DHS Weekly Update
Thursday, February 3, 2022
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
DHS Families,
Just a reminder that next Thursday and Friday (February 10th and 11th), City Schools of Decatur have early release days at all schools. DHS will release their students at 1:35 PM on both days. February Break is February 14 - 18 and students across the district do not have school.
As we plan ahead for the Spring, I wanted to let you know about a couple of upcoming events:
- 9th & 10th grade dance - Date is TBD
- 11th & 12th grade prom - May 21st (Guest tickets will be made available the week before Spring Break.)
- Graduation - May 26th @ 7 PM in the DHS Stadium - The number of tickets available for graduation will be announced closer to the event.
- Rain Date for Graduation - May 27th @ 9 AM in the DHS Stadium
Rochelle L. Lofstrand, Principal
Decatur High School
Max Bee Lindgren Named Finalist in the 2022 Regeneron Science Talent Search!
Click here to learn more about the talent search and the finalists: https://www.societyforscience.org/regeneron-sts/2022-finalists/
College Board National Recognition Program Award
Ana Villavasso
Asher Clarke
LaBron Foy
Makayla Nathaniel
Sultan Ziyad
Talia de la Cruz
Teo Lara
Yasmeen Shad
Zuri Murph
Our students earned this recognition because of their academic achievements in school and outstanding performance on the PSAT/NMSQT®, PSAT™ 10, and/or AP® Exams. They've accomplished these milestones during an immensely demanding period of their high school career. We couldn't be more delighted to share this great news.
They've received one or more of the following awards:
•National African American Recognition Award
•National Hispanic Recognition Award
•National Indigenous Recognition Award
•National Rural and Small Town Recognition Award
2022 Georgia Music Educators In-Service Conference!
The Decatur High School Band was well represented at the 2022 Georgia Music Educators In-Service Conference!
Student composers Nina DeFilippo and Spencer Mullen, and musicians Nate Cohen, Thomas Cook, Spencer Wilson, Jackson Jeffrey, Ava DeFilippo, Lucy Marti, Jackson Chapman, and Riley Davis performed two original pieces at the Conference’s Composition Recital. These two works were selected from student compositions across the state for performance.
Natalie Park performed with the Atlanta Trumpet Ensemble on Bugler’s Holiday accompanied by the Riverwatch Middle School Symphonic Band. Bravo Natalie!
Percussion Instructor Mark Little served on the instructional team of the Trickum Middle School Symphonic Winds, one of the featured ensembles of the conference.
Director of Bands Tyler Ehrlich was selected to participate in the GMEA Leadership Symposium for future leaders of our state music educators association.
Congratulations, all!
DHS 2022 STAR Student & STAR Teacher
Congratulations to 2022 Decatur High School PAGE STAR Student Lydia Witter and her STAR Teacher, Mrs. Shelby Coffin. The PAGE Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) program honors Georgia’s highest achieving high school seniors and the teachers who have been most instrumental in their academic development.
To obtain the STAR nomination, high school students must have the highest score on any single test date of the SAT taken through the November test of their senior year and be in the top 10 percent or top 10 students of their class based on grade point average. Nominees’ SAT scores must be equal to or higher than the 2021 national average. Decatur High school STAR Students are also CSD STAR Students and compete for region-wide STAR honors. Regional winners then compete for state PAGE STAR scholarships and awards. High school STAR Students are asked to name their STAR Teachers, who continue with their STAR Students at every level of the program. Click here to learn more.
Coach Mary Souther: US Track & Field and Cross Country Coach of the Year!
Congratulations to Coach Mary Souther who has been selected as the US Track & Field and Cross Country Boys’ Coach of the Year for the State of Georgia!!
If you know Coach Souther, you know how much time, energy, and passion she puts into our Cross Country and Track & Field programs at both DHS and RMS. You also know that Mary gives all the credit to our runners and our assistant coaches who are certainly deserving of this recognition as well.
We appreciate everything that Coach Souther and her staff do to provide a tremendous experience for our student-athletes!
See the complete list HERE
Fashion-related Magazines Needed
Contact Dianne Andree (dandree@csdecatur.net) if you have questions.
