CSD Athletics: Bulldog News

Bulldog Families,

As we approach the Thanksgiving Break, we want to take this opportunity to thank everyone in our Decatur Bulldog Athletic Community for the time, energy, and effort put into making our programs successful. From our students who commit to their individual growth, as well as their teammates, to our coaches who create spaces for our students to learn and connect. Thank you to our parents who step up in various ways to support and celebrate and to our teachers, admin, and staff who help our students balance their academics and athletics and teach lessons that will carry forward beyond DHS. There is a lot to be grateful for here in Bulldog Country.

In the spirit of gratitude, we invite everyone to mark December 3 on your calendars for CSD's First Annual Day of Giving Fundraiser. This one-day event connects all of the amazing organizations at BHMS and DHS dedicated to supporting our students!!

There is always a lot to celebrate in CSD Athletics. If you have any questions or need guidance relating to our programs, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Go Bulldogs!!

Director of Activities & Athletics: Rodney Thomas

(rthomas@csdecatur.net)

Assistant Activities & Athletics Director: David Harbin

(dharbin@csdecatur.net)

Bookkeeper & Administrative Assistant: Kelli Aaron

(kaaron@csdecatur.net)

After all the spending that comes with Black Friday and Cyber Monday, there’s Giving Tuesday

– a global day of generosity created to support the charities and organizations that make our

communities better.

This year’s Giving Tuesday is December 3 and there is a super easy way to support all

the organizations that pour into DHS and BHMS students in one place. Visit the 1st Annual

Giving Tuesday site to learn more about who we are, all the ways we work together and how

you can support us by participating in this one-day event benefiting these amazing groups:

• Beacon Hill Middle School PTA
• Decatur Band
• Decatur Bulldog Boosters (DBB)
• Decatur Education Foundation (DEF)
• DHS Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA)
• Decatur Performs

All donations are tax deductible. And, don’t forget to check if your company offers matching

donations. Let’s show up for our students, teachers and our community!

Congratulations to Ethan Johnson, Senior Bulldog Football standout. On Friday afternoon, Ethan was presented with his Navy All-American jersey in front of his classmates, teammates, family, and friends. The Navy All-American game will be televised on January 11, 2025. Ethan will join 100 of the most talented players in the country in San Antonio.

Ethan is the second DHS Football player in three years to receive this outstanding recognition, following Kenric Lanier in 2023.

Our Flag Football Bulldogs have finished their regular season and now begin focusing on the first round of the GHSA playoffs. Decatur returns to the playoffs for the first time since our inaugural season in 2020. The Bulldogs will match up against Langston Hughes on December 5 at Pope High School. The winner will move on to face either Pope High School or Chattahoochee.

Good Luck, Bulldogs!!

Our 2024 Football season ended on Friday night after our Bulldogs put up a valiant fight against a formidable team from Dutchtown. After falling behind 0-14, Decatur battled back to tie the game at 14-14. However, the Bulldogs could not keep pace with Dutchtown in the second half, the game ending with a score of 14-48.

The Bulldogs' impressive 9-2 record this year is the best in recent history. Great seasons do not happen without great effort and sacrifice from players and coaches alike. Thank you to our 20+ Seniors who led the way this year, many of whom have been playing in the program since their Freshman year. Great job to our coaching staff who continues to build a program that allows our players to learn and grow. We are already looking forward to continued success next season!

Congratulations to Softball player, Kate Dickinson. The Junior pitcher recorded her 100th Strikeout of her career in the Bulldogs final game of the season. This is an impressive feat achieved in just 3 years on the mound. Great job, Kate!!

Congratulations to our DHS Softball Bulldogs. Many Bulldogs were named to the Region 4-5A All-Region Team and the Dekalb All-County Team. Great job to these individuals and congratulations to their teammates and coaches. All-Region and All-County recognitions highlight the hard work of everyone on the team! We are proud to be well-represented.

All-Region 1st Team:

Rossalia Iglesia-Lopez, Mia Fredrick, Ava Bearden

All-Region 2nd Team:

Kate Dickinson, Elizabeth Brown, Giulia Torres-Botta, Peri Jeffers, Maggie Connerly

All-County 1st Team:

Rossalia Iglesias-Lopez

All-County 2nd Team:

Ava Bearden, Mia Fredrick, Kate Dickinson, Peri Jeffers

All students interested in participating in Track & Field this Spring should attend the Interest Meeting on December 9. Coach Souther will meet students in the PAC Theater after school at 3:45 PM.

If you have questions, please contact Coach Souther (msouther@csdecatur.net)

Girls' Soccer at Beacon Hill is just around the corner! If you are interested in trying out in the Spring, please fill out the form below. We're looking forward to a great season. If you have any questions, reach out to Coach Ali (htrenovations@earthlink.net) and Coach Witherspoon (wilson.witherspoon@gmail.com)

BHMS Girls' Soccer Interest Form

Interested in playing girls lacrosse? Fill out this form from your CSD email to show your interest. Please email Coach Alex Powers (apowers@csdecatur.net) if you have any questions.

Each year, the Run With the Dogs 5K race features a local dog as our “Face of the Race.” We invite the community to nominate their cutest canine friends now through November 22. Once the nomination period closes, the public will vote on the nominees and select our official 2025 Face of the Race!

Here are this year’s Face of the Race Rules:
1) All nominators MUST register for the 2025 Run With The Dogs before nominating your dog. Register Here!

