DHS Weekly Update
Hello,
Our students are adjusting well to the recent time change. Although they are adjusting, please be aware that they may not be going to sleep any earlier to account for the change. Students usually lose about 30 minutes of sleep per night during this transition period because they aren't always aware they are giving up an hour in the morning, and they don’t actively adjust their bedtime. This is an opportunity for you to have a low-stakes discussion with your student to encourage them to get proper rest.
Please help me congratulate the Decatur High School Literary Team and Coach Shelby Coffin on securing multiple Regional Champions last week. DHS had winners in the Personal Essay, Argumentative Essay, Literary Analysis, Domestic Extemporaneous Speech, International Extemporaneous Speech, and Dramatic Monologue categories. DHS also had runner-ups in Girls Solo and Humorous Monologue. The team as a whole finished in second place.
Sincerely,
Duane Sprull, Ed.D.
Our Teaching as a Profession (TAP) Year 3–4 students recently showed incredible resilience during their Outdoor Ed hiking trip to Amicalola Falls and the Appalachian Trail approach. These future educators tackled a challenging 12-mile trek, including those infamous 600 "monster" steps, all while maintaining a positive spirit and a sense of community. We are so proud of our students' toughness and the kindness they showed one another on the trail. A huge thank you to our supportive parents, our dedicated chaperones (Ms. Thibadeau, Ms. Loranger, and Mr. Custer), and our leadership team, Ms. Smiley and Dr. Spruill, for making this adventurous learning experience possible for our TAP explorers!
Come witness the incredible creativity and hard work of our Decatur High School IB Art students! This exhibition is the culmination of two years of intense artistic exploration, and our students are eager to share their unique visions and powerful portfolios with the community.
Opening Reception: Wednesday, March 25th
Time: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Location: The Hyatt Cottage in Legacy Park (500 S. Columbia Dr., Decatur)
Extended Viewing: The artwork will remain on display through April 18th.
This is a wonderful opportunity to support our young artists and experience the high level of talent within our school. We can’t wait to see you there!
Our HOSA students recently showcased incredible talent and dedication at their state competition, proving that the future of healthcare is in very capable hands. From mastering complex biology to researching dental care access for our city’s homeless population, these Bulldogs are turning classroom lessons into real-world impact.
Recognition Awards
Leona Ran & Anna Charen – ATC Anatomy & Physiology
Leighton Cohen – ATC Biology
Sophia Jiang – ATC Leadership
Juniper Lake – Barbara James Service Award (Bronze)
Diana Pollidore – Healthcare Literacy Ambassador (Level 2)
Competitive Event Awards
5th Place (Forensic Science): Annika Moberg & Kimiko Ito
5th Place (Medical Reading): Maia Rasnik-Stryker
6th Place (Medical Reading): Remie Bourque
7th Place (Extemporaneous Writing): Nuha Muneer
10th Place (Public Health Emergency Preparedness): Sophia Jiang & Sophie Clark
Real-World Impact: Beyond the medals, our students are gaining life-changing experience. Charlotte Kemper observed two births (including a breech delivery!) during her clinical rotation, and Juniper Lake conducted vital research on dental care access for our local homeless population through the Grady TELLP Program.
Please join us in celebrating these students' curiosity, compassion, and hard-earned success! 🐾
Congratulations to the men and women of Decatur's fencing team who participated in the 2026 Georgia High School Fencing League (GHSFL) Team Championships at Innovation Academy in Alpharetta, GA this past weekend.
Led by Team Captain Lexington Kennerly (Sr), the women's team, including fencers Remie Bourque (So), Cori Grant (So), and Diana Pollidore (Jr), made Decatur High School history finishing 4th overall and earning Decatur's first team championship medals and trophy. To achieve this milestone, the DHS women defeated perennial fencing powerhouse Alpharetta 45 to 44 coming from behind in the final leg of the 9-leg relay to advance to the semi-finals, before falling to Innovation Academy in a hard-fought match for bronze.
The DHS men led by Ben Taylor (Sr.), including fencers Aidan Oldham (Sr, Team Captain), Ben Ragland (So), and Bennett Occhialini (So) put up a valiant fight before being narrowly defeated by John’s Creek High School in the first round of competition. Despite the early exit, they finished the season by improving their overall league ranking to 10th.
Preceding this team’s event, the GHSFL held the annual individual championships where Decatur’s Diana Pollidore finished with a 7th place medal.
Throughout the championship events, our fencers demonstrated the very best in competition, teamwork, and sportsmanship and our parents showed their Decatur spirit. The team championship wraps up the 4th season of competitive fencing at Decatur High School and 5th year of the DHS Fencing Club. We look forward to another great season next year! Be on the lookout for information in early August about participating in the club.
🎨 Celebrating Our 2026 Bookmark Winners
Our library is about to get a lot more colorful thanks to our talented student artists! We are thrilled to announce the winners of this year’s "Get Real @ Your Library" bookmark contest: Paige Connolly, Melanie Joyner, Opal Lehman, Sawyer Nemec, and Nikolay Brucherseifer. Out of a very competitive field, these five designs truly captured the spirit of our theme. Their winning artwork will be professionally printed and made available for the whole school to enjoy. Be sure to stop by the library and celebrate these creative Bulldogs!
🏆 DHS Reading Bowl: A Season of Dedication
Our students proved that reading is a team sport at this year’s Metro Region Reading Bowl! On Saturday, February 28, the DHS Reading Bowl team went head-to-head with schools across the region for our third year of competition. To prepare for this challenge, these dedicated students read 20 different books and memorized intricate details to gear up for the big day. We are so proud of the hard work and academic stamina they displayed throughout the season. We can’t wait to see this team back in action next year. Congratulations on a job well done, readers!
