HMES NEWSLETTER
2025-2026
HAPPY SMORE DAY!!
What an amazing start to the school year! THANK YOU to our students, families, teachers, and staff for continuing to make Henderson Mill a place where our Hawks feel safe, supported, challenged, loved, and excited to learn each day!
A very special THANK YOU to all of our families who joined us for Curriculum & Parent Engagement Night. Your presence matters! When our families and school work together, our students benefit and Henderson Mill is stronger because of your partnership.
We also want to thank everyone who supported our Spirit Night at Jason’s Deli! We love seeing our Hawk families come together while supporting our school.
September starts this week (the BEST Month of the Year), we have an important schoolwide goal: 95% ATTENDANCE! Whenever possible, please ensure your child is at school, on time, and ready to learn every day. We have some FUN attendance challenges and incentives coming this month, so please be sure to read the information below.
I will also continue to keep families informed as I receive additional information and guidance from the District regarding enrollment and staffing.
There is A LOT happening at Henderson Mill! Please make reading our weekly SMORE newsletter part of your family routine. It is your one-stop source for upcoming events, important dates, school updates, opportunities, and resources.
Thank you for continuing to show up, stay connected, and partner with us. We have a wonderful year ahead!
Let’s keep moving FORWARD TOGETHER!
-Dr. Blanton
VIRTUAL SUGGESTION BOX
At Henderson Mill Elementary, we are committed to growing, improving, and providing the very best experience for every student and family. Your voice matters!
Your feedback will help us celebrate what is working well and identify opportunities for growth that are within our control at the school level.
Thank you for partnering with us as we continue to grow, improve, and make Henderson Mill the best it can be!
Parent Walkthroughs starts soon!!
Parent Walkthroughs with our Admin Team are scheduled, brief visits that allow families to see teaching and learning in action during the school day.
These are not formal observations or conferences. We give parents the opportunity to observe instructional practices, student engagement, and classroom routines, while gaining a better understanding of curriculum and school initiatives.
Feedback will be collected to support school improvement. Based on your feedback, we are excited to welcome parents to participate in Parent Walkthroughs on the dates and times listed below.
PBIS DAY Wednesday, September 2nd
IT IS FINALLY HERE!!! Our students have been asking. Tikiz Shaved Ice & Ice Cream will be back on campus all day Wednesday, September 2nd, as we celebrate PBIS Day!
PBIS Day is all about recognizing our students for positive behavior, great choices, respect, and responsibility.
What to Expect:
- Hawaiian shaved ice, ice cream, and hot beverages for optional purchase
- Special privileges/Tangible items from their Teacher’s Treasure Box as positive incentives
DOJO Points Reminder: Please check with your child’s teacher for the DOJO points needed to purchase and your child’s assigned time. Students can also use their points to shop in their Teacher’s Treasure Box!
Let’s keep making great choices and celebrating the positive behaviors that make Henderson Mill shine!
💚 Henderson Mill Elementary is a Distinguished PBIS School! 💙
Every Day Matters 100 Students on time Challenge
Every Day Matters. Stay Connected. Keep Learning.
Did you know?
Missing just 2 days a month can make it harder for students to stay on track with learning and reading. Even 1–2 absences every few weeks can add up and impact academic success.
Tardiness also affects learning and can lead to poor attendance habits. Regular attendance helps students build confidence, develop friendships, and succeed in school. At Henderson Mill Elementary, we encourage every Hawk to be present, on time, and ready to learn each day.
Join us for Every Tuesday will be attendance Selfie Day at HMES. In addition, back by popular demand is the 100 students on time challenge. Only the first 100 students that enter through the front door at 7am will earn a prize. See flyers for details. Together, we can build strong attendance habits that lead to lifelong success!
Every Day Counts... Every Hawk Matters!
District Diagnostic Assessments
Our AMIRA and MAP Growth diagnostic assessment window started last week! Students did a great job with testing. We will continue with make-up testing and AMIRA testing on Monday.
As a staff, we will be diving into the results to determine whether students need additional rigor, targeted support to close learning gaps, or enrichment and acceleration. This information allows teachers to personalize instruction in small groups or at SOAR Time, set meaningful learning goals, and ensure every student receives the instruction they need to thrive throughout the school year.
