BHMS Weekly Update
Thursday, January 12, 2023
January 19, 2023
Principal's Corner
Dear Parents,
We would like to invite all parents to our first Principal’s Coffee Chat of 2023 on Friday, January 20, 2023 at 9:00am in the Beacon Hill Media Center. The topic will be, “How Do I Know How My Kid Is Doing”. We’ll take a deep dive into all the tools and resources available to keep parents informed of their student’s progress.
Tripod Survey
We will administer the Tripod Survey right after Winter Break. The Tripod student surveys gather data from students about themselves, their classrooms, and their schools. Classroom-level measures offer insight into teaching effectiveness, peer dynamics, student engagement, and the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) culture. The survey takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. You can review the Tripod Survey questions and the Tripod DEI questions at the links provided. All student survey data is anonymous and self-reported. The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) gives you the right to opt your child out of participating in the survey. The survey will be given to all students. If you do NOT wish for your child to participate in the Tripod Survey, please complete this google form by February 3rd to opt out.
Georgia Parent Survey
The 2022-2023 Georgia Parent Survey is now open. Survey participation is voluntary, but we strongly encourage participation in the surveys to provide schools with critically important data to help guide prevention and intervention strategies. This school data is included in our school's College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI) score. It is recommended that our school has at least a 75% participation rate. The surveys remain open through Friday, January 27, 2023.
Please click the following link for the survey: https://gshs.gadoe.org/Pages/Parent.aspx
Thank you to the parents that have already provided their input.
Traffic Concerns
Residents around BHMS have voiced concern regarding traffic from parents dropping students around the school, outside of the carpool lane. With narrow streets and resident cars parked along both sides, there isn’t much room for cars and walking students to navigate safely. To address this issue, SRTS has helped to establish a circulation pattern for traffic in the morning drop-off hours to alleviate the congestion on streets around Beacon Hill. Additionally, they’ve worked to provide an off-site drop location for parents that wish to drop their students, but avoid the carpool lane. Parents can go to Agnes Scott College and use the tennis court lot at S. McDonough and E. Dougherty (2 blocks from BHMS) as a designated drop and roll location. Parents can enter the lot from S McDonough and keep
right to circle through the lot before dropping students and then exiting back onto S. McDonough. The preferred time for dropping is from 8:15-8:30 am. There is a designated crossing guard stationed at S. McDonough and E. Dougherty to help students get to school safely. Thanks in advance for helping to alleviate congestion on our neighborhood streets.
Teen LuresTM Prevention program Lessons
Please click here for more information regarding upcoming lessons from our counselors.
Derrick L. Thomas, Principal,
Beacon Hill Middle School
From Our PTA
7th Grade Dance Tomorrow January 20th!
Mark your calendars and get your tickets for the most epic 7th Grade Dance Party in 2023! See link below for tickets.
Student tickets are $5. There will be drinks and snacks for sale at the event.
Click here for volunteer and donation signups: tinyurl.com/bhms7dancevolunteer.
For tickets: https://givebutter.com/BHMS7thGradeDance2023
BHMS News You Can Use
Upcoming: Student Led Conferences 6th and 7th Grade
During the week of February 6th-10th, you will have the opportunity to participate in a conference led by your child. These student-led conferences will be conducted throughout the school day. Please use the Signup Genius below to sign up to participate and to read details about the process. The conference should take approximately 15-20 minutes. Students have begin to prepare for their conference in a series of lessons led by their teachers. We are looking forward to providing students and parents an opportunity to share growth and goals! Parents click Below to select your time slot!
BHMS Teacher Tutoring Hours
All teachers at BHMS provide tutoring times and availability to support students outside of classroom instruction time. To help you and your family navigate those sessions we have posted the tutoring school schedule on our website and it is linked below. Email your childs teacher about specific questions regarding tutoring.
"No Judgement" Spirit Week is next week - Monday, January 23 - Friday, January 27.
Next week the Yearbook Team is hosting a spirit week. The theme for the week is “No Judgment”.
NOTE
- PreOrder your BHMS Yearbook Online (only 233 copies remaining) -
- February 9th is a HARD Deadline for Yearbook Recognition Ads, parents may make these purchases online.
Visiting Artist Caleb Brown Visits Art Class!
We had an amazing lesson last week with Caleb Brown, our visiting artist! He shared his art work and professional expertise with us and helped inspire your young artists for their shoe sculpture projects. They worked hard on carefully crafting questions for Caleb and challenged him quite a bit, which he really enjoyed. Caleb had a wonderful time and was grateful to be able to share with them. I've attached a few pictures of Caleb talking with the students as well as some in-progress shots of the students at work. Your artists started their shoe sculptures today and they are already wowing me with their skills.
