Counselors Newsletter

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is looking for the next generation of DNR employees who will care for Georgia’s natural and cultural resources. This summer, DNR invites high school students to a week-long summer camp where students will have the opportunity to explore future career options, receive training and education, and make connections with current DNR employees. Attendees will work alongside field professionals and receive hands-on training from game wardens, park managers, and wildlife, fisheries, and marine technicians while traveling across the state visiting wildlife management areas, state parks, fish hatcheries, historic sites, and Georgia’s coast.

To apply, visit the DNR Career Academy website.

Dates and Location

July 20-26, 2025

Students will stay overnight at the Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center located in Mansfield, Ga., and the Jekyll 4-H Center on Jekyll Island.

APPLICATION PROCESS Click Here

DNR Letter

Date & Time: Oct 23, 2024 07:00 PM

Description: Join College Aid Pro for a comprehensive walk-through of how to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS/PROFILE).

This webinar will cover everything you need to know, including:

1. The seven critical mistakes to avoid when filling out the FAFSA
2. The seven critical mistakes to avoid when filling out the CSS/PROFILE
3. How (and who!) to log in/access the FAFSA and CSS/PROFILE
4. How to fill out and submit the FAFSA and CSS/PROFILE
5. Which institutions require the FAFSA and/or CSS/PROFILE and when they are due

Register and even if you cannot attend live, CAP will send you the recording to watch on your timeline. Register here.

A Moderated Dialogue on Overdose Response in Communities

Please join the WHSC Library on Friday October 25th at 5:30 pm in the Whitehead Auditorium

Sarah Febres-Cordero, faculty member of the Emory University School of Nursing, and sequential artist Joseph Karg, Assistant Professor of Illustration and Sequential Art, Kennesaw State University, and Andy Gish, board-certified emergency nurse and overdose prevention educator will present a moderated discussion about their graphic novel "Staying Alive in Little Five."

The conversation will focus on Febres-Cordero's research and experiences in place-based overdose recognition and response, as well as Karg's visual approach to bringing these experiences to life. Clint Fluker, senior director of culture, community and partner engagement for the Michael C. Carlos Museum and Emory Libraries will moderate the discussion. There will be an opportunity at the end of the presentation to ask questions. Attendees will receive a copy of the graphic novel.

The discussion will be followed by a reception steps away from the auditorium at the Woodruff Health Sciences Center Library.

Registration: https://emorylibraries.libcal.com/calendar/whscl_events/l5p

A hands-on naloxone (Narcan) demonstration will be held after the reception.

The student government is planning a gun violence vigil for the victims of the Apalachee High School shooting on October 28th, from 6:30 to 8:00pm. We will be selling candles underneath the spaceship with all proceeds going to the affected community. At 7, we will walk from the high school to the square, where we will have a few speakers there to encourage conversation and urge people to take action.

Welcome to a guide on changing your name and gender marker in Infinite Campus and other school systems! Before we begin, here are a couple of things to note: DHS can only change your name and gender in school-specific systems (such as Infinite Campus, your email, and Google Classroom); they cannot make changes to legal documents (such as your transcript or on standardized tests) unless you undergo a legal name/gender change. Additionally, please note that your parents will be able to see this and are a part of the process.

If you want to change your name/gender in Infinite Campus, the first step is to fill out this form. The various scenarios regarding who fills out the form can be seen below:

In summary, either the student meets with the school counselor to submit the form and assess the student’s support needs, or, once the form is submitted, the student will meet with the school counselor to assess support needs.

Other things to note:

• Faculty and staff are expected to address students by the name and pronoun corresponding to their gender identity as asserted at school.

• CSD will accept a student’s assertion of their gender identity when there is consistent assertion of gender identity or other evidence that a student’s gender identity is sincerely held.

• CSD will comply with the student’s wishes regarding the disclosure of their gender identity to others. However, keep in mind that teachers and staff can make mistakes.

• If a CSD staff member accidentally addresses a student by the incorrect name or pronoun, they will not be subject to disciplinary action. However, repeated violations may constitute intent.

