BHMS Weekly Update
Thursday, October 27, 2022
Principal's Corner
Beacon Hill Families,
I would like to personally invite you to our first “in person” Principal’s Coffee Chat of the year. We will begin the chat promptly at 9:00 am tomorrow morning in the Beacon Hill Media Center. We hope to see you there.
If you’re not able to attend in person, you can log in virtually using the following link:
or by phone (US) +1 323-920-8463 PIN: 153 626 310#
Derrick L. Thomas, Principal,
Beacon Hill Middle School
It has Been A Busy October at BHMS!
GENTS and YLOE Visit Clark Atlanta University!
Debate Team Wins 1st Place!
The Beacon Hill Debate Team took first place sweepstakes at the Atlanta Urban Debate League tournament. 32 students competed for our team, and in addition to being the top school in the tournament, we had 5 of the top 8 JV 2-person teams, 8 of the top 20 JV individual speakers, 4 of the top 12 Novice teams, and 9 of the top 30 Novice speakers.
If you see any of the students listed below who competed in the tournament, be sure to congratulate them!
Take a Peek into French Class!
Adventure Quest Hosts S'mores in the Garden
BARK Students of the Month September
FAB Lab T-Shirt Night was a Great Success!
Yearbook Updates
- Monday, October 31st : Deadline for 8th Grade Dedications - https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/ybAdDesigner/1040201/-/2022062316150870386/CATALOG_SHOP/
- Tuesday, November 1st : Dedication page opens for 7th and 6th-grade parents.
- Monday, November 7th - 11th - Cash sales $40 of Yearbook available outside the lobby area in the mornings 8:30am - 8:45am. - https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/productBrowse/1040201/Beacon-Hill-Middle-School/2023-Yearbook/2022062316150344086/CATALOG_SHOP/
- Friday, November 11th - Yearbook price $40 - last day! (Saturday, price goes up to $45).
- Who do I contact with Questions? Kim Boswell @kboswell@csdecatur.net
Holiday Food Drive Presented by BHMS Young Ladies of Excellence!
Join Us in Making Our City a Better and More Accessible Community.
When: Nov 1st-Nov 11th
Items Needed:
Soup of any kind, pasta (1lb boxes), rice, bundle tea, powdered laundry detergent or pods, corn muffin mix, jelly, breakfast cereal, toiletries, diapers, resealable bags, canned beans, canned goods, breakfast bars, juice boxes.
Donation Drop Off:
Bins are located in the front lobby of the school.
Email Ms. Glenn (aglenn@csdecatur.net) for questions or more information..
The circus has come to town! Well… sort of. There’s no elephant on a bicycle but there are the Greek Geeks and have they got a story or two to tell! More specifically, a myth or two: Pandora’s Box, Persephone and the Underworld, King Midas, Athena and Arachne, and don’t forget the Mythapalooza Slam Jam!
Tickets are $10 (general seating) and available online at www.decaturperforms.org. Performances in the BHMS Cafeteria on
Friday, November 4 at 7PM
Saturday, November 5 at 3PM
Saturday, November 5 at 7PM
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
News from the Decatur Bulldog Booster Club
Want to Support Boosters? Help With Concessions!
Not only is concessions a key fundraising initiative for DBB, selling food and drinks at games helps to enhance the fan experience. But, we need your help to provide this service. Please consider volunteering for a slot or two to help us out (more opportunities will be available in the spring):
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050D4BA5AD2FAA8-20222023
Get Your Bulldog Swag
Hats, tees, polos, flags and more – check out all our Bulldog spirit wear online.
Run With the Dogs (RWTD) 2023 registration is now open!
Join us on Saturday, January 28, 2023 for Run With the Dogs, a Decatur tradition now in its 19th year.
We’ll be 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!
If you think you have the perfect dog to be featured on this year’s t-shirt, please enter the Face of the Race contest. Just post a photo of your dog, plus a blurb about why your dog should be selected as the Face of the Race, to www.facebook.com/RWTD5k or on Instagram with the hashtag #RWTD5K.
All contest entrants must register for the race for their dogs to be considered. Photos can be submitted until November 7. Four finalists will be selected by the volunteer race committee, and voting on these four finalists will begin on November 11. The Face of the Race winner will be announced on November 18.
Run With the Dogs 5K is an annual fundraiser of the Decatur Bulldog Boosters and supports the athletic programs at Decatur High School and Beacon Hill Middle School. All race participants will receive the coveted long-sleeved T-shirt designed by local artist Adam Pinsley.
Click here to register. For more information, visit rwtd5K.com.
Fall Sport Stellar Student-Athlete Awards
Congratulations to the students below who received a Stellar Student-Athlete Award from their teacher this past week. We are proud of the achievements these students have reached in their respective sports and in the classroom at Beacon Hill. These students have been recognized for being positive role models for their peers. Each of them received a certificate noting their impact. Great job, Bulldogs!
