Weekly Update

Dear Bulldog Families,

As we look ahead to the 2026-2027 academic year, we are guided by our commitment to ensuring every student is seen, successful, and supported. This vision is at the heart of the course request process, which we are excited to officially launch. This is a vital moment in your student's journey, offering them the opportunity to thoughtfully explore and select the rigorous and engaging courses that will shape their unique learning experience at Beacon Hill Middle School.

We are committed to making this process as transparent and straightforward as possible for all rising 6th, 7th, and 8th graders.

Sincerely,

Alexis Glenn

Interim Principal

To ensure you have access to every piece of necessary information—including timelines, course descriptions, elective option videos, and informational meeting dates—we have compiled it all into a single, comprehensive resource.

Access the Course Request Information Hub

Rising 6th Grade

Current 6th and 7th Grade Families

Students will begin to make selections during WIN time starting January 6th and the window will remain open through January 12.

Join the Webinar: Course Offerings 2026-2027: Whether you are a rising 7th grader or preparing for the transition to 8th grade, this session will clarify the pathways available.

• Date: December 18

• Time: 6:30 PM

• Location: Virtual via Zoom

• Link: Click here to launch Zoom Meeting (Meeting ID: 916 2671 6701)

We understand that preparing for high school is a major milestone. To support a seamless transition for our graduating Bulldogs, we are sharing the following information provided directly from Decatur High School (DHS) to support your 8th-grade students and parents:

• Student Visits: Students will visit DHS on January 12th or January 14th (the final confirmed date is forthcoming from DHS).

• The Agenda: During their visit, students will tour the campus and receive an essential introduction to their upcoming high school course selection options.

• Communication: DHS will release full details regarding the visit schedule and parent communication before the start of December break.

We thank you for your partnership as we guide your students through these important decisions. Together, we can make this a smooth and exciting transition!

We will be taking our mid-year universal screener this year on December 3 and 8. Students will take the Renaissance STAR Assessment as our universal screener in both ELA and Math.

The Renaissance Star Assessment is a nationally recognized, computer-adaptive tool used from Pre-K through 12th grade to measure student progress in reading and math. These assessments help educators identify learning gaps, monitor student growth, and tailor instruction to meet individual student needs. At BHMS, STAR supports our mission to ensure student success by helping teachers recognize strengths and provide targeted academic support where needed.

Please note: The STAR screener is not graded. It is used solely to inform instruction and ensure each student receives the appropriate support.

BHMS STAR Universal Screener Testing Dates:

• December 3: STAR Reading

• December 8: STAR Math

We kindly ask that all students:

• Get a good night’s rest before each testing day

• Arrive to school on time by 8:45 AM, ready to begin

• Eat a healthy breakfast either at home or at school (breakfast starts at 8:20 AM)

The BHMS Orchestra, Band and Chorus invite you to a special night of wonderful holiday music at their annual Winter Concerts! This is a fantastic opportunity for all families to enjoy the festive season. Come see the current students perform and discover what it's like to be part of the BHMS music program!

We are delighted to share the exciting results of the inaugural BHMS Crest Competition!

We received many creative and heartfelt submissions, and after careful consideration, we are thrilled to announce that the winning design was submitted by 6th grader Duncan Welch! Duncan's design will now serve as a symbol representing the values and spirit of Beacon Hill Middle School.

Duncan Welch's Vision

Duncan provided a wonderful explanation of the elements included in his winning crest:

"My 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, it has 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. and we learn 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."

Please join us in congratulating Duncan Welch on his outstanding achievement! His crest truly encourages all of us to "Be A Beacon."

The Math Counts Club concluded October with an engaging, pre-Halloween mathematical event on the 30th. This unique "Trick-or-Treat" style challenge was made possible through a successful collaboration with students from the Decatur High School (DHS) Math Counts team, who volunteered to design the activity. BHMS participants navigated a circuit of problem-solving stations, tackling problems that ranged in difficulty from foundational concepts like ratios, proportions, and percents, to advanced topics such as binomial expansion and matrices. In a rewarding twist, students earned candy prizes proportional to the complexity of the problems solved. We extend our sincere gratitude to the DHS students for developing and facilitating this creative and enriching activity and our club sponsors Mr. Stroy and Ms. Flowers 🧮!

"Leading up to Thanksgiving Break, the BHMS counseling team championed Reach Higher Week, a dynamic initiative designed to illuminate the vast landscape of post-secondary opportunities awaiting our students. From vocational training and technical schools to community and four-year universities, students explored a world of future possibilities.

The week buzzed with activity, featuring a College Sweatshirt Day, an interactive Reach Higher word wall and trivia, and a staff college map. Our hallways shone with pride through the college pennant and HBCU wall, curated media center displays, and a creative door decorating contest. A heartfelt shout-out goes to our counseling department for their dedication to bridging the gap between our students' present and their bright futures!"

As we conclude the first semester of the 2025-26 school year, we are pleased to provide an update regarding the leadership search at BHMS. CSD is committed to continuing the level of excellence in education that you expect at BHMS. We have commenced a comprehensive search to name a permanent principal by January 2026. The position is officially open to both internal and external candidates who are eager to lead the school forward.

To guide our search, we will review and refine the leadership profile. The school community, including students, families, and staff, is encouraged to contribute to this process through a brief feedback form, highlighting the leadership qualities and skills that you consider most important.

