CSD Weekly: October 2, 2025

Celebrate Homecoming at the 2025 DHS Homecoming Parade this Friday, October 3, starting at 5:30 p.m. The parade begins near the intersection of Commerce Dr. and W. Howard Ave., goes through downtown Decatur, and ends near W. Trinity Place. Plan your viewing spot now and purchase tickets to the 7:30 p.m. DHS football game here.

• Did You Know? The CSD App has News, Events, Bus Schedules, Tickets, and More.
• Mark Your Calendars: Student Support Services Transition Fair
• Around CSD: CSD Rises to #1 in State in SAT Scores and #2 In State for Graduation Rate, BHMS Student Art Selected for Georgia Exhibition, CSD Celebrates Spirit Week
• Information and Resources: CSD Flu Vaccine Events, Grades 3-12 Taking Interim Assessments
• Community Partner News: DEF Monthly Speaker Series Continues Oct. 15

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

The CSD app is a one-stop shop for CSD news, events, lunch menus, bus schedules, athletics tickets, and more. Users can configure their settings to receive notifications and news about their schools. Download the CSD app from Apple or Google Play today.

We are grateful for the commitment and leadership of our CSD principals in our students and our schools every day. Thank you for making a difference!

Sarah Garland: College Heights ECLC

Tatrabian Lockwood: Clairemont Elementary School

Bill Howard: Glennwood Elementary School

Jennifer Triplett: Oakhurst Elementary School

Christine Knox: Westchester Elementary School

Greg Wiseman: Winnona Park Elementary School

Derrick Thomas: Fifth Avenue Upper Elementary

Billy Heaton: Talley Street Upper Elementary

Alexis Glenn: Beacon Hill Middle School

Dr. Duane Sprull: Decatur High School

• CSD Reads Week, September 29-October 8
• Superintendent's Fall Listening Session, October 2, 5:30 p.m., DHA Community Center
• DHS Homecoming, October 3
• Superintendent's Fall Listening Session, October 9, 5:30 p.m., Talley St.
• Board of Education Meeting, October 14
• Superintendent's Fall Listening Session, October 16, 11:30 a.m., Virtual
• Student Support Services Transition Fair, October 16, 5 p.m., Ebster Recreation Center
• Early Release Day, October 22
• Digital Learning Day, November 4

• National Hispanic Heritage Month
• Breast Cancer Awareness Month
• Farm To School Month
• Learning Disabilities and Dyslexia Awareness Month
• LGBTQ History Month
• National Bullying Prevention Month
• National Principals Month
• National Custodians Appreciation Day, October 2
• World Teacher Day, October 5
• NFPA Fire Prevention Week, October 5-11
• National Coaches Day, October 6
• National Walk to School Day, October 8
• World Mental Health Day, October 10
• National School Lunch Week, October 13-17
• Safe Schools Week, October 19-25
• National School Bus Safety Week and Digital Citizenship Week, October 20-24
• Red Ribbon Week, October 23-31

CSD has announced that the Decatur High School graduating class of 2025 earned a mean SAT score of 1181, outpacing the metro and national averages and placing CSD first in the state for SAT scores.

According to GaDOE, this score represents a 12-point mean increase overall from CSD's previous year, including a 5-point rise in evidence-based reading and writing and a 7-point increase in math. In 2025, 73% of DHS seniors participated in the SAT.

CSD also shared that its four-year 2025 graduation rate increased to 96.04% for DHS, representing a .79% increase from 2024 and nearly a 2% increase over the previous three years. This improved graduation rate ranks CSD second among districts in the Metro RESA region, outpacing the 2025 state average graduation rate of 87.2% and ranking 40th among 180 public school districts statewide.

Congratulations to the eight DHS seniors who were named as semifinalists in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship program, which recognizes students who earned some of the highest scores on the 2024 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Semifinalists make up less than one percent of all high school seniors in the nation.

2026 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists:

L to R: Liora Yustein, Jack Shannin, Ellen Kolesnikova, Shoichiroh Furuta, and Isadora Rasnik-Stryker. Not pictured: Anushruti Ram, Zain Sidor, and Gerald Winkler.

National Merit Scholarship semifinalists will be notified in February if they are selected as finalists, and they may then proceed to compete for a National Merit Scholarship. These scholarships are awarded to finalists with high potential for success in rigorous college studies, as determined by their academic record, participation in school and community activities, leadership roles, honors, and awards.

Congratulations to BHMS student Milo Shoemaker, whose artwork has been selected to be part of the 2025-2026 Georgia Artists with Disabilities exhibition, which will tour the state through 2026. In addition to this recognition, Milo's art piece also earned an honorable mention, a distinction given to only a few artists in this show. We are so proud of Milo for this accomplishment and are excited to see his talent celebrated across Georgia.

Cheers to the DHS Bulldog softball team for securing the Region 4-5A championship after their win over Woodward this week. The team currently has a record of 12-1 in the region and a 15-2 overall record. The softball team will celebrate its seniors on October 7, and the state playoffs begin on October 13.

