DHS Weekly Update
Thursday, March 2, 2023
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Hello,
Sometimes we must take a deep breath, reflect on the week's happenings, and be thankful for our community. On Tuesday evening David Harbin acted quickly to ensure students and staff were safe in the face of a difficult situation and should be commended for his actions. We had soccer, robotics, play rehearsal, early childhood education teachers training, and band rehearsal with over 150 students and numerous staff on campus at the time of the incident on Commerce Street. The DHS Admin Team and teachers jumped to support students as they participated in afterschool activities. The Wilson Center (central office), including Dr. Fehrman, also came to the assistance of the high school. Our Director of Safety and Security, Matthew Damico, and our Beacon Hill Middle School principal Derrick Thomas were on sight to keep us updated. Ms. Jennifer Triplett (Young), Oakhurst's principal, called me to question the traffic around the high school and volunteered to park her car and help out at the high school. I am sure I missed someone, and I apologize for that. Since taking over as Interim Principal, I felt useless because I was returning from a few hundred miles away from a funeral. The distance allowed me to see and be thankful for the community developed over many years in the City Schools of Decatur.
Parents, thank you for the positive feedback Tuesday evening and all-day Wednesday. Every email that I received praised the staff for handling the situation. The communication indicated that students felt safe and supported. Let’s all be thankful for the community we belong to that is always willing to come together for students.
Duane Sprull
Interim Principal, DHS
THE DHS Musical Theatre Presents: 9 to 5
Tonight is opening night!
Tickets for the hilarious musical 9 to 5 are selling fast! Support our Musical Theatre and Technical Theatre students by getting yours today. You won't be sorry!
Tickets at decaturperforms.org
Course Request Verification Process Closes Tomorrow
Parents and Guardians,
The course request verification process closes tomorrow. After tomorrow, no changes may be made to course requests for the 23-24 school year. The form to verify course requests is here: https://forms.gle/TQz3FkDQjmpyfzzV8
Based on feedback we will be sure to include an option where you can be sent a copy of your responses to confirm your submissions in next year's form. Counselors will start working through the form on Monday and email students and parents/guardians about changes. We will communicate our timeline for that work once we see the total number of submissions.
Wesley Hatfield
Assistant Principal
Congratulations!
Before February Break, 12 FCCLA students competed in Region STAR Events. We had 9 qualifying teams who will move on to compete at the State Leadership Conference at the end of March in Athens, GA. The goal is to make it to the National Leadership Conference in Denver, Colorado over the summer! Please congratulate all students who competed!
(Top row: Maeve Gallentine, Eva Hamilton, Zavia Strickland-Owens, Miles Floyd, Patricia Robinson)
(Bottom row: Kierra Johnson, Izzy Mellars, Maddie Cooper, Ella Forsman, Jadyn Biggers)
Stingless Mining Bees at Front Entrance of DHS
As chair of City of Decatur's Bee City USA committee, I have been contacted several times this week by members of the public with questions regarding the bee activity outside the front entrance of the High School.
This is the annual emergence of spring mining/ground bees. These are solitary bees native to Georgia. While they nest in close proximity, they are not, in fact, social insects. This aggregate has been there for many years, but for some reason this year has garnered a lot of attention. The bees buzzing close to the ground are males (stingless) seeking female mates. These mining bees will be active for a couple of weeks and then won't be seen again until next year's generation emerges in 2024. They are not ants, yellow jackets, wasps, honey bees or bumble bees. They are non-aggressive / harmless and no action is necessary to control them.
For more information about mining bees, see this post at our website:
https://www.beecaturga.com/post/forget-groundhogs-gentle-mining-bees-arrival-means-spring-is-here
and
https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/pollinators/pollinator-of-the-month/anthophora-abrupta.shtml
Peter Helfrich, Chairperson
Bee City USA - Decatur, GA (Beecatur)
beecaturga@gmail.com
Dual Enrollment Informational Meeting
There will be a VIRTUAL Dual Enrollment Informational Meeting for the Fall 2023-24 school year. Parents/Guardians are welcome to attend.
When ~ Tuesday, March 7, 2023
Time ~ 6:00 p.m.
Please click on the link below and complete the Q&A Registration form before the meeting:
https://forms.gle/gvWoEkhGLS7SfCV29
Join with Google Meet
meet.google.com/bfu-rswx-andCap & Gown Portraits are Now Available to View and Purchase Through CADY!
