HMES NEWSLETTER

Good Afternoon Hawk Family!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! As we move into Week 31, we want to take a moment to thank our incredible Henderson Mill community for your continued support of our students and staff.

We are thrilled to share that HMES earned the most parent participation in the Title 1 Annual Stakeholder Survey, thank you for your engagement and partnership!

This week, we had several celebrations across our school:

• We celebrated our paraprofessionals for their dedication and hard work.
• DCSD honored Mrs. Fordham with the Difference Maker Award—thank you for going above and beyond for our students.
• In celebration of Women’s History Month, our Sunshine Committee hosted a self-care day for all the amazing women in our building.

A special thank you to our PTO and Mrs. Sayegh for organizing the Staff BINGO challenge and raffle this month! Mrs. Muhammad won the $50 prize.

Looking ahead: When we return, we will celebrate Exceptional Children’s Week and Assistant Principal’s Week. We will also have Career Day and Sunshine Presents: Color Wars, so get ready for more fun and excitement! See the end of the SMORE for May dates to mark on your calendars.

Thank you again for your continued support, partnership, and for being such an essential part of our Hawk Family. Your involvement truly makes a difference for our students and staff every single day.

Don’t forget to check out this week’s STEAM Video of the Week to see highlights from around the school!

Have a great week, Hawks! We will see you all back on April 13th!

— Dr. Blanton

At Henderson Mill, we are committed to continuous growth and improvement for our students and families. We invite parents to share feedback anytime through our anonymous parent suggestion link. Responses are reviewed by the Administrative Team, Guiding Coalition, and PAC to guide school planning. Students can also share ideas through our student suggestion box, which the SAC (seen pictured below) and Administrative Team review to strengthen our school. Thank you to all who have already shared feedback! If you haven’t yet, we encourage you to participate, your voice matters. Please note that we will have our next SAC Meeting Wednesday, April 15th at 7:30am.

Henderson Mill Elementary is excited to host our upcoming Adult-Only Roaring 20’s Night, and you’re invited! Dust off your flapper dresses, suspenders, and fedoras (costumes are optional) and join us for an unforgettable evening of fun, fellowship, and fundraising.

The evening will include:
• Delicious food and appetizers
• Adult spirits
• Casino games
• A silent auction featuring sports packages, Atlanta attractions, online donations, and local business items

This event is a wonderful opportunity for our school community to come together, enjoy a night out, and support Henderson Mill.

All event details are included in the flyer. The link to purchase your tickets is below don’t wait, as pricing may increase closer to the event! Also check out a video below to explain what a school Casino Night looks like below.

We look forward to seeing you there for a roaring good time!

Parents, get your child’s Field Day (May 15th) shirt now so they can participate in style! If you’re volunteering, you can also grab a shirt to show your school spirit.

🛒 Order Link/Instructions: https://patriciasspiritwear.tuosystems.com/stores/hendersonmill
📅 Order Deadline: April 10th

Thank you for supporting Henderson Mill Elementary School with your purchase!

Please Note:

• All sales are final – double-check sizes & quantities before ordering.
• Some items may require a minimum quantity; items not meeting this may be cancelled.
• Orders will be processed after the web store closes and will arrive ~2–3 weeks later.

Henderson Mill Elementary Parents and Families,

We are excited to kick off our Kids Heart Challenge at Henderson Mill Elementary! Building on nearly 50 years of experience in schools across America, the Kids Heart Challenge focuses on whole-body well-being. This program helps students improve their health, build strong character, and raise life-saving donations for the American Heart Association to help children with special hearts. Please see the video below for more information.

Students are encouraged to create online fundraising pages and share them with family and friends to help raise money for the American Heart Association.

Participants who complete “Finn’s Mission,” which includes learning Hands-Only CPR and recognizing stroke warning signs, will help our school and could help save a life.

Incentives: Students can earn fun thank-you gifts for raising funds, such as wristbands and character keychains.

Thank you for supporting our students and this important cause! More information coming soon! See video below.

If you have significant concerns that should be taken into consideration as classes are organized for the 2026-2027 school year, please submit this online form by May 1st.

