CSD Weekly: April 2, 2026

• Reminder: CSD is closed April 6-10 for Spring Break and will Reopen April 13
• Around CSD: Student-Athletes Compete in CSD's Second Accredited Special Olympics, 2027 Teacher of the Year Announced, DHS Boys' Soccer Wins Regional Championship
• All In Around CSD: Last Day of Annual K-12 Art Exhibition
• Mark Your Calendars: Board of Education Meeting, April 14
• Information & Resources: Take the 2025-2026 Communications Survey
• Community Partner News: DEF Carriere Family Scholarship for Teachers

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

Congratulations to the DHS Boys' soccer team on their regional championship win over Woodward Academy at Senior Night. The team is ranked third in 5A and #57 in the Nation by MaxPreps. Special thanks to the coaches, Derrick Burgess and Erin Williams, supporters, and families who were there cheering from the sidelines. Here's to more victories, Bulldogs!

Student-athletes and teachers from across CSD schools processed into the DHS Stadium for CSD's second annual accredited Special Olympics to cheers, smiles, and upbeat music from the DHS drumline and cheerleaders, school and district staff, Superintendent Dr. Gyimah Whitaker, as well as Board of Education Chair and Vice-Chair, Dr. Carmen Sulton and Hans Utz. Spirts remained high as the DHS JROTC opened the ceremony, with athletes competing in the 50-yard dash, soccer, tug-of-war, parachute and more and enthusiastic family and friends looking on.

Volunteers from CSD Best Buddies and Fast Friends clubs also accompanied athletes throughout the morning. A huge thank you to the clubs, CSD Student Services and all the teachers, staff, students and parents for making this event successful for the athletes and their families.

"Special Olympics is a really joyful opportunity for our students to show off their skills and for our community to be there to encourage and celebrate them," said Michelle Lowe, CSD's director of Special Education. "These kinds of community events are a big part of the Special Education department's commitment to building and sustaining an engaging and inclusive culture."

Bravo to the DHS Symphony Orchestra, the district's first, for their performance and results at the Georgia Music Educators Association's Large Group Performance Evaluation. The DHS Symphony Orchestra received perfect score ratings from all judges across all captions. Under principal conductors Rosie Riquelme-Antunez and Dr. Ira Jenkins, the orchestra is comprised of the Wind Ensemble (top DHS band class) and the Mastery Orchestra and Advanced Orchestra (top two DHS orchestra classes).

Clairemont Elementary was full of excitement this past week during a high-energy Career Day. Clairemont students got a front-row seat to the "real world," with an amazing group of visitors, including a hairdresser, an artist, a nurse educator, a law professor, a pharmacist and experts in school nutrition and the engineering supply chain. The students were completely engaged in practicing hair styling, learning how food gets to our plates, or figuring out how laws and medicine keep us safe. The students had many great "aha!" moments and asked thoughtful questions of their guests. Thank you to these professionals for volunteering their time to spark so much curiosity in our future leaders.

This week, Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) visited DHS to applaud the work of Communities In Schools (CIS) of Atlanta and their partnerships with metro Atlanta school districts, including CSD's partnership, which began in 2023.

During her visit, Congresswoman Williams presented a check for $401,000 to Frank Brown Esq., CEO of CIS of Atlanta. This funding, which is the first approved as part of an appropriation request in the organization's 54-year history, will support the Violence Prevention & Mental Health Initiative at Communities In Schools in metro Atlanta schools. The initiative aims to implement an integrated, school-based strategy that combines violence-prevention training and mental health support for students to reduce violence and foster student success.

DHS students Breanna Caldwell and Justin Patton shared their insights on how the partnership between CSD and CIS of Atlanta has impacted them personally. DHS hosted the event, and Superintendent Dr. Gyimah Whitaker, DHS assistant principal Wes Hatfield, and Student Support Coordinator Dr. Terescah Lemon offered greetings. Board Member Hans Utz and Student Board Representative Nia Batra also attended. Thank you to CIS for their work with students, to Congresswoman Nikema Williams for her generosity, and to all the CSD staff and students who made this event possible.

In celebration of March as Youth Art Month, some of our incredibly talented CSD teachers and students are exhibiting their artwork this evening, April 2, from 4-7 p.m. at The Solarium for the annual K-12 Art Exhibition. This year's theme, "The World Needs Art," by the Council for Art Education, reminds us of the vital role art plays in our lives. Special thanks to the Decatur Education Foundation, Decatur Arts Alliance, and The Solarium for their funding and support.

