Weekly Update

As we approach Halloween tomorrow, we’d like to remind families that students are not permitted to wear costumes to school. This helps us maintain a safe and distraction-free learning environment throughout the day. Thank you for your support in keeping the focus on learning and ensuring a fun and respectful celebration for all!

Don't forget about our "Supporting Digital Learning at Home" Coffee Chat tomorrow, Friday, October 31st, at 9:00 AM in the Media Center. We'll discuss how parents can partner with us to monitor and support safe, focused technology use and ensure your child's school-issued device remains an effective tool for learning at home.

💻 Stay & Play Session Included

Stick around after the main discussion for an optional Stay & Play session! This is a great opportunity for parents to navigate and explore IC and Google Classroom with guidance and get specific questions answered.

What to bring:

• You're welcome to bring your own device (laptop, tablet, etc.).

• Get support navigating the IC Parent Portal

• Get support with google guardian notifications

• Don't worry if you can't bring a device or account access; we will have some devices available

We look forward to seeing you there!

We are absolutely thrilled to announce that Ms. Kamanga (affectionally known as Ms. K) has been honored as the Professional Employee of the Year at BHMS! This well-deserved recognition celebrates Ms. Kamanga's outstanding dedication, compassion, and profound impact on our students and the entire BHMS community.

Ms. Kamanga truly embodies what it means to be an exceptional educator. What makes Ms. Kamanga truly stand out is her relentless drive for growth—not just for our students, but for herself. She is currently pursuing her degree in Special Education, demonstrating her commitment to lifelong learning and deepening her knowledge. Ms. Kamanga skillfully implements individualized supports, from behavioral intervention strategies to communication supports, all with intention, skill, and care. She is always proactive, anticipating student needs, asking thoughtful questions, and seeking new strategies to improve her practice and promote student independence. She is a highly effective collaborator, bringing invaluable insights to team meetings.

Please join us in offering the warmest congratulations to Ms. Kamanga! We are incredibly fortunate to have such a dedicated, impactful, and inspiring professional on the BHMS team.

The 7th-grade was recently treated to a special cultural experience when the Alliance Theatre brought its dynamic In-School Tour production of The Melvin Invention to our school!

The performance was a humorous and heartwarming look at middle school life. The plot centered on two brainy students, Max and Abby, who used a 3D printer to invent Melvin—a character they designed to be the "coolest, most confident 7th grader ever." Their plan to gain popularity, however, took an unexpected and funny turn, providing a relatable and engaging story for the students.

The Melvin Invention celebrated creativity and individuality, delivering a powerful, positive message that resonated with the audience. The play reminded our students that being themselves is the coolest thing of all. It was a memorable event that brought professional theatre and meaningful discussion right into our learning environment.

The BHMS first swim meet was a blast! Our kids did exceptionally well swimming and supporting each other. Out of about a dozen teams, our boys placed 2nd overall and our girls placed 3rd at the Sutton Kick-off Classic! Congrats to the following student athletes on top 3 individual/ relay finishes:

Asher Stando, Rowan Suhr-Sytsma, Owen Hoppin, Luke McLoughlin, Zoey Wurtzel, Madison Deeb, Mila Hepburn, Maya LeFrancois, Lucia Wordeman, Bella Cummo, Lucy Ritger, Ian Dietrich, Duncan Welch, Kuzey Durace, & Thomas Duvall.

Additional congratulations to our 8th grade captains: Asher Stando, Madison Deeb, and Naomi Lewis on their leadership.

What an incredible fall sports season for our BHMS Bulldogs! We recently held banquets to put a bow on the accomplishments of our Flag Football and Cross Country teams.

🏆 Cross Country Shines

The Cross Country team had a successful season, dominating at every turn! Their hard work, dedication, and speed translated into some amazing achievements:

• Podium Finish: We had an astounding 25 athletes make the Georgia Middle School State Championship podium!

• Team Trophies: Our teams brought home trophies from EVERY meet we attended, consistently placing 1st, 2nd, or 3rd as a boys' or girls' team.

• Personal Bests: Many runners reached new Personal Records (PRs) throughout the season.

We were proud to recognize the following athletes at our celebratory banquet:

• 👟MVP: Cohen Jacobs & North Councill
• 👟Bulldog Award: Isaac Sollie & Camden King
• 👟Coach’s Award: Wesley Hicks, Charlie Cranford, Jessie Roberson, and Eva Terry
• 👟Most Improved: Knight Smith & Helena Orozco

Thank you Coach Frazier and Coach Rabold for your dedication and coaching of this season's athletes!

