Weekly Update

We are excited to share that your child's mid-semester progress report will be available in the Parent Portal at 4PM a.m. on Friday, October 17, 2025.

Please note that these progress reports are a snapshot in time, not final grades. They provide an overview of your child's academic progress midway through the semester. Teachers will continue entering grades and feedback throughout the term, so your child's report will continue to evolve.

We encourage you to take this opportunity to review your child's progress, celebrate their achievements, and discuss any areas where additional support may be needed. Open communication among parents, students, and teachers remains key to a successful learning experience.

If you have questions or concerns about your child's progress, please don't hesitate to contact their teacher or the school administration. We're here to support your child's growth and success.

Directions to access grades can be found on page 23 of the Grading and Reporting Handbook.

Our last Principal's Coffee Chat was a great success! We had an engaging discussion with families about understanding your child's academic progress, covering grades and assessments. If you missed it, the recording is available on our website under the Family and Student Resources tab.

Upcoming Chat: Supporting Digital Learning at Home

Mark your calendar for October 31! Our next chat will focus on how parents can partner with us to monitor and support safe, focused technology use. Learn how to ensure your child's school-issued device remains an effective tool for learning while at home.

All Our chats are designed to:

• Provide valuable information and foster ongoing learning.

• Create an open and transparent platform for connection.

• Extend the reach of our live chats to the entire school community.

On Wednesday, October 29th, from 8:45–11:50 a.m., all 8th grade students will take the PSAT 8/9, an assessment created by the College Board. The purpose of the PSAT 8/9 is to give students an early opportunity to practice and prepare for future college readiness exams, while also helping them identify their academic strengths and areas for growth. No grade will be placed into the gradebook for this assessment. This test is not something students need to study for. It is simply a tool to support their learning journey and guide teachers in providing the best instruction possible. We want students to feel encouraged and confident, knowing this assessment is only one step along the way in preparing for high school and beyond.

Did your child come home without their favorite hoodie? Did their water bottle mysteriously vanish?

It's probably in the Lost and Found, which is currently operating at maximum capacity! We are swimming in lost treasures—from lunchboxes to luxury sweaters. Do your part to prevent a landslide!

Swing by this week to claim your gear. Let's make sure everyone's favorite things are home for the weekend!

Unclaimed items will be donated soon!

Huge shout-out to the 7th I&S teaching team for tackling the complex topics of Southwest Asia and the long-term impact of European Partitioning after World War I. Students delved into the IB inquiry of how the new borders sparked arguments and fighting in the region. The lesson highlights a powerful Opening Activity: Broken Plates —a fantastic, hands-on way to visually explore what the "plate" (the region) represented and how the "hammer" (European partitioning) shattered it, leading to regional conflict.

Thank you, 7th I&S teaching team, for making learning so engaging!

Our Decatur High School (DHS) and Beacon Hill Middle School (BHMS) girls' basketball players recently enjoyed an exciting trip to the Georgia Tech Women's Basketball program.

Approximately 30-40 student-athletes and 6-10 parents had the unique opportunity to watch the collegiate team practice and receive a full facility tour. This included an up-close look at the locker rooms, practice areas, and the impressive McCamish Pavilion.

The most memorable part of the visit was the chance to speak with Head Coach Karen Blair. She offered invaluable words of encouragement, shared insights into her coaching position, and discussed the recruiting process.

This outing served as a fantastic team-bonding experience and a powerful form of exposure, helping to motivate and inspire our student-athletes beyond the court. We are thrilled to have provided this amazing experience!

Congratulations to our combined choruses from Beacon Hill Middle School and Decatur High School on a truly magnificent performance last week! The students delivered a gorgeous concert of inspiring selections from around the world, showcasing incredible talent and hard work.

A huge thank you to Dr. David Hirschorn and Dr. Elise Eskew Sparks for their dedication, guidance, and for bringing their immense talents to our students and community.

Thank you to the choir students of BHMS for their enthusiasm, beautiful voices, and for being such wonderful collaborators with their high school counterparts!

6th Grade “Trash Your Trash” Litter Survey ​I​n Adventure Quest 6th graders have been learning how small actions can make a big impact on the environment through their Navigating Nature unit. ​L​ast week, they put their knowledge into action with a hands-on “Trash Your Trash” Litter Survey around campus. Armed with ​t​rash grabber, data sheets, and plenty of curiosity, students collected and categorized litter to better understand where waste accumulates and why. In total, they gathered an impressive 1,467 pieces of trash!

Their data revealed two “hot spot” areas that could benefit from additional trash receptacles — the back field/recess space and the benches and bike rack area on Adams Street. This activity sparked great discussions about responsibility, community care, and how each of us can help reduce waste by following Leave No Trace principles. Students were proud to see how science, teamwork, and stewardship can come together to make our school cleaner and greener!

#Small Actions #Big Impact #6th Grade Stewardship

Does your student love to write? The Young Georgia Authors (YGA) writing competition is a wonderful way for students in grades K-12 to celebrate their creativity and develop their skills!

This prestigious annual competition, running since 1991, recognizes student achievement in arts and academics and is sponsored by the Georgia Language Arts Supervisors (GLAS), the Georgia RESA Network, and the Georgia Department of Education. It's an excellent chance to encourage young writers and give their hard work the recognition it deserves.

BHMS Submission Details

The BHMS competition will be held from October 13 - November 21, 2025. Students must submit their completed entries directly to their ELA teachers.

Ready to inspire your student's writing? Encourage them to get started on their submission today!

The 2025-2026 Cybersecurity Awareness Poster Contest is now open. This year’s theme is:

“Online Safety is No Game – Play It Smart”

Deadline: October 31, 2025

First-place winners will receive a prize and get the chance to meet State School Superintendent Richard Woods!

