BHMS Weekly Update
Thursday, August 17, 2023
November 2, 2023
Upcoming Events
11/3: BHMS Boys Soccer Championship Game 5pm Ebster Field
11/6-11/10: Crossing Guard Appreciation Week
11/7: Digital Learning Day
11/13-11/17: Book Fair
11/13-11/17: 6th Grade Aqua Vita
11/20-11/24: Thanksgiving Break
11/27-11/29 7th Grade Rock Eagle Trips A & B
11/29: Early Release Day 1:45pm
Principal's Corner
Dear Beacon Hill Students and Families,
Boys Soccer Championship
We are excited that our boys soccer team will compete for the championship on Friday, November 3 at 5:00. The game will be held at Ebster Field and we invite all to come out and support our awesome student athletes.
Lost and Found
We have a number of coats in our lost and found. If your child is missing a coat, it is likely that it is in our lost and found. Please have them check as these items will be donated Friday, November 3, 2023.
See you soon!!!
Derrick L. Thomas, Principal
Beacon Hill Middle School
“It Only Takes One”
đź“° BHMS News You Can Use đź“°
🔦Staff Spotlight BHMS Celebrates Ms. Crockett🔦
Let's throw a round of applause to Erin Crockett for snagging the "Beacon" Spotlight of the week! Mrs. Crockett is a true gem to BHMS. Her caring and principled nature makes her a standout member of the BHMS teaching community. Before this year, Mrs. Crockett spent many years teaching in the BHMS special education department. This year, she switched to teaching Studio Art, where she gets to inspire students to unleash their artistic talents and embrace their unique selves. Beyond the classroom, Ms. Crockett dedicates her time to making BHMS a positive place to work and learn. She's an active member of the PBIS committee, co-sponsors the Art Club, and coaches for BHMS Heart and Sole. Bravo, Ms. Crockett!
What can BHMS expect on Digital Learning day?
Our goal for students is to continue to build age-appropriate familiarity, equitable access to learning, and capability with online learning tools.
BHMS students will:
have an assignment posted in google classroom for each class.
have the opportunity to participate in online check-ins with their teachers via Google Meet should they have questions about their assignments.
Accessing Google Meet as Needed:
The Google links will be shared by grade level on Monday via blackboard email, as well as posted in google classrooms. The meet time will allow a check-in time when students may log in during the instructional day to ask questions or get additional support if needed.
Students who have concerns about their school-issued device should check in with the media center prior to Nov. 7th. Students may complete a form to request a hotspot if they have no internet access at home; the forms are available in Arabic, English, Japanese, Mandarin, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Somali, Spanish and Vietnamese.
A Week In the Life of a BHMS Bulldog
YLOE & GENTS go on a HBCU College Tour!
BHMS and DHS students explored Fort Valley State University and Albany State University, with many stepping onto a college campus for the first time. Special thanks to Mr. Jordan, Ms. Q, Ms. Harley, Ms. Jackson, Dr. Williams, Ms. Braxton, and Ms. Bowe for chaperoning and Mr. Johnson for capturing the moments (see photos below). We hope this experience sparks inspiration for academic achievement!
Orchestra Concert Highlights
The Orchestra performance last week blew us all away. Great job Dr. McCranie on leading such a talented crew of hardworking students!
A Peek into a Math WIN Time Class!
In Ms. Gary's and Mr. Stroy's WIN times, students designed their own experiment to explore the connection between theoretical and experimental probability. The rules of their game were to choose a quarter or half dollar, flip it, and have it land perfectly inside of a square on a grid without the coin touching any of the lines. Students worked together in pairs and used their knowledge of probability concepts as well as geometry to successfully complete this real world application of chance.
Get Involved!
Lunchtime Volunteers Needed!
Thank you Beacon Hill Middle School PTA for volunteering to help us with the PBIS store during lunch. Last week was a huge success. We have added volunteer opportunities and are accepting donations for store items. The BHMS Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports (PBIS) Store will be open once a week on Fridays during all lunch periods through the end of the school year. Volunteers and donations are needed!
Y.L.O.E Hosting a Food Drive
Support Y.L.O.E in their work to create Sandwich bags for those in need!
World Language Thanksgiving Food Basket Drive
The BHMS World Language Department has a tradition of creating festive baskets full of ingredients for traditional Thanksgiving meals to donate to our local community. Please see the flier for more details and check your email for reminders from your student's World Language Teacher. To donate items click here.
đź“šFrom our Media Centerđź“š
Beacon Hill students checked out 1574 print books and 2527 ebooks this October from the media center! Remember, your student can ask for a morning pass at the media center desk. Also, check out the Roller Coasters on display in the Media Center! We always enjoy showcasing projects in the media center when we can get them in!
Don’t forget, the Fall Book Fair with LSOS and the BHMS PTA is coming this November!
If you’re interested in volunteering, contact courtneysolliepta@gmail.com!
Also, Brave and Kind Bookshop will be presenting Gene Luen Yang at the Decatur Library next week!
