Wildcat Weekly

Dear Wildcat Families and Crew Members,

It was great to see so many families last Thursday at Curriculum Night. Please review the presentation to learn about the curriculum, instruction, grading, and assessments for the first semester in your child’s classroom. Specific information about your student will be shared during fall conferences in early October.

LAST CALL!! Please review the SLT Bios and vote for three candidates. The SLT supports the school's improvement efforts. Voting ends on Thursday, September 3, 2026. Thank you to all candidates who are willing to serve Winnona Park.

As a reminder, we will welcome our kindergarten parents to Community Circle on Friday, September 4th. Please read more about the Community Circle agreements below. The PTA will have spirit wear for sale before the event in case you're looking to stock up on WP swag!

Today we hosted our first Coffee Chat. We discussed educational technology usage at Winnona Park and how to understand your student's data in preparation for fall family conferences. We also shared quick info about the key learning in each grade level. The next Coffee Chat will explain more about the Gifted identification process. It has been rescheduled for Thursday, September 17th, 8:30-9:00 a.m. See the info below about the Gifted Review process due by September 30th.

With gratitude and Wildcat pride,

Meagan Ferguson

Principal, Winnona Park Elementary School

• Friday, September 4th - CogAT for first graders; Community Circle with Kindergarten families
• Monday, September 7th - School closed for Labor Day
• Friday, September 11th - Community Circle with first grade families

• Thursday, September 17th, 8:30-9:00 a.m. - Coffee Chat. Learn more about the Gifted identification process. See the info below about the Gifted Review process due by September 30th.

• Friday, September 18th - Community Circle with second grade families

• Monday, September 21 - 25th - Fall break. No school for students

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.

The City Schools of Decatur will administer the BASC-BESS Universal Screener from October 1–30, 2026. This brief screener helps schools identify students who may benefit from additional behavioral, social-emotional, or wellness support. The BASC- BESS is not a diagnostic assessment; it is one tool used to help us identify needs early and provide appropriate support. Families who do not want their child to participate may complete an Opt-Out Form by Friday, September 18, 2026.

Each fall semester, the gifted review team reviews existing student data to discuss students’ needs and to determine whether further evaluation for gifted identification is needed. If you are interested in having the team discuss your child’s needs, please complete a Recommendation for Review Form by Wednesday, September 30. No additional information is needed. For more detailed information about the review process, please contact the Gifted & Talented Specialist for your school, Martina Baerman, at mbaerman@csdecatur.net, and Alex Eason at aeason@csdecatur.net or visit our website’s FAQ page.

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.

Carryover eligibility from last school year’s Meal Benefit Plan ends on September 11, 2026. After this date, your student’s meal status will automatically change to Paid unless a new application is approved for the 2026–2027 school year.

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.

Join us in celebrating literacy and Dyslexia Awareness Month from September 28 through October 8 with both in-school and outside of school activities including a GPB Livestream with Malcolm Mitchell, Georgia Reads for America 250 at the public library, and a special read-aloud of Aaron Slater, Illustrator with Superintendent Dr. Whitaker. Over the weekend, head to the Decatur Book Festival for the keynote with 2026 Pulitzer Prize winner Brian Goldstone on Friday, October 2 (7:00 PM) and the Kidnote featuring bestselling authors Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko on Saturday, October 3 (10:00 AM). Back at school, look out for guest readers on October 5, explore student talent in the Dyslexia Awareness Art Competition (entries due October 6 at noon; gallery walk October 7), and show your support by wearing red for World Dyslexia Day on Thursday, October 8!

Clear out room in your closets for the new school year while giving back to Decatur High and keeping textiles out of local landfills!

• What to Donate: Used clothes, shoes, old hoodies, jeans, and household items.

• Where to Drop Off: The Clothes Bin located in the back lot near the corner of Commerce Dr. and West Howard Ave.

• Why: Support our school community and recycle with purpose!

Drop off your items anytime and help us fill the bin this school year!

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

CSD has opened a survey to examine the priorities of Pre-K families in Decatur, including location, transportation, and changing community needs. All families and community members are invited to take the survey, regardless of their children's ages.

School principals recommended parents from their respective schools to participate in a working group to assist CSD in determining how best to engage with families, staff, and the broader community about Pre-K accessibility, and how to use community feedback to inform decisions about potential Pre-K locations. This survey is the committee's first community touch point.

The committee will use survey feedback data to define the community's values and priorities regarding any potential changes to Pre-K locations. The data will be used to make a recommendation to the Board of Education at the December board meeting. Data results will be posted. Community members can follow along and view upcoming survey findings, insights, and decision outcomes directly on the Pre-K Access Project webpage.

Please take the survey here through September 16:

English: https://tally.so/r/jaA2Y4

Spanish: https://tally.so/r/jaAY5R

Somali: https://tally.so/r/VLOAaj

Dari: https://tally.so/r/J9vZOz

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.