DHAA News
October 27, 2023
317-856-2109
Parents MUST bring late students to door #3 and ring the doorbell.
Note from the Coordinators
Dear DHAA Families,
We hope this letter finds you well and enjoying the autumn season. As Coordinators at DHAA, we are thrilled to share some important announcements and updates with you:
We are excited to introduce our new 6th grade teacher, Mrs. Juli McFarland. Mrs. McFarland brings a wealth of experience and passion for education, and we are confident that she will greatly contribute to the growth and development of our students.
As the cold season approaches, we kindly ask parents to contact our office if your child is home ill. It is important for us to keep track of absences and ensure the well-being of our students. Doctor's notes are greatly appreciated and must be submitted within one week of the absence to count as an excused absence. As a reminder, it is district policy to notify parents when students reach a certain number of absences. You should receive a phone call from teachers once your student has reached 5 absences. If the absences reach 8, our coordinators will personally reach out to discuss any concerns or provide additional support. Finally, if a student reaches 10 absences, a letter will be sent home for your records. Regular attendance and participation in class lessons is crucial to the success of students, especially in an accelerated and enriched environment like the DHAA. Encourage your young one to wash their hands, dress appropriately for the weather, and stay as healthy as possible!
Lastly, we want to express our sincere gratitude for your continued partnership. Your involvement in your child's education is invaluable, and we are grateful for the trust you place in us. Together, we can create a nurturing and enriching environment where every student can thrive.
As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns. We are here to support you and your child's educational journey.
Warm regards,
Mr. Apollos & Mrs. Nesbit
DHAA Coordinators
Guiding the Gifted- Support Corner for Parents
Be Kind to Your Mind, Live Drug Free Spirit Week!
Red-dy to live a Drug Free Life Day
Pajama Day
e-Learning Day
Due to elections, students will participate in an e-Learning day on Tuesday 11/7.
Assignments will be posted for all core classes (Math, ELA, Social Studies, and Science) on Canvas. Students are expected to complete all assignments posted in order to be counted as "present" at school.
Teachers will be available to answer questions during regular school hours (7:30-2:30pm).
Tuesday, Nov 7, 2023, 07:00 AM
Picture Retakes!
Picture Retakes will be completed on Tuesday, November 28th, 2023.
All students received copies/drafts of their photos before fall break. Please let your teacher know if you would like to have them retake any photos.
Contact LifeTouch if you have specific questions regarding your photos.
DHAA Front Office Now Open
Our Decatur High Ability Academy front office is now officially open and operational! It is located on the second floor in the brand new Hub and staffed by Mrs. Juli McFarland.
317-856-2109
What does this mean for DHAA families?
- Late arrivals:
- Doors lock at 7:30am.
- Students who arrive at school late will no longer be picked up at door #3!
- Parents must walk their child to door 3 and ring the doorbell to allow their student in the building.
- Students will check-in with Mrs. McFarland in the office before being sent to class.
- Student Pick-up/Early Dismissal:
- Parents will need to come in the building to pick-up their student.
- Use the doorbell at door #3 when you arrive.
- Have your ID ready BEFORE you enter the building (you will be asked to show it to the camera before being let in).
- Proceed to the 2nd floor to sign your student out & pick them up.
- Lunch Visits or School Volunteers: Parents who wish to enter DHAA for any reason will need to follow the procedures below:
- Have your ID ready when you arrive at door #3! You will be required to show your ID to the camera before allowed entry.
- Ring the Doorbell to the right of door #3 and wait for clearance to enter.
- Check in with the secretary in the 2nd floor HUB.
- Door #1 will ONLY be used for Nurse access or to pick-up a sick child.
- No More Google Voice!
- Please call our front office with any needs throughout the day (317-856-2109).
- Use ParentSquare to communicate non-emergency questions/needs with your teacher or coordinators.
DHAA PTO
DHAA PTO October Meeting
Tuesday, Nov 14, 2023, 05:30 PM
5106 South High School Road, Indianapolis, IN, USA
Donatable Items:
At the DHAA we LOVE to do projects, build things, and experiment with the world around us. This requires us to have a large amount of consumable items on hand for each project we participate in. Many of these items are common materials found stored around a home, garage, or workplace. As you work, complete spring cleaning, or notice some materials you just need taken off your hands, we hope you would consider making a donation to the DHAA MakerSpace. Please feel free to share this list with your family & friends if you think they could benefit from it as well!
The list below offers just a SAMPLE of items that our students could use for the various projects & problems they work to solve. Some items we are in need of at the present time include:
- Legos
- Scrap wood
- Wood working tools
- PVC pipe
- Plastic Containers
- Props/Decoration/Costumes (used in video productions)
District Flyers
DCHS Food Pantry
Dry and fresh food items will be available for drive thru pick up for any families with children enrolled in MSD of Decatur Township Schools!
When: Select Thursdays 11:30AM – 12:50PM (dates listed below)
Where: Decatur Central High School, Door 10
How to apply: Complete the intake form below and submit! (required for each distribution date). The form must be completed by the Tuesday before the pick up date.
Food Pantry Intake Form
Pantry Pick-Up Dates:
August 17th
August 31st
September 7th
September 21st
October 6th (Note: this is a Friday)
November 2nd
November 9th
November 30th
December 14th
Family Dinner Conversation Starters:
- What was your favorite part about attending the DHAA this week?
- What are you doing for your PBL time this quarter?
- What is one random fact you heard this week?
- What have you been doing in your specials classes?
- Which of your specials do you think is going to be your favorite?
- Have you met any new friends? Why are they a good friend?
- What is something that made you smile or laugh this week?
- How have you followed the OWLS expectations?
MSD Decatur Social Media Pages
Decatur High Ability Academy
Email: rnesbit@decaturproud.org
Website: https://www.decaturproud.org/decatur-high-ability-academy
Location: 5106 South High School Road, Indianapolis, IN, USA
Phone: 317-426-8226
Twitter: @DecaturHAA
Facebook: Decatur High Ability Academy