2) Post your dog’s photo on Instagram or Facebook and tag @RWTD5K. Please be sure to include their name, a creative hashtag describing your pup, and hashtag #RWTD5K. Please remember to make sure your post is public, or send information via direct message. If you are not on social media, please send requested information to runwiththedogs5k@gmail.com.

3) Photos will be accepted through November 22, 2024.

4) Once the nomination period closes, we will ask the public to vote for their favorite dog. This will be announced on the RWTD5K Instagram and Facebook pages. Be sure to share the opportunity to vote with friends, and encourage others to join you for the Run With the Dogs 5K!

Boosters offers ticket packs that are good for any game* throughout the year at Decatur High School and Beacon Hill Middle School. Click HERE to choose your level, and Go Bulldogs!

(*Excludes away games and playoff games.)

If you’ve ever wondered who’s playing what position, there’s now a roster for that. Check out the rosters for all fall sports HERE.

Please scroll through the options to find the sport appropriate to your visit. Click the team name or photo to be redirected to detailed information about each team. We appreciate your patience as we finalize our Fall Sports!

Stop by the Booster tent at the game this Friday to pick up all your essential Bulldog gear, including hoodies!

Boosters has two main fundraisers to support our student athletes at DHS and BHMS: Run With the Dogs 5K (RWTD5K) and Bulldog Bash -- both are great community events that you won't want to miss. Mark your calendars and look for more information in the coming weeks.

RWTD5K: January 25, 2025

Bulldog Bash: March 22, 2025

Watch the game while also raising money for your team. Any DBB-supported sport can earn up to $100 per game by encouraging their athletes to manage concessions.

• $20 per volunteer per game
• Max: 5 volunteers per game
• DBB pays quarterly payouts to the Athletics Play Fund for each participating sport

Sign up HERE!

We appreciate all of our local families and companies who step up to support our Bulldogs every year!!

Learn more about how you can become a Bulldog Sponsor for the 2024-25 school year by clicking the button below.

Thursday, Nov. 14, 6-10 p.m.

Grab your friends and neighbors and help us celebrate the return of Supper & Sips ... in a brand new location - The Chapel on Sycamore!

Enjoy dinner by Oakhurst Market, dessert by Butter & Cream, and drinks provided by Three Taverns Brewery and Decatur Package Store. Maxwell Street guitarist Terry Cannon will perform before an exciting Fund-a-Need and live auction with one-of-a-kind vacations and experiences.

Decatur Education Foundation's mission is to help Decatur youth overcome the obstacles that keep them from finding success. We generate and apply resources from the community to address unmet needs, provide enriching opportunities, support our educators, and ultimately strengthen the Decatur community.

Interested in sponsorship opportunities? Email Meagan@DecaturEducationFoundation.org.

Check out the new Bulldog spirit wear, which will be on sale during home football games at the Decatur Bulldog Booster table. New styles and items are being printed as you read this, so check back often to make sure your Bulldog apparel hasn't turned into vintage wear!

Stay in the know on all things Boosters by following us on Facebook and Instagram.

@Decatur Bulldog Boosters

@rwtd5k

@decaturbulldogbash

Wednesday, Dec. 4 - JV Basketball vs. Dunwoody - 5:00 PM

Friday, Dec. 6 - JV Basketball vs. Maynard Jackson - 4:30 PM

Friday, Dec. 6 - Varsity Basketball vs. Woodward - 6:00/7:30 PM

Saturday, Dec. 7 - BHMS Basketball vs. Champion - 10:00/11:30 AM

Tuesday, Dec. 10 - Varsity Basketball vs. Chamblee - 6:00/7:30 PM

Saturday, Dec. 14 - JV Basketball vs. Tucker - 10:00/11:30 AM

Saturday, Dec. 14 - BHMS Basketball vs. Peachtree - 10:00/11:30 AM

This year, we are excited to highlight our student-athletes and the value they bring to their teams and our school community!

Our teachers go above and beyond to support our student-athletes' interests and their success in the classroom. We are looking forward to highlighting our teachers and the impact they have on our students every day!

We are blessed to have so many thoughtful and dedication coaches supporting our student-athletes. We will use this space to highlight different coaches each week!

In sports, it's not just about winning—it's about doing what's right. In this clip, professional tennis player Jack Sock demonstrates exceptional sportsmanship during a crucial point in a match. When honesty outweighs competition, it reminds us all that true champions are defined not just by their skills, but by their integrity. Watch how a simple act of fairness on the court can make a lasting impact both in sports and in life.

Sportsmanship: Make the Right Call

The role of an athlete's parent is challenging for many reasons! Finding opportunities for your child to participate, encouraging them to take risks, celebrating their accomplishments, supporting them through various challenges... It adds up and can take a toll. This resource from the Positive Coaching Alliance emphasizes the importance of building a partnership with your child's coach and provides helpful strategies to do so. There are many valuable lessons our students can learn through sports, many of which are not fun or easy to learn, and having adults who are working together makes the challenging times beneficial!

Tips for a Positive Parent/Caregiver-Coach Partnership

This year, the Bulldogs are partnering again with the Positive Coaching Alliance to enhance the experience of our students, coaches, and Bulldog families. The PCA has a vast number of resources that can help us make the most of our experience.

This resource is an activity we shared last year that aims at helping students and their families determine what their goals are as student-athletes. This exercise can spark some important conversations about how families decide to navigate this experience. Making sure everyone is on the same page about what desired outcomes can help to create a positive experience!

"What are YOUR Youth Sport Goals? Parent/Caregiver 100 Point Exercise"