BHMS Weekly Update
Thursday, August 17, 2023
December 7, 2023
Donate-a-Thon Ends This Week
Help the PTA make a BIG IMPACT at BHMS by raising $25,000 to support initiatives like new A/V equipment and a mural in the cafeteria, making the Student Center more inviting, teacher and staff appreciation, Spirit Night, grade-level dances, diversity and equity programming, and teacher grants.
Watch this special message from Principal Thomas on why you should support the Donate-a-Thon! Give today at https://tinyurl.com/DonateBHMS. This year, you have the chance to DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT: The Isani family has generously pledged to match the first $5,000 in contributions. Thank you to Imtyaz and Shamsha Isani for their incredible support of our school!
How can you help beyond the Donate-a-thon? Does your employer match your charitable giving? Check to see if you can increase your impact through your employer’s match program.
Upcoming Events
12/4-12/15: Winter MAP testing
12/9: Home Basketball Game vs. Henderson 10am
12/11: 6th Grade Treble Chorus Winter Choral Concert (Holy Trinity Church, 6:30 pm)
12/12: 7th and 8th Grade Winter Choral Concert (with 6th Grade Cambiata), Gospel Hope Church (formerly Avondale Estates Baptist Church), 6:30 pm
12/12: CSD School Board Meeting 5:00pm
12/13: Orchestra Concert 6-8th grade 6:30pm
12/13: PTA Board Meeting 6pm
12/14: Virtual Track & Field Parent Informational Meeting 6:45 pm
12/14: Honors Course Webinar
12/16: Saturday School
12/20: Early Release Day
Semester Break is December 21-January 3, 2024
Principal's Corner
Dear Beacon Hill Students and Families,
As we enter into this season, we want to be sure to invite all families to the wonderful sounds of the Beacon Hill Middle School Fine Arts Department. Please check our calendar early and often for Fall and Winter concerts that are taking place here at Beacon Hill Middle School.
See you soon!!!
Derrick L. Thomas, Principal
Beacon Hill Middle School
“It Only Takes One”
📰 BHMS News You Can Use 📰
🌟 Staff Spotlight: Robyn Tibbetts🌟
Ladies and gentlemen, please rise and give a round of applause for the remarkable Mrs. Robyn Tibbetts! She is a true superhero, with an array of skills that are vital to our school. As a tech-savvy expert, she keeps our students connected and our teachers empowered. Her role as a coach and mentor, combined with her experience as a former student, gives her a unique perspective on everything at BHMS. In addition, she masterminds our weekly newsletter and social media channels and orchestrates everything for the unforgettable Rock Eagle field trip for our 7th graders. Without her exceptional talents, we couldn't operate at full capacity every day at BHMS. Mrs. Tibbetts, thank you for your outstanding contributions - we deeply appreciate everything you do!
🌟 Staff Spotlight: Our stellar Subs Mr. G and Mr. Pinson!🌟
This week, the spotlight is shining bright on our two stellar-substitute teachers, Mr. G and Mr. Pinson! These two deserve a standing ovation for their exceptional support and dedication to our school community. They jump in whenever needed, making sure our students get the best education possible. In fact, they both bravely joined our 7th-grade squad for an overnight adventure at the Rock Eagle 4-H Center. Way to show us how it's done, guys! You were truly ALL in for BHMS!
Mr. Pinson is a familiar face around our school, always ready to lend a helping hand. He's patient, kind, and has a talent for making lessons relevant and exciting. His kind and patient demeanor makes him a favorite among our students! By adding music, history, and current events to the lessons provided, he creates an engaging and relatable classroom that allows students to make the content relevant to their lives.
Mr. G may be new to our team, but he's already making waves with his infectious energy and enthusiasm for teaching. He's like a breath of fresh air in the classroom, bringing new ideas and innovative ways to engage our students in their learning.
We're beyond grateful to have Mr. G and Mr. Pinson as part of our school community. They're a true asset to our team, and we can't wait to work with them in the future. Thank you, Mr. G and Mr. Pinson, for all that you do!
