The Bulldog, September 17, 2026
9.17.26
Note from Mrs. Lockwood:
Another wonderful week at Clairemont Elementary!
As a reminder, next week is Fall Break. School will be closed Monday, September 21, through Friday, September 25, 2026. School will reopen on Monday, September 28, 2026. It is my hope that everyone has a wonderful break. I cannot wait to see everyone back in the building on the 28th, rested and recharged!
Parent-teacher conferences begin the week after Fall Break. This is a great opportunity to meet with your child's teacher to understand their strengths and areas for growth. If you need to schedule a conference, please reach out to your homeroom teacher as soon as possible.
We are on a roll with attendance, let's finish the week before break strong!
Friday: 121/126, 96%
Monday: 123/126, 98% 🎉
Tuesday: 120/126, 95%
Wednesday: 121/126, 96%
Thursday: 115/126, 91% đź‘€ every day counts, let's finish stronger!
Mark your calendars for our annual flu clinic. This year's clinic will take place on Friday, October 9, 10-12. Come in, get some new books from the Book Fair and get your Flu shot while you're here!
The City Schools of Decatur will administer the BASC-BESS Universal Screener from October 1–30, 2026. This brief screener helps schools identify students who may benefit from additional behavioral, social-emotional, or wellness support. The BASC- BESS is not a diagnostic assessment; it is one tool used to help us identify needs early and provide appropriate support. Families who do not want their child to participate may complete an Opt-Out Form by Friday, September 18, 2026.
Our SLT voting ballot will close this Friday. If you have not already done so, please take a moment to vote for our new parent SLT representatives. You can access the voting ballot here.
Strong Foundations: Helping Young Kids Navigate Tough Feelings
September is Suicide Prevention Month. While suicide prevention might feel like a topic for older kids, emotional wellness starts right from the beginning. Suicide Prevention Month exists to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and remind us all that building strong emotional foundations early in life protects our children's mental health for years to come. For young children, prevention means giving them the tools to understand their feelings and navigate tough moments with confidence.
3 Simple Ways You Can Support Your Child’s Mental Health Today: Name the Feeling: Help your child build an emotional vocabulary. Saying "I see you're feeling frustrated right now" helps them feel understood and teaches them that all feelings are normal. Practice "Belly Breathing" Together: Teach simple calm-down techniques during peaceful moments so your child can rely on them when upset. Try pretending to blow out birthday candles or smell a flower. Create a "Trusted Adult" Map: Point out the safe adults in your child's life (parents, teachers, school counselors, grandparents) so they always know who to reach out to when feelings get too big to handle alone. Research shows that secure, responsive adult relationships are the single most effective buffer against early childhood stress, and explicitly teaching emotional regulation through play and storytime directly builds lifelong resilience. Together, we can create a safe environment where children learn that it is always okay to ask for help!
Behavior and Emotional Screening System
Dear Parents/Guardians,
In our continuing efforts to support the well-being of all students, City Schools of Decatur (CSD) will administer a universal screener of social, emotional & behavioral health. CSD adopted The Behavior Assessment for Children 3rd edition Behavior and Emotional Screening System (BASC-3 BESS) as the universal screener for behavior.
For the 2026-27 school year, students in grades (K-12) will take the student self-report of the screener at their school during the fall and spring administration dates. The Fall administration of the BASC-3 BESS opens on October 1st and closes on October 30th. The Spring administration of the BASC-3 BESS opens on March 1st and will remain open through March 31st, 2027.
What are your next steps?
No action is required if you agree with your student’s participation in the screening. If you would prefer that your student NOT participate in the universal screening, please complete the opt-out form by clicking here. The deadline to opt your child out of completing the BASC-3 BESS is Friday, September 18, 2026 for the Fall Administration and Friday, February 12, 2027 for the Spring Administration.
Click here to read our FAQ for more details about the BASC-3 BESS universal screener. If you have any questions, email Ms. Pratt, school counselor, at cpratt@csdecatur.net.
Important Information about Gifted Review
Each fall semester, the gifted review team reviews existing student data to discuss students’ needs and to determine whether further evaluation for gifted identification is needed. If you are interested in having the team discuss your child’s needs, please complete a Recommendation for Review Form by Wednesday, September 30. No additional information is needed. For more detailed information about the review process, please contact the Gifted & Talented Specialist for your school, Tom Seetoo, at tseetoo@csdecatur.net or visit our website’s FAQ page.
