Weekly Update

Fall Sports Season Wraps Up

Our fall sports season comes to a close and a big shout out to their very competitive seasons. We are grateful to all of our student-athletes, coaches, and supporters for their dedication and hard work. The teams displayed exceptional sportsmanship and skill throughout the season.

Coffee Chat

I would like to personally invite all parents to our upcoming Principals Coffee Chat. The Decatur Parents Network, in partnership with DPI, will speak with parents about marijuana, hemp-derived intoxicants, and other easily obtainable "local store" drugs (i.e. Kratom). This will be another great opportunity for parents to get as many resources as possible to help our kids navigate this world. We’ll begin at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, October 25.

Water Drive

Due to the number of parents, students, and generous donations from Crystal Springs water, we have exceeded our initial goal of 5,000 bottles of water and currently have just over 8,000 bottles to donate to hurricane relief efforts. So let's take it up a notch and see if we can double our goal and get to 10,000 bottles of water! The Beacon Hill Middle School GENTS are still taking donations through Friday, October 18. We will be collecting cases of bottled water in the front lobby of Beacon Hill Middle School. If you'd like to contribute to our efforts, please drop off your donations between 8-9 a.m.

CSD State of the Schools Address

On Friday, October 11, BHMS students participated in the first-ever CSD State of the Schools address. The morning began with amazing performances from the Beacon Hill orchestra, led by orchestra teacher Mr. Bobby Crosby, and from the chorus, led by chorus teacher Dr. David Hirschorn. These students joined Superintendent Dr. Gyimah Whitaker as she reflected on her inaugural year as Superintendent, emphasizing CSD's academic successes, the achievements of the All In Decatur strategic plan, and ongoing efforts to close the achievement gap. Attendees included CSD stakeholders and supporters, local and state elected officials, senior leaders from the Georgia Department of Education, senior administrators from Georgia higher education institutions, four university presidents, business and non-profit leaders, and CSD officials. Thank you to everyone who attended!

Best regards,

Derrick Thomas, Principal

The Beacon Hill Middle School GENTS are taking the water drive up a notch! Due to the number of parents, students, and generous donations from Crystal Springs water, we have exceeded our initial goal of 5,000 bottles of water and currently have just over 8,000 bottles. So let's see if we can double our goal and get to 10,000 bottles of water. Tomorrow, Friday, October 18, is the last day to contribute to our efforts! Please drop off your donations between 8-9 a.m.

Year three of Adopt-a-Stream! Our eighth grade science team is continuing to monitor the Wylde Center stream by participating in the Adopt-a-Stream program. Students are attending a chemical monitoring workshop with GA Adopt-a-Stream to learn how to use chemistry to test local waterways for stream health. Throughout the year, students will visit and submit data to the GA Adopt-a-Stream online database. Thank you to Mr. Beuer for his leadership in implementing this program, and the entire science team, parents, and community for all the support.

Over 1,200 students participated in Youth Votes this year! Huge shout-out to Ms. Coyle and Mr. Bartl for organizing and leading a mock election in all social studies classes and for hosting the Youth Votes! Our students had a blast researching candidates and casting their votes, getting a real taste of civic engagement. It was a fantastic hands-on learning experience, and who knows, we might just have some future leaders among us! 👏 #FutureVoters #BHMSCivics

As we work towards our goal of ensuring that all eighth-grade students have a public library card and access to all their amazing digital resources, we are thankful for the continued support of the youth services team at the Decatur Library. Our local librarians have already processed over 250 new card applications!

Our Continental League Math League team is gearing up for an exciting season of problem-solving and competition. Eighth grade veteran CML students and sponsor Ms. Nicks are guiding students to tackle complex problems with creativity and strategic thinking! For more information, email Ms. Nicks at jnicks@csdecatur.net.

The Beacon Hill Counseling staff has started receiving weekend food bags that we are able to send home with any students that may be experiencing some food insecurities. These bags include things such as granola bars, oatmeal, microwavable mac & cheese, and other non-perishable food items. If your family could benefit from receiving these items, please reach out to counselor Jordon Muse at jordon.muse@csdecatur.net.

We previously communicated that all students enrolled in a PE class in CSD would be taking part in the state’s new Fit GA fitness assessment this year. However, due to continued, unresolved technical issues with the state’s new Fit GA platform, CSD has decided to waive participation in the Fit GA assessment for the 2024-25 school year. While some classes and students already participated in a pre-test, no classes or students will be post-tested this year.

BHMS Celebrates Digital Citizenship Week with a Digital Citizenship and Device care Contest! Click here for information!

Buy your student a ticket, and please sign up to donate AND volunteer.

Date: Friday, October 18

Time: 4-5:30 p.m.

