Please scroll to learn about:

• CSD Remote Digital Learning Day Info and FAQ

• Important Cybersecurity Awareness Tip
• Drug-Free Awareness Panel for Parents
• Join the Conversation on Social Emotional Learning
• Community Partner News: DEF Grant Recipients and Students Needed for City Advisory Boards

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

• Dr. Whitaker's Fall Listening Session
  
• October 29, 5:30 p.m., DHA Community Resource Center, 481 Electric Ave.
  
• CSD Flu Vaccine Events:
• October 24, 3:30-5:30 p.m., BHMS and Decatur HS combined, DHS Hospitality Suite
• October 28, 1-3 p.m., Glennwood Elementary
• Early Release Day, October 30
• Drug Awareness Panel for Parents, October 30
• Remote Digital Learning Day, November 5
• Social Emotional Learning Standards Feedback/Input Session, November 6, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
  
• Board of Education Meeting, November 12

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.

Dear CSD Families:

In September 2022, the Board of Education approved the 2024-2025 Academic Calendar, which includes a remote Digital Learning Day on November 5, 2024. The purpose of this day is two-fold: the remote Digital Learning Day will enable staff to participate in civic engagement on Election Day, and it will provide an opportunity further to grow our secondary students’ digital learning skills. Additionally, staff will have dedicated time to participate in training and professional development.

To assist in planning, CSD has linked a Remote Digital Learning Day FAQ with answers to some frequently asked questions related to the remote Digital Learning Day. Families will receive communications directly from schools about specific digital day learning plans for individual sites.

Click here for the Remote Digital Learning Day FAQ.

Students are invited to participate in a statewide cybersecurity awareness poster contest! The theme is "Secure Our Schools. Find specific ideas and requirements here. Submissions are due via this form by November 1, and entries must include the student's work and a completed parent verification form. If you need a printed verification form or require technical assistance submitting the work, please let your media specialist or (at BHMS and DHS) your instructional technology coach know.

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:

November 16, 2024

Remaining Super Saturday dates:

December 14, 2024

January 11, 2025

February 8, 2025

March 15, 2025

April 19, 2025

May 10, 2025

The Student Support Services team is developing Social Emotional Learning (SEL) standards for CSD students, focusing on grades 6-12 to start. These standards are the skills we want our students to have as a result of SEL programming.

CSD's Student Support Services team invites all who are interested to join a virtual meeting to provide feedback and insights that will help create more robust SEL programming. Let's work together to support the well-being and success of our students. RSVP here for the CSD SEL Standards Feedback/Input Session on Wednesday, November 6, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Virtual meeting link: https://csdecatur.zoom.us/j/97293913076#success

The Decatur Education Foundation (DEF) has awarded funding to eleven BHMS projects through their Teacher Innovation Grants program! Thanks to these teachers' creativity and dedication, BHMS students will benefit from a variety of exciting new projects in the classroom.

Fully Funded Grants

• Laura Stroer: Bringing sensory equipment and functional task boxes to her special education classroom (awards totaling $773)

• Liz Williams: Launching "The Great History Challenge" to engage students in historical exploration ($500)

• Jessica Nicks: Enriching student learning with the "WIN at BHMS" program ($475)

• Erin Crockett: Integrating creativity with "Lego Printmaking" ($1,100)

• Jesse McNulty & Beverly Beyer: Supporting student inclusivity with the Gender and Sexuality Alliance Club ($1,400)

• Stephanie Payne: Providing transportation access for students with disabilities through "Oh the Places You Will Go!" ($425)

• Kate Passin: Funding professional development for school counselors at the Georgia School Counselors Conference ($3,148)

Partially Funded Grants

The DEF partnered with the BHMS PTA to offer partial funding for two additional projects, encouraging collaboration:

• Casey Boersma: "Visual Literacy for the Future" ($1,150 DEF contribution, $2,300 total)

• Tamara Braxton: "Decatur PREP Project: Parents Reading Engagement Program" ($1,500 DEF contribution, $3,000 total)

• Marjorie Vizethann & Zakiya Wicks: "Poetry Slam and Coaching Sessions with Professional Poet/Teaching Artist" ($400 DEF contribution, $800 total)

Read DEF's impact stories to learn more about projects being funded across the district.

The CSD school nutrition department is excited to announce that our Thanksgiving luncheons are coming up soon! To make it easier for families to participate, we have implemented a new online payment system. Online payments will be open beginning Monday, October 28, and close Friday, November 8. Payments may be made through the Parent Portal. Payment instructions are on the CSD nutrition webpage.

Students are limited to two guests. The cost is $5 per person.

• Oakhurst: Tuesday, November 12
• Clairemont, Westchester: Wednesday, November 13
• Glennwood, Winnona Park: Thursday, November 14
• Fifth Avenue: Tuesday, November 19
  
• Talley Street.: Wednesday, November 20

Thanksgiving luncheons at ECLC, BHMS and DHS are not open to guests.

Representatives from the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) will be visiting CSD next week to observe classrooms and schools as part of an ongoing effort to support CSD as it addresses its Identification Disproportionality status within Special Education. The goal of these observations is to provide guidance and assistance in ensuring that CSD is offering equitable and effective services for all students.

Parents and guardians of students with disabilities, GaDOE requests that you complete this survey by November 4 to help us better understand the needs of our students, families, and schools. The insights gathered from this survey will directly contribute to improving the educational experience and support we provide.

