BHMS Weekly Update

Can you believe we have already completed our third week of school and are quickly approaching the one-month mark? It has been wonderful to see our students continuing to settle into their routines, build relationships with their teachers and peers, and engage in meaningful learning throughout the building.

As we continue to move through the beginning of the school year, I want to thank you for your patience, partnership, and continued support. The start of a new school year always brings opportunities for us to learn, adjust, and grow together. We remain committed to ensuring that every student at Beacon Hill is seen, supported, and successful.

I also want to remind you that Curriculum Night is tonight! We are excited to welcome our families into the building and provide an opportunity for you to learn more about your student’s classes, teachers, curriculum, and expectations for the year. We hope you will join us.

Additionally, I invite you to join me next Thursday, August 27, from 4:30–5:30 p.m. for our first “After the Bell with the Principal.” Our conversation will focus on Ed Tech at BHMS. We will talk about how educational technology is used to support teaching and learning, our expectations for student technology use, and our efforts to maintain a healthy and purposeful balance with technology.

Thank you for continuing to partner with us and for entrusting us with your students each day.

Respectfully,

📅 Time: 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM

📍 Location: Beacon Hill Middle School

Parent Schedule:

1st Period: 4:30–4:40

2nd Period: 4:43–4:53

3rd Period: 4:56–5:06

4th Period: 5:09–5:19

5th Period: 5:22–5:32

6th Period: 5:35–5:45

7th Period: 5:48–5:58

We are so excited to connect with you for Curriculum Night this evening! To make finding your student's course information as effortless as possible, we have consolidated all course syllabi into one convenient master spreadsheet.

💡 What You Need to Know

• Schedule: Access your childs schedule via the parent portal
• Security: All guests will enter through our weapons detection system at either the main entrance on College Avenue or the Bus Loop entrance on Kings Highway. To help expedite the screening process, please be mindful of the items you bring into the building and, whenever possible, refrain from bringing bags.

• Syllabus Access: Teachers have shared their syllabi by now (with just a few rare exceptions). You can access the direct link for each course syllabus below.

• Questions or Support? If you have any specific questions about a course or expectations, reaching out directly to your student’s teacher is always the best first step.

We look forward to seeing you tonight and partnering together for a fantastic school year!

Join the Principal Advisory Council (PAC) – Share Your Ideas!

Do you have ideas about how to make Beacon Hill even better? Do you want your voice to be heard by the principal? If so, this is your chance!

The Principal Advisory Council (PAC) is a group of students who meet with the principal to share ideas, give feedback, and help make our school the best it can be. PAC is a safe space where your opinions and creativity matter. This year, we will have 4 students from each grade level (6th, 7th, and 8th) serving on the Council.

All students are welcome to apply, whether this is your first time or you've been on PAC before. If you are interested in joining, please complete the form below by answering a few quick questions:

PAC Interest Form

Key Dates to Remember:

📅 Applications are due by Friday, August 21.
👥 Members will be announced on August 28.

We're excited to hear your ideas and see how YOU can make a difference at Beacon Hill!

Students are Invited to Apply for Superintendent's Student Advisory Council
Is your student interested in joining the Superintendent's Student Advisory Council for their age group? These councils are designed for two-way communication between students and the Office of the Superintendent. Students Advisory Council members attend monthly, after-school meetings at the Wilson Center to share their perspectives and experiences with the superintendent on a variety of issues.

Meeting dates are linked in the application below. The deadline to apply is Friday, September 11, 2026, and selected students will be notified by Friday, September 18. Learn more and apply for the Superintendent's Student Advisory Council here.

Join us this Saturday, August 22, at 10:00 AM at Decatur High School as BHMS Football kicks off the season against Russell! Shout-out to our Week 1 Game Captains, Finn Leahy and Amir Abukar! Come cheer alongside our amazing BHMS Cheer Squad and help us start the season strong.

📲 Never miss a game: Download the Decatur Bulldogs Mobile App to track everything from middle school football to DHS robotics and varsity swim. Follow your teams and stay updated on the go!

We are thrilled to introduce the incredible educators and staff members joining our Beacon Hill Middle School family this school year! Whether they are brand-new Bulldogs bringing fresh energy to our halls or beloved returning faculty stepping into exciting new roles across the building, our team is packed with dedication, expertise, and heart. Take a moment to meet our new team members below and learn a little bit about what makes each of them unique!

From September 2-4, all 6th-grade students will be taking the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT). Unlike traditional achievement tests, which measure how well a student has learned the curriculum, the CogAT assesses a child’s ability to reason abstractly and recognize patterns and relationships in the world around them. Teachers can use CogAT scores to better understand a child’s pattern of cognitive strengths and weaknesses. Our school district also uses CogAT scores to screen for cognitively gifted students.