NHS Red Cross Blood Drive
Join the DHS National Honor Society in working with the American Red Cross to help save lives. We will be holding a blood drive. YOUR DONATION fills a critical need. Donors may be students, CSD staff members, and adults recruited by students. If you would like to be a donor, You can sign up here.
When: Tuesday, March 14 Where: DHS PAC Lobby Time: 9 am-2 pm
A Celebration of Two Decades of Safe Routes/Walk & Roll to School
Bike Dudes Ride Again—A Celebration of Two Decades of Safe Routes/Walk&Roll to School in Decatur
Saturday, March 18, 2023
10:00 am - 12:00 noon
115 Clairemont
Coffee, hot chocolate, donuts, community
All children who have ever participated in Walk& Roll to School and their families are invited. Walk&Roll parent champions and teachers from all schools will be on hand.
Bring your friends.
Mark Your Calendars for the 9th/10th Grade Red Carpet Formal!
9th/10th Grade
Red Carpet Formal
Saturday, March 18th 7:30pm -10:30pm in the DHS Café
Tickets are $15 and will be available for purchase on March 6th on GoFan.co
For non-DHS guest ticket requests, please submit a dance guest form to Ms. Lockhart by March 15th.
There will be a great DJ, Photo Booth and a Red Carpet Snack Bar.
Parents, we will need volunteers and snack donations to help make this event the best one yet. Please sign up using the link below:
https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/20f084babaa2ca6fc1-910th/25675741
Junior and Senior Dues/Prom 2023
ATTENTION JUNIORS AND SENIORS!!!
It's time to take flight around the world. Prom 2023 will be at the Delta Flight Museum on May 20th.
In order to receive a boarding ticket you will need to make sure that you purchase Package A Dues before March 31st at 4:00pm.
You can view the cost of Package A Dues here: https://www.csdecatur.net/Page/1425. Please be sure to choose junior or senior class.
YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND PROM IF PACKAGE A DUES ARE NOT PAID IN FULL ON OR BEFORE MARCH 31ST BY 4:00PM. NO EXCEPTIONS!
You can view the cost of Package A Dues here: https://www.csdecatur.net/Page/1425. Please be sure to choose junior or senior class.
All dues are located in Infinite Campus for online payments. If you would like to pay by check, money order or cash:
Juniors see Ms. Jones in Room 2128
Seniors see Ms. Wells in Room 1516
Decatur Parents Network Speaker Series
The link to register is https://bit.ly/DecaturParentsNetworkVaping.
Save the Date - Spring Festival
CSD Athletics News and Updates
Bulldog Bash Is Just Around the Corner
On March 18, Boosters is hosting our annual Bulldog Bash at Legacy Park from 7-11 p.m. to support Decatur Athletics. The adult-only event features a food truck, bar, live music (by The Dammages and The Thrillbillies), an online silent auction (featuring art, sport tickets, braces, experiences, restaurant gift cards, etc.), 50/50 raffle, Coaches’ Wish List Funds, Coach of the Year Award and more. All proceeds go to support our coaches and athletes at DHS and BHMS. Come out and support your Bulldogs! (You can still contribute and bid on items even if you can’t make it to the event.)
Flag Football Interest Meeting
Our Flag Football coaching staff will hold an interest meeting on March 9 for all students who would like to participate on the JV and Varsity teams next school year. The meeting is open to all high school and rising 9th-grade students. Students should meet Coach Paul in the Hospitality Suite of the PAC. If you have questions, please contact Coach Paul (apaul@csdecatur.net)
DHS Basketball Seasons End
Congratulations to our Girls’ and Boys’ Basketball teams for a great season. Both teams’ seasons came to a bittersweet end on Saturday afternoon in the second round of the GHSA State Tournament. The Lady Bulldogs fought hard against a tough Bradwell Institute team but came up short. The Boys’ team faced off against Dutchtown and kept the game close for all four quarters before free throws at the end of the game led to the season-ending loss.
We are proud of our players and coaches for their hard work this season. Both teams overcame challenges to win Region Championships and progress in the tournament. Thank you to our Seniors for their contributions to Decatur Basketball. We are already looking forward to next season!
Soccer Senior Night, March 10
Please join us to help celebrate Decatur’s graduating senior soccer players on March 10, 2023, at the Decatur High School stadium. The evening will begin at 5:30 pm with Las Tres Salsas providing delicious tacos. The girls’ game starts at 6 PM and the boys’ game starts at 8 PM. The player celebration will begin around 7:30 pm. Children ages 14 and under who wear their club jerseys get in free with a paying adult. Go Bulldogs!
