College Heights Connection

Dear Families,

We have an exciting few weeks ahead of us starting with the kick off of the PTO Read-To-Me-a-Thon on October 22. Our goal is 100% participation. Literacy week starts October 27. We have a lot of fun events planned throughout the week to celebrate our love of literacy. Read below for more details, and be sure to check your teacher's newsletters for classroom specific activities and how you can become involved.

We have two family engagement opportunities coming up. On Monday, October 27, please join us for Family Literacy Night from 6-7 p.m. On Friday, October 31, at 9:30 a.m. we will have our annual Book Parade in the front parking lot. We do kindly ask parents to stand along the grassy areas of the parking lot so that we can reserve the sidewalk for the students and teachers. Immediately following the parade we will be announcing our PTO Read-To-Me-a-Thon winners, so be sure to stick around!

Lastly, just a reminder the school is closed on November 4 for a district professional learning day.

Have a great weekend,

Principal Garland

October 22 - Pre-K Early Release Day (12:15 p.m.)

October 22-29 - Adventure Awaits With Reading Read-To-Me-A-Thon sponsored by PTO

October 24 - PTO Trunk or Treat and Movie Night

October 27-31 - College Heights Literacy Week and Scholastic Book Fair

October 27 - Family Literacy Night 6:00-7:00 p.m.

October 31 - Book Parade (9:30 a.m.)

November 4 - CSD Digital Learning Day - NO SCHOOL (0-3 and Pre-K)

November 24-28 - Thanksgiving Break (Pre-K)

November 26 - School Closes at Noon (0-3)

November 27-28 - Thanksgiving Break (0-3)

Adventure Awaits with Reading: help College Heights with books and enrichment programs!

Each year, the annual College Heights Read-To-Me-A-Thon encourages parents to read with their children and promotes childhood literacy while supporting student enrichment programs, a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Book Cart, Field Day and Spanish, and Teacher/Staff Appreciation and Professional Development!

Read-To-Me-A-Thon dates: October 22-29, 2025

Help us reach 100% participation!

REGISTER YOUR READER TODAY & START GETTING SPONSORS! Click here to get started!

Click here to sign up to host a trunk or volunteer at the event!

Join us in celebrating all things early literacy from October 27-31! We have a fun-filled week of activities for all ages, with many opportunities for families to participate.

Monday, 10/27-Friday, 10/31 - Scholastic Book Fair

7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. daily

6:00-7:00 p.m. during Family Literacy Night

Monday, 10/27 - Family Literacy Night

6:00-7:00 p.m.

Bring the whole family and enjoy fun literacy activities like games, storytime, a photo booth, and much more. Stations will be set up in the cafeteria and around the school. It's a great way to get to know other families here at College Heights.

Tuesday, 10/28 - Mystery Reader Flash Mob

Look for information from your child's teacher about signing up for a slot to come and read to the class. Families are encouraged to bring a favorite book to share.

Wednesday, 10/29 - Read to Your Stuffie

Students can bring a special stuffed animal and a favorite book to school.

Thursday, 10/30 - Get Cozy and Read and Guest Readers

Students and teachers will wear PJs and have a comfy day to enjoy some reading.

Toddler classes will enjoy meeting some special guest readers from the community.

Friday, 10/31 - Book Parade and Read-To-Me-A-Thon winners announced (9:30 a.m.)

This is a can't-miss school-wide event! Come cheer on our students as they proudly parade in front of the school to celebrate some of their favorite books, and stick around after to hear the individual and classroom winners of the PTO Read-To-Me-A-Thon.

See photos from last year's Book Parade below.

The College Heights staff is honoring breast cancer awareness during the month of October. There are several opportunities for families to support our efforts:

• Staff raffle: Purchase a raffle ticket for $5 for your child's teacher(s) or any other College Heights staff. With each ticket the staff member will receive a raffle ticket to win a fitness tracker. Just check in at the front desk and purchase a ticket starting Monday, October 6. All funds raised will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Greater Atlanta Chapter.

