Weekly Update

• PSAT Update
• Activities Around DHS: Picture Day & Club Opportunities
  
• Homecoming: Volunteer Opportunities & Activities
• Student Opportunities: U.S. Senate Youth & Student Advisory Council

• PTSA News
• CSD District News
• Community Partners

At this point in the school year, all students should have their school-issued Chromebooks. Moving forward, students should use these devices during the school day. Personal devices, including iPads, tablets, personal computers, and hot spots should not be in use at Decatur High School. Personal devices affect the performance of our network and have the potential to circumvent our DHS Cell Phone Protocol for the 2024 school year. Our expectation is that students without documented approval to use the personal device fully transition to the school-issued Chromebook by Friday, August 16, 2024.

The PSAT will happen during school on October 11, 2024. We will also have a pre-administration session the week prior (currently scheduled for October 2, 2024). All 10th and 11th graders will be automatically registered to take it. All 9th graders will have a social justice lesson. All 12th graders will have a digital learning day. More information will be communicated about this day as we get closer.

CADY will be set up at our school on September 9 to take student photos for the yearbook and IDs. Don't forget to dress for the occasion! Keep the memories alive! Right now CADY is offering $10 off your purchase when you pre-order your photos before 9.18 at CADY.com/pictureday. #smile. #schoolpictures #CADY

The Decatur High School Chapter of National Science Honor Society is now accepting applications. To be eligible a student must be in 10th-12th grade, have above a 3.5 (unweighted) GPA in the sciences and participate in a science related extracurricular activity. Applications are due before 8 a.m. on Friday, September 13th. Late applications are not accepted. We look forward to receiving student applications. Students are encouraged to write a substantive paragraph in response to questions. Applications with sparse answers will not be considered for membership. If you have any questions, please Contact Dr. Smith at csmith@csdecatur.net. Click HERE for the form

We're looking for volunteers to help make the Homecoming Dance a success! We need parents and students to assist with decorating beforehand, greeting at the door, serving refreshments, and/or cleaning up afterward. If you can spare a few hours to contribute to this special event, please sign up HERE! Date: Saturday, September 14

Buy your yearbook now!!

The 2024-2025 school year will be a memorable one for sure. We are planning on a full book, so don't lose those memories - get a yearbook now. Yearbooks can be bought at www.jostens.com and are $65 until the end of August! Through August if your purchase personalization, you get FREE icons to showcase your year! Get one today! If you have any questions please email alockhart@csdecatur.net.

We want YOUR Pictures in the Yearbook!

There are over 1900 students at Decatur this year, and our staff of 31 can't cover everyone or everything. We are looking to the community to help us expand our coverage. Every month we will put in an all call for specific pictures - but if you have pictures at any time please feel free to upload. Please note that pictures may or may not be used depending on subjects, content, etc. This first call is specifically asking for

• First Day of School Photos
• Summer practices, camps, etc
• Senior Sunrise
• Summer travel, work
• Summer birthdays
• Sports Games
• Volunteering

To upload a photo click this link HERE.

Please see the following link HERE for information about yearbooks, senior pictures, senior ads, senior quotes, and senior baby pictures.

If you have any questions please email indectaur@csdecatur.net.

The first meeting of the Decatur High School (DHS) PTSA will be on Tuesday, August 20 at 6:30 PM. The meeting location is the DHS Learning Commons (aka Library). Please enter through the west doors from the Bus Loop on Commerce St. Dr. Sprull has made a zoom link available, which is linked below. All are welcome!

Generally, the monthly meetings are on the third Tuesday of the month. However, we will need to re-evaluate that cadence for February and May.

DHS – Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) Monthly Meeting

• August 20, 2024 @ 6:30pm
• Decatur High School Learning Commons (aka Library); Zoom Link

Thank you to all those who made the DHS Parent/Guardian Information Session on August 10 a success. A link to the recording will be made available when it is ready.

To support the PTSA, please see this link

Beginning next week, Decatur High School families will receive one CSD district newsletter. The transition to one newsletter is in response to feedback from the CSD school community to streamline and reduce the volume of weekly communications to families from multiple schools.

The new district newsletter will include Decatur High School school news, district news, and links to all school newsletters. A link to the Decatur High School newsletter will be embedded next to the school's logo.

We're off to a fantastic start this school year, with teachers already diving into instruction and engaging students in deeper learning. Last November, the City Schools of Decatur Board approved a new grading policy for the 2024-25 school year. Please click the CSD Grading Handbook link below to help you understand the details and implementation. Additional opportunities for discussion and questions will be available during each school's curriculum night.

CSD 2024-25 Grading Handbook

All CSD Pre-K through 12 students will take the STAR assessment instead of the MAP this year. The STAR assessment will be administered three times per year, beginning August 12 and then again in December and May. To access the STAR FAQ, click here.

The Teaching and Learning Department will host an informational webinar to provide an overview of STAR and discuss score reports on September 17, 6 p.m. Join the webinar here.

Additional resources:

• To learn more about STAR, click here.

STAR vs. MAP? View a research study on score correlations here.

Join us for a virtual meeting to learn more about the following support programs available to CSD students:

• Multi-System of TSS

• Gifted

• ESOL & Federal Programs

• 504 and Psychological Services

• Professional School Counseling

• Behavior Support

• School Social Work

• Special Education

Questions? Click here to submit your questions before Thursday, August 29, 2024.

1. Decatur High School
2. Decatur High School PTSA
3. Visiting DHS and Student Attendance
   
4. Bell Schedule
5. DHS Cell Phone Protocol
6. Bus Routes