HMES NEWSLETTER

Greetings, as we begin the last week of the 2025-2026 school year, thank you for your continued partnership and support throughout this amazing year. It truly flew by, but it was filled with so many memorable experiences, celebrations, and accomplishments.

I am incredibly grateful for a SAFE, fun, and engaging school year for our students and staff.

Last week was full of exciting events! Students loved ASPIRE Week, and we thank our staff and parent volunteers for making it such a success. We also celebrated our Pre-K Awards Day, 5th Grade Dance, and an unforgettable Magnificent Mill evening. Our band students, theatre students, and PBL student presentations truly showcased the incredible talent and creativity of our Hawks. Special thanks to our wonderful PTO leaders, Ms. Kosopoulos and Mrs. Corrales, for their continued support with amazing events like these.

This week, please remember there is no school tomorrow in observance of Memorial Day. We also look forward to Awards Days, Sports Banquets/Receptions, End-of-Year Parties, our 5th Grade Bridging Ceremony at 6:00 PM (new location listed on flyer), Fun Day, and Final Walk Through.

The last day of school is Thursday, May 28th, students are able to wear PJs! Also don't forget to join us after school at Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q as we celebrate the last day of school and send our Hawks off for an AMAZING summer!

Please review the SMORE newsletter for important updates and reminders, and don’t forget to watch this week’s STEAM Video of the Week highlighting the amazing learning happening at Henderson Mill!

Thank you for being such an important part of our Hawk family. We are proud of all we accomplished together this year! There is no doubt about it that we are the BEST STEAM school ever!

Wishing everyone a fantastic week ahead! 🦅

— Dr. Blanton

We would like to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to our incredible PTO Board, led by our amazing PTO President, Mrs. Claire Kostopoulos.

Mrs. Kostopoulos and our PTO Board dedicates countless hours to supporting the students, staff, and families of Henderson Mill Elementary School. Under her leadership, the board's commitment, and passion for our school community do not go unnoticed. From organizing events and supporting teachers to helping create memorable experiences for our students, our PTO board consistently goes above and beyond to make Henderson Mill a special place for everyone.

A strong PTO is one of the key ingredients to a thriving school community, and we are truly grateful to have dedicated leaders like Mrs. Kostopoulos and our PTO Board partnering alongside us. Their support, teamwork, and servant leadership help our school run effectively and continue to strengthen the positive culture we work so hard to build each day.

Thank you for all you do for our Hawks! We appreciate you more than words can express.

At Henderson Mill, we are committed to continuous growth for our students and families. Parents can share feedback anytime through our anonymous suggestion link. Thank you to everyone who has shared feedback so far, if you haven’t yet, we encourage you to participate. Your voice matters.

A special thank you to Jorge Vargas of the British Swim School for graciously sponsoring Henderson Mill Elementary School’s 200 bus tags! We truly appreciate the support and partnership shown to our Hawk community. To learn more and explore student leadership opportunities, please see the link below. Go Hawks!

Already stressing about next school year? Check school supplies off your list now by ordering HMES approved school supplies for your student(s)!

Henderson Mill PTO coordinated with our school to offer great deals on school supply packs that have all your student will need for next year!

See the flyer below or follow this link and enter "HEN022" in the school ID to order now : https://www.educationalproducts.com/shoppacks/

Please remind your child to check the Lost and Found located in the cafeteria for any missing jackets, lunch boxes, water bottles, or other personal items. All unclaimed items must be picked up by Thursday and will be donated afterward. Thank you for your support!

We are excited to share that Henderson Mill Elementary School earned 3rd Place in the 2026 DCSD Attendance Contest! This achievement reflects the dedication of our students, families, teachers, and staff who made attendance a priority all year long. Special thanks to our counselors for supporting with this attendance challenge. Also thank you Hawk Family, for your teamwork and commitment to student success. Every day counts, and we are so proud of this accomplishment. Congratulations, Hawks!

Hawk Family, we will be looking for 2 parents and 1 staff member who are interested in serving on our Principal Advisory Council (PAC) for the upcoming school year.

The purpose of PAC is to bring parents, staff, students, and community members together to build understanding, strengthen partnerships, and share ideas that help improve student achievement and school performance.

As PAC members, leaders will:
✅ Maintain a school-wide perspective on issues
✅ Serve as a bridge between the school and community
✅ Encourage family and stakeholder engagement
✅ Provide suggestions and solution-based concerns to help make our school better
✅ Work collaboratively to support student success, positive school culture, and strong community partnerships

PAC provides advice and recommendations to the principal and district leadership on matters related to school climate, student achievement, and community involvement.

We are looking for positive leaders who are willing to share ideas, collaborate, and help us continue making HMES an amazing place for students, staff, and families.