Specific teacher requests will NOT be honored, however, if there are specific needs which the school should be aware of when formulating class lists, please complete this form in its entirety. For instance, almost all students need a warm, loving environment, but some students struggle to make friends and displaying appropriate social interactions. Knowing information like this helps as student assignments are made. If your child has already been identified as having such needs, please fill out this form to let us know.

This form is for administrative use only and will NOT be shared with teachers. Your input will be taken into consideration but not guaranteed when making final decisions about class placement for the 2026-2027 school year. Please click link below.

Hawk Families – We Need Your Input!

DCSD is gathering feedback through the Round 2 Facilities Scenario Survey as part of the Facilities Planning Process. This survey is designed to help refine potential scenarios—no decisions have been made. Any consolidations would need Board approval and would likely be phased over 6–8 years, starting no earlier than the 2027–28 school year.

Survey closes: April 12th

Please take a few minutes to share your feedback. For language interpretation assistance, call 678-676-6602.

We encourage you to stay engaged and informed throughout the SAP process. Reviewing scenarios, attending meetings, and sharing your feedback helps ensure your voice is heard and contributes to thoughtful decision-making about buildings, boundaries, and programs.

We appreciate your continued partnership and commitment to supporting our students and our school community.

As we prepare for the spring testing season, we want to share important information about the Georgia Milestones End of Grade (EOG) Assessment.

All assessments will be administered 100% online in a face-to-face testing environment.

The district will use staggered testing schedules for elementary, middle, and high schools so that ELA Section 1 begins on different days at each level to ensure technology systems run smoothly.

To prepare for testing, students will participate in technology stress tests on March 31, 2026, and April 16, 2026 to ensure devices and systems are ready.

More details about Henderson Mill’s specific testing dates will be shared soon. Thank you for your continued support of our students.

Since many of you loved seeing the staff being GOOSED, we have another fun opportunity that even supports our attendance!

If a student has perfect attendance during the entire Georgia Milestones testing window, their name will be entered into a GOOSE Day Spin the Wheel drawing.

We will select 10 students to be GOOSED on: Friday, May 8th

Be on time and be present every day during testing, this is your chance to get out of class and have some fun!

Get ready… you might get GOOSED! 🐣🎉

This week, our school conducted a CPR Code Blue Drill, and we are extremely proud of how well our staff and students responded. The staff did an amazing job, demonstrating preparedness, professionalism, and calm leadership throughout the drill. Their quick thinking and attention to detail ensured that the drill ran smoothly and safely.

Please remember that schools are required to conduct safety drills each month (fire drills, severe weather drills, lockdown drills, CPR/medical emergency drills, etc.) to ensure that students and staff know exactly what to do in case of an emergency. These drills are a critical part of keeping everyone safe.

Thank you for your continued support as we prioritize the safety and well-being of all students and staff at Henderson Mill.

Hello, DCSD Community! Click the link below for The DCSD Weekly Digest – April 13, 2026 Newsletter. Stay Connected and Stay Informed: https://bit.ly/4ejCBb2.

• Literacy in DeKalb Plan Feedback - April 14, 15, 16
• Spring Check-In with Cartwheel Care, Inc.
• Community Health & Wellness Fair
• Weekly and Monthly Recognitions
• Photos & Videos of the Week

Let's continue moving forward together because the strength of our community lies in unity and continuous communication.

We invite all students to join in and show their school spirit during Milestones Spirit Week! Your support and enthusiasm will help motivate and inspire our 3rd–5th graders as they prepare for their assessments. Let’s come together as a school community to cheer them on and make this week unforgettable! See flyer above for details.

April is The Month of the Military Child, a time to honor the strength, service, and resilience of children whose parents serve or have served in the United States Armed Forces.

To show our support and solidarity, we invite all students and staff to wear purple, the color that represents all military children on April 15th.

As a proud military child myself, I’m excited to see our Hawks celebrate together and recognize the courage and dedication of our military families. Let’s make it a meaningful and colorful day!

