CSD Weekly, November 21, 2024

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

• Now Open! 2026-2027 District Calendar Input Survey

• DHS 2025 Navy All-American and AUDL Debate Winners

• BHMS REACH Georgia Scholarship Recipients

• CSD School Awards of Excellence

• District Updates: Upcoming STAR Assessments, Safety Resources, and More!

• Community News: School Grants, Indie-Catur Giving Tuesday, 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

• Early Release Day, November 22
• Thanksgiving Break, November 25-29
• 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 take the STAR Early Literacy, Reading and Math Assessments during the winter assessment screening period of December 2-6 and December 9-13. CSD measures results from this winter assessment screening period against results from the previous fall screening period to track growth and adjust instruction to best meet students' individual needs. These assessments are crucial for ensuring students' continued success.

Families may use these directions to opt-in to receive the results of the STAR Assessments.

It's National Parent Involvement Day! CSD joins in highlighting and celebrating the invaluable contributions of parents, guardians, families, and the community to the educational success of our students and schools!

Congratulations to DHS senior and member of the Varsity football team Ethan Johnson for being selected to compete in the 47th annual Navy All-American Bowl all-star game for high school football players! Only around 60 of the finest high school football players nationwide are selected for this prestigious event, which will be in San Antonio, Texas, on Saturday, January 11, 2025, and broadcast on NBC.

The Decatur Debate won the First Place Sweepstakes Team Prize and the Community Award at the largest Atlanta Urban Debate League (AUDL) tournament of the season, hosted at DHS last weekend! Congratulations to our debate team, and thank you to the faculty coaches Beth McMahon and Susie Weetman and the staff, parents, and student volunteers who made the event possible.

Individual Awards:

Undefeated in Open Division: Ida Chapman, Autumn Pollack, and Anushruti Ram

JV Division Winners: Audrey Grills and Kate Kochel

Novice Division Winners: Abigail Avrunin, Sylvia Medina, and Nuha Muneer

Individual Speaker Awards:

First Place Open Speaker: Ida Chapman

JV Speaker Awards: Ben Avrunin, Elsa Chapman, Sam Epstein, Audrey Grills, Luca Hartnett, Kate Kochel, and Monserrat Romberg

Congratulations to the CSD 2024 REACH Scholars from Beacon Hill Middle School: Londyn Battle, Jayda Burton, Jayla Callender, and Marionna Crayton!

On Friday, November 15, CSD's REACH scholars signed their commitment letters during a ceremony held at Beacon Hill, attended by Superintendent Dr. Gyimah Whitaker, Board of Education members, State Representative Mary Margaret Oliver, school and district leaders, and family members of the students. A special thanks to the Decatur Education Foundation (DEF) for sponsoring these awards!

The REACH Georgia Scholarship Program provides academic and social support for rising eighth graders students with financial needs who have demonstrated positive academic, attendance, and behavioral efforts. REACH Scholars are paired with a mentor to support them through high school graduation and receive a $10,000 scholarship when they enroll in a Georgia college or university.

DHS has been awarded a 2024 College Success Award by GreatSchools.org, which honors public high schools that effectively prepare students for college enrollment and success. This achievement places DHS among just 1,436 schools across the nation to receive this recognition this year, marking the third time the school has earned this award.

CSD proudly recognizes four schools that have been ranked among the top 100 best elementary, middle, and high schools in Georgia, according to the 2025 U.S. News & World Report. Check out U.S. News & World Report’s K-12 school rankings and ranking methodology.

Best High Schools

Decatur High School

Best Middle Schools

Beacon Hill Middle School

Best Elementary Schools

Fifth Avenue Elementary School

Talley Street Elementary School

In recognition of National Homeless Awareness Month, CSD's ESOL & Federal Programs, in collaboration with our local partners at Decatur Makers, generously donated coats and toiletry items for women and children to a nearby shelter. This initiative underscores the importance of unity and collaboration, reinforcing our community – because together, we achieve more.

The Georgia Leadership Institute for School Improvement (GLISI) has opened voting for its Hidden Heroes Award, which recognizes those who make a lasting impact on our students and schools.

This year, Ella Harley, the Student Engagement Coach for the City Schools of Decatur, is one of the nominees for GLISI's Hidden Heroes award. Ms. Harley plays a vital role in supporting some of our most vulnerable students and their families, helping them navigate and access the school system's resources, and ensuring that no student is left behind. Her work spans the school district and requires frequent check-ins with students and their families to support them with attendance, academic success, and social and emotional needs.

