F.Ave Falcon Flyer

F.Ave Families,

The "Who do I contact?" question comes up a lot. For most questions, your child's teacher is your best first point of contact. If you need assistance from another specialist, such as our Media Specialist, Bookkeeper, or Administration, you can find direct contact information for our entire team by clicking the following link: Who Do I Contact?

Derrick L. Thomas, Principal

Fifth Avenue Upper Elementary School

Our next Chat will be held on Friday, September 18, 2026, at 8:00 a.m., with a focus on “EdTech Balance."

Each fall semester, the gifted review team reviews existing student data to discuss students’ needs and to determine whether further evaluation for gifted identification is needed. If you are interested in having the team discuss your child’s needs, please complete a Recommendation for Review Form by Wednesday, September 30. No additional information is needed.

The Gifted & Talented Specialists for FAVE are Jennifer Broman-Fulks, Edwin Ellis, Stephanie Tolentino, and Charee Waugh. For more detailed information about the review process, please contact the FAVE Gifted & Talented Specialists at jbroman-fulks@csdecatur.net, edellis@csdecatur.net, stolentino@csdecatur.net, or cwaugh@csdecatur.net or visit our website’s FAQ page.

One flock, one flight, Falcons Parents Unite! Parents: Get ready for our very first Cast Blast of the school year on September 11! Did you know a group of Falcons is called a cast? That’s why we call it Cast Blast!

You can think of Cast Blast as FAVE’s version of Community Circle. It’s our special time to come together as a school community to celebrate student learning, sing our IB song, and recognize our outstanding staff and students. After we celebrate as a grade level in the MultiPurpose Room, classes will rotate through activity-based stations directly connected to our most recent IB Unit of Inquiry.

Parents - when you arrive, you may enter through the MPR (multipurpose room) door in the U-Shape Parking lot. Mark your calendars—we can't wait to see our Falcon family there! Rise up!

4th Grade 8:00 - 8:50

5th Grade: 8:40 - 9:30

3rd Grade: 9:35 - 10:25

Is your student interested in joining the Superintendent's Student Advisory Council? It is designed as a two-way system of communication between students and the Office of the Superintendent. Students on the council are asked to share their perspectives and experiences with the Superintendent on a variety of issues. Students are also asked to attend each meeting (see dates below). Meetings will be held at the Wilson Center after school in the Superintendent's Office.

Purpose & Commitment: Elementary (K-5) Student Council: The Elementary (K-5) Superintendent's Student Council will be made up of two students from each lower elementary (K-2) school and two students from each upper elementary (3-5) school. The K-5 student council will meet at the Wilson Center from 3:15 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. on the following dates:

• Tuesday, September 29, 2026

• Tuesday, December 1, 2026

• Tuesday, January 19, 2027

• Tuesday, March 16, 2027

• Tuesday, May 4, 2027

Click the following link to apply: 2026-2027 Superintendent's Student Advisory Council.

FAVE is excited to introduce the FAVE Birthday Book Program. It allows you to both honor your child on their birthday and help our library collection continue to grow! To honor your child with a birthday book, please submit a payment of $20 through the PTO site or a check made out to "F.AVE PTO" with "Birthday Book" as the memo, and complete the form linked here. All forms and payments must be received by Friday, September 11.

After your donation is received, your child will select a book during their birthday month (if your child had a birthday this past July or August, we will celebrate them in September; June birthdays will be celebrated in May). This book will be added to our library catalog and will feature your student's name, their birthday, and a dedication bookplate with a message of your choice.

Your child will keep the book for 2 weeks before returning it to the library. Thank you for your support of our school library!

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 (exploring with a small group of students) or supervising students without a staff member present. Background checks must be renewed every 12 months.

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 Thomas.

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

CSD has opened a survey to examine the priorities of Pre-K families in Decatur, including location, transportation, and changing community needs. All families and community members are invited to take the survey, regardless of their children's ages.

School principals recommended parents from their respective schools to participate in a working group to assist CSD in determining how best to engage with families, staff, and the broader community about Pre-K accessibility, and how to use community feedback to inform decisions about potential Pre-K locations. This survey is the committee's first community touch point.

The committee will use survey feedback data to define the community's values and priorities regarding any potential changes to Pre-K locations. The data will be used to make a recommendation to the Board of Education at the December board meeting. Data results will be posted. Community members can follow along and view upcoming survey findings, insights, and decision outcomes directly on the Pre-K Access Project webpage.

Please take the survey here through September 16:

English: https://tally.so/r/jaA2Y4

Spanish: https://tally.so/r/jaAY5R

Somali: https://tally.so/r/VLOAaj

Dari: https://tally.so/r/J9vZOz

F.AVE Community for the win!

Thanks to all who participated in last Thursday’s Dine Out at Paolino Italian Restaurant! The PTO received a check for $295! Thank you for supporting our school and stay tuned for the next Dine Out night.

Get Ready to Walk & Roll! Our first Walk & Roll of the school year is Wednesday, September 9! Start the year with some fresh air, friendly faces and a fun trip to school. And remember: whether you’re walking, biking or scooting, sharing the road—being kind to your fellow travelers is always in style!

Students should get ready to tear those raffle tickets in two to compete for prizes and be on the lookout for the Golden Shoe Award. If you are interested in opportunities to volunteer with Walk & Roll or info about joining or starting a Bike Bus, please email Jill Wandstrat at jillwandstrat@gmail.com.

Join us - virtually - on Wednesday, September 16th from 6:30-7:30PM for our second PTO meeting of the school year! Hear from your PTO Board about everything happening around F.AVE — upcoming events, how to get involved, and ways we're supporting our teachers and students. All are welcome. CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE MEETING

We're delighted to share that Addison Hill Photo is returning as our partner for this year's fall fundraiser! Mark your calendars and get ready to capture the magic of the season. Family Mini Sessions will be offered throughout October, creating the perfect opportunity to preserve special moments with the ones you love.

Want first dibs? Spots for mini sessions are limited and fill up fast. Get on our Early Access list and we'll email you before registration opens to the general newsletter list — First Dibs Sign-Up

Watch upcoming newsletters for more details and official registration dates—and start practicing those picture-perfect smiles!

Join Decatur’s community-wide Diwali celebration on Sunday, October 25 (12-3 PM at Ebster Recreation Center)! Enjoy performances, local food vendors, and activities for all ages. This event is brought to you by SACHA, a new nonprofit started by CSD parents. Learn more, support, and RSVP on our website sacha-atl.org.

Email: masika.nyaku@csdecatur.net

Website: https://fave.csdecatur.net/
Location: 101 5th Avenue, Decatur, GA 30030
Phone: (404) 371-6680