Weekly Update

September 11, 2025

Friday, September 12 - Second-Grade Families at Community Circle

Saturday, Sept.13th - Support our Community Circle Band at the Battle of the Bands. 2-8 PM.

Friday, September 19 - Kindergarten Families at Community Circle

Monday, September 22 - Friday, September 26 - Fall Break - No School

Monday, September 29 - Friday, October 10 - Parent/Teacher Conference Window

Wednesday, October 8 - Open Check-Out in the Library - 3 - 3:30 PM

Monday, October 13 - Friday, October 17th - Read A Thon

We welcome second grade parents to Community Circle tomorrow morning! There is only a little room in the cafe to invite all parents at once, therefore, we invite one grade level at a time each week. I’ve placed all Community Circles for the year on the WP calendar, highlighting which grade level’s parents may attend.

If you are attending Community Circle, please gather by the pond outside the cafe after morning drop-off. Parents will be let into the cafe at the appropriate time. We will go over the parent expectations in the cafe, but here are some of the highlights:

• All parents enter and exit through the cafe door near the pond.

• Stand along the outside perimeter of the cafe. Please spread out.

• Younger siblings (if brought) stay with a parent, not with WP child’s class.

• Be present, sing along, and participate. Please stay off phones and chat with your friends before and after Community Circle.

• Put phones away. Don’t post school activities on social media.

• Don’t impede classes as they exit by chatting with your child. Teachers want to get to their classes with the same number of kiddos they left with.

A big “Thank-You” to the 47% of families who completed the Annual Data Update (ADU). Not that I’m competitive or anything, but WP families are almost in last place compared to the other CSD schools. Come on, we got this!

The ADU is how families verify or update critical communication and health information, and do sign-offs for the handbook and code of conduct. Please click here for more information or log in directly to the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. Help make WP the first to reach 100% completion.

Each fall semester, the gifted review team looks at existing student data to discuss students’ needs and determine if further evaluation for gifted identification is needed. If you are interested in having the team discuss your child’s needs, you may complete a Recommendation for Review Form (found at the website below) and turn it in to the Gifted & Talented Specialist at your child’s school before Wednesday, October 1, 2025. No additional information is needed. The Gifted & Talented Specialists for Winnona Park Elementary are Martina Baerman and Michele Stroud. For more detailed information about the review process and to obtain a copy of the Recommendation for Review Form, please contact the Gifted & Talented Specialists for your school at mbaerman@csdecatur.net or mstroud@csdecatur.net or visit this site.

If you are interested in learning more about what gifted services at WP look like, and what the process of gifted evaluation entails, please join Ms. Baerman and Ms. Stroud for a coffee chat at WP on Tuesday, September 16th 8:15am - 8:45am. The information session will be held in Trailer D.

The Decatur Education Foundation is hosting a fun event called The Battle of the Bands! BOTB will be held Saturday, September 13th from 5-8pm on the lawn at Legacy Park. All CSD Community Circle bands (and other bands) will perform, and we encourage WP families to attend for a fun night of music and community-building. At Battle of the Bands, the band with the loudest fans will win a prize (a music grant, a trophy, and of course bragging rights) for their school! Our fabulous Community Circle band takes the stage at 6:00PM.

Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.

Parents will automatically receive CSD Weekly, which includes their child's school newsletter, via the email address they registered in the CSD parent portal. Interested community members, or extended family, may sign up for the CSD Weekly by clicking here.

Please note that when you sign up as a 'community member,' even though the form below asks for your phone number, you will not receive text messages or phone calls.

Read the September 11, 2025, issue of CSD Weekly, the district-wide newsletter.

Stay connected with upcoming events: https://www.wpespta.org/

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New Gold Level Partner: Tara Pesta Real Estate

We’re thrilled to announce Tara Pesta Real Estate as a Gold Level Partner for the second consecutive year. Tara’s support extends beyond sponsorship—she regularly gives back to our community, including sponsoring coffee carts for parents and teachers. Thank you, Tara, for helping us strengthen programs that benefit Winnona Park students and staff.

Interested in sponsorship opportunities? Visit our website for details on how your business can support the PTA.

Support the Wildcats: Join the PTA

Help us kick off a strong year at Winnona Park! The PTA Family Donation Program fuels classroom resources, enrichment opportunities, teacher support, and the community events our families love. Whether it’s a one-time gift or a recurring monthly donation, every amount makes a difference. Many employers also offer matching gifts—a simple way to double your impact.

Give today: wpespta.org/familydonation. Thank you for supporting our Wildcats! 💜🐾

Volunteer for the Morning Reading Program (Sept 2–Nov 20)
We’re excited to relaunch our Morning Reading Program and need parent volunteers to read with students on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:00–8:30 a.m. The program runs from Tuesday, Sept 2 (after Labor Day) through Thursday, Nov 20.

• Ideal commitment: Both mornings each week to work consistently with the same student.

• Subs needed: Can’t do every week? Join our substitute volunteer list to fill in as needed.

• No session: Tue, Nov 4 (digital learning day).

• Celebration: Thu, Nov 20 with donuts, juice boxes, coffee—and Little Shop of Stories gift cards for students.

Join us in making reading joyful and accessible for every Wildcat! Sign up: wpespta.org/volunteer

Help Us Fill Key PTA Roles: Spirit Wear & Yearbook (K + 2nd)
We’re building a strong team for the year and need a few parent volunteers to make it happen:

• Spirit Wear: Support online orders; help keep Wildcat gear stocked and organized.

• Yearbook: We especially need a Kindergarten and a 2nd Grade parent to help collect photos and ideas for class pages.

If you enjoy writing, organizing, or snapping photos at school events, we’d love to have you. Sign up online—thank you for supporting our Wildcats!

New Spirit Wear: Dancing Wildcats Tee

Meet our newest Winnona Park spirit wear: a super-soft heather tee featuring a row of dancing Wildcats—a playful nod to the Grateful Dead. It’s perfect for Friday spirit days, field trips, and community events. Available in youth and adult sizes while supplies last.

Shop now: https://www.wpespta.org/spirit-wear

Proceeds support WP PTA programs—thank you for showing your Wildcat pride!

Calling all K-8th graders: Come spin with the Bulldogs in a special pregame performance before a DHS home varsity football game on September 19. Register here.

Practice: Thursday, September 18, 6-7:30 p.m.

Practice and performance: Friday, September 19, 4:30-7:30 p.m.

Email: csikes@csdecatur.net
Website: https://winnonapark.csdecatur.net/
Location: 510 Avery Street, Decatur, GA, USA
Phone: 404-370-4490

Newsletter Archives: Read older issues of the Wildcat Weekly by visiting our school website. Click on the link in the top photo or on the "Newsletter" button in the middle of the page. Older issues of CSD Weekly may be found on CSD's district newsletter webpage.