As we collect feedback, we will also form teams comprised of staff, parents, community members, and, when appropriate, students to engage in every stage of the process.

Below you will find a timeline for our leadership search process.

Timeline

• Week of November 7: Job posted

• Week of November 21: Close Posting and screen candidates

• Week of December 1: (Round 1) Send writing prompt to prospective candidates

• Week of December 2: Scoring writing prompts

• Week of December 9: Extend invitation for interview

• December 15: (Round 2) Interview

• January 6: (Round 3) Final Interview

• Week of January 16: Announce Principal

Thank you in advance for your engagement in this process. Your voice and collaboration are essential as we strive to identify the candidate who will lead Beacon Hill Middle School into its next chapter.

We are grateful and proud of our World Language Bulldogs and teachers of the World Language Department for their commitment to service as action this past month. Prior to the Thanksgiving break, our students demonstrated the essential IB Learner Profile attributes of Caring and Principled by successfully organizing and delivering food baskets to support members of our local community in need. This collaborative effort exemplifies deep learning that transcends the classroom, connecting students to real-world and community issues. Their initiative provided critical resources to about 30 families while cultivating a sense of responsibility and citizenship. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this truly impactful and refined expression of BHMS values.

Beacon Hill 6th graders from Gifted Resource recently engaged in a service as action initiative, collaborating with Winnona Park Elementary to address local community needs. Their collective efforts amassed 490 lbs of donations, providing 136 prepared lunch bags for the DEAM lunch service program supporting community members experiencing homelessness. 🌟

Further demonstrating the IB Learner Profile attribute of Caring, students extended their learning by developing and delivering educational lessons for WP students on topics of nutrition and food scarcity. We are deeply grateful for our families' extraordinary generosity and extend special recognition to Ms. Gary and Ms. Nicks for their leadership in facilitating this impactful project.

Beacon Hill International Perspectives students explore foodways around the world. Please consider taking this journey with us by purchasing items made by students in our class using this link. Orders and payment are due Tuesday, December 2nd. Email Ms. Krysta Johnson with any questions.

Is your BHMS 6th, 7th or 8th grader interested in running Track & Field in the Spring?

If so, please plan to attend our Virtual Track & Field Parent Informational Meeting on

Monday, December 8th at 6:00 pm.

The virtual meeting can be accessed using the link here:

BHMS 2026 Track & Field Virtual Parent Meeting Link

Please complete the Google interest form here: 2026 BHMS Track & Field Interest Form that has tryouts information.

Athletes must have a physical and medical forms completed in DragonFly by Friday, January 23, 2026 to participate in tryouts.

Here is a BLANK COPY of the physical to complete. Physicals are valid for one year.

All BHMS students should complete a profile under “DECATUR HIGH SCHOOL.”

Visit: dragonflymax.com — Enter School Code: SJ6FW3

NO ATHLETE will be allowed to try out without an updated physical and all forms on file.

At this meeting we will discuss tryouts, practices, fees, meets and other important items. If you are not able to attend, please email the coaches and we can provide more information to you via email.

Please contact Coach Frazier (lfrazier@csdecatur.net), Coach Philippi (wphilippi@csdecatur.net) and Coach Rabold (nrabold@csdecatur.net)with any questions.

Friday, Dec 12th & Saturday, Dec 13th
Come shop local, discover unique handmade gifts, and enjoy delicious treats at our cozy café.
It’s the perfect way to support local artists and soak up the festive spirit with neighbors and friends.
A beloved community tradition awaits! We can’t wait to see you there!

This holiday season, our Decatur Bulldogs are teaming up to support Toys for Tots, and we need your help to make our First Annual Toy Toss a huge success!

Join us at the Basketball Game on December 5 and bring a new plush toy to donate. Every CSD Elementary student who brings a toy will receive FREE admission with a paying adult!

Then get ready for the highlight of the night: In between games, fans will toss their donated toys onto the court, where our players and cheerleaders will collect them and prepare them for delivery to Toys for Tots. It’s a fun, festive way to give back and show what Bulldog spirit is all about!

Let’s pack the stands, support our teams, and spread holiday cheer across our community. Go Bulldogs!

Read the December 4, 2025, issue of CSD Weekly, the district-wide newsletter.

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

The BHMS PTA-Staff Appreciation Committee is seeking volunteers to support our initiatives aimed at engaging teachers and staff throughout the second semester of the 2025-2026 school year.

On a monthly basis, our hospitality committee acts as a liaison with the staff. This involves providing refreshments for staff meetings and hosting a rolling snack cart that delivers treats to staff members across the school.

We also will host a series of events for staff during Teacher Appreciation Week, May 4 through May 8. Be on the lookout for a separate sign up specifically for that major event.

If you are interested in volunteering, please take a moment to review the available slots in our sign-up link. Thank you for your help!

Sign up for our passive fundraising opportunities, as every little bit helps. Gearing up for the holiday season? Take advantage of this special opportunity with Minted.

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 will be available at the front office for pickup by your child (or you). Just provide the name you used when ordering.

The PBIS Store is officially open! Please volunteer to help run the BARK store. It is an easy process, and experienced parents will be there to guide you if you have not volunteered before. We also are always looking for donations to stock our store. Volunteer needs and a link to our wishlist can be found in the links below. Thanks!

• 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