WEEK 24
🐝 The Hawthorne Hive Weekly Buzz
Greetings Hawthorne Hive Families! 🐝
Thank you to our 3rd grade parents for joining us for Data Talks and the GA Milestones presentation, and to all families who participated in parent conferences, volunteered their time, and supported World Read Aloud Day—including contributing to our beautiful Black History Month door décor. Your involvement and partnership truly make a meaningful difference in our school community.
We would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the parents and staff who supported the HES Dance Team on Saturday. A special thank you to Mr. Barnes, Ms. Shegog, Ms. White, Ms. Lester, Ms. Wyatt, Ms. Martin, Mrs. S. Jackson, Ms. McKandes, Mrs. King, Mrs. McCoy and Ms. Klug—your presence and encouragement meant so much to our students.
Our team did a phenomenal job under the outstanding facilitation of Ms. Massey and Ms. Culliver. Their leadership, dedication, and commitment to excellence were clearly reflected in the students’ performance. We are incredibly proud of our dancers and grateful to everyone who helped make this experience a success! 💃🏽✨
Thank you for your continued support, partnership, and commitment to helping our students thrive—we truly appreciate you!
📅 THIS WEEK
-February 11th - PTA Board Meeting (8 am)
-February 11th - PAC Meeting PAC Meeting (5:00 pm)
-February 12th - 2nd/3rd Grade Concert (6 pm)
-February 14th-DCSD DISTRICT DANCE Championship Competition (TBD)
📅 FEBRUARY
-February 16th-20th - DCSD February Break (NO SCHOOL)
-February 23rd-February 27th - Scholastic Book Fair
-February 25th -(K/1st Grade Round Up & Interest Tour - (8:30 am)
-February 25th - HES Talent Show Auditions - 2:30 pm
-February 26th - HES Talent Show Auditions - 2:30 pm
-February 27th - African American History Month Program (9 am – in-person)
Go Hornets 🐝
Proud to Serve,
Principal Henley
#OneTeamOneDream #WeAreALLIN
TWITTER
Safety Drills
This week we plan to conduct a planned fire drill. Last week, students did an excellent job during the tornado drill, and we appreciate your support in helping them follow procedures successfully.
These drills reflect our ongoing commitment to school safety and ensuring that students are well-prepared in the event of an emergency. Thank you for your continued partnership in keeping our school safe and prepared.
Attendance Contest Updates
📣 Second Semester Attendance Challenge: Your Presence Is Power! 💪
From January through April, Hawthorne ES is participating in a districtwide attendance challenge that encourages students to show up, stay engaged, and finish the school year strong. Led by our very own Attendance Avenger, students will enjoy grade-level activities, school spirit events, and friendly competitions that celebrate the importance of being present every day.
We are especially excited because Hawthorne ES won the district attendance contest last year—and this year, we’re aiming to do it again! Our district is closing in on its strategic goal of 95% attendance, and your continued partnership plays a vital role in helping us reach and maintain that goal.
🌳 February Attendance Celebration
Throughout the month of February, we will celebrate daily student attendance by adding leaves to our Attendance Tree each day students are present—watch it grow as our commitment to showing up grows too!
Dear Hawthorne Families,
We are excited to share details about our upcoming Spring Book Fair, returning after February Break! The Book Fair will officially open for shopping from Tuesday, February 24 -27, and shopping hours will be 7:00–8:30 a.m. throughout the week. E-wallets are available again to set up for your child, and residual funds from previous fairs should be available to you to load onto your new eWallet as well. Families are also invited to shop the fair together with their child on Friday, February 27, from 10:00–11:30 a.m., following our Sensational Black History Month Program, which begins at 9:00 a.m.
We look forward to welcoming students and families for another fun and meaningful Book Fair that supports our school and encourages a love of reading. Additional details, including volunteer opportunities and eWallet instructions, can be found below.
Easy EWallet Instructions:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Gbu9AZea0MLhZXA77j0GPoChmSOILGV0KwMpQSi29lA/edit?tab=t.0
Volunteer Sign Up Genius:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090F44A8AD2DABF94-62187545-hesspring#/
Book Fair Home Page:
https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/hawthorneelementaryschool28
Thank you for your continued support!
~Hawthorne Elementary School PTA
🚗✨ Arrival & Dismissal Reminders ✨🚶♀️
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. Our late student arrivals are starting to become a huge disruption to our classrooms and are impacting teaching and learning. Please make it a daily priority to have your child arrive to school on time, please see below.:
🌅 Morning Arrival:
🕖 7:00 AM – School doors open and breakfast begins.
🍽️ 7:15 AM –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 & typically follows this order:
➡️bus riders
➡️ van riders
➡️ car riders
➡️ walkers
➡️ aftercare
Please remember that our buses must be in line first.
🕝 2:35 PM-2:40 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!
