CSD Weekly, October 31, 2024

Please scroll to learn about:

• All K-12 Math Night and Pizza

• Georgia Fall Severe Weather Preparedness Day Notice

• GaDoe Suggested Educational Apps

• 2024 Elementary Thanksgiving Luncheon Information

• Community News: Student Contest Submission Deadlines and More!

Find out what's happening in CSD schools by clicking on the school's logo.

College Heights (CHECLC) Literacy Week (October 21-25) included visits from mystery readers, Captain Gary Menard of the Decatur Fire Department, and high school students from DHS's Career Technical and Agricultural Education Early Childhood Education program, who prepared and led fall literacy activities in all the preschool and pre-K classrooms. The week concluded with a book parade on Friday.

• Daylight Saving Time, November 3
• DHS Junior & Senior Programs Info Night, November 4, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
  
• Remote Digital Learning Day, November 5
  
• (Fall) Georgia Severe Weather Preparedness Day, November 6
• Math Night for K-12 Students: "Pizza with the School Principals," November 6, 5 p.m.
  
• Social Emotional Learning Standards Feedback/Input Session, November 6, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
  
• Board of Education Meeting, November 12
• Board Retreat, November 19
• Thanksgiving Break, November 25-29

The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency, in partnership with the National Weather Service (NWS), declare Wednesday, November 6 as Georgia’s Fall Severe Weather Preparedness Day.

Special NOAA Weather Radio "Routine Weekly Test" Information:

NWS offices that cover Georgia will send out a modified routine weekly test via the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio at around 9:30 a.m., with no additional radio tests that day. This special weather radio message typically helps schools and businesses initiate severe weather safety action plans. We will also share helpful severe weather safety tips and reminders via the NWS website and social media outlets.

A link to GEMA's press release for next Wednesday's preparedness day can be found here.

Some parts of Georgia see an increase in severe weather, including tornadoes, during November and early December. The GEMA/HS Ready Georgia campaign offers resources and information residents can use to be informed about potential threats. Citizens can also develop a communications plan and create an emergency kit.

Ways to receive severe weather alerts and warnings

• NOAA Weather Radio: Watches and warnings issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) air on these radios.
• County Alert Systems: Contact your local EMA director to determine if your county uses outdoor warning sirens or a telephone notification system.
• Television Stations: Local or national news stations monitor and broadcast weather alerts.
• AM/FM Radio: Radio stations are required to air Emergency Alert System (EAS) messages.
• Smartphone Applications: Some apps use GPS tracking on your phone and notify you of severe weather warnings based on location.
• Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA): Emergency messages sent by authorized government alerting authorities through your mobile carrier.

Students are invited to participate in a statewide cybersecurity awareness poster contest! The theme is "Secure Our Schools. Find specific ideas and requirements here. Submissions are due via this form by November 1, and entries must include the student's work and a completed parent verification form. If you need a printed verification form or require technical assistance submitting the work, please let your media specialist or (at BHMS and DHS) your instructional technology coach know.

CSD parents and students are invited to DHS's Junior & Senior Programs Info Night webinar on Monday, November 4, from 6:30-7:30 p.m.

This event offers information about DHS's impressive range of programs and course offerings, including college prep and career opportunities, to help DHS students make informed decisions about their future. Whether a student is interested in pursuing the arts, business, or STEM, DHS has something for everyone.

Join the webinar here on Monday, November 4, at 6:30-7:30 p.m. Webinar ID: 917 1122 8878

Dear CSD Families:

In September 2022, the Board of Education approved the 2024-2025 Academic Calendar, which includes a remote Digital Learning Day on November 5, 2024. The purpose of this day is two-fold: the remote Digital Learning Day will enable staff to participate in civic engagement on Election Day, and it will provide an opportunity further to grow our secondary students’ digital learning skills. Additionally, staff will have dedicated time to participate in training and professional development.

To assist in planning, CSD has linked a Remote Digital Learning Day FAQ with answers to some frequently asked questions related to the remote Digital Learning Day. Families will receive communications directly from schools about specific digital day learning plans for individual sites.

