CSD Weekly, March 13, 2025

• Read Your School Newsletters to Stay Up to Date!
• Around Our Schools: College Heights ECLC Pre-K Class Benefits from DEF Teacher Grant, BHMS Headed to Great History Challenge Nationals, Vote DHS Student for Track & Field Performer of the Week, DHS HOSA and Robotics Win Big at Competitions
• Upcoming Events: Inaugural Elizabeth Wilson Lecture Series, Special Olympics, Bulldog Bash
• Reminder: School Climate Survey Ends 3/31, Take 5 Minutes to Complete it Today!

Find out what's happening in CSD schools by clicking on your school's newsletter name.

College Heights Connection

Clairemont Bulldog

Glennwood Eagle Edition

Oakhurst Weekly

Westchester Weekly

Winnona Park Wildcat Weekly

F.AVE Falcon Flyer

Talley Street Update

BHMS Weekly Update

DHS Weekly Update

DVA Weekly Update

Five BHMS students competed in the Great History Challenge regional competition last week, and all five competitors qualified for the national championship. BHMS also had three grade-level champions in the regional competition: Avi Newman (eighth grade), Brock Scott (sixth grade), and Ethan Whalin (seventh grade). Congratulations to these students and Liz Williams for sponsoring BHMS's participation in this competition.

BHMS Great History Challenge regional competitors (left to right): Avi Newman, Brock Scott, Ethan Whalin, Oden Smith, and Declan Llewellyn.

Tomorrow, Friday, March 14, is the last day to vote for DHS track and field team member and BOE student representative Sophie D'Elena, who is nominated for the MileSplit GA Track & Field Performer of the Week. This past weekend at the Atlanta Games, Sophie won the 800-meter race, crossing the finish line at 2:11.75 and recording one of the top ten times in the nation this year. Congratulations, Sophie! Help her across another finish line and vote for Sophie here for MileSplit GA Track & Field Performer of the Week.

Eleven students from DHS's new Health Occupations Students of America chapter competed in the Georgia HOSA State Leadership Conference this past weekend. DHS student Eleanor Benson placed first in the epidemiology competition. She has been invited to compete as the state of Georgia's representative at this summer's international HOSA Conference. Additionally, Leona Ran placed fifth in the state for Medical Reading, and Jalia Poole placed ninth in the state for World Health & Disparities in Healthcare. Congratulations to the HOSA team and its sponsor, Cassy Smith. Thank you to DEF for the mini-grant that helped HOSA students attend the competition.

HOSA Students Competing in State:

Eleanor Benson, Sophie Clark, Leighton Cohen, Eshaan Dhanani, Willow Harris, Sophia Jiang, Charlotte Kemper, Leona Ran, Jihoon Park, Diana Pollidore, Jalia Poole

On Friday, March 7, fellow track and field state champion and State Representative Omari Crawford met with Decatur High School's Student-Athlete Leadership Team (SALT) to discuss the political process, the significance of athletics, and student mental health. CSD's Assistant Superintendent of Student Support Services Frances Holt and Assistant Athletics Director David Harbin also attended.

Rep. Crawford shared insights from his background as a former high school and college athlete, expressing his commitment to attending as many CSD sporting events as possible. The audience included student-athletes from various sports, including baseball, basketball, cheerleading, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, and volleyball.

"Student-athletes are exemplary leaders because of the challenges you balance daily," Rep. Crawford stated. "In both politics and sports, being on your game and maintaining focus is crucial. Much of my work as a state representative has been dedicated to supporting student-athletes."

Students raised concerns about the high costs associated with certain sports, the risks of placing concrete under artificial turf, and the need for coaches to be trained in identifying mental and physical health issues. Rep. Crawford elaborated on the lawmaking process and encouraged students to visit the Capitol.

"Your presence matters," Rep. Crawford emphasized. "I hope to see you at the Capitol to discuss how we can support you. Politics should be experienced in person; it's vital to hear your leaders and ask questions. Your voice holds power."

