Wildcat Weekly

Dear Wildcat Families and Crew Members,

Each week, I share a quote with the staff to help us reflect on the work we have done and the work we have yet to do. This week's quote was "A little progress each day adds up to big results." Your children are already doing amazing things. Our teachers continue to hone their craft. Our PTA helps to support our initiatives and lift our spirits. And with our parent partners, so many things are possible. We are incredibly grateful for all that every stakeholder contributes to Winnona Park.

On Tuesday, we had our first PTA meeting, and they are already planning great things. Consider expanding your impact by supporting the WP PTA or running for a seat on our SLT (applications are due Friday, August 21st; more details in the SLT section below). If your student is interested in sharing their thoughts, consider having them apply for the 2026-2027 Superintendent's Student Council Groups from the week of August 10 to September 11.

We will begin Community Circle in September. We invite families of one grade level each week because our cafeteria is not large enough to accommodate everyone at once. We will begin with kindergarten parents on September 4th. Check the WP calendar to know which grade level will host families.

If you are attending Community Circle, please gather by the pond outside the cafeteria after morning drop-off. After students are seated, we will welcome parents into the cafeteria. We will review parent expectations once families enter the cafeteria. Below are some of the highlights:

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

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

• Younger siblings (if brought) stay with a parent. They may not sit with the WP sibling's class.

• Be present, sing along, and participate. Remember, we are modeling Community Circle norms for our students. Please refrain from holding side conversations or using phones. Of course, if you need to take a call, please feel free to step out for a moment.

• For everyone's safety and privacy, please do not post school activities on social media. Be especially mindful about taking pictures of students other than your child.

• To help teachers keep track of students and get back to learning, please avoid chatting with your child when the class is exiting. Of course, a quick wink or finger wave is always welcome.

With gratitude and Wildcat pride,

Meagan Ferguson

Principal, Winnona Park Elementary School

• Tuesday, August 18th - For first and second graders, book order forms are due. Additional information can be found below.
• Wednesday, August 26th - Early Release Day. Student dismissal at 12:50 PM
• Thursday, August 27th - Curriculum Night from 6-7:30 PM. Adults only.
• Monday, September 7th - School closed for Labor Day.
• Monday, September 21 - 25th - Fall break. No school for students.

During the weeks of August 3 through August 14, 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 that 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 family reports will be shared through the Thursday communication folders following the conclusion of testing.

If you have any questions, please reach out to our Instructional Coach, Kelly Stopp at kstopp@csdecatur.net.

STAR Family Information

Practice Test Items

• We are excited to host author Katrina Moore on Tuesday, August 25th. She will be visiting first and second graders. We will have another author visit later in the year that will include kindergarten. Forms are due on Tuesday, August 18th. If you are still interested in purchasing a book, you can access the flyer here.

• Students began checking out books this week. Please visit the Library's website for more details on our schedule, check-out policies and more.

• If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me, Ilene Zeff, the librarian at izeff@csdecatur.net.

We look forward to seeing you at Curriculum Night on August 27 from 6:00-7:30 p.m.. Families (this is not a student event) are invited to the school to learn about the curriculum, instruction, grading, and assessments in their child’s classroom. There will be two identical sessions in each homeroom for parents with more than one student. More details are forthcoming.

The Winnona Park School Leadership Team (SLT) is an elected committee consisting of Winnona Park parents/guardians, staff members, a community member, and a district representative. The purpose of the SLT is to make decisions that support the continuous improvement of the school in accordance with the provisions of the District Charter. Some of the responsibilities of this team are to:

• Serve on interview teams

• Develop, approve, and monitor the continuous school improvement planning process

• Review assessment data and use it for decision-making purposes

• Review and approve changes to its bylaws

• Make recommendations for school needs to the CSD Board of Education during the annual budget process.

If you’re interested in joining the SLT, please submit a bio/purpose statement to Principal Ferguson at mferguson@csdecatur.net by Friday, August 21st.

We are happy to share the school grounds with the community outside of school hours. We ask you model good stewardship when doing so.

• Please help us keep the pavilion clean and ready for Coach Beauchamp's PE classes.

• Return tables to their original location.

• Help our custodians, Mr. Brown, Ms. Burton, and Ms. Labad by picking up any trash.

• If you host a playdate/party, please bring a trash bag and take the garbage with you, or you may put the tied bag in the school dumpster.

• Refrain from using the playgrounds or field during school hours.

• Our playground/field is heavily used by the community outside of school hours. We can only accept clothing, water bottles, etc in the building when they have a Winnona Park student's name on them.

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 Ferguson.

Families who would like their student to ride the bus during the 2026–27 school year must request transportation by completing the Annual Data Update (ADU). Please allow 24-48 hours after

submitting the ADU for transportation information to be processed.

How to Access Your Student’s Bus Information

1. Stopfinder Bus Tracking App — Primary Source

Stopfinder is the Transportation Department’s primary source for bus route information, service updates, and notifications. All families are strongly encouraged to download the app and complete the registration process.

After your transportation request has been processed, you will receive an email invitation to register for the Stopfinder Bus Tracking App. Once your account is activated, you will be able to:

● View your student’s assigned bus route

● View bus stop locations

● View scheduled pickup and drop-off times

● Receive important transportation notifications and service updates

2. Transportation Website

Bus routes are also posted on the district website. Visit the Transportation Department webpage

and select Routes to review available route information.

3. InfoFinder

Families may use InfoFinder to determine whether their address qualifies for transportation services. Enter your home address, and if transportation is available, the system will display the assigned route number, bus stop location, and scheduled pickup and drop-off times.

Note About the Parent Portal - Some families may also see a Transportation tab in the Parent Portal after completing the ADU. If route information is not displayed or appears incomplete, please use Stopfinder, the Transportation website, or InfoFinder for the most current transportation information. Stopfinder is the recommended source for ongoing bus information and transportation notifications throughout the school year.

Want to know what your students have been doing in Creative and Critical Thinking with Ms. Baerman and Ms. Eason? We have been focusing on originality this week! Originality is a component of creativity that teaches our students to use new and unique ideas.

• In Kindergarten and First Grade, we read "Beautiful Oops" by Barney Saltzberg. In Second Grade, we read “Big Orange Splot” by Daniel Manus Pinkwater.

• Our Learning Targets this week:

• I can create artwork from a mistake.

• I can use a mistake as an opportunity to be creative.

• How you support these skills at home:

• Embrace mistakes as learning opportunities.

• Applaud the effort rather than just the result.

• Allow for unhurried free play time.

• Ask open-ended questions instead of giving immediate answers.

• Share your mistakes with your student.

• Encourage curiosity by welcoming unusual ideas.

A schoolwide weekly newsletter will be emailed to families each Thursday afternoon. This newsletter is sent to the email addresses in the Parent Portal. Please ensure all data in your portal account is updated and correct. The WP Website is also a great place to get information about our wonderful school. Here is the link to our school's calendar of events.

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

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.