From the Desk of Media Specialist, Mr. Lynch
Check out what’s happening at the Decatur Library!
From movies to manga to robots, your local library has something for all students and their families! Check out the pdf below!
An Evening with Dr. Ibram X. Kendi and Nic Stone!
Recommended for grades: 7-12; Ages 12 +
Date and time: Sun, January 29, 2023, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM EST
Location: Decatur High School - Performing Arts Center
How to be a (Young) Antiracist LAUNCH event with Dr. Ibram X. Kendi & Nic Stone
Brave and Kind Book Shop invites CSD students and staff to an evening with Dr. Ibram X. Kendi and Nic Stone discussing How to be a (Young) Antiracist, based on the #1 NY Times bestseller How to be a Anti-Racist, followed by a Q and A with audience members.
Your book purchase is your ticket to the event.
CSD teachers may use the “DHSteachers” code to order a free companion ticket.
A limited number of free tickets/book copies are available for CSD students
All attendees must register through Eventbrite to enter; registration will be checked at the entrance. There will also be a bag check at the door. Please leave big bags at home or in the car.
Books will be pre-signed, no personalizations. Extra copies can be purchased with registration, or at the event while supplies last.
Please email DHS Media Specialist Ms. Hill for more information - ihill@csdecatur.net
BHMS Club Updates
YLOE Enjoys Rock Climbing!
YLOE enjoyed a team building trip rock climbing together! Follow more adventures of YLOE on Instagram @YLOE_BHMS.
Jr. Beta Club Induction Ceremony
Congratulations to the 230 6th, 7th, and 8th grade BHMS students that were inducted into the Jr. Beta Club this morning. As Beta Club members, these students will grow into leaders in the school community as they focus on the four pillars of Beta: achievement, character, leadership, and service. Way to go, BHMS Bulldogs!
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
ATTENTION: All Spring Sport Athletes!!
All students interested in participating in a Spring sport must have an updated medical profile in our DragonFly system. Please visit the link HERE for instructions on how to create or update your profile. Do not wait until tryouts begin to start this process! Contact your coach with any questions.
Track & Field at Beacon Hill Middle School
Attention all 6th, 7th and 8th graders interested in participating in Track & Field at Beacon Hill Middle School:
Tryouts will take place on the following dates:
Monday, January 23: (Boys ONLY)
Tuesday, January 24: (Girls ONLY)
Please complete the interest form here: 2023 BHMS Track & Field Interest Form
Athletes must have an updated physical and medical forms in DragonFly by Friday, January 20th to participate: https://decaturbulldogsathletics.com/sports-forms/
NO ATHLETE will be allowed to try out without an updated physical and all forms on file.
1st day of regular practice will take place on Thursday, January 26th.
Practice for the season will occur on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.
More information will be posted soon about times and dates of practice and meets.
Please contact Coach Frazier (lfrazier@csdecatur.net), Coach Rabold (nrabold@csdecatur.net), and Coach Philippi (wphilippi@csdecatur.net) with any questions.
For more information, visit decaturbulldogsathletics.com
BHMS Girls’ Soccer Tryout Information
Spring sports are rapidly approaching! Please see the information below and click the link HERE regarding to tryouts for the girls' soccer team at Beacon Hill Middle School.
When: Week of January 23, 4pm-5:30pm
Where: Field at Oakhurst Recreation Center
Contact Coaches Herriot (htrenovations@earthlink.net) and Altizer (daltizer@csdecatur.net) with any questions.
Please complete this INTEREST FORM so that coaches have your information!
REMINDER: All students planning to participate in tryouts must have an updated medical profile in our DragonFly system. See the link HERE for instructions.
BHMS 8th-Graders interested in JV Lacrosse
DHS Lacrosse is starting next week. Any 8th-graders interested in trying out for the high school program will have the opportunity to "showcase" their skills on Saturday, January 21st from 10:00 - 12:00 at DHS Stadium. Contact Coach Kasper (skasper@csdecatur.net) for more information about middle school lacrosse opportunities.
News from the Decatur Bulldog Booster Club
Register TODAY for Run With the Dogs (RWTD) 2023!
Join us on Saturday, January 28, 2023, for Run With the Dogs, a Decatur tradition now in its 19th year.
