The Bulldog, September 11, 2025

Note from Mrs. Lockwood:

Daylight is getting shorter, the air is starting to cool, and the leaves are beginning to change. Fall is around the corner! What better time to ‘fall' into a good book!

As we continue to enhance our safety and security measures, I want to share some important information regarding volunteering and chaperoning field trips this school year. Please read the attached letter regarding background checks.

School photos are in! You can preview your child's pictures by accessing this link. The access code to log in will be your child's student ID number.

Please use this link to vote for our new SLT parent representatives. I realized the link provided at Curriculum Night was for the 24-25 school year.

Family-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. Continue reading this week's newsletter, as the link to sign up for conferences has been shared below.

Families, get ready for a new and exciting chapter for Community Circle. This year, we're making some positive adjustments to our beloved Community Circle to make our time together even more special. Next week, I will share all the details on how we're enhancing our gatherings and introducing Community Crew and School Crew.

I can't wait to share our new plan with you as we continue to celebrate our incredible students and foster a strong sense of community!

Events at a glance:

• Saturday, September 13: DEF Battle of the Bands
• Saturday, September 13: NO Community Day - rescheduled to October 25th
• Monday, September 15: Musical Auditions (Last names A-L)
• Tuesday, September 16: Musical Auditions (Last names M-Z)
• Wednesday, September 17: PTA Meeting; 5:30
• Friday, September 19: Principal's Coffee Chat; 8:45
• Monday, September 22 - Friday, September 26: Fall Break
• Monday, September 29 - Friday, October 10th: Family-Teacher Conferences

Dear Families,

You are invited to our upcoming Fall Family-Teacher Conferences! This is a valuable opportunity for us to connect, discuss your child's progress, celebrate their strengths, and set goals for the rest of the school year.

During the conference, we will:

• Hear your child's interests in and out of the classroom

• Review your child's academic efforts and social interactions in the classroom

• Share literacy and math work samples and assessment results

• Plan for any areas of growth for your child this year

Conference Window: Monday, September 29th - Friday, October 10th

Time: Various appointment options are available before, during, or after school hours.
Location: In person at Clairemont or virtually via Google Meet

Conference Length: Typically 20-25 minutes; plan extra time for an in-person conference
Scheduling: The last day to sign up for a conference appointment is Sunday, September 28th.

Choose your child's teacher below to schedule an appointment via Sign-Up Genius:

K - Bermudez

K - Gilbert

1 - Bigham

1 - Fowler

2 - Schmidt

2 - Smiley

We look forward to partnering with you to support your child's success. Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions.

Click on the photo below to go to the link. Check with Ms. Brackins or Ms. DeRosa if you need your child's student ID.

https://rogercannonphotography.accessmyevent.com/ClairemontF25

Each fall semester the gifted review team looks at existing student data to discuss students’ needs and determine if further evaluation for gifted identification is needed. If you are interested in having the team discuss your child’s needs, you may complete a Recommendation for Review Form (found at the website below) and turn it into the Gifted & Talented Specialist at your child’s school before Wednesday, October 1. No additional information is needed. The Gifted & Talented Specialist for Clairemont Elementary is Tom Seetoo. For more detailed information about the review process and to obtain a copy of the Recommendation for Review Form, please contact the Gifted & Talented Specialist for your school at tseetoo@csdecatur.net or visit the following website: https://www.csdecatur.net/our-district-5f/departments/teaching-and-learning/gifted-and-talented-services

As part of Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month, our bulldogs continue to focus on the theme: “Be Kind to Your Mind – You Matter.” One way to prevent future struggles is by building protective factors—the supports that help children grow strong and resilient. For young children, these include:

• Feeling connected to caring adults at home and school

• Learning healthy ways to manage big feelings

• Building strong friendships

• Practicing problem-solving and asking for help when needed

This week, try a quick family activity to support your child’s mental well-being:

You Matter Jar – Find a jar, cup, or small box. Each day, every family member writes (or draws) one thing they like about themselves or something kind they did. At the end of the week, read them together as a reminder of each person’s strengths and the power of kindness.