If you are interested in serving on PAC, please keep watch for the declarations for the 2026 DeKalb Fall Principal Advisory Council. Together, we can continue building excellence at HMES! 💙💚

As we enjoy the long weekend, we encourage families to take a moment to help children learn about the meaning of Memorial Day. Memorial Day is a time to honor and remember the brave men and women who served in the military and gave their lives for our country. Below is a kid-friendly video that helps explain Memorial Day in a meaningful and age-appropriate way to share with your child.

We look forward to welcoming students back to school on Tuesday, May 26th. Enjoy the long weekend with your families! Reminder Tuesday, May 26th is awards day! We hope you all have a safe and restful holiday weekend. Go Hawks!

This week, we encourage families to connect with their child’s teacher to see if their student will be recognized during our upcoming Awards Programs. Students will be celebrated for achievements in Attendance, Principal’s List, Honor Roll, Citizenship, Reading, and Math.

We are also excited to celebrate all 4th and 5th grade students who participated in DCSD athletics, including dance, soccer, track, flag football, and basketball, during our Sports Banquet. Thank you again to Dr. OD for generously providing medals for all student athletes!

We are currently looking for volunteers to assist with the 5th Grade Awards Ceremony on 5/26 at 6:00 PM. Due to construction at Lakeside, the ceremony has been moved to our HMES cafeteria to provide a more appropriate celebration space for students and families.

Volunteer support is needed for:
• Passing out programs
• Parking assistance
• Serving students after the ceremony

Typically, our Pre-K–4th grade families help volunteer so 5th grade parents can fully enjoy the event. If you are interested in helping, please sign up here!

https://hendersonmillpto.membershiptoolkit.com/volunteer/168832

We are excited to celebrate the last day of school on Thursday, May 28th! Students are invited to wear their favorite pajamas or HMES spirit wear as we close out another amazing school year together.

We cannot wait to celebrate all of the hard work, growth, and success of our students. Let’s end the year with comfort, school spirit, and lots of excitement!

Join us on Thursday, May 28th after school at Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q as we celebrate the last day of school and send our Hawks off for an AMAZING summer! ☀️🦅

Come enjoy delicious slow-cooked BBQ, famous cheese biscuits, burgers, salads, and classic sides while spending time with our Henderson Mill families and staff.

📍 4860 Briarcliff Rd NE, Tucker, GA 30084
⏰ After School on Thursday, May 28th

Best of all, a percentage of all sales will be donated back to Henderson Mill Elementary to support our students and school community! Special thanks to Ms. Ford and our PTO for this opportunity. We kindly ask that all students be picked up by 2:30 PM so that our faculty and staff can enjoy the school-wide end-of-year celebration as well.

Please wear your HMES colors or spirit wear. We hope to see all of our Hawk Families there for a fun evening of food, fellowship, and celebration!

It’s that time of year again, annual registration for the upcoming school year is now open!

Please check out the links below for helpful information and resources to guide you through the process. We’ve also included a short video to explain everything step by step below. If you have any questions or need assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to Ms. Carroll, our registrar, for support.

Thank you for helping us ensure a smooth registration for all students!

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 distruption 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 – 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.
🕝 2:20 PM – All students should be fully dismissed from classrooms.
🕒 2:40 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!

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! 🦅

Thanks to Mrs. Edwards, our PTO, and Atlanta Landscape Materials for supplying this beautiful boulder, we now have a fun way to celebrate special occasions! Families can “rent the rock” for $30 per three-day block to honor birthdays, holidays, achievements, or show appreciation for students, teachers, or staff. Click link below to learn more and rent the HAWK ROCK. For questions, email hendersonmillpto@gmail.com.

Thank you for supporting this fun PTO fundraiser, we hope you enjoy celebrating on the HMES Hawk Rock! 🦅

Thanks to your efforts, some of our teachers have already earned gift cards worth up to $500 through the School Store program, we are truly grateful!

To participate:

1. Go to schoolstore.net/sid.t?0000008355

2. Send the invitation emails to family and friends or put it on your social media page.

Your participation takes just minutes and helps provide important resources for our students and teachers. Thank you for your support! Click link to watch video to learn more: https://videos.schoolstore.com/kick-off-video

It’s quick, easy, and free to help our school earn rewards!

Here’s how:

1. Create a Kroger digital account (if you don’t already have one): https://www.kroger.com/account/communityrewards/

2. Link your Kroger Plus Shopper’s Card.

3. Go to Community Rewards in your account settings.

4. Search for Henderson Mill Elementary and select our school.

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!

💚 Thank you for supporting our students, one grocery trip at a time!

