WEEK 18
🚗✨ 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. Our late student arrivals are starting to become a huge disruption to our classrooms and are impacting teaching and learning. Please make it a daily priority to have your child arrive to school on time, please see below.:
🌅 Morning Arrival:
🕖 7:00 AM – School doors open and breakfast begins.
🍽️ After breakfast – Intervention & Enrichment starts. 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.
📘 7:45 AM – Instruction begins promptly.
🏁 Afternoon Dismissal:
🕝 2:15 PM – Dismissal begins & typically follows this order:
➡️bus riders
➡️ van riders
➡️ car riders
➡️ walkers
➡️ aftercare
Please remember that our buses must be in line first.
🕝 2:35 PM-2:40 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!
Late Pick-Up Procedures
In order to ensure the safety and supervision of all students, Hawthorne Elementary has established the following late pick-up procedures:
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Dismissal ends at 2:45 PM.
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Any student not picked up by 2:45 PM, upon arrival -parents will need to complete the Late Pick-Up Roster.
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Three (3) late pick-ups may result in a referral to the school’s social worker for additional support and follow-up.
Your partnership helps us create a safe and focused environment for all hornets. Thank you for your attention and cooperation!
Please join me in warmly welcoming Mrs. Hutchinson back to Hawthorne Elementary School! We are thrilled to have her rejoin our team in the role of EIP (Early Intervention Program) teacher. Mrs. Hutchinson brings a wealth of experience, dedication, and a passion for supporting student growth, and we are confident that her expertise will make a meaningful impact on our learners.
Her official start date will be Tuesday, December 16, 2025. We are excited for the positive energy and commitment she will bring to our school community, and we encourage everyone to give her a warm Hawthorne welcome as she settles into her new role!
HOLIDAY CELBERATIONS
Our Classroom Winter Holiday Parties will take place on Friday, December 19th at various times throughout the day. Please contact your child’s teacher directly for your class’s specific schedule. Parties should last no longer than 45 minutes. While you are not required to send in gifts, if you choose to do so, we kindly ask that all students are included so that no child feels left out.
In the spirit of giving, we will also be giving away gift cards to teachers throughout the entire month of December. If you would like to donate a gift card of any amount, please drop it off at the front desk. Your generosity is truly appreciated.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership. We look forward to a joyful celebration!
1st Semester N.B.A. Party – Celebrating Perfect Attendance! 🏀
We are excited to announce our second 1st Semester Never Been Absent (N.B.A.) Party for all students who have maintained perfect attendance this semester! This celebration recognizes the dedication of our students who have never been absent, highlighting the importance of consistent attendance as a key factor in academic success and our CCRPI goals. Our counselors plan to pull lists of students the week of December 15th to notify participants.
Thank you for supporting your child in being present and engaged every day. We can’t wait to celebrate their achievement and dedication at this special event!
The Board Report
The December 2025 edition of The Board Report is here! Click the link below to read this month's newsletter and stay informed of the DeKalb Board of Education’s work in support of the district’s vision to prepare students for success as lifelong learners and responsible global citizens: https://bit.ly/3RyD4Mq.
Greetings,
Join us for the last Parent Tech Café for the 1st semester! Parent Tech Cafe' is a virtual series designed to empower parents, guardians, and stakeholders with insights into the digital tools supporting teaching and learning across DeKalb County School District.
In the December session, participants will learn how students access Launchpad (Clever) and how to navigate district-supported digital tools and resources available within the platform. This session takes place on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at 6:00 PM. This is a great opportunity for families to explore the resources that enhance student success.
Please help us spread the word to your school communities
Click here for more information: https://its.dekalb.k12.ga.us/TechCafe_202581813581964.aspx
DCSD Family Literacy Survey – Your School’s Voice Matters!
The Department of Family and Community Engagement (FACE) is excited to partner with the Technical College System of Georgia and the National Center for Families Learning to offer resources that support the literacy needs of every member of the family.
To ensure we provide equitable and accessible opportunities that reflect the unique needs of our school communities, we are asking each principal to share the Family Literacy Survey with your Parent Liaison, PTSA Representative, or Family Engagement Liaison so it can be distributed to all families. We have attached family friendly flyers that have been translated into a variety of languages.
If you require additional translations, please contact us at: family_engagement@dekalbschoolsga.org Time to complete: Approximately 2 minutes Survey deadline: December 18, 2025
Your support in helping us gather broad and diverse family feedback is deeply appreciated. Ensuring that all family voices are represented will allow us to provide resources that truly serve our community.
Thank you for your continued partnership and commitment to family engagement! The Department of Family and Community Engagement
FY27 Budget Survey
The FY27 Budget Survey is now open, and we invite you to share your input as we begin planning for the upcoming fiscal year. Your feedback will directly contribute to enhancing the school experience for students and families.
Please take a moment to complete the survey by February 13, 2026. The survey is available in 16 languages to support all members of our community. Survey Link: https://survey.sogolytics.com/r/NJ7MYV
Thank you for your participation and continued partnership as we work together to support student learning
The Student Assignment Project (SAP) is inviting all parents & community members to take part in a series of community engagement events this Fall. Your voice matters as we work together to reimagine DCSD as it relates to programs, boundaries, and buildings in our district! SAP Chats and SAP Town Halls are interactive opportunities to learn more, ask questions, and share your thoughts. Registration opens 24 hours before each event and is required to attend. Don’t miss your chance to join the discussion and make your voice heard!
SAP Town Halls
Join us for a SAP Town Hall, as we provide the latest updates on the SAP process, including progress made, upcoming plans, and how program and school placement discussions are evolving. This is also your opportunity to share thoughts and help shape future recommendations.
