HMES NEWSLETTER

Good Afternoon, I hope you all had a great weekend!

We are officially stepping into Week 9, and what a journey it has been! Each of you continues to amaze me with your energy, commitment, and support, you truly keep our school community thriving.

Our families are the heartbeat of our success. Thank you to all who took the time to meet with teachers during conferences last week. Your engagement makes a powerful difference for our scholars. A special thank-you also to those who joined us for our School Expo, your love and support for our school shines through in everything you do!

A big round of applause to our Track and Field Team for their outstanding performance this past Saturday! Their hard work and teamwork made us proud. We are also deeply grateful to the families and staff who came out to cheer them on—your encouragement means the world to our students.

This Wednesday is PBIS Day 🎉 and we’ll be celebrating with TIKIZ! Please be sure to ask your child’s teacher about the Dojo points required and the cost so your scholar is ready to participate.

And as always, don’t forget to check out the full SMORE for more details and updates and catch our weekly STEAM video, where you just might see your child in action!

Go Hawks! 🦅

Dr. Blanton

You are ALL invited to an exciting event where students and families will journey across the globe through literacy and culture!

✨ What’s in Store:
Structured Literacy Activities – Hands-on learning tied directly to literacy goals

• Literature from Around the World – Folktales, stories, and books that inspire curiosity and imagination
• Engaging Literacy Stations – Fun, interactive, and educational for all ages
• Family-Friendly Cultural Experiences – A chance to explore traditions and celebrations from many countries

As we kicked off Multicultural Night, we are excited to continue the celebration by honoring Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15th to October 15th. This is a time dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the rich history, culture, and countless contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States.

Unlike many observances, this celebration begins in the middle of September and concludes in the middle of October, reflecting the independence anniversaries of several Latin American countries.

This month-long recognition provides us the opportunity to learn, reflect, and honor the traditions and achievements that have shaped our communities and continue to inspire generations.

👉 Please click on the video above to share with your children to learn more about this month.

A big shoutout to our track coaches and team for an outstanding performance at their track meet, your hard work and dedication truly showed! Our next game is Saturday, October 4th, the time and location is TBD. Come out in HMES attire to cheer on our student athletes.

Dot Day: Leave Your Mark!

Inspired by The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds, students learned the importance of creativity and leaving their mark. Each child decorated a circle, and together, we’ll create a giant mural that will be displayed in the hallway!

Coding Week: Robots and Coding

During Coding Week, students explored how robots and computers are controlled by humans through coding. We started with unplugged coding, using arrows on paper, and then moved on to Scratch Jr., where they created their own stories and games. They learned about sequencing, logic, and problem-solving while having fun with technology!

We’re excited for more hands-on learning in the coming weeks!

Thank you for your continued support.

Make sure you follow hmes_steam on instagram for all the STEAM happening and excitement!

Henderson Mill has the BEST events—hands down! From unforgettable family nights to fun fundraisers, spirit wear, staff appreciation, and more… our PTO is behind it all!

But we can’t do it without YOU.

Whether you can volunteer your time, share your ideas, or simply stay connected, your involvement makes a huge difference in our school community. Every parent and guardian is welcome—and every voice matters!

✨ Why join the PTO?
✔️ Help plan amazing events
✔️ Support teachers and students
✔️ Build community
✔️ Stay in the loop

Let’s work together to make this the best year yet at Henderson Mill!

Join us on Wednesday, October 8th, from 6:30 AM – 7:45 AM for Walk/Bike to School Day! Let’s celebrate healthy habits, reduce traffic, and start the day with energy and fun.

A big thank you to Mrs. Meader for spearheading this wonderful initiative for our school community! 💜

We look forward to seeing our students and families walking or biking together!

Cub Scouts is an exciting program for children (both boys and girls) in kindergarten through fifth grade—and their families—that promotes learning, friendship, and most of all, fun!

Each child will join a “den” with other students in the same grade, guided by parent leaders, and receive a handbook of age-appropriate adventures. All dens come together to form the “pack,” also led by parents.

With a focus on outdoor activities, small gatherings, and family events, Cub Scouts provides a wonderful opportunity for kids to socialize, explore new interests, and grow through hands-on experiences.

We encourage you to get your child involved in this enriching program! See flyer for details.

Debby Miller, Olympic gold medal winner for the USA, and a past WNBA player ran this program through Clairmont for the past 20 years until Globe Academy bought out the property and she had to relocate this great basketball program to Rehoboth in our area. The program served out community well for over 20 years and has feed our basketball programs with many of the young men and women that played for our school teams through her Top of The Key basketball program. Please see flyer for details.