Thanks to softball head coach Taryn Williams and assistant coaches Wardrickes Buck, Sandi Keener, and Mi'chele Hull.

Girls Softball Team: Ava Bearden, Elizabeth Brown, Brekley Cade, Lena Castro, Kate Dickinson, Molly Enguirt, Mia Frederick, Mary Huey, Claire Kennedy, Peri Jeffers, Anna Schuffenhauer, and Reny Stephenson

Schools have been counting down to Homecoming by celebrating Spirit Week! Students dressed up for pajama day, Hawaiian day, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Adam Sandler day, and twin day.

Kindergarten students at Oakhurst in Stacie Kenner's P.E. class show their balancing skills by circling and jumping in and out of hula hoops.

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.

The CSD School Health Team is partnering with DeKalb Public Health to offer flu vaccines to our CSD community. CSD students, staff, and families are invited to participate. Parents/guardians who are interested in their student(s) receiving the flu vaccine must be present at the time of services. Please bring your ID and insurance card for billing. Private insurance and Medicaid are accepted, with the exception of Kaiser and TriCare insurance plans.

Please see below for a list of scheduled flu vaccine events.

• Fifth Ave Upper Elementary: Wednesday, Oct. 8, 3-5 p.m.
• Decatur High School: Wednesday, Oct.15, 3:30-5 p.m.
• Glennwood Elementary: Monday, Oct. 20, 10 a.m.-noon

During the week of October 13-17, students in grades 3-8 will take interim assessments in Math and ELA, and high school students will complete assessments in Algebra, Literature and Composition II, Biology, and U.S. History. These assessments, taken during regular class periods, are not graded and will not impact report cards. The purpose of these assessments is to give teachers valuable information about which standards students have already mastered and where additional support or enrichment may be needed.

CSD is going all in for student success and announcing enhanced course progressions and a slate of dynamic new courses, with expanded offerings in ELA, Social Studies, and Science. We’re creating more diverse and advanced opportunities so every student can discover their passions and forge a unique path to success.

Highlights:

• Reimagined science progression: Beginning next school year, 8th-grade students will take high school-level Physical Science to earn a high school credit.
• Expanded AP and elective options: AP Seminar, AP Research, and AP Literature & Composition can strengthen critical thinking and writing skills and open new pathways to advanced recognition programs, like the AP Capstone Diploma Program.

These expanded options allow students to design a personalized academic path and offer more paths toward an IB Diploma, an AP Capstone Diploma, or Dual Enrollment.

See the detailed course maps for every subject below:

• ELA Course Progression 26-27 Final.pdf
• Math Progressions 26-27 Final.pdf
• Science Course Progression 26-27 Final. pdf
• Social Studies Course Progression 26-27 Final.pdf

National Literacy Month promotes reading, writing, and lifelong learning. Learners of all ages are encouraged to read, visit libraries, and engage in language-rich activities to develop strong literacy skills.

From September 29 to October 8, CSD will celebrate CSD Reads Week and the beginning of Dyslexia Awareness Month by hosting various engaging literacy and awareness events. The week kicked off with a read-aloud by Superintendent Dr. Whitaker, followed by a Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB) livestream featuring Georgia Reads Coach Malcolm Mitchell. Schools will participate in a "Buckets of Books" drive, collecting gently used books for Children Read Atlanta. Community involvement will be encouraged through guest reader opportunities, including parents, staff, and members of the Board of Education. Students will engage in the Rock for Dyslexia activity by painting awareness-themed rocks.

The week will conclude with another read-aloud by Dr. Whitaker and "Go Red for Dyslexia," where students and staff are encouraged to wear red to support dyslexia awareness. CSD families are also encouraged to attend the Decatur Book Festival, October 3-5, 2025. Let's read, CSD!

The furniture design lab at the Decatur Career Academy is gathering feedback to determine the types and schedule of woodworking classes to offer to the community. Whether you're a complete beginner or an experienced hobbyist, your input is crucial to help us craft a schedule that meets your needs. Please take a few minutes to complete the Community Woodworking Survey to tell us what you'd like to learn.

CSD invites you to take this one-minute City Schools of Decatur 2025-26 Communications Survey to assess the organization’s practices, channels, and effectiveness. Your feedback will help us enhance our communication with all stakeholders. Please note that the survey will close on Thursday, October 9. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to communications@csdecatur.net.

Save the date for the 14th annual MadAve Derby race, October 25, 11 a.m.! All proceeds benefit this year's DEF’s Lighten the Load initiative. Find more information here.

Join local experts for the next monthly speaker series as they discuss "The Party Problem," on October 15, 6:30-8 p.m. at DHS. Adults may register for free here.

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.

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

Check out the latest CSD Words with Dr. Whitaker podcast episode, featuring Chief Operations Officer Jarvis Adams and Chief Financial Officer Dr. Lonita Broome. They discuss how CSD is advancing its five-year strategic plan by focusing on finance, operations, facilities, and student success.

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.

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