Thank you for helping us honor our military children. 💜

Henderson Mill will be celebrating Exceptional Children’s Week to recognize and honor the unique strengths, talents, and contributions of our students receiving special education services. This week is dedicated to highlighting the amazing achievements of these students, promoting awareness of their abilities, and celebrating the dedication of the teachers and staff who support them.

We look forward to showcasing their accomplishments and creating meaningful ways for all students and families to participate in this celebration!

This month, we celebrate the strengths, cultures, and contributions of our bilingual and multilingual learners. It’s a time to recognize the value of language diversity and continue advocating for equitable opportunities and support for all students to thrive.

We are excited to celebrate Career Day on Friday, April 17th during the school day! Students are encouraged to dress up as the professional or career they dream of pursuing. Parents are also welcome to join us and explore the many ways our students are imagining their futures. It’s a fun and inspiring day for the entire school community!

TIKIS will also be sold for students to purchase.

Get ready for Color Wars a lively, fun-filled event where laughter, STEAM games, and friendly competition collide! Play exciting games like Color Capture the Flag and Color Freeze Tag, where players get “tagged” with vibrant color powder.

🗓 When: Friday, April 17th | 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Who: Entire families are invited to join the fun!

💰 Cost: $5.00 per child (click link below). Parents are free but must accompany their child. In person tickets will be sold at school on April 14th- April 16th in the front hall of the school from 7am to 7:45am.

What to Know:

• Wear clothes that can get messy
• Something to cover your eyes (splash goggles)
• Be ready for games, smiles, and lots of color!

🙋 Volunteers Welcome! Please contact Ms. Bailey at: Vontressa_Bailey@dekalbschoolsga.org or click link below to sign up!

✨ Don’t miss this colorful celebration fun for all ages!

An assistant principal plays a vital role in our school, Ms. Vela leads with vision, supports teachers and staff, and ensure that every student has the opportunity to succeed.

At Henderson Mill, we are incredibly fortunate to have Ms. Vela, whose dedication goes above and beyond every single day. Ms. Vela works tirelessly, often using her personal time to complete tasks on schedule, while always keeping our students at the heart of every decision. Her commitment to ensuring that each child thrives is unmatched, and her passion for Henderson Mill Elementary shines through in everything she does.

From supporting teachers, staff, and students alike, Ms. Vela exemplifies what it means to lead with heart, integrity, and purpose. Her love for our school and her relentless drive to see all students succeed truly inspire us all.

Thank you, Ms. Vela, for your hard work, dedication, and unwavering commitment to making Henderson Mill a place where students can flourish every day! I appreciate you!!!

Families, mark your calendars our Hawks will be busy and brilliant on the same day! 🎉

We are excited to have students representing Henderson Mill in two amazing competitions, and we would love for our families to come out and support them. Our students will also be competing in the Rube Goldberg Machine Contest®, a fun and challenging STEM competition where teams design creative machines made from everyday objects to complete a simple task in the most ridiculously complex way possible!

And if that’s not enough excitement… our Hawks basketball DCSD championship game will be happening that same day too! 🏀

In true Hawk spirit, we’ll all be trying to be in several places at once. We invite our families to come out, cheer on our students, and celebrate the incredible creativity, teamwork, and innovation happening at Henderson Mill.

Let’s show up and support our Hawks as they soar!

Mark your calendars and get ready to show your Hawk Pride!

We are incredibly proud of our basketball teams this season. Our girls’ team placed 2nd in the Area 1 Championships! This has been an amazing season full of hard work, teamwork, and dedication from our players and coaches. Now it’s time for the District Championship Game, and we would love to pack the stands with Hawk families, staff, and students to cheer them on! Location and times coming soon. If you are available, please come out and support our teams. Your support means so much to our students and helps build a strong sense of school community and pride. See flyer above for details.

Let’s show up, be loud, and support our Hawks! 🦅🏀

Thank you for always supporting our students and our school!

