DHS Weekly Update
Thursday, January 28, 2021
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Next week is the first week of our first Wednesday School schedule. If your student has been assigned a time to work with their teacher, you will be made aware so that you can continue to support our work here at DHS.
Virtual Schedule starting Feb. 1st - https://docs.google.com/document/d/11yLG8-RH-1LduBpdBmb6kaGUZWIrgIOcyh_Z3LHdAuo/edit?usp=sharing
Several families have reached out to teachers, counselors, and administrators with concerns regarding the mental health of students. Social/emotional health is a priority for CSD and for DHS. City Schools of Decatur has created a Student Center that offers resources for families and students including access to referrals (https://www.csdecatur.net/Page/3820). Please consider reaching out to them!
It is always a pleasure to serve this community!
Principal Lofstrand
IF YOU MISSED VIRTUAL DHS 101...
Please, click the links below to view the January 23, 2021 Virtual DHS 101 Presentations:
Supporting and (Understanding) Your Child: Ken Jackson, school counselor
Student Perspectives: Pathways Through DHS
Decatur High School: Virtual Tour: Rochelle Lofstrand, principal
Intro to IB and MYP Grading: Debra LeDoux, instructional coach/IB coordinator
18-Week Progress Reports
18-Week Progress Reports
Progress reports have been posted in ManageBac. Five minutes into this short screencast, you will find instructions for viewing your student’s reports in ManageBac.
If you have any questions about your student's grades, please talk to your student to get further information and consider following up with their teacher -- or, better yet, ask your student to email their teacher and copy you! If you need any support using ManageBac or have overall grading and assessment questions, please email Ms. LeDoux at dledoux@csdecatur.net or Mr. Hatfield at whatfield@csdecatur.net
If you do not have a parent account in ManageBac, please complete this Google form. You will be added to ManageBac, and you will receive a Welcome Email from ManageBac.
9-11TH STUDENT'S PORTRAIT NEEDED BY 2/3/2021
Hello Guardians,
WE NEED YOUR 9-11TH STUDENT'S PORTRAIT BY 2/3/2021!
We sent a similar email directly to students, but wanted to ask you for your help in ensuring we capture every student in the yearbook. With the absence of underclassmen portrait day this year, the Decatur High School yearbook staff is asking each 9th-11th grade student to upload their own portrait photo for use in this year’s yearbook. They will just choose an appropriate portrait photo from their camera roll or take one on the spot and upload it through ybkplus.com.
Here's How…
· Go to ybkplus.com on your phone.
· Once on the site, enter your SCHOOL email.
· A ONE TIME code will then be emailed to you to verify identity.
· Choose My Portrait, select and crop an appropriate portrait photo, then submit!
The yearbook staff reserves the right to reject any photo that does not accurately represent the student identified, does not follow proper student dress code and/or does not meet publication standards. Please review this video on guidelines for choosing a picture! You can access the video HERE.
If you have any questions email alockhart@csdecatur.net.
The Yearbook Staff
BUY YOUR YEARBOOK
The 2020-2021 school year will be a memorable one for sure.
We have ordered 750 yearbooks and have sold 75% of the available books.
If you plan on buying one, please do so ASAP.
Not sure if you bought a book - ask your student to check their email and the list that was sent out.
Books can be bought at www.jostens.com and are $60 until Feb 28.
Get one today before prices go up!
If you have any questions please email alockhart@csdecatur.net.
8th-grade Activism Symposium - Volunteers Needed
8th grade is in need of volunteers to lead engaging virtual seminars for our first ever 8th Grade Activism Symposium on Feb 11th and 12th.
Renfroe Middle School is hosting a 8th-grade Activism symposium on February 11th and 12th during instructional school time. We envision the symposium to be similar to a miniature TED conference (only virtually), a conference dedicated to “ideas worth spreading.” on activism. We are looking for engaging, dynamic speakers who can share information about activism or related careers that will inspire our students to stand up for the change they wish to see in the world! Our goal for students is to not only learn about activism but also to be excited about it and become actively engaged in issues they care about.
We are looking for presenters for this symposium. If you (or someone you know) would be interested in sharing a presentation about your career or experience in activism, we would like to invite you to share your expertise with our 8th-grade students and encourage you to sign up with the form below:
https://forms.gle/Xv9ddwntaP4fGPUJ6
Students will rotate to different virtual rooms for 3 different blocks of time on Thursday, Feb 11th and twice on Friday, Feb 12th. During this time, you may want to share interesting information about your career, ask questions, and then take questions. Middle school students tend to have a natural interest in activism and learn best virtually with visuals or interactive time to ask questions and share ideas.
Email rtibbetts@csdecatur.net with questions!
PTSA...SHARE THE LOVE - FEBRUARY
The PTSA wants to support our kids and faculty and to share the love in February. We are planning to award a $25 gift card, from local area shops and restaurants to a randomly selected Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior and Staff member every day in the month of February. All 28 days - even on the weekends and during Winter Break! Your name will be announced on the morning announcements and an email will also go out to share the news. Please pick up your prizes on Fridays (February 5th, 12th, and 26th) during the lunch hour in Ms. Sturm's office near the library doors by the bus loop. We look forward to bringing some love to you and hope you enjoy this little gift.
