Week 1 2026-27 School Year

Greetings Hawthorne Hive Families! 🐝

Thank you for the wonderful feedback we received about our Open House! It was truly a joy to welcome our students and families back to Hawthorne. We are grateful to our dedicated staff, PTA, community partners, and volunteers whose preparation, teamwork, and warm hospitality helped make the event such a positive and memorable experience. Your encouraging words reaffirm the strength of our Hawthorne community and our shared commitment to ensuring every student and family feels welcomed, valued, and supported.

We also extend our heartfelt appreciation to everyone who participated in our Garden Clean-Up Day. Your generous investment of time and effort helped beautify our campus and create a welcoming outdoor environment for our students. This is a wonderful example of what we can accomplish when we work together!

As a reminder, parents and guardians may walk their children to their classrooms during the first three days of school. Beginning on the fourth day, students will independently report to their classrooms with support from staff members stationed throughout the building. This transition will help students build confidence, strengthen their morning routines, and begin each day ready to learn.

We are excited to welcome our Hawthorne Hornets and look forward to an outstanding school year filled with learning, growth, innovation, and success. Thank you for your continued partnership as we move Forward Together for Results!

Go Hornets!🐝

Proud to Serve,
Principal Henley
#OneTeamOneDream #WeAreALLIN
TWITTER

Whether it's tears of sadness for the start of a milestone year, or tears of joy to have the kids back in school, join other Hawthorne parents/grownups for coffee, conversation, and commiseration in the cafeteria.

In compliance with the requirements of the Every Student Succeeds Act, Dekalb County School District informs parents that you may request information regarding the professional qualifications of your student's teacher(s) or paraprofessional(s).

The following information may be requested:

1. Whether the student's teacher

• has met State qualification and licensing criteria for the grade levels and subject areas in which the teacher provides instruction;
• is teaching under emergency or other provisional status through which State qualification or licensing criteria have been waived; and
• is teaching in the field of discipline of the certification of the teacher.

2. Whether the child is provided services by paraprofessionals and, if so, their qualifications.

If you wish to request information concerning your child's teacher's or paraprofessional's qualifications please contact your child's principal at 678-874-2802.

Beginning this school year, all DCSD schools are phone-free zones. Students must power off and put away all personal devices, including cell phones, smartwatches, earbuds, and headphones, during the school day.

Our Disconnect to Reconnect initiative helps reduce distractions, increase student engagement, strengthen learning, and encourage meaningful connections with teachers and peers.

Thank you for partnering with us to create a focused, distraction-free learning environment for every student!

To enhance school safety, DCSD has implemented a new Visitor Management System at all schools. All visitors must present a valid state-issued ID upon entry. After a quick security screening, a visitor badge will be printed and must be worn while on campus. Click below to learn more. Thank you for your cooperation as we work together to keep our students, staff, and schools safe.

Every day counts! Georgia has compulsory education laws (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-690.1. Regular attendance is essential for academic success, social growth, and building lifelong skills. Every absence or tardy is a missed opportunity to learn. Georgia law requires students ages 6–16 to attend school regularly. We encourage families to make attendance a priority and partner with us to ensure every student is present, on time, and ready to learn. Click below to learn more. Thank you for helping our Hawks soar!

Georgia's Early Literacy Act strengthens reading instruction for all K–3 students by requiring:

• Science of Reading instruction
• Reading screenings three times a year
• School-based literacy coaches
• Specialized teacher training
• Timely parent notification if a student is reading below grade level

These changes are designed to ensure every child develops strong reading skills early and receives the support they need to succeed. Click below to learn more!

Hey there, Hornet Families! We invite you to share the heartwarming story The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn with your child. This beloved story is a wonderful way to help children explore feelings about new experiences, changes, and moments when they may feel nervous or unsure. It reminds children that they are always loved, supported, and connected to their families, even when they are away from home.

As you read together, take time to talk with your child about their feelings, celebrate their excitement, and reassure them that your love goes with them wherever they go. These special reading moments help build confidence, strengthen family connections, and nurture a lifelong love of reading.

Please click on the book and enjoy the read-aloud video below and explore the attached activities you can complete together as a family. We hope this story brings comfort, joy, and meaningful conversations to your home.

Happy reading, Hornets!

To help your child feel confident and excited for the first day of school, we've created a Student Orientation Video for both new and returning students! We encourage you to watch the video together before school begins. It will help your child become familiar with our school, learn important routines, and get excited about an amazing year ahead at Hawthorne Elementary.

📹 Click the link below to watch the Student Orientation Video.

Thank you for partnering with us as we prepare for an incredible school year. We can't wait to welcome all of our Hawks back to the nest!

Forward Together for Results with Innovation & STEM!

Hello, DCSD Community! Click the link below for The DCSD Weekly Digest – July 27, 2026 Newsletter.

Stay Connected and Stay Informed: https://bit.ly/3Trr9X8.

