WEEK 7
Greetings Hawthorne Elementary Families,
We are now entering Week 7 of the 2025–2026 school year, and what an incredible journey it has been so far! Last week was nothing short of amazing, and the level of parent support we received was truly unmatched. You all ROCK! 🎉
Thank you to all of our parents for your continued partnership and active involvement. Your energy, commitment, and presence make all the difference, and I would love to see this same level of engagement every single week!
🌟 Morning Interventions – Supporting Every Learner!
Following the recent MAP assessments as well as beginning of the Year assessments we are excited to share that we have launched Morning Interventions to provide both remediation and enrichment opportunities for our students.
As a Professional Learning Community, we are committed to ensuring that every child receives the support they need to grow and succeed. These morning sessions are a key part of that commitment, offering targeted support in a focused and nurturing environment.
📘 When?
Morning Interventions/Extensions Time take place daily from 7:15–7:45 AM, before the start of the regular instructional day. This schedule ensures that students receive the help they need without missing core classroom instruction.
🎯 Why it matters:
Whether your child needs extra help mastering a skill or is ready for enrichment beyond grade-level standards, this time is designed just for them—and it can make a big difference!
✅ How you can help:
Please help us by ensuring your child arrives at school by 7:15 AM so they can take full advantage of this valuable support time. Your partnership plays a vital role in helping us close learning gaps and extend academic growth.
Here are a few special shout-outs and highlights from the week:
🫶 Huge thanks to our amazing PTA & President Mrs. Erin Frank for always going above and beyond—and for sponsoring the delicious food for Grandparents Day!
🫶 To all the grandparents who joined us—thank you for allowing us the honor of celebrating you. Your presence filled our school with love and joy.
🫶 Special appreciation to Mrs. S. Jones for her beautiful work on the backdrop decorations, and to Mrs. Wildly for the thoughtful table setup that helped create a warm and welcoming space.
🫶 A big thank you to the Lakeside football players and cheerleaders for spreading cheer and excitement! From assisting with morning car duty to appearing on our morning announcements and reading to our students—you brought smiles and energy to our entire school community.
🫶 🌿 Growing Greatness at Hawthorne! 🌿
A huge thank you to Mrs. Lindsay Conway, Mrs. Rebecca Finn, Mrs. Sally Cargo, and Ms. Pope for their incredible dedication and hard work in the garden!
Thanks to their care and commitment, our students will experience the magic of hands-on learning. On Friday, they harvested cucumbers, tomatoes, and even pumpkins grown right here on our campus!
What an amazing way to connect science, sustainability, and healthy living. This garden is more than just a space—it's a living classroom that will continue to inspire curiosity and wonder in our students. So super cool, indeed! 🌱🍅🎃
🏅 KUDOS to our incredible Track and Field Team for their outstanding performance on Saturday—we are so proud of your hard work and dedication!
🫶 Finally, thank you to all the staff, parents, and community members who came out to support and cheer on our student-athletes. Your encouragement made the day even more special, especially under such beautiful sunshine.
👀 Looking Ahead: Exciting Events This Week!
As we dive into Week 7, there’s even more to look forward to!
🎨 Monday – International DOT DAY
We’re joining in the global celebration of International DOT DAY! Please have your child wear their dots on Monday as we encourage creativity, courage, and making a mark in the world.
📌 Attendance Awareness Month – September
September is Attendance Awareness Month, and we want to remind everyone that being at school every day and on time is one of the most important factors in student success.
Your partnership matters—please continue to support us by ensuring your child:
✅ Arrives on time
✅ Is present daily
✅ Misses school only when absolutely necessary
🎭 To celebrate good attendance, students are invited to dress up as their favorite Avenger or Superhero every Friday in September. Let’s make attendance fun while reinforcing the message that every day counts!
We're excited to announce the attendance champions for the month of August—and the competition was tight! 95% is still the weekly goal.
🥇 1st Place – Pre-K with an outstanding 98.12% attendance rate!
🥈 2nd Place – 1st Grade at 96.19%
🥉 3rd Place – 4th Grade with 95.65%
🏅 4th Place – 5th Grade: 94.97%
🏅 5th Place – 3rd Grade: 94.72%
🏅 6th Place – 2nd Grade: 94.61%
🏅 7th Place – Kindergarten: 93.19%
👏 A huge congratulations to Pre-K for leading the way and to all grade levels for working hard to show up each day. Every day really does count!
Let’s keep up the momentum in September—strong attendance helps build strong learners!
📌 Upcoming Dates: 📌
--Attendance Superhero Avenger Dress Up Friday - September 26th
-DCSD School Expo - September 27th -9:00 am - 1:00 pm | See Flyer Below
-DCSD Benchmark Assessment Window Opens - September 29th
-Fall Teacher Conferences - Starting September 29th | Times will vary
-Hawthorne ES Spirt Night at Napoleon’s Grill - September 30th⏰ Time: 5:00–8:00 PM | Address: 2836 Lavista Rd, Decatur, GA 30033
-National Custodian Appreciation Day - October 2nd
-Hispanic Heritage Spirit Week - October 6th-10th |Flyer will be published soon
-Walk/Bike to School Day - October 8th | 6:30 am - 7:45 am
-Hawthorne Foundation Fundraiser - October 25th | 6:00 pm -10: 00 pm | See Flyer Below
Go Hornets 🐝
Proud to Serve,
Principal Henley
#OneTeamOneDream #WeAreALLIN
International Dot Day 2025 will be celebrated on Monday, September 15th! This annual event encourages creativity, courage, and collaboration, inspired by the beloved children’s book The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds. The story highlights the journey of a girl who “makes her mark” with a single dot, showing that even small efforts can lead to big accomplishments.