🏈 Flag Football: A Successful Inaugural Season

The inaugural BHMS flag football season was a huge success! The team finished with 3 wins, showcasing many exciting touchdowns and turnovers, and demonstrating incredible growth both on and off the field. Beyond the stats, our players learned the value of teamwork, sportsmanship, and resilience, laying a strong foundation for seasons to come. We’re proud of every player for their effort, energy, and dedication—this first season was just the beginning! Thank you, Coach Vickery!

Congratulations to our Flag Football award winners:

🏈MVP: Cate Thompson 🏈Lady Dog: Orah-Lee James 🏈Offensive Player: Kamora AbramIron 🏈Defensive Player: Bailey Baker 🏈Gamechanger: Kamora Abram 🏈Coach's Award Defense: Bailey Baker 🏈Hustle: Kayla Harris 🏈Coach's Award Offense: Cate Thompson 🏈Playmaker: Eleanor Gross 🏈Leadership: Cate Thompson 🏈Unsung Hero: Maggie Mahoney 🏈Lockdown: Bailey Baker 🏈Clutch: Kamora Abram

Finish your digital learning day by cheering on the BHMS boys' soccer team their tournament on Tuesday, November 4, 5 p.m. at Ebster Field.

Our 6th graders in Mrs. Coyle's I&S class had an amazing opportunity to hear from a former U.S. Military Police officer who served in Germany from 1986–1989—and he just happens to be one of our very own BHMS teachers 🇺🇸 Mr. Jesse McNulty!

He shared his 14-week training experience and his time stationed in Germany, where he learned to identify SMLM (Soviet Military Liaison Mission) license plates used by potential Soviet spies during the Cold War.

Students got a firsthand look at Cold War history brought to life through real stories and experiences. What an incredible connection to our unit on Europe and the Cold War.

A huge round of applause for 6th Grade Assistant Principal Ms. Coleman and Science Teacher Ms. Beyer! These two dedicated BHMS staff were recently "seen around town" outside of their official duties, lending their expertise as judges for the Madison Ave Soap Box Derby Contest. Their commitment to supporting community events showcases the strong ties our faculty have to the community at large.

Does your student love to write? The Young Georgia Authors (YGA) writing competition is a wonderful way for students in grades K-12 to celebrate their creativity and develop their skills!

This prestigious annual competition, running since 1991, recognizes student achievement in arts and academics and is sponsored by the Georgia Language Arts Supervisors (GLAS), the Georgia RESA Network, and the Georgia Department of Education. It's an excellent chance to encourage young writers and give their hard work the recognition it deserves.

BHMS Submission Details

The BHMS competition will be held from October 13 - November 21, 2025. Students must submit their completed entries directly to their ELA teachers.

Ready to inspire your student's writing? Encourage them to get started on their submission today!

Calling all creative Beacon Hill Middle School students! This is your opportunity to leave a lasting impact on our school. We're launching a contest to design the official Beacon Hill Middle School Crest! The winning design will represent our school for years to come, appearing on uniforms, school documents, banners, and more.

🏆 The Opportunity

Design a memorable and meaningful school crest that embodies the spirit, values, and identity of Beacon Hill Middle School.

• Who can participate? All current Beacon Hill Middle School students.

• What's the prize? Eternal bragging rights! The winner will have their design become the official school crest and will receive a special recognition award at an upcoming school assembly.

How will the winner be chosen? Submissions will first be reviewed by the admin team to ensure they meet the criteria. The top finalists will then be voted on by the entire student body, staff, and community members to select the ultimate winner.

🖼️ Submission Guidelines

Students can submit their design in one of two formats:

1. Digital Design: Create your crest using any digital art program (e.g., Google Drawings, Canva, Photoshop, etc.).

• File Format: Submit as a high-resolution PNG or JPEG file to this google form

• Size: Design should be easily viewable and scalable.

2. Hand-Drawn Artwork: Create your crest on a piece of white, unlined paper (minimum 8.5×11 inches).

• Medium: Use bold, clear materials (markers, colored pencils, or paint are best).