This activity helps children build confidence, practice positive self-talk, and feel connected to their family—all protective factors that support strong mental health.

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Clairemont is committed to supporting the emotional and mental well-being of all our students. We are offering a small counseling group for students who may be experiencing high levels of anxiety or stress. This group will provide a safe, supportive space where students can learn coping skills, build emotional resilience, and connect with their peers in a structured environment led by Ms. Pratt, school counselor.

Details of the Anxiety Management Small Group:

• Who: 1st & 2nd grade students who could benefit from learning more about managing anxiety.
• When: Sessions will be held once a week for 30 minutes during Specials or WIN time for 6 weeks. The group will start in October.
• How to Join: If you believe your child may benefit from this group, please use the following link to complete the group sign up form: https://forms.gle/4rPKXaFxppjNJVv49

If you would like more information, or if you have any questions, please contact Ms. Pratt at cpratt@csdecatur.net or 404-370-4450 ext. 4181.

Last Thursday, we were thrilled to welcome author Stacy McAnulty to our school. She spoke to the entire student body about her background, her process as an author, how books are made, and shared some fun space facts. We have two more signed books available if anyone missed out last week! See Ms. DeRosa if you would like one.

2nd grade girl: When I read over the summer I didn't even know I was going to get a popsicle party. I just read anyway.

2nd grade girl, when asked to clean up the outdoor kitchen after recess: But you don't understand, I made this cake with my heart!

This year, the Clairemont Players will present the musical Willy Wonka KIDS! Many students are familiar with the beloved book, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or movie Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory, and now they will get to take part in bringing it to life! Mark your calendars for this exciting musical event which will happen on Wednesday, November 19th at 6:00pm in the Clairemont Auditorium!

Auditions will take place on Monday and Tuesday, September 15th and 16th. They will be held in the auditorium after school from 2:45-4:00 p.m. on both days. We ask that students with last names beginning with A-L plan to audition on Monday, and last names beginning with M-Z audition on Tuesday. If you have a conflict with your assigned day, please let Mrs. Nelson or Ms. DeRosa know.

Audition Procedures and Information

Our actors will have a number of roles to fill in our upcoming musical, however they will only audition for the part of Wonka (Candy Man) and Veruca (I Want it Now). During the audition, students may tell us which role they are interested in by choosing from the character list below. The musical committee will place students into various roles. To prepare for the audition, please review the musical scores provided in their Thursday folder today. Ms. Nelson will review the songs "I Want it Now" and “Candy Man” in music class next week. You can also access the scores and songs digitally by going to the Musical Theater International website.

Online Access to Score and Audio

1. Go to this link: https://www.mtishows.com/roald-dahls-willy-wonka-kids

2. Scroll down and click on Audition Central on the right side of the screen to find the list of characters, examples of their script, character breakdown, and song score.

3. Click on Veruca Salt or Willy Wonka/Candy Man.

4. Click on Songs to review Candy Man or I Want it Now.

The full cast list (leads and ensemble) will be announced by Friday the 19th. Rehearsals will take place on Mondays and Tuesdays from 2:45 pm – 4:00 pm starting September 29th. You will receive a more detailed rehearsal schedule after casting is complete because all students may not be required to be at all rehearsals. This year there will be a one time $20 payment for each cast member to facilitate the distribution of t-shirts, costume (accessories), and snacks. If you are unable to provide this amount, please contact a member of the musical committee.

Please emphasize to your child that every role in this musical is essential for the production to be a success! Leads and ensemble members work together to make the magic happen!