Millions of people around the world—including students, teachers, and families—participate by creating their own marks and sharing them with others.
Here’s how your family can participate:
Learn – Read The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds to discover the story behind the celebration.
Register – Visit the official International Dot Day website to access free resources and a downloadable educator’s handbook.
Create – Make your own mark! Share your creations online using #InternationalDotDay and #MakeYourMark.
Join – Become part of a global community celebrating creativity and positivity.
We hope your child will join us in celebrating International Dot Day and making their mark on the world by wearing dots on Monday, September 15th.
September is Attendance Awareness Month, and this year our theme is “Attendance Avengers!” We are excited to celebrate students who show up to school every day and on time.
As part of the celebration, EVERY Friday in September, (September 19th & 26th) students are invited to dress up as their favorite Superhero Avenger! This is a fun way to recognize consistent attendance and remind our students that showing up is a superpower.
📌 Reminder: At the end of the semester, we will host our NBA (Never Been Absent) Party to celebrate students who have maintained perfect attendance.
Let’s work together to build strong attendance habits and make this month a success. We can’t wait to see our students in their superhero attire!
🏃♀️🏅 Fear the Swarm! 🏅🏃♂️
We’re excited to see our amazing Hawthorne community show up strong in support of our student-athletes at this Saturday’s Track Meet! 🎉 Come dressed in your HES gear and bring that Hornet pride as we cheer on our incredible athletes—each one representing our school with heart & determination.
📍 Location: Adams Stadium 📅 Date: Saturday, Sept. 20th ⏰ Time: 8:00 AM
📍 Address: 2415 N Druid Hills Rd, Atlanta, GA 30329
Let’s pack the stands, raise our voices, and remind our students that their hard work, perseverance, and teamwork do not go unnoticed. Together we rise. Together we win. FEAR THE HORNET SWARM!
DCSD SCHOOL EXPO SAVE THE DATE
The DCSD School Expo is coming up on Saturday, September 27th from 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM!
This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase all the amazing things happening at our school. 🌟 Come out, bring your Hornets pride, and help us REP OUR SCHOOL at this exciting district-wide event!
Let’s show the community why our school is the best place for students to learn, grow, and thrive. 💙💛
#DCSDExpo #WeRepOurSchool #TeamHornets
Join us on Wednesday, October 8th, from 6:30 AM – 7:45 AM for Walk/Bike to School Day! Let’s celebrate healthy habits, reduce traffic, and start the day with wellness, energy, and fun.
We look forward to seeing our students and families walking or biking together!
This form includes critical information regarding your child’s dismissal plans and any medical needs, both of which are essential to ensuring your child’s safety and well-being on the first day and every day after.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this important matter, we appreciate your partnership in keeping our Hawks safe and supported!
Please complete Meal Application Information 2024-2025. Only 1 Application Needed per Family:
Please ALL complete this application process even if you plan to bring lunch for your child daily or believe that you will not qualify. This is very important, this impacts funding for Title 1.
Please click link for English/Spanish application.
https://www.dekalbschoolsga.org/featured-news/free-reduced-meal-applications-sy-2024-2025/
The drop-off times in front of the school are below:
7:00 am
Tardy bell 7:45
Morning announcements begin at 7:40
Car riders:: When picking students up, parents should have the Hawthorne ES Car Rider Tag visible in their car. If the Car Rider Tag is not visible, parents are required to park, come into the building and provide Identification. Thank you for your patience as we simply want to keep your students' safe.
The pick-up times for dismissal are below:
Bus riders-2:25:pm; Car riders 2:35 pm (front of building after buses) & walkers (Side door)
Walker Dismissal Protocol Update
The dismissal process for the Walker group is being slightly adjusted to ensure a smoother and more secure experience. Students will continue to dismiss from the side door; however, we will now be implementing a numbered tag system.
Each walker will be assigned a unique number. Parents or guardians must walk to the designated walker door and visibly display their child’s assigned number. This number will correspond to the student’s walker tag, which will be attached to their backpack.
For safety and accountability, students will only be released once the matching number is presented at the door.
Attendance & Dismissal Procedures Update
To ensure accurate attendance records and to maintain a safe and orderly school environment, we are updating our arrival and dismissal procedures:
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Late Arrival: Students arriving after 7:45 AM must be checked in by a parent/guardian inside the school office.
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Early Check-Out: If a student needs to leave school early, parents/guardians must come into the building to sign the student out prior to the start of dismissal.
