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BHMS Weekly Update

BHMS Weekly Update
BHMS WeeklyUpdate

January 8, 2026 January 8, 2026

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Dear BHMS Families,

Happy New Year, and welcome back! We hope your winter break was restful and filled with meaningful time with loved ones. As we return to school, we are thrilled to welcome our students back and begin a strong, positive second half of the school year.


The months ahead are full of learning, growth, and opportunities for students to excel. Our team is energized and committed to ensuring that every student feels Seen, Supported, and Successful each day.


As we begin this new semester, we ask for your continued partnership in reinforcing both our BHMS BARK expectations and the City Schools of Decatur Student Code of Conduct. Upholding these expectations helps us maintain a safe, respectful, and engaging school environment for all students.

Students are expected to follow BARK and the District Student Code of Conduct at all times, whether in the classroom, cafeteria, hallways, or during school-related events. These shared expectations foster positive behavior, ensure safety, and create a welcoming learning environment where every child can thrive


Sincerely,

Alexis Glenn

Interim Principal

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2026-2027 BHMS Course Selection Season is Underway!

The window to select courses for the upcoming school year is officially open! This past Wednesday, current 6th- and 7th-grade students used their WIN time to explore their options and begin making selections.

Deadline: All selections must be submitted by the end of the day, Monday, January 12.


Resources to Help You Choose:

  • Course Request Information Hub for 6th and 7th Grade: Access timelines, course descriptions, connections course previews, and more

  • Course Request Information hub for 5th Grade: Access timelines, course descriptions, connections course previews, and more

  • Webinar Recording: Watch our recent session to learn more about academic pathways.


What’s Next? Confirmation & Change Window

Once the initial request window closes on January 12th, we will transition to the confirmation phase. From January 13th through January 20th, families will have the opportunity to:

  • Confirm all final course selections.

  • Request changes to ELA, Math, and Connections courses.

Please look for a follow-up email on January 13th with specific instructions on how to finalize these choices. Thank you for supporting your Bulldog through this exciting transition!

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Rising 9th Grade Course Selection Support

To streamline the information for our 8th Grade students and families DHS has launched a comprehensive Course Request Information Hub—your single, "one-stop-shop" for everything related to the 2026–2027 school year.


What you’ll find in the Hub:

  • Essential Timelines: Keep track of all critical deadlines for course requests.


  • Course Descriptions: Explore the rigorous academic pathways and engaging electives available at Decatur High School.


  • Informational Videos & Resources: Access elective previews and meeting recordings to help your student shape their unique high school experience.


🔗 Explore the 9th Grade Course Selection Hub Here

Highlights & Horizons Highlights & Horizons

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Athletic News

Click to view Athletic Updates

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Grade Level News

Click to view Grade Level News

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BHMS Spelling Bee

Congratulations to all our brilliant spellers who participated in the Beacon Hill Middle School Spelling Bee! It was a morning filled with intense focus, incredible vocabulary, and impressive poise under pressure. A huge shout-out to every student who stepped up to the microphone. It takes immense courage to stand on stage and compete, and you all represented BHMS with excellence!

After several nail-biting rounds, we are proud to announce our top 2 finishers:

  • 1st Place: Kathryn D’Avis Winning Word: Aquacade

  • 2nd Place: Aizah Zafrullah

The journey doesn’t end here! Our top 6 spellers will move on to represent Beacon Hill Middle School at the City Schools of Decatur District Spelling Bee on Saturday, January 10, 2026. The winner of the district bee will earn the honor of competing at the regional level, moving one step closer to the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

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Top Winners

  • 1st Place: Kathryn D’Avis

  • 2nd Place: Aizah Zafrullah

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Students Advancing to District Spelling Bee

🐝RIVER SIEGLER 🐝EVELYN LYNCH 🐝AIZAH ZAFRULLAH 🐝KATHRYN D'AVIS 🐝RYAN ZHOU 🐝KAITLYN HARRIS

BHMS Crest Unveiling

Beacon Hill Middle School welcomed back students and staff with the unveiling of a new student-designed crest, created by 6th grader Duncan Welch.


