BHMS Weekly Update
Thursday, February 9 2023
March 23, 2023
Principal's Corner
Principal’s Coffee Chat
We are so excited to host our next coffee chat on Friday, March 31st at 9:00. The topic will be “test anxiety” as we prepare to move into the Spring testing season. Please share this with your parents. For those unable to attend in person, they can access the meeting virtually here: meet.google.com/kph-wayc-zgw
Just a reminder to give your feedback on the CSD budgeting process by completing the survey shared in an email from Dr. Fehrman or click here.
Derrick L. Thomas, Principal,
Beacon Hill Middle School
Teacher Spotlight
This week's teacher spotlight is on Thea Michael and Laura Stroer who teach our self contained special education classes. While Mrs. Michael and Mrs. Stroer both exemplify many IB learner profile attributes, today we would like to recognize them for amplifying the traits of caring and open minded. The professionalism and knowledge that Mrs. Michael and Mrs. Stroer both bring to the classroom enables their students to learn and grow in a caring classroom. In addition, they work hard to ensure the entire BHMS community is a caring and supportive environment for students. Some of the highlights of their work include:
initiating, developing, implementing, and supervising phenomenal local school-level inclusion programs that bring awareness to developmental disabilities.
Lead the Bulldog Buddies Club: to create meaningful relationships between students with and without intellectual and other disabilities.
Fostering and advocating for inclusivity at all levels
Promoting adaptive P.E
Leading Autism Awareness Campaign
Developmental Disabilities Month!
With this month being Developmental Disabilities Awareness month check out this slideshow slideshow Laura Stroer created to educate students about developmental disabilities and promote understanding and empathy.
From the Desk of the PTA
Get Your Tickets for the 7th Grade Dance Party March 24th!
The 7th Grade PTA sponsored spring dance is around the corner. Get your tickets today!
Please sign up to volunteer and make a snack donation.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094FABAD23A2FAC43-bhms
Click Here to get 7th Grade Spring Dance tickets.
BHMS News You Can Use
BHMS Band, Chorus, and Orchestras Receive All Superiors!
Every music ensemble at Beacon Hill scored Straight Superiors at Large Group Performance Evaluation during various recent evaluation concerts! This includes Band, Orchestra and Chorus. The judges awarded a Superior rating for their performance, the highest rating possible.
Congratulations to all of our Band students who performed a SUPERIOR band concert and sight reading session at the recent annual evaluation concert.
Our Orchestras also received all superiors from all three judges for their performance and sight reading.
The Treble Choir scored Straight Superiors fort large Group Performance Evaluation!
Thank you to the superior performing arts staff at BHMS and the incredibly talented students!
PBIS Raffle!
We are still collecting donations for our PBIS Raffle!
Beacon Hill Garden Volunteer Day March 25th!
The Beacon Hill Garden is getting ready for spring. We have recently received grants for compost from CompostNow!, seeds from Botanical Interests and for paint, stain, and some pollinator plants from our PTA. Students have begun spreading mulch and compost as well as sowing seeds in our beds and in our greenhouse. Many hands make light work. Please consider joining us for a community volunteer day March 25th from 9-12 to stain tables, paint the shed and spruce up our post-pandemic garden. Bring a water bottle, sunscreen and gloves, we'll have the rest. Rain date Sunday March 16th, 9-12.
Adventure Quest Makes Nature Mandalas!
Adventure Quest students are getting WILD this term in hopes to improve our relationship with nature. This week students captured the beauty of nature through art - making nature mandalas. A mandala is a geometric shape that means “circle” in Sanskrit. In Hinduism and Buddhism, a mandala is a symbol representing the universe and life. Similar to a mandala symbol, a nature mandala is also an “integrated structure organized around a unifying center.” They are made with organic materials found in nature.
The Poetry Slam wants YOU!
The annual Beacon Hill Stacey Daniel Poetry Slam is open to all Beacon Hill students (6th, 7th, & 8th grades) and will take place on April 26th at 6 PM. All students who would like to take part will have the opportunity to be coached by professional teaching artists/Slam Poets. To sign up, students should contact their ELA teacher OR email Holly Lanford (hlanford@csdecatur.net).
Slam Poetry is a unique style of spoken-word poetry that combines the elements of writing, performance, competition, and audience participation. It is spoken-word ‘riffing’ on contemporary issues - and in the hands of Beacon Hill students, it is an opportunity for our community to see the depth of passion and insight that these kids have to offer. Preparation for this event kicks off each year with a week-long Poetry Residency for all 7th graders in their ELA classes. Then all students from all grade levels are invited to participate in twice weekly coaching sessions starting Wednesday, March 22nd from 3:50-4:50 in Ms. Wicks room. Coaching sessions will continue Tuesdays and Wednesdays until the actual Slam. If you are a parent that would like to volunteer to help with the Poetry Slam, please email Holly Lanford (hlanford@csdecatur.net), the faculty sponsor.
The Beacon Hill PTA generously supplies funds for the residency and for several coaching sessions to help students who have elected to participate in the Poetry Slam. This year Beacon Hill has again partnered with Paint Love, a local arts organization that provides the teaching artists for the residency and the coaching sessions.
BHMS Shoe Drive extended through March 30th!
8th grade students are still collecting your new or gently worn used shoes (or you may drop off at the school in the designated team box). Please reach out to Shani Vickery (svickery@csdecatur.net) with any questions.
Yearbook INFO
- Use this LINK to pre order your middle schooler's yearbook. [https://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A01399350]
- Distribution will be at the end of May.
- Consider DONATING a book. Put the word DONATION in the Homeroom field.
