CSD Weekly: September 18, 2025

• Did You Know? Infinite Campus will be Unavailable During Fall Break, Sept. 23-25.
• Mark Your Calendars: CSD Reads Week, Superintendent's Listening Sessions
• Around CSD: CSD Celebrates National Arts in Education Week, DHS Ninth-Grade Volleyball Team Finishes Inaugural Season Strong, Author Emily Bowen Cohen Visits Talley Street
• Information and Resources: CSD Administering BASC-3 BESS in Grades 3-12
• Community Partner News: Last Chance for DEF Innovation Grants, DEF Save the Dates

Find out what's happening in CSD schools by clicking on your school's newsletter name.

College Heights Connection

Clairemont Bulldog

Glennwood Eagle Edition

Oakhurst Weekly

Westchester Weekly

Winnona Park Wildcat Weekly

F.Ave Falcon Flyer

Talley Street Update

BHMS Weekly Update

DHS Weekly Update

Infinite Campus will be unavailable during Fall Break, Sept. 23-25, to allow for an important server update. Outages or limited access to Infinite Campus Portals, including Campus parent and student portals, portal apps, and online registration, will begin Tuesday, September 23, at 9 p.m. and could continue through Thursday, September 25, at 5 p.m. We appreciate your patience and understanding while we perform these essential updates.

• Georgia Reads Day, September 22
• Fall Break, September 22-26
• CSD Reads Week, September 29-October 8
• Superintendent's Fall Listening Session, October 2, 5:30 p.m., DHA Community Center
• NFPA Fire Prevention Week, October 5-11
• Superintendent's Fall Listening Session, October 9, 5:30 p.m., Talley St.
• Board of Education Meeting, October 14
• Superintendent's Fall Listening Session, October 16, 11:30 a.m., Virtual
• Student Support Services Transition Fair, October 16, 5 p.m., Ebster Recreation Center

Theater, design, visual arts, and music are among the many art forms celebrated during National Arts in Education Week, September 14-20. Arts in Education Week promotes the idea that every student deserves the opportunity to create, innovate, and thrive through the arts. CSD consistently receives recognitions and awards in a variety of art education programs. Thank you to the incredible CSD educators, students, and community who support and champion the arts year-round.

It was a season of wins for the DHS ninth-grade volleyball team, which finished its inaugural season 13-1, following its final game this week. Well done to the team for its hard work, and thank you to Coach Kat Parler for her guidance. Congratulations!

Ninth-grade volleyball team:

Ashley Dickson, Marley Ericson, Amaia Guallini-Medina, Juliet Janke, Sian Kim, Kennedy Lester, Lily McCown, Julia Mikes, Charleigh Peyer, and Emery Wamstad

Author Emily Bowen Cohen visited Talley Street as part of National Literacy Month to talk with students about her graphic novel, Two Tribes, a story she based on her own life growing up Jewish and Muskogee. She shared about the history and similarities of both groups of people and described how some artists represent emotions through their drawings.

During Glennwood's National Literacy Month celebrations, school counselor Jonathan Blase engaged second-graders with a read-aloud of David Shannon's book No, David! He taught valuable lessons on social problem-solving and appropriate school behavior, incorporating mindfulness activities, humorous food jokes, and even a dance party.

Music is an integral part of the curricula across CSD. Glennwood kindergarteners in Joseph Crabb's music class learned to keep a steady rhythm using pool noodles, and Talley St. fifth-grader Nate Wallace belted out Disney songs. DHS seniors in Shelby Coffin's class dove into the cultural, political, and technological influences of different musical genres, analyzing songs and music videos to uncover significant global issues.

This week, CSD joins in the annual recognition of IT professionals nationally. CSD's IT professionals ensure our educational technology and network security are operating seamlessly, while fostering technological innovations that enrich learning experiences. Thank you to our dedicated CSD IT professionals.

CSD IT professionals, left to right:

Marcus Ray, Mike Reynolds, Harold Rall, Lisa Jones, Stephen Moore, Carol Gipson, Ramous Fields, Jason Wade, Vu Nguyen, Kiet Le, Christopher Leonard, Derrick Burgess, and Eston Melton (Chief of Safety and Technology Services). Not pictured: Jules Shelkoff and Robyn Tibbetts

CSD honors its Human Resources Department by celebrating HR Professionals Day on Sept. 26. HR plays a vital role in CSD, supporting educators, staff, and administrators by fostering a positive work environment, ensuring fair hiring practices, and promoting professional growth. Thank you to our HR professionals for the impact they make every day.

CSD HR professionals, left to right:

Winona Archie, Jasmine Lupoe, Sarah Talton-Buck, Adena Walker (Chief Human Resources Officer), Britney Terrell, and Jenny Wynne. Not pictured: HR contractors Marcia Bryant Fowler and Reggie Parrish

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.

Families wishing to opt out must complete the opt-out form by September 19, 2025.