Late Pick-Up Procedures
In order to ensure the safety and supervision of all students, Hawthorne Elementary has established the following late pick-up procedures:
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Dismissal ends at 2:45 PM.
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Any student not picked up by 2:45 PM, upon arrival -parents will need to complete the Late Pick-Up Roster.
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Three (3) late pick-ups may result in a referral to the school’s social worker for additional support and follow-up.
Your partnership helps us create a safe and focused environment for all hornets. Thank you for your attention and cooperation!
🎉 Hawthorne Dance Team Updates 💃
Our Dance Team did an outstanding job this past Saturday! We won’t know if they will advance to the next level until Monday, but regardless, their performance was incredible. The next competition is scheduled for Saturday, February 14th, and I will share updates as soon as we know if they advance, along with more details about the upcoming event. We are so proud of their hard work, dedication, and school spirit!
February PAC Meeting
We are excited to invite you to our February Principal Advisory Council (PAC). A virtual option will be available through the link provided, making it easy for everyone to join.
The Principal Advisory Council (PAC) brings together parents, teachers, and community members to work alongside school leadership. The PAC provides input, shares ideas, and helps guide decisions that impact student success, school improvement, and family engagement. This is a great way to learn more about what’s happening academically in our school and to share your voice.
👏 Thank you to our PAC board members this year!
📅 Date: Thursday, February 11th
🕕 Time: 5:00 PM
💻 Virtual Link to join below
We look forward to working together and hearing your input to make our school better.
🎶✨ You’re Invited! 2nd & 3rd Grade Concert ✨🎶
Hawthorne Elementary is proud to invite our families to a special evening of music featuring our 2nd and 3rd grade students on February 12th at 6:00 PM.
Our students have been working hard to prepare a joyful performance that showcases their creativity, confidence, and love for music. This concert is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate their growth, talent, and teamwork while creating lasting memories together.
We hope you will join us for an evening filled with smiles, songs, and school spirit. Your presence means so much to our students and makes the experience even more meaningful.
🎵💙 We look forward to seeing you there!
February Break (Building closed, No school for students)
📢 February Break Reminder for Families
This is a reminder that school will be closed for February Break from Monday, February 16 through Friday, February 20. There will be no school for students, and the building will be closed during this time.
Classes will resume on Monday, February 23.
We hope you and your family enjoy a safe, restful, and enjoyable break. Thank you for your continued support!
African American History Month Program
✨ You’re Invited! ✨
Join us for our African American History Month Program on
📅 February 27th
⏰ 9:00 AM
You are in for a real treat as our students take the stage to celebrate history, culture, and excellence through powerful performances. Their hard work and talent will truly shine!
🎤🎶 We can’t wait to see you there and cheer on our amazing students. Don’t miss this special event!
DCSD Basketball Season is Approaching!
The HES basketball team is ready to take the championship this year, and the excitement tips off soon! 💪🔥
📅 GIRLS TEAM A First Game: February 28, 2026 ⏰10:30 am
📅 GIRLS TEAM B First Game: February 28, 2026 ⏰12:45 pm
📅 BOYS TEAM B First Game: February 28, 2026⏰11:15 am
📅 BOYS TEAM A First Game: February 28, 2026⏰12:00 pm
🏫 Location: Henderson Middle School
We need everyone to come out, show school spirit, and cheer on our team as they start their championship run! 📣. Let’s pack the gym and support our HES Basketball teams!
🎨 Calling All Young Artists! ♻️
We know many of you have young artists at home, and this is a wonderful opportunity for them to shine! The Georgia Recycling Coalition is hosting its Third Annual America Recycles Day Art Contest for students ages 5–19, and we would love to see OUR students participate.
🌎 Contest Theme: Recycling Really Works
📅 Submission Deadline: February 18, 2026 (by 11:59 PM)
🖥️ How to Enter: The online entry form must be completed by a parent and submitted with electronic file(s) of the artwork.
This is a great way for students to showcase their creativity while learning about the importance of recycling and caring for our environment.
👉 Click the links below for contest details and the entry form.
We can’t wait to see our students’ creativity shine good luck to all of our young artists! 🌟
La Amistad AFTERSCHOOL
La Amistad is continuing services for Hawthorne Elementary students and currently serves 22 enrolled scholars. The program provides free academic support, including homework assistance, reading and math support, and engaging educational activities designed to support Latino students.
Enrolled students are conveniently picked up by La Amistad on Mondays and Wednesdays, making participation accessible for families.
If you are interested in enrolling your child or would like additional information, please refer to the contact information located on the enclosed flyer and call to sign your child up.
Chamblee High School Youth Softball Summer Camp
We are excited to inform our families about this opportunity for their child! Chamblee High School is hosting a youth softball summer camp for rising 3rd–8th grade students. Please see the flyer below for dates, times, and registration details.
