CSD Weekly, December 5, 2024

• School Newsletters: See What's Happening in Our Schools!

• DHS Club Honors Custodial Staff and the Bulldog Swim Team Wins the First Meet

• District Updates: Just Right Readers Arrive, School Climate Survey Opens, and More!

• Community News: School Grants and Events

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

Beacon Hill Weekly Update

DHS Weekly Update

DVA Weekly Update

• STAR Assessments, December 2-13
• Decatur Holiday Marketplace & Cafe, December 13-14

• Early Release Day, December 19
  

• Winter Break, December 20-January 6

K-12 students will participate in the STAR Early Literacy, Reading, and Math Assessments during the winter screening period, which runs from December 2-6 and December 9-13. CSD compares the results from this winter assessment with those from the previous fall screening to monitor growth and tailor instruction to meet each student's unique needs. These assessments play a vital role in supporting students' ongoing success. Families can follow these instructions to opt-in for receiving the STAR Assessment results.

Congratulations to the DHS swim team on last week's win at the Woodward-Midtown dual meets!

The Gentlemen of Quality Club at DHS recognized the hard work of the custodial staff by assisting them with lunch cleanup and transitions for November's project. During this initiative, the students expressed their appreciation to the custodial team on-site. The students involved in this effort included Mohamed Atik, Norrell Farrie, Norwenzo Farrie, Bryce Howson, Christian Jamison, Issac McCalep, Bryson Riddick-Seals, Ronin Simms, and William Smiley.

CSD is proud to announce the availability of Just Right Readers for students with disabilities who qualify, promoting an inclusive learning environment accessible to all learners and families.These decodable, engaging books are grounded in the Science of Reading principles, providing a strong foundation in phonics while fostering a love for reading. Featuring diverse characters and inclusive stories, the program supports early learners from Pre-K through 5th grade, ensuring accessibility and equitable opportunities for literacy growth. This initiative underscores our district's dedication to empowering all students with the tools to become confident, skilled readers.

A heartfelt thank you to our community for your generous contributions to CSD's programs during our first Giving Tuesday!! Your support will significantly enhance initiatives that directly influence student success and engagement at CSD. If you were unable to participate in Giving Tuesday, you can still make a donation here.

Please take a moment to participate in CSD's climate survey relevant to your school and ensure your voice is heard! Remember, these surveys will be available until March 31, 2025. Your participation is vital, as the data collected will help determine the School Climate Star Ratings for the 2025-26 school year. City Schools of Decatur values the input from parents, students, and staff!

(Note: GaDOE administers climate surveys for K-12 schools. College Heights ECLC is omitted.)

Clairemont Family Climate Survey

Glennwood Family Climate Survey

Oakhurst Family Climate Survey

Westchester Family Climate Survey

Winnona Park Family Climate Survey

F.AVE Family Climate Survey

Talley Street Family Climate Survey

Beacon Hill Family Climate Survey

DHS Family Climate Survey

The Georgia Departments of Education and Revenue are launching a student license plate design contest to commemorate the United States semiquincentennial, the 250th anniversary of the 1776 Declaration of Independence, celebrated on July 4, 2026.

The final license plate will be selected from designs submitted by students in grades six through eight in Georgia schools. See the submission guidelines and submit a design by January 31, 2025, at 5 p.m. Contact licenseplatecontest@doe.k12.ga.us with questions.

During the 2024 Legislative Session, House Bill 581 passed to establish a statewide floating homestead exemption with a local government opt-out, with the Consumer Price Index as an inflationary index. This exemption impacts property taxes for cities, counties and school districts.

As with all Constitutional amendments, the bill required voter approval. More than 55% of the City of Decatur voted in favor of the amendment, which will go into effect on January 1, 2025. HB 581 allows cities, counties, and school districts a one-time opt-out of the property tax cap.

To opt-out, a district must advertise its intent to opt out in a newspaper of general circulation, conduct at least three public hearings, adopt an opt-out resolution and file the resolution with the Secretary of State by March 1, 2025.

Public hearings are scheduled for January 14 and January 21. More details are forthcoming.

As part of CSD's commitment to ensuring safe and secure learning and working environments, below is a list of resources to help guide parents' conversations with students when discussing the possibility of violence in schools. Safety is our top priority. If you see something, please say something immediately.

• National Association of School Psychologists: School Safety and Crisis
• Mental Health America: Talking To Kids About School Safety
• Children's Mental Health and Emotional or Behavioral Disorders Project: How To Talk to Young Kids About School Safety — Even if You Think It's Too Early To Start
• Science World: Talking With Kids About School Violence and Trauma

The Decatur Student Center, located at Decatur High School, is hosting an ongoing winter clothing donation drive! Please drop off all sizes of sweatshirts, sweatpants, T-shirts, and jackets directly to the DSC. Visitors who are making a donation may check in at the DHS front desk under the spaceship to gain access to the DSC. A group of DHS volunteers will help sort and organize them for CSD students and their families who need them.

Join Decatur Performs for this year's Holiday Spectrum Concert on Monday, December 16, at 7 p.m., at First Baptist Church Decatur. This event will feature the Wind Ensemble, Advanced Orchestra, Advanced Mixed Chorus, Advanced Treble Chorus, and Tenor/Bass Chorus. Buy tickets at DecaturPerfoms.org.

• Read a New Book Month, December 1-31
• National Special Education Day, December 2
• Inclusive Schools Week, December 4-8
• International Volunteer Day, December 5
• Hour of Code/Computer Science Education Week, December 9-15

Inclusive Schools Week, December 4-8, celebrates the progress that schools have made in providing a supportive and quality education to an increasingly diverse student population, including students who are marginalized due to disability, gender, socio-economic status, cultural heritage, language preference, and other factors.

The cold weather makes December the perfect month to read a new book! Reading a good book is a great indoor activity recommended for all ages. Grab a cozy blanket and enjoy!

The Decatur Education Foundation helps Decatur's youth overcome obstacles in their path of learning. Through the community's generosity, DEF works to address unmet needs, bring learning opportunities within reach, and spark more creativity in the education of children and teens. DEF is an independent nonprofit that manages programs, designated funds, and special initiatives while working in close partnership with City Schools of Decatur.

Do you have plans for a new garden or class project for spring? Are you full of fantastic ideas for incorporating farm-to-school principles into a teaching unit? Need funds for a "green" field trip?

The Wylde Center Decatur Farm to School Committee invites you to apply for a grant for 2024/25. Teachers, administrators, PTA members, and parent volunteers can apply on behalf of their CSD school. Please get your applications in before December 13, 2024.

2024-2025 DF2S School Grant Application

City of Decatur Parks and Recreation

Upcoming DPR events include Jingle Jam and Meet and Greet with Santa. To learn more about upcoming events and programs, access the Playbook or visit their webpages:

• Decatur Recreation Center
• Ebster Recreation Center
• Oakhurst Recreation Center

Visit their one-stop-shop website for information about after-school programs, school holiday programs, and summer camps. To stay updated on all things Decatur Parks and Recreation, follow them on Facebook and Instagram or sign up for their monthly newsletter here!