DHS Weekly Update
Hello,
I would like to start by recognizing the Decatur High School Class of 2025, our faculty, and Mrs. Cara Gray (DHS Graduation Coach) for our 96% graduation rate. We have again increased the graduation rate due to the commitment of our faculty and graduation coach, and our students' willingness to stay the course. Our district’s commitment to maintain a graduation coach and Mrs. Gray’s expertise in working with all stakeholders, including parents, students, teachers, leadership, and external partners, is a prime example of incorporating a village to support students to get them across the finish line.
I want to thank our students for their participation and spirit during the HoCo 2025 week. As we move into the parade, game, and of course, the dance on Saturday night, please encourage your students to make good decisions that do not jeopardize their safety or ability to be a fully engaged student at Decatur High School. Students should strive to be part of the PACK (Purposeful, Accountable, Connected, Kind) in their actions for the remainder of the week.
Finally, please come out and support the parade on Friday afternoon at 5:30 p.m. The route has been slightly changed this year and will not include Ponce de Leon Ave. because of the Decatur Book Festival. Find a spot on the DHS campus, Swanton Way, West Trinity Place, Commerce Drive, or North McDonough to watch the parade. After the parade, we will open the gates for the football game at 6:30 p.m. for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
Sincerely,
Duane Sprull, Ed.D.
Principal
It's time to gear up and show off that Bulldog pride! 🤩 You can now purchase all your official Decatur High School spirit wear online. From comfy tees and hoodies to cool hats and more, we've got everything you need to represent DHS in style. 👕🧢 The best part? Your order ships directly to you! 📦 And a portion of every purchase goes right back to the student activity fund to support our amazing programs. It's a win-win! 🏆
The collection will be updated throughout the year with new items, so be sure to check back often! 😉
Decatur High School is proud to recognize Jihoon Park, Class of 2027, for representing both Decatur High School and the Decatur Rotary Club at the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) this summer. 🤝
Jihoon attended the RYLA leadership camp 🏕️ at Georgia Southwestern State University from June 7–11, where he joined other high school students from across the region. The program included team-building activities, leadership workshops 💡, and service projects, all designed to help students grow as leaders and work together.
Jihoon shared that the experience gave him a better understanding of what it means to be a servant leader and offered tools he can bring back to both DHS and the community. He also presented his RYLA experience to the Decatur Rotary Club 🎤 at their September 26th meeting, highlighting the lessons he learned and the impact of the program.
His participation is a wonderful example of the values of service and leadership that our school and the Decatur Rotary Club are proud to support. We’re excited to celebrate Jihoon’s accomplishments 🎉 and look forward to seeing the many ways he will continue to grow and inspire others. 🚀
Thank you, Ms. Price! 👏
DHS students attended a dynamic real estate workshop 🏠 covering the home-buying process, licensure, and daily life as an agent. Ms. Price walked students through a sample listing and market analysis, highlighting how real estate professionals collaborate and how commissions work 💰. She also shared tips on branding, networking, and client communication. Students left with a clearer view of career pathways in real estate and practical advice for getting started. We are grateful to Ms. Price for investing in our students. 🙏
Decatur High School is proud to introduce the new student leadership team for the Gavel Club 🎤. These dedicated students will guide their peers in strengthening communication, leadership, and public speaking skills throughout the year:
President: Kollin-Kohl Horton, Junior
Vice President of Education: Bella Zhang, Freshman
Secretary: Isabella Mehretab, Sophomore
Sergeant at Arms: Megene Chibuyu, Senior
Under their leadership, the Gavel Club will continue to provide opportunities for students to practice speaking, run meetings, and build confidence 💪. We look forward to an exciting year ahead with this outstanding team at the helm. 🎉
What a great day for our Psychology students! Before Fall Break, we welcomed neuroscience graduate students and professors from Georgia State University, giving our students direct exposure to professional research and academic life. 🔬
Our guests shared details on their exciting research investigations and provided valuable information about the GSU Psychology and Neuroscience programs. The visit was capped off with the unbelievable opportunity for students to see, touch, and learn about actual human brains while interacting directly with the experts. It was an amazing, hands-on session that brought neuroscience to life. 🧠
Our culinary students had some friendly, flavorful rivalry during the Mac and Cheese Wars and a spirited Wing Contest right before fall break!
Students showed off their skills by creating some truly innovative dishes—from "Bacon N Cheese" mac to "Sweet Heat Meat" wings. Our teachers bravely stepped up to the plate as judges, meticulously sampling all the delicious entries.
It was a few fantastic days of fun, learning, and impressive cooking! A huge congratulations to all the students who participated and demonstrated their creativity in the kitchen.
🧪STEM Fair🔬
Decatur High Schools will host our Science and Engineering Fair in the beginning of December. Winners will be eligible to compete in the DeKalb County Science and Engineering Fair 2026.
Students can compete individually or in teams of up to three students.
Students can compete in the following categories:
ANIMAL SCIENCES, BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES, BIOCHEMISTRY, BIOMEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES, BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING, CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY, COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY AND BIOINFORMATICS, EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES, EMBEDDED SYSTEMS, ENERGY: SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS AND DESIGN, ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY: STATICS AND DYNAMICS, ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING, MATERIALS SCIENCE, MATHEMATICS, MICROBIOLOGY, PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY, PLANT SCIENCES, ROBOTICS AND INTELLIGENT MACHINES, SYSTEMS SOFTWARE, TECHNOLOGY ENHANCES THE ARTS, TRANSLATIONAL MEDICAL SCIENCES
Every project must have the following forms completed and turned in to Dr. Smith (room 2008) by October 10th:
Checklist for Adult Sponsor (1)
Student Checklist (1A)
Research Plan/Project Summary
Approval Form (1B)
Projects involving human participants, vertebrate animals, potentially hazardous biological agents, hazardous chemicals or devices need additional paperwork or approvals. See this document for more details.
Full details about the fair are here. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Cassy Smith at csmith@csdecatur.net.
CSD Administering BASC-3 BESS, October 6-31
From Oct. 6-31, 2025, CSD will administer the Social, Emotional and Behavioral Screening (BASC-3 BESS), a brief screening tool for students in grades 3-12 that helps to identify social, emotional, and behavioral strengths and needs so schools can provide timely support. Screener results help schools strengthen classroom practices, offer small-group or individual support, and partner with families to connect students with resources. Together, we can ensure every child feels safe, seen and supported. Learn more in the Social, Emotional and Behavioral Screening (BASC-3 BESS) FAQ.
