WEEK 17
Today on Pearl Harbor Day, we remember the lives forever changed on December 7, 1941. Their courage offers lessons in resilience and reflection. Today invites us to pause and deepen our commitment to peace and community. #PearlHarborDay
🐝 The Hawthorne Hive Weekly Buzz
Greetings Hawthorne Hive families!
🐝 A Buzzing Week at the Hive! Thank you for another amazing week at Hawthorne! Our students in grades 1–5 successfully completed district benchmarks in Reading, Math, Science, and Social Studies—a huge shoutout to our scholars for their hard work and focus.
📊 NWEA MAP Assessment Next Week
Next week, our students will take the NWEA MAP assessment, an important tool that helps us understand each student’s current level of academic growth and identify areas where they are ready to stretch and shine.
The MAP assessment provides a RIT score, which is a measure of a student’s instructional level—meaning it reflects what they are ready to learn next. Because the MAP adapts to each child’s responses, every student receives a score that shows their individual growth over time.
During the upcoming Winter MAP assessment, our goal is for students to increase their RIT score, demonstrating progress in Reading and Math for grades K-2 with the addition of language Usage & Science for students in grades 3-5 since the fall. Even small increases show strong growth and help teachers tailor instruction to support each student’s learning needs. We encourage our Hornet scholars to get plenty of rest, do their best, and take pride in seeing how much they’ve grown. We can’t wait to celebrate their progress!
✨ Spelling Bee Excellence
We proudly hosted our annual Spelling Bee this week!
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🥇 Winner: Finn Smith
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🥈 Runner-Up: Elijah Finn
We are incredibly proud of every student who participated and showcased their talent and confidence.
🍎 Students of the Month Celebration - Congratulations to our Students of the Month! A warm thank you to the families who joined us for lunch—your presence added so much joy to the celebration.
⚽ Hornet Athletes Updates
Our soccer teams represented the Hive beautifully this weekend, earning an exciting win over Doraville ES and showing tremendous heart and teamwork in a hard-fought match against Kittredge Magnet School in the second round of the Area 1 Championship Tournament playoffs. We are incredibly proud of their effort, sportsmanship, and perseverance.
Special appreciation goes to Coach Barnes and Coach McKandes for their leadership and dedication to our athletes. We want to extend our heartfelt appreciation to our soccer coaches for an incredible season. Your dedication, leadership, and commitment to our athletes made this year truly special. Thank you for the countless hours you invested, the encouragement you provided, and the positive impact you made on every player. Our team grew stronger—both on and off the field—because of your guidance. We are grateful for all you do!
Thank You to Our Players and supportive parents for an outstanding soccer season! Our athletes showed incredible teamwork, determination, and school spirit every time they stepped onto the field. We are so proud of their growth and the heart they brought to every game. To our parents—thank you for your encouragement, commitment, and support throughout the season. From practices to game days, your involvement made a tremendous difference. We are grateful for each of you and look forward to even more great moments ahead!
📅 Dates to Remember: (A Peek at the Week)
-December 8th - Chick-fil-A biscuits on sale at Carpool
-December 8th -12th - Winter MAP administration
-December 10th- Chick-fil-A biscuits on sale at Carpool
-December 10th - PTA meeting - cafeteria
-December 11th (6 pm)- 4th/5th Grade Winter Wonderland Concert
-December 12th - Chick-fil-A biscuits on sale at Carpool
📅 UPCOMING DATES
-December 19th- Winter Class parties: various times
-December 22nd-January 2nd- Winter Break, No School
Go Hornets 🐝
Proud to Serve,
Principal Henley
#OneTeamOneDream #WeAreALLIN
TWITTER
Welcome to Mr. Shrader, Speech Language Pathologist
Please join me in giving a warm Hawthorne welcome to our new Speech-Language Pathologist, Mr. Houston Shrader! We are thrilled to have him join our team and bring his expertise and passion for supporting student communication and learning.
HOLIDAY CELBERATIONS
Our Classroom Winter Holiday Parties will take place on Friday, December 19th at various times throughout the day. Please contact your child’s teacher directly for your class’s specific schedule. Parties should last no longer than 45 minutes. While you are not required to send in gifts, if you choose to do so, we kindly ask that all students are included so that no child feels left out.
In the spirit of giving, we will also be giving away gift cards to teachers throughout the entire month of December. If you would like to donate a gift card of any amount, please drop it off at the front desk. Your generosity is truly appreciated.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership. We look forward to a joyful celebration!
A huge thank-you to our parents and families for making daily attendance a priority. Your commitment to ensuring students are at school each day truly makes a difference! Consistent attendance helps students stay on track academically, build positive habits, and remain connected to their peers and teachers. Every day in class is an opportunity for growth, discovery, and success.
Attendance also impacts our school’s CCRPI (College and Career Ready Performance Index) — a measure of how well schools prepare students for future success. Strong attendance rates not only reflect student engagement but also strengthen our overall school performance. Let’s keep the momentum going, Hawthorne! Everyday counts, and every student matters!
