heights chicks. We will post the schedule in the College Heights Connection newsletter and in classroom newsletters soon. Samples of Melle's photos will be on display across from room 159 starting next week. Order forms for photos will go out in plenty of time to order prints for the holidays.

Melle is looking for volunteers to assist with photos that week. If you are available to help coax smiles out of our little ones and help keep the process flowing smoothly, please reach out to her directly at hello@mellehouston.com.

UPDATE: Seven (7) spots remain.

We will be offering camp services during the Pre-K fall break (September 21-25). Camp will be capped at 40 students, and spaces will be given on a first-come, first-served basis.

Applications are available at the front desk and on the school website. Payment is due at the time of registration. Deadline to register is September 11. For families in need of financial assistance, please contact Principal Garland. For questions or concerns, please email Justin Hellstrom, After School Manager. Your child does not need to be enrolled in the After School Program to participate in camp.

Tuition is $ 275/week (includes daily breakfast, lunch, snack, and all activities).
Camp hours: 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Pre-K classes did not meet this week due to the Labor Day holiday, but on Tuesday, one-, two-, and three-year-old students got their boogie on and heard a variety of engaging stories.

Pre-K families, if you are interested in getting some books to read over the Fall Break, email me some of your child's interests and I'll be happy to put together a selection of books for you and send these home in your student's backpack.

This week's books:

The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli

What Can a Mess Make? by Bee Johnson

Now by Antoinette Portis

Go! Go! Go! Stop! by Cherise Mericle Harper

The Animal Boogie, illustrated by Debbie Harter, sung by Fred Penner

Pre-K teachers Ms. Phillips and Ms. Marcus were twinning in their cute matching black PJs on their class pajama day Wednesday. We are delighted to welcome Ms. Phillips back after her maternity leave!

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

Interested in being on the Read-To-Me-A-Thon and/or auction committees? Volunteering is a great way to give back to the school and get to know other College Heights families. We'd love to have your help! Email collegeheightsptopresident@gmail.com.

Mark your calendars for the following PTO events. Details to follow.

• Oct 21-28 - Read-To-Me-A-Thon!

• Oct 30 - Trunk or Treat

• Feb 27 - Annual Auction

• Apr 23 - Spring Social Event

• May 3-7 - College Heights Staff Appreciation Week

• TBD - two additional garden cleanup days

College Heights Early Childhood Learning Center cultivates an atmosphere where children take their first steps in building an authentic love of learning through developmentally appropriate practices in an environment that fosters family and community involvement.

All recent issues of the College Heights Connection are available here.

Older issues of CSD Weekly may be found on CSD's district newsletter webpage.