Friday Follow-Up
Decatur Student Center at BHMS Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
The Decatur Student Center at BHMS hosted a beautiful student-led ribbon-cutting ceremony for their newly installed Student Center. Like the center at the high school, the middle school location offers a safe and relaxing place for students. Students may also receive individual and small group counseling for social-emotional concerns. Great job to the students and staff who made this possible!
Top Dog Award Winners
Our Top Dog Award Winners this week are Tyler Mangascle, Lena Hamilton, and Charlie McAdoo!
Tyler Mangascle, Second Grade Teacher at Clairemont Elementary School, received this nomination from a parent:
“Mr. M has a very rare ability to be both a respected authority figure as well as a fun, loving, compassionate part of the team he creates in class. As a parent, I feel like our child hit the jackpot with Mr M for both 1st and 2nd grade. The mutual respect and caring shown between a teacher and his students exemplifies the talent he has for demonstrating balance.”
Lena Hamilton, Reading Interventionist at Decatur High School, received this nomination from a colleague:
“Dr. Hamilton has been on the front lines of the post-pandemic student learning loss fight, instituting the Read 180 intervention program, as well as supporting gen-ed teachers in their support of students. She is active in several equity committees and initiatives, and is consistently an advocate for some of our most vulnerable students. She is a tireless advocate for improvement in the intervention and equity programs at the high school, and on a personal note she is a wonderful, engaged, supporting, and caring co-teacher! Dr. Hamilton is the epitome of caring!”
Charlie McAdoo, Teacher at Decatur High School, received this nomination from a student:
“I think he should be recognized because Mr. McAdoo always makes learning fun and hard. He changes hard normal school work into fun and exciting school work every day. In class everyone has a great time because all the assignments are fun and not like every other class.”
Way to go, Tyler, Lena, and Charlie!
Do you know someone who deserves Top Dog recognition? Nominate them here.
Survey for Feedback of the K-12 English Language Arts Standards
The Georgia Department of Education welcomes your feedback and comments regarding the proposed K-12 English Language Arts Standards. Upon adoption by the state board, these English Language Arts standards will be implemented in the 2025-2026 school year after a year to train teachers, communicate with parents, and update assessments in line with the new standards.
After you have reviewed the K-12 English Language Arts standards, please click on this link to access a survey to provide your feedback. Thank you to the parents and community members who have already provided their input.
Decatur Education Foundation
It's time to Step Up for Teachers! The yard signs are being ordered and will be available for pickup soon! www.stepupforteachers.com is live and ready for your tributes to CSD teachers, paraprofessionals and staff. For a small donation,
you leave a message of appreciation, we'll notify the honored
person and post it on our website. For a gift of $50 or more, you
can select between a "We Step Up" or a "Class of 2023" yard sign. If you would like a sign but cannot contribute, please email drew@decatureducationfoundation.org with your tribute and your
sign preference. Together we make a difference for our teachers,
our schools and our kids.
Do you know a CSD teacher, paraprofessional or employee who has shown extreme care and compassion for a student at a time of great need or crisis? We are currently accepting nominations for the Clarence Strickland Make A Difference Award HERE. Nominations are due by April 20th and the recipient will be recognized at our scholarship event on May 15th.
If you’d like to enjoy live music for FREE, consider volunteering at Amplify Decatur’s Spring Concert in the Square THIS Saturday, April 29th. There are spots at every time of day available. Click here to sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/904084caba628abff2-amplify1#/ Your evening of live music will support DEF, Decatur Cooperative Ministry and Giving Kitchen.
Come see some of our talented Decatur High musicians perform at No Ordinary Joe for an evening of live music at Waller’s Coffee Shop on Thursday, May 4th starting at 7pm. Tickets are now on sale at www.decatureducationfoundation.org/noordinaryjoe: $25 for adults/$10 for students. Big thanks to Waller’s for donating their space!