- Tuesday, December 16 @ 6:30pm
Forward Together Forums
🌅 Join us in January for #ForwardTogether Forums with Interim Superintendent Dr. Sauce. Hear themes from his entry survey and share your voice as we shape the path ahead for DCSD.
Clarkston 1/8 • Columbia 1/13 • Cross Keys 1/21 • MLK Jr. 1/27 🕕 6–7:30 PM
FREE MEALS FOR DEKALB FAMILIES
Families in DeKalb County can access free meals at eight convenient distribution centers across the district. Meals are available to anyone in the community, and each site offers pick-up on scheduled dates each month. See below for the full list of locations, dates, and times.- Click for details:https://www.dekalbschoolsga.org/divisions/wrap-around-services/food-distribution
Georgia’s K-12 standards
We know that parents and family members play an essential role in students’ educational success. When schools and families work in partnership, children will succeed at new levels.
The link below, parents and family members of students in Georgia’s K-12 public schools can explore the wealth of resources and services offered through GaDOE. Discover important information on Georgia’s K-12 standards, programming to support your student, ways to get involved, and more.
Let’s keep the momentum going! Just 5 minutes a day of logging your child’s reading on Beanstack can help us climb even higher on the county-wide leaderboard!
📚 Here’s how you can help as a parent:
- Encourage your child to read daily and log their minutes in Beanstack, every minute counts!
- Parents can track progress and celebrate milestones together with their children.
Together, we can build a powerful culture of reading at HES, one page at a time! ✨
Georgia Milestones Assessment
In April, students in grades 3, 4, and 5 are required to take the Georgia Milestones Assessment. This test will include Reading, Writing, Mathematics, and Science (5th grade only). A practice test is available online, with questions set up and structured just like the actual assessment.
Please log on to see what will be expected of your child in April. See video below for more support. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to your child's teacher. We look forward to partnering with you.
https://www.gaexperienceonline.com/
1. Click "Test Practice, Guides, Samples"
2. Click "Online Testing Tools"
3. Click "End of Grade EOG"
4. Click "Test Practice"
5. Click "Online Standard Tools"
6. Click"3rd, 4th, or 5th Grade"
7. Click "Continue"
8. Click "Test Practice for 3rd, 4th, or 5th"
9. Click "Play Audio"
10. If your sound is working, click "Sound is Working"
11. Read the directions. Use the blue arrows to navigate through the directions.
12. Click "Begin Test"
(There is a tool bar at the top to assist while testing).
The drop-off times in front of the school are below:
7:00 am
MORNING INTERVENTIONS & EXTENTIONS TIME DAILY - 7:15 am
Tardy bell - 7:45 am
Morning announcements begin at 7:45 am
Car riders:: When picking students up, parents should have the Hawthorne ES Car Rider Tag visible in their car. If the Car Rider Tag is not visible, parents are required to park, come into the building and provide Identification. Thank you for your patience as we simply want to keep your students' safe.
The pick-up times for dismissal are below:
Bus riders-2:25:pm; Car riders 2:35 pm (front of building after buses) & walkers (Side door)
Walker Dismissal Protocol Update
The dismissal process for the Walker group is being slightly adjusted to ensure a smoother and more secure experience. Students will continue to dismiss from the side door; however, we will now be implementing a numbered tag system.
Each walker will be assigned a unique number. Parents or guardians must walk to the designated walker door and visibly display their child’s assigned number. This number will correspond to the student’s walker tag, which will be attached to their backpack.
For safety and accountability, students will only be released once the matching number is presented at the door.
Attendance & Dismissal Procedures Update
To ensure accurate attendance records and to maintain a safe and orderly school environment, we are updating our arrival and dismissal procedures:
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Late Arrival: Students arriving after 7:45 AM must be checked in by a parent/guardian inside the school office.
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Early Check-Out: If a student needs to leave school early, parents/guardians must come into the building to sign the student out prior to the start of dismissal.
These updates are in place to support accurate attendance documentation. We appreciate your cooperation and commitment to helping us ensure that your students are safe during arrival and dismissal from school. 😊Thank you!
BUS ROUTES
DCSD bus routes can be found on the district website: https://www.dekalbschoolsga.org/bus-routes/. Hawthorne ES morning bus routes are below along with the district
Thank you for your interest in becoming a volunteer for the DeKalb County School District! By signing on as a volunteer, you become a member of our team of professionals that proudly provides educational services to more than 93,000 students in our DeKalb County School District.
Steps to Complete the Volunteer Process:
Complete the Volunteer Application and Release Form:
Review and Complete the DCSD Volunteer Code of Conduct:
Complete the Mandated Reporter Training:
- Watch the Mandated Reporter Video and complete the quiz before attending a training session.
- Steps to complete the training:
- Create a free account
- Select State: GA
- Click on Child Abuse and Neglect Course: Mandated Reporter
- Start the course and complete the quiz
- Save or print your certificate and email a copy to DCSDvolunteer@dekalbschoolsga.org
- Training link: Mandated Reporter Course
Upcoming DCSD Volunteer Training (via Zoom):
Join a Zoom Session That Fits Your Schedule
SPRING 2026 Volunteer Training Dates
Please select the Zoom session that works best for you from the options below:
Join the DCSD Volunteer Training Zoom Meeting:
🔗 Join Zoom Meeting
📌 Meeting ID: 857 5784 5773
🔑 Passcode: 598219
Thank you for your dedication to supporting our schools! We look forward to your participation!
Email: kia_henley@dekalbschoolsag.org
Website: https://www.hawthornees.dekalb.k12.ga.us/
Location: 2535 Caladium Drive NE Atlanta, GA 30345
Phone: 678-874-2802