Weekly Update

It is hard to believe we have already completed seven full weeks of school! Time is flying, and we are proud of the focus, growth, and energy our students have shown during this first stretch of the year.

As we head into Fall Break, I wish our BHMS families a safe, restful, and well-deserved week away. This is a perfect opportunity to pause, recharge, and spend time with family and friends. Whether traveling, enjoying the outdoors, or simply taking it easy at home, I hope you find time to relax and reset.

When we return, we'll dive right into our Spirit Week celebrations! Each day will bring fun opportunities for students and staff to show their school spirit, creativity, and Bulldog pride. We look forward to seeing our hallways filled with excitement, smiles, and plenty of participation as we celebrate together as a community.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support—we couldn't do this work without you. Enjoy the break, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back, refreshed and ready for the next part of our school year!

Sincerely,

Alexis Glenn

Interim Principal

Get ready to show your school spirit! The Principal Advisory Council has put together a fun-filled Spirit Week to celebrate our return from Fall Break and get ready for the DHS Homecoming. Let's make this a week to remember with great participation from everyone!

Spirit Week Themes

• Monday, 9/29: Hawaiian Day Bring the tropical vibes! Wear your favorite floral or tropical print shirts, solid-colored shorts or pants, and a simple lei. Sunglasses are also a great add-on.

• Tuesday, 9/30: PJ Day Stay comfy all day! Come to school in your favorite school-appropriate pajama pants, a T-shirt or sweatshirt, and cozy shoes.

• Wednesday, 10/1: Twin Day Grab a friend or a whole group and coordinate your outfits! You can match colors, wear a simple "uniform" like jeans and a white tee with a flannel, or even wear the same team shirt.

• Thursday, 10/2: Blackout Day Let's go all black! Wear a black shirt with black pants or a skirt. You can also accessorize with a black hat, socks, or jacket.

• Friday, 10/3: BHMS Day It's time to show our Bulldog pride! Wear your favorite BHMS or Bulldogs gear, whether it's a shirt, hoodie, or just our school colors. You can also add Bulldogs accessories like a lanyard, school scarf, beads, or a hat. Just a reminder, please no full-face paint, but face stickers are welcome.

Don't Miss BHMS Spirit Night!

The fun continues on Friday after school! Join us for BHMS Spirit Night from 5 to 7 p.m. at Ebster Recreation Center (105 Electric Avenue). We'll be celebrating our students and families, and the location offers a great view of the Homecoming Parade. We hope to see you there!

Our first Principal's Coffee Chat in August was a fantastic success! It was wonderful to connect with so many families, share insights about our school, and provide helpful resources, including a guide to who to contact for specific questions. If you weren't able to make it, you can find the recording on our website under the Family and Student Resources tab.

Mark your calendars for our next chat on October 3 at 9 a.m. This session is a great opportunity to learn how to check in on your child's academic performance, social-emotional growth, and overall well-being. Our school coaches will be on hand to help you understand and interpret your child's progress.

These chats are designed to:

• Provide valuable information and foster a sense of continuous learning.

• Create an open and transparent platform for us to connect with one another.

• Extend the reach of our live chats to the entire school community.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Join the City Schools of Decatur (CSD) from September 29 to October 8 for CSD Reads Week! 📚 This event is designed to promote literacy and celebrate the joy of reading with the entire community.

Featured Events:

• Virtual Reading: CSD Superintendent Dr. Whitaker will host virtual readings on September 29 and October 7, with the latter session featuring the book Brilliant Bea: A Story for Kids with Dyslexia.

• Literacy Rallies: Kick off the week with an elementary-level reading rally on September 29 hosted by former UGA and NFL player Malcolm Mitchell. Don't miss the keynote address by "Kidnote Speaker" Angie Thomas on October 3 at Agnes Scott, where she'll discuss her middle-grade book, Nic Blake and The Remarkables.

• Community Giving: On September 30, you can donate gently used books to CSD schools for Children Read Atlanta as part of the Buckets of Books drive.

• Dyslexia Awareness: The week also highlights dyslexia awareness with two key events. Students can participate in the Rock for Dyslexia Competition on October 2 by painting rocks with positive messages. On October 6, you can take part in the Dyslexia Awareness Gallery Walk to view posters displayed around the schools and the Wilson Center.

The week concludes on October 8 with Go Red for Dyslexia!, encouraging everyone to wear red to spread awareness and change the narrative around dyslexia. All CSD Reads Week events are open to the public.

From Oct. 6-31, 2025, CSD will administer the Social, Emotional and Behavioral Screening (BASC-3 BESS), a brief screening tool for students in grades 3-12 that helps to identify social, emotional, and behavioral strengths and needs so schools can provide timely support. Screener results help schools strengthen classroom practices, offer small-group or individual support, and partner with families to connect students with resources. Together, we can ensure every child feels safe, seen and supported. Find out more in the Social, Emotional and Behavioral Screening (BASC-3 BESS) FAQ.

