WEEK 37

Greetings World Class Hawthorne Parents & Guardians

Hawthorne Hive Final Family Newsletter: A Sweet Ending to an Incredible Year 🍯🐝

Wow!!! I can’t believe we’ve reached the final week of the school year! What an incredible journey it’s been—and what a joy it has been to witness the growth, resilience, and brilliance of our students each and every day. As I reflect on the past several months, I’m filled with immense pride and deep gratitude for this amazing school community.

To our parents and guardians—thank you. Your partnership, encouragement, and presence have meant the world to us. From cheering on students during Field Day to helping host unforgettable classroom celebrations, your support filled our campus with joy, laughter, and community spirit. It was truly heartwarming to see so many volunteers pour into our children last Friday!

While summer is a time for fun, play, and much-deserved rest, it’s also a golden opportunity to keep the learning momentum going! I encourage you to carve out time each week to engage with your child in activities that spark curiosity and build real-world skills—whether it’s reading together, exploring nature, visiting a local museum, practicing math in everyday situations, or working on creative projects. Even simple, meaningful conversations can inspire lifelong learning.

We also encourage all families to keep up with daily reading for at least 15–30 minutes. Maintaining this habit over the summer helps strengthen literacy and will set the stage for a successful return in August.

A special reminder to families of students in grades 3, 4, and 5 who received invitations to Scholars Academy, and to our English learner families invited to ESOL Summer School—we hope you’re able to take advantage of these rich opportunities to extend learning in a nurturing and supportive environment.

Looking ahead, I’m energized and excited about the future of Hawthorne Elementary! We’re committed to finding new ways to make school even more engaging, continuing to uplift and celebrate the incredible work of our staff, and expanding our STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) initiatives to spark even more innovation, creativity, and critical thinking.

Lastly, even though it is the last week, I still want to strongly continue to emphasize the importance of maintaining a safe, respectful, and positive campus environment. Please continue reinforcing behavior expectations with your students, especially during arrival, dismissal, and transitions. Carpool safety remains a priority, and I kindly ask for your continued cooperation in following staff directions during both AM and PM hours to ensure the safety of every child and adult.

Thank you for trusting us with your children this year. Your support has helped create a hive of learning, love, and limitless possibilities.

Have a safe, joyful, and restful summer—and we can’t wait to welcome you back in August for another amazing year at Hawthorne Elementary!

With gratitude and excitement,
Principal Henley

Proud to Serve,

-Principal Henley

#OneTeamOneDream

#Going for the G.O.L.D. (Growing Our Learners Daily)

TWITTER

All parents MUST complete the Annual Verification process in order to register their child for the 2025–2026 school year.
This step is mandatory for ALL returning students. Please access the flyers below for additional information.

Assistance with Annual Verification & Parent Code

If you need help with annual verification or your parent code, please see or call Mrs. Elliott, Monday through Friday, between 9:00 AM and 12:00 PM.

Spanish-Speaking Families
If you require assistance in Spanish, please visit our front office on Tuesday, as this is the only day our interpreter is available on campus.

• ANNUAL VERIFICATION CONTINUES -All parents MUST complete the Annual Verification process in order to register their child for the 2025–2026 school year.

• Monday, May 26th - MEMORIAL DAY - NO SCHOOL
• Tuesday, May 27th - Pre-Kindergarten Moving Up Program -9:00 am
• Tuesday, May 27th - Kindergarten End of Year Celebration - 10:00 am
• Wednesday, May 28th -Awards Ceremony 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, (times will vary)
• Wednesday, HES Sports Banquet -11;45 am
• Thursday, May 29th - Last Day of School
• Thursday, May 29th - 5th Grade Bridging/Awards Ceremony (at Lakeside High School) -6 pm

GEORGIA MILESTONES

Hello, in accordance with Georgia state law (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-282 through § 20-2-285), if you were notified that your child did not pass the Georgia Milestones third grade reading and fifth grade reading and or math, please note that your child will be retained in the same grade for the 2024–2025 school year due to not meeting the required performance level on the End of Grade (EOG) assessments in reading and/or mathematics.

You as a parent have the Right to Appeal. State law provides you the right to appeal this retention decision. To initiate the appeal process, you must submit a written and signed statement indicating your desire to appeal. Your appeal request must include:

1. Your child’s full printed name

2. Current and accurate telephone number

3. Current and accurate mailing address

4. Your signature and the date of submission

This written appeal must be submitted to the principal’s office within seven (7) working days of the date on this letter. Appeals received after this deadline cannot be accepted. Once your written request is received, it will be officially logged. You will be notified in writing, email, and or by phone of the date, time, and location of the Virtual Placement Committee meeting.

Placement Committee Process

The Placement Committee will consist of the following members:

• You (the parent/guardian)

• The teacher(s) in the subject(s) where your child did not meet grade-level expectations (reading and/or math)

• The principal or principal’s designee

The committee will review your child’s overall academic performance during the 2024–2025 school year, including assessment data and classroom performance. A unanimous decision is required to promote your child to the next grade level.

Please note: The decision of the Placement Committee is final and cannot be appealed beyond the school level, in accordance with DeKalb County Board of Education policy on Promotion and Retention.

If you have questions or need assistance with the appeal process, please contact the school office directly to support you.

Don't love school supply shopping? Want to avoid the crowds? We got ya covered!

• Each grade level has submitted their supply lists for the 25-26 school year, and those supplies have been incorporated into these kits for your convenience.
• You can opt to have supplies shipped to your home, or to the school (available at open house the week before school).
• BONUS--a percentage of your purchase will also be donated to the school!
• Use the link below to purchase your supply kits for next year, and then put it out of your mind! DEADLINE to order: July 12th.

https://schoolboxkits.com/245-hawthorne-elementary

A note from Schoolbox: "We are monitoring the impact of current tariffs and communicating with many of our vendors on a regular basis. While we have done everything we can to lock in our pricing for the summer season, kit prices are subject to change should we receive increases that we are unable to absorb. Please order early to avoid any unpredicted price changes throughout the summer. "

Morning Arrival & Afternoon Dismissal

The drop-off times in front of the school are below:

7:00 am - Buses

7:05 am - Car Riders

7:45 am - Tardy bell

Morning announcements begin at 7:45.

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.

Early Check Out: should occur prior to 1:50 pm.

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)

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