Math and ELA Honors Classes Coming in 2024-2025 Academic School Year!
As we approach the course request period for the 2024-25 academic school year, we want to ensure that you have access to all of the necessary information to make informed decisions about new courses.
We are excited to introduce new Honors classes in 6th-10th grades in ELA and Math. These Honors classes aim to provide an enriched and challenging academic experience for students who seek to excel in these subjects. They will also help prepare students for the rigor of AP and IB course opportunities in 10th-12th grades, though they are not required for taking AP and IB courses.
To facilitate a better understanding of the Honors course offerings, we will be hosting an Honors Courses Webinar for families on Thursday, December 14th, at 6:30 pm.
We understand the importance of making informed decisions regarding your child's education, and we encourage you to participate in this webinar to gain a comprehensive understanding of the opportunities available. For those unable to attend the webinar, the recorded session and frequently asked questions will be made available on the district website for later viewing.
Saturday School Upcoming Dates for 6th-12th
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.
A Week In the Life of a BHMS Bulldog
Beacon Hill Academic Bowl Wins the Knowledge Master Open
Beacon Hill Academic Bowl team has been hard at work training, and last month entered their first competition. They placed first in the middle school division of the Knowledge Master Open, a national online tournament! Good luck to the team as they compete this Saturday in the PAGE Middle School Academic Bowl!
BHMS Band Shines in the District Honor Band Auditions!
Drumroll, please! Let's give a round of applause to our rockstar BHMS Band crew! These musicians recently took on the District Honor Band auditions like champs! 25 of the 45 students who auditioned earned their spot in the District Honor Band, many of them taking first or second chair. 16 of our super-talented maestros wowed the judges and moved on to the second round of Georgia All-State Band auditions. These kids are on fire! Let's give 'em a standing ovation!
Beacon Hill Jr. Beta Club Goes to Savannah for the State Conference
A big shout out to our Jr. Beta Club for an impressive showing at the recent Jr. Beta State Convention in Savannah. Six students were able to go and participate in multiple competitions, including Living Literature, Speech, Marketing, Dance, Spelling Bee, and many online academic events. BHMS students returned with a 3rd place for 8th grade math and 2nd place for Spelling Bee. Thank you Mrs. Gary and Mrs. Dawson for your sponsorship of this opportunity. Keep up the good work!
BHMS Jr. Beta will be accepting membership applications beginning in January. Students interested in joining must show evidence of a 6 or higher in each of their four core content classes (ELA, Math, Science, I&S) on their term one report cards to be eligible. Jr. Beta is a national organization centered on the pillars of achievement, character, service, and leadership.
Social Justice Club Takes Action to Help the Community!
The newly formed Social Justice Club will be collecting items to give to our school social workers to distribute to students and their families who might need extra support. We will be collecting items throughout the month until Wednesday, December 20. All items can be dropped off in Mr. Johnson’s classroom 1608.
BHMS Heart and Sole (Girls on the Run) Completes the Fall 2023 Season!
BHMS Heart and Sole team finished their Fall 2023 Season completing the Atlanta Girls on The Run 5k last Saturday! Congratulations on a great season!
Girls on the Run, a national non-profit organization, designs programming that strengthens third- to eighth grade girls’ social, emotional, physical and behavioral skills to successfully navigate life experiences.
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 Media Center📚
We’ve got new books in the media center, so let your student know! Also, for November, we had a circulation of 922 print books and 1601 ebooks. The lower print number is a result of the Thanksgiving Holiday!
However, according to our data, there’s been quite a surge in December to 2,810 ebooks checked out in the last thirty days.
If you’d like to learn more about the library beyond walls, please see the attached statistics for our online collection here. We’ve got the busiest ebook collection in the district by quite a bit!
As for our book fair - we’re still waiting on the final count from Little Shop of Stories, but we wanted to thank all of those who helped to make it a success, particularly Courtney Sollie, who took on the task of organizing our many PTA volunteers!
We also have new books in the media center, so let your students know!
