WEEK 9

Greetings Hawthorne Elementary Families,

We’re officially stepping into Week 9—and what a journey it has been! Each of you continues to amaze us with your energy, commitment, and support. You truly keep our Hawthorne community thriving.

Our families are the heartbeat of our success, and your engagement makes a powerful difference for our scholars. A heartfelt thank-you to everyone who joined us for our School Expo, A special thank-you to our Hawthorne Foundation Board Members—Elisha Smith, Kristin Murff, Deanna Murphy, Lakeisha Winston (Academic Winston), and Christina Cooper (EIP Teacher)—for their thoughtful planning and execution in setting up our table at the Expo and ensuring Hawthorne was well represented. We are truly grateful for your time, energy, and dedication in showcasing the heart of our school community.

Your love and support for our school shine through in everything you do!

👏 A big round of applause to our Track and Field Team for their outstanding performance this past Saturday! Their hard work and teamwork made us proud, and we are especially grateful to the families and staff who came out to cheer them on. Your encouragement means the world to our students.

This Wednesday is PBIS Day 🎉, and we’ll be celebrating with KONA ICE! Please connect with your child’s teacher for details on the Dojo points required and the cost so your scholar is ready to participate. As always, don’t forget to check out the full HAWTHORNE HIVE for more details and updates!

🌍 Hawthorne ES invites you to our International Night! 🎉

📅 Thursday, October 9th
🕕 6:00 PM
📍 Hawthorne Elementary School

Join us for an evening of cultural celebration as we explore traditions, food, music, and performances from around the world. This is a wonderful opportunity for our school community to come together and celebrate the rich diversity that makes Hawthorne shine!

✨ As part of the celebration, we invite all families to join our Parade of Nations! Show your pride by representing your heritage, culture, or traditions—come dressed in cultural attire, wave your flags, and walk with us as we showcase the beauty of our global community.

We can’t wait to see you there! 💙💛

📌 Upcoming Dates: 📌

-DCSD Benchmark Assessment Window Opens - September 29th

-Fall Teacher Conferences - Starting September 30th | 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

-Lakeside Cluster Presents: VIKINGS READ ACROSS THE WORLD - October 3rd | Pleasantdale ES 6:00 pm -7:00 pm

-Hawthorne Foundation Blood Drive October 3rd | 3:00 pm -8:00 pm

-Hispanic Heritage Spirit Week - October 6th-10th | See Flyer Below

-International Night - October 9th | See Flyer Below

-GA PRE-K WEEK - October 6th-11th

-Walk/Bike to School Day - October 8th | 6:30 am - 7:45 am

-Coffee in the Garden @ Hawthorne ES - October 10th | 7:30 am - 8:30 am

-Hawthorne Foundation Fundraiser - October 25th | 6:00 pm -10: 00 pm | See Flyer Below

Go Hornets 🐝

Proud to Serve,

Principal Henley
#OneTeamOneDream #WeAreALLIN

TWITTER

🌍 Hawthorne ES invites you to our International Night! 🎉

📅 Thursday, October 9th
🕕 6:00 PM
📍 Hawthorne Elementary School

Join us for an evening of cultural celebration as we explore traditions, food, music, and performances from around the world. This is a wonderful opportunity for our school community to come together and celebrate the rich diversity that makes Hawthorne shine!

✨ As part of the celebration, we invite all families to join our Parade of Nations! Show your pride by representing your heritage, culture, or traditions—come dressed in cultural attire, wave your flags, and walk with us as we showcase the beauty of our global community.

We can’t wait to see you there!!!

Dear Families,

Parent conferences begin Tuesday, September 30th! These meetings are a valuable opportunity to partner with your child’s teacher, review progress, and set goals for continued growth.

Key Information:

• Conferences will be held during the school day by grade level.

• Each conference will last about 20 minutes—please arrive on time.

• Grade-level sign-up details will be shared by your child’s teacher.