Thank you parents for making sure your child does their best each and every day!
MEDIA CENTER FAMILY UPDATE: AUGUST WRAP-UP
🎉 A Great Start to the School Year!
Students have been busy visiting the Media Center, learning library routines, checking out books, and getting to know the different sections of the library. We’ve already had 619 book checkouts this month!
📖 What We’ve Been Learning
Our beginning-of-year lessons have focused on book care and responsibility, library procedures, and how to be successful library users. Some of the books we’ve enjoyed together include:
A Perfectly Messed-Up Story, Dinosaur vs. the Library, Do Not Bring Your Dragon to the Library, The Curious Why, Perfect Square, and The Book of Rules.
📚 Popular Picks
Some of our most popular series so far include Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Dog Man, I Survived, The Baby-Sitters Club, The Bad Guys, and Elephant & Piggie.
🔜 Coming in September
Next month, students will learn more about Beanstack and how to choose “just right” books that fit their interests and reading needs. We’ll also be rolling out student library cards soon!
Thank you for helping us build a strong reading community at school and at home! 💙📚
-Ms. Pitts & Mr. Barreto
The DCSD Weekly Digest
Hello, DCSD Community! Click the link below for The DCSD Weekly Digest – August 31, 2026 Newsletter.
Stay Connected and Stay Informed: https://bit.ly/4h4vcwK.
- New Student Assignment Project Survey & Public Comment Session
- DCSD Seeks Feedback on Student Screen Time
- DeKalb Arts Academy Named National Bright Spot for Literacy
- Superintendent’s Advisory Councils
- Fall 2026 Principal Advisory Council (PAC) Elections
- Labor Day - Schools Closed on Monday, September 7
- International Parent Engagement Series
- Middle and High School Gemini AI Course
- Curriculum Night
- Elementary Soccer Season
- Exceptional Education Virtual Parent Sessions
- Unity Fest
- Community Tech Café
- Elementary Competitive Dance
- Newsletter Highlights Spanish Video
- Videos of the Week
Let's continue moving forward together because the strength of our community lies in unity and continuous communication.
No school on Monday, September 7th
Monday, September 7th is Labor Day, a federal holiday that honors and recognizes the contributions and achievements of American workers. It is a day to celebrate the hard work of people who help build and strengthen our communities.
There will be no school on Monday, September 7th. Enjoy the holiday and the long weekend!
We look forward to seeing everyone back at school on Tuesday, September 8th!
Hawk Families, We Need Your Help!
Our Welcome Door Decorating Contest is underway, and now we need YOU to help us choose the winners!
A huge THANK YOU to all of our teachers, staff, and parent volunteers who gave their time and creativity to decorate our doors. Your efforts have truly brightened our hallways and brought our school to life! These welcoming spaces are about more than decorations. Our students LOVE seeing the creativity, encouraging messages, and school spirit throughout the building.
The winning teacher will earn a gift card from Admin.
Now it’s time to VOTE! Please complete the Welcome Door Contest ballot below and help us select our winning doors! Thank you for helping us to create the positive, joyful, and engaging learning environment we want every Hawk to experience each day.
NEW PTO Facebook Page
Henderson Mill Elementary Has a NEW PTO Facebook Page!
We invite all of our parents and families to follow and join us on Facebook! This is another great way to stay connected and keep up with important school information, upcoming events, celebrations, and all of the wonderful things happening at Henderson Mill Elementary! We can’t wait to connect with you!
CLICK HERE: https://www.facebook.com/share/16AcdsdjJvd/
Join Us for Our 2nd PTO Meeting this school year!
Our September PTO Meeting is Tuesday, September 8, at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom. Our PTO plays a vital role in supporting Henderson Mill by providing resources, volunteering, organizing events, and showing appreciation for our students and staff. Staying informed is one of the best ways to support our school community. Please plan to join us to learn about exciting initiatives and discover how you can get involved. Click the Zoom link below to attend. PTO Board Meeting virtual 7pm link below. We look forward to seeing you there!
HMES SPIRIT NIGHT IS SEPTEMBER 9TH!