• Back-to-School 2026
• Free & Reduced Meal Applications
• DCSD Implements New Visitor Management System
• Disconnect to Reconnect
• DCSD Announces Three New Principal Appointments
• Community L.E.A.D. Academy
• Open House - Wednesday, July 29 & Thursday, July 30
• Newsletter Highlights Spanish Video
• Photos & Videos of the Week
• Weekly and Monthly Recognitions

Let's continue moving forward together because the strength of our community lies in unity and continuous communication.

At Hawthorne Elementary School, we believe that informed families are empowered partners in their child's education. In accordance with the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), parents and guardians have the right to request information about the professional qualifications of their child's classroom teacher and any paraprofessional providing instructional support.

Upon request, you may receive information regarding:

• Whether your child's teacher meets state certification and licensure requirements.
• Whether your child's teacher is teaching under emergency or other provisional status.
• Whether your child's teacher is teaching in the field of his or her certification.
• Whether your child receives services from a paraprofessional and, if so, the paraprofessional's qualifications.

If you would like to request this information, please contact the Hawthorne Elementary School front office. We value our partnership with families and are committed to providing a high-quality education for every student.

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.

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.

Together, we can build a powerful culture of reading at Hawthorne ES, one page at a time!

Please review the document below, which includes the school supply list for the upcoming school year. We encourage families to use this list as a guide when purchasing the materials students will need for a successful start to the year.

Our AMIRA and MAP Growth assessment window opens August 24. These beginning-of-the-year assessments provide valuable information about your child's current academic strengths and areas for growth.

The results help our teachers personalize instruction, set meaningful learning goals, and ensure every student receives the support and enrichment they need to thrive throughout the school year.

Please help your child do their best by ensuring they arrive at school on time, well-rested, and ready to learn each day during the testing window.

📢 Mark Your Calendars, Hawthorne Families! 📢

We are excited to welcome our Hornets back for another amazing school year!

🎓 Curriculum Night

🗓️ Wednesday, August 26, 2026
⏰ 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Curriculum Night provides a more in-depth look at what your child will be learning this year. Families will have the opportunity to learn about grade-level curriculum, academic expectations, grading practices, homework, communication, and much more.

This event is another opportunity to partner with us in your child's success. We look forward to seeing all of our Hawthorne Elementary School families there as we prepare for an incredible year of learning!

Forward Together for Results with Innovation and STEM! 🐝

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. Thanks to our survey, it has come to my attention that our late arrival students are a huge parent concern as well. This is a disruption to our classrooms and teaching/learning. Please try your hardest to have your child to arrive to school on time, please see below.:

🌅 Morning Arrival:
🕖 7:00 AM – School doors open and breakfast begins. Please be sure your child has parent supervision if they arrive on campus before 7am.
🍽️ After breakfast –7:10 AM - HIVE TIME (Intervention & Enrichment) starts (FREE TUTORING FOR YOUR CHILD). 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. Students should be in their classrooms.
📘 7:45 AM – Instruction begins promptly.
🏁 Afternoon Dismissal:
🕝 2:15 PM – Dismissal begins in this order:
➡️bus riders
➡️ van riders
➡️ walkers
➡️ car riders
➡️ aftercare
Please remember that our buses must be in line first.
🕝 2:30 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!

Your partnership helps us create a safe and focused environment for all learners.

Thank you for your attention and cooperation!

We are excited that our HES Foundation is bringing back our Innovation & STEM-themed after-school clubs for the 2026–2027 school year! We are incredibly grateful to our HES Foundation for sponsoring these amazing opportunities once again and investing in experiences that allow our students to explore their creativity, curiosity, and love of learning beyond the school day. This is what makes Hawthorne Elementary School so unique.

Our Innovation & STEM clubs will be led by Hawthorne Elementary School staff, providing students with engaging, hands-on opportunities to learn, create, collaborate, and grow with teachers and staff they know and trust.

Club Details

• Mondays & Fridays
• 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
• Open to Pre-K through 5th grade students
• Students may be able to participate in more than one club

We are excited to continue building a strong Innovation & STEM culture at Hawthorne Elementary School and can't wait to see our Hornets learning, creating, collaborating, and innovating together!

Please note that there are additional clubs offered throughout the school day—including Jr. Beta, Safety Patrol, Mentoring Clubs, Student Advisory, and more. Information about these opportunities will be shared soon, so be sure to look for updates in the SMORE newsletter.

Forward Together for Results with Innovation and STEM! 🐝

Registration is now open for 4th and 5th grade students interested in joining the Hawthorne Track & Field team this fall!

The registration window will remain open through August 14, 2026, please register using the link below or by scanning the QR code on the attached flyer: https://survey.sogolytics.com/r/eSN5do

If your child plans to participate, we encourage families to complete their sports physical over the summer so they are ready when the season begins.

We are excited for another great season and look forward to seeing our student-athletes represent Hawthorne with pride.

Please review the 2026–2027 DeKalb County School District Code of Student Conduct, which outlines students' responsibilities in helping to maintain a safe, respectful, and orderly learning environment.

• The Code of Student Conduct is available here:
  https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1784819613/dekalbschoolsgaorg/texavyab7ldnwczh6trp/2026-2027StudentCodeofConduct.pdf

The handbook includes important information regarding student records, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), reporting concerns such as bullying and harassment, the rights of students with disabilities, and other student rights and responsibilities.

