BHMS Weekly Update
Thursday, April 20 2023
April, 27 2023
Principal's Corner
Dear BHMS Community,
Principal’s Coffee Chat
Our final Principal’s Coffee Chat of the year is rescheduled for Friday, May 5, 2023 at 9:00 am. Hope to see you there.
Derrick L. Thomas, Principal,
Beacon Hill Middle School
Teacher Spotlight
This week's teacher spotlight is on our MTTS intervention teacher crew: Dawn Bolton, Corrie Bounds, Cori Bowe, Holly Lanford, Kristan Jacobs, and Reba Ricks! We select the IB learner profile trait balanced for this team because they do such a good job at incorporating and balancing all of the learner profile attributes with themselves and with students! This crew each teaches their own intervention course as well as juggling collaboration with multiple content teachers. This team rocks the house when it comes to growing students and helping them succeed. The MTSS crew provides differentiation to the classrooms and as courses that help students improve math, reading, and writing skills. Some of the highlights of their work include:
Saturday school
Poetry Slam
Girls on the Run Coaching
Before/After school tutoring
Sunshine Committee
BHMS staff and students are so glad we have this Intervention Teacher crew working to support us!
From the Desk of Our PTA
Teacher Appreciation
The PTA is preparing to celebrate National Teacher Appreciation Week May 8-12 and we would like to say THANK YOU! Thank you to the Beacon Hill Middle School parents and community members for your support! We have reached our gift card donation goal!
If you are looking for more ways to get involved, we would like volunteers to help during Teacher Appreciation Week. Please visit the link to sign up.
If you have any questions, please contact the PTA/Hospitality Committee:
Mary Ann Nobles at mary.nobles2011@gmail.comor Natalie Williams at natjowilliams@gmail.com
Thank you for your support!
BHMS News You Can Use
Milestones Testing Contiues Through Tuesday
Milestones Continues for 8th Grade Monday and Tuesday!
GA Milestones
6th, 7th and 8th graders will continue Milestones assessment testing through Tuesday May 2nd while 6th and 7th grade will conclude testing on Friday. Thank you for ensuring students are well rested and prepared for the day.
Poetry Slam a Huge Success!
The Students Crushed it last night and the band provided a wonderful performance! Congratulations to the 2023 Stacey "Mama" Daniel Slam winners!
1st Place- Celie Howard
2nd Place- Matilda LaFond
3rd Place- Gia Saindane
2023 Stacey “Mama” Daniel Slam Poets
6th Grade
Matilda LaFond
Katelyn Frank
Gia Saindane
7th Grade
Abby Avrunin
Lauren Daniels
Celie Howard
8th Grade
Said Abdikidar
Aliya Barnett
Rosie Ellis
Diana Pollidore
Jillian Sobon
Coming Soon to a Theater Near You!
BHMS and Decatur Performs presents The Wizard of Oz! Come see your friends in this delightful production of a beloved classic. Performances will be held at Decatur High School on May 5th at 7pm, May 6th at 2pm & 7pm, and May 7th at 2pm. Tickets are $12 for students and $15 for adults and go on sale April 24. We expect all shows to sell out, and you don’t want to miss it!
Calling All 8th Grade Families!
8th Grade Families - we could use some help with our end of year activities. There are two sign-ups below, one for chaperones for our experiences on May 12th, and one for chaperones and donations for the dance May 19th and our picnic on May 25th. We are grateful for any way that you can help out!
From the Media Center!
As we wrap up April and National Poetry month, be advised May 5th is the last day for checkout! All books are due May 12, 2023! Students should be receiving notices via email of missing and lost books after testing, so they should be on the watch! If you’ve any questions, email the media specialist at blynch@csdecatur.net!
Also, please watch this space for news on summer reading programs in the Decatur area with the public library and others community members!
BHMS Club Updates
FROM THE DESK OF THE BHMS FAB LAB:
The next FAB LAB Makerspace Workshop has been announced! Participants can choose to come either May 10th OR May 11th where they will get to design, make, and take home their very own edge light! This project will teach all participants young and old how to use the laser to engrave and cut out plastic materials! All participants will get a LED base, a remote control, and their etched acrylic piece. This will fill quickly as space is limited. This is a great hands-on opportunity to show off your "bright" ideas! Please see the attached registration form to sign up!
See you in the lab!