We’re back at Beacon Hill Middle School for the 5K and Pup Trot, and we are pleased to announce that this year’s race is an official qualifying event for the Peachtree Road Race!
We are also pleased to announce that our Face of the Race winner is Tuck the Pug! Thank you to everyone who submitted your dogs for the contest, and thanks for voting. Register TODAY to make sure you get a long-sleeved T-shirt with this adorable little guy.
Run With the Dogs is an annual fundraiser of the Decatur Bulldog Boosters and supports the athletic programs at Decatur High School and Beacon Hill Middle School. For more information and to register for the race, click here.
CSD News and Announcements
State & Federal Programs “Ask an Expert” Event
You are cordially invited to “Ask the Expert,” a virtual event being held February 2, 2023 from 6:00-7:00 p.m. for K-5 Title I, ESOL, Special Education, and General Education parents and families.
Ms. Gereen Francis, Behavior Interventionist, will give an overview of her role and upcoming CSD behavior support initiatives. Over the past two years, students, parents, and caregivers have had to adjust to changes in our world. At times, these changes are reflected in behavior. Ms. Francis will offer suggestions to pre-submitted behavior questions to help support your child at school and at home. To learn more about the speaker or to RSVP, please click the link here.
Please submit your questions here.
For questions or additional information, please contact Cheryl Grant at cgrant@csdecatur.net or Brittany Stewart at bstewart@csdecatur.net.
Community Celebration of Black Joy!
On Friday, February 3, 2023, from 6:00 to 8:30 PM, the GPB and Decatur High School Library program partnership, ASALH, and AAHGS will host a “Community Celebration of Black Joy” at DHS. Events will include a panel discussion centered around clips from the series “Making Black America: Through the Grapevine'', spoken word performances, a student-curated gallery walk, a genealogy exhibit, and more facilitated by the DHS Black Student Union.
Click below to register for the event.
The Decatur Lunar New Year Festival
The Decatur Lunar New Year Festival is fast approaching, and we would love volunteers to help make it a great event.
1) Sign-up sheet for Lunar New Year volunteers:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0948aea92ea0ffc07-2023#/
2) Once you pick your slot, be sure to register for your (FREE!) volunteer tickets on the Freshtix page:
https://www.freshtix.com/events/decaturlny
Hit BUY TICKETS, then scroll down to the bottom.
The DLNY website is up and running now, so please check that out for any additional information, including logistics about parking, food vendors, etc.
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DecaturLNY
DHS Band Mattress Fundraiser
Come out to support the DHS Band at the DHS Band Mattress Fundraiser on Saturday, January 21, 2023 from 10:00-5:00 p.m.. There will be 25+ different styles of beds on display for customers to try. The beds are new, brand name, made to order, available in all sizes, and cost less than retail stores. In addition to beds, there will also be premium pillows, luxury sheets and even adjustable power bases!! See flyer for more details.
From CSD Special Education
The Special Education Parent Survey is a survey that helps the state to determine parents’ perception of the success of parent engagement relating to 10 specific areas of special education and the IEP process and is used as a means of improving services and results for children with disabilities. Georgia’s parent survey is available to all families of students with IEPs.
* Families that have more than one student with an IEP, please complete an individual survey for each student.
For more information about the survey click here! Thank you in advance for your participation!
Community Partner Announcements and Updates
Decatur Education Foundation
Our friends at Brave & Kind Books are hosting an exciting author visit with Dr. Ibram X. Kendi and Nic Stone for their new book “How to Be a (Young) Antiracist” on Sunday, January 29th from 3-4pm at the DHS auditorium. You can go to the events page of their website www.braveandkindbooks.com for ticket and book purchase information.
Mead Road Mardi Gras Parade is coming up soon on Saturday, February 4th starting at 1pm at F.AVE. Every CSD school is invited to march in the parade that has raised more than $30K for music and theatre grants! Community krewes can sign up at www.meadrdmardigras.org. As a reminder, this is a “walk or roll only” parade, no motorized vehicles allowed (we’re keeping it old school!) Laissez les bons temps rouler!
Registration for the 21st Annual Tour deCatur is NOW OPEN at www.tourdecatur.com. Decatur’s favorite 5K and one-mile fun run is scheduled for Saturday March 11th. All adult participants who register on or before February 18th will receive a race t-shirt. Youth participants for both the Fun Run and the 5K will receive a participation medal. As DEF’s biggest fundraiser, your participation helps fund everything we do to help our students learn and thrive. Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor Mathnasium of Decatur who will be there at the race with math games and giveaways!