Ms. Harley's selflessness and dedication profoundly impact students' lives, empowering them to navigate their journeys with confidence and resilience. Vote for Ms. Harley here through Friday, November 22, at 5 p.m. Search for her name in the gallery to vote. You may vote once a day!

CSD's Student Support Services team invites the community to review the Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Needs Assessment 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.

City Schools of Decatur appreciates the contributions of parents, students, and staff. Here are three important surveys that are open or will open prior to winter break. Please take a few moments to make your opinion count!

1. 2026-2027 District Calendar Input Survey (Expires 12/4/24)
   Thank you for your continued partnership in evaluating the academic calendar options for the City Schools of Decatur. Please review the proposed 2026-2027 Academic Calendar and provide feedback using the links below. The estimated completion time is less than 5-7 min.
   
   

2. First-Semester Teacher Engagement Survey (For teachers only: Expires 12/6/24; )
   
   

3. Coming Soon! School Climate Survey (Opens 12/2/24)

CSD's School Health Team is preparing for DeKalb Public Health's immunization assessment on Friday, December 6, for all Kindergarten, seventh, and 11th-grade students.

Please ensure your child's immunization records are up-to-date and submitted to the school clinic by Thursday, December 5. If your child is missing any required immunizations, please schedule an appointment with your child's healthcare provider or visit Dekalb Public Health, 445 Winn Way, Decatur, GA 30030.

We appreciate your cooperation in keeping our students healthy and compliant with Georgia's immunization laws. If you plan to submit an Affidavit of Religious Objection to Immunizations (Form #2208), please remember that it must be notarized. Please contact the nurse at your child's school with questions or for assistance with immunization records.

CSD K-5 students: Join Super Saturdays for a morning of fun and educational STEAM-inspired lessons and activities led by CSD teachers and staff! These events are completely free and include hands-on instruction, all necessary supplies and materials, and plenty of engaging learning opportunities in a supportive and creative environment. Super Saturdays take place from 9 a.m.-noon at Fifth Avenue ES, 101 5th Avenue, Decatur, GA 30030. Register here for Super Saturdays!

Next Super Saturday date:

December 14, 2024

Remaining Super Saturday dates:

January 11, 2025

February 8, 2025

March 15, 2025

April 19, 2025

May 10, 2025

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

CSD's Constituent Services provides a resource for stakeholders to address their issues and concerns. Part of Constituent Services is ResolveCSD, CSD's new process for elevating concerns that cannot be resolved at a school or department level. CSD believes that concerns are best handled as close to their origin as possible, starting with the school staff or principal. Learn more at the CSD Constituent Services website.

College Heights is collecting donations for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA) and Our House: Shelter & Services for Families. Students love to help, and service projects can teach them about their role in their community and the importance of helping others! Donations may be dropped off Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. through Friday, December 6, in collection bins inside College Heights' front door.

Donations for Our House Shelter and Services for Families:

New or gently used clothing for children ages 0-6 and new, in-package children's underwear

Donations for CHOA:

Art supplies for patients of all ages, including markers, crayons, colored pencils, paint, gel pens, construction paper, and teen coloring books

• Native American Heritage Month, November 1-30
• National Homeless Youth Awareness Month, November 1-30
• National Parent and Family Engagement Month, November 1-30
• American Education Week, November 18-22
• National Education Support Professionals Day, November 20
• National Parent Involvement Day, November 21

THANK YOU from Decatur Education Foundation!

Decatur, you ABSOLUTELY blew us away last Thursday! Thank you for celebrating the return of Supper & Sips with us! You helped us raise a record number in one night... more than NINETY THOUSAND DOLLARS in support of Decatur’s kids! Thank you for ALL the ways you show up for DEF so that we can continue to show up for our kids. Visit our website and follow DEF on Facebook and Instagram to learn more about the important work we’re able to support in our schools and in our community, thanks to the generosity of this Decatur community of ours.

Keep it Indie-Catur on Giving Tuesday!

Giving Tuesday is right around the corner! There are countless worthwhile organizations to donate to, but when you give to the Decatur Education Foundation, your support directly impacts kids, teens, and educators right here in our community. Your tax-deductible gift provides essential needs for CSD families struggling with food insecurity, supports student mental health initiatives, provides arts infusion programming in our schools, and allows us to support our amazing educators through Teacher Innovation Grants! Through your generosity, we've been able to do so much good work in our community, and with your continued support, we'll be able to do so much more! Visit DEF's website to learn more about how you can get involved!

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!