Dear DHS Community,

Thursdays is our typical communication day; however, I'll have some additional eBlasts over the next couple of weeks to inform parents about what is happening at DHS - grading, SLT Voting, cell phone and dress code policies, etc. While I don't want to over communicate, there are some topics that I don't want lost in one of my weekly information-packed emails. I will create subject lines that are specific to the information being shared for ease of searching/reading.

Tuesday I sent out an eBlast specifically about athletics and sportsmanship - https://www.smore.com/v1qy4. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Rochelle L. Lofstrand, Principal

Decatur High School

Wednesday, September 7th

6:30PM-8:10PM

Introduction

DHS has grown so much that we’ve decided to do Curriculum Night virtually this year. This communication provides a brief overview of what Curriculum Night will look like. We’ll continue to communicate details as we approach the event.

Technology

Each teacher will create one video link using Google Meet. They will email this link to all students and parents and guardians the week before Curriculum Night. We will also post a list of these links alphabetically by teacher in the Parent Portal during the week of Curriculum Night. These links will not be posted publicly to protect the security of each Google Meet. As a parent, all you need to participate is a computer, phone, or other device that allows you to view video. Having a device with a camera and/or microphone is ideal, but not necessary.

We do not want technology to be a barrier to participation for any family or parent. If you do not have technology available to participate, please contact Ms. Jules Shelkoff at jshelkoff@csdecatur.net or 404-371-3601 x 2130 so that we can reserve you a computer in our library that evening.

Schedule

Each class will last ten minutes. We’ve scheduled five minutes between classes to allow parents and guardians to connect to their next class link.

6:30-6:40 1st Period

6:45-6:55 2nd Period

7:00-7:10 3rd Period

7:15-7:25 4th Period

7:30-7:40 5th Period

7:45-7:55 6th Period

8:00-8:10 7th Period

Format

Teachers will prepare a short presentation and many will save a few minutes for general questions. Curriculum night is a time to learn about each of your student’s classes. If you need to have an individual conference with one or more of your student’s teachers, please reach out to those teachers directly to schedule a time to talk one on one.

This year school breakfast and lunch are no longer free unless a family qualifies for free/reduced lunch. School lunches have been free for the past two year because of COVID Cares funding. This has now stopped - https://www.fns.usda.gov/cn/2022-23-parent-faqs. All families should look at the criteria to see if they qualify for free/reduced meals -https://www.csdecatur.net/Page/4670.

Also, don't forget to log into the Parent Portal to put money on your students' account or send a check/cash. See the new meal pricing below.

Dear DHS families,

Please read these attendance procedures carefully. If you have any questions, please email Mr. Michael Scott (mscott@csdecatur.net).

We hope that in the 2022-2023 school year, we can continue to improve student attendance as we continue to adjust to living with the constant presence of COVID-19. If your student is having a hard time getting to school, please reach out to their counselor and administrator. Contact info can be found here.

We will begin the attendance robocall for students who are absent from school on Monday, August 8th. We hope to have Parent Portal push notifications for attendance available soon.

Excused Absences

If your student misses a day or more for an illness, the death/illness of a family member, a religious holiday, or another excused reason, please fill out this form. If you would like us to consider a non-standard reason to excuse an absence, please reach out directly to Mr. Scott at least three weeks in advance of a planned absence.

Check-outs

If you need to check out your student, please fill out this form. We ask that all students be picked up from the front doors off of N. McDonough. Please ring the buzzer for assistance and be prepared to show a photo ID to our attendance office staff.

Timely Arrival to School

In order to be considered on-time, a student must be in class by 8:35 am. Students who do not meet this criterion must check in at the attendance office. Students who are late two or more times in a week without an excuse will be assigned after school detention on either Wednesday or Thursday (student's choice) of the following week.

Skipping Class

We expect students to be in every class every day. Students who skip class will be referred to their administrator every time they skip. This year, we will assign Saturday Detention to students on the third time they skip class. Students with Saturday conflicts for religious reasons will be assigned an alternate consequence.

Wes Hatfield

Asst Principal

Decatur High School Close Up is dedicated to bringing a group of students to Washington DC that is diverse as our amazing city.

Save the DATE!! Meeting

AUGUST 29

6:00 pm

Virtual

Register for our meeting and we will send you the link.

Intro Video

Website

Come and hear about the many great opportunities that are offered at Decatur High School!