• After reviewing the Code of Student Conduct, please sign, date, and return the
  2026–2027 Parent/Guardian Signature Page, available here:
  https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1784039413/dekalbschoolsgaorg/judxxd374x0gowgodgse/2026-2027SCOCConfirmationofReceipt.pdf

Please return the completed form to your child's homeroom teacher by Friday, August 7, 2026.

Our Hawthorne Elementary School PTA plays a vital role in making our school an incredible place for students, staff, and families. From supporting classrooms and organizing family events to providing resources that enrich learning, our PTA makes a lasting impact on our entire school community.

Research consistently shows that students achieve more academically when parents are actively involved in their education. That's why we encourage every Hawthorne Elementary School family to become a PTA member and stay engaged throughout the school year.

Together, we strive to strengthen the connection between home and school, support our teachers, enrich student experiences, and create opportunities that help every Hornet thrive. Our PTA proudly welcomes and values all families, ensuring every member of our school community feels included, respected, and empowered to make a difference.

Our PTA School Calendar is coming soon! Please click below to join our Hawthorne Elementary School PTA and view a copy of our First Semester PTA Events Calendar below. Join today, get involved, and help us make the 2026–2027 school year our best yet! Together, we are stronger as we move Forward Together for Results with Innovation and STEM! 🐝

Families are encouraged to complete the 2026-2027 Federal Eligibility Application (FEA) for Free & Reduced-Price Meals. Completing the application may provide your student with:

• Additional funding for technology & internet access

• Increase funding to support student education

• Free & reduced meal prices for healthy and delicious meals

2026–2027 Principal Advisory Council (PAC)

Know someone passionate about education and leadership? Encourage them to declare candidacy now. Hawthorne Elementary urgently needs one more parent to serve on our 2026–2027 Principal Advisory Council (PAC). This is a wonderful opportunity to have your voice heard, help make important decisions for our school, and support the success of all students. There are only 4 meetings per year. We can vote on the dates and times. The first meeting has to take place before October 31st.

PAC members:

• Promote transparency & shared decision-making
• Review the Continuous School Improvement Plan (CSIP)
• Help shape the school’s vision
• Serve as liaisons between school and community

If you are interested in serving, please complete the declaration form by Friday, September 4, 2026:

👉 Declare candidacy here:

https://form.jotform.com/electionbuddy/2026-dekalb-fall-pac-declarations

Questions? Contact schoolgovernance@dekalbschoolsga.org or (678) 676-0718.

Let’s build strong parent and staff leaders across DeKalb!

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 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

We are excited to share an opportunity for our students to participate in i9 Sports’ Fall 2026 season! i9 Sports provides fun, safe, and engaging sports experiences for children of various ages and skill levels. Fall programs include:

🏈 Flag Football (Ages 4–13)
⚽ Soccer (Ages 3–8)
🏀 Basketball (Ages 4–12)
⚾ Baseball (Ages 3–6)
🥍 Lacrosse (Ages 5–10)
🏐 Volleyball (Ages 9–14 | Girls Only)

Programs are available at locations throughout the area, including Brookhaven, Dunwoody, Chamblee, Tucker, and more! A new soccer location will also be available this fall at St. Pius X Catholic School.

📅 Fall Registration Deadline: August 17, 2026

Families are encouraged to register early to take advantage of early registration savings. Please see the attached digital flyer for additional details and registration information.

We are excited to continue partnering with i9 Sports to provide our Hawthorne ES students with opportunities to learn teamwork, build confidence, and stay active for wellness!

Interested in helping shape the future of Hawthorne Elementary? Consider serving on the Principal Advisory Council (PAC)!

The candidate declaration window is open now through September 4, 2026.

Complete the declaration form here:
https://form.jotform.com/electionbuddy/2026-dekalb-fall-pac-declarations

For questions about the election process, contact schoolgovernance@dekalbschoolsga.org or (678) 676-0718.

Raising a Reader is a new animated literacy series created through a partnership between the Georgia Department of Education and Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB). Hosted by Emmy Award-winning Ashlyn Süpper, the series provides parents, families, and educators with practical strategies and engaging resources to support children's literacy development and foster a lifelong love of reading. Families are encouraged to check out the "Raising a Reader" videos available under the Resources section.

We love our volunteers! To volunteer at school or chaperone field trips, you must meet DeKalb County School District (DCSD) volunteer requirements below:

• Level I: Front Office Support, Cafeteria Support, Recess Support, Classroom helpers, Mystery Readers, class parties, Career Day, cafeteria, library, and other supervised school activities.
• Level II: Required for daytime field trip chaperones.
• Level III: Required for overnight field trip chaperones and volunteers who may work with students without direct supervision. Includes fingerprinting and is valid for 5 years (annual badge renewal required).

Please click link below to begin the volunteer registration process. If you need assistance, please send an email to: DCSDvolunteer@dekalbschoolsga.org or Demone_Gunter@dekalbschoolsga.org

We look forward to partnering with you this school year!

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