CSD Weekly, October 3, 2024

Please see the district news below to learn about:

• Highlights of CSD Reads Week
• Flu vaccination events
• District news and resources
  
• Community news: student poetry contest, parent trainings, and upcoming events
• And more!

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

On your mark, get set, ... and ready for National Walk and Roll to School Day on Wednesday, October 9, 2024! CSD is pleased to partner with Safe Routes to School in making walking and biking to school safe and routine.

• CSD Reads Week, September 30-October 8
• Board of Education Meeting, October 8

• CSD Inaugural State of the Schools, October 11
• Dr. Whitaker's Fall Listening Sessions:
• October 14 (Virtual)
• October 23 (Talley Street)
• October 29 (DHA)
• Early Release Day, October 30
• Digital Learning Day, November 5

The CSD School Health Team is offering flu vaccines to CSD students, staff, and families in partnership with DeKalb Public Health. Get your flu shot at one of the remaining scheduled flu vaccine events:

Flu vaccine events:

October 7, 3-5 p.m., F.AVE

October 9, 1-3 pm., Westchester Elementary

October 21, 3-5 p.m., Wilson Center, second-floor board room

October 24, 3:30-5:30 p.m., BHMS and Decatur High School combined, DHS Hospitality Suite

October 28, 1-3 p.m., Glennwood Elementary

Parents/guardians must be present for their student(s) to receive the flu vaccine at the time of service. Please bring your ID and insurance card for billing. The accepted insurances are United Healthcare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, Humana, Medicare, and Georgia Medicaid. We do not accept Oscar, Kaiser Permanente, or Tricare.

The CSD student support services team invites 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. Register for this event here.

City Schools of Decatur has announced that the graduating class of 2024 from Decatur High School achieved the second-highest average SAT score among 182 public schools in Georgia, surpassing both metro and national public school averages. As per data from the Georgia Department of Education, the DHS class of 2024 attained an average score of 1169. This score reflects an overall mean increase of 22 points from the previous year, which includes a 7-point rise in evidence-based reading and writing and a 15-point increase in math. Notably, 73% of the Decatur High School seniors participated in the SAT.

Board Vice Chair Dr. Carmen Sulton and Wilson Center Staff read to students at College Heights ECLC on Thursday, October 3 for CSD Reads Week. Pictured, clockwise from top left: Eston Melton, chief information officer; BOE Vice Chair Dr. Carmen Sulton; Sydney DuPriest, communications director; and Amanda Lynch, chief of staff.

This week, we celebrate literacy with CSD READS WEEK, September 30 to October 8! Students and staff are participating in fun reading activities, such as virtual readings from UGA and NFL football champion Malcom Mitchell and CSD Mystery Readers, Go Red for Dyslexia, and donating books to Children Read Atlanta via their schools to promote literacy districtwide. Check out the Decatur Book Festival for additional literacy events featuring Joyce Carol Oates, the Hon. Stacey Abrams, from NBA All-Star Joe Barry Carroll, and more this week.

City Schools of Decatur is pleased to announce that eight Decatur High School students have been selected as semifinalists in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship program, which recognizes students who earned some of the highest scores on the 2023 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

DHS students Owen Beck, Miya Brown, Renato Dell’Osso, Avyn Ebersold, Emma Fang, Beatrice Prichard, Liouville Ran, and Eleanor Sterne are 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program Semifinalists. Semifinalists make up less than one percent of all high school seniors in the nation.

National Merit Scholarship semifinalists will be notified in February if they become finalists and may then go on to compete for a National Merit Scholarship. These scholarships are given to finalists with high potential for success in rigorous college studies, as determined by their academic record, participation in school and community activities, leadership, honors, and awards. Learn more about the National Merit Scholarship program.

CSD was pleased to join DHA, Decatur Police, Decatur Fire, and the community to celebrate National Night Out on Wednesday, October 1. National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships, provides community resources from local organizations, and heightens community awareness on crime prevention and safety.

CSD has launched CSD Constituent Services, which provides resources 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.

