BHMS Weekly Update
Thursday, August 17, 2023
September 7, 2023
Upcoming Events
9/7: Decatur Performs Preview Concert 8th Grade Orchestra
9/6-9/8 6th Grade CogAT testing
9/8: 6th Grade Fall Dance 4pm
9/12: Swim Team Informational Meeting
9/16: BHMS Football Game 10am @DHS
9/18-9/22: No School (CSD Fall Break)
9/29: Principal's Coffee Chat (Grading) 9:30am
Principal's Corner
Dear Beacon Hill Students and Families,
6th Grade Dance Reminder
We are looking forward to our 6th Grade Fall Dance tomorrow. Please be mindful that the dance concludes at 5:30 and students must remain for the duration of the dance.
Fall Break
Fall break will be September 18-22, 2023. All CSD schools will be closed during this time.
Principal’s Coffee Chat
Our next Principal’s Coffee Chat will be Friday, September 29, 2023 at 9:30 in the BHMS Media Center. Please note the time change.
Go Bulldogs!!
See you soon!!!
Derrick L. Thomas, Principal
Beacon Hill Middle School
It Only Takes One
School Leadership Team (SLT)
The Beacon Hill Middle School Leadership Team (SLT) is an elected committee consisting of parents/guardians, BHMS staff members, community members, and other personnel. BHMS has three parent 2-year terms expiring this year.
The three candidates with the highest number of votes will be the parent representatives on the SLT.
Bios for each candidate and the ballot can be found in the link to cast your vote is at the bottom of the bios.
Polls will close at 4:00 p.m Friday, September 8, 2023.
There is ONE vote per STUDENT at BHMS. If there are multiple adults in a household, please coordinate your vote so that there is only one per BHMS student.
The three candidates with the highest number of votes will be the parent representatives on the SLT.
đź“° BHMS News You Can Use đź“°
Young Georgia Authors Competition
We’re looking for poems, short stories, narratives, informational writing pieces, or any other original student writing that highlights your amazing skills as a writer.
Here are a few guidelines to help you through the process:
Only entries that meet the guidelines will be considered.
The writing piece can be no longer than 1,900 words.
The writing needs to be original student work, created without the help or support of others, including adults.
The writing piece can be handwritten on 8 ½ x 11 paper or typed. Handwritten and typed pieces must be on only one side of the paper.
Submit only the writing - no staples, binding, cover, or lamination is allowed. Use a paperclip for multiple sheets, do NOT staple your writing.
ALL ENTRIES DUE BY THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2023 AT 9:30 A.M.
To submit:
Give your submission to your English teacher OR Email to your building contest coordinator Mrs. Prophet: aprophet@csdecatur.net
BHMS Tutoring Times
All teachers support students by offering tutoring hours. Please be sure to support your child in taking advantage of this opportunity. Tutoring times for 23-24 school year are published on our website under students. Click here to access availability.
Gifted Program Review Window Open Through Oct. 4th
Important Information about Gifted Review:
Each fall semester the gifted review team looks at existing student data to discuss students’ needs and determine if further evaluation for gifted identification is needed. If you are interested in having the team discuss your child’s needs, you may complete a Recommendation for Review Form and turn it in to the Gifted & Talented Specialist at your child’s school before October 4th. No additional information is needed. The Gifted & Talented Specialists for BHMS are Laura Gary, Jessica Nicks, and Robyn Tibbetts.
For more detailed information about the review process and to obtain a copy of the Recommendation for Review Form, please contact the Gifted & Talented Specialists at BHMS or visit this website. Submissions of form can be sent via email to one of the gifted specialists or turned into the front office.
Fab Lab September Event
Greetings!
The September FAB LAB Makerspace Workshop has been announced! Please see the registration form for more information, but each participant this month will get to make and take home their very own Wooden Jack O' Lantern with tealight! There are multiple designs to pick from and there are bundles as well if interested in more than one. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out or come see me!
See you in the lab,
Mr. Heuser
Order Your Yearbook!
- Yearbook PreOrder - $40 through September 15th
- 8th Grade Dedications (Ads) - Purchase is November 6, 2023
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:
💙💛From Our PTA💙💛
Last Call for “DANCE PARTY” Tickets!
The Sixth Grade Dance Party, organized by the BHMS PTA, will begin after school on Friday,
September 8 in the BHMS Cafeteria and run until 5:30 p.m. All attendees must be BHMS sixth
graders. Admission is $5.
- Buy tickets at https://givebutter.com/2023_6thGradeDance
- Snacks will be sold for $1 each. (Please send small bills.)
We are still in need of volunteers to make the event a success.
Please sign up at https://bit.ly/BHMS_Dance_Volunteers.
🗓️ SAVE THE DATE! 🗓️
Seventh Grade Dance: Friday, September 29
Eighth Grade Dance ⎯ Friday, October 13
Our Sponsors Are the Best
Events like the upcoming dances for each grade level would not be possible without the
generosity of our amazing PTA sponsors. Whether you are a local business or a BHMS family
that wants to do more, we have a sponsorship level to suit you. Learn more on the PTA
website.
Hospitality Volunteers Needed!
