Weekly Update

• Athletics and Counseling Updates
• DHS News: PSAT Update and Senior Digital Learning Day
  
• Activities Around DHS: SGA trip, JROTC Competition, UGA Visit, Clark Atlanta Visit
• PTSA News
  
• Community Partners
  

Hello,

Congratulations to our DHS Football Team for being named Fox 5 Atlanta team of the week. Coach Felton and his staff have led the team to a 7-0 record and are looking to win the region in the upcoming weeks. The band and cheerleaders provided a ton of school spirit during the event. Dr. Whitaker and myself had the privilege of making comments about Decatur High School and the great start to the season and school year. If you have not had the opportunity to visit one of our athletic or academic competitions please do so in the upcoming months.

I want to personally thank the DHS students, staff, and community for celebrating me on my 50th birthday. This has been a special week and I want you to know that I appreciate serving and partnering with this outstanding community. There is no doubt that All Means All in supporting DHS and building the DHS community.

Last note for parents! Please encourage your freshmen to get the most out of the activity with the Georgia Innocence Project tomorrow. Have a conversation with your sophomore or junior to do their very best on the PSAT. The seniors should spend tomorrow working on their post-secondary plans.

Sincerely,

Duane Sprull. Ed.D.

Exciting Workshop Opportunity for CTAE Students!

Get ready to dive into the world of skilled trades! Our high school CTAE program is thrilled to host a workshop by industry expert Mr. Bob Bradley on October 16th, 2024.

During this workshop, students will have the chance to:

• Gain hands-on experience in fields like plumbing, HVACR, and welding
• Learn about exciting career opportunities in these high-demand areas
• Discover the benefits of fully funded apprenticeships that allow you to "earn while you learn"

To learn more about apprenticeship programs and explore your career options, visit MCAG Workforce Development.

Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity! Only 40 Spots Open!

Dear Seniors and Senior Families,

On October 11th, 10th and 11th grade students will take the PSAT and 9th grade students will be participating in a set of activities designed by their civics teachers. Seniors are not required to come to school on October 11th. They should use this day to work on their post-secondary plans, including college applications and essays. We will mark attendance like we do for field trips so that all seniors will be coded as present for the school day. Any seniors who would like to come to DHS on PSAT day are welcome to do so. We will have a space available for them to work, but they must stay in this classroom all day as we prioritize creating a quiet testing environment for our sophomores and juniors.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Wes Hatfield

DHS Assistant Principal

whatfield@csdecatur.net

A group of our Student Government leaders attended the Georgia Association of Student Councils Leadership Summit at the State Capitol on September 30th. They had the opportunity to hear from prominent state officials, including Representative Sam Park and Public Service Commissioner Tim Echols, and participated in workshops on leadership skills and strategies.

This week, a lucky group of Decatur High School students recently had the chance to peek into their potential futures at the University of Georgia! They visited UGA to learn about the university’s dual degree program in Engineering & German or Spanish. This unique program allows students to earn both a B.A. in Language and a B.S. in Engineering, giving them a competitive edge in today’s global job market.

One of the highlights of the visit was a talk by Dr. David Stooksbury, who explained the exciting opportunities available to students in the program. Dr. Stooksbury emphasized the importance of effective communication and teamwork for engineers, skills that are essential in today’s interconnected world.

On Tuesday, October 8th, 2024, students from Decatur High School(DHS) traveled to Clark Atlanta University(CAU) for the Metro Atlanta Black Male Initiative. The program was designed to motivate, support, and encourage minority males to build self-confidence, believe in themselves, and pursue higher education. After meeting the Dean, coaches, and several male student leaders, students were treated to lunch before touring the campus. (3) DHS students were presented with scholarships ranging from $20K-60K, (William Smiley, Timothy Britt, Jr., Ramah Elmahdi.) Congrats to these Bulldogs!!

DHS Advanced Acting presents Witches!? In Salem?!, a new play by Matt Cox. Join us for CSD Spirit Night on Thursday, October 17 for only $5 for students. Use the code STUDENT5 at checkout, or purchase your $5 ticket at the door. (Limit 2 per transaction) Tickets can be purchased here: https://ticketpeak.co/DHSPerforms/events

The next PTSA meeting will be on Tuesday, Oct. 15 at 6:30pm. DHS PTSA meetings are on the third Tuesday of the month at 6:30 in the Learning Commons (aka Media Center). Enter through the Bus Loop doors (off Commerce). Access the virtual meeting info on the school calendar.

Ways to support the PTSA: If you are a Publix or Kroger shopper and are not already supporting another group through their rewards program, please consider supporting Decatur High PTSA. Publix Instructions:

1. Join Club Publix, if you’re not already a member. Terms & conditions apply.
2. Log in to your Club Publix account. Select My Publix Partner in your profile to choose Decatur (GA) High School.
3. Pay with the Publix app or enter your phone number at checkout; Publix will donate a portion of your eligible purchase

**Decatur HS PTSA is part of Kroger Community Rewards.**

1. Create a digital account. A digital account is needed to participate in Kroger Community Rewards. If you already have a digital account, simply link your Shopper’s Card to your account so that all transactions apply toward the organization you choose.
2. Link your Card to an organization. a. Sign in to your digital account. b. Search for your organization here. c. Enter the name (Decatur HS PTSA) or NPO number of the organization (EH991) you wish to support. d. Select the appropriate organization from the list and click “Save”.

To support the PTSA with a direct donation, please see this link

The Decatur City Police Department will be hosting a DEA Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, October 26th. This event provides a safe and convenient way to dispose of unused or unwanted prescription medications.

When: October 26, 2024 (10 AM - 2 PM)
Where: 420 West Trinity Place (Right in front of the police station)

What to bring:

• Prescription medications
• Over-the-counter medications
• Vape cartridges

If you have any medications that were confiscated from students, found on campus, or are simply no longer needed, please bring them to this event for proper disposal.

Let's help keep our community safe and drug-free!

A Season of Giving is a neighbor-led organization that brings joy to local children and seniors through gift-giving.

For Assistance: To apply for gift assistance, please complete our online application at Apply by October 31st. We are excited to support children through 12th grade again this year.

Sponsor a Gift: Donors can purchase gifts based on individual wish lists for children or seniors. If you would like to be a sponsor, please fill out the form at Sponsor.

Donate Directly: If you prefer, you can make a donation, and we will do the shopping for you. Simply Donate at our website!

Volunteer: We would greatly appreciate your help! If you're interested in volunteering, please go to Volunteer and sign up.

Need Help or Have Questions? If you encounter any issues with the forms or have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at aseasonofgivingdecatur@gmail.com.

Thank you for your support and generosity of the Season of Giving!

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