College Heights Connection

Dear Families,

It's been another busy week here at College Heights. It's hard to believe that we are completing our seventh week of school. Now that students are comfortable with routines and procedures, we are seeing them enter the school each morning confident, excited, and ready to learn.

School is closed for Fall Break next week for our students enrolled in the Pre-K and preschool special education programs. I hope you enjoy your week!

Finally, please be sure to save October 30 at 9:30 a.m. for our annual Book Parade. The Book Parade caps off Literacy Week (October 26-30) and is truly one of the cutest traditions in the district. Details coming soon.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Sarah Garland

Principal, College Heights Early Childhood Learning Center

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

October 5-9 - Georgia Pre-K Week (details coming soon!)

October 5-9 - School Pictures

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

October 21-30 - Read-To-Me-A-Thon sponsored by PTO

October 26-30 - Literacy Week

October 28 - Early Release Day (Pre-K only)

October 30 - Annual Book Parade, 9:30 a.m.

November 3 - Teacher Workday (school closed for 0-3 and Pre-K students)

Links to 2026-27 CSD district calendars:

0-3

Pre-K

Say cheese! Individual school pictures will take place the week of October 5-9. Our photographer is the very talented Melle Houston, and she is excited to take photos of our adorable College Heights chicks. Please see the framed display of Melle's photos across the hall from room 159. Order forms for photos will go out in plenty of time to order prints for the holidays. The schedule with each classroom's photo day is below; families with students in 116 and 117, please see the note below.

Melle is looking for volunteers to assist with photos that week. If you are available to help coax smiles out of our little ones and help keep the process flowing smoothly, please reach out to her directly at hello@mellehouston.com.

Monday, October 5

Ms. Asia - Older Ones (Room 131)

Ms. Jones - Pre-K (Cottage D)

Ms. B - Preschool (Room 157)

Tuesday, October 6

TBD - Younger Ones (Room 118)

Ms. Sela - Preschool (Room 121)

Ms. Phillips - Pre-K (Room 140)

Ms. Thomas - Pre-K (Cottage A)

Wednesday, October 7

Ms. Bauer - Pre-K (Room 146)

Mr. Peyton - Younger Twos (Room 128)

Ms. Tori - Older Twos (Room 126)

Ms. Ramirez - Pre-K (Cottage C)

Thursday, October 8

Ms. Collins - Pre-K (Room 141)

Ms. Ballard - Pre-K (Room 138)

Ms. Rahfiya - Preschool (Room 159)

Ms. Sanders - Pre-K (Room 143)

Friday, October 9

Makeups and infants*

*Families with students in the two infant classrooms, please send a photo outfit in your child's diaper bag on Monday, October 5. To accommodate nap and feeding schedules, infant photos will be taken throughout the week and on Friday.

Pre-K field trips are coming up soon! Please consider helping as a chaperone.

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.
  

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

Pre-K celebrated International Dot Day on Monday, which was inspired by Peter H. Reynolds' beloved book, The Dot. The Dot tells the story of a girl named Vashti who doubts her abilities, but with a little encouragement from her teacher, learns that she can indeed make her mark and share her newfound confidence with others. We also began our discussion of how to care for library books with the very funny Read it, Don't Eat It, by Ian Schoenherr.

Library classes will resume on Monday, September 28 due to Fall Break. Families of 0-3 students, please feel free to browse and select books for your students while I am gone next week. Use the clipboard across from the circulation desk to write down your name, the date, and the titles and barcodes for the books you select (limit five, please).

This week's books for one-, two-, and three-year-old classes:

Froodle by Antoinette Portis

Where Are My Books? by Debbie Ridpath Ohi

Pete the Cat's Wacky Taco Tuesday by Kimberly and James Dean

Trucks Galore by Peter Stein, illustrated by Bob Staake

Dog's Colorful Day by Emma Dodd

Work hard, play hard! Ms. Jones' Pre-K class was all smiles as they enjoyed some playground time on Wednesday morning.

The Milk Drive ends Friday. Thank you for your support!

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

Join us for treats and fun at this year’s annual College Heights trunk or treat and movie night. We’ll have face painting, trick or treating, an order-ahead dinner option, a car decoration contest with prizes, and a spooky-cute film!

Volunteers for the trunk or treat can sign up here or scan the code on the flyer.

If you want to volunteer your trunk but cost is a barrier, please sign up and email CollegeHeightsPTOpresident@gmail.com.

Two more garden clean up dates have been added for this fall. Sign up for one or both (9/26 and 10/18).

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094CACAA28A2F5C16-65908437-garden

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

• 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

• TBD - two additional garden clean up days

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.