We are now registering for our Winter 2025 sports season. For this season, i9 Sports offers flag football (ages 4-13), soccer (ages 3-8), basketball (ages 4-12) and Girls Only Volleyball Instructional Clinic (ages 9-14). We have locations in Brookhaven, Dunwoody, Chamblee, Tucker & More!

All this information is on our digital flyer (attached below) for you to distribute to your school community through your website, social media, eblasts, etc. Please post it now through October and send it out to your school community asap for early registration savings.

We look forward to working with you again this season and providing another opportunity for $10 per registration.

Thank you for your partnership with i9 Sports!

Do you have a 4th- or 5th-grade student who loves to dance? Don’t miss the chance to be part of our Elementary Competitive Dance Team!

📝 Registration is open now through November 18.
💃 Season kicks off December 1.

This is a great opportunity for students to showcase their talent, build teamwork skills, and represent our school with pride.

Key Dates:

• December 1st - First Day of Practice
• January 17th - First Match
• January 24th - Second Match
• January 31st - Area Championship
• February 7th - County Championship

Opportunities include:

• EIM Dance (Various grade levels)

Use the links below to explore all options and sign up today, spots may fill quickly!

Action Required: Complete Student Information Form

If you have not yet completed this form in the link below, please do so as soon as possible. Having this information on file is essential for your child’s safety and participation it ensures we are prepared for field trips, medical needs, and other important school activities.

👉 Your timely response helps us take the best care of your child. Thank you for your cooperation!

By signing on as a volunteer, you become a member of our team of professionals that proudly provides educational services to more than 93,000 students in our DeKalb County School District. Click on link below, this document was created by the District and is designed to assist you in registering to be a volunteer with the DeKalb County School District. Please complete the following steps to become a DCSD Volunteer. The process for volunteering takes about 30 minutes total and includes about 20 minutes of online mandatory child abuse reporting training required by the State of Georgia for all volunteers.

Steps to Complete the Volunteer Process:

1. Complete the Volunteer Application and Release Form:

• English Application
• Spanish Application

2. Review and Complete the DCSD Volunteer Code of Conduct:

• English Code of Conduct
• Spanish Code of Conduct

3. Complete the Mandated Reporter Training:

• Watch the Mandated Reporter Video and complete the quiz before attending a training session.
• Steps to complete the training:
• Create a free account
• Select State: GA
• Click on Child Abuse and Neglect Course: Mandated Reporter
• Start the course and complete the quiz
• Save or print your certificate and email a copy to DCSDvolunteer@dekalbschoolsga.org
• Training link: Mandated Reporter Course

Upcoming DCSD Volunteer Training (via Zoom):

Join a Zoom Session That Fits Your Schedule

Fall 2025 Volunteer Training Dates

Please select the Zoom session that works best for you from the options below:

• October 1 – 12:00 PM

• October 8 – 12:00 PM & 6:00 PM

• October 22 – 12:00 PM

• October 29 – 12:00 PM

• November 5 – 12:00 PM

• November 12 – 12:00 PM & 6:00 PM

• December 3 – 12:00 PM

• December 10 – 12:00 PM

Join the DCSD Volunteer Training Zoom Meeting:

🔗 Join Zoom Meeting
📌 Meeting ID: 857 5784 5773
🔑 Passcode: 598219

Thank you for your dedication to supporting our schools! We look forward to your participation!

School Calendar Input

DCSD’s Calendar Committee is convening this fall to develop the 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 school calendars. We want to hear from you. Click link below.

Reminder: As we kick off a successful school year, please review and follow our arrival and dismissal expectations to ensure a smooth and safe day for all students:

🌅 Morning Arrival:
🕖 7:00 AM – School doors open and breakfast begins.
🍽️ After breakfast – Intervention & Enrichment starts. This is a critical time for academic support and acceleration—please ensure your child arrives on time.
⏰ 7:40 AM – Breakfast service ends.
📣 7:40 AM – Morning announcements begin.
📘 7:45 AM – Instruction begins promptly.
🏁 Afternoon Dismissal:
🕝 2:15 PM – Dismissal begins in this order:
➡️bus riders
➡️ van riders
➡️ walkers
➡️ car riders
➡️ aftercare.
Please remember that our buses must be in line first.
🕝 2:30 PM – All students should be fully dismissed from classrooms.
🕒 2:45 PM – Students not picked up by this time will be sent to aftercare, and a drop-in fee will apply. Communication is key!
Your partnership helps us create a safe and focused environment for all learners. Thank you for your attention and cooperation!

Email: regina_smiley-blanton@dekalbschoolsga.org
Website: https://www.hendersonmilles.dekalb.k12.ga.us/
Location: 2408 Henderson Mill Road, Atlanta, GA, USA
Phone: 678-874-3102
Twitter: @henderson_mill