CSD Weekly: September 11, 2025

• Did You Know? Local Purchases Benefit Students' Education Through E-SPLOST
• Mark Your Calendars: Attendance Awareness Month and Board Fall Community Meeting
• Around CSD: DHS Army JROTC Holds 24th Annual 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony, Celebrate Reading with CSD Reads Week, BHMS Football and Flag Football Take Home Three Memorable Wins, CSD Administering BASC-3 BESS in Grades 3-12
• Information and Resources: Infinite Campus Unavailable During Fall Break, Sept. 23-25
• Community Partner News: K-8 Students: Apply Today to Perform with Color Guard

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

When you spend your dollars locally in DeKalb County, including Decatur, you invest in your students' education, safety, and well-being. Through the E-SPLOST program, one cent of every purchase made in DeKalb County is divided between DeKalb County, CSD, and the small portion of Atlanta Public Schools in DeKalb County. And, good news, this also includes Amazon purchases made from your zip code.

What is E-SPLOST?

Similar to the SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax), the Education SPLOST, or E-SPLOST, is a voter-approved, one-cent sales tax in Georgia applied to retail purchases made within the school district. This tax is specifically allocated for capital projects such as buildings, technology, safety enhancements, transportation and equipment.

In the November 2025 election in Georgia, E-SPLOST VII will be on the ballot in some counties, including DeKalb County.

This month, CSD joins school districts nationwide to emphasize the significance of students attending school daily. The theme for Attendance Awareness Month 2025 is "Here Today, Ready for Tomorrow!" This serves as a reminder that consistent attendance lays the groundwork for long-term success.

Why does attendance matter? Students who attend school regularly are more likely to perform better academically, stay on track with grade-level learning, and build the habits that lead to future readiness. Even missing just two days a month (excused or unexcused) adds up to more than 18 days in a school year. That's considered chronic absenteeism and can cause students to fall behind.

CSD is committed to working hand-in-hand with families to support student attendance. By raising awareness, sharing resources, and problem-solving together, we can remove barriers and make sure every child has the opportunity to succeed. See attendance resources for parents of elementary schoolers and middle/high schoolers.

• Attendance Awareness Month, September 1-30
• National Literacy Month, September 1-30
• Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month, September 1-30
• National Arts in Education Week, September 14-20
• National Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15-October 15
• BOE Fall Community Meeting: ECLC, DHS Expansion and Building Utilization Due to Declining Enrollment, September 15, 6:30 p.m. BHMS Media Center

• National IT Professional Day, September 16

• BASC-3 BESS Parent Workshop, September 16, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Virtual

• BASC-3 BESS Parent Workshop, September 17, 1-2 p.m., Virtual

• Special Education Parent Night Overview, September 17, 5:30 p.m., BHMS Media Center
• Georgia Reads Day, September 22
• Fall Break, September 22-26
• CSD Reads Week, September 29-October 8
• Superintendent's Fall Listening Session, October 2, 5:30 p.m., DHA Community Center
• NFPA Fire Prevention Week, October 5-11
• Superintendent's Fall Listening Session, October 9, 5:30 p.m., Talley St.
• Board of Education Meeting, October 14
• Superintendent's Fall Listening Session, October 16, 11:30 a.m., Virtual

DHS Army JROTC held its annual 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony, honoring the brave heroes of the September 11, 2001, attacks, and celebrating the City of Decatur's local heroes, public servants, and past and current members of the armed forces. The program included a rendition of the national anthem from the DHS chorus, a flag ceremony from the JROTC, and musical performances by JROTC cadets.

DHS JROTC bestows 9/11 Remembrance Awards each year to those in the Decatur community who act in ways that reflect the virtues of those who gave their lives in the 9/11 attacks. The 2025 9/11 Remembrance Award recipients are Captain James Hutley, Lieutenant Elisha Blue, DHS teacher Nicco Salvador, DHS JROTC Cadet Evee Owens, Mayor Patti Garrett, Mayor Pro Tem Tony Powers and former DHS teacher Chris Billinglsey.

Thank you to the JROTC cadets, Colonel Johnny Richards, and SFC Bruce Case for hosting the event, and to YKK USA and Chick-fil-A for their sponsorship.

National Literacy Month promotes reading, writing, and lifelong learning. Learners of all ages are encouraged to read, visit libraries, and engage in language-rich activities to develop strong literacy skills.

From September 29 to October 8, CSD will celebrate Georgia Reads Day and the beginning of Dyslexia Awareness Month by hosting various engaging literacy and awareness events. The week will kick off with a read-aloud by Superintendent Dr. Whitaker, followed by a Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB) livestream featuring Georgia Reads Coach Malcolm Mitchell. Schools will participate in a "Buckets of Books" drive, collecting gently used books for Children Read Atlanta. Community involvement will be encouraged through guest reader opportunities, including parents, staff, and Board of Education members. Students will engage in the Rock for Dyslexia activity by painting awareness-themed rocks.