Click here for the remote Digital Learning Day FAQ.

All K-12 students and their parents are invited to eat pizza, participate in fun math activities, and hear about the K-12 math curriculum from the BHMS and DHS principals and Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction Jennifer Dunn on Wednesday, November 6, at 5 p.m. in the Beacon Hill Middle School Cafe. A brief overview will be followed by rotating grade-specific activities for students and parents. A parent must accompany students.

The Student Support Services team is developing Social Emotional Learning (SEL) standards for CSD students, initially focusing on grades 6-12. These standards are the skills we want our students to have as a result of SEL programming.

CSD's Student Support Services team invites all who are interested to join a virtual meeting to provide feedback and insights that will help create more robust SEL programming. Let's work together to support the well-being and success of our students. RSVP here for the CSD SEL Standards Feedback/Input Session on Wednesday, November 6, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Virtual meeting link: https://csdecatur.zoom.us/j/97293913076#success

Listen in as we close out the October observance of Fire Prevention Month with Decatur Fire Chief Toni Washington as the special guest of Episode 9 of the CSD Words with Dr. Whitaker Podcast.

Representatives from the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) will visit CSD next week to observe classrooms and schools as part of an ongoing effort to support CSD as it addresses its Identification Disproportionality status within Special Education. These observations aim to provide guidance and assistance in ensuring that CSD is offering equitable and effective services for all students.

Parents and guardians of students with disabilities, GaDOE requests that you complete this survey by November 4 to help us better understand the needs of our students, families, and schools. The insights gathered from this survey will directly contribute to improving the educational experience and support we provide.

The CSD school nutrition department is excited to announce that our Thanksgiving luncheons for the K-5 schools are just around the corner! To make it easier for families to participate, we have implemented a new online payment system. Online payments will be open beginning Monday, October 28, and close Friday, November 8. Payments may be made through the Parent Portal. Payment instructions are on the CSD nutrition webpage.

Students are limited to two guests. The cost is $5 per person.

• Oakhurst: Tuesday, November 12
• Clairemont, Westchester: Wednesday, November 13
• Glennwood, Winnona Park: Thursday, November 14
• Fifth Avenue: Tuesday, November 19
  
• Talley Street.: Wednesday, November 20

Thanksgiving luncheons at CHECLC, BHMS and DHS are not open to guests.

The Fall Listening Sessions concluded on Tuesday, October 29, at the Decatur Housing Authority Community Center. During October's three listening sessions, Dr. Whitaker shared brief updates on planning for the new Early Learning Center and invited stakeholders to provide feedback and ask questions about the district.

The Decatur Prevention Initiative and the CSD student support services team invited parents to "Empowering Parents for Drug-Free Futures!": A Drug Awareness Panel for Parents, on Wednesday, October 30, 5:30-7 p.m., at the Wilson Support Center.

The City Schools of Decatur is in the process of building the Fiscal Year Budget. We are interested in input from the community and all stakeholders on any budget suggestions, concerns, or questions that they may have. Please provide your feedback regarding your priorities for the Fiscal Year 2026 budget.

The 2026 budget calendar is also available for review.

The Georgia Department of Education offers a list of educational apps for students of all ages that families can access on smartphones and tablets. These apps feature math skills, read-along books, SAT prep, and astronomy. See GaDOE's list of educational apps.

October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and CSD Weekly is including cybersafety tips for our staff and community. Last week's tip focused on using passphrases to protect your information. This week's tip is about phishing.

Most successful cyberattacks begin with a phishing message in which someone impersonates a trusted source (a supervisor, colleague, or family member) and asks for sensitive information or money. The best defense against phishing is to recognize and report or delete it.

Recognizing Phishing

Messages with a sense of urgency asking you to do something unusual or that come at odd times are telltale signs of a phishing message. When you receive a text or email asking you to share financial or account information, one of the best strategies is to ask another person, such as a partner or colleague, if the message looks unusual. Trust your and their instincts! If you believe a message is a phishing attempt, use your email provider's mechanism to report it; for phishing texts, block the sender.

