College Heights Connection

Dear Families,

You can feel the anticipation in the air at College Heights. Fall is here, along with a host of exciting fall activities. Our Read-To-Me-A-Thon officially kicked off yesterday, and families are already starting to log their reading minutes. Next week is Literacy Week, which is bookended by Family Reading Night on Monday from 6-7 p.m. and the Book Parade on Friday at 9:30 a.m. See below for details on next week's school and PTO events.

Just a reminder, Wednesday is an early release day for Pre-K students.

We can't wait to see you next week to celebrate early literacy and our wonderful school community. Thank you for your support.

Have a great weekend,

Principal Garland

College Heights Early Childhood Learning Center

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

October 26 - Family Literacy Night, 6-7 p.m.

October 26-30 - Literacy Week

October 26-30 - Scholastic Book Fair

October 26-30 - College Heights Literacy Week Spirit Week (see details below)

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)

November 6 - Parent Coffee Chat on Baby Doll Circle Time (see details below)

November 23-27 - Thanksgiving Break (Pre-K only)

November 25 - School closes at noon (0-3 only)

November 26-27 - Thanksgiving Break (0-3 only)

Links to 2026-27 CSD district calendars:

0-3

Pre-K

You won't want to miss one of our favorite weeks of the year: Literacy Week! We celebrate early literacy through a fun-filled, action-packed week of activities. We hope you will join us on Monday, October 26 from 6-7:00 p.m. for Family Literacy Night, which features over 13 different stations and activities for families to enjoy together. The Mystery Reader Flash Mob on Tuesday is always fun; make sure you're signed up with your classroom teacher. And finally, Friday morning's Book Parade is a can't-miss event. We are so excited to see you at as many activities as you can make. Thank you for supporting Literacy Week.

When: Friday, November 6, 8:00-9:00 a.m.

Where: College Heights library

Led by: Asia Sylvest, Yolanda Jenkins, and Tori Tate

All children attending Georgia’s Pre-K Program must have a Certificate of Vision, Hearing, Dental, and Nutrition Screening (Georgia Department of Public Health Form 3300) within the first 90 days of their enrollment. The vision, hearing, dental, and nutrition portions must all be completed. A completed form includes a checked box and screener’s signature in each section.

Any student who started on August 3 must have a completed certificate on-site by November 2 (the end of the 90-calendar-day grace period).

• If a completed certificate is not provided by November 2: The student may not return to the program until the completed certificate is on-site.

• Exception: If a family presents a valid appointment card for an upcoming Form 3300 appointment prior to the deadline, the child may remain in the program through the date of that appointment.

Form 3300 is intended to ensure that every child in Georgia is screened for potential problems with their vision, hearing, teeth, and nutrition. If the form 3300 is marked Needs Further Professional Examination, families should be asked to take the child to a professional for a more detailed evaluation. Families should provide documentation indicating their follow-up efforts.

Please contact Cynthia Andrews with questions.

Get ready for some book fair magic! The fall Scholastic Book Fair starts Monday, October 26 at 7:30 a.m. We need volunteers! Please see signup below. Here are some common FAQs to ensure a great book fair experience for all:

When is the book fair open?

The fair is open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. It will be open from 6-7 p.m. on Monday, October 26 during Family Literacy Night, and also from 3:30-6:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 29. The fair will close during the Book Parade on Friday, October 30, but will be open before and after.

Will my child browse the book fair with their class?

Classes do not browse the fall fair (Pre-K and Preschool will in the spring), so we encourage you to come with your child at a time that is convenient for you.

How can I support my child's teacher through the book fair?

Teachers will make wish lists of book fair books they might like to add to their classroom libraries. Look for the teacher wish list display in the library. This is totally optional but very much appreciated.

How can I support students who might need help to get a book from the fair?

There are two ways we do this. By rounding up your purchase, you contribute to a fund called Share the Fair that allows us to buy books for students who might not otherwise be able to participate. Our very generous PTO also contributes to this fund.

What payment methods are accepted?

Credit/debit cards (including tap with phone), cash, and checks made out to College Heights ECLC are accepted.

How does eWallet work?

Families can choose to create an eWallet for their child. You can also invite others to contribute to your child's eWallet. For example, Rebecca's family creates her eWallet with $25. Her grandparents also contribute $25. Rebecca's family can shop for books together and pay using her eWallet, or Mrs. Joiner can bring her to the library to shop during the school day. Families do not have to create an eWallet, but it is helpful if you are unable to shop in person. Any leftover funds in eWallets can be used for online purchases, donated to Share the Fair, or carried over to be used in the future.

What if the fair sells out of the book my child really wants?

The online Scholastic Book Fair is available from October 23 through November 5. The online fair is also a good option if you are not able to shop in person. Plus, the online site has many more book options than what is available at the fair. Think birthdays, holiday gifts, etc.!

Do you need volunteers?

YES! We can't do this without volunteers. It's a quick one-hour shift. Click here to sign up.

How much money does College Heights receive from the book fair, and how is it used?

Scholastic returns 25 percent of gross sales back to the school, which is pretty standard among book fairs. We typically use the funds to upgrade furnishings and supplies for our 0-3 classrooms.

For more information, click here for the College Heights Scholastic Book Fair website, or email Mrs. Joiner.

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

Read-To-Me-A-Thon reading logs are now live! We are a little over halfway to our fundraising goal of $19,181 and have collectively read 1,195 minutes! With less than a week of reading left, we need your help to reach our fundraising goal and get 100% reader participation! Check out the current leaderboards, below!

If you haven’t registered, it’s not too late! Click here to get started. Once registered, you can send personalized requests to friends and family to sponsor your reader. Please know that donating is not required to participate.

After getting pledges/sponsors, read with your child and log “Reading Minutes” every day from October 21 to 28 on your child’s personal online reading log. It’s never too early to start reading. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, “children who are read to during infancy and preschool years have better language skills when they start school and are more interested in reading.” Then join us at the Book Parade on October 30 to celebrate the winners.

Send us a picture of your child getting ready for the Read-To-Me-A-Thon with their favorite book! We’ll be sharing some throughout the event. Email photos or any questions to: hannah.s.mclean1@gmail.com

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

A Season of Giving is a neighbor-led effort bringing holiday joy to our local children and seniors through personalized gifts.

⏳ Apply for Gift Assistance — Deadline: October 31

We're thrilled to support kids through 12th grade again this year!

Want to Give Back?
🌟 Sponsor – Choose a wish list and shop for a child or senior.
💝 Donate – Let us do the shopping with your contribution.
🙌 Volunteer – Lend a hand and help spread the joy!

❓ Questions? Email us at aseasonofgivingdecatur@gmail.com

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.