Weekly Update
November 20, 2025
Dear Winnona Park Families,
Just a quick note to give thanks to all students, staff, and families this holiday season. I do not take it for granted that I work at such a great school with hard-working and intelligent staff, and funny kids, supported by caring and giving parents. I appreciate each and every one of you, and hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Sincerely,
Greg Wiseman
Principal, Winnona Park Elementary School
Important Dates
Friday, November 21 - Community Circle - Second Grade Families
November 24 - 28 - Thanksgiving Break - No School
Thursday, December 4 - School picture retakes
Friday, December 5 - Community Circle - Kindergarten Families
Wednesday, December 10 - Walk and Roll to School
Friday, December 12 - Community Circle - First Grade Families
Friday, December 19 - Early Release Day(12:50 PM); No Community Circle
Monday, December 22 - Monday, January 5, 2026 - No School for Students
Thank you for Yesterday's Lunch
Thanks to Ms. McElveen and Ms. Lambert's classes and Aleppo Kitchen for the yummy lunch!
Thank you to Everyone who Donated Items for the D.E.A.M. Food Drive.
Winnona Park and Beacon Hill Links students collaborated to create 136 lunch bags. The lunch bags, plus the additional donations, totaled up to 490 pounds of food! We appreciate our community being so generous in order to help those in need!
School Picture Retakes
For students who were absent for picture day on October 16, their photos will be taken Thursday, December 4.
Winter Mid-Year Assessment Window Opens After Break
The window to complete our mid-year Universal Screeners opens December 1 and closes on December 12. The first week back from break, most students will complete Encoding, Rapid Color Naming, and Passage Oral Reading (for most 1st & 2nd graders only). The week after, all students will complete the STAR Reading/Early Literacy and Math assessments.
A Note from Dr. Hicks about Career Education Lessons at Winnona Park
CSD has launched a K-12 initiative to enhance student awareness of a diverse range of careers and increase student career readiness. Please click here to read more details.
Community Member Newsletter Sign-up
Parents will automatically receive CSD Weekly, which includes their child's school newsletter, via the email address they registered in the CSD parent portal. Interested community members, or extended family, may sign up for the CSD Weekly by clicking here.
Please note that when you sign up as a 'community member,' even though the form below asks for your phone number, you will not receive text messages or phone calls.
District News
Following two public meetings and community feedback regarding the timeline and public engagement, the Board of Education has decided to reassess and amend the K-2 School Consolidation and Redistricting Process. This revision was discussed during the work session of the board meeting on November 11, leading to a new name: the K-2 School Utilization Process.
During a board retreat on Tuesday, November 18, the board agreed to proceed with the administration's recommendation that any decisions regarding the K-2 School Utilization Process will not impact the 2026-2027 school year. At the community's request, the board emphasized that the central need is to balance K-2 schools by evaluating total enrollment figures, building usage, and staffing resources, all while ensuring fiscal responsibility and honoring the unique culture of Decatur's small, neighborhood schools. Furthermore, the board emphasized that there is no connection between the K-2 Utilization Process and the new Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC).
Starting in January, four previously proposed community-led committees will convene to explore the next phase and collaboratively create thoughtful, community-centered solutions for our K–2 schools. During their meeting on December 9, the board will continue discussions regarding the scope of work, criteria, and parameters that will guide the committees’ efforts. This clarity will enable all committees and working groups to embark on the next phase with a unified foundation.
All board meeting recordings are available on the CSD website. Community members can view these recordings at their convenience and may focus specifically on sections related to K-2 School Utilization to hear the complete board discussion.
Thank you again for your partnership, commitment, and engagement as we strive to support every child and strengthen every school within City Schools of Decatur. We look forward to continuing this collaborative effort to co-create solutions that are student-centered, fiscally responsible, and aligned with our community's values.
From our Fabulous WP PTA
Stay connected with upcoming events: https://www.wpespta.org/
Find us on:
Thanksgiving Donation Drive
As part of this Friday’s Thanksgiving Luncheon, Winnona Park Elementary is gathering support for families in our community who could use a little extra help this season. The PTA is collecting monetary donations and will use all contributions to purchase canned goods and essential items for local families.
If you’d like to take part, you can donate through the PTA website. Every contribution strengthens our community and ensures more families feel supported during the holiday season.
Learn more or donate at: www.wpespta.org/thanksgiving
You’re ordering holiday cards anyway — make it count for Winnona Park
Order your cards, gifts, and décor from Minted.com and use code FUNDRAISEWINNONA at checkout. You’ll get 20% off, and 15% of every order goes right back to support Winnona Park Elementary! A beautiful way to celebrate the season and support our kids.
Shop: Cards | Gifts | Décor
Use code: FUNDRAISEWINNONA
www.minted.com
Winnona Park Yearbook: Candid Photos
The Winnona Park Yearbook Committee wants to see all you've been doing in school this year! Please email photos of your Wildcats in action to yearbook@wpespta.org. We love photos of school events, field trips, and school work! Important: Please include student names and teacher/grade in your email if known.
Dancing Wildcats Tee — Now in New Colors!
Our popular Dancing Wildcats tee (a playful nod to the Grateful Dead) just got a refresh. We now have white shirts for adults and purple shirts for kids—perfect for Friday Community Circles, field trips, and community events. Limited quantities available in youth and adult sizes while supplies last.
Shop now: https://www.wpespta.org/spirit-wear
Proceeds support WP PTA programs—thank you for showing your Wildcat pride!
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.