Weekly Update

Thank you to everyone who joined our Coffee Chat last week! Mark your calendars for our next session on March 28, where we’ll discuss “Test Anxiety” and share helpful tips for parents as we approach the Spring testing season.

We also invite you to our annual Student/Teacher Basketball Game on Thursday, March 13, 2025, from 5:00 – 6:30 PM. This exciting event will feature fun halftime activities for kids, making it an enjoyable evening for all.We look forward to seeing you there!

Best regards,

Derrick L. Thomas

Unable to attend last weeks coffee chat on adolescent mental health? Check out the recording below. Save the date for the next Principals Coffee Chat March 28th at 9am.

Please take our school’s climate survey and make your opinion count! This survey expires March 31, 2025. These surveys are the measures by which GaDOE determine each school’s climate, and the results are a part of each school's CCRPI results. Schools with fewer than 15 family responses will lose one star from their overall School Climate Rating. Your voice is valued and vital! Please take the Beacon Hill Family Climate Survey.

We are thrilled to announce that Ms. Vickery has received the Good Equity Troublemaker Award (GET)! Ms. Vickery consistently goes above and beyond for all students and their families. She builds strong relationships through regular family meetings and advocates for enriching opportunities like field trips and in-school experiences. She advocates for student schedules that meet the needs of students and tirelessly works to ensure equitable experiences for every student. Ms. Vickery's dedication to students' success includes pursuing a PhD in special education while teaching and volunteering! Beyond the classroom, she's a force for positive change, leading the girls' flag football team, supporting after-school tutorials, and ensuring students have the resources to succeed. Congratulations, Ms. Vickery, on this well-deserved recognition!

BHMS had 5 students qualify from our school-wide competition, and compete in the Great History Challenge regional competition on Thursday. All 5 of our students qualified for the national level championship, and Avi, Brock and Ethan were grade level champions! A big shout out to Mrs. Liz Williams for her sponsorship of the Great History Challenge Regional Competition. These amazing historians are: (from left to right): Avi Newman, Brock Scott, Ethan Whalin, Oden Smith, Declan Llewellyn

BHMS boys basketball made an exciting run in the DeKalb County Basketball League Playoffs. Two players were selected for the Dekalb County All-Star team: Hugh Olandt and Hollis Rucker. Thank you to Coach Philippi and Coach Hardwick.

Our Bulldogs will compete in the All-Star game on March 1. We are proud of these Bulldogs, their teammates, and their coaches. These awards not only recognize individual talents but also the effort and accomplishments of the entire team.

Leighellen Lucas – 8th Grade

Stella Rucker – 7th Grade

Hugh Olandt – 8th Grade

Hollis Rucker – 8th Grade

Last Friday's Atlanta Hawks game got a special halftime treat! Fans were delighted by the soaring harmonies of the Beacon Hills chorus, bringing a touch of musical magic to the court! The BHMS chorus, led by choral director Dr. David Hirschorn, kicked off the Atlanta Hawks game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, performing the national anthem. City of Decatur families and Superintendent Dr. Gyimah Whitaker attended to support the chorus and enjoy the performance.

Throughout February, Beacon Hill Middle School proudly celebrated Black History Month with a variety of activities designed to educate and inspire our students. These events highlighted the accomplishments of Black leaders, innovators, and trailblazers who have shaped our world.

This year’s programming included:

Black History Month Door Decorating Contest (HBCU or Influential Individual Theme)
Classrooms came to life with creative and informative door displays honoring historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) or notable Black figures. Teachers and students collaborated on these vibrant designs (S. Nathaniel's display pictured).

4th Annual Mentorship Career Symposium
Students in our mentorship programs participated in a full-day symposium featuring underrepresented professionals from various fields. These inspiring guest speakers shared their experiences, career paths, and words of wisdom with our students.

Black History Profiles on the Morning Bow Wow
Each morning, students learned about influential Black leaders through special Black History Month segments on our daily news show, The Morning Bow Wow.

Black History Trivia – Bow Wow Edition
Students put their knowledge to the test for BARK points, in a Black History Month trivia competition, aired on The Morning Bow Wow. This fun and educational event encouraged friendly competition while deepening students’ understanding of history.

At Beacon Hill Middle School, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and enriching learning environment. Celebrating Black History Month allows our students to engage with history in meaningful ways while honoring the achievements and contributions of Black individuals past and present.