Place: BHMS Cafeteria

Tickets: Buy $5 tickets here

Donations and Volunteer SignUp Genius: https://bit.ly/8thGradeVols

The BHMS PBIS Store is open each Friday from now through the Thanksgiving break. We need volunteers for a 50-minute time slot during each grade’s lunch period. Can’t be on site to volunteer? Please consider donating treats to stock the store, particularly full-sized candy and candy bars. Sign up here to volunteer. https://bit.ly/PBIS-Store

What students and parents are saying about the PBIS Store"

“Bark points are a great way to get rewarded in school. They motivate students to work harder. I look forward to using my Bark points to buy snacks and candy.” — Angel, BHMS student

“Today was busy and tons of enthusiasm from the students about redeeming their Bark points!” — Vanessa, BHMS volunteer and parent

Walk & Roll Winners: Thank you to the 564 students who participated in last week’s International Walk & Roll to School Day! We had three WIN Time classes with 100% participation. Congratulations to Mr. Tucciarone’s class for winning the Chick-fil-A breakfast this coming Friday and Quest-branded flashlights. Our lucky staff participant winning a Chick-fil-A gift card and Quest flashlight is Sra. Brendle.

Drop & Walk: Did you know that there is a dedicated “Drop & Walk” area on the Agnes Scott campus? Avoid the confusion and back-up of the drop off lanes at the school.

In addition, our BHMS administration, together with the Safe Routes to School Committee and the City of Decatur, has created a traffic plan for our school. In an effort to focus on both safety and ease of the school drop-off experience, we’ve outlined a few best practices to educate and bring awareness to the ideal experience.

Watch for details to come about our November Drop & Walk raffle!

Silver Wave Tour: Georgia

Saturday, October 19, 7-9 p.m., Atlanta Friends Meeting (701 W. Howard Ave., Decatur)

Join Third Act Georgia for what promises to be a riveting dialogue between environmentalist, author and journalist Bill McKibben and Bill Sapp of the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) about elders, climate change and the upcoming elections. Register here.

Bill McKibben is founder of Third Act, which organizes people over the age of 60 to work on climate and racial justice. He founded the first global grassroots climate campaign, 350.org, and serves as the Schumann Distinguished Professor in Residence at Middlebury College in Vermont. In 2014, he was awarded the Right Livelihood Prize, sometimes called the “alternative Nobel,” in the Swedish Parliament. He also has won the Gandhi Peace Award and earned honorary degrees from 19 colleges and universities.

Bill Sapp is a senior attorney with SELC, the largest nonprofit, nonpartisan environmental legal advocacy organization rooted in and focused on the South. Since 2007, Mr. Sapp has been fighting to protect and preserve wetlands throughout SELC’s region. A major achievement in his career involves the largest blackwater wetland in North America: the Okefenokee Swamp in south Georgia. He built a coalition of environmental organizations, with more than 5 million members, that advocates for long-term protection of the 438,000-acre Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and opposes efforts to mine adjacent to the refuge.

The Glennwood Elementary PTA is seeking BHMS students to help at their upcoming Fall Carnival and Chili Cook Off on Sunday, October 20. View the volunteer form and select any slots not associated with a specific class.

Student volunteers also are needed for the annual Diwali Celebration organized by the CSD PTA/PTO DEI committees. All are invited to attend the event, which features food, drinks, crafts, music and other performances, from 5 pm to 7 pm at Oakhurst Elementary on Saturday, October 26. Sign up here.

Supper & Sips Returns!

Grab your friends and neighbors and help us celebrate the return of Decatur Education Foundation's highly-anticipated fall FUNdraiser - Supper & Sips! Join us on Thursday, Nov. 14th, from 6-10 pm at The Chapel on Sycamore for an evening of food, fun, and fellowship - all for a good cause. The Supper provides crucial support for DEF, allowing us to continue our work addressing unmet needs, providing enriching opportunities, and supporting our educators.

Get your tickets today! Interested in sponsorship opportunities? Email Meagan@DecaturEducationFoundation.org.

STEP UP for Decatur Youth!

DEF was founded more than 20 years ago by a group of residents who wanted to ensure that EVERY student in CSD had what they needed to learn and thrive. Today, DEF's mission remains focused on Decatur's kids and educators, and we are still 100% reliant on the support of the Decatur community. DEF puts the community's contributions where they will have the biggest impact on our students, and DEF's Step Up Circle is a special group of supporters that allows us to operate programs like Lighten the Load, Teacher Innovation Grants, behavioral health support, arts programming, and so much more. There are also benefits - for both businesses and individuals - to joining DEF's Step Up Circle (beyond the warm and fuzzy feeling you get from supporting Decatur's kids!). Visit https://decatureducationfoundation.org/step-up-circle/ to learn more about the different giving levels.

You can find more information on the following:

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