Weekly Update
Our Canine Friends During Morning Drop-Off
We're so glad to see so many of our families walking to school, and we love seeing your furry friends as you drop off your children. However, the number of dogs on the sidewalk in front of the school appears to have increased and has made the transition from home to school crowded along the sidewalk, and for our students who are afraid of dogs, a truly scary experience first thing in the morning.
The physical and emotional safety of your children is my primary responsibility. So I ask that if you bring your dog along for the walk, you are in complete control of it at all times, then move along quickly once you say goodbye to your kiddo. A big part of this doggie dilemma was the fact that we used to give out dog biscuits at morning drop-off. This practice has been discontinued.
Lastly, we want to remind everyone that for the safety of all students, staff, and our canine companions, dogs are not permitted on school grounds during morning drop-off. Please be sure to keep your pups on the sidewalk and off school property.
We appreciate your cooperation in helping to keep our campus a safe and welcoming place for everyone!
Riding the bus
Are you considering using our CSD bus service in the morning or afternoon? It's a great way to encourage independence for your child while reducing traffic around the city. And the best part is that we have the BEST bus driver ever – our beloved Mr. Curry. We always greet students in the morning and make sure everyone gets into the building. In the afternoon, we take attendance as students get on the bus. And if you have an emergency, Mr. Curry never leaves a student at the bus stop unless someone is there to pick them up. He will always bring students back to Winnona Park to be picked up. Please use these links for more information or to sign up. All students who ride the school bus must register here. Please visit CSD Transportation to view bus routes and other transportation information.
From Our Library
Beginning Monday, August 18th, first and second grade students will be able to come to the library after they get to class in the morning. This is in addition to their regularly scheduled library time. This gives students the opportunity to exchange books frequently as especially as they start to read more independently. Please ask your student about what they are reading, and read with them as often as possible. I will be providing more information about cultivating a reading culture in your home throughout the school year.
Visit the Winnona Park library's website to learn about our library, see plans for the new school year, and more.
Thursday is Newsletter Day
A school-wide 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. Our brand new website is live and is a great place to get information about our school. Here is a direct link to our school's calendar of events.
Families Invited to Webinar about CSD’s Balanced Assessment System
Families are invited to join a webinar on Wednesday, August 20 at 6 p.m. to discuss ELA standards, curriculum, and the CSD Balanced Assessment System, hosted by CSD's Teaching and Learning department.
We will share examples of how the standards have changed, information on cursive writing, and the new curriculum. We will also review how our Balanced Assessment System works, featuring interim assessments, STAR, and student reports. This is a great opportunity to learn more about what your child will be learning this year and how you can support them at home. Join webinar here. You will receive your student's most recent STAR testing reports in next week's Thursday folders.
Students Invited to Apply for Superintendent's Student Advisory Council
Superintendent Dr. Whitaker invites student leaders and interested students to apply for the Superintendent's Student Advisory Council. Councils are divided into age groups and invite student members to share their perspectives and experiences with the Superintendent on a variety of issues, offering a two-way system of communication between students and the Office of the Superintendent.
Students are also asked to attend each meeting (see dates below) at the Wilson Center after school in the Superintendent's Office. The deadline to apply is Friday, August 22, at 5 p.m. Selected students will be notified by Friday, August 29, 2025. Apply for the Superintendent's Student Advisory Council here.
About Us
Email: csikes@csdecatur.net
Website: https://ga02000365.schoolwires.net/site/Default.aspx?PageID=13
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.