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.

The National Alliance of Black School Educators (NABSE) Parent Commission is hosting the 19th Annual NABSE Parent Summit on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. as part of the 52nd annual NABSE conference in Atlanta this year. This year's theme is "Empowering Black Excellence: Our Students, Our Future."

The Parent Summit will feature engaging and thought-provoking sessions, workshops, and keynote addresses led by education experts. Participants will hear about parental leadership, promoting literacy at home and in schools, and strategies for accelerating academic growth.

Register here for the NABSE Parent Summit. Check-in begins at 7:30 a.m. on November 20. The conference will be held at the Hilton Signia by Hilton at the Atlanta Georgia World Congress Center, 159 Northside Dr., NW, Atlanta, GA 30313. Registration for the parent summit is $75 and includes breakfast and lunch.

• National Homeless Youth Awareness Month, November 1-30
• National Parent/Family Engagement Month, November 1-30
• Native American Heritage Month, November 1-30
• Georgia Fall Severe Weather Preparedness Day, November 6
• Veterans Day, November 11
• National Crossing Guard Appreciation Week, November 11-15
• National School Psychology Week, November 11-15
• World Kindness Day, November 13
• American Education Week, November 18-22
• National Education Support Professionals Day, November 20
• National Parental Involvement Day, November 21

Decatur Safe Streets

The Decatur Safe Streets Safety Action Plan, a City initiative housed in Decatur’s Public Works Department, is partnering with Decatur Safe Routes to School this October and November to collect input from parents and kids at various CSD Walk & Roll to School events.

The Safety Action Plan is an important City planning process that will help Decatur address safety needs for all roadway users, with the goal of eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries in Decatur. To learn more and provide input to the plan, visit decaturga.com/ss4a

City of Decatur Parks and Recreation

Upcoming DPR events include Kidz Night and Girls Pajama-rama. 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!

In honor of the DHS fall musical, Hadestown: Teen Edition, Decatur Performs is sponsoring a student poetry competition! Hadestown: Teen Edition is a jazzy, musical retelling of the myth of Orpheus' quest to overcome Hades and save his true love, Eurydice. Students are invited to share poetry about Greek mythology themes, fate, the changing seasons, the dream world, and trying even if you fail.

The contest is open to all CSD students in grades three and up, and one winner each will be chosen from Talley Street, FAVE, BHMS, and DHS. Each winner will receive two tickets to Hadestown for November 13 or 14. Winning poems will be displayed in the lobby of the DHS Performing Arts Center throughout the run of the show, November 13-17. Buy tickets for the show here.

Students: Please submit your poem here by Monday, November 4.

DEF’s Supper & Sips Raises Crucial Funds for Our Community!

Grab your friends and neighbors and join us for an evening of fun, fellowship, and (delicious) food on Thursday, November 14, at The Chapel on Sycamore! You'll enjoy live music, raffles, a fund-a-need, and live auction items you won't find anywhere else! The best part? Your good time raises money to support DEF's Teacher Innovation Grants and initiatives addressing food insecurity, student mental health, arts infusion, school travel grants, and so much more. Get your tickets here or sign up to volunteer. Don't miss this FUNdraiser!

The City of Decatur Police Department is implementing an automated photo speed enforcement program following a study that identified speeding as a significant issue in school zones. Cameras will be placed near Beacon Hill Middle School, Clairemont Elementary School, Westchester Elementary School, and Winnona Park Elementary School to deter speeding motorists.

The warning period for speed limit violations will last through Tuesday, November. 12. Violators will receive a warning in the mail marked in red. The live enforcement will start on Wednesday, November 13, 2024. Motorists exceeding the speed limit by 10+ MPH will receive a citation with a $100 fine for the first violation and $150 for subsequent violations. Photo speed cameras will be active on school days during school zone hours.