The City Schools of Decatur is in the process of building the Fiscal Year Budget. We are interested in input from the community and all stakeholders on any budget suggestions, concerns, or questions that they may have. Please provide your feedback regarding your priorities for the Fiscal Year 2026 budget.

The 2026 budget calendar is also available for review.

The Georgia Department of Education has shared videos explaining each grade level's math standards. Videos correspond to the curriculum from each quarter, so parents and the community can follow along and help their students if needed.

See the DOE math standards explainer videos by grade level here.

October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and CSD Weekly is including cybersafety tips for our staff and community. Last week’s tip focused on multifactor authentication, and effective protection against phishing and account takeover. This week's tip is about passphrases.

“Passphrases” are more robust and convenient than passwords. A strong passphrase is easy for you to remember but hard for someone else (including a computer) to guess. Passphrases tend to be longer but easier to memorize by using mnemonic devices. This video illustrates a passphrase and how to use it.

Alternatively, you might string together three or four words – items in your workspace or home – separated by numbers and special characters to make something both lengthy but also easy for you to remember. Passphrases should be unique to each online service – for example, don’t use your bank passphrase as your email passphrase.

As we transition into the fall and winter months, respiratory illnesses like the common cold and flu often increase. These illnesses exhibit similar symptoms, risk factors, and preventive measures.

If your child has tested positive for respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19, flu, and RSV, please inform your school immediately to minimize spreading. Students may return to school once their symptoms have improved and they have been fever-free for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medication. If a physician prescribes an antibiotic, DeKalb Public Health mandates that students must follow the treatment for 24 hours before they can return. This responsible action is essential to our collective effort to keep our school community safe.

Please note that federal regulations protect student health information. The school administration will maintain the confidentiality of this information, sharing it only with DeKalb Public Health when legally required.

Additionally, please remember to adhere to the following precautions:

• Remain at home if feeling unwell. If a fever is present, stay home for 24 hours.

• Cover coughs and sneezes with your elbow or a tissue, and dispose of it immediately.

• Avoid coughing into your bare hands.

• Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

• Regularly clean commonly touched surfaces and objects.

These precautions and the actions outlined for returning to school after illness will help protect our students, ensuring they remain healthy, safe, and ready to learn.

• National Bullying Prevention Month, October 1-31
  
• Breast Cancer Awareness Month, October 1-31
• Crime Prevention Month, October 1-31
• Domestic Violence Awareness Month, October 1-31
• Learning Disabilities and Dyslexia Awareness Month, October 1-31
• LGBTQ+ History Month, October 1-31
• National School Bus Safety Week, October 21-25
• Red Ribbon Week, October 23-31
  

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.

Students Invited to Join City of Decatur Advisory Boards

The City of Decatur is accepting youth applicants for the Environmental Sustainability Board, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, and the Better Together Advisory Board! Students who serve as youth members will have the opportunity to gain experience working alongside City staff to advise the City Commission and shape City programs.

Board members are asked to serve two-year terms, and youth applicants should consider their extracurricular schedules and whether they will be able to serve the full term of their appointments.

The Youth Statement of Interest can be found here. Interested applicants should send their completed forms to Andrea.Arnold@decaturga.com by Monday, October 28. Interviews will take place on November 6 and 7, and selected members will be appointed at the December 3 City Commission meeting.

Decatur Safe Streets

The Decatur Safe Streets Safety Action Plan, a City initiative housed in Decatur’s Public Works Department, is partnering with Decatur Safe Routes to School this October and November to collect input from parents and kids at various CSD Walk & Roll to School events.

The Safety Action Plan is an important City planning process that will help Decatur address safety needs for all roadway users, with the goal of eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries in Decatur. To learn more and provide input to the plan, visit decaturga.com/ss4a

City of Decatur Parks and Recreation

Upcoming DPR events include Coding 101 (Decatur), Kidz Night (Ebster), and ORC Meet & Treat (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!

Agnes Scott College is hosting its annual Pick-A-Sweet event on Thursday, October 31, 2024, from 5-7 p.m. on campus. This event is free and open to the community!

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.

Congratulations to DEF’s Teacher Innovation Grants Recipients!

The Decatur Education Foundation is thrilled to announce that we awarded 32 Teacher Innovation Grants totalling nearly $32,000 this week!

Students at our K-2 schools will benefit from social-emotional learning and enhanced performing arts programs. A reading engagement program at BHMS will teach parents how to support their struggling readers. STEM projects abound at our 3-5 schools, as well as at Decatur High School. And our youngest learners at College Heights will benefit from new literacy programming.

Funding our educators' great ideas is a highlight of what we do at DEF, and we hope to open a second grant cycle in January! Help us support our teachers and fund more classroom innovation by making a donation or becoming a Step Up Circle donor or monthly giver. Together we make a difference for our kids ... and our teachers!

Visit www.DecaturEducationFoundation.org. to see the complete list of awardees!

DEF’s Supper & Sips Raises Crucial Funds for Our Community!

Grab your friends and neighbors and join us for an evening of fun, fellowship, and (delicious) food on Thursday, Nov. 14th at The Chapel on Sycamore! You'll enjoy live music, raffles, a fund-a-need, and live auction items you won't find anywhere else! The best part? Your good time raises money to support DEF's Teacher Innovation Grants and initiatives addressing food insecurity, student mental health, arts infusion, school travel grants, and so much more. Get your tickets or sign up to volunteer - but don't miss this FUNdraiser!

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.

The warning period for speed limit violations will last through Tuesday, November. 12. 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.

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 the online application by October 31. 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!