- Use this LINK to order a portrait package from Legacy if you haven't done so already. [https://legacystudios.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2c8552ea45aa34df0423da31&id=6686b108a2&e=a00ceed776]
BHMS Club Updates
FROM THE DESK OF THE BHMS FAB LAB:
Greetings ~
This month's FAB LAB MAKERSPACE workshop has been announced! Join us on March 29th any time from after school until 8 pm where all participants young and old can learn how to do laser engraving and cutting! All participants will get to design, make, and take home their very own set of laser engraved cup coasters! Space for this workshop is limited and please see the attached registration form for more information!
See you in the lab,
Mr. Heuser
Weekly Grade Level Newsletters
Every Thursday, each grade level will publish its newsletter. Please check them out after you read the school Eblast. Here are the links:
CSD Athletic News and Updates
Thank You Bulldog Supporters!
Thank you to all our sponsors, donors, bidders and party-goers for making this year's Bulldog Bash the most successful one yet! We have a flash sale on final auction items open now through March 24 at 10 a.m. Still time to bid on some amazing items! Place your bids HERE.
Congratulations BHMS Track & Field on a Great Season!
The Dekalb County Middle School Track & Field Championships took place this past Saturday with the finals this evening at Buck Godfrey Stadium. Congratulations to ALL of our athletes at Saturday's track meet and this evening's finals. We had several athletes who set personal best times, jumps, and throws and we are so proud of them!
Please click here to see the list of athletes who are among the Top 8 in their event in Dekalb County!
Softball Carwash Fundraiser
Your Decatur softball team will be hosting a car wash this Sunday (March 26th) from 10am-2pm. Bring your car to the parking lot located off of W. Howard to be washed and support the Bulldogs! Electronic payments will be accepted!
Football Fundraising with ButchersChoice
We invite you to “Shop With The Kids” for the Decatur High School Football Team Fundraiser by visiting www.ButchersChoice.Com for premium quality (Certified Angus Beef, top 8%) Steaks, Pork, Chicken and Seafood. Be sure to indicate the school, sport and student when prompted and know that you are shopping with a 28 year A+ Rated BBB company. Orders will be delivered to the school on a date set by the team. Questions? Call “the Butcher” 770-356-4009.
Thanks so much on the behalf of Coach Felton, our DHS Football staff, and players. Happy Grilling!!!
CSD News and Announcements
Greetings CSD Stakeholders,
In an effort to ensure we have captured a wide range of input from our stakeholders, a group of parents volunteered to put together a community survey to gather information from our community on the FY 24 Budget. Please see the information below, and thank you in advance for completing this survey. I'm looking forward to reviewing the results.
Kindly,
Dr. Maggie Fehrman
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This survey was created and led by a group of CSD parents to gather community feedback on the upcoming budget allocation proposal.
The results will be collected and shared with CSD District leadership and the Board of Education prior to their tentative budget meeting on March 28, 2023. This survey aims to provide information regarding parents/educators priorities for this budget and is not expected to determine the budget. This survey must be completed by noon on Monday, March 27, 2023.
In order to provide us with informed opinions about CSD's budget and proposals, please read the Budget Request Summary and Budget Playbook.
Results will be published for the CSD community.
Thank you,
Kristin Ebersold, India Epps, Patricia Liscio, Richard Malerba, Samantha McMahan, Kunle Oguneye, Weonhee Shin, Natalie Jo Williams, and Sara Weathersby
DVA Sign-Up Window Open for Grades 3 -12
Interested in Decatur Virtual Academy?
The window to sign up for Decatur Virtual Academy (DVA) by choice for next year is open now. The window will close at noon on June 16, 2023. If you want your student to attend DVA for the 2023 -24 school year, please complete this form before noon on June 16, 2023. Space is limited. Once DVA is full, families will be on a wait list. This form may only be completed by a parent or guardian who has educational rights for a CSD student. PLEASE COMPLETE ONE FORM PER STUDENT.
Ms. Whatley will contact you once the form is complete and residency requirements are met to set up an appointment for course selection. Please scan the QR code to see a list of frequently asked questions about DVA.
Decatur Student Center
The Decatur Student Center is looking to connect with parents and provide information about mental health topics that impact our students and community. To see what parents are most interested in, the DSC has created this form that parents can fill out so we have information to inform our topic choices. We would love to hear from you!
CSD Student Art Exhibit
The CSD Art Teachers will host their annual system-wide student art exhibit, April 19 - 21, 2023 at the Solarium in Oakhurst.
Community Partner Announcements and Updates
Decatur Education Foundation
Care to help combat food insecurity in Decatur? You can donate to our Lighten the Load Weekend Backpack program which provides supplemental food to Decatur families who need it. We still have a lot of need this month. Thank you to everyone who contributed to the Beacon Hill Snack Pantry wish list for March. The snack pantry ensures that no one at the middle school goes hungry. Here are the wish lists for both programs:
Beacon Hill Middle Snack Program: /a.co/d0HJHTr
Weekend Backpack Program: https://a.co/6Etc74W
Volunteers needed: Your skills could help a Decatur student in just one hour per week as a Virtual Pal Tutor! We pair 2nd-8th grade students with upper high school or adult tutors to help with homework, organization and motivation. It’s an easy way to give back to your community in a meaningful way (and for high school students to earn volunteer hours!) Click here to sign up: https://forms.gle/SnUp5TNx3JZRTNja7
Live Music Tickets now on sale! Amplify Decatur is hosting their Spring Concert in the Square on Saturday, April 29th and DEF is so pleased to be one of the beneficiaries. The line-up is chock full of some amazing musicians – check them out and purchase tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/amplify-decatur-music-festival-tickets-527859721637. Your evening of live music will support DEF, Decatur Cooperative Ministry and Giving Kitchen.