The Bulldog, September 10, 2026
9.10.26
One Week Remaining To Take Pre-K Access Survey
Note from Mrs. Lockwood:
Daylight is getting shorter, and the leaves are beginning to change. Fall is around the corner! Mark your calendars for our first Picture Day of the school year! Next week is Fall Pictures on Thursday, September 17. Families will be provided with a link a week after picture day to view the proofs.
We are on a roll with great attendance, especially yesterday! Let's keep up the good work. Remember, every day counts!
Friday: 97%
Monday: NO SCHOOL-LABOR DAY
Tuesday: 96%
Wednesday: 99% 🎉
Thursday: 99% 🎉
Parent-teacher conferences are coming up soon. Conferences are a powerful way to build and strengthen school-family partnerships. It's a great opportunity to discuss students' achievement and areas of opportunity. Be on the lookout for conference sign-up information from your child's teacher.
Tomorrow is Community Crew. We look forward to seeing everyone in the morning. As a reminder, please bring your 'Crew Pass' with you. Also, immediately following Community Crew, I am hosting my first coffee chat of the year. Join me as I share our plans for this school year. I hope to see you there!
Interested in Volunteering or Chaperoning?
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 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. 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 Lockwood.
Behavior and Emotional Screening System
Dear Parents/Guardians,
In our continuing efforts to support the well-being of all students, City Schools of Decatur (CSD) will administer a universal screener of social, emotional & behavioral health. CSD adopted The Behavior Assessment for Children 3rd edition Behavior and Emotional Screening System (BASC-3 BESS) as the universal screener for behavior.
For the 2026-27 school year, students in grades (K-12) will take the student self-report of the screener at their school during the fall and spring administration dates. The Fall administration of the BASC-3 BESS opens on October 1st and closes on October 30th. The Spring administration of the BASC-3 BESS opens on March 1st and will remain open through March 31st, 2027.
What are your next steps?
No action is required if you agree with your student’s participation in the screening. If you would prefer that your student NOT participate in the universal screening, please complete the opt-out form by clicking here. The deadline to opt your child out of completing the BASC-3 BESS is Friday, September 18, 2026 for the Fall Administration and Friday, February 12, 2027 for the Spring Administration.
Click here to read our FAQ for more details about the BASC-3 BESS universal screener. If you have any questions, email Ms. Pratt, school counselor, at cpratt@csdecatur.net.
Important Information about Gifted Review
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. For more detailed information about the review process, please contact the Gifted & Talented Specialist for your school, Tom Seetoo, at tseetoo@csdecatur.net or visit our website’s FAQ page.
