The Bulldog, July 30, 2026

Note from Mrs. Lockwood:

Next week is the start of the 26-27 school year, and I am so excited! We are ready to see our students and embark on an amazing year. Our school day begins at 8:00 and ends at 2:45 daily. Please anticipate a longer dismissal process the first week of school. We want to make sure all of our students are safely dismissed. You will receive detailed dismissal information at Meet & Greet and before the end of the first day of school.

Cheer, Cry, Coffee!!☕🎉

All parents and families are welcome to walk their child to class the first day of school. Immediately after drop off, join us for our first-ever Cheer, Cry, Coffee! Whether you’re celebrating a quiet house, holding back tears after drop-off, or somewhere in between—we’ve got a cup of coffee with your name on it!

🗓 When: August 3, 2026 (Right after morning drop-off)

📍 Where: Clairemont Media Center

☕ What: Coffee, tissues, and good company!

We can't wait to see you there!

Room Parent interest?

Thank you to all who attended Meet & Greet. It was wonderful to connect with our Clairemont families. If you are interested in being room parent this school year please email your child’s teacher.

Are you interested in serving on the School Leadership Team (SLT)?

We have 2 additional slots for parent SLT representatives. The goal is to have 4 parent representatives on SLT. We will begin taking applications the week of August 17. I will share the application information in that week's newsletter.

Interested in Volunteering or Chaperoning?

To keep all students safe, City Schools of Decatur requires a current background check on file for all volunteers and chaperones. This is especially important for anyone chaperoning a field trip (exploring with a small group of students) or supervising students without a staff member present. Background checks must be renewed every 12 months.

Here is how to complete your background check:

• Step 1: Pay the Fee via Infinite Campus: Log into the CSD Public Store. Click on City Schools of Decatur School Store > CSD Misc. Fees > Background Check Fee ($38). Enter your name and phone number in the comments section before checking out. Be sure to save/print your receipt, as you will need it for your appointment!
  
  

• Step 2: Schedule an Appointment: Book a 10-minute slot using the online appointment calendar. Appointments are held at the Wilson Center (125 Electric Avenue, Decatur, GA 30030) on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Note that appointment slots open up 21 days in advance.
  
  

• Step 3: What to Bring: Please bring your driver's license and your payment receipt to your appointment. You will fill out a short form, and results (submitted via the GBI) are typically returned within 24 hours.

💡 Note: If financial assistance is needed to cover the $38 background check fee, please reach out directly to Principal Lockwood.

Events at a glance:

• Monday, August 3: First day of school!

• Friday, August 21; 5:30: Back to School Pizza Picnic

• Friday, August 28; 8:15: First Community Crew of the year!

We were delighted to welcome friends old and new today at Meet & Greet. Our school isn't complete without the students who make it so special. It's going to be a fantastic school year!

Students will not be allowed to use personal electronic devices during school, such as cell phones and smart watches, starting this school year. Devices brought to school must be kept in backpacks.

Access the Infinite Campus Portal to Ensure Readiness
The CSD Parent Portal provides important information to assist families in supporting students. For assistance with the Portal, visit this webpage or contact your school's front office.

At the beginning of every school year, it is critical for families to use the Parent Portal for back-to-school readiness. Please take a moment to:

• Complete the Annual Data Update before each school year starts, providing current contact, medical, and other information. From the Portal home screen, select More ⇒ Annual Data Update. Find more details on the annual data update here.
• Register for 2026-2027 bus transportation by indicating your intent for your student (s) to ride the bus while completing the Annual Data Update. After completing the ADU, route information will be available under the Transportation tab in Infinite Campus within 24-48 hours. The student's primary contact listed in Infinite Campus will receive an invitation on July 15 from the Transportation Department to log into the Stopfinder Bus Tracking App.

• Infinite Campus is now using Stripe for all online payment functions in the Campus Portal. Banking and card information must be set up again in the new Stripe portal. Stored payment methods and recurring payments were not transferred between vendors.

  • Processing fees remain at 2.5% for credit cards and $0.35 for e-checks.

  • Please log in to Infinite Campus and click "Fees" to check for any balances.

• Apply for free/reduced-price meal benefits: We encourage all families to apply. Families that previously received benefits must reapply every year. Select More ⇒ Meal Benefits.
• Add money to meal accounts, and set up balance alerts and auto-payments. In the Portal, select Food Service.
• Look up teacher contact information. Select More ⇒ Contact List.
• Review CSD's student handbook and Code of Conduct. Additional information is available on the website.
• Submit updated health forms found on the health forms webpage. Please note any medical needs of which school nurses need to be made aware.

Following CSD technology guidelines, teachers pre-plan technology use that prioritizes in-person instructional experiences for students. Technology is used intentionally to enhance student interaction, creativity, and learning aligned with state standards. Please refer to our district's technology guidelines. Final CSD Technology Guidelines.pdf

Summer time is reading time!! Ms. D is challenging students to complete this Summer Reading Bingo sheet by doing EVERY activity! Think you can do it? Hopefully this will be a fun way to keep reading and learning this summer. Turn in your completed bingo sheet by the second week of school to be invited to the popsicle party and be allowed to check out extra books! Click the link below if you need to download another copy.

Click here for CSD back-to-school information for all ages.

Signing up as a member allows you to fully access our website and add your bulldog to the directory, along with classes and groups/clubs. This membership supports our school and the National and State PTA by paying annual dues that help us operate. We use PTA funds to support teacher grants and school events. A portion of the $10 serves as dues paid to the National and State Parent Teacher Association, which is our governing organization.