Volunteers Needed - Afghan American Alliance of Georgia (AAAGa)
The Afghan American Alliance of Georgia (AAAGa) is seeking volunteers to assist with sorting donations for newly arrived Afghan refugee families. If you are interested in signing up for one of their upcoming volunteer opportunities in Decatur, please reach out to either Chris Neilands (chris@affinitylg.com) or Sandra Maffey (sandramaffey@gmail.com).
· Saturday, Jan. 29 from 10 - 2 (Chris Neilands)
· Sunday, Feb. 6 from 12 - 3 (Sandra Maffey)
· Saturday, Feb. 12 from 10 - 1 (Chris Neilands)
· Sunday, Feb. 20 from 12-3 (Sandra Maffey)
· Saturday, Feb. 26, from 10-1 (Chris Neilands)
AAAGa provides direct aid to help Afghan refugee families get back on their feet and orient them to a new life in the U.S., and your support in the coming months would be greatly appreciated! Plus, DHS students can earn service hours too! (Please bring your DHS service form with you for signature). For more information on AAAGa and additional ways you can help, please visit www.afghanamericanallianceofga.org
ACT Prep
Below are the details of the ACT Prep course starting Jan / Feb / Apr, 2022 @ Live Virtual via Zoom
Call us at 404-351-4955 if you have further questions.
Location: LIVE Virtual Class via Zoom
Class Option 1 : Jan 8, 15, 22, 29 Feb 5 | 2022 for ACT Test Feb 12th 2022
Class Option 2 : Feb 19, 26 Mar 5, 12, 19, 26 | 2022 for ACT Test April 2nd 2022
Class Option 3 : Apr 30 May 7, 14, 21, 28 June 4 | 2022 for ACT Test June 11th 2022
Schedule: Saturdays : 9 - 1 pm
Room: Live Virtual Class via Zoom
Register Online for our ACT Prep Class :
https://successprep.com/ACT-prep-atlanta-ga-decatur-high-school
Don't forget to register for the ACT Test!
*Prep class fee is non-refundable after class starts, we do not issue partial refunds for classes you may miss. Any cancellation for refund of a prep class fee must occur 5 days before the start of that prep class, to allow for the seat to be offered to another student.
SAT Prep
Below are the details of the 6 week SAT Prep courses starting Jan 29 & Apr 23, 2022.
Call us at 404-351-4955 if you have further questions.
Location: Decatur High School | 310 N McDonough St Decatur GA 30030
Class Option 1 : Jan 29 Feb 5, 12, 19, 26 Mar 5 | 2022 for SAT Test March 12th 2022 (6 sessions | 4 hrs each)
Class Option 2 : Apr 23, 30 May 7, 14, 21, 28 | 2022 for SAT Test June 4th 2022 (6 sessions | 4 hrs each)
Schedule: Saturdays : 9 - 1 pm on each day (6 sessions | 4 hrs each)
Room: Inside New Library @ Decatur High School
Register Online for SAT Prep Class:
https://successprep.com/SAT-prep-atlanta-ga-decatur-high-school
Textbook you need to buy:
Don't forget to register for the SAT Test! - http://sat.collegeboard.org/home
*Prep class fee is non-refundable after class starts, we do not offer partial refunds for class sessions a student misses. Any cancellation for refund of a prep class fee must occur 5 days before the start of that prep class, to allow for the seat to be offered to another student.
Next PTSA Meeting
DHS SLT News
Next SLT Meeting
A Delicious Way to Support Decatur Athletics
Decatur Bulldog Boosters (DBB) is hosting a dine-out on Wednesday, Feb. 9 at
gusto!. Simply go to the Decatur location on Church Street from 5-8 p.m. and tell them DBB
sent you. gusto! will donate 10% of the proceeds to DBB, which will be used to support
Decatur athletic teams at Decatur High School and Renfroe Middle School. (Applies to both
dine-in and carry-out orders.)
This is one of the easiest – and yummiest – ways to support our athletes. Go Bulldogs!
