Wolverine Weekly Updates

We hope you had a an amazing week!

This week kicks off our Beanstack Reading Challenge! We are committed to ensuring that all of our scholars in grades K–5 are reading on or above grade level, and we need your help, parents! Please make sure your child knows their Lexile reading level and is committed to reading at least 20 minutes each night. Beanstack can be accessed via Clever.

We will have incentives and prizes for our top readers each week, so encourage your scholar to stay consistent and log their reading in Beanstack. Students in grades 3-5 will also be coming home each week with new books from the library—we want our Wolverines to fall in love with reading!

Here are 5 ways to help increase your child’s Lexile level:

1. Read daily for at least 20 minutes—consistency builds fluency and comprehension.

2. Ask questions before, during, and after reading to strengthen understanding.

3. Visit your local DeKalb County Public Library to explore books that match (and stretch) your child’s Lexile level.

4. Read with or to your child—shared reading builds confidence and models fluent reading.

5. Encourage your child to read a variety of genres—fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and informational texts all expand vocabulary and critical thinking.

When scholars can read on or above grade level, they are better prepared to excel on the Georgia Milestones Assessment and beyond. Let’s work together to make reading a daily habit—One Team. One Goal. All In! 📚✨

Attendance Matters!

We are committed to increasing our attendance rate at Wynbrooke Traditional Theme School. Our scholars must be in school every day by 7:45 a.m., ready to learn and grow. Consistent attendance leads to consistent success!

This week, we will celebrate Attendance Week at Wynbrooke Theme School! Our goal is to emphasize the importance of being present and on time every day. Regular attendance is one of the most significant factors in a student’s academic success, and this week provides an opportunity for us to build excitement and encourage positive habits across our school. We will have incentives for classes with perfect attendance, so let’s work together to make every day count.

Quick Reminders:

• Morning drop-off and afternoon pickup is at the front of the building.

• Announcements begin at 7:40 a.m. daily.

• Instruction begins promptly at 7:45 a.m. daily.

• School uniforms must be worn every day.

• Encourage your child to read at least 20 minutes each night and ensure they know their Lexile level. Reading books just above their Lexile helps stretch their learning. Use this link to check book levels: Find a Book

We’re ready for another great week ahead—One Team. One Goal. All In!

Proud to be your Principal,

Mrs. Devetra Ushery

This Month

November 2

• Daylight Savings Time! Fall Back 1 Hour!

• Independent Learner Day/Professional Development Day

November 6

• Lifetouch Class Picture Day

• Wynbrooke Attendance Week

November 19

• Thanksgiving Luncheon (Grades Pre-K-2nd)

November 21

• 13.5 Week Progress Reports Issued

November 24-28

• Thanksgiving Break - No School

Next Month

December 2

• Lifetouch Picture Retake Day
• Holiday Program

December 16

• Wolverine Choir Concert @ Stephenson High School

December 17

• Christmas Luncheon (Grades 3-5)

December 22-Jan. 2

• Winter Break - No School

January 6

• 1st Day of 2nd Semester

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Space is Limited!

At Wynbrooke, all parents must meet 16 hours of parent volunteer hours each year. We are please to offer a new way of connecting and tracking your volunteer hours.

POINT

Once you have set up your account you can:

·

Wynbrooke Traditional Theme School Volunteer Procedures

For activities or events held at the school, you must sign in AND out, to received full credit for your time at the activity or event. The sign in and sign out QR codes are located in the front office, along with volunteer badges/stickers. In order Please be mindful that if you do not sign out you will only receive one hour of volunteer time. Upon completion, you enter your hours earned into POINT for approval.

Other ways of getting volunteer hours:

PTA Membership - 1 hour

PTA Executive Board - 16 hours

PAC Member - 16 hours

Parent University (Coffee & Conversations) - 1 hour

Parent Family Night - Literacy and Math Night - 2 hours

Curriculum Night- 1 hour

Survey Completion - 1 hour

Parent Teacher Conference - 1 hour

Hourly opportunities: School Beautification, club volunteer, career day, field trips (must be a Level III volunteer), T-Shirt sorting/distribution, working in the media center, assisting the custodial staff

Donations: Per DeKalb County, every $10.00 spent equals 1 volunteer hour. Stay abreast on Point, ClassDojo, and Principal’s Update for items needed to be donated. All donations must be brought to the front, with a receipt, child’s name, grade, and teacher’s name, to receive credit.

ALL VOLUNTEER HOURS ARE OBTAINED THROUGH THE PARENT CENTER.

Completion certificate will be sent from the parent center once hours have been satisfied.

Greetings Parents

As we prepare for upcoming field trips and classroom activities, please remember that all volunteers must complete the district’s volunteer training.

• If you plan to serve as a chaperone and supervise a group of students (not just your own child), you must complete Level III Volunteer Training.

