CSD Weekly: August 13, 2026

Join in the Fun at the CSD Mascot Run, Tomorrow, August 14

The third annual CSD Mascot Run is, Friday, August 14, during the first DHS home game of the season. The game starts at 7 p.m., and the race will be during halftime. See more info below!

This is CSD Weekly, your district-wide newsletter that includes links to all weekly school newsletters, as well as the latest district news, resources and opportunities, allowing families to access information from one convenient source. Parents automatically receive CSD Weekly, and community members may update their CSD news subscription preferences here.

Please click on the school newsletters below, and keep scrolling for important district news.

• EdTech: As of July, teacher printing limits were lifted to support CSD's EdTech balance, allowing more options for screen-free learning.
• The CSD Operations department's facilities team consists of 11 employees dedicated to maintaining and improving CSD buildings for optimal learning and working environments. They aim to address facility help tickets within 36 hours and expedite vendor-related work. Safety is their top priority, with immediate attention given to issues affecting safety in CSD's learning and working environments.

Find out what's happening in CSD schools by clicking on your school's newsletter.

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

There's always something magical about the first day. The excitement is palpable for students and families as they roll out the new backpacks, take first-day photos, share hugs and high-fives, and even a few anxious expressions. While no first day unfolds without a few challenges, our teams across the district were equipped, responsive, and dedicated to ensuring that each student had a positive beginning. Enjoy this look back at staff members greeting students, families reuniting with their schools, and students reconnecting with friends and teachers as they settled back into school routines. Together, we are All In Decatur!

Well done, CSD elementary schools! Oakhurst, Westchester, and Glennwood were all named among the top 25 K-5 public schools in the state, according to school ranking site Niche.com. Oakhurst was ranked fourteenth in the state, Westchester was twentieth, and Glennwood was number 22. Talley St. came in at number 26 in the state, F.Ave at number 27, Clairemont at #31, and Winnona Park at #55. Niche.com gave all of CSD’s elementary schools an overall grade of A or better.

Niche.com also recognized CSD's teachers, ranking Westchester as #6 in the state for best public school elementary teachers, while F.Ave’s teachers ranked #13 statewide. Clairemont, Oakhurst and Winnona Park teachers were also ranked among the top 50 in the state. These rankings are derived from reviews and data from the U.S. Department of Education, encompassing test scores, ratios, and overall school quality. Congratulations to all students, teachers, and staff for this recognition!

Talley Street is making meals more environmentally friendly by using compostable trays at breakfast and lunch, thanks to the efforts of Talley's Green Team and Talley St. teacher Kathryn Roberts. Over the past two years, Talley's Green Team has tripled in size and taken on many projects to make the school more sustainable.

The success of the composting program is due to students' hands-on involvement and willingness to take a few extra steps when disposing of their mealtime trash. Thank you to the students, teachers, and parents who have contributed to Talley St.'s sustainability efforts.

DHS students recently participated in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.'s HBCU Impact Day at the Georgia World Congress Center, thanks to DHS principal Dr. Duane Sprull, CTAE director Terra Smiley, and One Goal Coordinator Dr. Charlie McAdoo. The event provided insights into college admissions, financial aid, and access to valuable resources, and included a panel of HBCU presidents discussing higher education and leadership. Attendees were also treated to a performance by the Sonic Boom of the South marching band from Jackson State University.

Ian LaBreck joins CSD as the new Director of Bands at DHS. Previously, he served as the Director of Bands and Fine Arts Department Chair at St. Pius X Catholic High School in Atlanta. During his tenure, he oversaw a comprehensive band program that included concert band, jazz band, marching band, pep band, percussion ensemble, and international performance opportunities.

Mr. LaBreck began his teaching career in 2015 and has experience at both the high school and middle school levels throughout the Atlanta area. He earned his Bachelor of Music in Music Education at the University of Georgia, and later completed a Master of Music Education through Georgia College and State University. He also completed Tier I Educational Leadership Certification through the University of Georgia.

Mr. LaBreck is an active member of the Georgia Music Educators Association and the National Association for Music Education. He serves as the 11/12 Honor Band Coordinator for GMEA District IV and is a board member of the nationally acclaimed Georgia Brass Band, where he plays the cornet.

Grab your pom-poms and get ready to join the excitement as your school's mascot takes the spotlight for the upcoming DHS football halftime Mascot Run! Thanks to school visits by the DHS Bulldog football players and cheerleaders, the CSD lower and upper elementary schools are all hyped up to rally behind the Decatur Bulldogs tomorrow, August 14, at 7:00 p.m., at DHS, against Miller Grove HS. Let's hear for our school mascots! Kickoff is at 7 p.m., and tickets can be purchased at gofan.co.

Last year, Soarin' the Eagle flew across the finish line to win the second annual CSD Mascot Run for Glennwood Elementary. Who will break the tape and take home the trophy this year?

Come out to cheer on your school mascot on Friday, August 14, during the first DHS home game of the season. The game starts at 7 p.m., and the run will take place during halftime. Plus, long-time Decatur Bulldog Booster sponsor Keller Knapp Realty is giving away cowbells for fans, so get ready to make some noise for your school and your Decatur Bulldogs!

Buy tickets here. Lower- and upper-elementary students get free admission with a paying adult. Please note that DHS has a clear bag policy.

For the first time ever, the DHS football has been invited to participate in the Corky Kell + Dave Hunter Classic, the premier kickoff event of the season that showcases the state's most elite programs. Decatur will be playing at Blessed Trinity High School on Thursday, August 20 at 7:30 p.m., with the game televised on Atlanta News First.