Henderson Mill Elementary families, join us for a special Spirit Night on September 9th! We want this to be more than just a night out, we hope it will be a wonderful opportunity for our families to come together, connect, bond, and enjoy quality time as one HMES community. Thank you to all the parents and staff that came to last month's Spirit Night! Special shout out to Ms. Ford and Ms. Pitts for sending me pictures since I missed you all there.
See flyer for details. Bring the family, invite a friend, and let’s make it a night of fun, food, fellowship, and Hawk pride!
Calling all Henderson Mill Grandparents!
We are excited to invite all of our amazing grandparents to join us on Monday, September 14th, for our Grandparents Day Breakfast!
🥞 FREE Breakfast for Grandparents Only
⏰ 7:00–7:45 AM
📅 Monday, September 14th
📍 Henderson Mill Elementary Cafeteria
Our PTO and Sunshine Committee are proud to provide a FREE breakfast as we celebrate the special grandparents who mean so much to our students!
There is nothing quite like the joy on a child’s face when their grandparent walks through the doors of their school. And don't forget to stop by our Book Fair after breakfast! Find a great book to enjoy together and help encourage a lifelong love of reading!
We can't wait to welcome our grandparents to campus and celebrate YOU!
Book Fair Alert: The Book Fair is Coming to HMES!
Get ready to dive into a world of books! Our Book Fair will be at Henderson Mill Elementary School from September 14-18. Shop in person to find your next great read, or browse our online selection anytime by shopping at Little Shop of Stories and using the code HMILL at checkout.
Every purchase supports our school, so come shop, support, and help foster a love of reading!
In-Person and Online Shopping: September 14-18
Volunteers Needed: We’re seeking volunteers to help make the Book Fair a success. Sign up here: https://hendersonmillpto.membershiptoolkit.com/volunteer/177289
What Is Hispanic Heritage Month?
Henderson Mill Elementary School proudly celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 through October 15, honoring the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans. Throughout the month, our Instructional Advisory Committee will provide engaging instructional activities and fun experiences for our students. See the video to share and enjoy with your little ones! ¡Juntos celebramos nuestra cultura y comunidad!
International Dot Day!
Families, mark your calendars for September 15th—International Dot Day! Click on the video to allow your child to hear the read aloud.
Dot Day is a fun day that encourages students to “make their mark” by being creative, trying something new, and believing in themselves. Students will celebrate creativity, courage, and the power of making a difference! Don't forget to wear your dots. Let’s make our mark, Hawks!
HMES Multicultural Night
SAVE THE DATE — September 17th!
Get ready for what many consider THE BEST EVENT OF THE SCHOOL YEAR!
At Henderson Mill Elementary, we proudly celebrate the incredible diversity that makes our Hawk family so special. Multicultural Night is an opportunity for our students, families, and staff to come together to celebrate cultures, traditions, music, food, and the unique experiences that make our community stronger.
Our Instructional Advisory Committee is already planning exciting activities and performances to make this an unforgettable evening!
Food Tasting: A parent sign-up will be shared soon for families who would like to bring a dish representing a culture or tradition to share with our community.
More information from PTO is coming soon! Stay tuned for event details, sign-ups, and ways your family can participate.
📅 September 17th
🌎 HMES Multicultural Night
Come ready to celebrate, learn, share, and experience the beautiful diversity of our Hawk family!
Fall Picture Day Is Coming!
Say CHEESE, Hawks! 📸 Our Fall School Picture Day is coming up!
📅 Friday, September 25th
📸 Individual Fall Pictures
It’s time to capture those beautiful smiles and school-year memories! We can’t wait to see our Hawks looking their best for their fall portraits. More information from PTO is coming soon! Stay tuned for details about picture packages, ordering, and everything you need to know to make picture day a success.
Get ready to smile, Hawks!
Fall Conference Week is Coming!
Mark your calendars! Fall Conference Week will be September 28–October 2. More details and sign-up information will be coming soon from your child’s classroom teacher.
Reminder you never have to wait for Conference Week to connect with your child’s teacher! If you have a concern, question, or simply want to check in about your child’s progress, please reach out and schedule a conference at any time.
We all believe in partnering with our families all year long!