🏀⚽🏈 Attention Henderson Mill Families! 🏐⚾🎾

DCSD Elementary Athletics is excited to offer FREE 2026 Summer Sports Camps for current 2nd–3rd grade and 4th–5th grade students across DeKalb County School District!

These camps are a wonderful opportunity for students to build skills, stay active, meet new friends, and learn more about different sports in a fun and supportive environment this summer.

✅ Camps are FREE for all students

✅ Open to current 2nd–5th grade students

✅ Great opportunity for skill development and athletic growth

Parents can register by scanning the QR code on the flyer or using the waiver link listed on the flyer.

Please see the attached flyer for additional details regarding camp dates, locations, and registration information.

We encourage all interested students to participate and take advantage of this exciting opportunity!

#HendersonMillHawks #DCSDAthletics #SummerSportsCamp

Join the Lakeside High School Baseball Coaches and Players for their Annual Baseball Camp! This is a great opportunity for young athletes to build their baseball skills, learn from experienced players and coaches, and have fun on the field.

📲 Scan the QR code or click the link to register today!
👕 Register by Friday, May 8th to be guaranteed a camp t-shirt.

Come out, sharpen your skills, and be part of the Lakeside baseball tradition! ⚾

The Lakeside Basketball Booster Club is excited to present the Lakeside Boys Basketball Summer Camp, led by Head Boys Basketball Coach Jamal Basit and the Lakeside Boys Basketball coaching staff. This camp is designed for boys in grades 3–8 across the Lakeside cluster. Our goal is to provide a fun, structured, and competitive environment where young athletes can improve their basketball skills, build confidence, and connect with the Lakeside basketball program.

CAMP DETAILS

Dates: June 29 – July 3

Time: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Location: Lakeside High School

Cost: $185 for the week

WHAT CAMPERS WILL EXPERIENCE

- Skill development (ball handling, shooting, defense)

- Competitive drills and live games

- Team play and instruction

- Leadership and development sessions

- Camp T-shirt

- Friday pizza lunch and awards ceremony

REGISTRATION

Registration and payment can be completed online at: https://www.lakesidevikingsathletics.com/sport/basketball/boys/# Spots are limited and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

WHAT TO BRING

- Basketball

- Water bottle

- Lunch (Monday–Thursday)

- Athletic shoes and workout gear

CONTACT

Coach Jamal Basit

Head Boys Basketball Coach

Lakeside High School

AJMAL_BASIT@DEKALBSCHOOLSGA.ORG

Go Vikings!

Dear ASPIRE Camp Families,

We are excited to announce ASPIRE Aviation Summer Camp 2026 will be held June 15-19 2026 at the DeKalb Peachtree Airport! We teach for the 9-12 year old range, but exceptions can be made on a case by case basis. Camp runs from 8:00-5:00 each day, and lunch is provided. See the attached flyer for these details and a registration QR code, or click HERE to register.

There is no greater joy for an educator than watching a student light up after investing time and focus into understanding a challenging subject. At ASPIRE Camp, students come with different levels of knowledge and interest in aviation, but they all leave with a deeper understanding of the complex physics and operations of flight, and a greater appreciation for the wide variety of careers that support the world of aviation.

This summer, our campers will:

• Crack the code on radio calls using the phonetic alphabet
  

• Experience the Bernoulli Principle through hands-on experiments
  

• Conduct a density lab simulating the layers of the atmosphere
  

• Explore aviation weather through interactive demonstrations
  

• Hear from inspiring guest speakers including dispatchers, pilots, mechanics, entrepreneurs, and engineers
  

• Tour the Air Traffic Control tower right here at PDK
  

• Participate in an aerospace physiology demo with flight nurses
  

• Build a mini-wing with KSU’s Aerial Robotic Team
  

• And much much more!
  
  

Due to my military unit being activated, I will be out of the country this summer, so the new ASPIRE Aviation Camp Director will be David Connor. He is an educator at iFly, he runs other summer camps, and he will do an amazing job teaching your campers this year! We still have slots open for camp this summer, so be sure to share with your camper’s friends for an unforgettable experience they will be talking about all summer! Once your camper is registered, we will be in touch with more information, including what to bring, what to expect each day, and how to prepare for our exciting camp activities. We never want funding to be the reason a student does not get to learn about aviation, so we work hard to help fundraise for scholarships as needed.

Thank you for joining us for an unforgettable week of aviation exploration, discovery, and hands-on fun; we cannot wait to help your camper spread their wings!

