WEEK 32
🐝 The Hawthorne Hive Weekly Buzz
Greetings Hawthorne Hive Families! 🐝
Thank you, families, for your continued support during Exceptional Children’s Week! We loved seeing our students participate in wearing colors to celebrate and honor the uniqueness of all learners in our school community.
Our 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students enjoyed an exciting pep rally on Friday as we celebrated their hard work and encouraged them ahead of the upcoming Georgia Milestones Assessment. The energy and school spirit were truly amazing!
A special thank you to our Instructional Advisory Committee for helping make the pep rally such a success. We also appreciate all of our teachers for their support in creating positive messages on classroom doors to uplift and motivate our students in grades 3–5. Additionally, our K–2 students helped build excitement by extending cheers and encouragement to their peers during a mini parade leading up to the pep rally. We are incredibly proud of our students and grateful for our supportive school community as we head into testing season!
Donations for the Hornet Hustle are still being accepted! We’ve raised an incredible $25,326, reaching 84% of our $30,000 goal—we are only $4,674 away! We are so close and can reach our goal with your support. With just a little more help, we can cross the finish line. Every dollar truly makes a difference, and any amount is appreciated. There’s still time to give—please use the link below to donate and help us finish strong!
DONATE HERE 👉 https://heshustle.dojiggy.io/hustle15/Campaign/Details
Upcoming School Events THIS WEEK – Join Us!
We’re excited to share two upcoming events and hope to see your family there:
Spirit Night – Monday, April 20 | 5:00–9:00 PM
Join us at Taqueria El Vecino on Lavista Road for our School Spirit Night! A portion of the proceeds during this time will go directly back to our school to support student programs. Bring the whole family and enjoy a great meal for a great cause!
Silent Disco Party/Fiesta – Saturday, April 25 | 4:00 PM in the HES GYM
Get ready for a fun and unique experience! Our PTA is hosting an exciting Silent Disco Party/ Fiesta for all students. This free event is a wonderful opportunity for students to celebrate, connect, and have fun together. We would love to see everyone there—come one, come all!
Annual Verification (Registration)
Annual Verification for the 2026–2027 school year is now open. Please take a moment to complete this important step to ensure your child’s enrollment is up to date.
Thank you, Hawthorne families, for your continued support, partnership, and commitment to excellence. Together, we are building something truly special! 🐝
📅 This Week
-April 22nd - Earth Day
-April 23rd - GA Milestones Math Section 1 will be administered to students in Grades 3, 4, & 5
-April 24th - GA Milestones Math Section 2 will be administered to students in Grades 3, 4, & 5
-April 25th - Free Silent Disco Party 4-6 pm
📅 Upcoming Week
-April 27th GA Milestones ELA Section 1 will be administered to students in Grades 3, 4, & 5
-April 28th- GA Milestones ELA Section 2 will be administered to students in Grades 3, 4, & 5
-April 28th-School Bus Driver Appreciation Day
-April 29th- GA Milestones ELA Section 3 will be administered to students in Grades 3, 4, & 5
-May 1st -School Nutrition Appreciation Day
📅May Event
-May 4th-GA Milestones SCI Sections 1 & 2 will be administered to students in Grades 5
-May 4th- May 8th-Teacher Appreciation Week
-May 12th- Kids Rule the School Day
-May 13th- May PTA & Committee Meeting (8 am)
-May 14th- HES Career Day
-May 15th - Field Day
-May 16th - Blood Drive facilitated by the American Red Cross & HES Foundation - In the Gym
-May 18th- Lakeside High School Final Walk- (8 am)
-May 18th-Speech Pathologist Day
-May 21st--18 Week Grade period ends
-May 20th -May 21st- GA Milestone Retest Dates
-May 22nd- End of Year Parties (times will vary)
-May 25th - Memorial Day (NO SCHOOL)
-May 26th- Pre-K & Kindergarten Awards Day
-May 27th -1st, 2nd, 3rd, & 4th grade -Awards Day Programs
-May 27th - 5th Grade EOY Event Day
-May 27th- 5th Grade final walk through
-May 28th -Last Day of School
-May 28th- 5th Grade Bridging Ceremony at Lakeside High School (6 pm)
Go Hornets 🐝
Proud to Serve,
Principal Henley
#OneTeamOneDream #WeAreALLIN
TWITTER
📢 Purchase Your 2025-2026 Yearbook Today!
Yearbooks are available for $27.25 plus tax. The deadline to purchase is April 25, 2026.
To order your yearbook:
• Scan the QR code on the flyer above or visit: www.TREERING.com
• Enter the school passcode: 1014588341651501
• You may also use this direct link: https://www.treering.com/purchase?PassCode=1014588341651501
Steps to complete your order:
• Create an account or log in to www.TREERING.com
• Add your student to their teacher’s class roster
• Purchase your yearbook
• Customize your student’s free personal pages included with each purchase
• Upload photos to the shared school file
• Send and request signatures from friends
Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions — we’re excited to create a great yearbook for our students!
Date: Tuesday, April 28, 2026
What: Join us in honoring the hardworking men and women who safely transport our students every day!
School Bus Driver Appreciation Day is observed annually on the fourth Tuesday in April. This special day was first recognized in California to highlight the dedication and contributions of school bus drivers—and now we’re celebrating here at Hawthorne ES!