🏑 Join the Fun with DLYLA Lacrosse! 🏑
Exciting news! The new lacrosse season is kicking off this February at Tucker Rec, and we’re looking for more local kiddos to join the fun!
✨ Who Can Join: Boys and girls in Kindergarten through 8th grade
✨ Where: Tucker Recreation Center
✨ When: Season starts February!
DLYLA (Decatur/Lakeside Youth Lacrosse Association) is all about teamwork, sportsmanship, and leadership—a perfect way for students to grow on and off the field.
📣 Don’t miss out—sign up today and be part of a team that plays hard, supports each other, and makes new friends!
📄 See flyer below for details!
#YouthLacrosse #StudentLeadership #Teamwork #DLYLA #K8Sports
Parent Tech Café
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
FY27 Budget Survey
The FY27 Budget Survey is now open, and we invite you to share your input as we begin planning for the upcoming fiscal year. Your feedback will directly contribute to enhancing the school experience for students and families.
Please take a moment to complete the survey by February 13, 2026. The survey is available in 16 languages to support all members of our community. Survey Link: https://survey.sogolytics.com/r/NJ7MYV
Thank you for your participation and continued partnership as we work together to support student learning
Title 1 Parent & Family Engagement Updates
Please see the flyers below for more opportunities to engage with your child and support family learning at home. These resources are designed to provide additional support, activities, and tips for parents to help students succeed both in and out of the classroom. We encourage you to explore these opportunities and get involved your participation makes a meaningful difference!
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.
Steps to Complete the Volunteer Process:
Complete the Volunteer Application and Release Form:
Review and Complete the DCSD Volunteer Code of Conduct:
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
2026 Volunteer Training Dates (COMING SOON)
Please select the Zoom session that works best for you from the options below:
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!
📚 Support Our School Through SchoolStore!
Thanks to your efforts, through the School Store program, we are truly grateful!
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:
DONATIONS Needed for Lakeside HS PROM Feb. 2-27
Dear Lakeside Cluster Community, 🕺 💃🏻 🪩
Lakeside is collecting lightly used formal wear that you may have in your closets for our high school students for this year’s Prom. (See flyer) Please help us to send all our upperclassmen to the Benz, in style this March! All formal wear items should be clean and free from rips or tears. Students who need these pieces will get to shop from the donated items at the end of February. Thank you for your generosity and support!
Sincerely,
LHS Staff (supported by Junior Class Parent Sponsors)
PS - If you need an alternate donation location, or need items picked up, please email Sarah at skvisel@gmail.com and let us know what elementary school area you are in to connect you to the right volunteer.
FREE MEALS FOR DEKALB FAMILIES
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
Georgia’s K-12 standards
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! 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.
Together, we can build a powerful culture of reading at HES, one page at a time! ✨
Georgia Milestones Assessment
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).
Parent ProTech is here!
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.
The drop-off times in front of the school are below:
7:00 am
MORNING INTERVENTIONS & EXTENTIONS TIME DAILY - 7:15 am
Tardy bell - 7:45 am
Morning announcements begin at 7:45 am
Car riders:: When picking students up, parents should have the Hawthorne ES Car Rider Tag visible in their car. If the Car Rider Tag is not visible, parents are required to park, come into the building and provide Identification. Thank you for your patience as we simply want to keep your students' safe.
The pick-up times for dismissal are below:
Bus riders-2:25:pm; Car riders 2:35 pm (front of building after buses) & walkers (Side door)
Walker Dismissal Protocol Update
The dismissal process for the Walker group is being slightly adjusted to ensure a smoother and more secure experience. Students will continue to dismiss from the side door; however, we will now be implementing a numbered tag system.
Each walker will be assigned a unique number. Parents or guardians must walk to the designated walker door and visibly display their child’s assigned number. This number will correspond to the student’s walker tag, which will be attached to their backpack.
For safety and accountability, students will only be released once the matching number is presented at the door.
Attendance & Dismissal Procedures Update
To ensure accurate attendance records and to maintain a safe and orderly school environment, we are updating our arrival and dismissal procedures:
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Late Arrival: Students arriving after 7:45 AM must be checked in by a parent/guardian inside the school office.
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Early Check-Out: If a student needs to leave school early, parents/guardians must come into the building to sign the student out prior to the start of dismissal.
These updates are in place to support accurate attendance documentation. We appreciate your cooperation and commitment to helping us ensure that your students are safe during arrival and dismissal from school. 😊Thank you!
BUS ROUTES
DCSD bus routes can be found on the district website: https://www.dekalbschoolsga.org/bus-routes/. Hawthorne ES morning bus routes are below along with the district
Email: kia_henley@dekalbschoolsag.org
Website: https://www.hawthornees.dekalb.k12.ga.us/
Location: 2535 Caladium Drive NE Atlanta, GA 30345
Phone: 678-874-2802