HMES NEWSLETTER

HAPPY SMORE DAY!!

WOW!! There is SO MUCH to be excited about last week at Henderson Mill!

Our Student Advisory Committee met last week, and they came ready! Our student leaders brought thoughtful ideas, powerful insights, great questions, and so much enthusiasm for making HMES even better. We are proud to give our students a voice and a seat at the table.

Our Track Team was set, excited, and ready to compete today, but unfortunately, the meet was canceled. That didn’t stop our HAWK PRIDE from shining! A HUGE shout-out to our amazing student-athletes, supportive parents, and our coaches, Mrs. Bierman and Dr. OD, for being ready to represent HMES!

THANK YOU to everyone who joined us for Spirit Night and our monthly PTO meeting. A special thank-you to our families who supported last week’s Tuesday September Attendance Challenge and PBIS Day. Our students were ALL smiles receiving their FREE Homework Passes!

We are still pushing toward our schoolwide goal of 95% ATTENDANCE! 🎯 Every day matters! Please help us by having your Hawk at school, on time and ready to learn every day. More FUN attendance challenges and incentives are coming!

We plan to share important updates regarding enrollment and staffing soon. Please don’t forget to sign up for Parent Conferences!

Finally, make our weekly SMORE newsletter part of your family routine! It is your one-stop source for events, important dates, updates, opportunities, and resources. We have a week filled with family, culture, creativity, technology, and FUN, please see below!

Please be sure to watch our weekly recap video on ClassDojo, you just might see your Hawk learning, leading, and THRIVING!

Thank you for continuing to SHOW UP, STAY CONNECTED, and PARTNER WITH US!

Let’s keep moving FORWARD TOGETHER!

-Dr. Blanton

At Henderson Mill Elementary, we are committed to growing, improving, and providing the very best experience for every student and family. Your voice matters!

Your feedback will help us celebrate what is working well and identify opportunities for growth that are within our control at the school level.

I have a new suggestion, and it is an AWESOME one!! We are going to have our new SAC representatives obtain 1 question from each grade level to share during our upcoming meeting this week.

Thank you for partnering with us as we continue to grow, improve, and make Henderson Mill the best it can be!

Good Afternoon, I hope all is well! Reminder.

Please take a moment to revisit the SMORE newsletter and review the HMES Compact, HMES Policy, and DCSD PFE Plan. I have also attached all three documents for your convenience.

After reviewing the documents, please click the link below to confirm that you have accessed and reviewed all three resources.

Thank you for your partnership and for helping us ensure that we are all informed and aligned in supporting our students and families!

Thank you!

We are excited to invite all of our amazing grandparents to join us on Monday, September 14th, for our Grandparents Day Breakfast!

🥞 FREE Breakfast for Grandparents Only
⏰ 7:00–7:45 AM
📅 Monday, September 14th
📍 Henderson Mill Elementary Cafeteria

Our PTO and Sunshine Committee are proud to provide a FREE breakfast as we celebrate the special grandparents who mean so much to our students!

There is nothing quite like the joy on a child’s face when their grandparent walks through the doors of their school. And don't forget to stop by our Book Fair after breakfast! Find a great book to enjoy together and help encourage a lifelong love of reading!

We can't wait to welcome our grandparents to campus and celebrate YOU!

URGENT NEED - VOLUNTEERS FOR BOOK FAIR

Please find time you can volunteer for book fair - if we don't get more volunteers, we will only be able to open for limited hours. Afternoons and during Multicultural Night are when we need volunteers most!

In-Person Book Fair

It’s finally here! The book fair is proudly brought to you by our local bookstore, Little Shop of Stories! We're excited to offer a fantastic selection of books, including a variety of Spanish titles and the 2027 Georgia Children's Book Award nominees.

Join us this week in the Media Center from 7:15-9 a.m. and 2:15-4 p.m. Monday-Friday for in-person shopping. We’ll also be open 6-8 p.m. during Multicultural Night! Please sign up for a volunteer shift to ensure the book fair stays open. Without enough coverage, we’ll need to close during those time slots. Sign up here.