We are looking for a sea of blue and gold to travel with us and show the state what the CSD community is all about. Purchase presale tickets here before the day of the game to ensure all proceeds go to Decatur Athletics. Let’s show up loud and proud for Bulldogs!

Decatur Career Academy invites community members of all experience levels to create beautiful, custom wooden pieces using hand and power tools. Choose from nine unique projects, including a cherry tote, dovetail jewelry box, bench top bench, and more. The course is $300-$950 depending on your project, and all materials and tools are provided. Sessions will be available in the Fall and Winter/Spring. Visit the DCA Community Woodworking Class page for more details and to register, or email Randy Archer at rarcher@csdecatur.net with any questions.

Is your student interested in joining the Superintendent's Student Advisory Council for their age group? These councils are designed for two-way communication between students and the Office of the Superintendent. Students Advisory Council members attend monthly, after-school meetings at the Wilson Center to share their perspectives and experiences with the superintendent on a variety of issues.

Meeting dates are linked in the application below. The deadline to apply is Friday, September 11, 2026, and selected students will be notified by Friday, September 18. Learn more and apply for the Superintendent's Student Advisory Council here.

CSD is excited to expand the BASC-3 Behavioral and Emotional Screening System (BESS) to include students in grades K–2.

The BASC-3 BESS is a brief universal screener designed to provide a snapshot of students’ behavioral, emotional, and social well-being. It is not a diagnostic tool and does not diagnose a mental health, behavioral, or emotional condition. Instead, the information helps our schools better understand overall student needs, identify areas where additional support may be beneficial, and make informed decisions that consider other available information and observations about schoolwide and student support.

For the 2026-27 school year, students in grades 3-12 will take the student self-report of the screener at their school during the fall and spring administration dates. Teachers will complete screeners for K-2 students based on their observations of students in the school setting.

The BASC-3 BESS will be open October 1-30 in the Fall and March 1-31 in the Spring. No action is required for your student to participate in the screening. If you would prefer that your student NOT participate in the universal screening, please complete the opt-out form by Friday, September 11, 2026, for the fall administration and by Friday, February 12, 2027, for the spring administration.

For more information, see the Universal Social Emotional Behavior Screener Frequently Asked Questions, or join one of these upcoming parent workshops.

BASC-3 BESS Parent Meetings

Tuesday, August 25, noon-1 p.m. Join virtually here.

Tuesday, August 25, 6-7 p.m. Join virtually here.

Save the date for the first Decatur Prevention Initiative/Decatur Education Foundation parent session of the year, "Getting Off to a Good Start: Supporting your Child's Emotional and Social Wellbeing, Thursday, August 27, 6-7 p.m., DHS Learning Commons (Media Center).

Transitions can be stressful. New schedules, teachers, expectations, and social pressures can feel overwhelming. Our panel of experts offers guidance on how the adolescent brain responds to stress and will share practical ways to support confidence, connection, and emotional wellbeing. Learn more and register here.

Navigating the digital world with children can feel overwhelming, from social media apps and gaming consoles to online safety settings. To help support our school community, we are excited to offer Parent ProTech, a free digital safety and technology platform made available to all our families in partnership with the Department of Education.

Parent ProTech is a one-stop platform designed to keep you informed, empowered, and confident in managing technology at home. Sign up for your free account here. For more information on how to navigate the site, please watch the brief Parent ProTech Platform Walkthrough.

STAR Assessment reports will be sent home with students for grades K-8 during the week of August 17, while high school parents will receive their students' reports electronically. If you have specific questions about STAR, please reach out to your school. During the first two weeks of school, students took STAR Assessments, which are brief, computer-adaptive tests in reading and math that help our teachers measure academic growth, pinpoint learning levels, and tailor instruction to meet every child's needs.

The City Schools of Decatur Board of Education meeting recap newsletter is shared after each regularly scheduled monthly meeting. Check out the upcoming issues Bulletin Board Newsletter for a full recap of the August 11, 2026 Board of Education Meeting. The recording, which includes the pre-work session, work session, regular meeting, and public comment, is available here.

• Board of Education Retreat, August 18
• Early Release Day, August 26
• Labor Day, September 7 (CSD schools and offices closed)
• Board of Education Meeting, September 8
• Fall Break, September 21-25
• Superintendent's Listening Session, September 30, 5:30 p.m., DHA Community Resource Center
• Superintendent's Listening Session, October 6, 5:30 p.m., DHS Library
• Superintendent's Listening Session, October 19, 11:30 a.m., Virtual

Parks and Recreation

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.

Apply for Child Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI) Teen Leadership Team by Friday, August 12.

High school students who live in the City of Decatur are invited to apply for the Child Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI) Teen Leadership Team. Participants will work alongside City staff, community partners, and fellow teens to help shape decisions that impact children and youth while building leadership skills, completing community projects, and earning community service hours.

The City of Decatur is one of only three communities in the nation recognized as a UNICEF Child Friendly City. The Teen Leadership Team helps ensure young people have a voice in local decision-making. Learn more and apply by August 12 at decaturga.com/cfci.

Decatur Education has kicked off its annual Circle of Stars campaign. The Circle of Stars is DEF’s core community of individual, family and business donors whose generosity lights the way for Decatur’s students. From the stellar beginnings of a nebula to the steady brilliance of a North Star, every level of giving represents a deep commitment to helping our children overcome obstacles and reach their fullest potential. Please visit the DEF website to see how your family or business can participate.

CSD Weekly is the district's weekly newsletter, delivering the latest news and updates from the district and all schools in one place. Newsletters are sent each Thursday to all CSD parents, as well as students in grades 6-12. The community can subscribe to the CSD Weekly here.