College Heights Connection

Dear Families,

Welcome to the 2026-2027 school year! Whether you are returning to College Heights or joining our community for the first time, we are thrilled to have you as part of our school family.

As principal, one of my top priorities is keeping our lines of communication open. This newsletter is designed to be your go-to source for everything happening around our school, from upcoming events and key dates to celebrating student achievements and sharing important operational updates.

I am looking forward to seeing our families at Meet & Greet tomorrow. Just a reminder that Passenger Safety Technician Amina Williams will be onsite offering free car seat installation checks in the parking lot 1-3 p.m.

Sarah Garland,

Principal, College Heights Early Childhood Learning Center

July 29-31 - SCHOOL CLOSED FOR 0-3 STUDENTS (teacher planning days)

July 31 - Pre-K Meet & Greet, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

July 31 - 0-3 Meet & Greet, 1-3:00 p.m.

August 3 - First day of school for 0-3 and Pre-K

August 24 - Curriculum Night, 6:00 p.m.

August 28 - Child Find (click here for more information)

September 7 - Labor Day (school closed)

Links to 2026-27 CSD district calendars:

0-3

Pre-K

Hopefully you have connected with your child's classroom teacher to schedule your time to visit tomorrow. We are looking forward to seeing our Pre-K students and families tomorrow (Friday, July 31) between 9:00 a.m. and noon, and our 0-3 students and families from 1:00-3:00 p.m.

Pre-K families, if you have a student in the onsite After School Program (ASP), please stop by the cafeteria and meet our new director, Justin Hellstrom, and the amazing ASP staff. If you are still seeking aftercare for your student, Jewish Kids Group will also be in the cafeteria with more information on their program.

As part of our curriculum, Pre-K teachers plan several off-site field trip opportunities for our pre-K students. In order to cover the transportation and vendor costs, we are requesting each family pay a one-time $25 field trip fee. There will be a table set up in the front lobby during Meet and Greet for parents to pay their fees. Payments can be made with a check or cash only. We will have limited cash on site to make change.

Thank you for supporting this important initiative.

The Free and Reduced Lunch application is available in the Parent Portal (Infinite Campus). Please follow the steps below to access the application. Please contact Nekee Mathis in the School Nutrition Department at nmathis@csdecatur.net for questions and assistance.

Steps to access the online free & reduced lunch application in the Parent Portal:

Step 1: Go to https://www.csdecatur.net/parentportal
Step 2: Click on Campus Parent
Step 3: Log in with the username and password you created
Step 4: Once you have entered your username and password, click the button that says “log on”
Step 5: Click the option MORE in the left menu
Step 6: Click on MEAL BENEFITS
Step 7: Click on CLICK HERE TO START APPLICATION PROCESS
Step 8: You must create a 5 digit pin. Example: 12345
Step 9: Now, you enter your password; it is the EXACT same password you entered when you logged into your parent portal.
Step 10: Complete the application

Please be mindful that it may take up to 10 days to process your application. If you have not received a response after 10 days, please contact Nekee Mathis at nmathis@csdecatur.net for questions and assistance.

Experience a day in the life of a College Heights Chick! We warmly invite you to join us for Curriculum Night on August 24 as we share a typical day in your child's exciting learning journey. Your child's teacher will share insights into the daily schedule, classroom routines, expectations, and provide valuable tips to support your child's success this year. Let's connect and build a strong partnership for your child's educational growth!

Choose one of the convenient 30-minute sessions below:

• Session 1: 6:00- 6:30 p.m.
• Session 2: 6:30-7:00 p.m.

To best accommodate families with multiple children at College Heights, the same informative session will be repeated during both time slots. This allows you to attend Curriculum Night for each child and learn about their classroom experiences.

We look forward to seeing you!

The health and safety of our students and staff is a top priority at College Heights. We closely monitor weather conditions that may impact outdoor exposure time and follow the Department of Public Health's guidelines for safe and comfortable outdoor play. Please refer to the chart below for more information.

Visiting the principal's office is fun! Ms. Asia's friends loved exploring Ms. Sarah's space and left with some treasures for their classroom.

CSD Opening Day at Decatur High School is always a blast. Opening Day brings teachers and staff from the entire district together to celebrate achievements, reconnect with old friends, and share our excitement about the upcoming school year.

College Heights staff are H-O-T-T-O-G-O and can't wait to get started!

Click here for CSD back-to-school information for all ages.

The PTO is dedicated to supporting our school’s instructional programs and building a strong, connected community. Joining the PTO is a fantastic way to get involved and meet other College Heights families! Please stop by the PTO table at Meet & Greet and learn more.

We are currently looking for a volunteer to fill the Board position of Assistant Treasurer.

If you're interested in learning more about the position, please reach out to our PTO President, Jackie Hatch.

• Stay Informed: Check out the PTO Website for information on upcoming events, membership, volunteer opportunities, and ways to connect with other parents.
  
• Show Your School Spirit: Grab your school gear through our Spirit Wear Store.
  
• Stop by and say hi at tomorrow's school Meet and Greet on 7/31. Former PTO President and Child Passenger Safety Technician Amina Williams will be onsite offering free car seat installation checks in the parking lot 1-3 p.m.

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.