Please note that we’ll be rounding up the price of books—but no sales tax will be charged. We accept cash, checks (payable to HMES PTO), or cards for your convenience. Little Shop of Stories gift cards will not be accepted at the in-person book fair. Thank you for your support!

Virtual Book Fair

Can’t find a publication at the book fair? Shopping for adults? The holidays are quickly approaching! Get additional texts by shopping online at our virtual book fair. At checkout, simply enter HMILL so that your sale may be tracked and credited to HMES. Note that tax is charged on online purchases. https://littleshopofstories.com/books. You can pick up your online purchases at Little Shop of Stories. They will notify you when your order is ready for pickup.

Teacher/Staff Discount

We’re offering a 10% discount for all faculty and staff. Thank you for all you do!

Teacher Wish Lists

You'll have the opportunity to purchase books, not only for your family, but also from teachers' wish lists! Help stock classroom libraries by selecting a book from your teacher’s list, and make a meaningful contribution to your child's learning environment. Teachers who fill out a wish list will be entered into a raffle to win a book!

Special thanks to Mrs. Keefer, The Media Staff, and PTO for doing an amazing job with our book fair each year!

Families, mark your calendars for September 15th—International Dot Day! Click on the video to allow your child to hear the read aloud.

Dot Day is a fun day that encourages students to “make their mark” by being creative, trying something new, and believing in themselves. Students will celebrate creativity, courage, and the power of making a difference! Don't forget to wear your dots. Let’s make our mark, Hawks!

Henderson Mill Elementary School proudly celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 through October 15, honoring the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans. Throughout the month, our Instructional Advisory Committee will provide engaging instructional activities and fun experiences for our students. See the video to share and enjoy with your little ones! ¡Juntos celebramos nuestra cultura y comunidad!

SAVE THE DATE — September 17th!

Get ready for what many consider THE BEST EVENT OF THE SCHOOL YEAR!

At Henderson Mill Elementary, we proudly celebrate the incredible diversity that makes our Hawk family so special. Multicultural Night is an opportunity for our students, families, and staff to come together to celebrate cultures, traditions, music, food, and the unique experiences that make our community stronger.

Our Instructional Advisory Committee is already planning exciting activities and performances to make this an unforgettable evening!

Food Tasting: A parent sign-up will be shared soon for families who would like to bring a dish representing a culture or tradition to share with our community.

More information from PTO is coming soon! Stay tuned for event details, sign-ups, and ways your family can participate.

📅 September 17th
🌎 HMES Multicultural Night

Come ready to celebrate, learn, share, and experience the beautiful diversity of our Hawk family!

Every Day Matters. Stay Connected. Keep Learning.

Did you know?

Missing just 2 days a month can make it harder for students to stay on track with learning and reading. Even 1–2 absences every few weeks can add up and impact academic success.

Tardiness also affects learning and can lead to poor attendance habits. Regular attendance helps students build confidence, develop friendships, and succeed in school. At Henderson Mill Elementary, we encourage every Hawk to be present, on time, and ready to learn each day.

Join us for Every Tuesday will be an attendance challenge. This Tuesday is a Selfie Day at HMES. In addition, back by popular demand is the 100 students on time challenge. Only the first 100 students that enter through the front door at 7am will earn a prize. See flyers for details. Together, we can build strong attendance habits that lead to lifelong success!

Every Day Counts... Every Hawk Matters!

This month, our students celebrated Dot Day and Coding Week in the STEAM Lab!

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!

Mrs. Corrales, the BEST STEAM Teacher Specialist in the Universe!

Thank you for your continued support.

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

🎉 A Great Start to the School Year!

Students have been busy visiting the Media Center, learning library routines, checking out books, and getting to know the different sections of the library. We’ve already had 619 book checkouts this month!