Warm regards,

Leadership Team

ASPIRE Aerospace Education 508(c)(3)

ASPIREAeroEd.org

The Globe Building, DeKalb-Peachtree Airport

1954 Airport Road Suite 113, Chamblee, GA 30341

From first splashes to advanced strokes, our programs help swimmers of every level grow in a safe, supportive environment. Need help figuring out which class is right for you our your child? Find detailed information about each of our programs below!

Please click the link below to learn more about the Division of Wrap Around Services and the many supports available for students and families, including counseling, mentoring, health services, after-school programs, social work support, and more. These services are designed to help remove barriers and support student success both inside and outside of the classroom.

Thank you for partnering with us to support our students’ academic and personal growth!

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. Illinets (Parent Liaison) for assistance. All requests will be handled with care and confidentiality. We are always here to support our Henderson Mill families.

Hello, DCSD Community! Click the link below for The DCSD Weekly Digest – May 18, 2026 Newsletter. Stay Connected and Stay Informed: https://bit.ly/4wBFvNH.

• 2026 Commencement Ceremonies
• DCSD Celebrates 22 Schools Recognized on Georgia’s 2025 “Beating the Odds” List
• Graduating Seniors Complete Dual Language Immersion Program
• 2026-2027 School Year Registration
• Cartwheel Summer Availability
• Memorial Day
• Last Day of School
• Literacy Plan Input Survey
• Career Fair
• Photos & Videos of the Week
• Weekly and Monthly Recognitions

Let's continue moving forward together because the strength of our community lies in unity and continuous communication.

We are excited to share a unique summer opportunity for rising 6th–8th grade students through the Quintessential Friends Community-Immersive Summer Institute. This boutique-style youth development program is designed to support students through social-emotional learning, leadership development, early career exploration, and real-world community experiences.

Students will have opportunities to:
• Visit college campuses and training centers
• Explore local businesses and career pathways
• Practice real-life decision-making and communication skills
• Participate in engaging weekly celebration activities

The program is intentionally small, with only 12–15 weekly spots available, allowing for individualized support and meaningful experiences for participating students.

Families interested in learning more are invited to attend the Parent Information Session:

📍 NCG Cinemas Peachtree Corners
📅 Sunday, May 24, 2026
⏰ 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

During the session, families will learn more about the program, registration process, program fees, and next steps.

PARENTS! Flyers for the BOOK IT!® Summer of Stories Program were sent home on Friday. We encourage all students to continue reading throughout the summer to help strengthen their vocabulary, comprehension, confidence, and overall academic growth before the new school year begins. Plus, students can earn FREE pizza rewards while reading! Don’t forget to also log reading minutes in BEANSTACK (see below for more details) over the summer. Check out this special photo of Scarlett, thank you to Mrs. Pitts and Ms. McDowell! Our 5th graders learned how many books they checked out over the years and even discovered the very first book they ever checked out from a DCSD Media Center. What a powerful reminder of how Henderson Mill supports and celebrates a love for reading!

Let’s keep the momentum going!

Congratulations to our Trophy winners! 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.

See video from our DCSD Board Chair Mrs. Allyson Gevertz below, together, we can build a powerful culture of reading at HMES, one page at a time! ✨

As we wrap up the school year, we want to share a brief update on the Social Emotional Learning (SEL) experiences your children have participated in throughout the year.

Our school counselors have provided students with age-appropriate SEL lessons focused on building important life skills that support both learning and well-being. These lessons included developing positive mindsets, setting goals, understanding and managing emotions, and showing empathy toward others. Students also learned strategies for problem-solving, building healthy friendships, and contributing to a safe and supportive school environment.

In addition, students explored personal safety topics, including understanding boundaries and knowing how to seek help from trusted adults. A strong emphasis was placed on helping students build confidence, recognize their strengths, and develop a positive sense of self. These lessons are designed to support the whole child and help students make thoughtful, responsible decisions both in and out of the classroom. It has been a wonderful year of growth, and our students are looking forward to a well-deserved break.

Thank you for your continued support as we work together to promote emotional well-being and success for every child.

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.

Parent ProTech is an on-demand library of resources to help you with everything from social media to gaming, artificial intelligence to streaming, to preventing violence in schools with anti-bullying educational awareness. Their resources cover trends and what you need to know to inform and protect students online. They end every series with conversation starters to help you know how to begin conversations with your students around their favorite tech. Their full library is now available so you can stay up to date on the platforms our students are using.

Signing up is easy and FREE! Visit this link https://bit.ly/DCSDParentProtech and create your Parent ProTech account that will equip you with the knowledge and tools needed to support your students online. Note: Please use your district email to create your account.

Please take a few minutes to view the introduction and walkthrough videos to learn more about this amazing resource.

• Introduction Video: Equipping Educators and Families with Parent ProTech

• Account Creation and Platform Walkthrough Video

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