College Heights Connection

Dear Families,

What a wonderful second week of school! It’s been incredible watching our students settle into their daily routines and begin creating their classroom communities. From mastering new classroom routines to filling the hallways with bright energy, the school year is off to a great start! Thank you for your ongoing partnership, timely drop-offs, and encouraging words at home. Together, we are setting the stage for a fabulous school year.

Just a reminder, the PTO is hosting a Popsicle Social tomorrow from 5:00-6:00 p.m. in the top parking lot area. This is a wonderful opportunity to get to know other families. To ensure the safety of our families, the top parking lot will be blocked off starting at 4:50 p.m.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Sarah Garland

Principal, College Heights Early Childhood Learning Center

August 14 - Popsicle Social sponsored by PTO, 5-6:00 p.m.

August 24 - PTO meeting and budget vote, 5:30 p.m. (before Curriculum Night; virtual option available, more details below)

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

August 26 - Early Release Day, 12:15 p.m. (Pre-K only)

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

September 7 - Labor Day (school closed)

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

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

Links to 2026-27 CSD district calendars:

0-3

Pre-K

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, and 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.

PTO will meet before Curriculum Night at 5:30 p.m. in the cafeteria. See below for a virtual link to this meeting if you are unable to attend in person.

We look forward to seeing you!

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.

Registration opens on August 24 at 8:00 a.m. Applications are available at the front desk and on the school website. Completed registration packets can not be submitted before August 24. 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.

On six days during the school year, all CSD schools will release students two hours early so that teachers and staff are able to have meetings, participate in professional learning, and hold parent conferences.

The Pre-K early release schedule is as follows:

• Two-hour early release. Students will still eat lunch at school.
• Bus riders will be dismissed between 11:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
• Walkers/car riders and community after school programs will be dismissed beginning at 12:15 p.m.
• Families enrolled in community after school programs should contact the program directly on their early release details.
• Students enrolled in the College Heights aftercare program will remain in their rooms for rest time and will transition to their aftercare location at 2:30 p.m.
• Early release days generally fall on the last Wednesday of the month, but some early release days occur just before a holiday or break.
• The 2026-2027 early release dates are: 8/26, 10/28, 12/18, 1/27, 3/17, and 5/27 (the last day of school).
  
• Students in the 0-3 tuition program are not released early; they attend for the entire school day as usual.

Please reach out to Caretha Hall if you have any additional questions.

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.

Pre-K families, are you interested in volunteering or chaperoning your classroom's Field Trips? 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 or supervising students when no staff member is present. If you had one last year, it is still current for one calendar year.

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.
  

The College Heights Advisory Council was established to function as an advisory body to the administration and partners of the school with very specific roles. The advisory council is represented mostly by parents, along with community stakeholders, staff, and administrators. Together, they advise and make recommendations on matters related to school improvement and student achievement, are responsible for maintaining a school-wide perspective on crucial issues, and act as a link between the advisory council members and the school community and families. We appreciate their commitment to the success of College Heights.

Garrett Womble, 0-3 Parent Rep/Council Chair

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

Become a room parent! We are still looking for a few classrooms to have parents sign up. Being a room parent makes connecting with your child’s class and teacher even better. Join your classroom’s team of room parents today. Email CollegeHeightsPTOpresident@gmail.com if you are interested or have questions.

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

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

• Aug 14 - Popsicle Social 5-6:00 p.m.

• Aug 24 - PTO Member Meeting to approve the budget / Curriculum Night - 5:30 p.m.

• 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

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.