📖 What We’ve Been Learning
Our beginning-of-year lessons have focused on book care and responsibility, library procedures, and how to be successful library users. Some of the books we’ve enjoyed together include:

A Perfectly Messed-Up Story, Dinosaur vs. the Library, Do Not Bring Your Dragon to the Library, The Curious Why, Perfect Square, and The Book of Rules.

📚 Popular Picks
Some of our most popular series so far include Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Dog Man, I Survived, The Baby-Sitters Club, The Bad Guys, and Elephant & Piggie.

🔜 Coming in September
Next month, students will learn more about Beanstack and how to choose “just right” books that fit their interests and reading needs. We’ll also be rolling out student library cards soon!

Thank you for helping us build a strong reading community at school and at home! 💙📚

-Ms. Pitts & Mr. Barreto

Hello, DCSD Community! Click the link below for The DCSD Weekly Digest – September 14, 2026 Newsletter.

Stay Connected and Stay Informed: https://bit.ly/4yDrNdj.

• 25 Years Later: Remembering 9/11 Through the Eyes of Those Who Served
• Weekly and Monthly Recognitions
• Middle and High School Gemini AI Course
• Exceptional Education Virtual Parent Sessions
• Unity Fest
• Community Tech Café
• Elementary Competitive Dance
• Photos & Videos of the Week

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

We had a successful fire drill last week! Our students and staff did an outstanding job following procedures, moving safely and calmly, and demonstrating that Hawks are always prepared! Thank you to our entire HMES team for helping us continue to make safety a top priority every day!

NOAA Ocean Guardian School Grant

We are excited to announce that Henderson Mill Elementary School has been awarded a $2,500 NOAA Ocean Guardian School Grant for our 5th grade PLB to participate in the 6 R’s Project thanks to Ms. Gray!

Through the NOAA Ocean Guardian School Program, our 5th grade students will participate in hands-on learning and conservation activities focused on protecting local watersheds, our oceans, and the environment. The 6 R’s Project will surround their PBL and will give students opportunities to practice sustainability, make environmentally responsible choices, and see how actions right here at Henderson Mill can make a difference beyond our school community.

Thank you Ms. Gray!! This grant will further strengthen our commitment to STEAM, environmental education, and real-world learning.

Our 5th grade Hawks are ready to make a difference as Ocean Guardians!

We are excited to share that 4-H officially began yesterday at Henderson Mill Elementary School Aftercare for our 4th and 5th grade led by our very own Ms. H. Frazier!

4-H is a youth development program that provides hands-on learning experiences designed to help students build leadership, responsibility, confidence, teamwork, and life skills. Through engaging activities and projects, students have opportunities to explore areas such as science, agriculture, health, citizenship, and community service.

We are excited to offer our students another opportunity to learn, lead, grow, and have fun right here at HMES Aftercare!

Please be sure to view your 1st grade—5th grade child's 1st Semester 4.5 Week Progress Report on Friday, September 11th after 3 p.m. on Infinite Campus. A hard copy of the progress report will not be sent home.

Please see the video to support how to see your child's grades in Infinite Campus.

If you have questions or concerns about grades, please contact your child's teacher to schedule a parent-teacher conference to support.

Thank you.

As DeKalb continues to evolve, enrollment patterns have shifted across our district. Some schools are serving more students than they were designed for. Others have room to grow into deeper program offerings and expanded opportunities. Both situations affect the student experience, and both deserve thoughtful, community-informed planning. Our goal is simple: Every student deserves access to a fully resourced, program-rich school close to home.

We strongly encourage all families to click on the links below. Your participation matters. This process can help shape decisions that impact our students, families, schools, and communities.

Please take the time to learn, engage, and make your voice count!

We are so proud to celebrate our Kindergarten Team for showing true HAWK-PRIDE every single day:

H – Humanization – They make every child feel valued, seen, and cared for.
A – Accountability – They follow through, meet expectations, and take ownership of their work.
W – Working Together – They collaborate, support one another, and know we are stronger as a team.
K – Kindness – They lead with compassion and create a welcoming environment for students, families, and colleagues.

