DHS Weekly Update
Thursday, May 25, 2023
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
DHS Community,
Thank you to everyone for making last night's graduation a success! The weather was amazing! Congrats to all of our 2023 graduates!!
During the summer, the English Department asks that students continue their learning through reading! The Summer Reading assignments can be found on the DHS website - https://www.csdecatur.net/domain/1957.
The PTSA is looking for board members and committee volunteers. We currently do not have a board and without your help, DHS won't have the support of this amazing organization. Please consider volunteering your time.
I will be sending out one final eblast for the year next week! Have a safe holiday weekend.
Rochelle Lofstrand
Principal, DHS
Restorative Conversation Sign up with Mr. Chesnut
The investigation into the use of a racial slur at Decatur High School has concluded. While we apologize for the length of the inquiry, our Board, district, and school leaders felt it was vitally important that the investigation be comprehensive. Mr. Chesnut spent the remainder of this school year offering his students opt-in virtual tutoring. He was extended a contract and will return full-time to DHS in the 2023-2024 school year.
During the investigation, Mr. Chesnut acknowledged the gravity of his actions and the harm he caused the DHS community. He is committed to and eager to work to restore trust and relationships and, most importantly, ensure that his classroom will be a safe space for all students. Mr. Chesnut has completed a series of anti-racism trainings and will continue to address the outcomes of his actions by engaging in a restorative plan to rebuild trust among his colleagues, students, and families.
Families, staff, and students wishing to have a restorative conversation with Mr. Chesnut can
sign up here.
Class of 2024 Senior Pictures
Class of 2024 can you believe you are just a few weeks away from being seniors? Time to start thinking about all of the senior things including senior photos! This year’s senior’s photos will be taken by CADY studios. You must have your portrait taken by CADY to be included in the senior section of the yearbook. Please go to CADY studio to register now! You can register and sign up for a session HERE.
There are several photo options you can choose, but to be in the yearbook you just need the yearbook pose. The SIMPLE SESSION includes the formal shot, Cap and Gown photos, and one extra ‘scene.’ You should have started receiving emails about scheduling an appointment. You can go to one of their studios OR schedule an appointment here at the high school during a Road Show. The closest studio, The Atlanta Studio, located at 2030 Powers Ferry Rd., Suite 520 Atlanta, Georgia 30339 (near the Braves Stadium) is accepting appointments now. It is advised that you schedule an appointment sooner rather than later so that you can get retakes if you wish.
For the YEARBOOK POSE (the picture in the yearbook) you have your choice of the traditional outfit provided by CADY - the tux or drape. If you do not wish to be photographed in the traditional attire you may wear a SOLID BLACK OUTFIT of your choosing -sweater, turtleneck, button down, dress, or your own black suit with black tie.
Cady will be taking appointments online for the Decatur High Road Shoot days 90 days before the actual date. These dates include: Saturday 8/19 and Saturday 10/14. If you do not get an appointment on one of these days you will have to go to the studio to get your picture taken. To ensure that you get to choose your photo please take your picture by 10/31. You can decide what photo you want as long as you choose BEFORE 11/10/2023.
You have until October 31, either at school or at a studio, to get your photo taken for inclusion in the 2022-2024 yearbook. Please go to cady.com/schedule in order to schedule your appointment as soon as possible.
Anyone who needs financial assistance for the sitting fee should reach out to Principal Lofstrand,
rlofstrand@csdecatur.net. If you have any other questions please email the yearbook sponsor Ms. Lockhart at
alockhart@csdecatur.net.
Summer School Information
At DHS, Students are eligible for the Summer School Credit Recovery program if they meet the following criteria:
Fail a core content course (English, math, social studies, or science) AND
Earn a 2 in the course (not a 1) AND
Have no more than 20 absences from the course during the year.
Current grades and attendance records are available in Infinite Campus to see which course(s) have a 1 or a 2.
If these grades do not change by the end of the year and they meet the attendance requirement, they will be invited to Summer School.
Please see the Summer School details below. Once final grades are posted at the end of May, we will provide more details.
Location: Decatur High School, Library Learning Commons
Dates: June 5-23, 2023, Monday- Friday (closed June 19)
Time: 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Cost: $200 per student, expect detailed payment and registration information at the end of May.
Additional Information: Transportation will be available. Students completing Credit Recovery for American Literature, Algebra 1, Biology, or US History will retake the End of Course Test during the window of June 21-23 (Tue-Fri).