Next PTSA Meeting
DHS SLT News
Next SLT Meeting
DISTRICT NEWS
We want to hear from you! Please share feedback on the CSD Vision & Mission by March 5
We want to hear from you! As part of the CSD strategic planning process, we are reviewing and updating our vision and mission statements. The survey is now open and we want to hear what you like and what you think we should change or add to these foundational parts of our strategic plan.
Why are we doing this? Vision and mission statements help ground the work school districts do and represent the shared values and goals that everyone in the school community is committed to working toward. They form the foundation for developing and implementing policies and practices to support staff members, families, and students.
Call to Action: Please take 5-7 minutes to complete the CSD Vision & Mission Survey, review the current vision and mission statements (both are included in the survey for your reference), and share your thoughts with us. Don’t delay and complete by March 5th!
Atlanta Hawks - City Schools of Decatur Night
Join the Atlanta Hawks on March 3, for City Schools of Decatur Night at State Farm Arena. Each ticket includes $10 worth of food and beverage credit that can be used at our restaurants inside the arena the night of the game. Special pregame performance by the BHMS Chorus!
To purchase tickets, click here. See flyer for details.
National School Breakfast Week
K-5 Title I & ESOL Family Math Night
Calling all Title I & ESOL parents and families to Family Math Night, March 2 from 6:00-7:00 p.m. in the PLC at the Wilson Center, 125 Electric Avenue. Please bring your students for math fun and “make and take” activities that the whole family will enjoy! Let us know you plan to attend by clicking the link here.
ESOL & Federal Programs Title III Parent Meeting
ESOL & Federal Programs College & FAFSA Night
It’s College & FAFSA time! The ESOL & Federal Programs Department is hosting a College & FAFSA Night Thursday, March 21 from 6:00-7:30. This is a FREE in-person event. Please plan to attend and learn from professionals about paying for college and how to be admitted into college.
Community Resource Fair
CSD, in partnership with The Dekalb County Coalition and The Decatur Education Foundation, is excited to host our first annual Spring Resource Fair! The Community Resource Fair will take place on March 16 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at 105 Electric Avenue (in the green space across the Wilson Center and Ebster Gym). We have 20+ vendors and organizations planning to come out to connect with families. The vendors and organizations will be offering mental health resources, physical health resources, food resources, and housing resources. We will also have fun activities on-site for families. For any questions, please contact Madison Bobbitt at mbobbit@csdecatur.net or 470-421-2279.
COMMUNITY PARTNER ANNOUNCEMENTS & UPDATES
City of Decatur
Decatur Town Center Plan 2.0 Community Meeting #2
Downtown is the heart of our community, and we want you to continue to be a part of guiding its future. Join us for the second of three Community Meetings for the Decatur Town Center Plan 2.0 - the first comprehensive look at downtown since the 1982 Town Center Plan. Whether you live, learn, work, or visit Downtown Decatur, your input is critical to the success of this plan.
This meeting will allow the planning team to share what they’ve learned from the community and introduce plan objectives. The event will take place tonight, Thursday, March 2, from 5:30- 7:30 p.m. at Decatur Recreation Center- 231 Sycamore St.- with a presentation starting at 5:30 p.m. followed by additional input activities. Visit www.decaturtowncenterplan.com to learn more about the project, participate in online activities, and to RSVP for the event. We look forward to seeing you there!
You can donate food to our Lighten the Load BHMS snack pantry and weekend backpack programs to help food-insecure families in Decatur. Click on the following links to help complete the monthly wishlists:
Beacon Hill Middle Snack Program: /a.co/d0HJHTr
Weekend Backpack Program: https://a.co/6Etc74W
ColorWheel Art Studio is hosting an Empty Bowls fundraiser TONIGHT from 6-8pm that benefits our Lighten the Load program. For $25 you receive a hand-made bowl to enjoy soup from Leon’s Full Service and Brick Store Pub. Tickets are available HERE.
The Tour deCatur is coming up soon on Saturday, March 11th! You can still register at www.tourdecatur.com to run the 5K (a Peachtree Road Race qualifier), the one-mile Fun Run and the Tot Trot for the 4 and under set. As DEF’s biggest fundraiser, your participation helps fund everything we do to help our students learn and thrive. Presenting Sponsor Mathnasium of Decatur and Platinum Sponsor Realtor Amy Widener will be there at the race with giveaways!
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.
Decatur High School
Email: noreply@csdecatur.net
Website: csdecatur.net/DHS
Location: 310 North McDonough Street, Decatur, GA, USA
Phone: 404-370-4170