Parents' Right to Know
At Henderson Mill Elementary School, we believe that informed families are empowered partners in their child's education.
In accordance with the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), parents and guardians have the right to request information about the professional qualifications of their child's classroom teacher and any paraprofessional providing instructional support.
Upon request, you may receive information regarding:
- Whether your child's teacher meets state certification and licensure requirements.
- Whether your child's teacher is teaching under emergency or other provisional status.
- Whether your child's teacher is teaching in the field of his or her certification.
- Whether your child receives services from a paraprofessional and, if so, the paraprofessional's qualifications.
If you would like to request this information, please contact the Henderson Mill Elementary School front office. We value our partnership with families and are committed to providing a high-quality education for every student.
WHAT IS BEANSTACK? HOW DOES IT HELP MY CHILD?
Just 5 minutes a day of logging your child’s reading on Beanstack can help us climb even higher on the county-wide leaderboard!
📖 What Is Beanstack?
Beanstack is our school’s reading-tracking program. Students can access Beanstack from their school computers and log the minutes they spend reading. Families may also download the Beanstack app so students can continue logging their reading at home. Students will learn more about Beanstack during library lessons in August and September. Our monthly class challenges will begin in September, when classes will compete to see who can log the most reading minutes!
Please encourage your child to log reading minutes regularly and honestly. See the attached flyer for directions and additional information.
Together, we can build a powerful culture of reading at HMES, one page at a time!
Attention Henderson Mill Pre-K Families!
We are excited to share a new learning opportunity for our Pre-K 3 & Pre-K 4 students!
The Waterford Supplemental Resource was recently approved to provide additional instructional support for our Pre-K teachers and students.
💻 Waterford Virtual Parent Meeting
📅 Wednesday, September 2
⏰ 6:00–7:00 PM
We strongly encourage our impacted Pre-K families to attend this virtual session to learn more about Waterford and how this resource will support your child’s learning.
Additional information will be shared as it becomes available. Thank you, Pre-K families, for your continued partnership as we work together to give our youngest Hawks a strong start!
Join the Henderson Mill Elementary PTO!
Your membership directly supports our teachers and school by funding our Alliance Theatre partnership, STEAM programming, teacher appreciation events, afterschool clubs and so much more. Every membership makes a difference!
🚗✨ Arrival & Dismissal Reminders ✨🚶♀️
As we continue a successful school year, please review and follow our arrival and dismissal expectations to ensure a smooth and safe day for all students. Thanks to our survey, it has come to my attention that our late arrival students are a huge parent concern as well. This is a disruption to our classrooms and teaching/learning. Please try your hardest to have your child to arrive to school on time, please see below.:
🌅 Morning Arrival:
🕖 7:00 AM – School doors open and breakfast begins. Please be sure your child has parent supervision if they arrive on campus before 7am.
🍽️ After breakfast – SOAR TIME (Intervention & Enrichment) starts (FREE TUTORING FOR YOUR CHILD). This is a critical time for academic support and acceleration please ensure your child arrives on time.
⏰ 7:40 AM – Breakfast service ends.
📣 7:40 AM – Morning announcements begin. Students should be in their classrooms.
📘 7:45 AM – Instruction begins promptly.
🏁 Afternoon Dismissal:
🕝 2:15 PM – Dismissal begins in this order:
➡️bus riders
➡️ van riders
➡️ walkers
➡️ car riders
➡️ aftercare
Please remember that our buses must be in line first.
🕝 2:30 PM – All students should be fully dismissed from classrooms.
🕒 2:45 PM – Students not picked up by this time will be sent to aftercare, and a drop-in fee will apply. Communication is key!
Your partnership helps us create a safe and focused environment for all learners.
Thank you for your attention and cooperation!
Congratulations, Jr. Beta Candidates!
We are incredibly proud to congratulate our 5th Grade National Jr. Beta candidates! These student candidates have demonstrated a commitment to academic excellence, character, leadership, and service.
Candidates must have and maintain a 3.5 GPA or higher and demonstrate strong leadership skills and positive character, as recognized by their teachers. These students have already been identified and selected.
We look forward to celebrating this outstanding accomplishment with our selected students and families at the Jr. Beta Induction Ceremony on September 30 at 9:00 a.m.