• April 18th – County Championship

Join us for a fun and delicious Spirit Night at Chick-fil-A! 🎉 Bring your family and friends out to enjoy a great meal while supporting our school community. Every visit makes a difference! Be sure to check out the flyer for all the event details, including date, time, and location. We can’t wait to see you there! 🐔💙💚

Henderson Mill is excited to celebrate Community Service Day in honor of Earth Day! This is a special day when our students, staff, and families come together to beautify our school and give back to our community.

We would love for parents and families to join us throughout the day and after school to help with:

Planting flowers and shrubs
Spreading mulch where needed
Weeding and cleaning up outdoor areas around our school
Other fun school beautification projects that you may have

Your time and support will make a big difference and help create a more beautiful, welcoming environment for our students.

When: Wednesday, April 22nd – all day and after school
Who: Students, families, and community members

Let’s work together to celebrate Earth Day and give back to our school! 🌿💚

Date: Tuesday, April 28, 2026

What: Join us in honoring the hardworking men and women who safely transport our students every day!

School Bus Driver Appreciation Day is observed annually on the fourth Tuesday in April. This special day was first recognized in California to highlight the dedication and contributions of school bus drivers—and now we’re celebrating here at Henderson Mill!

How Families Can Participate:

• Student-Created Cards ✏️ – Share a heartfelt message of thanks.
• Flowers & Snacks 🌸🍪 – Brighten their day with a small token of appreciation.

Let’s show our drivers how much we value their hard work and dedication!

💛 Henderson Mill Families, your support makes this celebration extra special!

We are excited to invite you to Coffee & Conversations with our Principal and school team! This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with Principal, Assistant Principal, our Social Worker, and Parent Liaison ask questions, share feedback, share suggestions and learn more about ways we can partner together to support our students.

📅 Date: May 12th

🕗 Time: 9am or 12:30pm

📍 Location: Cafeteria and option to join us virtually

Come enjoy a cup of coffee, meet other parents, and have meaningful conversations about our school community.

Your voice matters, and we look forward to hearing from you!

Virtual Option: Microsoft Teams meeting

Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/242336542771152?p=cK0j6FG8COElCgKqUw

Meeting ID: 242 336 542 771 152

Passcode: VL3XE9QN

As we continue a successful school year, please review and follow our arrival and dismissal expectations to ensure a smooth and safe day for all students. Thanks to our survey, it has come to my attention that our late arrival students are a huge parent concern as well. This is a distruption to our classrooms and teaching/learning. Please try your hardest to have your child to arrive to school on time, please see below.:

🌅 Morning Arrival:
🕖 7:00 AM – School doors open and breakfast begins. Please be sure your child has parent supervision if they arrive on campus before 7am.
🍽️ After breakfast – Intervention & Enrichment starts (FREE TUTORING FOR YOUR CHILD). 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. Students should be in their classrooms.
📘 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!

Most Fridays are Spirit Wear Days for our staff, and we would love for our students to join in too! This is a fun way to celebrate our school pride and highlight our amazing school community. 💚

Want to get your student ready for Spirit Wear Fridays? Click the link below to purchase official school spirit wear from our PTO. Let’s make Fridays a sea of blue and green and school pride we can’t wait to see everyone showing their Hawk Pride! 🦅

We would love to feature them in this year’s Henderson Mill Yearbook! If you’ve captured any great moments classroom activities, field trips, performances, or celebrations—please feel free to share them with us. 📸 Send your photos to: HMESYearbookPhotos@gmail.com

Thank you for helping us make this year’s yearbook special!

Thanks to Mrs. Edwards, our PTO, and Atlanta Landscape Materials for supplying this beautiful boulder, we now have a fun way to celebrate special occasions! Families can “rent the rock” for $30 per three-day block to honor birthdays, holidays, achievements, or show appreciation for students, teachers, or staff.

Click link below to learn more and rent the HAWK ROCK. For questions, email hendersonmillpto@gmail.com. Thank you for supporting this fun PTO fundraiser, we hope you enjoy celebrating on the HMES Hawk Rock! 🦅

Thanks to your efforts, some of our teachers have already earned gift cards worth up to $500 through the School Store program, we are truly grateful!

