F.Ave Falcon Flyer

F.Ave Families,

Welcome back! I am beyond excited to kick off what is sure to be an incredible school year with each of you. To our returning families, thank you for being such an important part of the F.Ave community. To those joining us for the first time, welcome to what we proudly believe is the best school in the world! We are thrilled to have you as part of our family.

It has been a wonderful first few days back on the Ave! Thank you for your support and trust as we welcome all our Falcons back to the building.

This newsletter contains several important updates and reminders to help your family prepare for a successful start to the school year, so please take a few moments to read through it carefully. We are looking forward to an amazing year of learning, growth, and unforgettable experiences. See you soon!

Derrick L. Thomas, Principal

Fifth Avenue Upper Elementary School

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.

We want to invite all parents to our Fall Curriculum Night, scheduled for Tuesday, August 26, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. We hope you'll join us!

Open to all 4th & 5th Graders: The F.AVE Chorus is for students that want to become better singers and make even more music with their fellow Falcons. All 5th graders who sign up will be a part of the chorus. 4th graders will be entered into a lottery due to limited spots. The form to sign up is now open and will close on Tuesday, August 18th. The results of the 4th grade lottery will be sent out by email on Friday, August 21st. Chorus meets every Tuesday from 2:30-3:15pm and goes until the beginning of May. If you have any questions about chorus, please direct them to Mr. Mann by emailing favechorus@gmail.com

Sign Up is now open:

Chorus Sign Up Form

Each season, Girls on the Run creates a safe and fun place for girls of all abilities to make new friends, new healthy habits and new memories. Registration for the fall Girls on the Run season is now open! If you or someone you know has a girl interested in participating in the fall season, lottery registration is open through 11:59 pm on Thursday, August 27. The lottery will run on August 28 and reopen for teams that did not fill at 3 pm. Registration will remain open for teams with open spots through September 24.

Practice begins the week of September 14 and will be Monday and Wednesdays from 2:30-4:00 PM

Just select F.Ave Elementary during registration to register for our site. Learn more and register at www.girlsontherunga.org/programs for the fall season today!

Decatur Robotics is hosting a Robotics Info Night on Tuesday, August 11, from 6–7 p.m. at the Decatur High School Library, for parents in Talley, F. Ave, and BHMS. Please click the link for more information.

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.

The Fifth Avenue Upper Elementary School Leadership Team (SLT) is an elected committee of Fifth Avenue's parents/guardians, staff members, and other personnel. The SLT focuses on school governance, student achievement, and family engagement. Some of the responsibilities of this team are:

● Serve on interview teams

● Develop, approve, and monitor the continuous school improvement planning process

● Review assessment data and use it for decision-making purposes

● Review and approve changes to its bylaws

● Recommend school needs to the CSD Board of Education during the annual budget process

SLT members are elected to their positions, except for appointed positions. Parents may attend to present an idea/concern at SLT work sessions. SLT meetings are open, and stakeholders are welcome to attend (look for dates on the school's web page).

To vote in the SLT election, you must be a parent/guardian of a F.Ave student. If you are interested in joining the SLT, please submit a candidate statement with biographical information and a paragraph explaining why you want to be an SLT member to Mr. Thomas (dthomas@csdecatur.net) by Sunday, August 9, 2026. Each family will receive one vote per enrolled student. Remember that the most essential requirement of an SLT member is to have an honest desire to contribute to the educational experience and learning of all children at Fifth Avenue Upper Elementary School.

Details:

● All candidate statements are due August 9 to Mr. Thomas.

● All candidate statements will be published on the F.Ave webpage and the school's social media.

● Elections will take place during the week of August 16-19. The school will send a Google form on the morning of August 11.

Fifth Avenue Upper Elementary has openings for two parent representatives for the 26-27 school year. The first meeting of the year with the new representatives will be in September.

To ensure all students in City Schools of Decatur receive the resources and support they need, the Georgia Department of Education requires districts to collect the Migrant Education Program (MEP) Occupational Survey.

• Purpose: This brief survey helps identify students who may qualify for extra educational programs and supplemental support services.

• One Form Per Household: To make this process quick and simple for families, you can list all of your enrolled CSD students on a single form—there is no need to fill out a separate form for each child or school!

Please complete the survey in your child's communication folder and return the form to your child's homeroom teacher. Thank you for partnering with us to support every student in our district!

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

Email: masika.nyaku@csdecatur.net

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