Thank you to our teachers, staff, and students for making this month a success!

The BHMS French club, with the support of our P'TA, enjoyed some Mardi Gras fun as they participated in the Mead Road Mardi Gras parade on Saturday, March 1st. Our club enjoyed being part of the krewe that walked the parade route distributing beads and candy to excited spectators. A festive time was had by all as we lived up to the Mardi Gras catch phrase "Laissez le bon temps rouler!" Thank you Ms. Matthews-Brooks for your dedication to supporting students and to the PTA for supporting this event!

Scoliosis screening is a requirement for all students in the 6th and 8th grades who attend public school in Georgia. The Screening Schedule will be:

Please see the linked letter for details.

March is Women’s History Month, a great time to introduce your child to the incredible contributions of women in history, science, literature, and beyond. Simple, everyday activities can help bring these stories to life and inspire your child to dream big.

Here are a few easy ways to celebrate:

• Read books about inspiring women – Check out Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed for younger kids or Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly for older readers.

• Watch an educational video or documentary – Explore stories of trailblazing women with Hidden Figures or short biographies on PBS Kids or TED-Ed.

• Write or draw about a woman they admire – Encourage your child to write a thank-you note or draw a picture of an inspiring woman in their life.

• Take a virtual museum tour – Visit the National Women’s History Museum online for kid-friendly exhibits.

Want more ideas? Read the full post on our PREP Project website for additional ways to celebrate Women’s History Month with your child!

Thank you to our partners at the Decatur Education Foundation and Beacon Hill PTA for supporting our free resources!

BHMS young poets have been writing and preparing to share their amazing voices. These young poets have been working and learning from a professional, award-winning, and teaching resident, Teresa Davis! This unique opportunity was made possible by the generosity of BHMS PTA and the Decatur Education Foundation. If you know a student interested in participating in the poetry slam, please have them reach out to their ELA teacher. There are 4 work sessions left and they need to attend a minimum of 2 sessions before the dress rehearsal.

Remember to join us for a night of spoken word and music! Free admission for all! Save the Date!

Tuesday, March 11, 2025 from 6:30 - 8:30 at the DHS Performing Arts Center.

Open to sixth graders only, the party begins when school is dismissed. Students will be directed to the cafeteria where chaperones will be ready to greet them. This is not a formal dance, and students can wear what they wear to school. Admission is $5 per student. Purchase tickets here. Snacks will be sold for $1 each. (Please send small bills. Credit cards and mobile payment also will be accepted.) PLEASE NOTE: The dance will end at 5 pm instead of 5:30 pm.

Parents, it’s not too late to sign up and help! Please look at the signup and help as you are able. If you can’t volunteer in person, then consider donating some of the drinks and snacks on the list for concessions. Thank you!

The Seventh Grade Spring Dance will be held Friday, March 21 from 4 pm to 5:30 pm in the BHMS Cafeteria. Purchase tickets at https://givebutter.com/9wJQtN. Parents, interested in helping out at the dance, purchasing snacks/decorations or sending in a cooler/ice? Sign up here.

Raising middle schoolers can be hard. Would you like to talk about it...or anything else...with other BHMS parents? Join us for a casual meet-up of BHMS parents and caregivers at Waller's Coffee Shop (240 DeKalb Industrial Way) on Saturday, March 8 from 8:30 am to 10:30 am. (Our first meet-up was such a success, we decided to make it monthly!) Drop in for a few minutes or the whole time...because it takes a village.

BHMS has organized its “Georgia Walk + Roll” Day for Tuesday, March 11. PTA and Safe Routes to School (SRTS) committee members will distribute raffle tickets to walking/rolling/riding students and award the class with the highest percentage of participants a Chick-fil-A breakfast.

(NOTE: CORRECTED REGISTRATION LINK)

In partnership with the BHMS PTA Parent Support subcommittee, FORM yoga is generously hosting a free 90-minute yoga and mindfulness session to BHMS parents and caregivers. The session will be a “gentle, intimidation-free yoga practice with the opportunity to explore a few mindfulness tools.” There also will be some time for connecting with other parents and caregivers and a special package offer for anyone interested in becoming a member of FORM after the event. Space is limited, so please register here. You will have to make an account in the app in order to complete the registration process.

When: Saturday, March 22, 2 pm to 3:30 pm

Where: FORM yoga, 533 W. Howard Ave., Unit D (right next to Thinking Man Tavern and Clubhouse Kid and Kraft)

Why: Because we all could use some support, connection and stress relief!