To participate:

1. Go to schoolstore.net/sid.t?0000008355

2. Send the invitation emails to family and friends or put it on your social media page.

Your participation takes just minutes and helps provide important resources for our students and teachers. Thank you for your support! Click link to watch video to learn more: https://videos.schoolstore.com/kick-off-video

It’s quick, easy, and free to help our school earn rewards!

Here’s how:

1. Create a Kroger digital account (if you don’t already have one): https://www.kroger.com/account/communityrewards/

2. Link your Kroger Plus Shopper’s Card.

3. Go to Community Rewards in your account settings.

4. Search for Henderson Mill Elementary and select our school.

Every time you shop and use your Kroger Plus card, a percentage of your spending is donated to Henderson Mill, at no extra cost to you!

💚 Thank you for supporting our students, one grocery trip at a time!

Join the Lakeside High School Baseball Coaches and Players for their Annual Baseball Camp! This is a great opportunity for young athletes to build their baseball skills, learn from experienced players and coaches, and have fun on the field.

📲 Scan the QR code or click the link to register today!
👕 Register by Friday, May 8th to be guaranteed a camp t-shirt.

Come out, sharpen your skills, and be part of the Lakeside baseball tradition! ⚾

Fifth Grade Parents, the new cheerleading coaches have shared that rising sixth grade students will have the opportunity to participate in cheerleading next school year at Henderson Middle School. We are excited to share this opportunity with our current fifth-grade students who may be interested.

Because many cheerleading activities, practices, and preparation events take place during the summer months, we are sharing this information now so families do not have to wait until August when school begins. Please review the attached flyer for important information about tryouts, summer practice schedules, and requirements. If your child is interested in participating in cheerleading next school year, we encourage you to review the information and complete any required steps as soon as possible.

If you have any questions, please refer to the contact information listed on the flyer.

Families in DeKalb County can access free meals at eight convenient distribution centers across the district. Meals are available to anyone in the community, and each site offers pick-up on scheduled dates each month. See below for the full list of locations, dates, and times.- Click for details:https://www.dekalbschoolsga.org/divisions/wrap-around-services/food-distribution

We are happy to share that we will have a small pantry located in our Parent Corner, generously sponsored by our PTO. The pantry will include some food and very basic toiletry items for families who may need a little extra support. If your family could benefit from these resources, please contact Ms. Illinets (Parent Liaison) for assistance. All requests will be handled with care and confidentiality. We are always here to support our Henderson Mill families.

We are preparing for an incredible Career Day on April 17, 2026 from 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM, and we need dynamic, passionate speakers to help make this experience powerful and inspiring for our students. (Presentation rotations will be every 30 minutes.)

Career Day is more than just a visit it is an opportunity to expose our students to real-world possibilities, expand their dreams, and help them see what their futures can hold. Your story, your journey, and your career path could spark a passion that shapes a child’s goals for years to come. If you or someone you know would be interested in serving as a Career Day speaker, please complete the link below.

Let’s work together to make this a meaningful and impactful day for our students!

We are desperately seeking parent volunteers to help support our school during key parts of the day. Your time, presence, and energy make a huge difference in keeping our students safe, happy, and thriving and honestly, we can’t do it without you!

Here’s where we could really use your help:

• Lunch Duty (10:20 AM – 12:20 PM)- Help us monitor students, keep things running smoothly, and encourage positive behavior during lunch.
• Recess Duty (10:45 AM – 12:45 PM)- Play referee, cheerleader, and safety monitor all in one! Your presence ensures our kids can enjoy recess safely.
• Morning Duty (7:00 AM – 7:45 AM)-Assist with arrival by helping students get out of their transportation safely and start the day on the right foot.
• After School Duty (2:15 PM – 2:45 PM)-Help supervise dismissal and ensure students leave safely, whether walking, riding, or being picked up.
• NEW! We need your support with our Motivational Doors!!! Please contact your child's teacher on details to come and decorate their classroom door.

If you can spare even a little time, you do not have to stay the entire time, please come by the school, sign in, and ask for our Parent Liaison, Ms. Vicky. She’ll show you the ropes and make it super easy to jump in.