• National Hispanic Heritage Month, September-October 15
• World Teachers Day, October 5
  
• National Coaches Day, October 6

• Walk and Roll to School Day, October 9

• World Mental Health Day, October 10
• National Bullying Prevention Month, October 1-31
• Breast Cancer Awareness Month, October 1-31
• Crime Prevention Month, October 1-31
• Domestic Violence Month, October 1-31
• Learning Disabilities and Dyslexia Awareness Month, October 1-31
• LGBTQ+ History Month, October 1-31
• Fire Safety Week, October 6-12
• Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples Day, October 14
• Digital Citizenship Week, October 14-18
• National School Lunch Week, October 14-18
• Red Ribbon Week, October 23-31

If you have a concern about yourself or someone else, please complete the General K-12 Referral Form (24-25). The School Counselors will review the form and connect the person with the appropriate resources. You may share information about yourself or remain anonymous.

Students can refer themselves for services or be referred by a friend, teacher, parent, or concerned community member. Referrals are anonymous unless the person chooses to identify themselves. School Counselors review referrals and connect the student with the appropriate resource(s).

Watch the recording of the 2024-25 CSD Programs Overview here, which offers insight into various programs and services available to CSD students including:

• MTSS
• Gifted and Talented Services
• ESOL and Federal Programs
• 504 and Psychological Services
• Professional School Counseling
• Behavior Support
• School Social Work
• Special Education

Title IX is a federal law that protects students and staff from gender and sex-based discrimination in schools and the workplace. CSD is providing resources for easy reporting of violations.

Search for "City Schools of Decatur" in the Apple App Store or Google Play today!

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.

Beginning Monday, October 14, 2024, a warning period will begin for school zone speed limit violations. 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.

Spectators are invited to the 13th annual Madison Avenue Derby & Food Drive on Saturday, October 12 at noon! This family-friendly event features creatively-themed, gravity-powered soapbox derby cars racing down Madison Avenue. Spectators enjoy the fun for free! Bring a chair or picnic blanket, and watch over fifty fun themed cars race down Madison Avenue. Food and drink vendors are available.

The Madison Avenue Derby is more than just a thrilling race — it's a way to support local nonprofits dedicated to children's needs. This year, funds raised support Remerge's Giving Grace program. Remerge is committed to fostering community and belonging in Metro Atlanta. The Giving Grace program addresses hunger and assists with rent and utilities for needy families, particularly in the Decatur area.

To support Remerge, the Derby is holding a non-perishable item food drive. Bring donated items to the Remerge tent at the Derby and receive a Mad Ave Derby sticker as a thank you. Visit madavederby.org for a schedule, volunteer on race day, or sign up for updates at madavederby.org/email-signup. Follow us on social via @MadAveDerby.

Lighten the Load for CSD Families

DEF's Lighten the Load program began with an elementary school teacher who told us that one of her students dreaded school breaks because he and his siblings counted on having two meals a day at school. Our Lighten the Load program has evolved, but we're still committed to helping remove obstacles like food insecurity for our kids.

The number of weekend food bags we provide has DOUBLED this year, and we need your help to ensure we're able to continue to meet this need for kids in our community! Please consider donating to DEF, or purchasing items from our Lighten the Load wish list.

DEF Provides Suicide Intervention Training

DEF provides ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) workshops multiple times each year through Joe’s Fund, DEF’s behavioral health fund. These two-day workshops are open to any CSD staff member or Decatur community member.

Upcoming ASIST trainings:

October 10-11

February 27-28

March 13-14

Find more info here and sign up for a training here. Help us make Decatur a suicide-safe community and support this important work.

City of Decatur Parks and Recreation (DPR) commits to providing exceptional experiences that foster healthy living and meaningful community connections.

Upcoming DPR events include boxing Club (Decatur), game night (Ebster), and PorchFest Kid's Zone (Oakhurst). 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!

Many teens misjudge the risks of marijuana and are confused about new hemp-derived products due to changing legal landscapes. It's crucial for parents to be informed to discuss these issues effectively. An upcoming speaker series will cover the impact of these substances on teens' health, including early use effects, communication strategies about risks, and the rising prevalence of Delta 8, Delta 10, THC-0, and other accessible mood-altering substances. This speaker series is essential for parents concerned about their child's safety in today's complex environment.

Join us for a Speaker Series session below:

• Thursday, October 24, 2024, 6:30-8 p.m. at Decatur High School - Learning Commons
• Friday, October 25, 2024, 9:30-10:30 a.m. at Beacon Hill Middle School - Media Center

Additional support provided by Decatur Prevention Initiative.

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 that retells 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 weather and 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 November 4.