Wildcat Weekly
July 23, 2026
Important Dates
Wednesday, July 29 - Parent Portal opens to view teacher assignments
Thursday, July 30 - WP Meet & Greet
Kindergarten: 9-10 a.m., First and Second grades: 10-11 a.m.
Saturday, August 1, 3-4 p.m. - Kindergarten Popsicle Social, WP playground, sponsored by the PTA
Monday, August 3 - First day of school. Doors open at 8 a.m.
Join us for PTA-sponsored Parent Coffee & Donuts immediately afterwards
Dear Wildcat Families and Crew Members,
Are you ready for the 26-27 school year to begin?! Today was our first day back as a whole staff. The building is fresh, the teachers are recharged, and our hearts are ready to receive your children. We are already hard at work preparing for this year's learning.
Hopefully, every Wildcat has received their postcard. If not, please contact Cathy Sikes at csikes@csdecatur.net. In that letter, I asked each student how their unique contributions make Winnona Park a great place for everyone to learn. I look forward to getting to know every Wildcat. I know their commitments and contributions will serve our community well.
I am excited to watch our collective achievements unfold. To best prepare students, it may be helpful to start transitioning to a school bedtime schedule and routine. Whenever possible, include reading as a part of your bedtime routine. We still snuggle up to read with our 8th and 9th graders, though I must confess, I am usually the first one to fall asleep!
We will see you at Meet-and-Greet Thursday, July 30th (see details below). Make sure to mark your calendars! And be sure to support our amazing PTA.
With gratitude and Wildcat pride,
Meagan Ferguson
Principal, Winnona Park Elementary School
Class Assignments
Parents will be able to log into the Parent Portal on Wednesday, July 29th, to see their child’s teacher. Class placement is a high priority for our staff, and we implement a very deliberate process to place students each year. If you experience difficulty with your parent portal account, please call our office manager, Cathy Sikes, for help at 404-370-4490.
Accessing the Parent Portal
Infinite Campus
For parents new to CSD, you will need to set up an account in the Parent Portal which is in our information system, Infinite Campus. Please click here to learn more about how to set up an account.
Kindergarten Popsicle Social (PTA-Sponsored)
Calling all new Wildcats! Please join your fellow Winnona Park kindergarteners for our annual Kindergarten Popsicle Social in the pavilion behind the school from 3-4 p.m. on Saturday, August 1st. This is a great opportunity to meet fellow students/parents, get connected to the PTA, and enjoy a sweet treat! We will provide free King of Pops to all kindergarteners (popsicles available for purchase for parents/siblings). See you there!
Meet & Greet
All K-2 schools have their Meet & Greet scheduled for Thursday, July 30, from 9-11 a.m. The Winnona Park crew is excited to welcome everyone for the new school year. The main purpose of the Meet & Greet is for parents, students, and teachers to meet and greet one another. It's also for students to familiarize themselves with the school and the classroom. Just a note: students will walk themselves to class the first day (and onward). But don't worry, the loving WP staff will be ready to help anyone who needs reminding of where to go. There is no formal program for this event. For your student's privacy and to allow teachers to meet all students, individual-focused conversations are best saved for a private discussion at another time.
To keep car traffic in the neighborhood and foot traffic at the school to a minimum, Kindergarten families may arrive between 9-10 a.m., while first and second graders may arrive between 10-11 a.m. All families enter through the front door, and WP staff will direct you to your classroom. School Manager, Cathy Sikes, will be in the teachers' lounge to help parents with Parent Portal, free and reduced lunch applications, and CSD bus route questions.
Be sure to stop by the PTA table when you come. The PTA will have spirit wear for sale, opportunities for parents to get involved, and a special gift for all WP students!
First Day of School
We will welcome students for our first day of school on Monday, August 3. Our school hours are 8:15 a.m. - 2:50 p.m. Students, but not parents, may enter the school building at 8 a.m. Breakfast will be offered each morning from 8-8:20 a.m. Instruction begins at 8:20 a.m. Dismissal begins at 2:50 p.m.
After you snap your first day of school pictures out front, join the PTA for doughnuts and coffee outside (sponsored by Revolution Doughnuts) - look for them under the trees near the mobile classrooms!
Breakfast and Lunch
The nutrition department offers breakfast and lunch daily. For menu information and much more, see: CSD Nutrition. Continue checking back for more updated information. Click here for payment information and instructions on how to apply for free and reduced lunch. Families can also come to the WP Staff Lounge for more Free and Reduced lunch information during the Meet & Greet.
School Supplies
If you ordered school supplies through 1st Day, the PTA sends their thanks. Funds raised from this will support teacher appreciation, student learning, and overall Wildcat excellence this year. The supplies will be delivered directly to the school, and the WP PTA will sort and deliver the goods to classrooms. Considering volunteering with the PTA to help with sorting and distribution.
If you wish to donate school supplies for the class, please find the requested list here. If purchasing the supplies on your own, they can be brought to school during the Meet & Greet or any day during the first week of school.
If purchasing supplies presents a challenge for your family, please don't worry. We will always ensure that all of our students have adequate supplies.
Weekly Communication Every Thursday
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.
Run for the School Leadership Team (SLT)
The Winnona Park School Leadership Team (SLT) is an elected committee consisting of Winnona Park parents/guardians, staff members, a community member, and a district representative. The purpose of the SLT is to make decisions that support the continuous improvement of the school in accordance with the provisions of the District Charter. Some of the responsibilities of this team are to:
Serve on interview teams
Develop, approve, and monitor the continuous school improvement planning process
Review assessment data and use it for decision-making purposes
Review and approve changes to its bylaws
Make recommendations for school needs to the CSD Board of Education during the annual budget process.
If you’re interested in joining the SLT, please submit a bio/purpose statement to Principal Ferguson at mferguson@csdecatur.net by Friday, August 21st.
New State Law: Personal Electronic Devices
Students will not be allowed to use personal electronic devices during school, such as cell phones and smart watches, starting this school year. Devices brought to school must be kept in backpacks.
District News
PTA News
Support the PTA!
The WP PTA plays an invaluable role in our community. The PTA works to enhance the educational experience of all Winnona Park students by supporting teachers and staff. Through fundraising efforts, the PTA supports many offerings and initiatives, including classroom libraries, teacher and parent grants, field trips and guest speakers for all students, facility enhancements, and various community-building events. Click here to learn more about the PTA and upcoming events. If you'd like to donate to the PTA, click here.
About Us
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.