Duncan thoughtfully explained the elements that make up his winning crest, stating, "The crest symbolizes all things that Beacon Hill has and what we stand for. It has a musical note to show pride in our performing arts program, a runner to show athleticism, a heart to show that we are B.A.R.K. (Best effort, Accountable, Respectful, and Kind), and a globe to show that we are I.B., learning different languages. The motto I put, Be A Beacon, means that we should be a source of light and hope, and not bring people down. It also states when Beacon Hill was founded in 2022, not when Renfroe was founded in 1972. The colors I chose are the school's main colors to show school spirit."


The colors also highlight BHMS's core team colors—blue, green, silver, and gold. Congratulations to Duncan on having his design chosen to serve as a symbol representing the values and spirit of Beacon Hill Middle School.

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YLOE Toys 4 Tots

Our Young Ladies of Excellence club (YLOE) took their leadership beyond the classroom before break with a visit to Toys for Tots!. From sorting gifts to learning about the impact of community toy drives, our students exemplified what it means to be Caring and Active members of our local community. We are so proud of the work these Bulldogs are doing to make the holidays brighter for everyone!

🐾BHMSBulldogs 🐾YLOE 🐾ServiceAsAction 🐾ToysForTots

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Supporting Student Well-Being This Spring

The Student Center will be launching small group support opportunities this spring for students who may benefit from additional social-emotional support. These groups are designed for students who, based on the fall administration of the BASC-3 BESS social-emotional screener, may benefit from support in one of three areas: internalizing concerns, inattention or executive functioning, and behavioral/ externalizing concerns.


Groups will be tailored to help students build skills in targeted areas. Internalizing groups may focus on concerns such as anxiety, stress, withdrawal, or self-confidence. Inattention or executive functioning groups may address organization, planning, focus, and classroom coping strategies. Behavioral groups may support students with managing frustration, making positive choices, communication, and perspective-taking.


Each group will be co-facilitated by the Student Center Counselor and a graduate Clinical Mental Health Counseling intern. Students will participate in one group per cycle, which will run prior to the spring administration of the screener. Parents and students will be able to indicate which area feels most helpful at this time.


Participation in these groups is intended to provide targeted, proactive support and help students build skills for success. All student participation and information will be handled with care and confidentiality. Families interested in learning more or expressing interest for their child are encouraged to use the link below. This form is only to indicate interest. The Student Center Counselor will review submissions and reach out to families to discuss placement and next steps. Please submit your interest by Thursday, January 15, 2026.

Student Well Being Interest Form

Human Trafficking Awareness Month

January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month, a time set aside to help educate others about how to identify and prevent human trafficking in our communities. In accordance with state law, BHMS school counselors will be teaching lessons in January and February to help raise awareness around this important topic. Parents, for more information, including opt-out details, please see THIS letter.


Thank you,

BHMS School Counseling Department

Get Involved! Get Involved!

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Spring Sports Tryouts!

BHMS Soccer: January 27 - 4:00-5:30 PM - Ebster Field AND January 28-29 - 4:00-5:30 PM - Oakhurst Rec Field - Coach Herriot (htrenovations@earthlink.net) and Coach Collins (kcollins@csdecatur.net)


BHMS Track & Field: January 26-27 - 4:00-5:30 PM - BHMS (Boys' Monday ; Girls' Tuesday) - Coach Frazier (lfrazier@csdecatur.net)

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Spring Sports Opportunities

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Dance and Twirl Team Opportunities

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Zara's Fund Mascot Art Contest.

Your Art, Your Impact! 🎨 The 1st place design from BHMS is headed to the big stage! Our winning school design will be printed on official DEF t-shirts and sold at the CSD Art Exhibition (3/31–4/2). Every shirt sold supports the Zara Fund, directly funding arts projects for our students. Stay tuned to see which design will represent BHMS!

Ms. Braxton's Weekly Prep Tip Corner Ms. Braxton's Weekly Prep Tip Corner

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Resetting Reading Routines

January is a natural reset. After the holidays, many students find it hard to jump back into focused reading. Disrupted routines, late nights, and time away from school can make reading feel harder than it needs to be.