• Hat and scarf/head wrap drive: Many chemo patients are in need of hats and scarves/head wraps for the winter months. We are asking families and staff to consider donating new hats and head wraps/scarves to be donated directly to the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory. A donation box will be located in the front lobby.

• Pink Tree: Our "pink tree" will be set up in the front lobby for staff and families to tie a pink ribbon in honor of a loved one who has been impacted by breast cancer. You will also receive a ribbon to wear yourself.

Pink out! Wear all pink on Thursday, October 30.

Two-year-olds are a lively bunch, so when you walk by room 126, you will see these students dancing, playing dress-up, reading, painting, sharing, and learning with joy and enthusiasm under the loving guidance of lead teacher Tori Tate and assistant teachers Daviya Jones and the newest member of the team, Maddie Brasher.

Tori is from Atlanta and enjoys traveling and languages in her spare time. She actually taught in China for four years prior to coming to College Heights. Daviya is originally from California and in her spare time her interests include collecting vintage items, hiking, and tattoos, though as a mom of 10, including twin infants, she probably doesn't get enough time to herself! Maddie just joined the team in 126 and is enjoying getting to know the students and families. She is an Atlanta native and spends her time at church and with her "kids" at home - her dogs and cats! Her fun fact: she wrote three kids books while in college.

Thank you, Tori, Daviya, and Maddie, for all you do for the College Heights school family!

College Heights students were treated to two guest readers this week. Ms. Ramirez's class met Mr. Joey Charles from Georgia Power, who visited College Heights through Georgia Power's partnership with DECAL and Voices for Georgia’s Children to celebrate Georgia Reads month. Mr. Charles had a student in Pre-K at College Heights back in 2010, and he read Johnny Lion's Rubber Boots, which was the original copy of one of his childhood favorite books.

Several classes enjoyed meeting Katrina Smith-Paggett, Metro RESA Literacy Specialist, through Georgia Reads month. She read to several classes (Ms. B, Ms. Collins, Ms. Jones, Ms. Asia, and Mr. Peyton). Before her visit, she wrote: "I am so excited to come and read to the scholars of College Heights! The goal of the initiative is to foster the love of reading while ensuring students are using oral language to engage before, during, and after the read aloud."

Pre-K students enjoyed their visit with author Dan Gemeinhart last Friday morning. His lively and interactive presentation included a reading of his newest picture book, The Gingerbread Monster. Thank you to all the families who purchased a signed copy of this book; a portion of the proceeds benefits College Heights. We hope you enjoy the book, especially during this spooky season! See photos below.

And speaking of spooky, Pre-K students heard two Halloween tales on Monday: Stumpkin by Lucy Ruth Cummins, and Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler. Ask your student about Mr. Bones, our newest library resident!

Just a reminder that we have a cart full of wonderful DEI books that are available to you any time. It's just across from Ms. Caretha's desk. There is a self-checkout notebook on the top shelf of the cart. Select the books you would like, write the information in the notebook, and take them home for two weeks to enjoy with your family.

This week's 0-3 books:

Stumpkin by Lucy Ruth Cummins

Five Little Pumpkins by Iris van Rynbach

Pete the Cat Falling for Autumn by Kimberly and James Dean

If You're a Monster and You Know It by Rebecca Emberley and Ed Emberley

Dog's Colorful Day by Emma Dodd

Read the October 16, 2025, issue of CSD Weekly, the district-wide newsletter.

Today, Superintendent Dr. Gyimah Whitaker sent a letter to all families via email to inform the City Schools of Decatur community that the CSD 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 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. More information and additional language translations of the letter are available on the K-2 School Consolidation & Redistricting Process webpage.

CSD families are invited to upcoming public hearings for feedback on the K-2 School Consolidation and Redistricting Process:

• 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

While we encourage everyone to attend the public input hearings, please also consider submitting your feedback via this feedback form.

RECENTLY UPDATED: click the image below to RSVP.

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.

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.