We truly cannot overstate how much your involvement matters. Our students benefit immensely from your support, and we would be so grateful for your time, big or small.

Thank you for being an essential part of our Hawks family!

We invite you to join us in celebrating our incredible staff during Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week!

Parents, we are kindly asking for donations of gift cards to support our staff raffle, your generosity helps us recognize and reward the hard work and dedication of our team. Please drop off gift card donations in the front office, where a collection box will be available. In addition, students will have the opportunity to create or purchase small gifts to share with their favorite teacher or staff member throughout the week as a daily gesture of appreciation. If you’re unable to donate a gift card, we would greatly appreciate your time, please consider signing up to volunteer using the link below.

Thank you for helping us make this a meaningful and memorable celebration for our staff. Please see the flyer below for more details!

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. We are currently in need of parents to volunteer as chaperones for our upcoming field trips, helping ensure a safe, fun, and meaningful experience for our students.

See document for details. This document was created by the District to assist you in registering as a volunteer with the DeKalb County School District. Please complete the following steps to become a DCSD Volunteer. The process takes about 30 minutes total, including approximately 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. 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!

It’s that time of year again, annual registration for the upcoming school year is now open!

Please check out the links below for helpful information and resources to guide you through the process. We’ve also included a short video to explain everything step by step below. If you have any questions or need assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to Ms. Carroll, our registrar, for support.

Thank you for helping us ensure a smooth registration for all students!

Join us for the last Parent Tech Café for the 1st semester! Parent Tech Cafe' is a virtual series designed to empower parents, guardians, and stakeholders with insights into the digital tools supporting teaching and learning across DeKalb County School District. See flyer to learn when sessions takes place. This is a great opportunity for families to explore the resources that enhance student success. Please help us spread the word to your school communities. Click here for more information: https://its.dekalb.k12.ga.us/TechCafe_202581813581964.aspx

DCSD families, you’re invited to our Community Health & Wellness Fair, a day focused on connecting families with FREE health services and valuable community resources.

Join us on Saturday, April 25, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Doraville United Elementary School.

Families will have access to vision, blood pressure, and glucose screenings, as well as support from local organizations.

We look forward to welcoming you and your family for a day centered on care, connection, and support.

Some milestones deserve a real celebration, and this is one of them. STE(A)M Jubilee is STE(A)M Truck's year-end celebration, and we want the people who made this year possible to be at the center of it: our students, our educators, and the partners who show up for this community every single time. Come celebrate with us on the courts, share some refreshments, and enjoy an afternoon that's all about joy, community, and the people who make this work matter. Whether you've never held a paddle or you play every weekend, you belong here. Beginner coaching will be available, so bring your curiosity and your crew. Saturday, April 25, 2026 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM at Dill Dinkers Pickleball Club 1200 White Street SW, Suite 1000 Atlanta, GA 30310

$5 entry per person. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, every dollar goes directly toward STE(A)M Truck's programming and operations. Ages 12 and up welcome. All skill levels encouraged. Refreshments will be available. Let's celebrate what we've built, together.

April’s SEL focus highlights stress awareness and emotional regulation. Students will learn strategies to recognize stress triggers, manage their emotions, and apply coping techniques that support both their mental and physical wellbeing, especially during high-pressure times like testing. While there are no required SEL lessons this month, our school counselors will continue to support students by reinforcing brief strategies that promote calmness, focus, and resilience.

Our Book of the Month, B Is for Breathe: The ABCs of Coping with Fussy and Frustrating Feelings by Dr. Melissa Munroe Boyd, encourages students to practice breathing techniques and healthy ways to express emotions. This resource is especially helpful in supporting students during times when they may feel overwhelmed or stressed.

Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting the whole child.

We know that parents and family members play an essential role in students’ educational success. When schools and families work in partnership, children will succeed at new levels.

The link below, parents and family members of students in Georgia’s K-12 public schools can explore the wealth of resources and services offered through GaDOE. Discover important information on Georgia’s K-12 standards, programming to support your student, ways to get involved, and more.

