BHMS Weekly Update

Our spring play, The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood, is taking the stage this weekend from May 1st–3rd! Our students have poured their hearts into these rehearsals, and there is no better way to support them than by filling the seats with a "loud and boisterous audience."

When to Catch the Show:

• Friday, May 1st @ 6:00 PM (Nottingham Cast)

• Saturday, May 2nd @ 2:00 PM (Nottingham Cast)

• Saturday, May 2nd @ 6:00 PM (Sherwood Cast)

• Sunday, May 3rd @ 2:00 PM (Sherwood Cast)

Grab your tickets at DecaturPerforms.org and come help us make this a successful weekend for our young performers!

Celebrating the Spoken Word: The 17th Annual BHMS Stacey "Mama" Daniel Poetry Slam

The halls of the Decatur High School Performing Arts Center echoed with powerful voices and creative expression during the 17th Annual Stacey "Mama" Daniel Poetry Slam. This longstanding Beacon Hill Middle School tradition serves as a vibrant showcase for our students’ original writings and performance artistry.

Supported by a generous grant from the Decatur Education Foundation, our young writers spent weeks preparing for this moment. They had the unique opportunity to work alongside renowned Atlanta poet and teaching artist Theresa Davis, who mentored the students in honing their craft and building the confidence to take the stage.

Congratulations to our 2026 Poetry Slam Winners:

• Grand Champion: Kimberly Grant

• 2nd Place: Uma Raman-Baksi

• 3rd Place: Cailin Lewis

We are incredibly proud of these talented students and all of the participants who shared their voices with us. Their dedication to the art of spoken word continues to exemplify the creative spirit of BHMS.

We extend our deepest gratitude to teachers Dawn Bolton and Zakia Wicks, as well as Nia Schooler with DEF, whose tireless guidance and logistical support made this developmental process possible for our students.

Winners with poet and artist Theresa Davis

Ms. Walker's I & S students took on the role of game developers for Georgia GameWorks and were tasked with transforming the entire 8th Grade Georgia Studies course into a series of rigorous, interactive tabletop experiences. Moving beyond traditional study guides, our young historians and entrepreneurs synthesized months of learning into fully playable board and card games.

To succeed, student teams had to navigate the design floor, ensuring every standard and element was accurately represented through high-level trivia and strategic gameplay mechanics. Whether they were navigating the Fall Line on a custom-built game board or managing resources through a 100-card deck, students demonstrated incredible critical thinking, collaboration, and 21st-century literacy. These student-created games have been serving as one of the primary review tools for the Georgia Milestones Assessment. We are incredibly proud of the creativity and academic depth displayed by our 8th graders as they gamified the history of the Peach State and grateful for Ms. Walker devotion to academic progress and engagement for all students.

Our Bulldog spirit was on full display this past weekend as members of the BHMS Recycling Club and Art Club took center stage at the Live Thrive Recycled Runway Competition at CHaRM Decatur.

Sustainability Meets Style Tasked with transforming "hard-to-recycle" materials into high-fashion runway looks, our students demonstrated incredible innovation and artistic vision. The following students showcased their original designs:

• Artemis Kerr

• Harley Wright
• Henry Barr

• Effy Keenan

• Yeats Yarbrough

From repurposed books and magazines to old CDs, wine corks, and natural dyes, these students proved that sustainability and creativity go hand-in-hand.

A Winning Weekend for the Recycling Club The accolades didn’t stop at the runway! The BHMS Recycling Club also secured 2nd Place in the Plastic Film Recycling Competition. A huge "Bulldog Thank You" to all the families who contributed their plastic film, helping us keep these materials out of the landfill and earning our school this impressive recognition.

Special Thanks to our Staff Partners This success was made possible through the collaboration of our talented Art and Recycling departments. Kudos to art teachers Ms. Nathaniel and Ms. Crockett for their partnership with Ms. Nicks and the Recycling Club. Together, they are helping our students lead the way in environmental stewardship and creative expression.

A shout-out to our incredible BHMS Best Buddies Club for showing up and showing out at the Atlanta Friendship Walk! The group raised over $700 to support Best Buddies! These funds go directly toward fostering one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, and leadership development for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

🐾Mission: Promoting inclusion and friendship in the Atlanta community.

🐾Achievement: $700+ raised by the Beacon Hill team.

🐾Vibe: Unstoppable energy and heart!

Thank you to everyone who laced up their sneakers and contributed to such a meaningful cause especially Best Buddy sponsors Laura Stroer and Sara Stephenson

Our official device collection begins in mid-May. To avoid replacement fees, please ensure the following steps are taken before the return dates:

• Cleaning & Care: Please wipe down the device, keyboard, and screen. All personal stickers must be removed from the Chromebook and its case.

• Inventory Check: We will collect three specific items. If these are missing, the following fees will be applied to your Infinite Campus account:

• Fees:

Chromebook: $250

Charger: $30

Case/Cover: $30

• 8th Grade May 18, 2026: During WIN
• 7th Grade May 18, 2026: During 2nd Period
• 6th Grade May 19, 2026: 9:00 AM

You want your child to get through finals season with more than just good grades—you want them to have the digital fluency and self-management skills the future demands. Join us to gain the tools and confidence to support your student through the May crunch. You’ll walk through real-world demos of AI-powered study aids, learning exactly how to help your child use AI tools to prepare them for their finals. We will also explore practical ways you can foster executive functioning and time management at home, ensuring your student has the organizational framework needed to navigate this stressful time of year.

👉Register Here: Helping Your Student Thrive! A Parent's Guide to AI, Studying, and Finals.