Guest Speaker: Lauren Jones, Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency

Thursday, September 1, 2022

Learning Commons (Media Center)

Decatur High School

5:00pm-6:00pm.

Target Audience: Parents of 9th & 10th grade students with an IEP

This meeting will cover but not limited to:

• Educational pathways here at Decatur High School

• Overview of career academy classes and the support students may receive in these classes. CTI support

• Our partnership with Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency
  
  

Mrs. M. Tigner

Decatur High School

CTI and Transition Coordinator

mtigner@csdecatur.net

Our PBIS Slogan is to be a part of the PACK. PACK stands for purposeful, accountable, connected and kind. As a school we strive to teach, reteach and model to students how to follow school rules. PBIS is all about prevention, rather than punishment. We also strive to create community and connection between students, teachers and staff. We have a firm belief that building relationships with our students creates a safer, more equitable and better learning environment.

This month we are:

• Teaching school rules and having discussions on how students can be a part of the PACK in our classrooms
• Giving lollipops to cars who follow our traffic rules in our parking lot
• Students are decorating their advisement teachers doors and the best doors will win an award
• Teachers and staff will begin sending out bulldog boast postcards to brag on how well our students are doing in school
• Teachers are also supporting our football, flag football and cheer leading students through the Blue & Gold Squad
  

Our behavior matrix describes how students can be a part of the PACK in different school wide settings.

Pictures of Lockhart's door, Seasholtz's door and Souther's door (Golden's lovely idea) are included.

Get ready to smile! Underclassmen (9-11) photos will be Tuesday, August 30 during advisement classes. These photos will be used for student ID cards, infinite campus photos, and yearbook photos. SENIORS will also get their pictures taken for their ID cards only (senior yearbook photos must be scheduled with CADY at cady.com/schedule).

If you would like to preorder photos you can do so by GOING HERE. You can save $10 if you order BEFORE August 30th. If you do not preorder, digital proofs will be available afterwards and photos will be available for purchase. Please see the attached FLYER.

If you have any other questions please email the yearbook sponsor Ms. Lockhart at alockhart@csdecatur.net.

The 2022-2023 school year is well underway. You don't want to forget any of the memories - get a yearbook today. Yearbooks are now on sale at the lowest price of the year - $55! Prices will increase on 10/14 to $60.00

Books can be bought at www.jostens.com. Get one today before prices go up!

You must have your portrait taken by CADY to be included in the senior section of the yearbook. There are several photo options you can choose, but to be in the yearbook you just need the yearbook pose. This option comes with Cap and Gown pictures, 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 Shoot. 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 nice 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 8/27 and Saturday 10/8. If you do not get an appointment on one of these days you will have to go to astudio to get your picture taken.

You have until October 31, either at school or at a studio, to get your photo taken for inclusion in the 2022-2023 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.

By Friday September 9th, NHS applications will be emailed to juniors and seniors who have a 3.7 GPA or above. Current members need not reapply.

If you have any questions, please email Ms. Katrina M. Walker at kwalker@csdecatur.net.

City Schools of Decatur will make accommodations for children with disabilities whose disability or special dietary need restricts their diet when that need is certified by a licensed physician. Milk intolerance is not considered a disability or food allergy. For modifications or substitutions to the school meals, the school’s Nurse or Nutrition Manager must have a written Medical Statement to Request Accommodations for Disabilities in the School Meal Programs Form on file that is signed by a licensed physician or licensed health care professional who is authorized to write medical prescriptions under State law.

Parents should submit a new medical statement each year or verify the accuracy of the medical statement yearly that a child requires special dietary meals or substitutions. Please contact Monique Breedlove at mbreedlove@csdecatur.net or (470) 237-0368 ext. 7608 to update your student’s records or for additional information.

Parents that need to request milk substitutions for their students should complete a “Medical Statement to Request Milk Substitutions form.” This form will need to be on file for a student to receive lactose-free milk in lieu of 1% or Fat-Free 8 oz milk, which is included with a full tray. Students that do not have this form on file but want lactose-free milk will need to pay $1.00 for lactose-free milk or $0.50 for 1% or Fat-Free 8 oz milk. All students that do not purchase a meal will be charged for the milk choice they select.

The Accommodations form and the Milk Substitutions form are located here.

The Teaching and Learning Department is excited to host several parent-focused literacy events this school year. The September sessions are listed below. Stay tuned for information about additional programs scheduled for the remainder of the school year.

