DHS Weekly Update
Thursday, August 4, 2022
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
DHS Families,
We have had 3 great days here at DHS! I hope your students have had a great week as well. I've spent time in classes, hallways, and the cafeteria and everyone looks and sounds like they are glad to be back in the classroom!
We are working to update our website so that it is user friendly and contains information that is more useful to you on a regular basis. Be on the lookout for those changes! Mr. Sprull, CTAE Director, will be presenting information about Work-Based Learning and other Career Academy programs at Tuesday's Board Meeting. Tune in to hear about the great opportunities our Career Academy has for our students.
Ms. Shelkoff, Instructional Technology Coach, is also working to increase our social media presence. She has taken over the DHS Facebook page and will be updating our Instagram page as well. We are excited about sharing all of the great things happening here with you!
Class of 2023 Parents, mark your calendars! Graduation will be on May 25th at 7:00 PM. The two rain dates/times are May 26th at 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM. Please begin to plan accordingly. Our school calendar (on our website) already reflects these dates/times.
Rochelle L. Lofstrand, Principal
Decatur High School
Breakfast/Lunch Payments
This year school breakfast and lunch are no longer free unless a family qualifies for free/reduced lunch. School lunches have been free for the past two year because of COVID Cares funding. This has now stopped - https://www.fns.usda.gov/cn/2022-23-parent-faqs. All families should look at the criteria to see if they qualify for free/reduced meals -https://www.csdecatur.net/Page/4670.
Also, don't forget to log into the Parent Portal to put money on your students' account or send a check/cash. See the new meal pricing below.
Attendance Procedures for 2022-2023 School Year
Dear DHS families,
Please read these attendance procedures carefully. If you have any questions, please email Mr. Michael Scott (mscott@csdecatur.net).
We hope that in the 2022-2023 school year, we can continue to improve student attendance as we continue to adjust to living with the constant presence of COVID-19. If your student is having a hard time getting to school, please reach out to their counselor and administrator. Contact info can be found here.
We will begin the attendance robocall for students who are absent from school on Monday, August 8th. We hope to have Parent Portal push notifications for attendance available soon.
Excused Absences
If your student misses a day or more for an illness, the death/illness of a family member, a religious holiday, or another excused reason, please fill out this form. If you would like us to consider a non-standard reason to excuse an absence, please reach out directly to Mr. Scott at least three weeks in advance of a planned absence.
Check-outs
If you need to check out your student, please fill out this form. We ask that all students be picked up from the front doors off of N. McDonough. Please ring the buzzer for assistance and be prepared to show a photo ID to our attendance office staff.
Timely Arrival to School
In order to be considered on-time, a student must be in class by 8:35 am. Students who do not meet this criterion must check in at the attendance office. Students who are late two or more times in a week without an excuse will be assigned after school detention on either Wednesday or Thursday (student's choice) of the following week.
Skipping Class
We expect students to be in every class every day. Students who skip class will be referred to their administrator every time they skip. This year, we will assign Saturday Detention to students on the third time they skip class. Students with Saturday conflicts for religious reasons will be assigned an alternate consequence.
Wes Hatfield
Asst Principal
ONE LOVE ONE HEART 5K - SATURDAY!
Click this link to register.
https://www.active.com/atlanta-ga/running/distance-running-races/one-love-one-heart-5k-2022
FCCLA
Interested in Serving on the DHS School Leadership Team (SLT)
The Decatur High School Leadership Team (SLT) is an elected committee consisting of parents/guardians, DHS staff members, community members and other personnel. All CSD schools have an SLT, formed as part of our System Charter, renewed by the state in 2014. Some of the responsibilities of this team are:
School Improvement Plan (SIP): Develop, approve and monitor the continuous school improvement planning process
Determine the allocation of the school’s instructional and technology budget
Review student achievement data
Recommend and support school needs to the CSD Board of Education during the annual budget process
Help with the interview process of potential Decatur High School employees
Monthly evening meetings
Current members of the Decatur High SLT are:
Elected Parents: Elliot Robinson, Amy Marti, Kunle Oguneye and Ila Wade
Staff Members: Sean DeWeese, Cassandra Black and Duane Sprull
Principal: Rochelle Lofstrand
CSD Central Office: Eston Melton, Chief Information Officer
DHS has two parent 2-year terms and one teacher 2-year term expiring this year. If you are interested in serving DHS as an SLT member or returning as a member, please submit your name, a paragraph with a biographical statement and a paragraph stating why you want to be on the SLT, to Rochelle Lofstrand at rlofstrand@csdecatur.net. Deadline for submission is Friday, August 19th. We will eBlast candidate statements in our newsletter.
SLT elections will occur virtually and will be communicated after August 19th.
Class of 2023 Senior Pictures
Three months left to take your senior photo! T You must have your portrait taken by CADY to be included in the senior section of the yearbook. There are several photo options you can choose, but to be in the yearbook you just need the yearbook pose. This option comes with Cap and Gown pictures, and one extra ‘scene.’ You should have started receiving emails about scheduling an appointment. You can go to one of their studios OR schedule an appointment here at the high school during a Road Shoot. The closest studio, The Atlanta Studio, located at 2030 Powers Ferry Rd., Suite 520 Atlanta, Georgia 30339 (near the Braves Stadium) is accepting appointments now. It is advised that you schedule an appointment sooner rather than later so that you can get retakes if you wish. CADY will be at DHS on Saturday 8/27 and Saturday 10/8. If you do not get an appointment on one of these days you will have to go to a studio to get your picture taken.