The good news is that this is the perfect time to reestablish simple habits that support comprehension without adding pressure or overwhelm.


Try This at Home:
Choose a consistent reading anchor time that fits naturally into your family’s schedule, right after school, before dinner, or just before bed. Keep it short and predictable (10–15 minutes is enough). The goal isn’t to read longer; it’s to read regularly. Consistency matters far more than duration.


Create a calm environment during this time. Reduce distractions, silence phones when possible, and let your child choose what they read, an article, a chapter, or even a magazine. Choice helps students reengage without resistance.


After reading, ask one simple, grounding question:
“What was the most important idea you read today?”


This single question helps students shift back into academic thinking without turning reading into an assignment. It encourages reflection while keeping the experience manageable and calm.

A steady reading routine now builds confidence, strengthens comprehension, and sets the tone for success through the spring.


For support in establishing simple, sustainable reading routines at home, reach out to Mrs. Braxton | Reading Specialist at BHMS at tbraxton@csdecatur.net for guidance and additional resources.


This article was written in collaboration with the Decatur PREP Project (Parent Reading Engagement Program) and made available through our partnership with the Decatur Education Foundation the Beacon Hill Middle School PTA and the BradAlTon Foundation for Family Elevation.

District News District News

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Read the January 8, 2026, issue of CSD Weekly, the district-wide newsletter.

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Take GaDOE's Annual School Climate Survey

Please take a moment this week to make your voice heard and participate in the Georgia Department of Education climate survey for your school! Your participation and feedback are greatly appreciated. The data collected will help determine the School Climate Star Ratings for the 2026-27 school year, which will enable schools to improve or build upon their successes.


Beacon Hill Middle School Family Survey

PTA News PTA News

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“BE A BEACON” SPONSORSHIPS

“Be a Beacon” donations directly support our teachers, staff and students during the 2025–2026 school year. Supporter names are displayed proudly in the school lobby in appreciation of your generosity. Thank you to all who have donated so far this year. Together, we can make a difference. Make a donation here.

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Can You Help?

PBIS BARK STORE
The PBIS Bark Store resumes this Friday. Volunteers are needed to help distribute items during student lunch periods, which run from 11 am to 2 pm. Do you have an hour to spare? Sign up here.


BHMS STAFF APPRECIATION: SECOND SEMESTER VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

A few slots still remain for donating items to the teacher/staff snack cart and lounge, as well as operating the cart on snack cart days, and helping with the end-of-year staff luncheon. Please take a moment to review the available slots in our sign-up link.

We also will host a series of events for staff during Teacher Appreciation Week, May 4 through May 8. A separate sign-up will be spent specifically for that major event.


PTA CAR MAGNETS
Beacon Hill Middle School car magnets are a great way to show school spirit and support the PTA! They are available for $5 each through this payment link. (Please include your student’s name in the comment section.) Magnets can be picked up at the front office for pickup by you or your child.

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Speaker Series: Talking to Kids About Dangerous Substances

An ongoing speaker series from DEF, Decatur Prevention Initiative and the Decatur Parents Network returns Thursday, January 22, with a documentary viewing and panel discussion on "Navigating the Changing Drug Landscape: Talking to our Kids About Dangerous Substances." This event is free and open to any adult. Find more information and register in advance here.


Thursday, January 22, 6:30-8 p.m., DHS Learning Commons (Library/Media Center). Enter the bus drop-off area off of Commerce Drive.

BHMS Quick Links! BHMS Quick Links!

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  • BHMS Website
  • Personal Electronics Protocol
  • Bell Schedule or Bell Schedule by Grade
  • Bus Routes
  • Free and Reduced Lunch Application
  • BHMS Weekly Updates
  • Attendance Routines and Procedures
  • Key Contacts
  • BHMS Facebook page
  • BHMSPTA Facebook page
  • BHMSInstagram page
  • Grading Quick Facts 6-12
  • CSD Grading Handbook
  • Grade Level News
BHMS
BHMS Weekly Updates
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