DHS Weekly Update
Thursday, January 21, 2021
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
This week, some of our K-5 students went back to face-to-face instruction. I spent some time at Clairemont Elementary on Tuesday morning and the excitement was contagious! I continue to work with Wilson Center Staff on our F2F roll-out in the coming weeks. In the meantime, below are the links to the schedules for the next two weeks. Remember, next week is different because we are administering the PSAT to some students on Tuesday. Because of this, Tuesday will be a non-instructional day for the rest of DHS. Starting the week of Feb. 1st, the new Wednesday School format will be in place.
Virtual Schedule for the week of January 25th - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wmQo3QmxRVA497Uhe90hnHAUPCeuJlI4L6jOSdPDg1k/edit?usp=sharing
Virtual Schedule starting Feb. 1st -
https://docs.google.com/document/d/11yLG8-RH-1LduBpdBmb6kaGUZWIrgIOcyh_Z3LHdAuo/edit?usp=sharing
I am excited to announce that the Class of 2021 will have their graduation ceremony on May 27th at 7:00 PM in the DHS Stadium. Seniors should have received information regarding cap & gown ordering from Mrs. Wells and Mrs. McMahon. Please reach out to them if you have any questions - awells@csdecatur.net.
I'm excited to participate in the Run With the Dogs 5K this weekend (see info below)! Even though we won't be doing the run together, we can still show up as a virtual community! It is a pleasure to serve this community!
Principal Lofstrand
VIRTUAL DHS 101
Parents and Guardians of Students New to DHS: You're Invited to a Virtual DHS 101 this Saturday from 10:00AM to 11:30AM
Are you wondering what the inside of DHS looks like? Would you like some tips on how to support your high school student this year and moving forward through high school? Would you like to hear from some current DHS students about how they made their program selections and what their experiences have been like? Do you need to get up to speed on IB grading and ManageBac?
Please, join us for a Virtual DHS 101 this Saturday, January 23rd, at 10AM.
Use this Zoom link to join: https://csdecatur.zoom.us/j/99883926906 (Meeting ID: 998 8392 6906)
We will use this Google Form to collect questions for Q&A. You may want to keep the form open throughout the event, so you can ask questions as they arise.
18-Week Progress Reports
18-Week Progress Reports
Progress reports have been posted in ManageBac. Five minutes into this short screencast, you will find instructions for viewing your student’s reports in ManageBac. If you are a parent or guardian of a student who is new to DHS this year, please join us at the Virtual DHS 101 this Saturday from 10:00 to 11:30AM. There will be a presentation on Grading and ManageBac with time for Q&A. See this newsletter for further information.
If you have any questions about your student's grades, please talk to your student to get further information and consider following up with their teacher -- or, better yet, ask your student to email their teacher and copy you! If you need any support using ManageBac or have overall grading and assessment questions, please email Ms. LeDoux at dledoux@csdecatur.net or Mr. Hatfield at whatfield@csdecatur.net
If you do not have a parent account in ManageBac, please complete this Google form. You will be added to ManageBac, and you will receive a Welcome Email from ManageBac.
9-11TH STUDENT'S PORTRAIT NEEDED BY 2/3/2021
Hello Guardians,
WE NEED YOUR 9-11TH STUDENT'S PORTRAIT BY 2/3/2021!
We sent a similar email directly to students, but wanted to ask you for your help in ensuring we capture every student in the yearbook. With the absence of underclassmen portrait day this year, the Decatur High School yearbook staff is asking each 9th-11th grade student to upload their own portrait photo for use in this year’s yearbook. They will just choose an appropriate portrait photo from their camera roll or take one on the spot and upload it through ybkplus.com.
Here's How…
· Go to ybkplus.com on your phone.
· Once on the site, enter your SCHOOL email.
· A ONE TIME code will then be emailed to you to verify identity.
· Choose My Portrait, select and crop an appropriate portrait photo, then submit!
The yearbook staff reserves the right to reject any photo that does not accurately represent the student identified, does not follow proper student dress code and/or does not meet publication standards. Please review this video on guidelines for choosing a picture! You can access the video HERE.
The Yearbook Staff
THANK YOU FROM PTSA
DHS SPIRIT WEAR!
DHS BAND FUNDRAISER
Wahoo! Wine & Provisions will generously donate 15% of purchases to the DHS Band Parents Association from Friday, January 15th through Sunday, January 31st, when you mention the DHS Band. All you have to do is say "DHS Band," and we'll receive crucial funds for our talented musicians. Great wine for a great cause. Thank you!
DECATUR BULLDOG BOOSTERS
It's January. And, it's cold. This could only mean one thing... yes, it's time for Spring sports to begin. See the dates below for the start of Spring sports. Reach out to coaches if you have not already completed the interest form for your particular sports (Interest Forms linked here)
February 8:
Boys' Golf - Coach Shelton (rshelton@csdecatur.net)
Girls' Golf - Coach Nowacki (pnowacki@csdecatur.net)
GaDOE & the Construction Industry Parent Information Webinar
GaDOE and the Construction Industry is hosting a Parent Information Night called:
The Ultimate Guide to Career Options & Choices for Parents & High School Students on February 16 @ 6:30pm
Workshop presenters will explore the five paths to preparing for a career, cost of college versus technical schools versus apprenticeships, and how students and parents can best prepare for their chosen career paths.