September Events:

September 15 at 4:00 pm: American Reading Company (ARC) Virtual Parent Education: Comprehensive Literacy for Turbulent Times - The Power Behind a Knowledge Building Curricula

• Registration Link

If you have any questions about these events, please contact the Teaching and Learning Department at csimon@csdecatur.net.

Connection Sessions are conversations between CSD's Equity Director, various invited guests, and the CSD POGM* community. During each session, community members are introduced to a person who is integral to supporting the school system while we discuss thoughts, interests, and concerns regarding City Schools of Decatur. Each session uses a racial equity lens - always asking the question - "What does race have to do with this?"

These sessions may not always have the answers, but they provide an opportunity for members of Decatur's POGM community (as well as all others) to explore perspectives, pose questions, and share thoughts.

Each meeting starts at 6 pm. Access it by using the following link: https://tinyurl.com/2yuj2tbs.

• September TBD, 2022 - Adena Walker, Chief of Human Resources, CSD

• October 17th, 2022 - Billy Heaton, Principal, Talley Street

• November 14th, 2022 - Courtney Burnett, Chief of Staff, CSD

• December 19th, 2022 - Karen Newton-Scott, Principal, FAVE

* People of color, despite being minoritized in the US, are a global majority. Thus, previously entitled BIPOC Connection Sessions, the name of this event is now Connection Sessions for POGM (People of the Global Majority). There is conflict regarding the use of the term BIPOC and this article details many relevant concerns. In short, the term BIPOC, which stands for Black, Indigenous, and Other People of Color, elevates some cultures over others in a way that does not reflect the respect each culture deserves.

disAbility Link - Empowering Youth

Mr. William Thomas, Youth & Diversity Supervisor for disAbility Link, will give an overview of the services and supports offered through the Empowering Youth program for youths ages 14-29. disAbility link provides but is not limited to employment support, self-advocacy, social activities, and peer support.

Target Audience: Parents of students with disabilities ages 14-22 years old

Date: September 15

Time: 6-7pm

Location: Virtual

To RSVP, click this Link or email Cheryl Grant at cgrant@csdecatur.net.

For more information, please see the August Welcome Back Flyer.

Live music at an afternoon picnic in a beautiful park – what a lovely way to celebrate our 20th Anniversary with us! Saturday, September 10th from 4-8pm at Legacy Park with live music from The Sundogs and JohnBoy & Surround Sound, and opening acts from two DHS senior musicians, Payton Kashdan and Nate Helfrich! This free community concert is presented by our sponsor, Bark Technologies. Who is Bark? Bark Technologies provides a monitoring service across many digital platforms to detect risk signs of bullying, suicidal ideation, threats of violence and sexual predation. They have partnered with City Schools of Decatur to pilot their monitoring system at Talley Street Upper Elementary in the spring with effective results, and it will be fully implemented for the 3rd-12th grade schools beginning September 6th. Bark also offers an app specifically for parents that not only monitors for safety issues, but also allows parents to manage screen time and filter websites to help set healthy boundaries.

Can you volunteer to tutor, mentor, or coach a Decatur student? We’ve got spots available for all those types of rewarding positions! Make a big impact in as little as 1-4 hours per month, depending on the role you choose. Go to www.decatureducationfoundation.org/mentoring to learn more and sign up.

Do you have plans for a new garden or class project? You're full of fantastic ideas on how to incorporate farm-to-school principles into a teaching unit? Need funds for a "green" field trip?

The Wylde Center Decatur Farm to School Committee invites you to apply for a grant for 2022/23. Teachers, administrators, PTA members, and parent volunteers can apply on behalf of their CSD school. Please get your applications in before August 31, 2022. (Link here and on the Wylde Center website > Education > Farm to School)

2022-2023 DF2S School Grant Application

MADISON AVE DERBY - REGISTRATION OPEN & HELP US CHOOSE THIS YEAR’S SHIRT!

Don't miss your chance to be a part of one of Decatur's most iconic neighborhood events! Driver registration is now open for the 11th Annual Madison Avenue Derby, the non-motorized racing event where amateur racers of all ages design and build human-powered soapbox cars to compete against the clock in a downhill race!

Join the excitement as a racer or spectator on October 15, 2022, for a day of family friendly fun - proceeds from the event this year go to support the Friends of Refugees! REGISTER TO RACE NOW

Help us decide on what this year’s t-shirt design should look like by voting on your favorite! VOTE NOW THRU 8/31