Let’s keep the momentum going!

Congratulations to our Trophy winners! Just 5 minutes a day of logging your child’s reading on Beanstack can help us climb even higher on the county-wide leaderboard!

📚 Here’s how you can help as a parent:

• Encourage your child to read daily and log their minutes in Beanstack, every minute counts!
• Parents can track progress and celebrate milestones together with their children.

See video from our DCSD Board Chair Mrs. Allyson Gevertz below, together, we can build a powerful culture of reading at HMES, one page at a time! ✨

In April, students in grades 3, 4, and 5 are required to take the Georgia Milestones Assessment. This test will include Reading, Writing, Mathematics, and Science (5th grade only). A practice test is available online, with questions set up and structured just like the actual assessment.

Please log on to see what will be expected of your child in April. See video below for more support. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to your child's teacher. We look forward to partnering with you.

https://www.gaexperienceonline.com/

1. Click "Test Practice, Guides, Samples"
2. Click "Online Testing Tools"
3. Click "End of Grade EOG"
4. Click "Test Practice"
5. Click "Online Standard Tools"
6. Click"3rd, 4th, or 5th Grade"
7. Click "Continue"
8. Click "Test Practice for 3rd, 4th, or 5th"

9. Click "Play Audio"
10. If your sound is working, click "Sound is Working"
11. Read the directions. Use the blue arrows to navigate through the directions.
12. Click "Begin Test"
(There is a tool bar at the top to assist while testing).

This video is a recorded virtual parent meeting that explains the Georgia Milestones Assessment System. It provides families with an overview of what the test measures, which grade levels are assessed, and the different achievement levels students can earn. The video also highlights important requirements for 3rd and 5th grade promotion, explains Lexile levels, and shares key testing dates. Additionally, it offers practical tips for parents on how to support their child’s success, including encouraging strong study habits, ensuring proper rest and attendance, and discussing test-taking strategies.

Parent ProTech is an on-demand library of resources to help you with everything from social media to gaming, artificial intelligence to streaming, to preventing violence in schools with anti-bullying educational awareness. Their resources cover trends and what you need to know to inform and protect students online. They end every series with conversation starters to help you know how to begin conversations with your students around their favorite tech. Their full library is now available so you can stay up to date on the platforms our students are using.

Signing up is easy and FREE! Visit this link https://bit.ly/DCSDParentProtech and create your Parent ProTech account that will equip you with the knowledge and tools needed to support your students online. Note: Please use your district email to create your account.

Please take a few minutes to view the introduction and walkthrough videos to learn more about this amazing resource.

• Introduction Video: Equipping Educators and Families with Parent ProTech

• Account Creation and Platform Walkthrough Video

-May 1, 2026 School Lunch Hero Day

-May PTO Board and Committee Meeting, Tuesday, May 5th 7pm (ZOOM)

-Teacher Appreciation Week- Monday, May 4th – Friday, May 8th

-May 6, 2026 School Nurse Day

-American Heart Challenge Kick- in cafeteria May 4th (8:30 am – 9:15 am - Prek - 2nd Grade

9:30 am – 10:15 am- 3rd - 5th Grade)

-STEAM Day, Medical theme- May 11th

-Coffee and Conversations May 12th 9am and 1pm

-Field Day- Friday, May 15th

-ASPIRE Week - May 18-22nd, Angel Flight Soars themed curriculum

-Lakeside High School Final Walk- Monday, May 18th at 7:45am

-May 18, 2026 Speech Pathologist Day

- Milestone Retest Date, 5th grade only- May 20th - May 21st

-Awards Day (Spring Semester)/EOY Parties- Friday, May 22nd

-Magnificent Mill, includes Fine Arts/PTA General Meeting- Friday, May 22nd 6pm (PTO funded)

-EOY Parties- Tuesday, May 26th times will vary

-5th Grade Bridging Ceremony (at Lakeside High School)- May 26th time is 6pm

-5th Grade Fun Day- Wednesday, May 27th all day

-5th Grade final walk through- Thursday, May 28th

-Last Day of School- Thursday, May 28th

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