The week will conclude with another read-aloud by Dr. Whitaker and "Go Red for Dyslexia," where students and staff are encouraged to wear red to support dyslexia awareness. CSD families are also encouraged to attend the Decatur Book Festival, October 3-5, 2025. Let's read, CSD!

Congratulations to the BHMS flag football and football team on their first season victories.

The BHMS flag football team (top photo) brought home its first two wins in the program's inaugural season last Saturday, completing three interceptions, a safety, and three touchdowns across two games. The next games are Saturday, September 13 at 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. at Buford High School.

The BHMS football team (bottom photo) won its first game in three years, persevering in a tight match, overtaking Hollis Middle School by 8-6. See them play again this Saturday at 10 a.m. at the DHS stadium. Find the full schedule here. Go Bulldogs!

BHMS Flag Football Team

Kamora Abram, Rodena Alqutbi, Bailey Baker, Sydney Callwood, Andrea Garces, Eleanor Gross, Kayla Harris, Orah-Lee James, Canyi Jones, Adrianna Kerr, Maggie Mahoney, Ava McClain, Sophia Oeland, Miyah Simmons, Lexi Spears, Cate Thompson, Katrina Turner, and Denalyia Wynn

Coaches: Head Coach Shani Vickery and Samantha Vickery

BHMS Football Team

Amir Abukar, George Adams, Ranbir Arora, Kaden Bailey, Ta’Shawn Barrett, Tobias Burke, Micheal Clayton, Jamal Cox, Jason Elder, Kingston Frieson, Chander Gibson, Braylen “Bj” Griffin, Tarius Hall, Brandon “Bj” Henderson, Elijah Holbrook, Matthew Kamanga, Liam Kizer, Finn Leahy, Owen Linscomb, Curren Lucas, Christophe Owusu, Adrien Pierson, Jackson Poe, Ryan Shahriari, Aden Williams, Myles Williams, Trenton Wills, Lucas Wrammert, and Jayden Young

Coaches: Head Coach Jordon Muse, Noah Boyer, Billy Jones and Justin Hardwick

In honor of September as National Literacy Month, Freddie the F.Ave Falcon came to roost at F.Ave's Scholastic Book Fair on Thursday morning, and students came away with new books, stickers, posters and an excitement about the possibilities of reading. Elsewhere at F.Ave, fifth-grade students participated in whole and small group read-alouds of a shared text, while kindergartners at Westchester practiced letter formation and built early literacy skills through individualized instruction on the computer.

Recently, BHMS eighth-graders dove into some delicious discussions about how to conduct a CER – "Claim-Evidence-Reasoning" – science experiment by learning how to hypothesize about whether Double Stuf Oreos really contain double the filling of regular Oreos, and how to determine the answer. They practiced important lab safety protocols and completed their research with energy, curiosity, and collaboration. So, are they really double-stuffed? Ask an eighth-grader to help you find out!

From Oct. 6-31, 2025, CSD will administer the Social, Emotional and Behavioral Screening (BASC-3 BESS), a brief screening tool for students in grades 3-12 that helps to identify social, emotional, and behavioral strengths and needs so schools can provide timely support. Screener results help schools strengthen classroom practices, offer small-group or individual support, and partner with families to connect students with resources. Together, we can ensure every child feels safe, seen and supported. Learn more in the Social, Emotional and Behavioral Screening (BASC-3 BESS) FAQ.

CSD invites parents and guardians to attend a Google Meet BASC-3 BESS parent workshop:

• Tuesday, September 16, 2025, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Join meeting here.
• Wednesday, September 17, 2025, 1-2 p.m. Join meeting here.

Families wishing to opt out must complete the opt-out form by September 19, 2025.

The Georgia Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire and the Georgia Fire Sprinkler Association invite students in grades K-5 to submit a poster of original artwork related to fire safety to be featured in the 2025-2026 Fire Safety School Year Calendar.

Posters must be 17" x 11" and in landscape format. Please include the following information on the back of the submission: student name/grade, school name, teacher name/phone/email, and principal name/email. Mail posters by Friday, September 19, to Amanda Jones, 2 MLK Jr. Drive, West Tower, Suite 707, Atlanta, Ga 30334. After mailing, email safetyed@oci.ga.gov with your name, school name, number of submissions, and the date you mailed them. Email safetyed@oci.ga.gov with questions.

Infinite Campus will be performing an important server update, which will cause outages or limit access to Infinite Campus Portals, including Campus parent and student portals, portal apps, and online registration. This work will begin Tuesday, September 23, at 9 p.m. and could continue through Thursday, September 25, at 5 p.m. We appreciate your patience and understanding while we perform these essential updates.

