Dr. Fehrman's Friday Follow-Up
October 21, 2022
Click this link https://www.smore.com/fp1sy for the mobile-friendly version of this newsletter.
In this newsletter:
National School Bus Safety Week
National Principals Month
Shout-outs: Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Clairemont Goes Red for Dyslexia Awareness Month, BHMS Black Student Union, DHS Volleyball, Top Dog Winners
CSD announcements and updates about the Strategic Plan Town Halls, DSC Parent Session, CSD ARP ESSER Plan Review, DVA Interest, Letters to Sala, DHS Flag Football Fundraiser
Community partner announcements and updates from the Run with the Dogs and Decatur Education Foundation
National School Bus Safety Week
This week was National School Bus Safety Week and Bus Driver Appreciation Day (October 17), and I would like to give a huge thank you and shout-out to our Transportation Department. Our school bus drivers and monitors are awake before sunrise each morning, ready to spread kindness to our students with their smiling faces and encouraging words. They work diligently to put top-tier protocols and processes in place that prioritize student safety. Their dedication to ensuring our students have the best start and end of their school day is one of our greatest gifts! We are tremendously grateful for all you do to keep our students safe and make them feel seen!
To watch a kid-friendly video about bus safety, click here.
National Principals Month
October is National Principals Month, and I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude for our outstanding principals. These individuals do a tremendous job of supporting their staff and have a significant impact on the success and well-being of their students. I hope you and your children will take a moment this month to let your principals know how much you appreciate them for their incredible work. So let's all #thankaprincipal this month!
We will highlight our principals in the Follow-Up and on Facebook so you can get to know them better and share gratitude and love. This week, we are getting to know Billy Heaton and Derrick Thomas.
Congratulations! Great job! Way to go!
College Heights Celebrates Teacher & Breast Cancer Awareness Month
On Monday, October 17, the College Heights community gathered to celebrate Ms. Carolyn Edwards, who is now officially cancer free! The entire school gathered in the hallway to surprise Ms. Carolyn with a sash and tiara, flowers, handmade cards and posters, and hugs to show support for Carolyn, a beloved teacher, colleague, and friend.
College Heights is observing Breast Cancer Awareness Month with several activities for teachers, students, and families. These include a fundraiser for the Susan G. Komen Greater Atlanta Chapter, a hat and scarf/head wrap drive for patients undergoing chemotherapy at the Winship Cancer Institute at Emory, a "pink tree" for teachers and families to remember someone close to them who has been impacted by breast cancer, and a "pink out" on Friday, October 21 where students and teachers wore pink to show their support.
Special thanks to Caretha Hall, Elecia Fulton, Brenda Griggs, and Lola Poindexter for organizing the celebration for Ms. Carolyn and the activities supporting Breast Cancer Awareness Month!
Clairemont Goes Red for Dyslexia Awareness Month
Clairemont students and staff wore their “Clairemont Red” to support Dyslexia Awareness Month. Way to go, Bulldogs!
BHMS Black Student Union
This week, the Beacon Hill Middle School BSU (Black Student Union) students had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with Mayor Emerita Elizabeth Wilson, a true legend and icon in Decatur history. Thank you, Mayor Emerita Wilson, for taking the time to meet with our students!
DHS Volleyball Season Comes to an End
Congratulations to our Varsity Volleyball team for a great season. The Bulldogs' season came to an end Tuesday night in Round 1 of the GHSA State Tournament. Our Volleyball Bulldogs fought hard against a formidable opponent from Northside High School. All three games went back and forth, changing leads, as players from both sides made impressive defensive plays and attacked the net to win point after point. Northside won the match 3-0.
Great job to our Seniors who led this team to be the Region 4-5A Runners Up! Thank you to our coaches whose time and positive energy allowed each player to improve throughout the year.
Way to go!
Top Dog Award Winners
Our Top Dog Award Winners this week are Ahmad Brackens, William Hughley, and Dr. David Hirschorn.
Ahmad Brackens and William Hughley in the Facilities and Maintenance Department received this nomination from an employee in a school:
“I'm so grateful to Mr. Ahmad Brackens and Mr. William Hughley. They came to the College Heights media center to look at some bookcases with shelves that were sagging and detached from the weight of library books. Mr. Brackens and Mr. Hughley collaborated to think of a creative solution to fix the shelves. Now that these bookcases are fixed, they are safe for students and teachers to use and will last for many more years. Facilities and maintenance staff do their work quietly, often without anyone knowing, but our schools would not be able to operate smoothly and safely without them. Mr. Brackens and Mr. Hughley, thank you for all you do!”