-1st Grade Parent/Teacher Fall Conferences-Tuesday, September 30th
-2nd Grade Parent/Teacher Fall Conferences-Wednesday, October1st
-3rd Grade Parent/Teacher Fall Conferences- Thursday, October 2nd
-4th Grade Parent/Teacher Fall Conferences -Friday, October 3rd
-5th Grade Parent/Teacher Fall Conferences - Monday, October 6th
-KK Parent/ Teacher Fall Conferences- Tuesday, October 7th

If you are unable to attend at your scheduled time, please contact your child’s teacher to arrange an alternate option.

We look forward to connecting with you and working together to support every child’s success!

You are ALL invited to an exciting event where students and families will journey across the globe through literacy and culture!

🤠 THIS Thursday, October, 2nd

🕕 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

🏫 Pleasantdale ES School

✨ What’s in Store:
Structured Literacy Activities – Hands-on learning tied directly to literacy goals

• Literature from Around the World – Folktales, stories, and books that inspire curiosity and imagination
• Engaging Literacy Stations – Fun, interactive, and educational for all ages
• Family-Friendly Cultural Experiences – A chance to explore traditions and celebrations from many countries

WE have to WIN and BE the school with the most PARENT participation, please mark your calendars!!!

Join us as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, a time to honor the rich cultures, histories, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans. From art and music to science, leadership, and education, the Hispanic community has helped shape our nation in countless meaningful ways.

From September 15th to October 15th. This is a time dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the rich history, culture, and countless contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States.

Unlike many observances, this celebration begins in the middle of September and concludes in the middle of October, reflecting the independence anniversaries of several Latin American countries.

This month-long recognition provides us the opportunity to learn, reflect, and honor the traditions and achievements that have shaped our communities and continue to inspire generations.

👉 Please click on the video above to share with your children to learn more about this month.

A big shoutout to our track coaches Ms. Shegog & Ms. Martin and our track teams for an outstanding performance at their track meet, your hard work and dedication truly showed! Our next game is Saturday, October 4th, the time and location is TBD. Come out in HES attire to cheer on our student athletes.

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.

A big thank you to the Safety & Wellness Committee for spearheading this wonderful initiative for our school community!

We look forward to seeing our students and families walking or biking together!

Do you have a 4th- or 5th-grade student who loves to dance? Don’t miss the chance to be part of our Elementary Competitive Dance Team!

📝 Registration is open now through November 18.
💃 Season kicks off December 1.

This is a great opportunity for students to showcase their talent, build teamwork skills, and represent our school with pride.

Key Dates:

• December 1st - First Day of Practice
• January 17th - First Match
• January 24th - Second Match
• January 31st - Area Championship
• February 7th - County Championship

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

MORNING INTERVENTIONS & EXTENTIONS TIME DAILY - 7:15 am

Tardy bell - 7:45 am

Morning announcements begin at 7:45 am

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:

• Late Arrival: Students arriving after 7:45 AM must be checked in by a parent/guardian inside the school office.

• 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:

• Dismissal ends at 2:45 PM.

• Any student not picked up by 2:45 PM, upon arrival -parents will need to complete the Late Pick-Up Roster.

• 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!

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:

1. Complete the Volunteer Application and Release Form:

• English Application
• Spanish Application

2. Review and Complete the DCSD Volunteer Code of Conduct:

• English Code of Conduct
• Spanish Code of Conduct

3. 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 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!

Hawthorne ES has the BEST events—hands down! From unforgettable family nights to, spirit wear, staff appreciation, and more… our PTA is behind it all!

But we can’t do it without YOU.

Whether you can volunteer your time, share your ideas, or simply stay connected, your involvement makes a huge difference in our school community. Every parent is welcome and every voice matters!

🦅 Why join the PTA?
✔️ Help plan amazing events
✔️ Support teachers and students
✔️ Build community
✔️ Stay in the loop

Let’s work together to make this the best year yet at Hawthorne ES!

**** DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE ****

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