P – Professionalism – They set high standards and lead by example.

R – Respect – They honor the ideas, contributions, and voices of others.
I – Integrity – They do what is right, even when no one is watching.
D – Dignity – They carry themselves and represent Henderson Mill with pride and grace.

E – Empathy – They connect with students, families, and colleagues with genuine care.

This amazing team gets the job done! They complete tasks on time, work together seamlessly, and bring joy, creativity, and dedication to everything they do.

Being Team of the Month means going above and beyond—not only for our Hawks, but for one another. Our Kindergarten Team demonstrates what it truly means to SOAR with HAWK-PRIDE!

Please join us in celebrating our Kindergarten Team for their hard work, heart, teamwork, and commitment to excellence!

🦅 HAWK-PRIDE: It’s Who We Are!

Say CHEESE, Hawks! 📸 Our Fall School Picture Day is coming up!

📅 Friday, September 25th
📸 Individual Fall Pictures

It’s time to capture those beautiful smiles and school-year memories! We can’t wait to see our Hawks looking their best for their fall portraits. More information from PTO is coming soon! Stay tuned for details about picture packages, ordering, and everything you need to know to make picture day a success.

Get ready to smile, Hawks!

On September 26, we will proudly celebrate our amazing Henderson Mill Elementary PTO!

Our PTO works tirelessly behind the scenes to support our students, teachers, staff, and families. From special events and teacher appreciation to resources, programs, and countless acts of service, their impact can be felt throughout our school.

As we get closer to September 26, we invite our entire Hawk community to help us show our PTO some LOVE and appreciation for all they do to help Henderson Mill SOAR!

PTO, your dedication does not go unnoticed. We appreciate YOU and can’t wait to celebrate you!

Mark your calendars for a new date! Fall Conference Week will be September 21st - September 25th. More details and sign-up information will be coming soon from your child’s classroom teacher.

Reminder you never have to wait for Conference Week to connect with your child’s teacher! If you have a concern, question, or simply want to check in about your child’s progress, please reach out and schedule a conference at any time.

We all believe in partnering with our families all year long!

Parent Walkthroughs with our Admin Team are scheduled, brief visits that allow families to see teaching and learning in action during the school day.

These are not formal observations or conferences. We give parents the opportunity to observe instructional practices, student engagement, and classroom routines, while gaining a better understanding of curriculum and school initiatives.

Feedback will be collected to support school improvement. Based on your feedback, we are excited to welcome parents to participate in Parent Walkthroughs on the dates and times listed below.

Exciting News, Hawk Families!

We are thrilled to announce that Henderson Mill Elementary has been selected to participate in the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Strong4Life Challenge Program! Led by our Safety & Wellness Committee, this exciting schoolwide program will help our students, staff, and families build healthy habits that support strong bodies AND strong minds!

Our Hawks will learn simple ways to make healthy choices, including staying active, drinking more water, eating well, and taking care of their overall well-being.

📅 Mark Your Calendars!

🎉 Strong4Life Fall Pep Rally: Thursday, October 1, 2026 | 1:00–2:00 PM
🌱 Strong4Life Spring Follow-Up Visit: Friday, March 26, 2027

This is more than a one-day event! Throughout the year, we will work together to encourage our Hawks to develop healthy habits that can last a lifetime.

Be sure to watch the video below to learn more about the Strong4Life Challenge!

Get ready, Hawks, the Strong4Life Challenge is coming to Henderson Mill this October!

The DeKalb County School District partners with Cartwheel to provide virtual mental health and wellness support to families, and all school staff.

Cartwheel is here to help if you notice changes in your child, student, or yourself, such as changes in mood, energy, or behavior; struggles with anxiety or frequent worries; difficulty with sleep or eating routines; challenges keeping up with schoolwork or staying motivated; pulling away from friends or activities you or they typically enjoy; talking about feeling down or discouraged; navigating a major change at home, at school, or with friends; or struggling with self-harm or having difficulty coping.