Dr. David Hirschorn, Beacon Hill Middle School Choral Director, received this nomination from a parent of a student in his class:
“Dr. H has created a choral program par excellence! His students' amazing performances are evidence of the incredible training and enthusiasm he provides them in their daily classes. The concert he directed this month was truly remarkable. The students sang beautifully and appeared to love their choral experience. Kudos to Dr. H!”
Way to go, Ahmad, William, and Dr. Hirschorn!
Do you know someone who deserves Top Dog recognition? Nominate them here.
CSD Announcements and Updates
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
News Decatur Student Center Offering - Family Meetings
Would You Like to Learn How to Conduct Family Meetings?
Are you tired of constant family arguments?
Are you tired of feeling as if your family is disconnected?
Are you tired of your family not knowing the schedule for the week?
Then perhaps Family Meetings are for you! Participants will learn how to conduct effective family meetings that will benefit all family members and encourage cohesiveness. Family Meetings have been shown to increase family members’ self-esteem, communication & conflict-resolution skills, and instill a sense of belonging & resilience.
When: Wednesdays, beginning November 9th, 2022
What: 6 weekly, 45-minute Google Meet sessions from 12:00 - 12:45
How: Attend weekly interactive meetings with camera on & ready to participate!
Cost: FREE and limited to 6 families
Click here to register and learn more!
CSD ARP ESSER Plan Review Period
The City Schools of Decatur is currently reviewing its current CSD ARP ESSER LEA Plan and CSD ARP ESSER Budget. The current plan and budget may be revised if indicated. We are extending a period of stakeholder feedback and input on our current plan through October 27, 2022. You may review the current Plan and Budget using the links below. In addition, you are invited to offer your input and feedback using the input form linked below. If you have any questions, please contact Willie Washington at wwashington@csdecatur.net.
Decatur Virtual Academy Interest
Are you interested in Decatur Virtual Academy?
The window is open for students to transfer to Decatur Virtual Academy for the Spring 2023 semester.
To allow adequate time to complete online courses, the registration deadline for Spring semester enrollment is December 20. From October 7 until December 20, families may request a transfer to online learning for the Spring Semester by completing this form.
Space is limited. Once we are full, families will be on a waitlist. This form can only be completed by a parent or guardian who has educational rights for a CSD student. Once the form is completed, Ms. Whatley will schedule a time to discuss courses, the attendance policy, and let you know if there is space for your student.
Please review the Decatur Virtual Academy Handbook prior to speaking with Ms. Whatley.
Letters to Sala
The Decatur High School Intermediate Advanced Acting Ensemble will perform Letters to Sala October 20-23 at the DHS Performing Arts Center. You won’t want to miss this amazing show! Tickets can be purchased at decaturperforms.org.
Adapted from the book Sala’s Gift by Ann Kirschner, and based on a true account, Letters to Sala is a remarkable story of a young girl’s survival during wartime Germany. Five years. Seven Nazi labor camps. Over 350 hidden letters. Sala Garncarz Kirschner kept her secret for over fifty years, concealing her incredibly painful history in a Spill and Spell box. Everything changes when Sala reveals the cache to her grown daughter, Ann. Letters to Sala draws from the emotional journeys that begin for both Ann and Sala when the letters resurface. Through scholarly research, Ann discovers that her mother has made a historically significant impact on Holocaust documentation. As Ann processes her own reaction to her mother’s story, her daughters, Caroline and Elisabeth, also realize for the first time the weight of their Jewish heritage.
Friday, October 21 at 7 PM
Saturday, October 22 at 7 PM
Sunday, October 23 at 2 PM
Go to www.decaturperforms.org for more information.
DHS Flag Football Fundraiser
Show your support for the DHS Flag Football team by purchasing a beautiful poinsettia plant here. You will have the choice of purchasing an 8” or 6” poinsettia in a foil-wrapped pot. Once purchased, you will receive an email by November 15 detailing the instructions for pick up in December at DHS. Thank you for your support!
Community Partner Announcements and Updates
Run With the Dogs
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 in its 19th year.
We’ll be back at Beacon Hill Middle School for the 5K and Pup Trot and 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 http://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 DBB and supports the athletic programs at Decatur High School and Beacon Hill Middle School. All race participants will receive a long-sleeved T-shirt, which will once again be designed by local artist Adam Pinsley.
Click here to register. For more information, visit rwtd5K.com.
Decatur Education Foundation
We are having a big party to celebrate our 20th Anniversary, and everyone’s invited to enjoy an adult evening of dinner, drinks, and dancing! Mark your calendar for Soiree in the City on Saturday, November 12th from 6-10 pm, and purchase your tickets today at www.decatureducationfoundation.org/soiree. 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. 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.