Decatur Robotics finished twelfth in the GeorgiaFIRST Robotics Competition Dalton Qualifier and won the Innovation in Control Award for their robot's design. Decatur Robotics team member Anika Kailasam was named a semi-finalist for the Georgia FIRST Robotics Dean's List Award for her leadership and technical expertise. In April, Anika will compete to become a finalist for this award at Georgia's district championship.

College Heights teachers Annie Phillips and Erika Sanders received a Teacher Innovation Grant from the Decatur Education Foundation (DEF) to provide Mat Man kits for all eight pre-K classes. Mat Man kits include wooden pieces in line, curved and circle shapes that introduce letter formation and recognition and develop motor skills for writing. Mat Man helps students understand how to draw a self-portrait and build body awareness. Thank you to Ms. Phillips, Ms. Sanders, and DEF for supporting early literacy education.

DHS culinary students toured the culinary department at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and had a firsthand look at one of the stadium's 20 state-of-the-art kitchens, met the head chef, and spoke with several sous chefs from different departments. They also explored the stadium's luxury suites and had the incredible opportunity to enter the field. This unique experience gave our senior students valuable insight into the wide range of hospitality careers available at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, inspiring them to explore future opportunities in the industry.

The DHS National Honor Society collected 67 pints of blood at the Red Cross Blood Drive on March 11, bringing the club's total to 133 pints for the year. This blood drive was the smoothest of the year, thanks to 48 student volunteers and added capacity from the Red Cross that helped the 78 student, staff and community donors through the process. Thank you to the NHS volunteers and the NHS advisor, Katrina Walker.

State Superintendent Richard Woods named Decatur High School among the 301 2025 AP Honor Schools in three categories: AP Schools of Distinction, AP STEM Schools, And AP STEM Achievement Schools. The categories are based on the results of 2024 AP courses and exams administered by the College Board, which also administers the SAT. AP courses are one of several ways Georgia students can access college-level learning at the high school level; students who receive a 3, 4, or 5 on an AP exam may receive college credit.

DHS is included on the following lists:

AP Schools of Distinction: Schools with at least 20% of the total student population taking AP exams and at least 50% of all AP exams earning scores of 3 or higher.

AP STEM Schools: Schools that administered at least five exams in each of four separate AP STEM courses (math, science, and computer science) and a minimum of 25 total exams administered.

AP STEM Achievement Schools: AP STEM schools (see above definition) with at least 50% of all AP STEM exams earning scores of 3 or higher.

CSD's climate survey for your K-12 school is open through March 31, 2025. Schools with fewer than 15 family responses or less than 51% of student and staff participation will lose one star from their overall School Climate Rating. These surveys are the measures by which GaDOE determines each school's climate, and the results are a part of each school's CCRPI results. Your feedback is valuable and vital! Please take your school's survey below.

Clairemont Family Climate Survey

Glennwood Family Climate Survey

Oakhurst Family Climate Survey

Westchester Family Climate Survey

Winnona Park Family Climate Survey

F.AVE Family Climate Survey

Talley Street Family Climate Survey

Beacon Hill Family Climate Survey

DHS Family Climate Survey

As we continue striving to create a safe and supportive learning environment for all students in the City Schools of Decatur, we invite you to review and provide feedback on our district's Code of Conduct & Restorative Practices Handbook. The State of Georgia requires all school districts to review their Code of Conduct, ensuring it aligns with current policies, best practices, and the needs of our school community.

Your feedback as a stakeholder, whether a parent, guardian, student, or community member, is invaluable in shaping our expectations and guidelines. By sharing your thoughts, you help us create a Code of Conduct that supports positive behavior, promotes fairness, and fosters a strong school climate.

Please take a few moments to review and complete this feedback form by March 31, 2025. Your voice plays a crucial role in ensuring our policies reflect the values and priorities of our community.