National Literacy Month promotes reading, writing, and lifelong learning. Learners of all ages are encouraged to read, visit libraries, and engage in language-rich activities to develop strong literacy skills.

From September 29 to October 8, CSD will celebrate Georgia Reads Day and the beginning of Dyslexia Awareness Month by hosting various engaging literacy and awareness events. The week will kick off with a read-aloud by Superintendent Dr. Whitaker, followed by a Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB) livestream featuring Georgia Reads Coach Malcolm Mitchell. Schools will participate in a "Buckets of Books" drive, collecting gently used books for Children Read Atlanta. Community involvement will be encouraged through guest reader opportunities, including parents, staff, and Board of Education members. Students will engage in the Rock for Dyslexia activity by painting awareness-themed rocks.

The week will conclude with another read-aloud by Dr. Whitaker and "Go Red for Dyslexia," where students and staff are encouraged to wear red to support dyslexia awareness. CSD families are also encouraged to attend the Decatur Book Festival, October 3-5, 2025. Let's read, CSD!

As a reminder, CSD requires all enrolled students to have current residency documents on file. Families are encouraged to proactively submit new paperwork if they have recently updated their lease or know their lease on file has expired. Families with expired leases on file will receive communication with directions on how to submit updated residency documents. Please give prompt attention to this updated lease request to avoid student withdrawal. For more information, please contact your school or email Patrice Moore, district enrollment specialist, at pmoore@csdecatur.net. Additional information about residency paperwork is also available on the district's registration webpage.

As we transition into the fall and winter months, respiratory illnesses like the common cold and flu often increase. These illnesses exhibit similar symptoms, risk factors, and preventive measures.

If your child has tested positive for respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19, flu, and RSV, please inform your school immediately to minimize spreading. Students may return to school once their symptoms have improved and they have been fever-free for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medication. If a physician prescribes an antibiotic, DeKalb Public Health mandates that students must follow the treatment for 24 hours before they can return. This responsible action is essential to our collective effort to keep our school community safe.

Please note that federal regulations protect student health information. The school administration will maintain the confidentiality of this information, sharing it only with DeKalb Public Health when legally required.

Additionally, please remember to adhere to the following precautions:

• Remain at home if feeling unwell. If a fever is present, stay home for 24 hours.

• Cover coughs and sneezes with your elbow or a tissue, and dispose of it immediately.

• Avoid coughing into your bare hands.

• Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

• Regularly clean commonly touched surfaces and objects.

These precautions and the actions outlined for returning to school after illness will help protect our students, ensuring they remain healthy, safe, and ready to learn.

Got an idea that would spark learning, build community, or make school more awesome? DEF invites teachers and students to make "Wouldn’t it be cool if..." a reality with Teacher Innovation Grants (TIG) and Student Innovation Grants (SIGs)! Whether you’re a teacher or a student, we want to help you get the funding to bring it to life. The TIG and SIG cycle is now open for applications. Learn more and submit your idea here by Friday, September 19.

Congratulations to Glennwood's parent band, Flock of Eagles, for winning back-to-back Decatur Education Foundation Battle of the Bands and taking home the $1000 music grant from DEF. Thank you to the nearly 800 community members who came out to support their schools and music education.

Register now to race in or sponsor the Madison Avenue Derby on Saturday, October 25, a beloved Decatur tradition featuring gravity-powered, soapbox derby-style cars competing for speed and style! Proceeds from this year's event benefit the DEF Lighten the Load program. Find race registration, sponsorship opportunities and more information at madavederby.org.

Supper and Sips, DEF's annual auction and gala event, will be Thursday, November 6. Tickets and more will be available soon.

The City of Decatur is extending the deadline for youth applicants in high school for the Environmental Sustainability Board and the Better Together Advisory Board.

Youth terms are two years, and applicants should consider their extracurricular schedules when applying. Applicants should fill out a "Statement of Interest" for the applicable committee, found here, and send completed forms to andrea.arnold@decaturga.com by Tuesday, September 30.

City of Decatur Parks and Recreation commits to providing exceptional experiences that foster healthy living and meaningful community connections. Please visit the DPRD programs website for information about after-school programs, school holiday programs, and summer camps. Follow Decatur Parks and Recreation on Facebook and Instagram or sign up for their monthly newsletter here.

A Season of Giving is thrilled to support K-12 students again this year! This annual neighbor-led effort bringing joy to local children and seniors through personalized gifts.

Want to Give Back?

• Sponsor – Choose a wish list and shop for a child or senior.
  
• Donate – Let us do the shopping with your contribution.
  
• Volunteer – Lend a hand and help spread the joy!

Apply for gift assistance by October 31. Email aseasonofgivingdecatur@gmail.com with questions.

College Heights Connection • Clairemont Bulldog • Glennwood Eagle Edition • Oakhurst Weekly • Westchester Weekly • Winnona Park Wildcat Weekly • F.Ave Falcon Flyer • Talley Street Update • BHMS Weekly Update • DHS Weekly Update

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