CSD Weekly: April 16, 2026

• Did You Know?
• Around CSD: BHMS Reopens Renovated Courtyard and Basketball Captain Tapped for 15U Paris World Games Team, Westchester Kindergartener Heads to State-Level Writing Competition
• All In Around CSD: "The Play That Goes Wrong: High School Edition"
• Mark Your Calendars: Board of Education Community Meeting, April 22

• Information & Resources: GMAS Testing Begins April 20
• Community Partner News: DEF/DPN Speaker Series: Eating Disorders/Disordered Eating

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

College Heights Connection

Clairemont Bulldog

Glennwood Eagle Edition

Oakhurst Weekly

Westchester Weekly

Winnona Park Wildcat Weekly

F.Ave Falcon Flyer

Talley Street Update

BHMS Weekly Update

DHS Weekly Update

See this week's Bulletin Board newsletter for details. Additionally, all board meeting recordings are available on the CSD website.

Let the games begin! BHMS student Mason Sanders, eighth-grade captain of the BHMS boys' basketball team, has been selected by Team USA to represent the US on the Boys 15U basketball team at the Paris World Games in June 2026.

Sanders, a power forward, was chosen for his talent and character to compete in the prestigious international youth tournament. He will also compete in the US Select Showcase in Decatur and an All-American Showcase in Atlanta before traveling to Paris. Bonne chance, Mason!

Hosted by Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, this national competition promotes student discovery, diversity, creativity, and innovation. Ali's design can be seen on the museum's interactive map.

Excellent job to F.Ave third-graders Eli Tolentino and Charlie Morris, who ranked nationally in the Continental Math League competition after earning perfect scores at every CML meet this year. These students practiced CML problems at home, checked their work twice for errors and showed up with a positive "I can" attitude for each meet. Thank you to the LINKS teachers at F.Ave for supporting these students.

CSD applauds Westchester kindergartener Noa Hagigi, whose submission to the 2025-2026 Young Georgia Authors (YGA) writing competition represented CSD at the RESA District 4 competition, for advancing to the state level competition. State finalists will be announced within the next six weeks.

Well done to DHS senior Payton Sobon, who was named a 2026 Georgia Scholar by the Georgia Department of Education, one of only 162 graduating seniors across Georgia to achieve this honor. Through the Georgia Scholar program, GaDOE identifies and honors high school seniors who have achieved excellence in school and community life. Each honoree receives a seal for their diploma along with a graduation cord to recognize their achievement.

Payton has excelled academically while balancing leadership in the Student Government Association, the Best Buddies club, and the varsity lacrosse team. She is a member of the Science National Honor Society, the National Honor Society, and the inaugural class of Mu Alpha Theta, the Math Honor Society. Outside of school, Payton became the first youth representative on the City of Decatur Environmental Sustainability Board and held various leadership roles with the Decatur Youth Action Team. She also volunteers at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. She is on track to graduate with an IB diploma and plans to attend the University of Chicago, majoring in Economics.

A big congratulations to DHS seniors Mohamed Atik, Morgan Arnold, Hamza Holbrook and Isaiah Pierson for earning scholarships through the 5 Strong Scholarship Foundation.

We are especially proud that all DHS applicants competed in a rigorous process with students from across Metro Atlanta and matched with a college or university of their choice, each earning a full tuition scholarship. Additionally, Isaiah Pierson and Mohamed Atik received full scholarships. Their hard work, perseverance, and leadership truly set them apart.

5 Strong is a nonprofit 501 (c) (3) organization that partners with HBCUs to provide promising student leaders with scholarships and ongoing mentorship and support from matriculation to graduation.

Say goodbye to the "Dust Bowl" at BHMS! This week, CSD held a ribbon-cutting for students and staff on the renovated courtyard at Beacon Hill Middle School, previously known as the "Dust Bowl." As part of a school project, BHMS PACK students Michael Philipsborn and Lydia Robillard assisted in determining which type of synthetic turf to install. They also provided feedback to Advanced Sports Group (ASG), which constructed the installation, transforming the area into a safe and enjoyable space for students to unwind and release energy during the school day.

In addition to the BHMS PACK and ASG representatives, attendance included BHMS staff, including Principal Alexis Glenn, Superintendent Dr. Gyimah Whitaker, Board Chair Dr. Carmen Sulton, Board Vice-Chair Hans Utz, members of the CSD executive staff and operations team, as well as Breedlove Land Planning, which provided civil engineering and owner representation for the project. We look forward to students enjoying their new courtyard.

The curtain rises on "The Play That Goes Wrong: High School Edition" tonight and runs April 16-19. This humorous play within a play begins to fall apart as chaotic, comedic accidents cause the "cast" to attempt to keep the show going amidst prop malfunctions, missed lines and breaking character. Get your tickets at DecaturPerforms.org.

