CSD Athletics: Bulldog News

Bulldog Families,

We are looking forward to celebrating our Seniors from Marching Band, Football, Cheer, and Athletic Training next Friday night. The celebration will begin prior to the Football game, so come early to cheer on the Class of 2026 Bulldogs!!

Today, we are celebrating big wins, inspiring service projects, leadership development, and high acheiving team members! Continue reading for more details. As always, there is a lot to celebrate in CSD Athletics.

If you have any questions or need guidance relating to our programs, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

Go Bulldogs!!

Director of Activities & Athletics: Rodney Thomas

(rthomas@csdecatur.net)

Assistant Activities & Athletics Director: David Harbin

(dharbin@csdecatur.net)

Bookkeeper & Administrative Assistant: Kelli Aaron

(kaaron@csdecatur.net)

Our Decatur High School Student-Athlete Leadership Team (SALT) is proud to partner with the Georgia Athletic Directors Association (GADA) and the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) in 2025 to raise funds for an incredible cause, supporting cancer research through St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Our student-athletes set up a "Groove for St. Jude's" booth at homecoming to kickoff our fundraising, and set a goal of $1,000 as a team. Help our SALT Bulldogs lead by example, showing others what's possible when a group of committed student-athletes in a generous and caring community comes together around a valuable cause!

Congratulations to Kelli Aaron, our Athletics Bookkeeper and Administrative Assistant, who was nominated for the 2025 Professional Employee of the Year. If you work with Ms. Aaron, you know her dedication to our coaches and students. We are grateful for everything she does to create a positive experience for all of Bulldog Nation!!

From her nomination: "Kelli continues to go above and beyond her responsibilities as an Administrative Assistant and Bookkeeper in the Athletic Department. Not only does Kelli manage all of our funds, she works diligently with our Transportation Department to ensure that our students and coaches are able to get to games in a safe and timely manner. Additionally, she coordinates staffing for our events and communicates with our maintenance and custodial staff to see that our facilities are taken care of. Finally, she is a trusted source of information for our coaches and parents, always willing and available to troubleshoot questions and challenges."

Our Flag Football Bulldogs continued their winning ways this week with two more big Area wins against Arabia Mountain and Woodward Academy! The Bulldogs are now 10-4 on the season, with an Area record of 6-1. Decatur is currently in 2nd-place in the Area! The Bulldogs matchup against Druid Hills tonight at Decatur Stadium. Come support!!

Congratulations to our DHS One Act Team! The Bulldogs took a condensed Radium Girls show on the road to compete against other schools in our Region. After a day full of fantastic performances, the Bulldogs were awarded the second place trophy! Great job to all of our Bulldog students, and thank you to Ms. Nichols and Mr. Davis for their guidance!

Our friends from Creative Keystrokes will be at DHS on Thursday, November 6 to connect with any Bulldogs interested in purchasing a letter jacket. Come to the Athletic Offices in the PAC after school to check out the different designs, try on your size, and find out which jacket is best for you!!

In our October meeting, our Student-Athlete Leadership Team engaged in a values assessment activity in which they were tasked with building their own successful athletic department. Each group was given a budget and had to determine where to spend their money in a way that balanced academics, competition, media presence, recruitment, and mental health. Our Bulldogs certainly refined some leadership skills as they worked together to discuss goals and negotiate the different ways to get a job done.

Thank you to Corey Spraggins, DHS class of 2008 alumni, author of "The ABCs of Leadership," and founder of Leaders By Nurture, for facilitating the workshop!

Decatur High School students without a smartphone have the option to email our Athletic Director, Mr. Rodney Thomas, or our Principal, Dr. Duane Sprull, to make ticket arrangements. Communication must be at least 48 hours before the event.

Please note: This process will not apply to GHSA Playoff events hosted at Decatur High School.

We’re excited to welcome everyone to our events this year, and we are committed to ensuring every fan feels both safe and welcomed at our athletic events.

To streamline entry and support a positive experience, here’s what to know:

• Weapons detection systems will be in use at the gates to enhance safety and peace of mind.