💙💛From Our PTA💙💛
Donate-a-Thon Is Here!
Help the PTA make a BIG IMPACT at BHMS by raising $25,000 to support initiatives like new A/V equipment and a mural in the cafeteria, a more inviting Student Center, teacher and staff appreciation events, Spirit Night, grade-level dances, diversity and equity programming, and additional teacher grants.
Give today at https://tinyurl.com/DonateBHMS. The incredibly generous Isani family has agreed to MATCH THE FIRST $5,000 in donations. Make your gift today to DOUBLE your impact! Thank you to Imtyaz and Shamsha Isani for their incredible support of our school. As a reminder, if you donate $200 or more, your family will join the other Pawtastic families featured in the front lobby of the school.
How can you help beyond the Donate-a-thon? Does your employer match your charitable giving? Check to see if you can increase your impact through your employer’s match program.
New Spirit Wear On Sale Now
New Spirit Wear On Sale Now
The BHMS PTA is excited to share some amazing new spirit wear options, just in time for the holidays. Items are print-to-order, so place your orders early. We are excited to see our BHMS family sharing our Bulldog pride through youth apparel, adult apparel and other spirit items. Thank you to BHMS parent Anja Duering for creating these amazing designs! Log on to the BHMS Spirit Wear Store here.
BHMS Staff Hospitality: Volunteers Needed
BHMS Staff Hospitality: Volunteers Needed
The BHMS PTA Hospitality Committee needs volunteers to support our initiatives aimed at engaging teachers and staff. Our monthly efforts include providing refreshments for staff meetings, hosting a morning coffee cart that delivers snacks to staff members across the school, organizing the holiday staff party and Teacher Appreciation Week. In addition, we’re excited to introduce a new initiative this year: stocking coffee K-cups in the newly renovated staff lounge. Volunteer slots currently are open for the December Coffee Cart on December 13. Sign up here: https://bit.ly/BHMShospitality.
PTA Focus on the Arts
This past Saturday, December 2, BHMS hosted the annual All-State and Honor Band auditions, as it has for the past six years under Band Director Christine Kraemer’s leadership. Ms. Kraemer has been the lead organizer for these auditions for the last 15 years of her teaching career. This year, 425 students auditioned from 35 schools across six counties, including 45 students from BHMS. We are happy to report that 25 BHMS students were selected for Honor Band and 16 were recommended to the second round for All-State consideration. This is the highest number of students to qualify in BHMS/RMS history. Beacon Hill also can be proud that we had more students qualify for Honor Band and All-State than any other school in the district. We congratulate these hard-working students and their wonderful leader, Ms. Kraemer!
Please join the PTA in supporting our young musicians at these upcoming performances:
Monday, 12/11 – 6th Grade Treble Chorus Winter Choral Concert (Holy Trinity Church, 6:30 pm)
Tuesday, 12/12 – 7th and 8th Grade Winter Choral Concert (with 6th Grade Cambiata), Gospel Hope Church (formerly Avondale Estates Baptist Church), 6:30 pm
Wednesday, 12/13 – All-Grades Winter Orchestra Concert, BHMS Cafetorium, 6:30 pm
CSD News and Announcements
City Schools of Decatur's upcoming Early Release Day is Wednesday, December 20.
Pre-K - 12:15 PM
Lower Elementary - 12:50 PM
Upper Elementary - 12:15 PM
Middle School - 1:45 PM
High School - 1:35 PM
College Heights' infant through preschool program will remain on its normal schedule.
The remaining schedule of Early Release Days includes the following dates:
Wednesday, December 20
Wednesday, January 31
Wednesday, February 28
Wednesday, March 27
Wednesday, April 24
Schools will communicate more specific details related to the schedule for the day, dismissal, and extracurricular activities.
