CSD Weekly: October 23, 2025

• Did You Know?: You can learn at the same time as the media what's on the upcoming board meeting agenda.
• Mark Your Calendars: First Public Hearing for Feedback on K-2 School Consolidation and Redistricting Process, October 29, 6:30-8 p.m., BHMS Cafeteria
• Around CSD: Clairemont and Talley Street Named 2025 Distinguished Title I Schools, Decatur Performs Presents Theatrical Drama "Radium Girls," DHS Celebrates Charlie McAdoo Being Named Atlanta Falcons Fan of the Year
• Information and Resources: Virtual Lunch and Learn: Drug Prevention, Oct. 29, 12-1 p.m.
• Community Partner News: DEF Awards Teacher and Student Innovation Grants

Find out what's happening in CSD schools by clicking on your school's newsletter name.

College Heights Connection

Clairemont Bulldog

Glennwood Eagle Edition

Oakhurst Weekly

Westchester Weekly

Winnona Park Wildcat Weekly

F.Ave Falcon Flyer

Talley Street Update

BHMS Weekly Update

DHS Weekly Update

Did you know that the Georgia Open Meetings Act requires the agenda for the upcoming monthly CSD Board of Education meeting to be published in Simbli for the public 48 hours in advance of the meeting? Due to the weekend, CSD publishes on the Friday before the meeting. Learn at the same time as the media by checking Simbli to know what's on the upcoming board meeting agenda.

On October 16, Superintendent Dr. Gyimah Whitaker emailed a letter to City Schools of Decatur community that the 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 board 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. Additional language translations of the letter and up-to-date information about the process are available on the K-2 School Consolidation & Redistricting Process webpage. Stakeholder engagement is encouraged and vital as we work together to make the best decisions for our students and schools.

The community is invited to upcoming public hearings to provide feedback:

• 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

In addition to the in-person public hearings, input may be submitted via this feedback form.

• Wear it Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness, October 24

• CSD Virtual Lunch and Learn: Drug Prevention, October 29, noon-1 p.m. Find more information here, register here, join meeting at this link

• First Public Hearing for Feedback on K-2 School Consolidation and Redistricting Process, October 29, 6:30-8 p.m., BHMS Cafeteria
• Remote Digital Learning Day, November 4
• Board of Education Meeting, November 11
• Second Public Hearing for Feedback on K-2 School Consolidation and Redistricting Process, November 13, 6:30-8 p.m., BHMS Cafeteria
• Board of Education Retreat, November 18

CSD will hold a remote Digital Learning Day on Tuesday, November 4, 2025. All CSD schools and administrative offices will be closed, including the 0-3 and Pre-K programs at College Heights ECLC and the Frasier Center. Families will receive communications directly from schools about specific digital day learning plans for individual sites.

The purpose of this day is two-fold: the remote Digital Learning Day will enable staff to participate in civic engagement on Election Day, and it will provide an opportunity to further grow our secondary students’ digital learning skills. Additionally, staff will have dedicated time to participate in training and professional development.

See CSD's Remote Digital Learning Day FAQ here.

Clairemont and Talley Street elementary schools were both included on the 2025 list of Distinguished Title I schools by the Georgia Department of Education, which recognizes the highest-performing Title I schools in the state.

Distinguished schools are among the highest-performing five percent of Title I Schoolwide and Title I Targeted Assistance schools based on the combined ELA and math content mastery scores from the statewide assessments of the most recent year. More information is available here.

Bravo to the Decatur High School Advanced Acting class for an incredible theatrical performance of Radium Girls, based on the true story of young women who painted luminous watch dials in the 1920s and were poisoned by the radium-based paint.

Dr. Charlie McAdoo, One Goal program director at DHS and former DHS CTAE teacher, was surprised when the Atlanta Falcons showed up at DHS this week to name him the Falcons Fan of the Year. The DHS cheerleaders, drumline, many staff and students, and Dr. McAdoo's family came out to celebrate this honor, which included a personalized jersey and two free tickets to the Super Bowl in San Francisco in February.

Congratulations, Dr. McAdoo! Thank you for everything you do for CSD.

DHS students in AP Language and Composition classes visited the High Museum this month to explore connections between visuals and written texts, and to gain a deeper understanding of the concepts of audience, purpose, and perspective.

Glennwood students and teachers transformed into some of their favorite book characters for the school's annual Book Character Parade. Animals, mythical creatures, construction workers, princesses, and characters from classic children's books marched around the school to celebrate.

Effective immediately, CSD will send SMS text messages from our new number: 97178. Messages will no longer come from the previous number, 54968. This change was made to improve the reliability and speed of our text message delivery. Please save the new number (97178) to your contacts for immediate recognition. Thank you for your understanding and continued partnership as we make this transition.