Characters

Grandma Josephina, Grandma Georgina, Grandpa George, The Candy Man Kids, Oompa-Loompa Chorus ,Willy Wonka/Candy Man, Phineous Trout, Mrs. Gloop, Violet Beauregarde, Matilda, Mr. Bucket, Mike Teavee, Squirrels, Charlie Bucket, Mrs. Bucket, Augustus Gloop, Augustus Gloop, Ms. Teavee, Veruca Salt, Mr. Salt, James, Mrs. Beauregarde, Grandpa Joe, Chorus Of Cooks

Battle of the Bands

• Saturday, September 13, 2025
• 2:00 PM 8:00 PM
• Legacy Park Decatur (map)

🎸 DEF’s 2nd Annual Battle of the Bands 🎸

Get ready for a jam-packed, family-friendly afternoon where CSD school bands take the stage and compete for a music grant, trophy, and ultimate bragging rights—all decided by you, the crowd! The school with the biggest fan turnout takes the trophy, so bring your family and cheer loud.

Spread out a blanket for a picnic or grab delicious bites from local food vendors while the music plays. The event will be held on the front lawn of Legacy Park from 2 pm-8pm. Will Glennwood Elementary hold onto their title, or will a new champion emerge?

🎟 Grab your tickets here. Lineup to follow!

Visit your local branch or the library website to apply for a library card.

What do you get with a card?

• Access to more than one mil­lion books, audio­books, DVDs and music CDs
  • Check out our cat­a­log to see what’s avail­able to request and check out
• eBooks and down­load­able audio­books from
  • Over­Drive (if on a mobile device, use the Lib­by app)
  • hoopla (as well as comics, movies, TV, and music)
• Online mag­a­zines and newspapers
  • Over­Drive (if on a mobile device, use the Lib­by app)
  • The New York Times
  • Press­Read­er, includ­ing the AJC
• Edu­ca­tion­al videos
  • LinkedIn Learn­ing (for­mer­ly Lyn​da​.com)
• For our children!
  • Book­Flix
  • eRead Kids
  • Help­Now from Brain­fuse for tutor­ing and home­work help
• Click here for a full list­ing of our online resources

Decatur Holiday Marketplace is our PTA's largest fundraiser in its 34th year! Our school will transform into a magical artist market, including paintings, glass art, jewelry, pottery, gourmet food items and much more. We will have professional food vendors and food trucks to keep you fueled for shopping and music! We had over 80 vendors last year!

We invite you and your family to join us here at the school for this wonderful community tradition. All proceeds from the event support learning initiatives for Clairemont students & teachers. Follow us on Facebook or Instagram for the latest updates. This year's Marketplace will be held at Clairemont Elementary School on Friday, December 12th from 5:30-9 p.m. and Saturday, December 13th, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Want to help with the Marketplace? We rely on all of our Clairemont parent volunteers and our Clairemont Bulldogs to put this fundraiser on its feet. It takes the whole CREW to pull off this wonderful tradition! Please email Marketplace Chairperson Melissa Godbee at decaturholidaymarketplace@gmail.com for more information or if you would like to be more involved with any of the preparations such as artists, food trucks, bands, transformation, social media, raffle and sponsorships!

High Priority Needs:

A CPA (Certified Public Accountant) to hold the raffle!

A committee member to spearhead the bake sale!

Do you want to be a vendor?

Applications are open on decaturholidaymarketplace.com through September 30, 2025.

Read the September 11, 2025, issue of CSD Weekly, the district-wide newsletter.

Signing up as a member allows you to fully access our website and add your bulldog to the directory along with classes and groups/clubs. This membership supports our school and the National and State PTA by paying annual dues that help us operate. We use PTA funds to support teacher grants and school events. A portion of the $10 serves as dues paid to the National and State Parent Teacher Association which is our governing organization.

Calling all K-8th graders: Come spin with the Bulldogs in a special pregame performance before a DHS home varsity football game on September 19. Register here.

Practice: Thursday, September 18, 6-7:30 p.m.

Practice and performance: Friday, September 19, 4:30-7:30 p.m.

Click the image to register!