Pirate Parent Newsletter

We would like to stop and share some good news concerning our staff and students.

• Congratulations to our Flag Football team who made it to the state playoffs.
• Congratulations to the Stone Mountain High FBLA. Several students placed in the region. Job Interview: Toni Lowery 9th in Region Impromptu Speaking: Saad Vanjaria 7th in Region Business Ethics Team: Alahaj Berry; Serenity Brister and Jason Nunez 3rd in Region and have advanced to State to compete for a spot at Nationals!
• Our students demonstrated amazing growth on the NWEA MAP Reading Assessment. Compared to this point last year, our students demonstrated 27% more growth. Great job Ninth and Tenth grade students and teachers!
• Our Operation PUSH team has implemented 114 post-secondary transition plans for our seniors! So far, seniors have received acceptance into 15 different colleges and universities.
• Please see our Science Club newsletter below.

Great things happen every day at our school. Thank you for trusting us with your students.

It is imperative that students attend daily but these next two weeks are critical. We are finishing Georgia Milestones testing in Algebra (Tuesday) and US History (Wednesday) and will have makeups for American Literature and Biology throughout the week. We also have final exams the week of December 16. No student can take a final exam early unless you request it with the principal for approval. Please assist us by having your students at school on time so they can finish this semester strong.

I would like to thank those parents that attended the parent assessment workshop last week. If you missed it and would like to get a personalized review of your ninth or tenth grade students data, please complete the form below and we will schedule a time to meet with you to discuss their data.

Please complete the survey below by January 17, 2025 to have a say in what you think should be the DCSD priorities for the 2026 budget. Make your voice heard!

Thanks for your interest in becoming a Volunteer for the DeKalb County School District.

• Complete the Volunteer Application And Release Form:

  https://bit.ly/DCSDVolunterApplicationAndReleaseForm

• Complete the DCSD Volunteer Code of Conduct:

  https://bit.ly/voluntercodeofconduct

Please view and complete the Mandated Reporter Video/Quiz before attending the training session:

Steps for Mandated Reporter Video/Quiz:

• Create an account (no cost)
• Choose State: GA
• Click Child Abuse and Neglect Course: Mandated Reporter
• Click Start Course
• Complete Quiz

• Save or print your certificate. Send a Copy of your certificate to DCSDvolunteer@dekalbschoolsga.org

https://www.prosolutionstraining.com/store/product/index.cfm?tDisplayAdd=1&tProductVersion_id

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The Department of Family and Community Empowerment is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting of your choice.

Topic: DCSD Volunteer Training

Time:

September 18, 2024, 12:00 PM

September 25, 2024, 12:00 PM and 6:00 PM

October 2, 2024, 12:00 PM

October 9, 2024, 12:00 PM and 6:00 PM

October 30, 2024, 12:00 PM

November 6, 12:00 PM and 6:00 PM

November 13, 2024, 12:00 PM

November 20, 2024, 12:00 PM

December 4, 2024, 12:00 PM

December 11, 2024, 12:00 PM and 6:00 PM

December 18, 2024, 12:00 PM

DCSD Volunteer is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: DCSD Volunteer Training Zoom Meeting

Join Zoom Meeting

https://dekalbschoolsga-org.zoom.us/j/85757845773

Meeting ID: 857 5784 5773

Passcode: 598219

Studies show that students who use cellphones during class are less successful academically and socially in school. DCSD is promoting the Disconnect to Reconnect policy as a means to support student academic achievement and to build positive classroom and school cultures. Please review the discipline policy in the DCSD Code of Student Conduct and provide your thoughts on the Disconnect to Reconnect initiative by clicking the link below.

Please be reminded that we are a clear bookbag school. Students will not be allowed to bring in bags that are not clear. We communicated this during Rising Ninth Grade Meetings last year and have done so throughout the summer. Students cannot enter DCSD athletic events without a clear bag as well. This is a safe schools initiative as it assists us in deterring vape pens and weapons. If you join the PTSA below and show your membership proof, we will provide your student with a clear bookbag!

It is important we have accurate address and contact information. This assists all parents by allowing us to provide you important information concerning your scholars. Additionally, for students with attendance problems, the lack of a current annual verification is a red flag that the student may not live in our attendance zone. We will ask for proof of residence in these cases and failure to provide that proof of residence will result in the student being withdrawn. Thank you to those families who have verified their contact information. We need all parents to update your address and contact information in Infinite Campus. If you currently have the Parent Portal, you can do that by clicking Annual Verification. If you do not have Parent Portal, you can contact Shenita Seidu at 678 676 6326. Please see instructions in English and Spanish below.

As you are aware, we have had struggles with having enough bus drivers in our district. I wanted to make you aware, if you are not, that we have an app that assists with bus times and route information. Please see the QR code below or enter the download information. There are also step-by-step instructions on how to set the app up attached below.

Our current average daily attendance rate last week was 87.39%. We must get better as a school in this area. Your students cannot be successful if they do not come to school.

• Any student arriving after 8:30 MUST be signed in by a parent/guardian. If a student arrives late with no parent/guardian, we will attempt to call the parent. We will do this only two times. After the second time the student arrives late after 8:30, we will ask the parent for proof of residence. The parent will have one week to submit the proof of residence. Failure to submit the proof of residence will result in withdrawal.
• We will do a tardy table for every period. Once students accumulate 7 tardies, they will be assigned In School Suspension or Saturday School (parent's choice).
• All students who have 6 or more absences will receive a 6-Day Notification letter and a referral to the school social worker.
• No student will be allowed to leave campus with anyone not on the contact list within Infinite Campus. This is why annual verification is important to complete. Please update your emergency contacts with Infinite Campus by completing Annual Verification.
• Please send excuse notes to school if your student is absent.

Volume 4: Issue 9

Email: michael_costa@dekalbschoolsga.org
Website: http://www.stonemountainhs.dekalb.k12.ga.us/
Location: 4555 Central Drive, Stone Mountain, GA, USA
Phone: 678.676.6303
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100070311425418
Twitter: @principal_costa