• Students may use restrooms, locker rooms, and changing facilities that correspond with their gender identity.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact your school counselor.

University of Oklahoma

University of South Carolina

University of Kentucky

Purdue University

University of TN @ Knoxville

Georgia College State University

University of Florida

GSW - Georgia Southwestern State University

Agnes Scott College

Oglethorpe

Don’t leave money on the table!

Calling all Seniors! It's not too late to create an account with GA Futures! Create a GA Futures account today through the Georgia Student Finance Commission. Visit https://www.gafutures.org/, create an account and follow the instructions closely. The Registrar will upload all juniors and seniors twice per year to the Georgia Student Finance Commission. This allows each student to be considered for the HOPE and Zell Miller scholarships which are available to all Georgia students and can be applied to any HOPE-eligible college or university. Once an account is created, students can track their HOPE-eligibility and plan for any extra expenses. When creating your GA Futures account, use a personal email. Your CSD email account will be deactivated upon graduation.

Parents, please give us your student's Social Security Number. The Georgia Student Finance Commission identifies students using their SSN. If we don't have it in our student information system, better known as Infinite Campus, they will be unable to match your student to transcripts we upload and be purged out of their system. Please email Mrs. Lanum with a good contact number and she will call you to get your child's SSN and enter it into Infinite Campus. Please do not send it via email or voicemail.

This is non-negotiable and not a rule we make at DHS. We must comply with the state and this is how they prefer to identify thousands of Georgia students.

Please email Mrs. Lanum at klanum@csdecatur.net or your counselor if you have any questions or need help creating your account.

Please remember to create an account at Parchment.com if you haven't already done so. Parchment is a one-stop-shop to request and send your transcript to many colleges and universities in the USA and abroad. When you create your account, please use a personal email account, not your CSD account. Once you graduate you will still be able to access any transcripts uploaded to Parchment if you have a personal email address on file with them. Your CSD email will be deactivated upon graduation. Please be aware that the turnaround time for fulfillment of transcript requests is three days, so get your request in well before any deadlines issued by the schools you are applying to. If you need help, please contact the Registrar's office at klanum@csdecatur.net.

Click the logo for parchment.

Parents/Students: The vast majority of your application processes will NOT need a Parchment transcript request. If you are applying through the Common Application, The Common Black College Application, or a college/University that uses SENDedu or other similar document collection service; you will not need to request a transcript through Parchment because your counselor will automatically upload them for you. If you have questions about if you need to use Parchment or not, just send your counselor an email and ask.

Please click on the appropriate link below to address your concern/need:

I Need A New ID

Certificate Of Enrollments (complete this form at least 1 week prior going to the DDS. Form expires 30 days after issuance)

ADAP Card Information

Portal Access Requests

Request for Google Password (email)

College Visit Form

Work Permit Process (only needed for students ages < 15)

Order A Transcript (If you need a transcript mailed, please email klanum@csdecatur with student name as it appears in the portal, college/university name, college/university address)

Students when you graduate your DHS email account will be deactivated. Please use your personal email address so you will have access beyond high school.

There is NO Community Service Hour requirement to graduate from Decatur High School. The PTSA does however have a Community Service Recognition program. For information and requirements to get Community Service Recognition at your graduation ceremony, please view the information linked here.

College Admissions Accommodation Form (Consent Forms for College Admission Tests Accommodation Requests - If you have a 504 or IEP with testing accommodations, a consent form must be completed and turned in to your/your student's counselor in order for the school to request accommodations for the College Board (PSAT/AP/SAT) and ACT. Testing agencies take up to 8 weeks to process requests.)

Summer & PreCollege Programs Google Classroom - CLASS CODE: fkrkuep

Scholarships Google Classroom - CLASS CODE: 43xlcav

Email: rjones1@csdecatur.net
Website: https://www.csdecatur.net/dhs
Location: 310 North McDonough Street, Decatur, GA, USA
Phone: 404-370-4170