DHS Weekly Update
Hello,
We are in the last six weeks of the school year, and students have come back from the break ready to learn. As we enter assessment season, talk with your student about getting proper rest and the need to get it well in advance of the assessment, not just the night before.
Tonight is extra special for DHS, as we have students representing us as Shuler Award Nominees. The Shuler Awards showcase the most talented students from across Georgia. Students will perform at the Cobb Energy Center, and the show will be broadcast live on GPB Television.
Please visit decaturperforms.org and purchase your tickets to The Play That Goes Wrong. The play opens tonight and continues with one show on Friday and two on each Saturday and Sunday. Our staff and students always put on top-notch performances that demonstrate the work they do in class and after hours during the school day.
Finally, if you have time on your schedule, attend an athletic event, as we have a ton of teams moving into the playoffs. Special congratulations to our Esports team, who advanced to the third round of the playoffs on Friday.
Sincerely,
Duane Sprull, Ed.D.
Blue and Gold Institute
The Blue & Gold Institute is a structured academic intervention and re-engagement program designed for students who need a non-traditional educational pathway due to attendance challenges, credit deficits, social-emotional needs, or difficulty remaining focused and successful in a large high school setting.
BGI is a program, not a separate school, and will function as an inclusive component of Decatur High School. As part of this work, CSD is integrating Decatur Virtual Academy onto the DHS campus so students remain DHS students while accessing BGI for part of the year.
The primary goals of BGI are to increase engagement for full-time virtual students, provide credit recovery and online initial credit opportunities, and ensure certified, skilled staff to support core academics and special education.
For more information about BGI, please join for a virtual Chat and Chew on Thursday, April 23, 2026, from 12:00-1:00 PM.
Students and families interested in BGI for the 2026-2027 school year should complete this form.
Our talented Architecture Club students recently showcased their hard work and creativity at the annual ACE Mentor Program banquet on April 1st. It was an inspiring evening celebrating our future designers and engineers as they presented their comprehensive design projects to industry professionals. We are especially thrilled to announce that Anna Lothridge was awarded a $1,000 scholarship for her incredible dedication and skill! Programs like ACE provide our Bulldogs with invaluable real-world mentorship and a head start on their professional journeys.
Huge congratulations to Anna and the entire club, we are so proud of your commitment to excellence in design! ✨
Our students just proved they have what it takes to lead in the corporate world! Through an incredible partnership with Communities In Schools (CIS), our Decatur Career Academy (DCA) team stepped into the high-stakes environment of a Nasdaq business competition, solving real-world challenges alongside industry pros and pitching their brilliance to a panel of judges.
Mason Degrammont (Architecture), Camilo Saravia (AV Tech & Film), and Bryson Crawford (CIS) showcased incredible teamwork, creative problem-solving, and professional presentation skills to secure the 1st place win. We are so proud of these talented Bulldogs for representing Decatur with such excellence and showing us the power of hands-on learning.
Join us in celebrating their hard work when you see them in the halls! 🐾
🎭 DHS Takes the Stage: Watch the Shuler Awards!
Our incredibly talented Decatur High School theatre students have been nominated for multiple Georgia High School Musical Theatre Awards (The Shulers), and it’s time to cheer them on! From stunning scenic design to powerhouse lead performances, our Bulldogs are being recognized among the best in the state.
You can catch the magic live this Thursday, April 16th at 8:00 PM on GPB or stream it online at GPB.org. Whether you are rooting for our individual nominees or our "Best Overall Production" semi-finalists, let's come together as a community to celebrate the hard work and creativity of our theatre department.
Join us in celebrating our students' incredible achievements and help us cheer DHS on to victory from the best seat in your house! 🌟
🎭 Don’t Miss the Chaos—Opening Night is Almost Here!
Get ready for a night of hilariously high-stakes theater where everything that can go wrong, does! Decatur High School Advanced Acting presents The Play That Goes Wrong: High School Edition, a classic "whodunit" murder mystery where the sets collapse, lines are forgotten, and the accidents never stop. This is a must-see event that celebrates our students' hard work and provides a perfect, laugh-out-loud evening for the whole family!