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

📖 What Is Beanstack?

Beanstack is our school’s reading-tracking program. Students can access Beanstack from their school computers and log the minutes they spend reading. Families may also download the Beanstack app so students can continue logging their reading at home. Students will learn more about Beanstack during library lessons in August and September. Our monthly class challenges will begin in September, when classes will compete to see who can log the most reading minutes!

Please encourage your child to log reading minutes regularly and honestly. See the attached flyer for directions and additional information.

Together, we can build a powerful culture of reading at HMES, one page at a time!

Free Online Tutoring with Brainfuse: DeKalb County Public Library offers free live online tutoring through Brainfuse HelpNow for students in grades 3–12. Tutoring is available daily from 2:00–11:00 p.m. and includes help in a variety of subjects. Spanish-speaking tutors are also available. Brainfuse is chat-based, not video-based, and is free with a DeKalb County Public Library card. Please see the attached flyer for more information.

Please review the 2026–2027 DeKalb County School District Code of Student Conduct, which outlines students' responsibilities in helping to maintain a safe, respectful, and orderly learning environment.

• The Code of Student Conduct is available here:
  https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1784819613/dekalbschoolsgaorg/texavyab7ldnwczh6trp/2026-2027StudentCodeofConduct.pdf

The handbook includes important information regarding student records, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), reporting concerns such as bullying and harassment, the rights of students with disabilities, and other student rights and responsibilities.

• After reviewing the Code of Student Conduct, please sign, date, and return the
  2026–2027 Parent/Guardian Signature Page, available here:
  https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1784039413/dekalbschoolsgaorg/judxxd374x0gowgodgse/2026-2027SCOCConfirmationofReceipt.pdf

• https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1785780722/dekalbschoolsgaorg/xp5mgmiv6fjmukigwi1v/Spanish_2026-2027Parent-GuardianSignaturePage.pdf

Greetings DCSD Families,

You’re invited to join the 2026-2027 Community Tech Café, a free monthly webinar series hosted by the DCSD Instructional Technology Department.

The Community Tech Café is designed to help families, students, and community members learn more about the digital tools that support teaching, learning, communication, and online safety across the district.

Upcoming topics include:
• Your Digital DCSD Ecosystem
• Safety, Smarts & Success Online
• Helping Students Get the Most from Their Device
• Staying Connected through Campus Parent Portal
• Effective Digital Communication with Teachers
• AI Awareness

The first session of the 2026–2027 school year will be held Tuesday, September 22. Sessions will continue monthly through May 2027 via Microsoft Teams.

Visit bit.ly/TechCafeDCSD to view the full schedule, meeting links, resources, and recordings.

We look forward to connecting with you at the Community Tech Café!

Families are invited to join the fun with our Famous Hispanics Poster Contest! This project is completely optional, but we encourage families to work together to research, create, and celebrate the amazing contributions of Hispanic leaders and changemakers.

Learn together. Create together. Celebrate together! We can’t wait to see your family’s creativity!

Your membership directly supports our teachers and school by funding our Alliance Theatre partnership, STEAM programming, teacher appreciation events, afterschool clubs and so much more. Every membership makes a difference!

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 disruption 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 – SOAR TIME (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.
🕝 2:20 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!

• Free or reduced-price school meals

• Reduced ACT, SAT, and AP exam fees

• Reduced college application fees

• Increased access to scholarship opportunities

Our cafeteria manager would love your support in encouraging all students to go through the lunch line each day, even if they bring lunch from home. This ensures every student has the opportunity to receive a nutritious meal and helps support our school nutrition program.

Please encourage students to participate in the lunch line each day. Thank you for your support!

Beginning this school year, all DCSD schools are phone-free zones. Students must power off and put away all personal devices, including cell phones, smartwatches, earbuds, and headphones, during the school day.