Mr. Heuser
DHS ROBOTICS TEAM RECRUITING RISING FRESHMAN - INFO SESSION ON MAY 10TH
The Decatur Robotics FRC high school team is currently recruiting for the 2023-24 school year! The team participates in the FIRST® Robotics Competition (FRC) program, which introduces students to engineering, coding, CAD, and more in an engaging, inclusive, and creative environment. Rising freshmen and current high school students are invited to join team members for Bites and Bots on May 10 to learn more about what we do! Parents of potential members may also join us. If you can't attend the May 10th interest meeting, more information can be found online: https://www.decaturrobotics.org/
Weekly 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:
CSD Athletic News and Updates
DHS Volleyball Tryout Information for Rising 9th Graders
Volleyball tryouts for DHS will be May 9 and 10. Click the link below for more details and contact Coach Denard (mdenard@gmail.com) or Coach Tigner (mtigner@csdecatur.net) with questions.
DHS/BHMS Softball Tryouts Happening Soon!
Attention, all students interested in trying out for softball. Tryouts for our DHS and BHMS Gold team will happen in May. Please see the document detailing tryouts below from Coach Williams. Pay close attention to positions, dates, and times and let Coach Williams know if you have any questions.
2023 Softball Tryout Information
DHS Softball Tryouts: May 1-3 - Open to all Rising 8th-Graders and above.
BHMS Gold Tryouts: May 8-9 - Open to all BHMS students (Rising 8th-Graders should plan to attend both weeks of tryouts)
**Tryouts for other BHMS Softball teams will take place at the start of the ‘23 school year.
Summer Lacrosse Opportunities
If your student is interested in playing lacrosse this summer, our Decatur Recreation Department has opportunities for middle and high school students. This is a great time to hone your skills and/or start to learn about the game! See this graphic below for more information.
CSD News and Announcements
Extra Mile Awards
Students: Do you know a teacher or CSD employee who has gone “the extra mile” this year? Nominate them for the CSD Extra Mile Award! The Extra Mile Award is an annual award that allows students to show appreciation for the teachers or staff they feel go above and beyond what is expected of them.
Students (not parents) at any grade level can write an essay describing how their teacher (or staff member) goes the extra mile (parents can help younger children write the essay). The essays should be detailed and describe how the employee goes above and beyond.
Click here to submit a nomination. The deadline is May 31.
These awards will be presented at the CSD Opening Day Celebration in July.
Questions? Contact cburnett@csdecatur.net or 404-371-3601
DHS SGA Earth Day 5K
The DHS Student Government Association (SGA) is hosting their inaugural SGA Earth Day 5K at Legacy Park on April 29, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. Proceeds from this event will support SGA’s future sustainability efforts and the Decatur Track and Field. Bring the family and enjoy sprint races and activities, music, prizes, and food vendors.
CSD Special Education Department
This month we are hosting a Parent Engagement Meeting for families of students with IEPs on the topic of Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Please share the following with families:
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Meeting
WHEN: Thursday, April 27th, 6-7pm
WHERE: This is an online event.
WHO: Parents of students that are served through an IEP (ECLC- 12th).
MORE INFORMATION
Ms. Alicia Lipscomb, Public Affairs Specialist, for the Social Security Administration will share an overview of how to access SSI for individuals with a disability.
What is SSI?
How do parents apply for their student?
What does it mean to qualify for SSI?
What comes with the SSI benefits
What recourse do families have if denied the benefit?
Click here to RSVP or email Cheryl Grant, cgrant@csdecatur.net
Community Partner Announcements and Updates
City of Decatur Downtown Master Plan Final Community Meeting
Join the City of Decatur for the third and final Community Meeting for the Decatur Town Center Plan 2.0, Thursday, April 27 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Decatur Recreation Center, 231 Sycamore St. This meeting will be an opportunity for the planning team to share what they have learned from the community and to introduce the plan’s concepts, ideas, and action items.
The Decatur Town Center Plan 2.0 is the first comprehensive look at downtown since the 1982 Town Center Plan. Whether you live, learn, work, or visit Downtown Decatur, your input helped shape the vision.
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.
Tickets now on sale! Amplify Decatur is hosting their Spring Concert in the Square on Saturday, April 29th and DEF is so pleased to be one of the beneficiaries. The line-up is chock full of some amazing musicians – check them out and purchase tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/amplify-decatur-music-festival-tickets-527859721637.
If you’d like to enjoy live music for FREE, consider volunteering at the concert! 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! Benefitting DEF’s behavioral health initiative, Joe’s Fund, No Ordinary Joe will feature Decatur High School’s Exploring Music Club members 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!
CSD Comprehensive Local Education Agency Implementation Plan (CLIP) Review and Input Meetings
Attention ALL CSD Staff, Parents, and Community Members! Please join us on Wednesday, May 3 at 5:30 pm and Thursday, May 4 at 5:30 pm to share your feedback on the CSD 2023-2024 CLIP. Your feedback is extremely important! You may view the current CLIP documents by clicking here or by visiting https://www.csdecatur.net/Page/1351. Please contact Willie Washington at wwashington@cscecatuir.net if you have any questions.