College Heights Connection

Dear Families,

I just have a few reminders during this wonderful week of learning and growing here at College Heights. Safety is always on our minds. Thank you for helping keep our community safe by not propping or holding the door open when you are entering or leaving the building. As the weather gets cooler, please make sure to send your child with a light layer for outdoor play, and don't forget to put your child's name on everything you send to school.

Literacy Week is almost here. We are planning a fun-filled week of early literacy activities including two very important family engagement events: our Family Literacy Night on October 27 from 6:00-7:00 p.m. and our annual Book Parade on October 31 beginning at 9:30 a.m. in the front parking lot.

Have a great weekend,

Principal Garland

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

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)

As our Pre-K team begins to plan and schedule our classroom field trips, we want to make you aware of the district policy for any family member wishing to volunteer as a field trip chaperone. To ensure the safety of all students, City Schools of Decatur requires all volunteers and chaperones to have a current background check on file. This is especially important for anyone who will be with students without a staff member present.

How to get a background check:

• Schedule an appointment: Background checks are conducted at 2635 Talley Street, 2nd Floor. There is a $35 fee (cash or check made out to City Schools of Decatur) for the background check, and it must be turned in to the front desk at College Heights before you go for your background check. You can book an appointment using this link: https://calendar.app.google/du9yW1Gg8SV6pjGp8

• Important scheduling note: Appointments are typically available on Mondays and Wednesdays. You can schedule an appointment up to 21 days in advance.

• What to bring: Please bring your driver's license with you to your 10-minute appointment. You will also fill out a short form.

• Results: The information is submitted to the GBI, and results are often returned within 24 hours.

Please remember that a new background check is required each school year for all parents and volunteers. We appreciate your cooperation and support, and please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions.

College Heights congratulates Candace Jones-Boynton, who was recently awarded $400 for a Decatur Education Foundation (DEF) Teacher Innovation Grant. Candace submitted a Make College Heights Green proposal that focuses on recycling. Paul (pictured at left) was proud to wear his DEF sticker today. Look for more information to come on this great project.

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.

Visit room 143 and you will see Pre-K students working hard and having fun with their amazing teachers, Erika Sanders and Natalie Park. Students in this classroom show their learning in so many different ways, but make sure to take a look at the fantastic work on display outside the classroom (see below for a photo).

We are delighted to welcome Ms. Natalie to College Heights this year. She is originally from New Jersey but grew up in Kentucky and Georgia. Natalie loves baking, crocheting, and spending time with family and friends when she's not here at school, and something you may not know about her: she plays the trumpet!

Ms. Sanders has been at College Heights for seven years, first as an infant teacher, and now as a Pre-K lead teacher. Her accent might give away her Brooklyn roots! In her free time, she loves to go for walks, watch movies, and hang out with her family. She also loves game nights but it might surprise readers that unlike most teachers, she is not a coffee drinker!

Thank you for being part of the College Heights school family, Natalie and Erika!

Smile - it's picture day! We've had a wonderful week of smiles here at College Heights. Our new photographer, Melle Houston, has enjoyed getting to know our students. Look for information on ordering prints soon!

Billy's outfit is giving fall vibes as he enjoys some play time in his classroom.

Emma strikes an adorable pose on the steps to the playground slide.

Cooler temps + playground time = happy Pre-K students!

This week, Pre-K students prepared for their upcoming visit with author Dan Gemeinhart by listening to his sweet picture book, Once Upon a Friend, about a child who grows up with a favorite book but never grows out of loving it, especially when she can share it with her own child. If you purchased a copy of The Gingerbread Monster, it will be signed and sent home with your student tomorrow.

Fall and Halloween are in full swing in the library. Stop by and pick up some books to celebrate the changing of the season.

This week's 0-3 books:

The Monster Mac and Cheese Party by Todd Parr

Go Away, Big Green Monster by Ed Emberley

Daniel's Good Day by Micha Archer

The Book Hog by Greg Pizzoli

I Call My Hand Gentle by Amanda Haan, illustrated by Marina Bagona

Read the October 9, 2025, issue of CSD Weekly, the district-wide newsletter.

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!

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.