Families wishing to opt out must complete the opt-out form by September 19, 2025.

Our 6th-grade world language classes have had a fantastic start to the year! Students in French, Spanish, and German have been laying the groundwork for communication by focusing on core conversational skills and foundational grammar.

In all three languages, a common theme has been the ability to introduce themselves and others, as well as to talk about what they like to do. This has helped students feel more comfortable using the target language in real-world contexts and with their classmates.

What We've Learned

• French: Students have learned to identify colors and distinguish between masculine and feminine nouns. They've learned how to use adjectives to describe themselves. They've also worked on self-portraits and completed a writing assignment describing their physical appearance.

• German: Our German students have made great progress in identifying common classroom phrases and discussing their hobbies. This has helped them navigate the classroom environment and share personal interests in German.

• Spanish: Spanish students have been hard at work learning how to talk about their classes, teachers, classmates, and the materials they need for school. This practical vocabulary allows them to communicate about their daily school life.

Georgia Commute Options’ October cycling challenge — Mrs. Chalberg’s Adventure Quest students rolled into action! After learning the rules of the road and cycling safety in class, they took their skills outside to ride. Students practiced how to be seen, be heard, and be safe while biking — and had a blast putting their new knowledge into motion! Families can join the fun too by taking part in Biketober this October — log your rides, encourage others, and celebrate safe cycling all month long. Learn more and register at www.biketober.com

Each fall semester the gifted review team looks at existing student data to discuss students’ needs and determine if further evaluation for gifted identification is needed. If you are interested in having the team discuss your child’s needs, you may complete a Recommendation for Review Form and turn it in to one of our Gifted & Talented Specialists before Wednesday, October 1. No additional information is needed. The Gifted & Talented Specialists for Beacon Hill are:

Laura Gary (lgary@csdecatur.net)

Jessica Nicks (jnicks@csdecatur.net)

Robyn Tibbetts (rtibbetts@csdecatur.net)

For more detailed information about the review process and to obtain a copy of the Recommendation for Review Form, please contact one of the Gifted & Talented Specialists for your school or visit the following website: https://www.csdecatur.net/our-district-5f/departments/teaching-and-learning/gifted-and-talented-services

Want to make a difference and help our planet? Join the BHMS Recycling Club led by faculty advisor Jessica Nicks and parent volunteer Laura Willard, from our PTA Sustainability Committee. The club will meet Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 8:05 am to 8:35 am in Room 2105. Once a basic recycling collection and processing system is up and running, the group will explore even more cool sustainability projects. Ready to roll up your sleeves? Fill out this interest form. Let's make BHMS a greener place together!

Email teacher sponsor Ms. Nicks with questions! jnicks@csdecatur.net

Fall break is the perfect chance for middle schoolers to relax, but it’s also a key time to keep their minds active. Just 15–20 minutes of reading a day helps students hold onto skills, spark curiosity, and return to school ready to learn. With a little planning, families can make reading both easy and enjoyable during the break.

Try these quick strategies:

• Pack a Book for trips or downtime.
  

• Family Reading Time: 15–20 minutes where everyone reads.
  

• Talk About It: Ask what surprised them or which character they like best.
  

• Mix It Up: Fun reads + stretch reads build both joy and skills.
  
  

📖 Recommended Reads📖

• New Kid — Jerry Craft
  

• Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief — Rick Riordan
  

• Diary of a Wimpy Kid: No Brainer — Jeff Kinney
  

• Front Desk — Kelly Yang
  

• I Am Malala: Young Readers Edition — Malala Yousafzai
  
  

👉 Need help picking the right level or book?
Reach out to Mrs. Braxton | Reading Specialist at BHMS tbraxton@csdectur.net for guidance and additional resources.

Read the September 18, 2025, issue of CSD Weekly, the district-wide newsletter.

The PBIS Store is officially open! Please volunteer to help run the BARK store. It is an easy process, and experienced parents will be there to guide you if you have not volunteered before. We also are always looking for donations to stock our store. Volunteer needs and a link to our wishlist can be found in the links below. Thanks!

BHMS Spirit Night will be held Friday, October 3 from 5 pm to 7 pm at Ebster Recreation Center (105 Electric Avenue). In addition to celebrating our BHMS students and families, we will have a great view of the Homecoming Parade. We hope to see you there!

Diwali is just around the corner! Don’t forget to save the date and RSVP to the event. More information to follow.

DATE: October 18th from 5pm-7pm

LOCATION: Beacon Hill Middle School

RSVP: https://forms.gle/QUpN42B9FJTuc2U98

Are you a BHMS family or local business owner interested in supporting our school community? (Do you know a business that would like to help?) Then consider becoming a BHMS sponsor. Learn more about sponsorship levels here. Questions? Reach out to our fundraising chair.

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