F.Ave Falcon Flyer

F.Ave Families,

What Makes You Say That?

Derrick L. Thomas, Principal

Fifth Avenue Upper Elementary School

Thank you to everyone who attended our Principal's Coffee Chat last week. Our next Chat will be held on Friday, September 18, 2026, at 8:00 a.m., with a focus on “EdTech Balance."

As part of our 90-Day School Improvement Plan, we are placing a strong focus on student attendance. Every missed day is a missed opportunity for learning. Research consistently shows a clear link between attendance and academic success. Please partner with us in making daily attendance a priority. We want all students present and ready to grow every day!

One flock, one flight, Falcons Parents Unite! Parents: Get ready for our very first Cast Blast of the school year on September 11! Did you know a group of Falcons is called a cast? That’s why we call it Cast Blast!

You can think of Cast Blast as FAVE’s version of Community Circle. It’s our special time to come together as a school community to celebrate student learning, sing our IB song, and recognize our outstanding staff and students. After we celebrate as a grade level in the MultiPurpose Room, classes will rotate through activity-based stations directly connected to our most recent IB Unit of Inquiry.

Parents - when you arrive, you may enter through the MPR (multipurpose room) door in the U-Shape Parking lot. Mark your calendars—we can't wait to see our Falcon family there! Rise up!

4th Grade 8:00 - 8:50

5th Grade: 8:40 - 9:30

3rd Grade: 9:35 - 10:25

From September 2-4, all 3rd-grade students will be taking the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT). Unlike traditional achievement tests, which measure how well a student has learned the curriculum, the CogAT assesses a child’s ability to reason abstractly and recognize patterns and relationships in the world around them. Teachers can use CogAT scores to better understand a child’s pattern of cognitive strengths and weaknesses. Our school district also uses CogAT scores to screen for cognitively gifted students.

Skip cooking and support our school! Mark your calendars for our first dine-out event of the school year on August 27, 2026, from 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Head over to Paulino’s Italian Restaurant for lunch or dinner, and a percentage of your bill will go straight back to Fifth Avenue. Make sure to tell them you’re there to support F.Ave.

Open to all students: F.Ave Kilometer Kids is for students who want to develop a love of running and living an active life. There are limited spaces so we will hold a lottery to choose 30 students to participate this spring. The form to enter the lottery is now open and will close on September 1st. The results of the lottery will be sent out by email on Thursday, September 3rd. Kilometer Kids will practice every other Thursday from 2:30 to 3:15 pm. The first practice will be on Thursday, September 24. If you have any questions about Kilometer Kids, please direct them to Ms. Finch by emailing hannah.finch@csdecatur.net

Please read and acknowledge the Kilometer Kids Participation Contract before signing up for the lottery.

Fill out this form to enter the Kilometer Kids lottery: Kilometer Kids Lottery Form

Is your student interested in joining the Superintendent's Student Advisory Council? It is designed as a two-way system of communication between students and the Office of the Superintendent. Students on the council are asked to share their perspectives and experiences with the Superintendent on a variety of issues. Students are also asked to attend each meeting (see dates below). Meetings will be held at the Wilson Center after school in the Superintendent's Office.

Purpose & Commitment: Elementary (K-5) Student Council: The Elementary (K-5) Superintendent's Student Council will be made up of two students from each lower elementary (K-2) school and two students from each upper elementary (3-5) school. The K-5 student council will meet at the Wilson Center from 3:15 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. on the following dates:

• Tuesday, September 29, 2026

• Tuesday, December 1, 2026

• Tuesday, January 19, 2027

• Tuesday, March 16, 2027

• Tuesday, May 4, 2027

Click the following link to apply: 2026-2027 Superintendent's Student Advisory Council.

FAVE is excited to introduce the FAVE Birthday Book Program. It allows you to both honor your child on their birthday and help our library collection continue to grow! To honor your child with a birthday book, please submit a payment of $20 through the PTO site or a check made out to "F.AVE PTO" with "Birthday Book" as the memo, and complete the form linked here. All forms and payments must be received by Friday, September 11.