CSD is bringing the Community School model to the DHS Student Center, which will elevate the student center into a space that serves as a community hub. The Community School Model allows the DHS Student Center to provide customized support to our community based on their specific needs. This initiative relies on a comprehensive needs assessment and deep community engagement to understand our community's assets, needs, and priorities.

The Community School Model is a strategy that meets every student and their family where they are. Common support measures in the Community School model include medical, dental, and mental health care services; tutoring and other academic supports; and resources for families, such as parent education classes, job training and placement services, housing assistance, and nutrition programs.

CSD 2025-2026 enrollment is now open for rising Kindergarten students or students new to CSD. Registration may be completed entirely online. Find more registration information here.

New Families: See CSD's Key Contacts & Resources for Families, available in multiple languages.

REMINDER: If your currently enrolled student has a sibling who will be new to CSD for the 2025-2026 school year, you must register this new sibling via the Parent Portal.

1. Select "More" from the menu in the Parent Portal.

2. Select "Annual Data Update."

3. Select "2025-2026 New Student Registration."

As part of the enrollment process, you will also need to email residency documentation to CSD's district enrollment specialist, Patrice Moore, at pmoore@csdecatur.net, as the Parent Portal will not allow you to change or upload this field. Information about required residency proof documents is available on the CSD website. Please contact pmoore@csdecatur.net or 404-371-3601 x1063 for assistance.

CSD K-5 students: Join Super Saturdays for a morning of fun and educational STEAM-inspired lessons and activities led by CSD teachers and staff! These events are completely free and include hands-on instruction, all necessary supplies and materials, and plenty of engaging learning opportunities in a supportive and creative environment. Super Saturdays take place from 9 a.m.-noon at Fifth Avenue ES, 101 5th Avenue, Decatur, GA 30030. Register here for Super Saturdays!

Next Super Saturday date:

March 15, 2025

Remaining Super Saturday dates:

April 19, 2025

May 10, 2025

To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, support strong school attendance, and encourage safe in-person learning, the U.S. Department of Education, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is offering free, rapid, at-home COVID-19 tests to school districts for distribution to students, staff, and families. Starting this week, free COVID-19 test kits will be available in school clinics for pickup from the school nurse.

To maintain the health and wellness of school-aged children and adolescents, the state of Georgia requires that students receive vaccinations for vaccine-preventable diseases before and while attending school.

The CSD School Health Team continuously assesses the immunization status of all CSD students. Parents/guardians of students with expired immunization certificates, Form #3231, or invalid immunization documentation will receive a notification from the school clinic team requesting that the student obtain the required vaccinations for school attendance. A medical exemption on Form #3231 with a current expiration date should be noted, if applicable. See the Georgia Department of Health's child and adolescent vaccination schedule.

According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, a valid immunization certificate, Form #3231, or a notarized Affidavit of Religious Exemption, Form 2208, is required for school attendance. If a certificate marked with a "Date of Expiration" expires on the date indicated, a current certificate must be submitted within 30 days of expiration.

Adherence to this guidance is crucial. Being adequately vaccinated safeguards the health and well-being of individual students and contributes to the school community's overall safety and vitality. Additionally, ensuring students are immunized creates a protective barrier that minimizes the risks of outbreaks within the school population. Please contact your child’s school clinic team with any questions.

The CSD Mobile app is a streamlined and consolidated hub for parents to receive important messages and stay informed. The app provides everything in one convenient location– emergency alerts, nutrition menus, school calendars, bus routes, school announcements, and more. Search for "City Schools of Decatur" in the Apple App Store or Google Play and download it today!

CSD students in grades K-5 are invited to register for the BHMS Cheer Mini Camp, Tuesday and Wednesday, March 18-19, 4-6 p.m. in the BHMS Gym. Campers will learn cheerleading skills and have a blast with BHMS cheer coaches Coach Kay and Coach Daisy. Register here by March 15 to receive a t-shirt, or register by March 17 to attend the camp.