• School Library Month, April 1-30

• Math Awareness 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 School Librarian Day, April 4

• National Assistant Principals Week, April 6-10

• Spring Break, April 6-10

• BOE Meeting, April 14

• K-Day, April 16

• Volunteer Recognition Day, April 20

• Earth Day, April 22

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

• 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 CSD community is invited to take advantage of a special ticket offer for one of the following two games at State Farm Arena during Spring Break:

ATL Hawks vs. NY Knicks, Monday, April 6, 7 p.m.

ATL Hawks vs. CLE Cavaliers, Friday, April 10, 7 p.m.

Purchase your tickets here, or email ryan.coller@hawks.com for questions.

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.

DHS is excited to announce the addition of AP® Cybersecurity to our course offerings for the 2026-27 school year, to prepare students for high-demand, high-skill careers. This course teaches students to think like professionals—protecting systems, networks, and data while sharpening the problem-solving skills essential for today’s workforce. With qualifying exam scores, students can earn both college credit and a professional certification (CompTIA).

CSD has recommended adopting G-W Security Essentials by Linda K. Lavender as the textbook for this course. This is currently the only recommended resource that prepares students for both the AP exam and the end-of-pathway CompTIA certification.

We invite parents, guardians, and community members to preview the textbook at the Wilson Center front desk and share your feedback from April 13-May 1. Your insight ensures we select the best tools to support our students’ academic journeys and our community’s values. We look forward to hearing from you!

To provide our students with a competitive edge and a head start on graduation requirements, CSD will offer high school physical science to all eighth graders starting in the 2026-27 school year.

To ensure our students are supported in this accelerated coursework, CSD's science faculty has spent the last few months vetting high-quality instructional resources. After evaluation, the team has recommended the adoption of Savvas: Concepts in High School Physical Science for its:

• Alignment with state standards
• Labs that support conceptual understanding of challenging scientific concepts
• Strong focus on foundational chemistry and physics concepts

Community partnership is a cornerstone of our curriculum adoption process. We invite parents, guardians, and community members to visit BHMS to preview the materials and share their perspectives. Your feedback ensures that we select tools that best serve our students and families.

The curriculum will be available to view in the BHMS media center. Please check in at the front office to receive a visitor badge; staff will then direct you to the review station in the media center.

To foster deep civic engagement and provide students with college-level rigor, DHS will begin offering Advanced Placement (AP) U.S. Government and Politics in the 2026-27 school year. This course gives students a sophisticated understanding of American government and politics while providing an opportunity to earn college credit and satisfy graduation requirements.

CSD has recommended adopting the AMSCO® Advanced Placement® United States Government & Politics, 3rd Edition as the course textbook. This resource is College Board-endorsed and aligned with the AP course and exam. The AMSCO textbook format has also proven successful with our AP US History course.

As part of the textbook adoption process, CSD invites parents, guardians, and community members to visit the front desk at the Wilson Center to preview the textbook and share feedback from March 23-April 17. The building will be closed during Spring Break. Your insight ensures that we select tools that best serve our students’ academic journeys and our community’s values.

Keeping students healthy and safe at school is a shared responsibility of families and the school. Whenever possible, prescription and over-the-counter medications should be administered to students at home, either before or after school. Students should take the first dose of a newly prescribed medication at home to monitor for side effects and adverse reactions. When medications must be administered to students during school hours, on field trips, or at school-sponsored events, parents and guardians must adhere to the following guidelines.

School clinic staff will not accept medication without the proper medical documentation.

1. Authorization for Medication Administration Form

• A parent or legal guardian must complete and sign the Authorization for Medication Administration Form for all medications. For prescription medications, a healthcare provider must also complete and sign the form.
• The prescription label on the bottle must exactly match the details on the Authorization for Medication Administration Form.
• A separate Authorization for Medication Administration Form is required for each medication and must be renewed each school year, or sooner if there are changes to the medication procedures.
• Any changes to the dosage, route of administration, or timing require a new Authorization for Medication Administration Form and a new pharmacy-labeled container to replace the outdated pharmacy label.
• Students who need to carry and self-administer emergency medication (e.g., EpiPen, Inhaler, Insulin) must complete both the Authorization for Medication Administration Form and the Authorization for Student to Carry Medication form.

