The Bulldog 1.30.25

Note from Mrs. Lockwood

Thank you, families for bearing with all the changes today! Clairemont Bulldogs really showed their true colors today with everyone handling the new location like pros. We will remain at Fifth Avenue Upper Elementary School for instruction tomorrow, Friday, January 31. There will be NO community circle this week. The tentative plan is still to return to the Clairemont campus on Monday.

This decision is being made out of an abundance of caution to prioritize the safety and well-being of our students and staff, minimizing disruption to instruction while the repairs are made.

Students will have a normal arrival and dismissal time, with adjustments as follows:

• Bus riders will have the same pickup times and locations, with students taken directly to Fifth Avenue. Families are encouraged to use the Stopfinder app for specific afternoon dropoff times, which may be slightly adjusted.
• Walkers and car riders should report to Clairemont at 8:00 a.m. for transport to Fifth Avenue on designated buses. A second shuttle will leave at 8:40 a.m. Students arriving after 8:40 a.m. will need parental transport to Fifth Avenue.
• After dismissal from Fifth Avenue, buses will shuttle students back to Clairemont, with an anticipated 3:00 p.m. arrival time. I have included a dismissal form here for you to capture your student's dismissal plans for Friday.

Families with a preplanned late arrival should transport their students directly to Fifth Avenue and check them in at the main office. Animal Crackers will contact parents directly regarding after-school programming.

We will provide regular updates on progress and anticipated reopening timelines. I appreciate your patience and understanding. Please reach out to me with any questions or concerns.

Events at a glance:

• Friday, January 31: NO Community Circle
• Tuesday, February 11: Spirit Night at Benchwarmers - All day!
• Wednesday, February 12: PTA Meeting; 5:30-7:00
• Friday, February 14: Talent Show; 1:20

We look forward to celebrating our talented students and we thank you for your patience with all the changes! Thank you to everyone who auditioned this week! Since Thursday auditions were cancelled, anyone who would still like to try out can send a 30-60 second video of your talent to Ms. D at whitney.derosa@csdecatur.net by the end of the day on Tuesday, February 4th. If you are not able to send a video, there will be an opportunity to audition during rehearsals next week.

Talent show rehearsals will take place from 3-4 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, February 5th-6th, and 12th-13th. The talent show will be at 1:20 in the auditorium on Friday, February 14.

If you have any questions, please direct them to Ms. Nelson or Ms. DeRosa. We can't wait to see your talented students!

CSD will host five hearings in January for the public to learn more about the district's plans to exercise the one-time option for local governments to opt out of Georgia House Bill 581, which establishes a statewide floating homestead exemption and cap on property taxes.

The schedule for the remaining public hearing is:

Thursday, January 30, 6:45 p.m. (virtual only, access the meeting here)

Passed during the 2024 Legislative Session, HB 581 impacts property taxes for cities, counties and school districts by capping the annual increase in property values for tax purposes, effective January 1, 2025. The bill aims to provide property tax relief for local residents, using the Consumer Price Index as an inflationary index. Since school districts rely heavily on property taxes for funding, this cap could impact the availability of CSD schools' resources and programs.

The Board of Education will follow the legal procedures to opt out of the exemption, including holding the three virtual public hearings. Following the hearings, the board will vote to adopt an opt-out resolution at the February Board of Education meeting and file the resolution with the Secretary of State by March 1, 2025.

As we create more opportunities for dialogue around CSD, families are invited to attend an upcoming winter listening session where Dr. Whitaker will hear directly from our community about the issues that matter to them.

• Monday, February 3, 5:30-6:30 p.m., College Heights ECLC Media Center

• Monday, February 10, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (virtual)

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Clairemont is committed to supporting the emotional and mental well-being of all our students. We are offering a small counseling group for second grade students who may be experiencing anxiety or stress. This group will provide a safe, supportive space where students can learn coping skills, build emotional resilience, and connect with their peers in a structured environment led by Ms. Pratt, school counselor and the school counseling intern.

Details of the Small Group:

• Who: Second grade students who could benefit from learning more about managing anxiety.
• When: Sessions will be held once a week for 30 minutes during Specials or WIN time. The group will start at the end of January and conclude prior to Spring Break.
• How to Join: If you believe your child may benefit from this group, please use the following link to complete the group sign up form: https://forms.gle/FrQSokAtGXqAQHww7

If you would like more information, or if you have any questions, please contact Ms. Pratt at cpratt@csdecatur.net or 404-370-4450 ext. 4181.

It has certainly been a busy week! Our students and staff showed off their growth mindsets by relocating to F.AVE for learning this Thursday and Friday. We appreciated all the hard work behind the scenes and our teachers being flexible and making the best of a strange situation! The good work continues no matter where we are!

Stay up-to-date with all the Clairemont PTA news and see pictures of our fun events by following the PTA on Facebook and Instagram. You can find all things Clairemont PTA, as well as the form to join, at the Clairemont PTA website.

Plans are underway for another amazing event to raise money for Decatur Athletics – The Bulldog Bash! Save the date for this year's event on Saturday, March 22, at Independent Distilling Company. The event will feature a live online auction that includes everything from artwork and experiences to trips, restaurant gift cards, sporting event tickets, self-care, and more.

Do you have a connection, talent, vacation home or something unique that can help us raise money for our student-athletes? If so, please fill out this form! More information to come!

The Decatur Prevention Initiative (DPI) seeks the community's help in learning more about community perceptions and concerns regarding underage drinking and substance misuse among Decatur's youth. Please take this anonymous survey to help DPI plan, implement, evaluate and sustain programming.