W.E.stchester Weekly

News from the Principal
IGreetings WE Families,
It was another amazing week at Westchester. The Fall Festival last Saturday was a HUGE success! Thanks to our PTA board and all of the volunteers who made this happen. Marci Roberts and so many others brought it all together. It was a beautiful day. So many families came out, and the kids had a great time. We had another terrific book fair as well. The students love to shop and purchase books of their own. Ms. Nation and her band of volunteers worked so hard to make it a great event as well.
Our staff is feeling the Westchester community love. Thank you for the kind words of support and treats. These acts of appreciation mean so much to the staff during the βbusynessβ of the day.
Join us for our monthly Community Circle at 8:15 in the auditorium. The students have some great highlights of their learning to share. At the end of the Community circle, we will move outside for the water balloon challenge. Yes! I am prepared for each student to throw a water balloon at me. It will be chilly, but a deal is a deal. We met our fundraising goal.
The K-2 School Utilization and Redistricting Process is underway. Stay informed and share your input.
October 27 - The proposed plan will be posted to the website for viewing.
First Community meeting Wednesday, October 29, 6:30-8:00 p.m., Beacon Hill Middle School, Cafeteria
Second Thursday, November 13, 6:30-8:00 p.m., Beacon Hill Middle School, Cafeteria
November 18 - Board Retreat
December 9 - A final plan will be presented to the board for vote
Everyone is encouraged to attend the public input hearings. Please also consider submitting your feedback in writing at this feedback form. More information is available on the CSD website at https://www.csdecatur.net/. This feedback form goes directly to the consultant to inform the planning process.
Mark your calendars for these upcoming events.
October 27th-31st: Red Ribbon Theme Week
November 4th: Election Day - Digital Learning Day
From your very grateful principal,
Christine Knox
Monkeys First Grade Art π¨
Calendar of Events
Parent Engagement Night
Glennwood Elementary School: November 19th, from 4:30 - 6:00 p.m- Parent Engagement Prek-2 on Reading and phonological awareness for ALL Prek-2 learners! Prizes, snacks and MORE! All are invited.
Next Week...
Young Georgia Authors Contest 2025-2026 π
Are You Interested in Volunteering?
Thank you for your interest in volunteering at Westchester Elementary School! To ensure the safety of all students, City Schools of Decatur requires all volunteers and chaperones to have a current background check on file. This is especially important for anyone who will be with students without a staff member present.
How to get a background check:
Schedule an appointment: Background checks are conducted at 2635 Talley Street, 2nd Floor. There is a $35 fee (cash, check, or money order made payable to City Schools of Decatur) for the background check, and it must be turned in to Westchester before you go for your background check. You can book an appointment using this link: https://calendar.app.google/du9yW1Gg8SV6pjGp8
Important scheduling note: Appointments are typically available on Mondays and Wednesdays. You can schedule an appointment up to 21 days in advance.
What to bring: Please bring your driver's license with you to your 10-minute appointment. You will also fill out a short form.
Results: The information is submitted to the GBI, and results are often returned within 24 hours.
Please remember that a new background check is required each year for all parents and volunteers. We appreciate your cooperation and suppor
25-26 Book Character Pumpkin Winners
PTA News
Thank you PTA!
The 2025 fall fest was a huge success! Thank you to our wonderful community for volunteering your time and all those who joined the fun for the afternoon.
District News
On October 16, Superintendent Dr. Gyimah Whitaker emailed a letter to City Schools of Decatur community that the Board of Education has initiated a comprehensive review of K-2 school utilization. This review will assess how CSD's K-2 schools are currently being utilized to ensure that space, staffing, and resources align with student needs while also maintaining operational efficiency and fiscal responsibility.
The Board of Education work session on October 14, 2025, served as a preliminary discussion to review various options, including the potential closure of a K-2 school. The consulting firm Education Planners has been engaged to facilitate this process and presented a timeline for the first time at the board work session, along with a detailed overview of the school closure and redistricting process. The board has not yet decided which school, if any, will be closed. There will be opportunities for families to share their input in the upcoming weeks.
Please read the full letter in English here. Additional language translations of the letter and up-to-date information about the process are available on the K-2 School Consolidation & Redistricting Process webpage. Stakeholder engagement is encouraged and vital as we work together to make the best decisions for our students and schools.
The community is invited to upcoming public hearings to provide feedback:
- Wednesday, October 29, 6:30-8:00 p.m., Beacon Hill Middle School, Cafeteria
- Thursday, November 13, 6:30-8:00 p.m., Beacon Hill Middle School, Cafeteria
In addition to the in-person public hearings, input may be submitted via this feedback form.
Community Events
Agnes Scott Fall Event
Sunshine Fall Event
Lost Dog near Westchester
Newsletters are posted on the Website!
Reminders
School Lunch Policy: Please be sure to maintain a positive lunch balance for your child. This will help us avoid any unexpected lunch changes for students. Check your Parent Portal frequently to make sure your child has adequate funds for the cafeteria. You may also find the Parent Portal app (for Apple or Android) to be more convenient.
Westchester Elementary School
Who to Contact: Please see who the best contact is for your questions for a quicker response.
Website: https://westchester.csdecatur.net/
Location: 758 Scott Boulevard, Decatur, GA, USA
Phone: 404-370-4400
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westchesterelementarycsd