Holiday Marketplace + Café
Spread cheer with Clairemont Elementary at the Decatur Holiday Marketplace + Café! Doors open Friday, December 8th at 5:30 p.m. and close at 9 p.m. The Marketplace will reopen on Saturday, December 9th, at 10 a.m. and will wrap up for the season at 5 p.m. This historic two-day event will feature 80+ vendors, plus live music and food! ❄
CSD Participation in City of Decatur Bicentennial Parade
CSD will join the City of Decatur in celebrating its Bicentennial on Saturday, December 9. All schools and district offices are invited to join schools in participating in the parade.
Staff, students, and families will wear their CSD and school shirts and bring pom poms and noise makers. The Parade line-up begins at 2:00 p.m. at the Decatur Post Office located on Ponce de Leon Avenue.
The parade begins promptly at 3 p.m. The route is approximately one mile long. It turns right out of the Post Office parking lot onto W. Ponce de Leon Avenue. The parade will continue down Ponce right onto Church Street, right onto W. Trinity Place, ending at N. McDonough Street.
Hope you will join us!
Community Partner Announcements and Updates
Wylde Center to Host a Taylor Swift sing-a-long!
Please join us for an afternoon of fun around the campfire at Sugar Creek Garden. Decatur High School graduate, Lilly Ashe, will be leading a Taylor Swift sing- a-long!
This event is FREE!
When? Dec. 13, 4-6 PM.
Where? Around the Campfire at Sugar Creek (415 East Lake Dr., Decatur, GA) behind Oakhurst Presbyterian Church
What? We will provide cake and friendship bracelet materials. Free stickers for those who bring a reusable water bottle.
We will also be selling Wylde Center t-shirts and hoodies!
Create Something AWESOME with DEF's Student Challenge Series!
Educators & Parents — The Decatur Education Foundation challenges YOUR ARTISTIC SUPERSTARS to design the next iconic sticker that screams Decatur pride! Introducing DEF’s Student Challenge Series, kicking off in December with our first Sticker Design Contest. Here's what your brilliant students should do:
Capture the essence of Decatur schools' uniqueness.
Splash it with color! Make it eye-catching and crazy fun!
Squeeze your masterpiece into a 3" by 5" space (the size of an index card).
Don't forget to incorporate "Decatur Education Foundation" into your design!
Submit your artistic brilliance in PDF or JPG form to meg@decatureducationfoundation.org before Friday, December 15. Winners will snag professionally printed stickers, a local arts & crafts store gift card, and the spotlight on DEF's social media platforms. For full contest details, please visit DecaturEducationFoundation.org/DEFstickercontest. Let’s showcase what makes Decatur schools extraordinary! #DEFStudentChallenge #DecaturCreativityUnleashed #ForOurKids
Run With the Dogs
The Decatur Bulldog Boosters are pleased to announce that registration for the 20th Annual Run With The Dogs 5K is now open! The race is scheduled for Saturday, January 27, and includes a one-mile "Pup Trot" beginning at 8:30 a.m. and a 5K race at 9:00 a.m. Runners of all ages are invited to participate, and dogs are also welcome on the course. All runners who register before January 15 will receive a coveted Run With the Dogs 5K long-sleeved t-shirt featuring original "Face of the Race" artwork by Decatur Artist Adam Pinsley.
Don't forget to vote for this year’s Face of the Race! Please vote for one dog you would like to see represented on the 2024 Run With the Dogs 5K t-shirts, posters, and outreach. Voting closes at Noon on Wednesday, December 6.
The Run With the Dogs 5K is a Peachtree Road Race qualifier. Race proceeds benefit the Decatur Bulldog Boosters, supporting youth athletics at Decatur High School and Beacon High Middle School. Register today at http://www.rwtd5k.com. Woof!
Atlanta Hawks’ City Schools of Decatur Night
BONUS! BHMS Chorus will perform the National Anthem
Start the new year off at the Atlanta Hawks' City Schools of Decatur Night at State Farm Arena on Saturday, January 13, 2024! As a bonus, you can support the BHMS Chorus, which will perform the national anthem. The City Schools of Decatur ticket offer includes a $10 food and beverage credit and through this offer, a portion of each ticket purchased will benefit City Schools of Decatur. Click here to purchase tickets.