The BHMS PTA-Hospitality Committee is currently seeking volunteers to support our initiatives aimed at engaging teachers and staff. Click Here to Volunteer
CSD News and Announcements
Reminder: Seeking Applications for Superintendent's Student Advisory Council Now Open, Deadline Extended to September 12
As a reminder, applications for the Superintendent's Student Advisory Council are now open. Students interested in applying to serve on this council should access the Google Form via Launchpad. These meetings provide an exceptional opportunity for students to voice ideas, concerns, and perspectives directly to the district administration. The deadline to submit the application has been extended to Tuesday, September 12, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.
Applications for the Superintendent's Student Advisory Council are now open. Two students from each grade in our school will be selected to join other elementary students from City Schools of Decatur to share their perspectives and experiences with the Superintendent on a variety of issues. Students interested in applying to serve on this council should access the application via the purple icon on Launchpad. For the application, students will be asked to create a response that explains why they want to be on the Superintendent's Student Advisory Council and have the option of submitting a written response, picture, presentation, or other artifact. Families may support students with submitting their application, but the ideas and work submitted should be that of the student. Additional details are available on the application. The deadline to submit the application is Tuesday, September 12, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.
Saturday School
Does your child need tutoring, or time to complete make-up work? Sign up for Saturday School today! CSD teachers will provide academic support to students in grades 6-12. This program is free to CSD families. The time is from 9a - 12p at Beacon Hill Middle School.
City Schools of Decatur Board of Education Announces September 12 Board Meeting Schedule
Meeting schedules will be adjusted and publicized monthly
DECATUR -- The City Schools of Decatur Board of Education has announced the board meeting schedule for Tuesday, September 12. Meeting times will adjust each month according to the length of the agenda and published monthly in compliance with the Georgia Open Meetings Act.
In August, the board announced the decision to hold earlier meeting times, aligning with the board's strategic goals of ensuring organizational effectiveness and efficiency. Except for the executive session, all meetings will continue to be live-streamed and open to the public.
The September 12, 2023, board meeting schedule is as follows:
Executive Session: 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Prework Session: 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Work Session: 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Board Meeting: 6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Public Comment: 6:30 p.m. – 6:50 p.m.
As COVID-19 remains a global concern, the City Schools of Decatur (CSD) wants to remind all students, staff, and families to please take precautions and remember to follow these critical measures to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus:
· Stay home when sick
· Cover coughs and sneezes with elbow/tissue and immediately throw it away
· Do not cover your mouth with bare hands
· Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
· Clean touched surfaces and objects frequently
CSD no longer has the funding, authority, or monitoring systems to track and trace cases beyond self-reporting. Therefore, we will not send exposure notifications as we risk violating HIPAA and FERPA confidentiality guidelines. We will continue to emphasize and monitor cleanliness and hygiene in all facilities. Masks are permitted but not required. Together, we can ensure the safety and well-being of all students, staff, and families.
Here’s a link to the CSD mitigation strategy: https://www.csdecatur.net/covidstrategy
City Schools Of Decatur's Programs Overview Virtual Meeting Invite!
Your invited to attend City Schools Of Decatur's Programs Overview Virtual Meeting:
Thursday, September 7, 2023
Come and learn more about support programs available to CSD students. Local, state, and federal programs support the success of our students. Programs are designed to ensure that all students have a fair, equal and meaningful opportunity to obtain a high-quality education.
Community Partner Announcements and Updates
Innovation is Thriving at CSD and the Decatur Education Foundation!
Our teachers and students are AMAZING! The Decatur Education Foundation is crazy excited about their ideas for Teacher Innovation Grants and — for the first time ever — Student Innovation Grants! So far, we've received 16 TIGs and 10 SIGs. Wowza!
These grants support teachers and students in CSD by providing funds for innovative educational experiences, and awards range from $200 to $3,000. The application deadline is August 31 @ 5:00 PM. The grant awards will be announced on September 14. If you have any questions, please contact Meg Brooks, Director of Programs & Partnerships (meg@decatureducationfoundation.org)
Last year, we awarded over $35,000 in Teacher Innovation Grants, and this year we want to double it! To support DEF’s Innovation Grants, visit DecaturEducationFoundation.org.
CSD teachers & students can apply at:
https://bit.ly/DEFTeacherInnovationGrants
The Wylde Center Decatur Farm to School Mini Grants Now Available
Do you have plans for a new garden or class project? Fantastic ideas on how to incorporate farm-to-school principles into a teaching unit? Or maybe you need funds for a "green" field trip?
The Wylde Center Decatur Farm to School Committee invites you to apply for a grant for 2023-24. Teachers, administrators, PTA members, and parent volunteers can apply on behalf of their CSD school. Please get your applications in before September 22, 2023. (Link here and on the Wylde Center website > Education > Farm to School)
https://forms.gle/A4vkNfhVzyAu28wE9
https://forms.gle/A4vkNfhVzyAu28wE9
Contacts: Caitlin Hochuli at caithochuli@gmail.com or Vera Giordano at vera.giordano@yahoo.com
Save the Date!
Register to race as a driver or save the date to cheer on your favorite cars during a day of family-friendly fun at the 12th Annual Madison Avenue Derby on Saturday, October 21, 2023. This year’s event benefits Urban Recipe, an organization that addresses food insecurity in metro Atlanta. Driver registration open through Thursday, October 5. or until spots sell out.
For more information about the Madison Avenue Derby, visit: www.madavederby.org.