2. Medication Requirements

All medications must be unexpired and provided in their original pharmacy or store containers.

• Prescription medication must be stored and transported to school in its original, pharmacy-labeled container that indicates the most recent fill date, including refills.
• Envelopes, zip-lock bags, foil, or brown paper bags are not accepted.
• Over-the-Counter/Non-Prescription medication must be in the original manufacturer’s container and unopened. Small containers are requested due to limited storage space.
• Prescription medication must match the description on the pharmacy-labeled container (e.g., a round, yellow tablet with the imprint "A 2"). The clinic staff will not accept discrepancies.
• Clinic staff are not permitted to transfer medication from one bottle to another.
• Provide only a 30-day supply for controlled substances (e.g., ADHD medication).
• Do not pre-cut tablets. The school nurse will split tablets as needed to ensure accurate dosing.

3. Medication Delivery

• Parent or Legal Guardian Drop-Off Only: Parents or legal guardians must deliver medications and forms directly to the school clinic or office. Do not send medication to school with the student.

4. Labeling Requirements

• Both prescription and non-prescription medications must have current, accurate labeling.
• Medications with expired labeling will not be administered.
• The prescription label on the bottle must exactly match the details on the Authorization for Medication Administration form.

5. Scheduled Medication Times at School

To ensure medications are given safely and on schedule, students must report to the clinic at their designated medication time.

• Medication administration at school is a shared responsibility among families, the school health team, and students.
• As developmentally appropriate, students are expected to remember their scheduled medication times and report to the clinic promptly.
• Students who do not report for medication administration will be called to the clinic. If a student consistently fails to report for medication at the scheduled time, a reminder plan will be instituted.

6. Field Trips

• For field trips, the same medication policies and procedures apply to administering medication as during the regular school day, even if the medication is not typically needed during school hours.

• To ensure the safe storage and handling of medications, provide only the necessary doses for the length of the trip.

• Unless an Authorization for Student to Carry Medication form and an Authorization for Medication Administration form are on file, medication will be transported and administered by the designated trained staff member in accordance with field trip procedures.

7. Medication Retrieval and Disposal

• Discontinued medications should be picked up from the school clinic by the parent or legal guardian within one week of discontinuation.
• For safety and compliance, any unused medication must be retrieved by the end of the school year. All medications remaining at the clinic after the school year ends will be discarded.

If you have questions or need assistance, please contact your school clinic staff. Thank you for your cooperation and partnership in keeping our students healthy, safe, and ready to learn.

Carriere Family Scholarship for Teachers

Decatur Education Foundation is accepting applications for the Carriere Family Scholarship for Teachers, which provides up to $1,500 for teachers seeking advanced degrees. The Carriere Family Scholarship for Teachers was founded in 2007 by Jane Carriere, retired CSD mathematics and science coordinator, to enhance math and science instruction by supporting CSD teachers seeking an advanced degree. Complete the scholarship application by April 13 or contact info@decatureducationfoundation.org with questions.

Recipients must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Applicant must have been an employee of CSD for a minimum of two years.
• Applicant must be a K-12 classroom teacher seeking an advanced degree in content area, education or leadership.
• Applicant has been accepted into and plans to attend an accredited college or university (degree programs offered by institutions that offer primarily or exclusively online instruction do not qualify).
• Applicant must remain a CSD employee for a minimum of one academic year following the payment of the scholarship award, or agree to reimburse the amount of the scholarship to the Decatur Education Foundation.

DEF Jams

DEF Jams is back with a porch concert on Saturday, April 18 at 7 p.m. at 303 Wilton Drive. The Uncle Stormy will be performing a benefit concert for Decatur Education Foundation. The Uncle Stormy plays everything from ABBA, Aretha and The Beatles to The Wallflowers, Whiskytown and Wilco. You are sure to enjoy this evening!

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.

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Check out the latest CSD Words with Dr. Whitaker podcast episode, featuring BHMS principal Ms. Alexis Glenn. In celebration of Middle Level Education Month, they discuss student success and building and sustaining an engaging and inclusive culture in Beacon Hill Middle School.

The CSD Words with Dr. Whitaker podcast highlights news and information with a variety of stakeholders who are All In for City Schools of Decatur. See previous episodes.