• Parents who would like to serve as room parents or classroom volunteers must also complete the required training.

The next session is scheduled for Wednesday, August 27th via Zoom. We encourage you to complete this process early so that you are ready for field trips, classroom events, and other volunteer opportunities throughout the year.

Thank you for partnering with us to create safe and enriching experiences for our Wolverine scholars!

Thank you for your interest in becoming a volunteer for the DeKalb County School District!

Steps to Complete the Volunteer Process:

1. Complete the Volunteer Application and Release Form:

• English Application
• Spanish Application

2. Review and Complete the DCSD Volunteer Code of Conduct:

• English Code of Conduct
• Spanish Code of Conduct

3. Complete the Mandated Reporter Training:

• Watch the Mandated Reporter Video and complete the quiz before attending a training session.
• Steps to complete the training:
• Create a free account
• Select State: GA
• Click on Child Abuse and Neglect Course: Mandated Reporter
• Start the course and complete the quiz
• Save or print your certificate and email a copy to DCSDvolunteer@dekalbschoolsga.org
• Training link: Mandated Reporter Course

Upcoming DCSD Volunteer Training (via Zoom):

Join a Zoom Session That Fits Your Schedule
Fall 2025 Volunteer Training Dates

Please select the Zoom session that works best for you from the options below:

• November 12 – 12:00 PM & 6:00 PM

• December 3 – 12:00 PM

• December 10 – 12:00 PM

We look forward to your participation!

Join the DCSD Volunteer Training Zoom Meeting:

🔗 Join Zoom Meeting
📌 Meeting ID: 857 5784 5773
🔑 Passcode: 598219

Thank you for your dedication to supporting our schools! Please let us know if you have any questions.

SCHOOL MEALS

Breakfast and lunch are served each day of school. Please review the flyer below for more information.

Breakfast and lunch menus can always be found on this website:

https://www.dekalbschoolsga.org/school-nutrition/menus/

***PLEASE NOTE: No outside vendor/fast foods or deliveries can be brought in for students (i.e. -Chick Fil-A, McDonald's, etc.). Students should bring in a lunch packed from home if they are not eating school lunch.

Please contact our Cafeteria Manager if you have any questions: Mr. Robert Witherspoon at robert_e_witherspoon@dekalbschoolsga.org

Parents, Wynbrooke students are on the move! Please make sure that the required

paperwork from the physician's office is filled out and on file with the nurse’s office, for any

medications that needs to travel with your child. There must be a physician's order for each

medication, to include all instructions. Please do not wait until the morning of the field trip

to manage it, that will be too late. If you need assistance, please contact me. Thank you.

J.Betaudier, RN

Wynbrooke Elementary Nurse

If you have questions, please contact Nurse Felice-Betaudier at mailto:Jeanne_Felice-Betaudier@dekalbschoolsga.org

School Safety is top of mind for me, teachers and staff, and I know for you as well.

Every precaution will be be taken to ensure the safety of your child during school hours. One safety measure practiced are safety drills (fire, tornado, and intruder), which are conducted throughout the school year. Fire drills are held once every month. Tornado drills are held twice a semester, Intruder (Lockdown) drills are held three times a semester. Schedules, exits, and procedures are a part of these important drills to keep our students and staff safe in the event of an emergency. The administrative team and all staff members will be in position to aid in a safe, quick evacuation. Routes of exit are posted in each room of the building. Our number one priority is the safety and security of students and staff.

During the school day, we ensure the following safety measures are taken:

• All classroom doors remain closed and locked at all times.
• Exterior doors remain locked at all times and are not propped open for any reason.
• Exterior doors will not be opened for visitors.
• All visitors must come to the front of the school to receive assistance.
• All visitors must press the entry button outside the front door and show photo identification. The front office staff will assist all visitors from this point.
• If a visitor does not have an appointment with staff, is not checking out a student, or is not receiving assistance from the front office, they will not be allowed inside the school.
• If parents would like to drop off items for their child, they will utilize the black cart in the front door and complete the new drop off slip. Front office staff will retrieve the items off the cart and ensure your child receives the item.
• Students are monitored by staff members in all areas of the building, on the playgrounds, and the blacktop.
• Outside of traveling with their class to other parts of the building, students will travel in pairs when leaving their class independently to go to the restroom, nurse, or front office.
• Every classroom is equipped with a telephone and a call button in the event of an emergency.
• For afternoon dismissal, students are only dismissed from when their name appears on the dismissal spreadsheet and/or their bus is called.
• Staff are strategically stationed throughout the building and campus to ensure students arrive and depart safely from school.
• Each staff member at Wynbrooke will also have a crisis alert badge that they will wear daily. In the event of an emergency, staff will press a button on this gadget to alert administration that they are in need of help or assistance.