Our Disconnect to Reconnect initiative helps reduce distractions, increase student engagement, strengthen learning, and encourage meaningful connections with teachers and peers.

Thank you for partnering with us to create a focused, distraction-free learning environment for every student!

Pack 007 is a Cub Scout Pack chartered at Embry Hills United Methodist Church. Our pack is open to K-5 boys and girls. The Pack (all age groups) usually meets once a month. The Dens (single grade level) generally meet two or three times a month.

ALWAYS ACCEPTING NEW SCOUTS!

Please email pack007ehumc@gmail.com

See flyer for more details. To learn more about cub scouting, please read the Cub Scout Parent Orientation Guide found below.

Registration is NOW OPEN for the 2026-2027 #DCSD Elementary Soccer Season! Registration: Aug. 13 – Sept. 13 Practice begins: Sept. 21 First Contest: Oct. 17 Register below.

Registration is now open for elementary competitive season. The season begins on November 30 and ends February 6. Click the button below to register your child.

The Pack is a family pack, welcoming boys and girls in grades K - 5th. We meet at Shallowford Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, GA. Pack members cross into Troop 534.

Starting as early as Kindergarten, Pack 534 provide opportunities for the entire family to participate in day trips, overnight camping, and hand-on activities such as archery, civics, crafts, pioneering, and stem activities.

Pack 534 holds Den Meetings most Tuesday nights from 7 - 8pm. One Tuesday each month is the Pack Meeting where Cub Scouts are awarded belt loops, badges, and pins for completing Adventures toward rank.

Students can enroll at any time of year and participate as much or little as their schedules allow.

We typically meet in the Great Hall and classrooms inside Shallowford Presbyterian Church, 2375 Shallowford Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30345

For enrollment information or any questions, please email scoutpack534@gmail.com

The DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management is hosting its 22nd Annual Art Calendar Contest for students in grades K–5!

Theme: “Everyone’s Experience With Water Is Unique – How Are You Inspired By Water?”

Students are encouraged to get creative and participate! 12 winners will be selected, with winning artwork featured in the 2027 calendar and displayed at the Porter Sanford Performing Arts Center.

📅 Deadline: November 6, 2026
📎 Please review the attached contest rules and entry form, as there are changes this year.

Let’s encourage our Hawks to showcase their creativity!

To inspire your students and encourage participation, we’ve included videos of the winning entries from the past few years. Feel free to share these with your students:

• DeKalb Watershed Art Calendar Contest 2026
• DeKalb Watershed Art Calendar Contest 2025
• DeKalb Watershed Art Calendar Contest 2024
• DeKalb Watershed Art Calendar Contest 2023
• DeKalb Watershed Art Calendar Contest 2022
• DeKalb Watershed Art Calendar Contest 2021

Best of luck to all students!

We are incredibly proud to congratulate our 5th Grade National Jr. Beta candidates! These student candidates have demonstrated a commitment to academic excellence, character, leadership, and service.

Candidates must have and maintain a 3.5 GPA or higher and demonstrate strong leadership skills and positive character, as recognized by their teachers. These students have already been identified and selected.

We look forward to celebrating this outstanding accomplishment with our selected students and families at the Jr. Beta Induction Ceremony on September 30 at 9:00 a.m.

Congratulations, Hawks, we are so proud of you!

Interested in Girl Scouts? Come learn all about it! Girls can enjoy a free popsicle and play, caregivers can learn all about Girl Scouts. Reach out to Katherine Butler with any questions at kbutler@gsgatl.org or 470-633-5847

Date: Sun Sep 20, 3:30 PM EST - Sun Sep 20, 4:30 PM EST

Category:

• Creative Arts

Level:

• Daisies,

• Brownies,

• Juniors,

• Cadettes,

• Seniors,

• Ambassadors,

• Volunteers

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!

The Hawk Rock is ready to be rented and we already have four sales!

