Weekly Update

Interested in Joining our School Leadership Team (SLT):

The Beacon Hill Middle School Leadership Team (SLT) is an elected committee consisting of Beacon Hill parents/guardians, staff members, a community member, and a district representative. The purpose of the SLT is to make decisions that support the continuous improvement of the school in accordance with the provisions of the District Charter.

The SLT is focused on school governance, student achievement, and family engagement. Some of the responsibilities of this team are to:

• Develop and approve the School Improvement Plan (SIP) and monitor the continuous school improvement planning process

• Determine the allocation of the school's instructional and technology budget

• Review student achievement data

• Recommend and support school needs to the CSD Board of Education during the annual budget process

• Help with the interview process of potential BHMS employees

We’ll have one open slot for SLT this year. If you’re interested in joining the SLT, please submit a bio/purpose statement to Principal Thomas by Friday, August 30, 2024, at Derrick Thomas.

Morning Drop-Off Reminders

To help ease morning congestion, please follow the designated traffic pattern in front of the school. Remember, the left lane is for passing through, while the right lane is for drop-offs only. Cars should not idle in the right lane. If you need to have a longer conversation with your child, please do so off campus rather than using the drop-off lane. This will ensure smooth traffic flow and timely arrivals for all students.

Thank you for your cooperation!

Attendance at Decatur High School Football Games

We absolutely love seeing our Beacon Hill students attend games at Decatur High School. Please keep in mind we want to ensure the game experience is pleasant for all. Students should be supervised by parents at all times during the game and comply with the expectations of DHS during the game including no throwing objects, no running, no profane language towards adults, and no backpacks just to name a few. Students who do not comply will be removed from the game. We thank you in advance for making the game experience enjoyable.

Warm regards,

Derrick L. Thomas, Principal

Beacon Hill Middle School

Beginning Thursday, September 5, 2024, your school newsletter will come via CSD Weekly from the City Schools of Decatur email. Parents will automatically receive CSD Weekly. However, community subscribers who have opted out of CSD news will only receive future school newsletters by subscribing here and selecting to receive news from “City Schools of Decatur.”

CSD Weekly includes links to all school newsletters and provides the latest district news, enabling families with students at multiple schools to conveniently access updates using one source. Additionally, CSD Weekly aims to improve consistency in messaging about district and community news by communicating it in a centralized location.

We have staggered the times so we can better accommodate all parents.

• 6th grade will be from 4:30-5:45.
• 7th and 8th grade will be from 6pm-7:15pm.

PARKING: 6th-grade families DO NOT arrive to park on or near campus until 4:15 as we have dismal at 3:45 and need to clear the campus before beginning Curriculum Night.

We believe that every student deserves the opportunity to succeed. Our WIN time program is designed to equip ALL learners with the essential skills they need to thrive academically and beyond.

This year, we're focusing on developing executive function skills and IB Approaches to Learning. This week, students delved into self-management and collaboration by analyzing and evaluating different planning strategies. They learned how to set effective goals, break down tasks, and stay organized.

These skills are crucial for success in all aspects of life. By fostering independence and critical thinking, WIN time helps our students become confident and well-rounded individuals who are prepared to navigate the challenges of the future.

Join us in supporting our students' growth and development by encouraging them to practice these skills at home. Here is a graphic organizer we shared with students and encourage you to support them in their use.

Our instructional coaches have been busy teaching students how to crack the CSD 6-12 grading code in science classes this week! Ms. Prophet and Dr. McFaddin led students in a discussion about grades, and how to use them to communicate their understanding and learning to family members at home. Want to know what those numbers and letters really mean? Check out the secret decoder ring, er, we mean grading presentation, linked here!

Parents join us for the September 13th coffee chat :"How do I know how my BHMS student is doing in school?" where we will debunk the myths about grading and support your understanding of how to check your students progress.

From September 4-9, all 6th-grade students will be taking the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT). Unlike traditional achievement tests, which measure how well a student has learned the curriculum, the CogAT assesses a child’s ability to reason abstractly and recognize patterns and relationships in the world around them. Teachers can use CogAT scores to better understand a child’s pattern of strengths and weaknesses. Our school district also uses CogAT scores to identify academically-gifted students. More information here

Are you a math whiz looking for an extra challenge? Consider joining the Continental Mathematics League (CML) at BHMS! CML is perfect for motivated students who enjoy problem-solving and critical thinking. Participants will engage in the Euclidean Division, requiring strong reading comprehension, analytical skills, and grade-appropriate math abilities. Practice sets and weekly WIN time support are provided. Show off your math skills and join the CML team! Must have a CSD email to complete the interest form linked here

Part pep rally, part family picnic, Spirit Night is a great way for families to connect with the BHMS community. DJ Julien will keep the party going, and food will be provided for current BHMS students and staff. (Food also will be available for purchase if you’re not BHMS students or staff.) Join us from 5 pm to 6:30 pm in the cafeteria!

Interested in helping out before, during or after the event? We need event volunteers and donation of items for concessions. Sign up here.

NOTE to Families: BHMS students planning to attend the Friday night football game (DHS vs. Greater Atlanta Christian School) at 7:30 pm MUST be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Thank you to all who have signed on so far to be sponsors for the 2024-2025 school year. We also are pleased to welcome our new “Be a Beacon” sponsors:

My Panda

The Orkin Family

The Lucas Family

The Jones Family

The Herman Family

The McMillan Family

The Orwell Family

Learn more about sponsorship levels here. Questions? Reach out to Laura Spriggs, our fundraising chair at fundraising@bhmspta.org.

Our fall dance party for sixth graders will be held Friday, September 6 from 4 pm to 5:30 pm. When school is dismissed, students will be directed to the cafeteria, where chaperones will be ready to greet them. This is not a formal dance; students may wear regular school attire. Admission is $5 per student. Snacks will be sold for $1 each. (Please send small bills. Credit cards and mobile payment also accepted.) Purchase tickets here.

As with so many PTA events, we cannot put this dance on without a lot of help. Please look at the signup and help as you are able. If you can’t volunteer in person, then please consider donating some of the drinks and snacks on the list for concessions.

PLEASE NOTE: The event date was changed from September 13 to avoid a conflict with the DHS Homecoming. Families needing a refund for tickets already purchased for students who cannot attend on September 6 should send an email to president@bhmspta.org. Our apologies for the inconvenience!

Spirit wear designs for the 2024-2025 school year are available for purchase on the PTA spirit wear site. All designs were created by extremely talented BHMS parent Anja Duering. Thank you, Anja! To order, visit: https://beacon-hill-middle-school-pta.square.site/.