F.Ave Falcon Flyer

F.Ave Families,

Principal’s Coffee Chat

We’d love for you to join us for our next Principal’s Coffee Chat on Friday, September 18, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. We'll be sipping coffee and discussing "EdTech Balance". Hope to see you there!

Derrick L. Thomas, Principal

Fifth Avenue Upper Elementary School

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.

The Gifted & Talented Specialists for FAVE are Jennifer Broman-Fulks, Edwin Ellis, Stephanie Tolentino, and Charee Waugh. For more detailed information about the review process, please contact the FAVE Gifted & Talented Specialists at jbroman-fulks@csdecatur.net, edellis@csdecatur.net, stolentino@csdecatur.net, or cwaugh@csdecatur.net or visit our website’s FAQ page.

One flock, one flight, Falcons Parents Unite! Parents: Get ready for our very first Cast Blast of the school year on September 11! Did you know a group of Falcons is called a cast? That’s why we call it Cast Blast!

You can think of Cast Blast as FAVE’s version of Community Circle. It’s our special time to come together as a school community to celebrate student learning, sing our IB song, and recognize our outstanding staff and students. After we celebrate as a grade level in the MultiPurpose Room, classes will rotate through activity-based stations directly connected to our most recent IB Unit of Inquiry.

Parents - when you arrive, you may enter through the MPR (multipurpose room) door in the U-Shape Parking lot. Mark your calendars—we can't wait to see our Falcon family there! Rise up!

4th Grade 8:00 - 8:50

5th Grade: 8:40 - 9:30

3rd Grade: 9:35 - 10:25

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.

Please access the Universal Social Emotional Behavior Screener Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on the CSD website to learn more.

Please see the links below if you are interested in attending one of our parent workshops.

BASC-3 BESS Parent Meetings

BASC-3 BESS Parent Meeting

Tuesday, August 25 · 12:00 – 1:00pm

Time zone: America/New_York

Google Meet joining info

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/cgc-wqsn-crm

Or dial: ‪(US) +1 707-404-8721‬ PIN: ‪939 412 617‬#

More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/cgc-wqsn-crm?pin=2635135100055

BAS3-BESS Parent Meeting

Tuesday, August 25 · 6:00 – 7:00pm

Time zone: America/New_York

Google Meet joining info

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/ety-fhhp-uxf

Or dial: ‪(US) +1 385-393-5083‬ PIN: ‪887 197 439‬#

More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/ety-fhhp-uxf?pin=8482099864687

What are your next steps?

No action is required if you agree with your student’s participation in the screening. If you would prefer that your student NOT participate in the universal screening, please complete the opt-out form by clicking here. The deadline to opt your child out of completing the BESS is Friday, September 18, 2026 for the Fall Administration and Friday, February 12, 2027 for the Spring Administration.

What is CML? The Continental Mathematics League is a national competition that emphasizes higher-order thinking, creative problem-solving, and analytical skills. Students participate in a series of timed Meets throughout the school year, solving challenging math problems designed to stretch their critical thinking abilities.

Who Can Join? Any FAVE student who loves math, enjoys puzzles, or wants to challenge themselves to try something new!

CLICK HERE for more information including how students can sign up, important dates, and sample problems.

Is your student interested in joining the Superintendent's Student Advisory Council? It is designed as a two-way system of communication between students and the Office of the Superintendent. Students on the council are asked to share their perspectives and experiences with the Superintendent on a variety of issues. Students are also asked to attend each meeting (see dates below). Meetings will be held at the Wilson Center after school in the Superintendent's Office.

Purpose & Commitment: Elementary (K-5) Student Council: The Elementary (K-5) Superintendent's Student Council will be made up of two students from each lower elementary (K-2) school and two students from each upper elementary (3-5) school. The K-5 student council will meet at the Wilson Center from 3:15 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. on the following dates:

• Tuesday, September 29, 2026

• Tuesday, December 1, 2026

• Tuesday, January 19, 2027

• Tuesday, March 16, 2027

• Tuesday, May 4, 2027

Click the following link to apply: 2026-2027 Superintendent's Student Advisory Council.

FAVE is excited to introduce the FAVE Birthday Book Program. It allows you to both honor your child on their birthday and help our library collection continue to grow! To honor your child with a birthday book, please submit a payment of $20 through the PTO site or a check made out to "F.AVE PTO" with "Birthday Book" as the memo, and complete the form linked here. All forms and payments must be received by Friday, September 11.

After your donation is received, your child will select a book during their birthday month (if your child had a birthday this past July or August, we will celebrate them in September; June birthdays will be celebrated in May). This book will be added to our library catalog and will feature your student's name, their birthday, and a dedication bookplate with a message of your choice.

Your child will keep the book for 2 weeks before returning it to the library. Thank you for your support of our school library!

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 Thomas.

Join the DHS Color Guard for Youth Night on Friday, September 18, 2026. Open to all K-8th-grade students, participants will pair up with a DHS Color Guard buddy to learn a routine at practice on Tuesday, September 15, 6-7:30 p.m., enjoy dinner with the team, and perform together in the pregame show. The $30 participation fee covers student admission and dinner. Register here by Thursday, September 10, to guarantee an event t-shirt.

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

RSVP & learn more →

Email: masika.nyaku@csdecatur.net

Website: https://fave.csdecatur.net/
Location: 101 5th Avenue, Decatur, GA 30030
Phone: (404) 371-6680