College Heights Connection

Dear Families,

It’s hard to believe we’re already wrapping up our first month of the school year! The students have settled beautifully into their classrooms, and we are off to an amazing start. A big thank you to everyone who attended Monday’s Curriculum Night—we had a wonderful turnout and loved connecting with you.

Fall is always a busy and exciting season at College Heights. Please save the date for our annual Book Parade on October 30 at 9:30 a.m., which caps off our Literacy Week celebrations. Keep an eye out for more details coming soon!

Have a wonderful weekend,

Sarah Garland

Principal, College Heights Early Childhood Learning Center

August 30 - PTO Garden Work Day (behind the school), 9:30 a.m.

September 7 - Labor Day (school closed)

September 21-25 - Fall Break (Pre-K only)

October 12 - Teacher Work Day (Pre-K only)

October 21-30 - Read-To-Me-A-Thon sponsored by PTO

October 26-30 - Literacy Week

October 28 - Early Release Day (Pre-K only)

October 30- Annual Book Parade

November 3 - Teacher Workday (school closed for 0-3 and Pre-K students)

Links to 2026-27 CSD district calendars:

0-3

Pre-K

UPDATE: Eight (8) spots remain.

We will be offering camp services during the Pre-K fall break (September 21-25). Camp will be capped at 40 students, and spaces will be given on a first-come, first-served basis.

Applications are available at the front desk and on the school website. Payment is due at the time of registration. Deadline to register is September 11. For families in need of financial assistance, please contact Principal Garland. For questions or concerns, please email Justin Hellstrom, After School Manager. Your child does not need to be enrolled in the After School Program to participate in camp.

Tuition is $ 275/week (includes daily breakfast, lunch, snack, and all activities).
Camp hours: 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Pre-K students visited the library for the first time on Monday, and we all loved Loren Long's beautiful story, The Yellow Bus. Every Pre-K student will have the chance to ride the big yellow bus during our upcoming field trips. We also talked about whether buses could have feelings. The bus in our story certainly did!

On Tuesday, one-, two-, and three-year-old classes visited the library. Here are the books we enjoyed this week. These sparked great conversation, giggles, and lots of movement.

Every Monday Mabel by Jashar Awan

Go and Get with Rex by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka

Mother Bruce by Ryan Higgins

The Cow Loves Cookies by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Marcellus Hall

Clap Your Hands by Lorinda Bryan Cauley

Thank you to all of the families who have donated to our birthday book program this year. We are so grateful for your support. The birthday book program is a great way to celebrate your College Heights student's birthday and to help grow the library with new high interest books for young children. Interested? Click here for more information and to order your birthday book online through PTO.

Rainy days stimulate our senses! Ms. Sela's class enjoyed the rainy morning on the school's front porch. Though they stayed (mostly) under the awning, they were able to hear, smell, feel, see, and taste the rain!

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

Garden work day is this Sunday, August 30. Bring your garden gloves and meet us in the garden behind the school at 9:30 a.m. You do not have to RSVP, but if you want to let us know you’re coming you can sign up here. We will be pulling weeds out of the raised beds; the work goes quickly with help!

Thank you to our PTO treasurers, Robbie Reese & Kelsey Hallman, who created our 2026-27 budget and to all the PTO members who unanimously voted it into approval. Our fiscal year ends June 30, 2027.

Please feel free to reach out to the PTO President, Jackie Hatch, if you have any questions throughout the year! collegeheightsptopresident@gmail.com

School shirts are available for purchase at CHECLC.PTBoard.com.

Mark your calendars for the following PTO events. Details to follow.

• Oct 21-28 - Read-To-Me-A-Thon!

• Oct 30 - Trunk or Treat

• Feb 27 - Annual Auction

• Apr 23 - Spring Social Event

• May 3-7 - College Heights Staff Appreciation Week

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!

College Heights Early Childhood Learning Center cultivates an atmosphere where children take their first steps in building an authentic love of learning through developmentally appropriate practices in an environment that fosters family and community involvement.

All recent issues of the College Heights Connection are available here.

Older issues of CSD Weekly may be found on CSD's district newsletter webpage.