Direct from Dr. Boersma’s Journalism Class, our student reporters will be bringing you the inside scoop, behind-the-scenes coverage, and real stories on everything happening around BHMS.

Author: Harley Wright

Beacon Hill Middle School - students are experiencing a new dismissal plan as of the 2026 - 2027 school year.

There is a new dismissal schedule as of this school year. This means that in the afternoons, buses will pick up students in the front and cars will pick up students in the back. This dismissal is the opposite of last year, because cars would pick students up from the front and these buses would pick up in the back.

On the bright side, this new afternoon schedule makes it easier for students who ride the bus in the afternoon. This makes it easier because for students, it's typically a shorter walk to the buses and the buses are easier to find.

However, this can make the afternoon dismissal more difficult for students who walk or car ride. For the car riders, it's more difficult for them because they typically have a longer walk to the cars. As for the walker students, this means they can not leave from the front exit, and it makes it harder.

Looking to dive into a new hobby, sharpen your skills, or meet friends who share your passions? Beacon Hill Middle School offers a variety of extracurricular activities designed to help every student thrive—from creative arts and gaming to coding, debate, performance, and community service!

Explore the full list of clubs on the BHMS Website. Please note that our extracurricular catalog is a living document—sponsors, meeting times, and exciting new clubs will continue to be added throughout the school year. Bookmark the page and check back regularly so you never miss a chance to get involved!

Check out all the club and extracurricular activities on our website!

Monday, August 24th at 3:45 in Ms. Carroll's room (1617).

Regular meetings on Thursdays beginning on September 3rd at 3:45 in Ms. Carroll’s room (1617).

This year’s topic: The United States federal government should establish national health insurance in the United States.

Calling all interested swimmers and divers! Our Swim & Dive Team interest meeting will take place on Tuesday, September 8 at 6pm in the Beacon Hill Cafeteria. ALL interested middle and high school athletes and parents should plan to attend this meeting. We will include important information such as schedules, dues, gear, & expectations. See you there!

Help reward our amazing students!

When our kids embody the BARK attributes, they earn points from teachers and staff—and every Friday at lunch, they get to spend those points on a well-deserved treat at the BARK Store.

We need your help stocking the shelves! Drop off any of the following items to keep the reward store booming:

Mini Drinks: Small sports drinks, juice boxes/capri suns

Bite-Sized Sweet Treats: Fun-size candy bars, non-chocolate candy

Salty Snacks: Individual bags of chips, pretzels, or popcorn

Donate today and directly celebrate our students' good behavior! We are planning to kick off on August 28th! Please sign up here.

• Dates: August 31st – September 3rd

• Google Classroom Code: p6mo2c4n

Everything you need to prepare—including audition specs and schedules—is available in our Google Classroom. Enter code p6mo2c4n to get started!

Read this week's CSD Weekly for district-wide news and information.

We are kicking it off this school year with the first annual Beacon After Dark, presented by DEREK WOOD Realty, an adults-only evening benefiting the Beacon Hill Middle School PTA! Buy your tickets HERE.

Grab your friends, make it a date night, or gather your Beacon Hill crew for a fun evening of great food, live music, and community—all while supporting our amazing school.

We'll be bringing a little Roaring Twenties flair to the evening, so feel free to dress up with a touch of Gatsby-inspired style...or simply come ready to have a great time!

Your ticket includes:

🍽️Dinner bites and hors d'oeuvres

🧋Two drink tickets (additional beverages available for purchase at the cash bar)

🎶Live music (band announcement coming soon!)

🎉A fun night supporting Beacon Hill Middle School

Event Details

🗓️Friday, October 2, 2026

⏰6:00–10:00 PM

📍Roaring Social - Decatur Adults Only (21+)

Every ticket purchased helps support the Beacon Hill Middle School PTA and the programs, events, teacher grants, and campus improvements that make our school community so special.

Come raise a glass, reconnect with friends, meet new faces, and help us make our first Beacon After Dark an unforgettable evening.

We can't wait to celebrate with you!

Shine a light on BHMS by becoming a Family Sponsor!
Your donation directly supports our teachers, staff, and students during the 2026–2027 school year.

As a thank you, your family name will be proudly displayed in the school lobby to show your support for our community.

Together, we can make a difference—Be A Beacon today!

Click to sponsor: Be A Beacon PTA Family Sponsor Link

☕️🍪Staff Appreciation - Ongoing! Sign up to support our staff in various ways!

🌐Visit our *NEW* website:www.bhmspta.org

📸Follow us on social media!

Facebook: Beacon Hill Middle School PTA

Instagram: @bhms_pta

📧Email: president@bhmspta.org

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

• BHMS Facebook page
• BHMS PTA Facebook page
• BHMS Instagram page
• CSD Grading Handbook
• Grade Level News