CSD teachers and students are exhibiting their artwork April 1-3 from 4-7 p.m. at the Solarium. Special thanks to the Decatur Education Foundation, Decatur Arts Alliance, and The Solarium for their funding and support.

• National Women's History Month, March 1-31
• Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, March 1-31
• National Social Work Month, March 1-31
• Music in our Schools Month, March 1-31
• Youth Art Month, March 1-31
• National Nutrition Month, March 1-31
• Georgia School Board Appreciation Week, March 10-14

• Education Support Professionals Week, March 10-14

• Board of Education Retreat, March 18

• National Social Worker Day, March 18

• Yes, I Can! Awards, March 18

• Elizabeth Wilson Lecture Series, March 25

• BOE Community Meeting, March 25

• CSD Special Olympics, March 26

• Early Release Day, March 26

• Legacy Park Opening, March 29

• Annual School Climate Surveys Due, March 31

• Spring Break, April 7-11

• DHS Graduation Day, May 16

• BHMS Capstone: Eighth Grade Moving On Ceremony, May 22

March is Women's History Month. City Schools of Decatur will launch the inaugural Elizabeth Wilson Lecture Series this year. Named after the City of Decatur's first Black mayor and city commissioner, this annual event aims to enhance the civic engagement of Decatur High School students by providing an opportunity to interact with Ms. Wilson, who will be present, and her guest of trailblazers in leadership and service. At Ms. Wilson's request, we are pleased that the Honorable Michael Thurmond will kick off the series. The community is invited to join us for the lecture series, which will be held in the Performing Arts Center of Decatur High School on Tuesday, March 25, from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m.

CSD's Special Education department will host the district's first Special Olympics competition on Wednesday, March 26, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Decatur High School. This event invites CSD students with developmental disabilities to compete in athletics events, as well as promotes understanding and awareness of developmental disabilities. The public is invited to join us in cheering on the incredible athletic achievements of these students as we continue to provide them with inclusive and transformative experiences both in and out of the classroom.

Tour deCatur Registration is Open

Get ready, get set, get registered for Decatur Education Foundation's 23rd annual Tour deCatur! Sign up at www.tourdecatur.com.

The fun happens on Saturday, March 15, at the Decatur High School stadium. This year, in addition to the 5k (a Peachtree qualifier), the 1-Mile Fun Run, and the adorable Tot Trot (for our friends ages four and under), DEF is offering a "None-Run" for anyone who wants to support Decatur kids without breaking a sweat! This is DEF's largest fundraiser and supports programs and initiatives that remove obstacles, provide opportunities, support educators, and strengthen the Decatur community.

This year's Bulldog Bash is Saturday, March 22 at Independent Distilling Company. The event will feature a live online auction with everything from artwork, experiences, trips, restaurant gift cards, sporting event tickets, self-care and much more. Plus, Hapa Kitchen will serve delicious Hawaiian comfort cuisine. All proceeds support Decatur Athletics, including more than 1,100 student-athletes on 57 teams representing 19 sports at DHS and BHMS. Buy tickets here.

City of Decatur Parks and Recreation Upcoming Youth Events

Find youth programs to entertain kids of all ages, from sports to theater to parents' nights out. Learn more about upcoming events and programs here, or visit the recreation center webpages:

• Decatur Recreation Center
• Ebster Recreation Center
• Oakhurst Recreation Center

Visit Parks and Recreation's one-stop-shop website for information about after-school programs, school holiday programs, and summer camps. To stay updated on all things Decatur Parks and Recreation, follow them on Facebook and Instagram or sign up for their monthly newsletter here.

College Heights Connection • Clairemont Bulldog • Glennwood Eagle Edition • Oakhurst Weekly • Westchester Weekly • Winnona Park Wildcat Weekly • F.AVE Falcon Flyer • Talley Street Update • BHMS Weekly Update • DHS Weekly Update • DVA Weekly Update

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