WEEK 2

Dear Hawthorne Elementary Families,

🌟 Thank You for a Wonderful First Week!

What an amazing start to the school year! From smiling faces at morning drop-off to the energy in our classrooms and the teamwork at dismissal, this first week has been filled with excitement, learning, and connection.

Thank you for your ongoing support, patience, and positivity as we kicked off a brand-new year together. Your partnership makes all the difference, and we’re so grateful to have you as part of the Hawthorne community. We can’t wait for all the growth, joy, and success ahead!

Here’s to a fantastic school year! 🎉

👣 Encouraging Independence: Student Transitions

Thank you for walking your students to class during the first week—it was a joy to see so many excited families starting the year together!

Beginning this week, students will walk to their classrooms independently. This gentle transition is designed to help them build confidence, responsibility, and independence—skills that will benefit them throughout the year and beyond. We appreciate your support as our learners grow into their routines and thrive!

🔕 Silent Dismissal Update

Thank you for your patience as we rolled out our new silent dismissal process last week. Your flexibility and cooperation are helping us build a dismissal routine that is smoother, safer, and more efficient for everyone.

🚶‍♂️ Walker Dismissal Protocol Adjustment

To further ensure a safe and secure dismissal, we are implementing a numbered tag system for students in the Walker group:

Students will continue to dismiss from the side door.
Each walker will be assigned a unique number, which will be attached to their backpack.
Parents/guardians must visibly display the matching number when picking up their child.
Students will be released only when the numbers match.

Thank you for your cooperation in helping us maintain a secure and accountable system!

🏷️ Label, Label, Label!

As we settle into the school year, we kindly remind you to label all student belongings, including:

Jackets
Lunch bags
Reusable water bottles
Cardigans and sweaters

Clearly labeled items are much easier to return, helping us reduce the number of lost items and making things run smoothly for everyone.

🎧 MAP Testing Begins This Week!

We’re excited to begin NWEA MAP testing this week and want to make sure every student is set up for success.

📌 Please make sure your child brings a working pair of headphones or headsets, especially if they are:

In grades K–2, or
A student who receives accommodations through an IEP, IAP, or TPC

Headphones help students stay focused and participate in testing comfortably. Thank you for supporting your child’s learning environment during this important time!

If you have any questions, need support, or just want to connect—we're here for you. Thank you for being a vital part of the Hawthorne Hive!

Proud to Serve,
Principal Henley
#OneTeamOneDream #WeAreALLIN

Please See a Message from Dr. Horton Regarding “Unstructured Break Time”

We invite you to review an important message from Dr. Horton as he shares insights on the topic of Unstructured Break Time below:

Dear DCSD Elementary Parents and Guardians,
At DeKalb County School District (DCSD), we remain committed to the academic, physical, and social development of all students. We thank the families who have reached out to express thoughts regarding recess/unstructured break time. Your advocacy underscores the importance of collaboration between families and schools in supporting student well-being.

Georgia law O.C.G.A. § 20‑2‑323 requires that each elementary school schedule daily recess for students in kindergarten through grade five. The law does not specify a minimum duration, only that schools must include unstructured break time.
In compliance with the law, DeKalb County Board of Education’s policy since 2009 stipulates that all students in kindergarten through fifth grade are scheduled to receive at least 15 minutes of supervised, unstructured break time each school day. This time is recognized as an integral component of a child’s development and may not be withheld for disciplinary or academic reasons. The policy also emphasizes that break time must be supervised and designed to provide a safe and positive experience for students.
We recognize the importance of unstructured physical activity during the school day. Approximately 90% of our elementary schools have adhered to the policy. There were a few schools that had longer recess times and had to adjust their schedules this year to accommodate strategic targeted priorities. Schools have flexibility to schedule more time for recess if the required instructional minutes for each subject area are aligned with the school district’s expectations.
We’re excited to share that this school year, elementary students will receive 120 minutes of daily literacy instruction, which is a powerful investment in their future. Literacy is more than reading and writing. It supports learning in every subject and builds lifelong skills.
Listening to the concerns and suggestions of families is vital to our shared success. In response, the district will be reviewing the current unstructured break policy to ensure it continues to reflect best practices in child development, supports school-level flexibility, and aligns with our mission to provide enriching experiences for all students.
Thank you for your partnership and continued support of the DeKalb County School District.
Resources:
GA Code § 20-2-323 (2024)
Board Policy IEDA Recess/Unstructured Break Time
GADOE PE Requirements

The drop-off times in front of the school are below:

7:00 am

Tardy bell 7:45

Morning announcements begin at 7:45.

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)

Thank you in advance for your patience as we strive to ensure that your students are safe during arrival and dismissal during the first few weeks of 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

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/

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!

CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE HES STUDENT INFORMATION FORM

DO you know someone passionate about education and leadership? Encourage them to declare candidacy for the 2025–2026 Principal Advisory Council (PAC)! We need 1 parent to join us!

Candidate declaration is open now through Friday, September 5, 2025.

PAC members:

Promote transparency & shared decision-making
Review the Continuous School Improvement Plan (CSIP)
Help shape the school’s vision
Serve as liaisons between school and community

👉 Declare candidacy here: Candidate Declaration Form

https://form.jotform.com/electionbuddy/2025-dekalb-fall-pac-declarations.

Questions? Contact schoolgovernance@dekalbschoolsga.org or (678) 676-0718.

Let’s build strong parent and staff leaders across DeKalb!

There are also additional resources for potential candidates on our website (https://www.dekalbschoolsga.org/principal-advisory-councils/) and below:

Additional Resources for Council Elections

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!

CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE HES PTA

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HAWTHORNE PTA