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:
💙💛From Our PTA💙💛
Crossing Guard Appreciation Week
Your Safe Routes to School (SRTS) champions are hosting a luncheon and collecting notes, gift cards and donations to be distributed to the many crossing guards that keep our students safe every school day. Please drop off donations or gifts to the BHMS front office or contribute through Venmo or PayPal (@gospriggs or @pliscio) by Tuesday, November 7. To nominate a crossing guard for Outstanding Crossing Guard of the Year, visit the GA Safe Routes to School website. Thank you for your support!
Looking to Volunteer?
The PTA needs volunteers to help with a variety of activities that can have a big impact with minimal time commitment.
Event Photographers: We need skilled photographers looking to help capture memories of our PTA-organized school events…school dances, Spirit Night, fundraising activities. Photographers should have their own camera (DSLR) and be available on an on-call basis. Email Wendy Cromwell at w.cromwell69@gmail.com for more information.
Passive Fundraising: Assistance is needed to oversee existing efforts (grocery store points, Box Tops for Education) and find new opportunities. Interested? Email Emilee Terry at emileeraeterry@gmail.com.
Sponsor Spotlight
Meet Dr. Arjun Patel of Quest Orthodontics…a Beacon Hill PTA Presenting Sponsor! Dr. Patel is a board certified orthodontist committed to providing the best orthodontic care available to his patients. Dr. Patel and his team at Quest use advanced technology and personalized care to partner with his patients and community on their journey to a better smile. They recently opened a practice in Decatur.
“At Quest Orthodontics, we pride ourselves in accomplishing confident, beautiful smiles that will last a lifetime,” Dr. Patel says. “We offer an unmatched patient experience from start to finish. Our treatment is customized to meet the patient’s needs and to provide the best results possible.”
The Beacon Hill PTA thanks Quest Orthodontics for their support of our school community.
CSD News and Announcements
Digital Learning Day on November 7, 2023
In September 2022, the Board of Education approved the 2023-2024 Academic Calendar, which includes a remote Digital Learning Day on November 7, 2023. The purpose of this day is two-fold. The remote Digital LearningDay will enable all staff to participate in civic engagement on Election Day and provide an opportunity to further grow the remote Digital Learning skills of students. Additionally, staff will have dedicated time to participate in training and professional development.
To assist in planning, CSD has linked an FAQ with answers to some frequently asked questions related to the remote Digital Learning Day. Families will receive communications directly from schools about specific digital day learning plans for individual sites.
Reminder!! City Schools of Decatur's upcoming Early Release Day is Wednesday, November 29.
Pre-K - 12:15 PM
Lower Elementary - 12:50 PM
Upper Elementary - 12:15 PM
Middle School - 1:45 PM
High School - 1:35 PM
College Heights' infant through preschool program will remain on its normal schedule.
The remaining schedule of Early Release Days includes the following dates:
Wednesday, November 29
Wednesday, December 20
Wednesday, January 31
Wednesday, February 28
Wednesday, March 27
Wednesday, April 24
Schools will communicate more specific details related to the schedule for the day, dismissal, and extracurricular activities.
Community Partner Announcements and Updates
Decatur Education Foundation: Mead Road Mardi Gras Inspires Sweet Music in Decatur
Don’t store those Halloween costumes after the 31st — Keep them handy for the return of the Mead Road Mardi Gras Parade & Party on February 3, 2024! Students can march with their schools in the parade through Oakhurst to celebrate Mardi Gras and raise funds for the Decatur Education Foundation’s music education grants. More details to come at MeadRdMardiGras.org.
Mead Road Mardi Gras has donated over $35,000 to DEF to fund music and arts grants in the City Schools of Decatur. Over the years, these grants have furnished the Beacon Hill Middle School band with new instruments, infused FAVE with the rhythmic pulse of African drums, and enriched Decatur High School with a new piano, harmonious choral arrangements, and vibrant theatre costumes. In 2023-2024, DEF’s music grants will support a bucket Taiko drum ensemble at Oakhurst Elementary and a diverse collection of music-centric literature for every elementary school in CSD. With your generous contributions, we can make sure that the music never stops for Decatur students! Read more impact stories at DecaturEducationFoundation.org.
SAVE THE DATE!
Decatur Parents Network will host the screening of Screenagers the Next Chapter: Uncovering Skills for Stress Resilience on November 5 @ 2:45 pm.
For more information and to register, visit https://bit.ly/ScreenagersTheNextChapter
A Season of Giving
A Season of Giving is a neighbor led organization which helps purchase gifts directly for local children and seniors in need!
To apply for assistance, please complete an online application at https://aseasonofgiving.org/child-application/ by November 4th.
**NEW** Applications may be submitted for any child ages infant through 12th grade!
If you are not in need of assistance, please consider supporting our efforts. To become a donor for A Season of Giving, complete the form at https://aseasonofgiving.org/sponsor/.
To volunteer, complete the form at https://aseasonofgiving.org/volunteer/.