🎨 Make your mark on the Hawk Rock! Henderson Mill families can rent our school spirit rock for three days to celebrate a birthday, milestone, achievement, or other special event.

Rentals are $30, and families are responsible for providing all painting supplies and painting over the previous design. It’s a fun way to celebrate someone special while supporting our amazing school!

Our 5th graders are preparing for an exciting annual overnight field trip to the Fortson 4-H Center, where they’ll experience hands-on science, outdoor education, live animals, campfires, and memories that will last a lifetime!

The cost is $125 per student, and we are fundraising to help lower the cost for ALL of our 5th grade students.

Every donation makes a difference, no amount is too small! Whether it’s $5, $10, $25, or more, your support will help make this incredible experience more affordable for our families.

Scan the QR code on the flyer to donate.

Thank you for helping our 5th Grade Hawks SOAR beyond the classroom!

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

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.

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

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. Vela (678-874-3106) for assistance.

All requests will be handled with care and confidentiality. We are always here to support our Henderson Mill families.

Henderson Mill Families, if you are in need of affordable internet service or a low-cost computer for your household, we encourage you to explore Everyone On.

EveryoneOn provides a free Offer Locator Tool that allows families to enter their ZIP code and search for available low-cost internet and computer options in their area. Families may also find additional digital learning resources and information about programs for eligible households. EveryoneOn – Find Offers

Having reliable technology at home is an important part of keeping our Hawks connected.

Click here👉 Explore Affordable Internet & Computer Options

At Henderson Mill Elementary, we care about our families and our community! Our Jr. Beta Club is excited to offer Spaghetti Meal Kits to HMES families who may need a little extra support.

Each kit will include pasta, pasta sauce, and Italian bread to help provide a family dinner at home.

If your family is in need, we encourage you to complete the link below to reserve a kit. Please remember that quantities are limited, so we kindly ask that this opportunity be reserved for families who truly need the assistance.

A special THANK YOU to our amazing PTO for supporting this initiative and to our Jr. Beta Club members for facilitating this service project and demonstrating what it means to lead by serving others! (REGISTRATION LINK COMING SOON)

Hawks Helping Hawks, because at HMES, we take care of one another!

Henderson Mill families, we need your help bringing our 2026–2027 Haunted House to life! We are accepting donations or loans of Halloween decorations, props, lights, and other spooky supplies. Families who donate or lend decorations can earn FREE Haunted House tickets!

Please see the flyer for donation details and items needed. Donations will be accepted through Monday, October 12th. Thank you for helping us create an unforgettable experience for our Hawks!

Together, we make Hawks SOAR, even in the dark!

We love our volunteers! To volunteer at school or chaperone field trips, you must meet DeKalb County School District (DCSD) volunteer requirements below:

• Level I: Front Office Support, Cafeteria Support, Recess Support, Classroom helpers, Mystery Readers, class parties, Career Day, cafeteria, library, and other supervised school activities.
• Level II: Required for daytime field trip chaperones.
• Level III: Required for overnight field trip chaperones and volunteers who may work with students without direct supervision. Includes fingerprinting and is valid for 5 years (annual badge renewal required).

Please click link below to begin the volunteer registration process. If you need assistance, please send an email to: DCSDvolunteer@dekalbschoolsga.org or Demone_Gunter@dekalbschoolsga.org

We look forward to partnering with you this school year!

Henderson Mill Elementary is looking for parents, guardians, family members, and community members who would be willing to share their knowledge and career experiences with our students and/or teachers.

Many careers are connected to STEAM—Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics—even if “STEAM” is not in the job title! Careers in healthcare, construction, business, finance, agriculture, transportation, public safety, design, communications, skilled trades, culinary arts, and many other fields use STEAM skills every day.

You might speak to a class, demonstrate a skill, help with a hands-on activity, provide feedback on a student project, participate in a career event, connect virtually, or serve as a resource for teachers. Completing this form simply helps us learn about your expertise and interest; it does not commit you to participating.

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