When: Wednesday, May 6
Time: 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM EDT
Where: San Francisco Coffee Roasting Company 1192 North Highland Avenue Northeast, Atlanta, GA 30306
Cost: FREE

This You can reach out to Lewis (info@lewispoche.com) or Monica (monica@taramani.org) if you have any questions.

Join us for Walk + Roll on Wednesday, May 6th! Whether you live nearby or use our "Drop & Walk" location, it’s a great way to start the day

New to Decatur High School? Parents/Guardians are invited to join us on Monday, May 11th, at the DHS Performing Arts Center. We'll have optional tours, a welcome program, and highlights of key information to know to hit the ground running! Optional tours of the school are available starting between 5-5:30 or at 7. {Start times for the tours end at 5:30 to allow tour participants to finish the tour before the program begins}

Schedule

5-5:30: Optional Tours Start from the PAC

6-7: Programming

7: Optional Tours

Decatur High Performing Arts Center (PAC)

Helpful Info

• The entrance to the PAC is across from the intersection of N. McDonough & E Maple
• The entrance to the upper parking lot is off W. Howard Ave near the traffic light at W. Howard Ave. and N. McDonough St.

We would like your perspective about technology use at BHMS and DHS. We’ve launched a brief survey to gather your insights, and your feedback is the "secret sauce" to our continuous improvement to ensuring technology is used to enhance learning. Click below to participate, it will take five minutes of your time and the input is valuable!

https://forms.gle/tusfqv7md6KyuWePA

For technology-related questions at BHMS, contact Robyn Tibbetts at rtibbetts@csdecatur.net.

Form closes 5pm May 1st.

Don't miss out on the NSSI Algebra Prep Course at Decatur High School! This program focuses on the three most essential concepts of high school math: Linear Functions, Quadratics, and Transformations.

Dates: May 29 – June 18

Location: Decatur High School

Eligibility: All students enrolling in Algebra, Honors Algebra, and enhanced Algebra 2026-2027.

Apply: CSDALGPREP2026

Email Kim Boswell for all Yearbook Related questions. kboswell@csdecatur.net

Learn to code, build and operate a robot that can perform tasks, and develop leadership and collaboration skills as we compete against other teams! Team Rocket #14821 is a First Tech Challenge (FTC) robotics team of 7th and 8th grade students at Beacon Hill Middle School. Volunteer parent coaches with knowledge of coding, engineering, mechanics, and leadership are also needed! Apply here. Applications are due by May 10.

Decatur Soccer invites youth ages 5-13 (rising K-8th grade) to register for its 3v3 Soccer Tournament, powered by Decatur WatchFest 26, a fun, flexible, and community-focused event led by DHS soccer players and coaches. Join us Saturday, June 20, 8:30-noon at the Decatur High School Stadium with plenty of parking and just a short walk from the Decatur MARTA Station and Decatur WatchFest.

Kids can form a team of up to five players and sign up at the link below for just $75 per team (payable separately via GoFan). With no uniforms required (pennies provided) and small-sided 3v3 match play run by our DHS players, this format keeps things simple while maximizing touches, engagement, and fun for every player.

The tournament is open to girls, boys, and co-ed teams (co-ed teams will play in the boys bracket), with divisions based on rising school year: K-1, 2-3, 4-5, and 6-8. This is a great way to celebrate Decatur WatchFest and FIFA World Cup 26™ while supporting the Decatur Soccer program, and giving your child a fun soccer experience without a big time commitment. Just gather a group, register here, and show up ready to play!

All students interested in playing softball in the Fall should attend the tryouts for our DHS teams and our BHMS Club. See the graphics below for detailed information. DHS tryouts are open to all rising 8th-12th graders. BHMS Club Softball is open to all rising 6th-8th graders.

Check out all the club and extracurricular activities here and on our website!

Read the April 30, 2026, issue of CSD Weekly, the district-wide newsletter.

Thank you to all who donated funds so that we can give each of our amazing 150 BHMS staff members a $100 gift card during Staff Appreciation Week (May 4-8). We also need volunteers to make the week a success. Please select a volunteer slot through our sign-up form.

In addition, we would love it if your students participated as well! Following are some suggestions for how students can honor their BHMS teachers and staff each day:

MONDAY: Gratitude for the G.O.A.T.s

Write a note of appreciation thanking a teacher or staff member who has made an impact on you. Use our template that you can print at home and bring in to give to a teacher/staff member directly. Or, give it to a stationed PTA member upon school arrival Monday morning and we will hang the notes up for all to see!

TUESDAY: Kickoff High-Five

Give your teachers a fist bump or high five when you enter the classroom.

WEDNESDAY: MVP Moment

Give a teacher or staff member a compliment.

THURSDAY: Best Kit on the Pitch

Join staff in dressing in your favorite team jersey or anything that represents your heritage.

FRIDAY: Extra Time Assist

Help out a teacher or staff member without being asked.

All are invited to join us on Tuesday, May 19 at 5:45 PM in the Media Center for our final PTA meeting of the school year. We will present annual committee reports and hold the installation of officers.

The Beacon Hill PTA Officer Nominating Committee has presented the following slate for the 2026–2027 school year:

Co-Presidents: Marissa Loomis and Marissa Schaudies

Co-Vice Presidents: Becky Aemmer, Celina Beaver, Kenita Johnson and Adriana Lowery

Secretary: Heather Meloy

Treasurer: Cameron Clement

We appreciate the committee’s work in putting this team together.

The Beacon Hill PTA is gearing up for the next school year, and we would love for you to get involved. Please check out this link to learn more about opportunities to serve.

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.

We are winding down to our last three PBIS B.A.R.K. Stores. The students who receive these points need your help. Donations are needed for the store, and volunteers are needed to help distribute items.

Do you have an hour to spare? Sign up here to volunteer.

Are you able to donate store supplies? See our wishlist here.

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