DHS Weekly Update

• Congrats to DHS Young Georgia Authors
• After School Pick Up Reminder
• Get Your Bulldog Spirit Wear
• IB Film Class Visits Turner Classic Movies
• Fencing Tournament
• Decatur Robotics Scrimmage
• IB and AP Fees Dates
• Activities Around DHS: Book Fair and Tennis Tryouts
• PTSA Updates
• Community News
• Quick Links

Hello,

We are incredibly proud to celebrate our December graduates from Decatur High School. It was a privilege to formally honor their dedication at Tuesday’s City Schools of Decatur Board of Education Meeting. These students decided to complete their high school studies a semester early. They have worked diligently to complete their high school requirements ahead of schedule. By graduating mid-year, these driven individuals are gaining a head start on their futures, with many immediately entering the workforce or pursuing postsecondary education. We wish them the very best as they embark on these exciting new chapters, and we look forward to welcoming them back to walk across the stage at the official commencement ceremony in May!

We are nearing the last week of the semester. Please work with your student over the weekend to balance relaxation and preparation for any upcoming assessments or projects. There is an opportunity to finish strong, and that is the expectation.

Sincerely,

Duane Sprull, Ed.D.

Principal

We are thrilled to announce the Decatur High School winners of the 2025 Young Georgia Authors writing competition! This year saw incredible talent and creativity, making the selection process extremely tough. Congratulations to these beautiful writers for their outstanding submissions:

• 9th Grade: Adeline Pendley, "The Writer's Palindrome"

• 10th Grade: Milla O'Connell, "Inconvenience"

• 11th Grade: Cam Guerrieri, "The Restaurant Patio"

• 12th Grade: Victoria Hutchinson, "God's Athletes"

A huge round of applause goes out to all the students who submitted a piece of writing. These incredible kids sure can write, and we are so proud of everyone who participated!

Please help us be good neighbors by staying clear of the entrance to The Village Vets as you wait for your students after school. This Village Vets location is a 24-hour emergency vet clinic, so keeping their driveway clear for incoming cars with sick animals is vitally important at all times of day.

Show Your Bulldog Pride! The Decatur Bulldog Booster (DBB) Online Store is open and fully stocked with all the gear you need to show your DHS pride!

You can find everything from cozy Vintage Bulldog Hoodies and Flannel Plaid Pants to Bulldog Trucker Hats and DHS Flags—plus, look out for the popular Owala Freesip water bottles!

Shop now and help boost the Bulldogs: Visit the DBB Online Store

The IB Film class visited the Warner Bros. Campus this week, which hosts the best channel out there for film lovers: Turner Classic Movies. The class met and spoke with the crew, as well as TCM hosts Dave Karger and Alicia Malone, and watched them film segments that air before and after films are shown on TCM. Students also got to tour studios used by TNT and MLB, and saw how a production comes together, learned some movie history, and came away with some great movie recommendations. Many thanks to the crew and staff at TCM and WB!

Don't miss Decatur's inaugural fencing tournament. Join us on Saturday, December 13th at Beacon Hill Middle School to witness the excitement firsthand. Cheer on talented fencers as they engage in fast-paced bouts, demonstrating skill and strategy. It's a great opportunity to immerse yourself in the dynamic world of fencing. Bring your family and friends out for a day of fun and competitive spirit as Decatur takes on teams from Alpharetta, Chattahoochee, Dunwoody, and Pope High Schools!

Families are being asked to pay for their student’s AP & IB exams at $124 per IB exam and $99 per AP exam. Fees for your student’s AP & IB exams were added to the Infinite Campus parent portal and were due November 1, 2025. Students will be assessed a late fee for payments submitted after November 14, 2025. The late fee is $40 per test for AP & IB. We strongly encourage you to pay these fees online through the parent portal, but if you need to pay by check please see Ms. Karina Green at DHS.

LATE AP & IB EXAM REGISTRATIONS/PAYMENTS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AFTER DECEMBER 15, 2025. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS DEADLINE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. CSD strongly desires that the fees not dissuade any student who wants to pursue AP & IB coursework, assessment, and opportunities for scholarships for families demonstrating financial need will be available. Please complete the linked form for assistance with AP/IB exam fees.

Don't miss out! The Little Shop of Stories Book Fair is currently underway in the DHS Library, but our in-person shopping ends THIS FRIDAY, December 12th!

Bring your students, find amazing new reads, and support our community reading initiative before the doors close!

• In-Person Shopping: Last Day is FRIDAY!

  • When: Today through Friday, December 12

  • Late Night Shopping: Tuesday, December 9 (open until 5:00 PM)

  • Where: DHS Library

Shop Online:

Can't make it in person? Shop online from the comfort of your home!

• When: December 3 – December 13

• Website: https://littleshopofstories.com/bookfairs

• Coupon Code: Use the code DHS at checkout!

Support Student Readers!

Thanks to generous support from the DEF and PTSA, we have a dedicated fund to ensure that every student who wants a book can get one. If you know a student who would benefit from a free book, please encourage them to sign up using the link on the attached flyer and then send them to the library during the fair! If you want to donate to help students in need at DHS get a book, please use THIS LINK.

We look forward to seeing you there for some exciting book shopping! 📖

DHS Tennis tryouts (8th through 12th grade) will take place on the Georgia State Clarkston Campus the week of January 26th. All athletes need a physical on file via DragonFly before tryouts. Please reach out to Coach Messer at dmesser@csdecatur.net for any questions. See flyer for details.

Read the December 11, 2025, issue of the district-wide newsletter, CSD Weekly here.

Please take a moment this week to make your voice heard and participate in the Georgia Department of Education climate survey for your school! Your participation and feedback are greatly appreciated. The data collected will help determine the School Climate Star Ratings for the 2026-27 school year, which will enable schools to improve or build upon their successes.

Decatur High School Family Survey

The Decatur High PTSA has officially launched its Season of Giving campaign and already raised over $1,000 toward our goal! Thanks to a generous gift from Tell Realty, every donation will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $5,000. That means your contribution goes twice as far in building an inclusive, engaging DHS community for students, teachers, staff, parents, and guardians.

Your contribution directly supports:

💚 Student Club Grants – supporting student-led initiatives that foster creativity, leadership, and belonging
🤍 Parent & Community Programs – strengthening connections across DHS families and the community

In January, we’ll award our next round of teacher and student club grants. The more we raise now, the more we can invest in these opportunities that make DHS thrive.

Double Your Impact for DHS PTSA - Give by Dec. 31, 2025!

Donate Now and Double Your Support: DHS PTSA PayPal Link

We’re excited to announce that our brand-new DHS PTSA website is now up and running! Check it out today!

1. Decatur High School Website
2. Decatur High School PTSA
3. Bell Schedule
4. Personal Electronics Protocol (Updated)
5. School Bus Registration
6. Annual Update
7. Student and Family Handbook