The PBIS Store is seeking donations from our Amazon Wish List or SignUpGenius in order to stock the store for our students. We also need volunteers to work a 50-minute slot during student lunch hours. You do not need to sign up for your child’s lunch period. (In fact, they might prefer you chose another grade’s lunch instead!) We appreciate your generosity and support.

Thank you to our amazing group of sponsors who have helped support the 2024-2025 school year. Interested in becoming a sponsor for next school year? Reach out to Laura Spriggs, our fundraising chair at fundraising@bhmspta.org.

Students, are you looking for volunteer hours? Families, do you want to have some local fun? Then mark your calendars for the following CSD events.

The 2025-2026 CSD enrollment opens on Monday, March 3, for rising Kindergarten students or students new to CSD. Registration may be completed entirely online. Find more registration information here.

New Families: See CSD's Key Contacts & Resources for Families, available in multiple languages.

REMINDER: If your currently enrolled student has a sibling who will be new to CSD for the 2025-2026 school year, you must register this new sibling via the Parent Portal.

1. Select "More" from the menu in the Parent Portal.

2. Select "Annual Data Update."

3. Select "2025-2026 New Student Registration."

As part of the enrollment process, you will also need to email residency documentation to CSD's district enrollment specialist, Patrice Moore, at pmoore@csdecatur.net, as the Parent Portal will not allow you to change or upload this field. Information about required residency proof documents is available on the CSD website. Please contact pmoore@csdecatur.net or 404-371-3601 x1063 for assistance.

To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, support strong school attendance, and encourage safe in-person learning, the U.S. Department of Education, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is offering free, rapid, at-home COVID-19 tests to school districts for distribution to students, staff, and families. Starting this week, free COVID-19 test kits will be available in school clinics for pickup from the school nurse.

To maintain the health and wellness of school-aged children and adolescents, the state of Georgia requires that students receive vaccinations for vaccine-preventable diseases before and while attending school.

The CSD School Health Team continuously assesses the immunization status of all CSD students. Parents/guardians of students with expired immunization certificates, Form #3231, or invalid immunization documentation will receive a notification from the school clinic team requesting that the student obtain the required vaccinations for school attendance. A medical exemption on Form #3231 with a current expiration date should be noted, if applicable. See the Georgia Department of Health's child and adolescent vaccination schedule.

According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, a valid immunization certificate, Form #3231, or a notarized Affidavit of Religious Exemption, Form 2208, is required for school attendance. If a certificate marked with a "Date of Expiration" expires on the date indicated, a current certificate must be submitted within 30 days of expiration.

Adherence to this guidance is crucial. Being adequately vaccinated safeguards the health and well-being of individual students and contributes to the school community's overall safety and vitality. Additionally, ensuring students are immunized creates a protective barrier that minimizes the risks of outbreaks within the school population. Please contact your child’s school clinic team with any questions.

Tour deCatur Registration is Open!

Get ready, get set, get registered for Decatur Education Foundation's 23rd annual Tour deCatur! Sign up at www.tourdecatur.com!

The fun happens on Saturday, March 15, at the Decatur High School stadium. This year, in addition to the 5k (a Peachtree qualifier), the 1-Mile Fun Run, and the adorable Tot Trot (for our friends ages four and under), DEF is offering a "None-Run" for anyone who wants to support Decatur kids without breaking a sweat! This is DEF's largest fundraiser and supports programs and initiatives that remove obstacles, provide opportunities, support educators, and strengthen the Decatur community!

To prepare for the race, all K-2 elementary schools in the district are participating in the iRun program, which teaches students the fundamentals of fitness skills that make running, jogging, and walking enjoyable and safe and prepares them to run the one-mile fun run in March. For more information about DEF's initiatives and how you can get involved, please visit www.decatureducationfoundation.org.

You can find more information on the following:

Read recent issues of the weekly update below. Older issues of CSD Weekly may be found on CSD's district newsletter webpage or on our BHMS website

• BHMS Weekly Update - February 13

• BHMS Weekly Update- February 6

• BHMS Weekly Update - January 23

Social Media pages:

• CSDBeaconhllmiddleschool Facebook page
• BeaconhillPTA Facebook page
• CSDbeaconhill Instagram page
• Beaconhllmiddleart Instagram page

Other:

• Whom to contact if list
• Counseling Website
• School Website