How Families Can Participate:
- Student-Created Cards ✏️ – Share a heartfelt message of thanks.
- Flowers & Snacks 🌸🍪 – Brighten their day with a small token of appreciation.
Let’s show our drivers how much we value their hard work and dedication!
💛 Hawthorne ES Families, your support makes this celebration extra special!
The DCSD Weekly Digest
Hello, DCSD Community! Click the link below for The DCSD Weekly Digest – April 13, 2026 Newsletter. Stay Connected and Stay Informed: https://bit.ly/4ejCBb2.
- Literacy in DeKalb Plan Feedback - April 14, 15, 16
- Spring Check-In with Cartwheel Care, Inc.
- Community Health & Wellness Fair
- Weekly and Monthly Recognitions
- Photos & Videos of the Week
Let's continue moving forward together because the strength of our community lies in unity and continuous communication.
Attendance Contest Updates
📣 Second Semester Attendance Challenge: Your Presence Is Power! 💪
From January through April, Hawthorne ES is participating in a districtwide attendance challenge that encourages students to show up, stay engaged, and finish the school year strong. Led by our very own Attendance Avenger, students will enjoy grade-level activities, school spirit events, and friendly competitions that celebrate the importance of being present every day.
We are especially excited because Hawthorne ES won the district attendance contest last year—and this year, we’re aiming to do it again! Our district is closing in on its strategic goal of 95% attendance, and your continued partnership plays a vital role in helping us reach and maintain that goal.
🦹 April Attendance Celebration
Reading is a Superpower
Get ready for an exciting read-aloud event featuring superheroes!
We’ll have special guest readers including staff, district leaders, and SROs joining us to share their favorite stories.
Plus, students with perfect weekly attendance will receive attendance bookmarks as a special reward!
🚗✨ 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.
🍽️ 7:15 AM –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!
Calling Future Vikings
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! ⚾
Parent Tech Café
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. See flyer to learn when sessions takes place. 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
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. Click on link below, this document was created by the District and is designed to assist you in registering to be a volunteer with the DeKalb County School District. Please complete the following steps to become a DCSD Volunteer. The process for volunteering takes about 30 minutes total and includes about 20 minutes of online mandatory child abuse reporting training required by the State of Georgia for all volunteers.
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
2026 Volunteer Training Dates (COMING SOON)
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!
🌟 Get Involved at Hawthorne! Foundation Board & Committee Openings 🌟
The Hawthorne Elementary School Foundation is looking for engaged parents and caregivers to help lead and support our work during the 2026–2028 school years. We have several two-year term positions open and hope to fill them by April.
✨ Open Leadership Positions
Foundation Executive Board: Vice President, Secretary
Committee Chairs: Communications, Care, Grants
The Hawthorne Elementary School Foundation is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to support a superior academic experience for every Hawthorne student through short- and long-term initiatives that directly benefit our school community.
💛 Recent Foundation Wins Include:
Raising critical donations to support school priorities
Partnering with school leadership to launch the Alliance Theatre Artist-in-Residence program, bringing professional teaching artists into classrooms through theatre-based learning
Helping deliver the new outdoor classroom
Supporting the Hawthorne mural, STEM garden, and campus-wide beautification and planting projects
If you’re interested in giving back, building community, and helping shape the future of Hawthorne, we’d love to have you involved!
👉 Learn more about the open positions and committee roles here:
Hawthorne Foundation - Committees
Questions? Curious but not sure where you fit? Reach out — we’re happy to talk!
Deanna Murphy and Elisha Smith, Co-Presidents: president@dcsd-hawthornefoundation.org
Sally Cargo, Treasurer: treasurer@dcsd-hawthornefoundation.org
📚 Support Our School Through SchoolStore!
Thanks to your efforts, through the School Store program, we are truly grateful!
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:
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
APRIL SEL FOCUS
April’s SEL focus highlights stress awareness and emotional regulation. Students will learn strategies to recognize stress triggers, manage their emotions, and apply coping techniques that support both their mental and physical wellbeing, especially during high-pressure times like testing. While there are no required SEL lessons this month, our school counselors will continue to support students by reinforcing brief strategies that promote calmness, focus, and resilience.
Our Book of the Month, B Is for Breathe: The ABCs of Coping with Fussy and Frustrating Feelings by Dr. Melissa Munroe Boyd, encourages students to practice breathing techniques and healthy ways to express emotions. This resource is especially helpful in supporting students during times when they may feel overwhelmed or stressed.
Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting the whole child.
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.
WHAT IS BEANSTACK? HOW DOES IT HELP MY CHILD?
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.
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! ✨
Thank you to all of our 3rd, 4th, & 5th grade parents/guardians who attended the GA Milestones Presentation and Student Data Talks Sessions. We truly appreciate your time, partnership, and commitment to supporting your child’s learning and academic growth.
For your convenience, the presentation used during the sessions is attached ⬆️. The final 3 slides include grade-level resources to support learning at home. Please locate your child’s grade level to access the appropriate GA Milestones practice materials and resources.
If you have any questions or need additional information, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher. Thank you again for your continued partnership and support.
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).
GMAS Resources
Parent ProTech is here!
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.
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
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