You have until October 31, either at school or at a studio, to get your photo taken for inclusion in the 2022-2023 yearbook. Please go to cady.com/schedule in order to schedule your appointment as soon as possible.
Anyone who needs financial assistance for the sitting fee should reach out to Principal Lofstrand, rlofstrand@csdecatur.net. If you have any other questions please email the yearbook sponsor Ms. Lockhart at alockhart@csdecatur.net.
CSD Athletics News and Updates
For All Information Relating to CSD Athletics: decaturbulldogsathletics.com
Bulldog Parents, bookmark the link below for the most up-to-date information relating athletics at Decatur High School and Beacon Hill Middle School. Please feel free to reach out to our team with any questions! Go Bulldogs!!
Rodney Thomas - Executive Director of Student Services / Activities & Athletics Director (rthomas@csdecatur.net)
Kelli Aaron - Administrative Assistant & Bookkeeper (kaaron@csdecatur.net)
David Harbin - Assistant Activities & Athletics Director (dharbin@csdecatur.net)
Want to Support CSD Student-Athletes?? All the Ways to Support Decatur Bulldog Boosters (DBB)
DBB raises money to support 750 student athletes, on 25 teams, representing 17 sports at DHS and Beacon Hill Middle School (BHMS).
1. Become a member: Select from various mobile ticket packages via GoFan and get a free spirit item with Family Booster level and above.
2. Become a sponsor: Promote your business across athletic and DBB events. Plus receive a mobile ticket package via GoFan.
3. Join our team: Meetings are the second Monday of every month at 6:30 p.m. in the DHS Performing Arts Center Hospitality Suite.
4. Support our sponsors: Support those who support us!
5. Cheer on our athletes! Game tickets are available through GoFan. (No cash or credit accepted at the ticket gate.)
Next Decatur Bulldog Boosters Meeting: Aug. 8, 2022
Join our meetings the second Monday of every month at 6:30 p.m. in the DHS Performing Arts Center Hospitality Suite.
All Interested Athletes MUST Update/Complete DragonFly Profile
All students interested in participating in athletics at DHS or BHMS must have an updated profile with all medical forms complete in our DragonFly system. See the link below for information, including step-by-step slideshows. Please contact your coach, Asst. AD David Harbin, dharbin@csdecatur.net, and/or Admin. Asst Kelli Aaron, kaaron@csdecatur.net with any questions.
CSD DragonFly Requirements and Instructions
Need Volunteer Hours: Atlanta Track Club Needs You
If you are interested in volunteering with the Atlanta Track Club as a course monitor for this weekend’s ATC 4-Miler, click the link below.
Next PTSA Meeting
DHS SLT News
Next SLT Meeting
DISTRICT NEWS
Community Partner Announcements and Updates
Welcome back to a new school year! We are so excited to be back, it’s going to be a great year! DEF works in partnership with City Schools of Decatur to ensure that every student has what they need to learn and thrive. We have several programs in place to do just that: Virtual Pals Tutoring Program, AIM Scholars Mentoring Program, and a BRAND NEW program for high schoolers, FOCUS Prep Program. We need volunteers for each program to be a success, so please read below to learn how you can help.
Tutoring: We are continuing our Virtual Pals tutoring program in which we pair a 2nd-8th grade student with an upper high school student or adult volunteer to help with homework, time management, and motivation. If you would like to sign your student up for the program, you can go here: https://forms.gle/SjYinSLJkZ363pi57 If you would like to help as a volunteer tutor, you can apply here: https://forms.gle/YTbDUk8H4iS4qfD57 (High school students can earn volunteer hours!)
Mentoring: Covid has made it VERY difficult for our mentor pairs to meet these last two years. We’re renewing the program with fervor this school year, and need male and female adult mentors to volunteer 2-4 hours per month with our new third-grade cohort. For a mentor application, click here: https://forms.gle/DNFkXJyTCKTaFd1S9
FOCUS Prep: Finding Opportunities to Create yoUr Success Prep is just for high school students who want a little extra “coaching” to reach their post-secondary goals. High schoolers will be paired with volunteer coaches who will encourage, motivate, and hold them accountable. Coaches will receive training from College Ave Consulting to know how best to help with career research, college applications, financial aid, and time lines! Time commitment is only 2-3 hours per month for the school year. If you’d like to become a coach, click here: https://forms.gle/F73gdN5fxzXqET5o7. If your high schooler is interested in the program, please click here: https://forms.gle/zYMUsPJQ1Wv7uiNs8
You can also find all forms and information at our website, www.decatureducationfoundation.org/mentoring. Together we make a difference for our kids!
Decatur High School
Email: noreply@csdecatur.net
Website: csdecatur.net/DHS
Location: 310 North McDonough Street, Decatur, GA, USA
Phone: 404-370-4170