Students in grades K-8 are invited to submit artwork to the 2025-26 National Bus Safety Poster Contest. The theme is "Safe Rides, Everyday Heroes," and the contest is sponsored by the Georgia Department of Education, the Georgia Department of Pupil Transportation, the Georgia Association for Pupil Transportation, and the National Association for Pupil Transportation.

This contest seeks artwork depicting school bus safety-related themes and encourages and promotes bus safety. The winning posters will be used to promote safer school transportation for everyone. The submission deadline is October 10, 2025. See contest guidelines here.

Calling all K-8th graders: Come spin with the Bulldogs in a special pregame performance before a DHS home varsity football game on September 19. Register here.

Practice: Thursday, Sept. 18, 6-7:30 p.m.

Practice and performance: Friday, Sept. 19, 4:30-7:30 p.m.

Register now to race in or sponsor the Madison Avenue Derby on Saturday, October 25, a beloved Decatur tradition featuring gravity-powered, soapbox derby-style cars competing for speed and style! Proceeds from this year's event benefit the DEF Lighten the Load program. Find race registration, sponsorship opportunities and more information at madavederby.org.

Tickets and picnic blankets are on sale now for DEF's annual Battle of the Bands! The community is invited to an afternoon of live performances by bands from each CSD school, food trucks and family fun. The CSD school with the highest attendance percentage wins a $1000 music grant! Picnic on the lawn, enjoy food from local vendors, and cheer for your favorite school and help them win!

Battle of the Bands: Saturday, Sept. 13, 2-8 p.m., Legacy Park front lawn. Buy tickets here.

Got an idea that would spark learning, build community, or make school more awesome? DEF invites teachers and students to make "Wouldn’t it be cool if..." a reality with Teacher Innovation Grants (TIG) and Student Innovation Grants (SIGs)! Whether you’re a teacher or a student, we want to help you get the funding to bring it to life. The TIG and SIG cycle is now open for applications. Learn more and submit your idea here by Friday, September 19.

A Season of Giving is a neighbor-led effort bringing holiday joy to local children and seniors through personalized gifts. Visit our website to sponsor, donate, volunteer, or apply today!

Want to Give Back?

• Sponsor – Choose a wish list and shop for a child or senior.
  
• Donate – Let us do the shopping with your contribution.
  
• Volunteer – Lend a hand and help spread the joy!

Apply for gift assistance by October 31. We’re thrilled to support kids through 12th grade again this year! Email aseasonofgivingdecatur@gmail.com with questions.

The City of Decatur is extending the deadline for youth applicants in high school for the Environmental Sustainability Board and the Parks and Better Together Advisory Board.

The Better Together Advisory Board guides and advises the City Commission and the community around issues of equity, inclusion and engagement. Contact staff liaison Renae Jackson with questions at Renae.Jackson@decaturga.com.

The Environmental Sustainability Board provides recommendations to the City Commission for the city’s environmental regulations, plans, and initiatives, and assists with the development and implementation of city projects that impact the natural environment. Contact staff liaison Rebecca Bryant with questions at Rebecca.Bryant@decaturga.com.

Youth terms are two years, and applicants should consider their extracurricular schedules when applying. Applicants should fill out a "Statement of Interest" for the applicable committee, found here, and send completed forms to andrea.arnold@decaturga.com by Tuesday, September 30.

Teachers and instructors are invited to apply to facilitate one of the City of Decatur's Out of School Time (OST) enrichment summer camps for kids. Camp themes for Summer 2026 are cooking, theatre, STEAM, and explorations. If you would like to share your expertise and talents as an artist, actor, chef, scientist, athlete, engineer, wellness enthusiast or designer with camp participants by facilitating an enrichment camp, apply here by October 10.

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 after-school programs, school holiday programs, and summer camps. Follow Decatur Parks and Recreation on Facebook and Instagram or sign up for their monthly newsletter here.

Decatur Rec Center

Youth Theater Classes, ages 5-14, Saturdays, Aug. 30-Dec. 13, 10-11:30 a.m.

Awaken the creative spirit and imagination through acting, musical theater, movement and music in a safe, non-competitive environment. Register here.

Ebster Rec Center

Esports Ultimate Team, grades 6-12, Fridays, July-October, 4:30-8:30 p.m.

Athletics

Youth Fall Lacrosse League, grades 4-5. Game schedules vary throughout the fall. Register here.

Youth Fall Lacrosse Clinics, grades 1-8. Clinic schedules vary throughout the fall. Register here.

Coed Winter Basketball: Register here September 2-October 25

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

Access recent issues of CSD Weekly

Subscribe to the CSD Weekly