Weekly Update

Our halls came alive today as we welcomed students back for the first day of school! From the moment the doors opened, there was a joyful energy throughout the building—students reconnecting with friends, teachers greeting students with big smiles, and classrooms already buzzing with curiosity and excitement. The day ran smoothly, and it was clear that our Beacon Hill community was ready to kick off the year strong.

I was genuinely thrilled to witness the energy and enthusiasm our students brought through the doors. Their excitement was contagious, and it reaffirmed my belief that this is a special place. I’m so proud of our teachers and staff for creating such a warm, welcoming environment and for setting a positive tone for the school year today. Thank you, families, for preparing your students so well—we are off to a fantastic start, and I cannot wait to see all that we’ll accomplish together this year!

Sincerely,

Alexis Glenn, Interim Principal

Beacon Hill Middle School

We enjoyed welcoming our students back to school today. Delays are common on the first day of school as students adjust to the new academic year. However, we appreciated our students' additional patience this morning during the first day of implementing our campus's new weapons detection system.

At the City Schools of Decatur, ensuring the safety of every student remains the top priority. Screening began at 8:25 a.m. until 9:00 a.m., 15 minutes beyond the normal start time of 8:45 a.m. We expect the process to become more efficient and entry times to continue to reduce as our staff and students get used to this new process, which is intended to detect and deter weapons from being brought into our schools.

Based on feedback from students and families, an immediate adjustment will be made beginning tomorrow, August 1. Along with placing instruments and Chromebooks on the "passaround" table at each entrance, students will also put all three-ring binders on this table to help minimize false-positive alerts.

Once lockers are assigned, we will ask students to keep their 3-ring binders in their lockers at the end of the day if they do not need them for homework purposes. Doing so will minimize the need for secondary screening and further streamline the entry process.

We appreciate the school community's ongoing support and invite everyone to learn more about the weapons detection implementation at the online Q&A.

We will be conducting our first fire drill of the school year Monday, August 4 to ensure all students and staff are familiar with emergency procedures. This is a routine safety practice, and there is no cause for concern. Teachers will review expectations with students in advance to help the drill run smoothly. We appreciate your support in helping us prioritize student safety.

The Beacon Hill Middle School Leadership Team (SLT) is an elected committee consisting of Beacon Hill parents/guardians, staff members, a community member, and a district representative. The purpose of the SLT is to make decisions that support the continuous improvement of the school in accordance with the provisions of the District Charter.

The SLT is focused on school governance, student achievement, and family engagement. Some of the responsibilities of this team are to:

• Participate in personnel interviews and decisions

• Review and give feedback on the school budget

• Approve and monitor the School Improvement Plan

• Review assessment data for school decisions

• Assist with accreditation and improvement reviews

We currently have two SLT members who have served their two-year term and are rolling off the team. This leaves two vacancies on our SLT parent members.

If you’re interested in joining the SLT, please submit a bio/purpose statement to Interim Principal Glenn by Friday, August 1, 2025, at aglenn@csdecatur.net

We will once again be using the Renaissance STAR Assessment as our universal screener in both ELA and Math this school year.

The Renaissance Star Assessment is a nationally recognized, computer-adaptive tool used from Pre-K through 12th grade to measure student progress in reading and math. These assessments help educators identify learning gaps, monitor student growth, and tailor instruction to meet individual student needs. At BHMS, STAR supports our mission to ensure student success by helping teachers recognize strengths and provide targeted academic support where needed.

Please note: The STAR screener is not graded. It is used solely to inform instruction and ensure each student receives the appropriate support.

BHMS STAR Universal Screener Testing Dates:

• August 6th: STAR Reading

• August 11th: STAR Math

We kindly ask that all students:

• Get a good night’s rest before each testing day

• Arrive to school on time by 8:45 AM, ready to begin

• Eat a healthy breakfast either at home or at school (breakfast starts at 8:20 AM)

Important Note About Results:
STAR reports will not be printed for middle school students. If you would like to access your child’s assessment results, you can sign up to receive STAR progress email updates.
Click here for instructions to sign up

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out:
Mr. Maury Gusta
BHMS Testing Coordinator
mgusta@csdecatur.net

Please see our Personal Electronics Protocol, also linked at the bottom of this message. This protocol remains largely unchanged from the 24-25 school year. Implementation of this protocol will begin Monday, August 4.

Please remember that students are not permitted to receive outside food during the school day. This includes food brought in by parents or food delivered through services such as DoorDash, Uber Eats, or Grubhub. These protocols are in place to maintain a safe and secure environment for all students and to minimize classroom disruptions. Thank you for your understanding and support!

Access the Infinite Campus Portal to Ensure Readiness

◽Schedules ◽ Grades ◽ Lunch Money ◽ Contact Information◽ Test Scores ◽ And More!

Families use the Parent Portal to stay current and provide important information to support their students. At the beginning of every school year, it is critical for families to use the Parent Portal for back-to-school readiness. Find Portal help, visit this webpage, or contact your school’s front office.

• 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 information about the annual data update here.

• Register for 2025-2026 bus transportation for your student who is remaining at the same school they attended last year, or who is attending a new school this year (entering grades K, 3, 6, or 9, or new to the district). Email routefinder@csdecatur.net for questions.

  • Bus registration: same school
  • Bus registration: new school transition
• 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.
  • E-Check payments have a $0.35 fee per transaction.
  • Visa or MasterCard payments have a 3.5% card transaction fee.
• Look up teacher contact information. Select More ⇒ Contact List.
• Request an update to a student's name and/or gender marker. Families requesting an update to a student's name and/or gender marker may now use Infinite Campus for this process. Updates in Infinite Campus enable our district to manage student information more effectively and ensure alignment with state reporting expectations.
• 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 if your student has medical needs that the school nurse needs to be aware of.