Decatur Robotics is hosting its annual showcase, featuring teams from Talley St., F.Ave, BHMS and DHS, Saturday, April 25, from 2-4 p.m. at the DHS Cafeteria. Drop in anytime to see the students' robots and projects.

Current CSD students: Do you know a teacher or CSD employee who has gone the "extra mile" this year? Nominate them for the CSD Extra Mile Award. The Extra Mile Award is an annual recognition that allows students to show appreciation to teachers or staff who go above and beyond what is expected of them.

Students at any grade level can write an essay describing how their teacher (or staff member) goes the extra mile. Parents may help younger children write the essay or submit it on behalf of a student who is unable to write the nomination. The essays should be detailed and describe how the employee goes above and beyond. Submit a nomination here by Thursday, May 21, 2026.

• School Library Month, April 1-30

• Occupational Therapy Month, April 1-30

• Arab American Heritage Month, April 1-30

• National Autism Acceptance Month, April 1-30

• National Child Abuse Prevention Month, April 1-30

• Volunteer Recognition Day, April 20

• National Youth Violence Prevention Week, April 20–24

• Earth Day, April 22

• BOE Community Meeting, April 22, 6:30-8 p.m., DHS Library

• Superintendent Spring Listening Session, April 28, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Decatur Housing Authority Community Resource Center

• Superintendent Spring Listening Session, May 5, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Westchester Elementary

• DHS Graduation, May 16, 2-4 p.m.

The following policies are currently pending and available for public comment. The community is invited to provide feedback on the policies using the form at the bottom of the policy webpage in Simbli.

• Policy IBB: Charter Schools
• Policy LEBA: Parental Involvement in Education

Georgia Milestones Assessment System (GMAS) testing for 2026 begins Monday, April 20. The testing window for grades 3-8 lasts through May 1, and testing for grades 9-12 lasts through May 15. Please encourage your child to get plenty of rest, eat a good breakfast and show up to school on time, ready to do their best.

Coming in June 2026: Infinite Campus is switching payment processors from Payrix to Stripe for all online payment functions in the Campus Portal. The new system will provide a more secure, easy-to-use payment system, including tap-and-pay options at school events. CSD will make this transition for the district in June.

Important Notes:

• The online payment system will be unavailable June 8-19, 2026. If you need to make a payment during this time, please visit your student's school to pay via cash or check.

• Banking and card information must be set up again in the new Stripe portal after June 19. Stored payment methods and recurring payments will not be transferred between vendors.

• There are no changes to our fee structures. Processing fees remain at 2.5% for credit cards and $0.35 for e-checks.

• Please log in to Infinite Campus and click "Fees" to check for any balances. Any balance on the accounts will carry over.

CSD invites you to take this one-minute City Schools of Decatur 2025-26 Communications Survey to assess the organization's practices, channels, and effectiveness. Your feedback will help us enhance our communication with all stakeholders. Please note that the survey closes on Friday, April 17. If you have any questions, email communications@csdecatur.net.

DEF/DPN Speaker Series: Eating Disorders/Disordered Eating: What Parents Need to Know

Monday, April 27, 2026, 6:30-8 p.m., Beacon Hill Middle School-Library/Media Center. Please register here.

Eating Disorders and disordered eating are showing up earlier than many parents realize. Our youth are growing up in a culture shaped by social media, constant body comparison, and increasing attention on extreme weight loss trends. For parents, it can be difficult to know what's normal, what's concerning, and how to respond in a way that truly helps. This parent education event will help you better understand the pressures today's adolescents face around food, body image, and appearance. Experienced adolescent therapists and treatment professionals will discuss the role social media plays in shaping body image, how current cultural trends influence kids' perceptions of weight and health, and the difference between normal developmental changes and early warning signs of a potential problem. The event will be followed by a Q&A session for participants' questions and concerns.

Buy Tickets to DEF's "No Ordinary Joe" Fundraiser

Tickets for the 2026 No Ordinary Joe fundraiser, Thursday, April 30, 6 p.m., at Waller's Coffee Shop, are on sale here! This annual fundraiser for Joe’s Fund features some of DHS's most talented singers and musicians performing live music in a coffeehouse-style concert. This year, the event will have an opening act of BHMS students at 6 p.m.

Grants from Joe’s Fund provide vital student behavioral health resources to CSD and to local organizations working to:

• address substance use and addiction
• strengthen student mental health
• create safe, supportive spaces for students’ well-being
• install inclusive outdoor play spaces
• implement adaptable seating and learning supports for neurodivergent students
• include mindfulness practices in all CDS schools

City of Decatur Parks and Recreation commits to providing exceptional experiences that foster healthy living and meaningful community connections. Please visit the DPRD programs website for information about afterschool programs, school holiday programs, and summer camps. Follow Decatur Parks and Recreation on Facebook and Instagram or sign up for their monthly newsletter.

Access recent issues of CSD Weekly

Subscribe to the CSD Weekly