Learn more and access contest rules, forms, and resources here: https://url.gadoe.org/tx40x

Let’s work together to keep Georgia students safe online.

#Cybersecurity #PlayItSmart

October is Dyslexia Awareness Month. Want a super creative and fun way to make a difference in your community? We're inviting you to participate in the International Dyslexia Association's (Georgia) Rock for Dyslexia Awareness 2025 Competition!

1. Learn & Create: Get involved with some cool, in-class activities to learn about dyslexia.

2. Paint a Rock: Use your artistic skills at home to paint an awesome, eye-catching rock with a dyslexia awareness theme.

3. Spread the Word: Hide your painted rock in your community to raise awareness! (The competition concludes October 31, 2025!)

Get Featured: If you participate, share your work: https://ga.dyslexiaida.org/rock-for-dyslexia/

The high school Decatur Robotics team is hosting this event where you will learn about designing and folding paper planes. The event is free of charge and will take place October 18, 2-3:30pm in the BHMS cafeteria. Participation is limited to the first 25 students. Please register here. For questions, contact us at outreach@decaturrobotics.org.

By now, students are deep into independent reading and longer texts. If your child struggles with fluency, reading smoothly and confidently, it can make comprehension feel like climbing uphill. Fall is the perfect time to rebuild that flow.

Try This “Read, Record, Reflect” Routine

1. Read: Have your child read a short passage (about a page) from a familiar text aloud.

2. Record: Use your phone to record them reading, this lets them hear their pace, tone, and clarity.

3. Reflect: Together, identify one strength (“I sounded smoother”) and one goal (“I’ll pause at commas next time”).

Do this 2–3 nights a week. Avoid perfection; celebrate progress.

Pair this with audio-assisted reading (listening to the same text while reading along). Hearing fluent rhythm models confidence and builds internal pacing.

Fluency isn’t baby reading, it’s the foundation for thinking while reading. And when students feel fluent, they focus less on sounding out words and more on understanding meaning.

👉 Need digital text recommendations or printable fluency trackers? Contact Mrs. Braxton | Reading Specialist at BHMS at tbraxton@csdecatur.net for personalized tools.

This article was written in collaboration with the Decatur PREP Project (Parent Reading Engagement Program) and made available through our partnership with the Decatur Education Foundation the Beacon Hill Middle School PTA and the BradAlTon Foundation for Family Elevation.

Read the October 16, 2025, issue of CSD Weekly, the district-wide newsletter.

Today, Superintendent Dr. Gyimah Whitaker sent a letter to all families via email to inform the City Schools of Decatur community that the CSD Board of Education has initiated a comprehensive review of K-2 school utilization. This review will assess how CSD's K-2 schools are currently being utilized to ensure that space, staffing, and resources align with student needs while also maintaining operational efficiency and fiscal responsibility.

The Board of Education work session on October 14, 2025, served as a preliminary discussion to review various options, including the potential closure of a K-2 school. The consulting firm Education Planners has been engaged to facilitate this process and presented a timeline for the first time at the work session, along with a detailed overview of the school closure and redistricting process. The board has not yet decided which school, if any, will be closed. There will be opportunities for families to share their input in the upcoming weeks.

Please read the full letter in English here. More information and additional language translations of the letter are available on the K-2 School Consolidation & Redistricting Process webpage.

CSD families are invited to upcoming public hearings for feedback on the K-2 School Consolidation and Redistricting Process:

• Wednesday, October 29, 6:30-8:00 p.m., Beacon Hill Middle School, Cafeteria
• Thursday, November 13, 6:30-8:00 p.m., Beacon Hill Middle School, Cafeteria

While we encourage everyone to attend the public input hearings, please also consider submitting your feedback via this feedback form.

The annual Diwali Celebration organized by the City Schools of Decatur PTA/PTO DEI committees will be held Saturday, October 18 from 5 pm to 7 pm at BHMS. All are invited to attend the event, which features food, drinks, crafts and music. RSVP here.

Our next monthly PTA Board Meeting will be Tuesday, October 21 in the school Media Center. Please note our special start time of 5 pm. We will present committee reports and discuss upcoming activities. All BHMS families are invited to attend. Can’t be there in person? Join us through Google Meet.

Shine a light on BHMS by becoming a Family Sponsor! Your donation directly supports our teachers, staff and students during the 2025–2026 school year. As a thank you, your family name will be displayed proudly in the school lobby to show your support for our community. Together, we can make a difference…Be a Beacon today!

Be a Beacon PTA Family Sponsor Link

The PBIS Store is officially open! Please volunteer to help run the BARK store. It is an easy process, and experienced parents will be there to guide you if you have not volunteered before. We also are always looking for donations to stock our store. Volunteer needs and a link to our wishlist can be found in the links below. Thanks!

Sign up for our passive fundraising opportunities, as every little bit helps. Gearing up for the holiday season? Take advantage of this special opportunity with Minted.

Are you a BHMS family or local business owner interested in supporting our school community? (Do you know a business that would like to help?) Then consider becoming a BHMS sponsor. Learn more about sponsorship levels here. Questions? Reach out to our fundraising chair.

• BHMS Website
• Personal Electronics Protocol
• Bell Schedule or Bell Schedule by Grade
• Bus Routes
• Free and Reduced Lunch Application
• BHMS Weekly Updates
• Attendance Routines and Procedures
• Key Contacts

• BHMS Facebook page
• BHMSPTA Facebook page
• BHMSInstagram page
• Grading Quick Facts 6-12
• CSD Grading Handbook
• Grade Level News