These updates are in place to support accurate attendance documentation. We appreciate your cooperation and commitment to helping us ensure that your students are safe during arrival and dismissal from school. 😊Thank you!
BUS ROUTES
DCSD bus routes can be found on the district website: https://www.dekalbschoolsga.org/bus-routes/. Hawthorne ES morning bus routes are below along with the district
🚗✨ Arrival & Dismissal Reminders ✨🚶♀️
Reminder: As we kick off a successful school year, please review and follow our arrival and dismissal expectations to ensure a smooth and safe day for all students:
🌅 Morning Arrival:
🕖 7:00 AM – School doors open and breakfast begins.
🍽️ After breakfast – Intervention & Enrichment starts. This is a critical time for academic support and acceleration—please ensure your child arrives on time.
⏰ 7:40 AM – Breakfast service ends.
📣 7:40 AM – Morning announcements begin.
📘 7:45 AM – Instruction begins promptly.
🏁 Afternoon Dismissal:
🕝 2:15 PM – Dismissal begins & typically follows this order:
➡️bus riders
➡️ van riders
➡️ car riders
➡️ walkers
➡️ aftercare
Please remember that our buses must be in line first.
🕝 2:35 PM-2:40 PM – All students should be fully dismissed from classrooms.
🕒 2:45 PM – Students not picked up by this time will be sent to aftercare, and a drop-in fee will apply. Communication is key!
Late Pick-Up Procedures
In order to ensure the safety and supervision of all students, Hawthorne Elementary has established the following late pick-up procedures:
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Dismissal ends at 2:45 PM.
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Any student not picked up by 2:45 PM, upon arrival -parents will need to complete the Late Pick-Up Roster.
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Three (3) late pick-ups may result in a referral to the school’s social worker for additional support and follow-up.
Your partnership helps us create a safe and focused environment for all hornets. Thank you for your attention and cooperation!
After School Activities Are Back! 🎉
Afterschool Clubs that still have spots available!!!
Opportunities include:
EIM Dance (Various grade levels)
Use the link below to explore and sign up today, spots may fill quickly!
Thank you for your interest in becoming a volunteer for the DeKalb County School District! By signing on as a volunteer, you become a member of our team of professionals that proudly provides educational services to more than 93,000 students in our DeKalb County School District.
Steps to Complete the Volunteer Process:
Complete the Volunteer Application and Release Form:
Review and Complete the DCSD Volunteer Code of Conduct:
Complete the Mandated Reporter Training:
- Watch the Mandated Reporter Video and complete the quiz before attending a training session.
- Steps to complete the training:
- Create a free account
- Select State: GA
- Click on Child Abuse and Neglect Course: Mandated Reporter
- Start the course and complete the quiz
- Save or print your certificate and email a copy to DCSDvolunteer@dekalbschoolsga.org
- Training link: Mandated Reporter Course
Upcoming DCSD Volunteer Training (via Zoom):
Join a Zoom Session That Fits Your Schedule
Fall 2025 Volunteer Training Dates
Please select the Zoom session that works best for you from the options below:
September 17 – 12:00 PM & 6:00 PM
September 24 – 12:00 PM
October 1 – 12:00 PM
October 8 – 12:00 PM & 6:00 PM
October 22 – 12:00 PM
October 29 – 12:00 PM
November 5 – 12:00 PM
November 12 – 12:00 PM & 6:00 PM
December 3 – 12:00 PM
December 10 – 12:00 PM
Join the DCSD Volunteer Training Zoom Meeting:
🔗 Join Zoom Meeting
📌 Meeting ID: 857 5784 5773
🔑 Passcode: 598219
Thank you for your dedication to supporting our schools! We look forward to your participation!
As a Title I, Part A school, Hawthorne Elementary—together with our students and families—shares a commitment to student success. The School Parent and Family Engagement Policy, School-Parent Compact, and the DeKalb County School District’s Parent and Family Engagement Plan outline how parents, students, and school staff will work in partnership to support and strengthen student learning. These documents also highlight how we will continue building meaningful family school relationships that help every child meet and exceed Georgia’s challenging academic standards.
We ask that you please take time to carefully review the attached documents for this school year. A copy of the School-Parent Compact was provided at Curriculum Night, and all documents will be available below for your reference.
To acknowledge that you have received, reviewed, and agree to the School Parent and Family Engagement Policy, School-Parent Compact, and the District’s Parent and Family Engagement Plan, please sign and date below. This commitment serves as a reminder of the vital role we each play in your child’s education. We will revisit this agreement together during school-family events throughout the year as we work to ensure your child’s success.
Attached below:
-Hawthorne ES School-Parent Compact (hard copy at Curriculum Night)
-Parent Family Engagement Plan for the current school year (hard copy at Curriculum Night)
-DeKalb County School District’s Parent and Family Engagement Plan:
District Parent & Family Engagement Plan-https://www.dekalbschoolsga.org/parent-family-engagement/
Email: kia_henley@dekalbschoolsag.org
Website: https://www.hawthornees.dekalb.k12.ga.us/
Location: 2535 Caladium Drive NE Atlanta, GA 30345
Phone: 678-874-2802