This is the second year elementary schools will have Campus Security Associates on daily. Mrs. Shana Favors serves as the CSA for Wynbrooke Traditional Theme School. In addition to Mrs. Favors, our cluster school resource officer, Officer Davis, does stop by the school on a consistent basis and walks the building and grounds to ensure that order is maintained.

In the event of an emergency, we will communicate with all parents via School Messenger. Please be sure you are connected and signed up on your mobile phone. It is important that parents read all messages from the school thoroughly and follow next steps as outlined.

Safety will always remain our top priority. We appreciate your partnership and collaboration as we work together to maintain a safe learning environment for all students and staff.

It is that time of year again when the Library has lots going on:

First, it’s time for our annual Pumpkin Book Character Contest! Students are invited to show their creativity by decorating a plastic or foam pumpkin (no real pumpkins, please!) to look like their favorite book character.

How to Participate:

1. Choose your favorite book character.

2. Decorate a plastic foam pumpkin to look like that character.

3. Complete the registration form from the library.

4. Bring in your decorated pumpkin and form by Wednesday, November 5, 2025.

Our faculty will vote anonymously to select 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners! We can’t wait to see the amazing and imaginative pumpkins our Wynbrooke students create. Thank you for helping your child celebrate reading in such a fun way!

Secondly, our Scholastic Book Fair! This exciting event gives students the chance to explore new stories, discover favorite authors, and build their own home libraries.

Book Fair Dates:
📅 Saturday, October 25 – Friday, October 31, 2025
📍 Location: Wynbrooke Traditional Theme School

We’ll kick off the fun with a special Family Event on Saturday, October 25 during the Fall Festival, so come shop early and enjoy the celebration!

The eWallet is the easiest way for your child to shop. It’s a safe, cash-free digital account that friends and family can add funds to. You can also choose to contribute to “Share the Fair,” a giving program that helps ensure every Wynbrooke student can choose a book of their own.

To set up your child’s eWallet or learn more, visit our Book Fair homepage:
👉 https://www.scholastic.com/bf/wynbrookeelementaryschool

Warm regards,

Ms. Ashlee Jelks

Wynbrooke Traditional Theme School Librarian

ashlee_jelks@dekalbschoolsga.org

Dear Wolverine Parents and Families,

Helpful Links

• New! Wynbrooke PTA Instagram Page
• Join WYNBROOKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PTA, INC.
• PTA Store
• School Website
• Wynbrooke Uniform Policy

PTA Membership is mandatory for all Dekalb County Theme Schools. The 2024-2025 membership dues are $15 and cover all members of your household

Direct questions regarding the following items to the people below.

• Reporting your child's absence from school - email your child's homeroom teacher
• Changes in transportation - email your child's homeroom teacher
• Questions about school lunch - email our school nutrition manager, Mr. Robert Witherspoon: robert_e_witherspoon@dekalbschoolsga.org
• General questions pertaining to your child's class - email your child's homeroom teacher
• Questions related to school counseling - email one of our school counselors: Ms. Wanda Blow (PreK, Grades K, 1, & 2): Wanda_Blow@dekalbschoolsga.org or Dr. Lavorious Mullins (Grades 3, 4, & 5): Lavorious_Mullins@dekalbschoolsga.org
• Questions pertaining to After School Extended Day Program (ASEDP) - please contact the co-directors Dr. Valeria Hicks: Valeria_Hicks@dekalbschoolsga.org and Mrs. Katina Thigpen: katina_m_thigpen@dekalbschoolsga.org
• Questions pertaining to class schedules, progress reports, and report cards - email principal Devetra_Ushery@dekalbschoolsga.org
• Questions pertaining to districtwide assessments (MAP, CogAT, GA Milestones, ACCESS) - email our School Test Coordinator/Assistant Principal, Mrs. Shatorya Wright-Atkinson: Shatorya_Wright@dekalbschoolsga.org
• Questions pertaining to school wide operations - email Principal Mrs. Devetra Ushery: Devetra_Ushery@dekalbschoolsga.org

Administrative Team

Principal - Mrs. Devetra Ushery

Assistant Principal - Mrs. Shatorya Wright-Atkinson

Website: https://wynbrookees.dekalb.k12.ga.us/OurHistory.aspx

Location: 440 Wicksbury Way, Stone Mountain, GA 30087

Phone: 678-676-5002

School Hours

Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 7:15 AM - 2:15 PM

• All visitors must check in at the welcome desk and please be prepared to provide some form of identification upon request.
  
• Students should arrive between 7:00 AM - 7:40 AM
• Morning announcements begins at 7:40 AM
• Instruction begins and the tardy bell rings at 7:45 AM
• Dismissal bell rings at 2:15 PM
• If you are checking out your child early from school, please do so on or before 1:30 PM. Also, please remember that a picture ID is required for all student check-outs. Thank you!