CSD is pleased to continue offering credit card payments as a convenient payment method for school-related fees. In line with standard industry practices, CSD imposes a transaction fee to cover the processing costs charged by credit card companies for accepting these payments. During the 2024-25 school year, CSD capitalized on the increase in electronic check transactions ($0.35 per transaction) to reduce the Infinite Campus credit card processing fee from a flat rate of $4.00 to $2.50 per transaction.

However, credit card companies impose a fee of 3.5% or more on the total transaction amount for credit card payments rather than a flat fee. The difference has created a gap between the fees charged by CSD and the actual credit card processing costs incurred by the district, leaving the district to cover the additional expenses for each credit card transaction.

Effective July 1, CSD will shift to a retail merchant model for credit card processing. This change will involve moving from a $2.50 flat fee to a 3.5% percentage-based fee for all CSD credit card transactions. The transition means there will be a charge of $3.50 for every $100 credit card transaction. We encourage electronic checks, as these fees will remain $0.35.

The transition to a percentage-based fee supports the district's financial sustainability and aligns the fee structure with actual processing costs. It also allows CSD to maintain credit card payment options without diverting funds from other educational priorities.

As you prepare for the new school year, please don’t stress about having every item during the first week the basics are more than enough to start. Middle schoolers will carry their supplies throughout the day, so a stocked pencil case and organized backpack are key. Shared items like tissues or hand sanitizer only need to be sent in once—one contribution goes a long way.

Grade-level supply lists are linked below.

6th Grade

7th Grade

8th Grade

A huge shout-out to two outstanding individuals, Larika Frazier and Jason Franklin, who were awarded the Extra Mile Award by the Decatur Education Foundation during the CSD opening ceremonies!🏆 Both recipients of the Extra Mile Award were nominated by students who shared how these educators made them feel seen, heard, and supported—not just in math, but in school as a whole. Their dedication, compassion, and unwavering belief in their students’ success make a lasting impact every day. Their unwavering commitment and inspiring efforts to help our students reach ever higher are truly appreciated. Thank you, Larika and Jason, for going above and beyond!

Larika Frazier

Seventh-Grade Math Teacher

Nominated by Rachel Villavasso

Jason Franklin

Seventh-Grade Math Teacher

Nominated by Carter Eggleton

What an amazing start to the school year! with pre planning! Our dedicated BHMS staff has been working tirelessly to create a perfect and engaging learning environment for our students. From setting up classrooms to finalizing lesson plans, their commitment truly shines.

We also had a blast at the CSD Opening Day Ceremony! Our staff showed incredible school pride in the spirit stick competition, and Dr. Whitaker's inspiring words reminded us of our vital role in shaping young minds.

Beyond the fun, our staff engaged in numerous professional learning opportunities throughout the week. These sessions provided them with new strategies and resources, ensuring they are well-prepared to support every student's growth and success. Their dedication to continuous learning is truly commendable!

Is your child interested in trying out for Cross Country in the Fall, 2005? If so, please complete the interest form below with the tryout dates:

2025 BHMS Cross Country Informational Form

Don't miss early sales, picture day, or distribution day!

Anastasia Youth Edition will have auditions on August 18th-20th. To sign up for auditions please join the google classroom with this code: z47izgvj For more information contact Ms. Fowler @ whitley.fowler@csdecatur.net

Beacon Hill Middle School Volleyball tryouts will take place from August 6-8. Students in grades 6, 7, and 8 are invited to participate.

Tryouts on Wednesday and Thursday will be at the Decatur High School gymnasium from 4:15-6:00 PM. Friday's final tryout will be at the BHMS gym.

Students must have an updated medical profile in DragonFly.

Please contact Coach Meg Inscoe (minscoe@csdecatur.net), Coach Amelia Copp (acopp@csdecatur.net), or Coach Miriam Denard (mdenard@csdecatur.net) with any questions.

All boys interested in trying out for the soccer team this fall are invited to attend tryouts from August 18-20. Tryouts will be held at Ebster Field from 4:20 to 5:45.

Students should complete the Interest Form linked below to register.

Boys' Soccer Interest Form

Please have an updated DragonFly medical profile prior to tryouts.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Coach Derrick Burgess (dburgess@csdecatur.net)

The BHMS PTA looks forward to supporting our amazing staff, students and families for the 2025-2026 school year. Our goal remains to provide a dynamic and engaged school community that contributes to a safe and equitable educational environment for all students. We show appreciation to our teachers and staff and promote programs, initiatives and school spirit to enrich our students and school.

Many hands make for lighter work. Interested in joining a committee or helping with a single event? Tell us how you would like to participate in the new school year by completing our 2025-2026 Volunteer Interest Form.

Are you a BHMS family or local business owner looking to bump up your support? (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.

Our first schoolwide event of the year is our annual Spirit Night. Mark your calendars for Friday, October 3 at 5 pm as we celebrate the new school year Bulldog style. Details to come.

Click here to view this week's edition of the CSD Weekly.

• Personal Electronics Protocol
• BHMS
• Bell Schedule or Bell Schedule by Grade
• Bus Routes
• Free and Reduced Lunch Application
• BHMS Weekly Updates
• Attendance Routines and Procedures
• Key Contacts

• BHMS Facebook page
• BHMSPTA Facebook page
• BHMSInstagram page
• Grading Quick Facts 6-12
• CSD Grading Handbook