In response to recent events impacting our community, Decatur High School is coming together to support families affected by ICE deportations. We are partnering with the Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights to collect essential items for those in need. Your generosity can provide immediate comfort and stability to families navigating incredibly difficult times.
The Details
When: Monday, March 9th – Friday, March 20th
Where: Drop off items in your 5th-period classroom
What We Need:
Canned goods and bottled water 🥫💧
New clothes and baby essentials 👶👕
Feminine hygiene products and toiletries 🧼
First aid supplies 🩹
Let’s show the strength of our DHS community!
Experience a powerful, heart-forward journey as our extraordinary students bring Alice by Heart to the stage! This moving and imaginative musical reimagines Alice in Wonderland through the eyes of young people navigating love, loss, and hope. It’s a performance that promises to be both heartbreaking and beautifully heart-filling—an experience our entire CSD family won’t want to miss.
Performance Details:
Final Show Dates: March 12–15
Teacher & Student Spirit Nights: Thursday, March 12
- Spirit Night Pricing: $10 for Teachers/Staff | $5 for Students (Only valid for Thursday performances!)
- Discount Code: Use code ALLHEART at checkout for Spirit Night rates.
Recommended Age: 12+ (contains mild adult themes and language)
Grab your tickets now at DecaturPerforms.org and join us for a night of incredible local theater!
We are calling all DHS thinkers, makers, and creators to showcase their brilliance at this year’s STEM Fair! Whether it’s a coding project, a scientific experiment, or an engineering marvel, this is the perfect stage to share their passion, and potentially walk away with some serious cash.
The Details:
When: April 20 | 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Where: DHS Cafeteria
Prizes: Top projects win $500, $200, or $100!
Sign Up HERE or scan the QR code on posters around the school.
🚀 Explore Your Future: College, Career & Hiring Expo!
Is your student ready to take the next step toward their future? Join us for the Decatur Career Academy Expo—a premier opportunity for students to connect directly with employers, explore diverse career pathways, and discover college options. Whether they are looking for a summer internship, a part-time job, or inspiration for their post-graduation plans, this event is designed to help them build their path!
When: Wednesday, March 25th
Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Where: Ebster Recreation Center (105 Electric Ave.)
Who: All students interested in career, college, and employment opportunities.
Don’t wait—secure your spot today! Register Now to Attend Here
🚁 Drone Academy Summer Camp – Registration Now Live
Decatur Career Academy is partnering with AI Nautics to offer a five-day Drone Academy Summer Camp, June 22–26 (9 AM–5 PM) for rising juniors and seniors (ages 16+).
Students will receive hands-on drone training and complete their assessment at Peachtree DeKalb Airport, an official FAA testing site.
- Cost: $500
- Four $250 scholarships available
- Only 15 seats
- Deadline: May 1
Seats are limited. Registration is first come, first served.
Curious about how AI is changing the classroom and the world? Join us for an evening designed to demystify Artificial Intelligence and help you guide your student through this new digital landscape. Based directly on parent feedback, this session with Dr. Tyler Cook will cover AI definitions, "do's and don'ts," and the impact of technology on mental health and safety.
Who: This event is for adults only.
When: Monday, March 16, 2026 | 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Where: DHS Learning Commons (Library/Media Center)
Featuring: Dr. Tyler Cook, PhD (Emory University Center for AI Learning)
Cost: Free! Hosted by the Decatur Parents Network and the Decatur Education Foundation.
Come ready with your questions for a dedicated Q&A session!
DHS and the Decatur Career Academy invite employers, colleges, military representatives, and community partners to attend the Decatur Career Academy College, Career & Hiring Expo, an event designed to connect students with real-world opportunities and postsecondary pathways. This expo provides a space for organizations to engage directly with students, share insight into career options, and support students as they prepare for what’s next after high school. Employer attendees will have the opportunity to connect with motivated students, promote their organization or institution, and actively support college, career, military, and workforce exploration. Register here by March 13.
Decatur Career Academy College, Career & Hiring Expo:
Wednesday, March 25, 9 a.m.-noon, Ebster Recreation Center
Calling all Bulldog fans! It’s time to come together for our biggest night of the year to support every single student-athlete in Decatur. Whether you’re a long-time supporter or new to our community, this is the perfect way to enjoy a great night out while making a direct impact on our sports programs.
Event Details
When: Saturday, March 21st, from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
Where: The Lost Druid in Avondale Estates.
The Fun: Enjoy live music, delicious food, beer, and craft cocktails.
The Extras: Don’t miss out on our exciting online auction!.
Grab Your Tickets Today
Support our athletes and secure your spot for a night of community and celebration.
Trade your screen time for shop time and discover the satisfaction of building a custom piece of furniture with your own two hands! Our Decatur Career Academy is back with a new round of community woodworking classes. Whether you want to build a shaker bench or a custom tool chest, this flexible program allows you to learn at your own pace in a professional shop environment. Best of all, you can choose the sessions that fit your busy family calendar!
The Details:
Evening Sessions: Tuesday & Thursday, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM (April 14 – May 14)
Weekend Sessions: April 24 & 25 and May 8 & 9
Flexibility: You do not need to attend all classes—just come on the days that work for you!
Included: Expert instruction, all tools, and premium materials.
Ready to start your project? Register here or email Randy Archer at rarcher@csdecatur.net with any questions. See you in the shop! ✨