Please see our grade-level attendance percentages for the month of October below. Our overall school attendance goal rate is 95%!
1st Semester N.B.A. Party – Celebrating Perfect Attendance! 🏀
We are excited to announce our second 1st Semester Never Been Absent (N.B.A.) Party for all students who have maintained perfect attendance this semester! This celebration recognizes the dedication of our students who have never been absent, highlighting the importance of consistent attendance as a key factor in academic success and our CCRPI goals. Our counselors plan to pull lists of students the week of December 15th to notify participants.
Thank you for supporting your child in being present and engaged every day. We can’t wait to celebrate their achievement and dedication at this special event!
Greetings,
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.
In the December session, participants will learn how students access Launchpad (Clever) and how to navigate district-supported digital tools and resources available within the platform. This session takes place on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at 6:00 PM. 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
DCSD Family Literacy Survey – Your School’s Voice Matters!
The Department of Family and Community Engagement (FACE) is excited to partner with the Technical College System of Georgia and the National Center for Families Learning to offer resources that support the literacy needs of every member of the family.
To ensure we provide equitable and accessible opportunities that reflect the unique needs of our school communities, we are asking each principal to share the Family Literacy Survey with your Parent Liaison, PTSA Representative, or Family Engagement Liaison so it can be distributed to all families. We have attached family friendly flyers that have been translated into a variety of languages.
If you require additional translations, please contact us at: family_engagement@dekalbschoolsga.org Time to complete: Approximately 2 minutes Survey deadline: December 18, 2025
Your support in helping us gather broad and diverse family feedback is deeply appreciated. Ensuring that all family voices are represented will allow us to provide resources that truly serve our community.
Thank you for your continued partnership and commitment to family engagement! The Department of Family and Community Engagement
The Student Assignment Project (SAP) is inviting all parents & community members to take part in a series of community engagement events this Fall. Your voice matters as we work together to reimagine DCSD as it relates to programs, boundaries, and buildings in our district! SAP Chats and SAP Town Halls are interactive opportunities to learn more, ask questions, and share your thoughts. Registration opens 24 hours before each event and is required to attend. Don’t miss your chance to join the discussion and make your voice heard!
SAP Town Halls
Join us for a SAP Town Hall, as we provide the latest updates on the SAP process, including progress made, upcoming plans, and how program and school placement discussions are evolving. This is also your opportunity to share thoughts and help shape future recommendations.
- Saturday, December 13 @ 1:00pm
- Tuesday, December 16 @ 6:30pm
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
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! ✨
📊 CCRPI Scores Released – November 12, 2025
On November 12, 2025, the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) will release the College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI) scores for all schools across the state of Georgia.
These scores provide valuable information about how schools are performing in key areas such as academic achievement, progress, and readiness for the next level of learning. Shortly after the release, detailed data files will also begin to populate on the GaDOE website.
You can view the results through the public CCRPI portal here:
🔗 https://ccrpireportspublic.gadoe.org/ccrpireportspublicweb/Views/Shared/_Layout.html
We encourage families and staff to review the data as part of our shared commitment to continuous growth and excellence in education.
Why the Winter NWEA MAP Test Matters 🌸
The winter MAP test shows how much your child has grown academically over the school year. Teachers use the results to:
Measure progress from fall to winter
Plan lessons and support for next year
See how students compare to national goals
Parents can help by making sure their child gets plenty of rest and encouraging them to do their best, the test helps guide learning, not assign grades!
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).
Action Required: Complete Student Information Form
If you have not yet completed this form in the link below, please do so as soon as possible. Having this information on file is essential for your child’s safety and participation it ensures we are prepared for field trips, medical needs, and other important school activities.
👉 Your timely response helps us take the best care of your child. Thank you for your cooperation!
Please complete Meal Application Information 2024-2025. Only 1 Application Needed per Family:
Please ALL complete this application process even if you plan to bring lunch for your child daily or believe that you will not qualify. This is very important, this impacts funding for Title 1.
Please click link for English/Spanish application.
https://www.dekalbschoolsga.org/featured-news/free-reduced-meal-applications-sy-2024-2025/
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
🚗✨ Arrival & Dismissal Reminders ✨🚶♀️
Reminder: As we kick off a successful school year, please review and follow our arrival and dismissal expectations to ensure a smooth and safe day for all students:
🌅 Morning Arrival:
🕖 7:00 AM – School doors open and breakfast begins.
🍽️ After breakfast – 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!
After School Activities Are Back! 🎉
Afterschool Clubs that still have spots available!!!
Opportunities include:
EIM Dance (Various grade levels)
Use the link below to explore and sign up today, spots may fill quickly!
Thank you for your interest in becoming a volunteer for the DeKalb County School District! 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.
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
Fall 2025 Volunteer Training Dates
Please select the Zoom session that works best for you from the options below:
December 10 – 12:00 PM
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!
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