• Submission: Submit the original drawing to the main office and a picture of the drawing on the Google Form

All submissions must include a brief (100 words or less) written explanation of the crest's symbolism, explaining the choice of colors, images, and motto (if included) via the google form

Submit your crest here: https://forms.gle/hhp6HYjjEJ9ZAyjN6

As Halloween approaches, let’s make comprehension fun, flexible, and a little festive. Middle schoolers love to discuss, but they often struggle to show their thinking in writing. Try these creative strategies to keep comprehension from becoming “scary.”

1. The Plot Twist Challenge
Pause mid-story or mid-chapter: “If you were the author, what’s one plot twist you’d add?” Then compare it to what actually happens.

2. Character Confessions
Ask your child to write (or voice note) a 3-sentence “confession” from the perspective of a character. It’s quick, insightful, and builds empathy + inference skills.

3. Text Evidence Hunt
Turn highlighters into “flashlights.” As they read, mark one sentence that proves a character’s emotion, decision, or motivation.

These small, creative responses help students connect reading with reasoning—without adding extra homework. The more they explain why something happens in a text, the stronger their analytical muscles grow.

Encourage curiosity this week and remind them: strong readers aren’t afraid to question what they read.

👉 Want printable reading response starters or sentence frames for middle schoolers? Email tbraxton@csdecatur.net, Mrs. Braxton | Reading Specialist at BHMS has grade-appropriate tools to make comprehension practice engaging and effective.

This article was written in collaboration with the Decatur PREP Project (Parent Reading Engagement Program) and made available through our partnership with the Decatur Education Foundation the Beacon Hill Middle School PTA and the BradAlTon Foundation for Family Elevation.

Read the October 30, 2025, issue of CSD Weekly, the district-wide newsletter.

Your Safe Routes to School (SRTS) champions are hosting a brunch for our amazing crossing guards in partnership their leadership team on Friday, November 14. Starting today (and for the next week), we will be collecting notes, gift cards and donations to be distributed to the many crossing guards that keep our students safe every day. Please drop off donations or gifts to the BHMS front office or contribute through Venmo or PayPal (@leahmanley) by Thursday, November 6. Complete this form to nominate a crossing guard for Outstanding Crossing Guard of the Year. Thank you for your support!

Also, from SRTS…Congratulations to Sara Nettleton’s WIN class for earning the Chick-fil-A breakfast with 84 percent of the class being walkers or bus riders on International Walk & Roll Day!

BOOK FAIR VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

The BHMS Scholastic Book Fair will be held November 11 through 14 during the school day in the Media Center. Volunteers are needed the day before (November 10) to set up. (Be prepared to lift and open boxes!) Then we need volunteers to help each sale day to assist students in shopping and completing purchases. Sign up here!

This is an eighth-grade only dance party. Students, come dressed in your favorite tropical/bright color vibes. Parents, buy your student a ticket and maybe even one for a friend. Admission is $5.

Snacks will be sold for $1 each. Please send small bills.

If you would like to volunteer to help at the dance or purchase snacks/decor, click HERE.

Purchase Tickets here: https://givebutter.com/RVvVWN

Thank you to our BHMS families who already have signed up for our “Be a Beacon” Family Sponsorship! These donations directly support our teachers, staff and students during the 2025–2026 school year. As a thank you, family names will be displayed proudly in the school lobby to show your support for our community. Together, we can make a difference…Be a Beacon today! NOTE: There is an updated link for becoming a sponsor.

Beacon Hill Middle School car magnets are a great way to show school spirit and support the PTA! They are available for $5 each through this payment link. (Please include your student’s name in the comment section.) Magnets will be available for pick up each Friday from the front office for pickup by your child (or you).

The PBIS Store is officially open! Please volunteer to help run the BARK store. It is an easy process, and experienced parents will be there to guide you if you have not volunteered before. We also are always looking for donations to stock our store. Volunteer needs and a link to our wishlist can be found in the links below. Thanks!

Sign up for our passive fundraising opportunities, as every little bit helps. Gearing up for the holiday season? Take advantage of this special opportunity with Minted.

Are you a BHMS family or local business owner interested in supporting our school community? (Do you know a business that would like to help?) Then consider becoming a BHMS sponsor. Learn more about sponsorship levels here. Questions? Reach out to our fundraising chair.

• BHMS Website
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• Bell Schedule or Bell Schedule by Grade
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• Free and Reduced Lunch Application
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• Grading Quick Facts 6-12
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