Dates: April 16–19
Times: Thursday–Saturday @ 7:00 PM; Saturday–Sunday Matinees @ 2:00 PM; Sunday Finale @ 6:30 PM
Location: DHS Performing Arts Center
Cost: Special $5 Student Spirit Night tickets for Thursday with code STUDENT5. BOGO sale available for all other shows with code BOGO!
RSVP Today! Get your tickets now at Decatur Performs before everything falls apart!
Spin Into Success: Join the 2026 Color Guard!
Does your student love to dance, perform, and be part of a team? We are looking for enthusiastic students to join the Fall 2026 Decatur Color Guard! Whether they are a seasoned performer or have never picked up a flag, we want to see them there—absolutely no experience is required to audition.
Who: Rising 8th–12th Graders
When: April 27 – 30 | 4:15 PM – 6:30 PM each day
Where: BHMS Gym
Wear: Athletic clothes and tennis shoes
Ready to join the pageantry? Please register using the link below to let us know you’re coming!
Questions? Reach out to lstevenson@csdecatur.net.
🤖 Discover the Future: Decatur Robotics Showcase!
Ever wondered what it takes to build a competition-ready robot? Come see the incredible innovation of our students in action! This is the perfect opportunity for families to witness the creativity of our award-winning teams and find out how your student can get involved in the world of FIRST robotics.
When: Saturday, April 25 | 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Where: DHS Cafeteria
Entrance: Please use the bus loop entrance off of Commerce Dr.
Featuring: Award-winning teams from across Decatur schools!
🚀 Big Ideas, Big Prizes: The DHS STEM Fair!
We are calling all DHS thinkers, makers, and creators to showcase their brilliance at this year’s STEM Fair! Whether it’s a coding project, a scientific experiment, or an engineering marvel, this is the perfect stage to share their passion, and potentially walk away with some serious cash.
The Details:
When: April 20 | 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Where: DHS Cafeteria
Prizes: Top projects win $500, $200, or $100!
Sign Up HERE or scan the QR code on posters around the school.
🚁 Drone Academy Summer Camp – Registration Now Live
Decatur Career Academy is partnering with AI Nautics to offer a five-day Drone Academy Summer Camp, June 22–26 (9 AM–5 PM) for rising juniors and seniors (ages 16+).
Students will receive hands-on drone training and complete their assessment at Peachtree DeKalb Airport, an official FAA testing site.
- Cost: $500
- Four $250 scholarships available
- Only 15 seats
- Deadline: May 1
Seats are limited. Registration is first come, first served.
In response to direct feedback from our community, the Decatur Parents Network and Decatur Education Foundation are hosting a vital conversation on Monday, April 27th. Navigating the pressures of social media and body image is a modern challenge for our kids; this session offers a supportive space for parents to learn what's normal, what's concerning, and—most importantly—how to help. We’ll be joined by experienced therapists Mosammat Alam and Kendra Marcus to dive into the "why" behind disordered eating and how we can best show up for our adolescents.
Join us at the Beacon Hill Middle School Media Center:
When: Monday, April 27, 2026, from 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Who: This event is designed for adults only.
Where: BHMS Media Center
Ready to join the conversation? Register here to save your spot or scan the QR code on the flyer. We hope to see you there!
Senior Blankets
Show your DHS Class of 2026 spirit with a custom blanket. These throws make a great gift and have been a tradition for many years for graduating DHS students and their families. Blankets are $45 and can be purchased via this link or the QR code on the attached flyer.
Blankets are 50" x 70". For your reference, a photo is included on the flyer. Financial assistance is available. Please email Dr. Sprull at dsprull@csdecatur.net and write "Honor Roll Blanket Assistance" in the subject line.
The deadline to order your blanket is Friday, April 17th. Blankets will be distributed the week of May 11th.
Questions? Contact: kjdegrammont@gmail.com