From Food and Nutrition Department
If you need to request a refund, donate or transfer money left on a student's account, please use the student account refund form.
Go to the CSD Nutrition page found here: https://www.csdecatur.net/Page/1397
scroll to the bottom and click on the Student Account Refund form.
If you have any questions, please contact Nekee Mathis at 470-237-0368 x7607 or nmathis@csdecatur.net.
DHS and CSD Communication Survey
Hi DHS Families,
Please complete this survey to help us best plan for and implement communication structures that will keep our DHS families informed of the important happenings in our school community. All schools will be conducting a similar survey.
The results of these surveys will be shared with other school and district leaders to help inform areas of strength and growth throughout the district.
This survey should take you approximately 10 minutes to complete, and will provide us with valuable information about our communication platforms, frequency, and content. Thank you for your support.
Health & Wellness Experience
CSD has joined with our local community partners to offer The Health and Wellness Experience for rising 9th through 12th graders on July 10-13. It will be jam-packed with fun and awesome opportunities and experiences.
Opportunities include CPR certification, hands-on simulations, visits to multiple colleges and universities (Emory, Kennesaw, Spelman, Morehouse), and much more! You can register your student now!
PTSA VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR NEXT YEAR!
CSD Athletics News and Updates
DHS Golf Sends Robertson to GHSA Championship
Congratulations to Pargen Robertson! This week, Pargen completed a Sunday practice and two rounds of match play for a total of 54 holes of golf in three days against 80 of the top golfers in the 5A division for state playoffs.
Pargen is the first Golf athlete to compete in state for DHS in recent memory. Only 20 golfers scored better than the DHS sophomore making his State debut. Great job, Pargen! Our coaches, your teammates, and the DHS community are proud of you and the work you put in to reach this level of competition!
Softball Summer Camp Opportunities
Our DHS Softball program will host a number of camps this summer. These camps are a great way for our young Bulldogs to develop their skills, make new friends, and have some fun. Click the link below for more information and reach out to Coach Williams with any questions.
Softball Summer Camps 2023
Next PTSA Meeting
Join us at our meeting on TBD at 6:30pm. Check the school calendar for meeting details.
Next SLT Meeting
Join us at our next meeting on TBD at 4:30pm. Check the school calendar for meeting details.
ESOL & Federal Programs Summer Immediate Needs Survey
The City Schools of Decatur's ESOL & Federal Programs team in participation with their Community Collaborative partners, invites you to complete our Summer Immediate Needs Survey. This survey is to support families and improve services by providing some of the essential needs of CSD families over the summer. Help us enhance the experiences of students and their families. Please access the survey by scanning the QR code located on the flyer or by clicking here.
CSD ESOL End-of-Year (EOY) Celebration of Learning
The CSD ESOL Department held a Celebration of Learning on Thursday, May 18, 2023 to honor the hard work of their students and parents during this school year with food, drink, music and fun! The DHS PTO honored the seniors with a special token of appreciation. Well done all!
2023-2024 Bus Registration is Open
COMMUNITY PARTNER ANNOUNCEMENTS AND UPDATES
Decatur Prevention Initiative
The Decatur Prevention Initiative needs your help in learning more about community perceptions and concerns regarding underage drinking and substance misuse among Decatur youth. The results of this brief survey are anonymous and will help us better plan and target programming.
This voluntary survey is anonymous, and responses cannot be traced to you. Please answer the questions based on what you think and do. You may skip any question you choose not to answer. When answering the questions, please think about your child(ren)/grandchildren.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DPI2023
Thank you so much for volunteering to provide this valuable information to help DPI and our partners better address youth alcohol and substance misuse in Decatur.
Decatur Education Foundation
Decatur Education Foundation
Step Up for Teachers! There’s still time to show your teachers you appreciate them with a teacher tribute! Go to www.stepupforteachers.com to support teachers in 2 ways: you leave them a personal message of appreciation and your $25 (or more) contribution helps fund teacher grants for the next school year! For $50, you can leave two tributes and choose between a We Step Up for Teachers or Congrats Class of 2023 yard sign. We’ll notify the honored teacher or CSD staff and post the tributes HERE. Thank you for stepping up and have a GREAT summer!
Congratulations Seniors! Last week, Decatur Education Foundation awarded almost $130K in college scholarships to 18 hard-working DHS seniors. To view this year’s recipients, please visit www.decatureducationfoundation.org/2023scholarships or visit our Facebook page. Congratulations to the Class of 2023, today is graduation day!