Families interested in enrolling their student in the Decatur Virtual Academy (DVA) by choice for the Spring 2026 semester are encouraged to complete the DVA Online Interest and Contract Form by December 5, 2025. Please note that this contract is either for students new to DVA or for those who did not enroll by choice for the Fall 2025 semester, but wish to continue in DVA.

DVA will schedule an intake meeting upon receipt of the completed form. For more information, please review these frequently asked questions and/or email Ms. Arlethea Williams, Director of Decatur Virtual Academy, at awilliams@csdecatur.net.

Parents and guardians are invited to join the Student Support Services Department for a virtual Lunch and Learn focused on drug prevention on Wednesday, October 29, from noon to 1 p.m., in honor of National Red Ribbon Week (October 23-31). Find more information here, register here, and join the meeting at this link.

CSD and districts across the nation are joining together to promote healthy, drug-free choices. The 2025 national theme is "Life Is A Puzzle, Solve It Drug Free," reminding us that every choice is a "piece" that helps shape a positive, healthy future and encourages students to think carefully about how their decisions fit into the bigger picture. During this week, students will participate in a variety of activities focused on promoting drug awareness and encouraging positive decision-making.

Here are some community agencies that provide drug awareness resources:

• Decatur Parent Network (DPI)
• DeKalb Office of Youth Services
• University for Parents
• Claratel Behavioral Health (formerly DeKalb CSB)
• GA Center for Child Advocacy

October is Dyslexia Awareness Month, and CSD is excited to participate in Georgia's division of the International Dyslexia Association's 2025 "Rock for Dyslexia" competition. Students will engage in age-appropriate activities that help them understand dyslexia, recognize the importance of empathy and kindness, and decorate a rock with kind messages for those with dyslexia. If your child would like to participate in the Rock for Dyslexia competition, please read these directions and tips for creating their design.

Rock Design Submission Steps

1. Send two pictures of your rock to rockfordyslexia25@csdecatur.net following this

subject line format: student last name, student first name, school name (example: WalkerElizabethOakhurst)

2. Submit the design to the International Dyslexia Association here by Friday, October 31.

Caution! National Bus Safety Week is October 20-24, 2025. CSD bus drivers conduct BARC (Behavior, Accident, Rules, and Cooperation) bus safety lessons for students that focus on boarding and behaving on the bus, avoiding the "danger zone," and what to do in emergencies.

Here are a few bus safety reminders for our early morning and afternoon travelers:

• Always cross at crosswalks and intersections.
• Look both ways before crossing the street.
• Always obey the bus driver and wait for the driver's signal before crossing.
• Always cross at least 10 feet in front of the bus.
• Keep feet on the floor and never extend hands, arms, or head outside of the bus window.
• Remain seated while the bus is moving.

• Breast Cancer Awareness Month
• Farm To School Month
• Learning Disabilities and Dyslexia Awareness Month
• LGBTQ History Month
• National Bullying Prevention Month
• National Principals Month
• Safe Schools Week, October 19-25
• National School Bus Safety Week and Digital Citizenship Week, October 20-24
• Red Ribbon Week, October 23-31

DEF was honored to celebrate the recipients of its Teacher Innovation Grants & Student Innovation Grants. Eleven Student Innovation Grants and 24 Teacher Innovation Grants totaling over $31,000 were spread across DHS, BHMS, FAVE, Talley, Clairemont, Glennwood, Oakhurst, Westchester, and College Heights! We can’t wait to see all 35 projects come to life.

The Madison Ave Derby is this Saturday, October 25! Racing starts at 1 p.m. All proceeds benefit this year's DEF’s Lighten the Load initiative.

Supper & Sips, DEF’s annual dinner and auction, is just around the corner on November 6, 6-10 p.m. at the Chapel on Sycamore. Join us for this fun evening of entertainment and fundraising for our schools. Tickets are available here.

City of Decatur Parks and Recreation commits to providing exceptional experiences that foster healthy living and meaningful community connections. Please visit the DPRD programs website for information about after-school programs, school holiday programs, and summer camps. Follow Decatur Parks and Recreation on Facebook and Instagram or sign up for their monthly newsletter here.

Youth Basketball League: Open to youth of all skill levels, ages 6-14. The league features weekly practices and games that build skills, teamwork, and confidence. Players learn dribbling, passing, shooting, defense, and game awareness in a fun, supportive environment where every child gets a chance to shine. Register here by October 25.

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Check out the latest CSD Words with Dr. Whitaker podcast episode, featuring Assistant Superintendent of Student Support Services Frances Holt. This episode highlights October as Disability Awareness Month and the innovative ways CSD is supporting students with disabilities as part of its five-year strategic plan to ensure positive outcomes for all students.

The CSD Words with Dr. Whitaker podcast highlights news and information with a variety of stakeholders who are All In for City Schools of Decatur. See previous episodes.