BHMS Weekly Update
Thursday, April 20 2023
May 4, 2023
Principal's Corner
Dear BHMS Community,
Principal’s Coffee Chat
This Principals Coffee Chat will be one you do not want to miss. The presentation will cover Social Media and its impact on kids and young adults. We will also talk about protecting our kids from trafficking and becoming victims to internet crimes. It will be facilitated by a special agent from the FBI. Therefore, there will not be an online option today or a recording of the chat. You must come in person to hear this great information. Invite your neighbors as well. There will be door prizes and some great coffee. We invite you to attend in person Friday, May 5th at 9:00AM in the Beacon Hill Media Center.
Derrick L. Thomas, Principal,
Beacon Hill Middle School
Teacher Spotlight
This week's teacher spotlight is on Drama teacher Emily Nichols. Mrs. Nichols models the IB larner profile attribute of caring, balanced, and knowledgeable. Mrs. Nichols brings her experience and expertise of theater instruction to the classroom every day. Her creativity and talent shines in her teaching of drama foundations to students at BHMS. We are delighted that she joined our community and grateful for the way in which she inspires our BHMS drama Bulldogs. We had a chance to ask Mrs. Nichols what her favorite part about the BHMS students were and she said “My favorite thing about BHMS students is their enthusiasm and determination. Each day they give me energy and surprise me with their ability to collaborate and problem solve - both in theatre class and in production!”
We are looking forward to cheering on her and the cast of The Wizard of Oz this weekend. Thank you Mrs. Nichols for all the time and dedication you put into the Drama department at BHMS
From the Desk of Our PTA
Teacher Appreciation and PTA Board Appreciation!
PTA Board Appreciation:
We want to thank our outgoing PTA Board Members, Odufa Aburime - Co-VP, Aiman Muneer - Treasurer and Gwin Hall - Secretary for their service to our students, staff and community. We couldn't have done it without their hard work. We also want to take a moment to thank all the Committee Chairs and volunteers who gave their time and expertise to make this year so much fun. We have done some great things for students in collaboration with our BHMS family!
Our 2023-2024 PTA Board Members will be:
Co-Presidents - Christy Norman and Natalie Williams
Co-VPs - Michael Law, Leah Humphries and Gwendolyn Shaw
Treasurer - Sybil McCullar
Secretary - Wendy Cromwell
Thank you all for stepping up to lead us into the 2023 -2024 school year!
Teacher Appreciation Week:
If you are looking for more ways to get involved, we would like volunteers to help next week 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
BHMS and CSD Communication Survey!
Hi BHMS Families,
Please complete this survey to help us best plan for and implement communication structures that will keep BHMS families informed of the important happenings in our school community. All schools will be conducting a similar survey.
The results of these surveys will be shared with other school and district leaders to help inform areas of strength and growth throughout the district.
This survey should take you approximately 10 minutes to complete, and will provide us with valuable information about our communication platforms, frequency, and content. Thank you for your support.
Student Center Ribbon Cutting!
The Decatur Student Center at BHMS hosted a beautiful student-led ribbon-cutting ceremony for our 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!
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!
The Wizard of Oz- This weekend!
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!
From the Media Center!
All Books Due Next Friday and Summer Reading Programs!
Greetings!
All print books will be due Friday, May 12. Notices about lost or late books have been via email. However, all students will still have access to the Beacon Hill Media Center’s ebook collection via Sora on launchpad.
Check out the 2023 Summer Reading Challenge with the Dekalb County Library. Registration is now open at dekalblibrary.beanstack.org! Don’t forget that your local library offers many more programs besides Summer Reading Click here to learn more!
Summer Programs Library Video: https://youtu.be/tZFlGxngQro
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 Wrestling Interest Meeting
All students, rising 9th-grade and above, should plan to attend an Interest Meeting Friday afternoon. Coach Nicco Salvador, new DHS Head Coach, will be on-campus to introduce himself and connect with returning and new wrestlers. The meeting will be at 4 pm in the classroom located near the weight room at DHS. If you have any questions, please contact Coach Salvador at nicco.salvador@csdecatur.net.
Softball Summer Camp Opportunities
Our DHS Softball program will host a number of camps this summer. These camps are a great way for our young Bulldogs to develop their skills, make new friends, and have some fun. Click the link below for more information and reach out to Coach Williams with any questions.
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
Community Partner Announcements and Updates
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.