• Bag guidelines: Only clear bags are allowed—either a clear bag up to 12″ x 6″ x 12″ or a small clutch (around 4.5″ × 6.5″). Exceptions are made for medically necessary or diaper bags, which will be subject to inspection.

• Faster entry is easier entry: Bringing fewer items helps everyone move through the screening process more smoothly and swiftly.

Thank you for your cooperation, and for helping us create a welcoming and secure atmosphere for Bulldog Nation.

We appreciate all of our local families and companies who step up to support our Bulldogs every year!! As noted in the graphic, the DBB plays a vital role in the success of our programs - in so many different ways!

Learn more about how you can become a Bulldog Sponsor for the 2025-26 school year by clicking the button below.

Decatur Bulldog Boosters (DBB) is made up of parents and guardians who plan fun events to support Bulldog athletics at Decatur High School and Beacon Hill Middle School. Join our meetings the second Monday of every month in the DHS Performing Arts Center (PAC) hospitality suite at 6:30 p.m.

Aug. 11 ; Sept. 8 ; Oct. 13. ; Nov. 10 ; Dec. 8 ; Jan. 1 ; Feb. 9 ; Mar. 9 ; Apr. 13 ; May 11

Stay in the know on all things Boosters by following us on Facebook and Instagram.

@Decatur Bulldog Boosters

@rwtd5k

@decaturbulldogbash

Thursday, October 30 - JV/Varsity Flag Football vs. Druid Hills - 6:00 PM

Friday, October 31 - Varsity Football vs. Tri-Cities (SENIOR NIGHT) - 7:30 PM

Saturday, November 1 - Cross Country - Sectionals

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Tuesday, November 4 - BHMS Soccer Semi-Final - 5:00 PM

Wednesday, November 5 - JV/V Flag Football vs. North Gwinnett - 5:30 PM

Friday, November 7 - Varsity Cross Country - State Meet - 12:00 PM (Boys) and 12:45 PM (Girls)

This year, we’ll be shining a light on the outstanding student-athletes who represent the Decatur Bulldogs with pride, passion, and perseverance. Whether it’s in competition, in the classroom, or through leadership in our community, their achievements and character embody what it means to be a Bulldog. We look forward to sharing their stories and celebrating their contributions to the vibrant Decatur Bulldog community.

Olympic legend Michael Phelps shares how breaking challenges into small, manageable goals is the key to achieving monumental success. This is an important lesson for our young student-athletes: focusing on daily habits and small victories not only prevents overwhelm but also builds the foundation for long-term growth and achievement.

When we sign up for sports, we sign up for to skill development, competition, and fun. Also included in the mix are frustration, mistakes, and disappointment. Some of the most lasting and impactful growth happens in these difficult moments and it is important to be thoughtful in our approach as supportive adults. This Positive Coaching Alliance article provides good advice for supporting athletes to in these tough moments.

How Parents/Caregivers Can Support Their Athletes Through Tough Moments

The role of an athlete's parent is challenging for many reasons! Finding opportunities for your child to participate, encouraging them to take risks, celebrating their accomplishments, supporting them through various challenges... It adds up and can take a toll. This resource from the Positive Coaching Alliance emphasizes the importance of building a partnership with your child's coach and provides helpful strategies to do so. There are many valuable lessons our students can learn through sports, many of which are not fun or easy to learn, and having adults who are working together makes the challenging times beneficial!

Tips for a Positive Parent/Caregiver-Coach Partnership

This year, the Bulldogs are partnering again with the Positive Coaching Alliance to enhance the experience of our students, coaches, and Bulldog families. The PCA has a vast number of resources that can help us make the most of our experience.

This resource is an activity we shared last year that aims at helping students and their families determine what their goals are as student-athletes. This exercise can spark some important conversations about how families decide to navigate this experience. Making sure everyone is on the same page about what desired outcomes can help to create a positive experience!

"What are YOUR Youth Sport Goals? Parent/Caregiver 100 Point Exercise"