DHS PARENT SUPPORT GROUP
View a flyer, a tentative schedule, and two videos. One of the videos is a 3 minute basic intro and the other a 20 minute extended promo explaining the goals and format of the group thoroughly.
For more information email Sumar Deen at sdeen@csdecatur.net.
DHS BAND FUNDRAISER ENDING SOON
Wahoo! Wine & Provisions will generously donate 15% of purchases to the DHS Band Parents Association through Sunday, January 31st, when you mention the DHS Band. All you have to do is say "DHS Band," and we'll receive crucial funds for our talented musicians. Great wine for a great cause. Thank you!
DECATUR BULLDOG BOOSTERS
It's January. And, it's cold. This could only mean one thing... yes, it's time for Spring sports to begin. See the dates below for the start of Spring sports. Reach out to coaches if you have not already completed the interest form for your particular sports (Interest Forms linked here)
February 8:
Boys' Golf - Coach Shelton (rshelton@csdecatur.net)
Girls' Golf - Coach Nowacki (pnowacki@csdecatur.net)
DISTRICT NEWS
From the CSD Special Education Department: Parent Survey
The Georgia Department of Education is requesting that parents who have a student with an IEP complete the Special Education Parent Satisfaction Survey. If you have more than one student who has an IEP, please fill out a separate survey for each student. This survey helps to guide our district and state toward a more meaningful collaboration, which helps to bring about good outcomes for our students' education. For questions concerning the survey please email Cheryl Grant cgrant@csdecatur.net. Thank you in advance for taking the time to complete this survey.
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
From the City of Decatur
Thank you to the Decatur Business Association for hosting the State of the City and State of the City Schools Address on Tuesday, Jan. 26. Mayor Patty Garrett gave the State of the City address and School Board Chair Tasha White gave the State of the City Schools address during this meeting. to view a recording of the meeting you can visit https://zoom.us/rec/share/9HUJYtEl2IVJjLepCCyZY4LaCLJVejL36Rfh7K-ebq-9gIJbiPjcVJVn3BJx6huB.puFBEGO9C30ny4Tw), please use password Q1j*+cZ^.
WATCH NOW!
Decatur Strategic Plan for 202s...
The roundtables process included 800 registrants who contributed thousands of comments. Many of these comments about Decatur’s future were in agreement, but some topics revealed conflicting perspectives about how Decatur should chart its course for the next 10 years.
The 202s will allow for a deep dive on these topics. After hearing from subject matter experts, we will join together in virtual discussion groups to help understand tradeoffs and find balance among differing perspectives. Input will be used to form recommendations on how the Strategic Plan should address these issues. The 202s will seek to answer the question: “What does success look like in a community of 25K people within a metropolitan region of nearly 6 million people?”
Climate Change:
Thursday, February 11, 6-8 p.m.
Speakers will be announced closer to the event. All events will occur on Zoom and will be recorded and available after the meeting. Visit decatur2030.com for details.
DEF News
DEF Equity Survey
As part of DEF's commitment to become an anti-racist organization in both action and in words, we are looking at our relationships with Black parents/guardians and parents/guardians of children who identify as Black to learn how DEF can better engage and support your family. If you identify as a Black parent or guardian or a parent or guardian of a child who identifies as Black and you are part of the City Schools of Decatur community, please take a moment to fill out this survey which will help us understand what matters to you and how we might work together to support kids. https://forms.gle/z2yezERPGu4ombSJ8
DEF Virtual Pals Tutoring
As CSD rolls out its plans for spring semester, DEF will be working to continue to support families to ensure our students have what they need to learn and thrive. DEF established Virtual Pals Tutoring Program to provide extra help for CSD students in the 2nd through 8th grades during virtual learning. Participants are paired with a community volunteer tutor who provides basic homework help, tutoring and virtual learning support. If your student would like to enroll in the program, please fill out this application. To see all of our
Covid initiatives, please visit www.decatureducationfoundation.org/Covid-19.
NaanStop to benefit DEF
They’re doing it again! Our friends at NaanStop are hosting another pop-up right here in Decatur on Thursday, February 4th and donating 20% back to DEF!!! Dine out on authentic Indian food and raise funds for DEF at the same time! Here are the details: Link to menu: https://bit.ly/NSorderDecatur - Pickup/drive-thru at Avery St/Bucher Dr. in Winnona Park neighborhood - Pickup instructions will be sent with confirmation - Pickup will be available between 5 - 5:45pm on Thursday, February 4th - Masks/distancing required at pick up - order in advance before 5 pm on Wednesday, February 3.
Decatur High School
Email: kgoins@csdecatur.net
Website: csdecatur.net/DHS
Location: 310 North McDonough Street, Decatur, GA, USA
Phone: 404-370-4170