DHS Weekly Update

• Security Update & Morning Tardy Procedures Begin Friday

• Underclassman Picture Day
• IB and AP fees
• Student Attendance and Visitors Procedures
• Teacher Wishlists
• PTSA Updates
• Quick Links

Students and staff have done great with our security procedures this week. Since opening our third entrance, all students who have arrived at DHS by 8:25 AM have been able to get through security with plenty of time to go to their lockers and make it to class by 8:35 AM. We will start our morning tardy procedures tomorrow (Friday, August 8th). A reminder of our procedures:

A student is considered tardy in the morning if they are not in their first class of the day by 8:35 AM. Teachers will close and lock their doors at 8:35 AM. Any students not in class at this time should go to the attendance office for a pass. Students can continue to arrive through the Commerce bus lane doors until 8:45 AM and be issued a tardy pass there. Students can enter through the doors on N. McDonough all day and be issued a tardy pass at that entrance. Students may not enter the Career Academy entrance after 8:33 AM.

Students may not pass through the alley between the buildings to go from the Commerce side of the building to the N. McDonough side and vice versa.

One note about security screening
We ask that students please have their Chromebooks on top of their notebooks when they pass them around the system to reduce the chances of Chromebooks slipping and falling.

Underclassmen (grades 9–11), smile bright! Picture Day is this Friday, August 22 during science classes. These photos will be used for Infinite Campus, school IDs, and the yearbook, so come photo-ready! Digital proofs will be emailed to parents after picture day.

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 will be added to the Infinite Campus parent portal in late August and are due no later than October 20, 2025. Students will be assessed a late fee for payments submitted after November 1, 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 and 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.

We’re looking forward to another great year at Decatur High School. The most important decision students and their families can make about school is the choice to show up ready to learn every day! That said, we understand that illnesses and emergencies can occur, and we’re here to support students when they need to miss school. Click below for complete details.

Decatur High School is committed to ensuring every classroom is stocked and ready for students and teachers to have what they need to be engaged and successful. We do this by using our allocated state and local funding to fulfill classroom needs. Funding covers essential classroom supplies, any specialized materials needed for educational programming in different grade levels/subjects, individual or team requests for specific supplies, professional learning and general operating costs.

In addition to this, some staff at DHS have customarily shared supply wish lists with families via email or online. Please know that these are optional and individualized by the staff member. Wish lists should not be interpreted as an indication that classrooms at DHS or our programming lack supplies or funding. Instead, the lists reflect individual preferences for extra items. Any purchases made from these lists are considered gifts to staff and must follow state guidance and Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC) rules around gift-giving to public employees, including monetary limits.

If you have any questions about how supplies are funded or how you can support our classrooms, please contact me at dsprull@csdecatur.net.

The DHS Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) focuses on creating a vibrant school community. We support student success, show appreciation to our educators and staff, and create opportunities for connection among parents and guardians.

The PTSA sponsors the homecoming dance, student inclusion and recognition, educator and club grants, and is introducing new events like Taco Tuesday, game-day food orders, and socials with local restaurants.

Whether you're a veteran parent or new to high school life, there's a place for you in the PTSA.

• Save-the-date: The first PTSA meeting is Tuesday, September 19, 6:30 – 8:00, DHS Media Center (Enter through Bus Loop)
• ·Want to get involved or learn more? Let us know here: https://forms.gle/YB6DSQ9kcrxvaNeR8

Read the August 7, 2025, issue of the district-wide newsletter, CSD Weekly here.

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.

1. Decatur High School
2. Decatur High School PTSA
3. Bell Schedule
4. Personal Electronics Protocol (Updated)
5. School Bus Registration
6. Annual Update

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