After your donation is received, your child will select a book during their birthday month (if your child had a birthday this past July or August, we will celebrate them in September; June birthdays will be celebrated in May). This book will be added to our library catalog and will feature your student's name, their birthday, and a dedication bookplate with a message of your choice.

Your child will keep the book for 2 weeks before returning it to the library. Thank you for your support of our school library!

Registration is now open! Click here to register your child for class. Registration closes August 27, 2026, or once we reach class capacity.

Each season, Girls on the Run creates a safe and fun place for girls of all abilities to make new friends, new healthy habits and new memories. Registration for the fall Girls on the Run season is now open! If you or someone you know has a girl interested in participating in the fall season, lottery registration is open through 11:59 pm on Thursday, August 27. The lottery will run on August 28 and reopen for teams that did not fill at 3 pm. Registration will remain open for teams with open spots through September 24.

Practice begins the week of September 14 and will be Monday and Wednesdays from 2:30-4:00 PM

Just select F.Ave Elementary during registration to register for our site. Learn more and register at www.girlsontherunga.org/programs for the fall season today!

Orders are due August 31. Thank you for supporting our library!

To keep all students safe, City Schools of Decatur requires a current background check on file for all volunteers and chaperones. This is especially important for anyone chaperoning a field trip (exploring with a small group of students) or supervising students without a staff member present. Background checks must be renewed every 12 months.

Here is how to complete your background check:

• ​Step 1: Pay the Fee via Infinite Campus: Log into the CSD Public Store. Click on City Schools of Decatur School Store > CSD Misc. Fees > Background Check Fee ($38). Enter your name and phone number in the comments section before checking out. Be sure to save/print your receipt, as you will need it for your appointment!
  
  

• ​Step 2: Schedule an Appointment: Book a 10-minute slot using the online appointment calendar. Appointments are held at the Wilson Center (125 Electric Avenue, Decatur, GA 30030) on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Note that appointment slots open up 21 days in advance.
  
  

• ​Step 3: What to Bring: Please bring your driver's license and your payment receipt to your appointment. You will fill out a short form, and results (submitted via the GBI) are typically returned within 24 hours.

💡 Note: If financial assistance is needed to cover the $38 background check fee, please reach out directly to Principal Thomas.

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

The PTO will host our annual Fall Family Picnic on September 15th, from 5-7PM. There will be food for purchase, a DJ, and the always popular staff marketplace — plus we'll be debuting our new spirit wear! (Vendor announcements coming soon — stay tuned.)

This year's picnic will also feature a Bake Sale hosted by the All-In Committee (formerly DEI): Share a Taste of Home! Do you have a baked good from your culture that you love and want to share? Consider donating to the sale — all proceeds go toward All-In Committee events celebrating the diverse cultures and communities within the FAVE community throughout the school year.SIGN UP HERE to donate.

We hope to see you and your family there!

Join us - virtually - on Wednesday, September 16th from 6:30-7:30PM for our second PTO meeting of the school year! Hear from your PTO Board about everything happening around F.AVE — upcoming events, how to get involved, and ways we're supporting our teachers and students. All are welcome. CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE MEETING

We're delighted to share that Addison Hill Photo is returning as our partner for this year's fall fundraiser! Mark your calendars and get ready to capture the magic of the season. Family Mini Sessions will be offered throughout October, creating the perfect opportunity to preserve special moments with the ones you love.

Want first dibs? Spots for mini sessions are limited and fill up fast. Get on our Early Access list and we'll email you before registration opens to the general newsletter list — First Dibs Sign-Up

Watch upcoming newsletters for more details and official registration dates—and start practicing those picture-perfect smiles!

Join Decatur’s community-wide Diwali celebration on Sunday, October 25 (12-3 PM at Ebster Recreation Center)! Enjoy performances, local food vendors, and activities for all ages. This event is brought to you by SACHA, a new nonprofit started by CSD parents. Learn more, support, and RSVP on our website sacha-atl.org.

Email: masika.nyaku@csdecatur.net

Website: https://fave.csdecatur.net/
Location: 101 5th Avenue, Decatur, GA 30030
Phone: (404) 371-6680