Decatur Bulldog Boosters - Call for Silent Auction Donations
CSD Athletics News and Updates
For the most up-to-date news relating to athletics at Renfroe Middle School and Decatur High School, visit decaturbulldogsathletics.com. Are you wondering when tryouts will take place? Do you want to know who is coaching a particular sport? All information can be found here! Contact Rodney Thomas, Executive Director or Student Services/Activities & Athletic Director, and/or David Harbin, Assistant Activities & Athletic Director, with any questions.
Go Bulldogs!
LIMITED ATTENDANCE AT HOME ATHLETIC EVENTS
Due to increasing COVID case numbers, CSD will limit attendance at home events for Winter sports to immediate family only. We appreciate the support from our Bulldog community; however, the safety of our students, coaches, and community members is our priority as we navigate the remainder of the season.
Interested in Golf? Sign up here!
All RMS and DHS students interested in playing golf this year should complete this interest form. We are gauging interest from students who might want to participate in golf at both RMS and DHS to determine how we structure the program this Spring. Please complete this form to help us gather information.
District News
Special Education Department
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!
News From Our Partners
Decatur Parents Network Parent Chats
DPI Announces New Monthly Virtual Parent Chats starting February 7th.
Click here for more information and to register: https://bit.ly/DecaturParentsNetworkParentChat
Decatur Farm to School
Decatur Farm to School is currently recruiting new members to its committee.
Joining the Decatur Farm to School (DF2S) Committee is a great way to get involved with the work of getting our students outside in their school garden and making the connection to what they are learning in the classroom and eating in the cafeteria/at home.
Click here to find out which volunteer positions are available and show your interest.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScfPzRwurjgUc8IWvReQ0lNltEkijYSoRfUvbTWvq0iBvRczg/viewformDecatur Education Foundation
Save the Dates: There are two great family-friendly events coming soon that both benefit DEF: Mead Road Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday, February 26th and the 20th Tour deCatur 5K on Saturday March 12th! To register a community Krewe for the parade, please visit www.meadrdmardigras.org.
Tour registration is NOW OPEN at www.tourdecatur.com. To celebrate our 20th year and our 20th Tour deCatur, we want to honor the amazing people on the front lines with our kids: the teachers and staff of City Schools of Decatur. We are offering FREE Tour deCatur registration to all CSD employees to thank them for all they have done and continue to do! We are encouraging ALL CSD staff to come out wearing their school colors with pride! We love a friendly competition and wonder...who will have the highest turnout? You can join us in honoring our educators with an extra gift when you sign up for the Tour or through a donation at decatureducationfoundation.org/donate! Join us on March 12th for the best Tour deCatur yet!
DEF is teaming up with the counselors at Talley Street and Renfroe Middle School to keep the snacks stocked. We are also accepting donations to our weekend backpack program which provides supplemental food for students who need it. If you’d like to help with a donation, click HERE for links to each school’s Amazon Wish List. Your orders will go straight to the schools.
DEF has several ways in which you can donate your time:
As a Virtual Pals tutor -- we need tutors to be paired with a 2nd- 8th grade Decatur student for a one-hour weekly session. Click here to apply: https://forms.gle/LoiZxoi6WvSe6WEr6
As a Virtual Pals Coordinator -- we need one person who checks in with the tutor pairs on a weekly basis. Time commitment is 1 hour per week. Email muslimo@decatureducationfoundation.org to apply.
As an AIM Mentor -- we need adult male and female mentors to be paired with a third grader to have new experiences and find their passions. The time commitment is just 2-4 hours per month.
As a REACH Mentor – we need just one more adult male to mentor an 8th grade student who has been nominated by his teachers for the REACH GA program. REACH mentors help their mentees through the rigors of high school and college applications. Time commitment is just 2-4 hours per month.
If you've got a little extra time to share your life wisdom with a Decatur student, we've got opportunities! Please visit www.decatureducationfoundation.org/mentoring to learn more and apply.
Decatur High School
Email: kgoins@csdecatur.net
Website: csdecatur.net/DHS
Location: 310 North McDonough Street, Decatur, GA, USA
Phone: 404-370-4170