Congratulations, Hawks, we are so proud of you!
🎉 Show Your School Spirit! 🎉
Most Fridays are Spirit Wear Days for our staff, and we would love for our students to join in too! This is a fun way to celebrate our school pride and highlight our amazing school community. 💚
Want to get your student ready for Spirit Wear Fridays? Click the link below to purchase official school spirit wear from our PTO. Let’s make Fridays a sea of blue and green and school pride we can’t wait to see everyone showing their Hawk Pride!
HMES Hawk Rock is Back!!!
The Hawk Rock is ready to be rented and we already have four sales!
🎨 Make your mark on the Hawk Rock! Henderson Mill families can rent our school spirit rock for three days to celebrate a birthday, milestone, achievement, or other special event.
Rentals are $30, and families are responsible for providing all painting supplies and painting over the previous design. It’s a fun way to celebrate someone special while supporting our amazing school!
Support Our 5th Grade Hawks!
Our 5th graders are preparing for an exciting annual overnight field trip to the Fortson 4-H Center, where they’ll experience hands-on science, outdoor education, live animals, campfires, and memories that will last a lifetime!
The cost is $125 per student, and we are fundraising to help lower the cost for ALL of our 5th grade students.
Every donation makes a difference, no amount is too small! Whether it’s $5, $10, $25, or more, your support will help make this incredible experience more affordable for our families.
Scan the QR code on the flyer to donate.
Thank you for helping our 5th Grade Hawks SOAR beyond the classroom!
Support Henderson Mill While You Shop at Kroger! 🛒
It’s quick, easy, and free to help our school earn rewards! Every time you shop and use your Kroger Plus card, a percentage of your spending is donated to Henderson Mill, at no extra cost to you!
Here’s how:
Create a Kroger digital account (if you don’t already have one): https://www.kroger.com/account/communityrewards/
Link your Kroger Plus Shopper’s Card.
Go to Community Rewards in your account settings.
Search for Henderson Mill Elementary and select our school.
💚 Thank you for supporting our students, one grocery trip at a time!
PARENT CORNER
We are happy to share that we will have a small pantry located in our Parent Corner, generously sponsored by our PTO. The pantry will include some food and very basic toiletry items for families who may need a little extra support.
If your family could benefit from these resources, please contact Ms. Vela (678-874-3106) for assistance.
All requests will be handled with care and confidentiality. We are always here to support our Henderson Mill families.
Volunteer at Henderson Mill!
We love our volunteers! To volunteer at school or chaperone field trips, you must meet DeKalb County School District (DCSD) volunteer requirements below:
- Level I: Front Office Support, Cafeteria Support, Recess Support, Classroom helpers, Mystery Readers, class parties, Career Day, cafeteria, library, and other supervised school activities.
- Level II: Required for daytime field trip chaperones.
- Level III: Required for overnight field trip chaperones and volunteers who may work with students without direct supervision. Includes fingerprinting and is valid for 5 years (annual badge renewal required).
Please click link below to begin the volunteer registration process. If you need assistance, please send an email to: DCSDvolunteer@dekalbschoolsga.org or Demone_Gunter@dekalbschoolsga.org
We look forward to partnering with you this school year!
STEAM parent sign up!
Henderson Mill Elementary is looking for parents, guardians, family members, and community members who would be willing to share their knowledge and career experiences with our students and/or teachers.
Many careers are connected to STEAM—Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics—even if “STEAM” is not in the job title! Careers in healthcare, construction, business, finance, agriculture, transportation, public safety, design, communications, skilled trades, culinary arts, and many other fields use STEAM skills every day.
You might speak to a class, demonstrate a skill, help with a hands-on activity, provide feedback on a student project, participate in a career event, connect virtually, or serve as a resource for teachers. Completing this form simply helps us learn about your expertise and interest; it does not commit you to participating.
Henderson Mill Elementary
Email: regina_smiley-blanton@dekalbschoolsga.org
Website: https://www.hendersonmilles.dekalb.k12.ga.us/
Location: 2408 Henderson Mill Road, Atlanta, GA, USA
Phone: 678-874-3102
Twitter: @henderson_mill