Wildcat Weekly

Dear Wildcat Families and Crew Members,

We'd like to send a special thank you to our guest readers who helped us celebrate CSD Reads & Dyslexia Awareness Week. Our guest readers included Wilson Center representatives from many departments, including Student Support Services, Finance, Facilities, and more! To continue our focus on reading, we are revving up for our annual Read-a-Thon. Please read the blurb below. Physical materials and instructions will come home on October 15.

This Friday, Community Circle will be for Kindergarten families only. We appreciate your help as we model respectful audience behavior. When families avoid side conversations and limit their engagement with their child (beyond blowing kisses, winking, or waving), it helps us maintain student engagement.

Today, Dr. Lindsey Hicks, our counselor, hosted another Coffee Chat to review details about the BASC-3 BESS screener and how WP uses it to identify students who may benefit from additional behavioral, social-emotional, or wellness support. You can review the slides HERE.

We will host the second SLT meeting virtually on October 13 from 5-6 p.m. The link for the meeting is SLT Meeting is https://meet.google.com/jgm-zmsb-kgz or dial: ‪(US) +1 614-782-1663‬ PIN: ‪623 443 271‬#

Enjoy the cooler weather. We know that Georgia has a way of sneaking in a second summer before we get a little fall!

With gratitude and Wildcat pride,

Meagan Ferguson

Principal, Winnona Park Elementary School

• Friday, October 9th - Community Circle - Kindergarten Families
• Monday, October 12th - Teacher Work Day; No School for students AND PTA Meeting at 5:30 PM in the Library
• Wednesday, October 14th - Walk and Roll to School

• Friday, October 16th - School Pictures (individual and group) with Lifetouch AND Community Circle - First grade families AND Pizza on the Playground: Book Swap AND Read-A-Thon Kickoff Friday at Pizza on the Playground (5:30 PM)

• Friday, October 16th - Friday, October 23rd - Reading Racetrack Read-A-Thon . Get a head start and sign up to participate and start soliciting support at https://app.givebacks.gives/wpreading2026 TODAY! See the PTA section below for more details.

• Friday, October 23rd - Community Circle - Second Grade Families AND Read-a-Thon Coffee Cart presented by Tara Pesta of Keller Knapp Realty from 7-9 AM.

• Wednesday, October 28th - Early release Day. Students dismissed at 12:50 PM AND PTA Spirit Night at Raging Burrito and Jeni's Ice Cream

Winnona’s Race Into Reading Read-A-Thon runs October 16–23! This year, students complete 10 fun reading challenges instead of logging minutes. Every reader can participate and earn a prize!

• Read your way: Read independently, together or listen to stories. Complete challenges in any order.

• Check backpacks October 15: Check off challenges on your Reading Racetrack card. A grown-up logs completions in Givebacks by October 23.

• Sign up and share: Register through Givebacks and invite family and friends to support PTA programs.

• Earn prizes: Every finisher earns a prize. The class in each grade with the highest percentage of finishers earns a class reward.

Book Swap Kickoff: October 16 at Pizza on the Playground! Bring a book to swap for a new-to-you read.

Ready, set, READ!

DHS Acting and Decatur Performs present "The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, "a magical story about love, loss, friendship, and finding your way home.

Edward Tulane is a self-important china rabbit whose world changes when he’s separated from the little girl who loves him. As he travels from one home to another, Edward discovers the power of love, friendship, and having a heart. Based on Kate DiCamillo’s beloved book, this imaginative stage adaptation brings Edward’s journey to life with humor, heart, and magic. It's a beautiful adventure for audiences of all ages.

Dates: October 15-18

Location: Decatur High School Performing Arts Center
Tickets: On Sale Now! DecaturPerforms.org

For the 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday, October 17th, use promo code SAVE5 at checkout for $5 off up to two tickets! Bring the whole family and discover why sometimes the greatest journeys are the ones that change us.

Looking for easy, fun ways to support your child’s reading journey at home? Check out the Raising a Reader video series! Discover practical tips and strategies for grades K-3 from making library visits exciting to building reading comprehension through daily activities, word games, and cozy story times.

Watch the Raising a Reader Videos: Raising a Reader (K-3)

The City Schools of Decatur will administer the BASC-BESS Universal Screener from October 1–30, 2026. This brief screener helps schools identify students who may benefit from additional behavioral, social-emotional, or wellness support. The BASC-BESS is not a diagnostic assessment; it is one tool used to help us identify needs early and provide appropriate support.

We will begin Community Circle in September. We invite families of one grade level each week because our cafeteria is not large enough to accommodate everyone at once. Check the WP calendar to know which grade level will host families.

If you are attending Community Circle, please gather by the pond outside the cafeteria after morning drop-off. After students are seated, we will welcome parents into the cafeteria. We will review parent expectations once families enter the cafeteria. Below are some of the highlights:

• All parents enter and exit through the cafeteria door near the pond.

• Stand along the outside perimeter of the cafeteria. Please spread out.

• Younger siblings (if brought) stay with a parent. They may not sit with the WP sibling's class.

• Be present, sing along, and participate. Remember, we are modeling Community Circle norms for our students. Please refrain from holding side conversations or using phones. Of course, if you need to take a call, please feel free to step out for a moment.

• For everyone's safety and privacy, please do not post school activities on social media. Be especially mindful about taking pictures of students other than your child.

• To help teachers keep track of students and get back to learning, please avoid chatting with your child when the class is exiting. Of course, a quick wink or finger wave is always welcome.

Background checks are conducted at The Wilson Center, 125 Electric Avenue.

This is the link to schedule an appointment. https://calendar.app.google/du9yW1Gg8SV6pjGp8

This is the link to pay for your background check.

CSD Public Store or https://campus.csdecatur.org/campus/store/decatur

• Appointments open up 21 days out, meaning on the 1st, you can book as far out as the 21st.

• Appointments are generally scheduled on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, from 10 a.m.-noon.

• Appointments take approximately 10 minutes.

• Candidates need to bring a driver's license or state ID.

• There is a short form to be filled out (linked forms).

• Then info is submitted to GBI and results often come back within 24 hours.

Employees need a new background check every 5 years. Parents and volunteers need a new background check every year. Please email Jo Jameson with any further questions at jo.jameson@csdecatur.net

Note: If financial assistance is needed to cover the $38 background check fee, please reach out directly to your school.

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.

Clear out room in your closets for the new school year while giving back to Decatur High and keeping textiles out of local landfills!

• What to Donate: Used clothes, shoes, old hoodies, jeans, and household items.

• Where to Drop Off: The Clothes Bin located in the back lot near the corner of Commerce Dr. and West Howard Ave.

• Why: Support our school community and recycle with purpose!

Drop off your items anytime and help us fill the bin this school year!

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

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.