WEEK 1

Good Morning,

We are now entering our third week of the 2025–2026 school year, and our Hawks are truly taking flight!

Let’s keep working together to boost our attendance and ensure every student is present and ready to learn each day. Your continued partnership makes all the difference.

As we move forward, our focus remains on academic excellence, student well-being, and strong school-family connections. Whether you’re volunteering, participating in PTO, attending events, or communicating regularly with your child’s teacher, your involvement is a key part of our success.

📌 This week, you will also receive a No Bullying Pledge form. We ask that you review it carefully, sign it, and return it with your child. This pledge is an important step in reinforcing our commitment to maintaining a safe, respectful, and supportive school environment for every Hawk.

Here’s to a strong Week 3 and the many accomplishments yet to come. Go Hawks!

Dr. Blanton

Reminder that Wednesday, August 27th is our Curriculum Night, an important evening to kick off the school year and set your child up for success.

What is Curriculum Night?

It’s our educational open house, held by grade level, where parents receive essential information that will support their child’s learning all year long.

AGENDA

5:00–5:15 – Introduction of HMES Staff

5:15–5:45 – Annual Title I Meeting

5:45–6:15 – School-Wide PTA Meeting

6:20–6:50 – 1st Classroom Session

7:00–7:30 – 2nd Classroom Session

Times may adjust slightly if our general meeting ends early sessions will begin immediately after.

During Curriculum Night, you can expect:

*Teacher presentations on the DCSD curriculum

*An overview of classroom routines and expectations to help students thrive

*Information about school-wide resources and supports available to your family

*A peek at our NEW STEAM Lab

We look forward to seeing you there and partnering with you to make this an amazing year for your child!

If you were unable to attend Open House or have not yet completed the link below, please take a moment to do so as soon as possible. This form includes critical information regarding your child’s dismissal plans and any medical needs, both of which are essential to ensuring your child’s safety and well-being on the first day and every day after.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this important matter, we appreciate your partnership in keeping our Hawks safe and supported!

Hello Parents, The week of August 25- August 29 we will kick off our PBIS Schoolwide behavior initiative. PBIS aims to promote positive student behavior and supports a positive school climate. We are encouraging all students to participate in our Spirit Week dress up days. At Henderson Mill we SOAR! Our students have Self Control, are Organized, Accountable and Respectful.

We’re excited to invite you to our first Spirit Night of the year! Spirit Nights are a fun way for our school community to come together outside of the classroom, enjoy time with friends and family, and help raise funds to support our school. A portion of the evening’s proceeds will go directly back to Henderson Mill to benefit our students. You can find all the details in the flyer above. A special thank you to Ms. Ford for organizing our Spirit Nights for Henderson Mill, your hard work helps make these events a success!

We look forward to seeing you there!

Get ready to dive into a world of books! Our Book Fair will be at Henderson Mill Elementary School from September 8-12.

Volunteers Needed: We’re seeking volunteers to help make the Book Fair a success. Sign up using link below.

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!

Afterschool Clubs that still have spots available!!!

Opportunities include:

• PTO Run Club (Kindergarten, First, and Second Grade)
• PTO STEAM Clubs Yearbook, Mathletes, and Reading Bowl (3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade)

• EIM Dance (Various grade levels)

• NEW! Cheerleading (3rd grade only)

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

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.

Know someone passionate about education and leadership? Encourage them to declare candidacy for the 2025–2026 Principal Advisory Council (PAC)! We need 2 parents to join us!

Candidate declaration is open now through Friday, September 5, 2025.

PAC members:

• Promote transparency & shared decision-making

• Review the Continuous School Improvement Plan (CSIP)

• Help shape the school’s vision

• Serve as liaisons between school and community

👉 Declare candidacy here:
Candidate Declaration Form

Questions? Contact schoolgovernance@dekalbschoolsga.org or (678) 676-0718.

Let’s build strong parent and staff leaders across DeKalb!

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