Beacon Hill Swim & Dive Off to an Exciting Start
Congratulations to our Beacon Hill Swim & Dive Team! In our first meet against Lovett on Wednesday, our Bulldogs displayed incredible sportsmanship and had lots of personal best times. Our girls scored first and our boys scored second for a combined overall TIE with Lovett (includes diving scores). Our coaches are so proud of the team’s flexibility, determination, and support, and can't wait for the next meet on November 8th at Wesleyan. Go Bulldogs! Thanks Coach Coyle and Randall for coaching the team to success!
The girls basketball program is looking for a few volunteers!
CSD News and Announcements
Strategic Plan Town Halls
Dr. Fehrman will host three town hall meetings where all community members can attend and review the information discussed at the Strategic Plan Team meeting, as well as the goals and performance objectives drafted. In addition, the town halls will provide an opportunity for the community to add their feedback and ensure we have aligned our goals with what our community wants to see achieved in our district over the next five years.
Strategic Plan Town Hall Dates / Times
- November 1 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am (virtual) https://csdecatur.zoom.us/j/96433860943
- November 3 @ 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm (virtual) https://csdecatur.zoom.us/j/92270288945
- November 3 @ 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm (in person) at the DHA Community Resource Center at 481 Electric Avenue
Special Education Parent Meetings
Golden Steps ABA
CSD welcomes Amanda Bissonnette of Golden Steps ABA to share an overview of services and support they provide to families.
Here's more about Golden Steps ABA:
Golden Steps implements Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy to assist children in overcoming behaviors that challenge their ability to navigate and flourish in social, educational and home settings. We track their progress, encourage their growth, and applaud them when they inevitably succeed.
Date: November 10, 2022
Time: 6-7 pm
Location: This is a virtual meeting.
Target Audience: Pre-K to 6th grades
RSVP hereHow It Works - Assistive Technology Meeting Yael Cohen, Assistive Tech. Specialist & Frank DeFilippo, Special Education Coordinator, will be sharing a variety of apps and Google extensions that students can access to support their learning in class. For example if your student is experiencing: Poor handwriting Poor grammar Difficulty spelling Difficulty with Organizing writing assignments Date: November 17, 2022 Time: 6-7pm Location: This is a virtual meeting. RSVP here
For questions please contact Cheryl Grant at cgrant@csdecatur.net.
From the Desk of: The Nutrition Department
The Nutrition Department is in the process of reaching out to parents about student negative meal balances. These efforts to send the low-balance communications will continue weekly through the automated infinite campus messenger or a personal phone call. Some accounts may have had outstanding balances prior to being approved for free or reduced meal benefits. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Nekee Mathis at nmathis@csdecatur.net. or (470) 237- 0368 ext 7607.
Note: A free and reduced lunch application can be completed anytime during the school year. Currently, the district policy allows students to receive meals, not extra items, for example, i.e. bag of chips. However, a child's negative meal balance will continue to incur debt as they receive meals.
From the Desk of: Decatur Education Foundation
Book a sitter and tell your friends to meet you at the Soiree in the City on Saturday, November 12th from 6:30-10:30pm! Everyone is invited to enjoy an adult evening of dinner, drinks and dancing! It’s the perfect excuse to get dressed up and go out on the town for a great cause! We’ll enjoy a seated harvest dinner by Little Farmhouse Cafe, live music from Maxwell Street and a full array of cocktails and mocktails. Purchase your tickets today at www.decatureducationfoundation.org/soiree or scan the QR code. See you there!
Meaningful volunteer opportunities are available! DEF is seeking volunteers to be tutors and mentors. Tutors are needed to help students from 2nd – 8th grades for one hour per week. We are also gearing up to re-launch our AIM Scholars mentoring program in January for which we need 20-30 adult volunteers. If you would like to learn more about these programs and sign up, please visit www.decatureducationfoundation.org/mentoring
Can’t volunteer but want to help out? You can donate to our Lighten the Load program which keeps the snack pantry stocked at Beacon Hill Middle School. For those families in our community experiencing food insecurity, we also have a weekend backpack program. Both have unique Amazon wish lists that are updated monthly. You can donate directly to them using these links:
Beacon Hill Middle Snack Program: /a.co/d0HJHTr
Weekend Backpack Program: https://a.co/6Etc74W
Season of Giving
Season of Giving
A Season of Giving/Christmas Decatur is back to its traditional method of neighbors purchasing gifts directly for local children and seniors!
To apply for assistance, please complete an online application at https://aseasonofgiving.org/application/ by October 28th.
aseasonofgiving@decaturga.com or leave a message on our voicemail (404.378.8068).
If you do not need assistance, we would love your help!
Donors will purchase gifts from an individual wish list specific to a child (through 8th grade) or senior citizen. If you would like to be a donor, please complete our online form.
If you would like us to do the shopping for you, please donate directly at https://legacydecatur.org/give/ and select A Season of Giving!
Beacon Hill Middle School
Website: https://www.csdecatur.net/BHMS
Location: 220 West College Avenue, Decatur, GA, USA
Phone: 404-370-4440