Following the webinar, topic-specific breakouts rooms will be available to parents and students. Breakout rooms will provide parents and students the opportunity to ask questions to industry representatives, education representatives and military representatives. A complete list of breakout sessions will be available before the webinar.
*This workshop is sponsored by GaDOE and the construction industry.
Eventbrite Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-ultimate-guide-to-career-options-choices-for-parents-students-tickets-135326006729
DISTRICT NEWS
From the CSD Special Education Department
Special Education Parent Satisfactory Survey
The Georgia Department of Education is requesting that parents who have a student with an IEP complete the Special Education Parent Satisfaction Survey. If you have more than one student who has an IEP, please fill out a separate survey for each student. This survey helps to guide our district and state toward a more meaningful collaboration, which helps to bring about good outcomes for our students' education. For questions concerning the survey please email Cheryl Grant cgrant@csdecatur.net. Thank you in advance for taking the time to complete this survey.
Postsecondary Transition
What comes to mind when the words postsecondary transition are mentioned? Maybe SAT/ACTs, graduation, college applications or employment opportunities? All of these things are a great start, but for students with disabilities, postsecondary transition may need to be more broad. Depending on a student's level of impact and how their disability manifests, families will need to start planning earlier for this transition.
Marca Tigner, CSD Transition Specialist and Cheryl Grant, CSD Parent Mentor will present Preparing for Postsecondary Transition. Mrs. Tigner and Ms. Grant will give a step by step checklist to guide students and their families to a successful transition. Small incremental actions taken now while students are in school can help create positive outcomes for students with a disability.
Target Audience:
- 9th -12th grade students/families
- All levels of impact/disability
Preparing for Postsecondary Transition (Virtual Meeting)
Date: January 27, 2021
Time: 5:30pm-6:30pm
RSVP to Cheryl Grant cgrant@csdecatur.net
Run With The Dogs
Run With The Dogs 5K race will take place virtually from January 23-31, 2021. The 5K is an annual fundraiser of the Decatur Bulldogs Boosters, which supports the athletic programs at Decatur High School and Renfroe Middle School in Decatur, GA. You can register at http://www.rwtd5k.com. The Decatur Bulldog Boosters raise money annually to meet the needs of student athletes, including uniforms and equipment. These funds are used to support 685 student athletes on all 25 teams representing 14 sports at Decatur High and Renfroe Middle Schools. Decatur Bulldog Boosters needs your support now more than ever. We need as many RWTD5K participants as possible!
Decatur Education Foundation News
As part of DEF's commitment to become an anti-racist organization in both action and in words, we are looking at our relationships with Black parents/guardians and parents/guardians of children who identify as Black to learn how DEF can better engage and support your family. If you identify as a Black parent or guardian or a parent or guardian of a child who identifies as Black and you are part of the City Schools of Decatur community, please take a moment to fill out this survey which will help us understand what matters to you and how we might work together to support kids.
https://forms.gle/z2yezERPGu4ombSJ8
As CSD rolls out its plans for spring semester, DEF will be working to continue to support families to ensure our students have what they need to learn and thrive. DEF established Virtual Pals Tutoring Program to provide extra help for CSD students in the 2nd through 8th grades during virtual learning. Participants are paired with a community volunteer tutor who provides basic homework help, tutoring and virtual learning support. We currently have 18 tutor pairs, but have more available spots. If your student would like to enroll in the program, please fill out this application. To see all of our Covid initiatives, please visit www.decatureducationfoundation.org/Covid-19.
From the City of Decatur
Decatur Business Association State of the City Address
Tuesday, Jan. 26 • 5:30 p.m. • Online via Zoom
The event is free, but registration is required at https://zoom.us/j/94674745516?pwd=dCtJSWN6Qk0rcmlHbGFwZitiVXB1Zz09.
Decatur Strategic Plan for 202s...
The roundtables process included 800 registrants who contributed thousands of comments. Many of these comments about Decatur’s future were in agreement, but some topics revealed conflicting perspectives about how Decatur should chart its course for the next 10 years.
The 202s will allow for a deep dive on these topics. After hearing from subject matter experts, we will join together in virtual discussion groups to help understand tradeoffs and find balance among differing perspectives. Input will be used to form recommendations on how the Strategic Plan should address these issues. The 202s will seek to answer the question: “What does success look like in a community of 25K people within a metropolitan region of nearly 6 million people?”
Climate Change:
Thursday, February 11, 6-8 p.m.
Speakers will be announced closer to the event. All events will occur on Zoom and will be recorded and available after the meeting. Visit decatur2030.com for details.
Decatur High School
Email: kgoins@csdecatur.net
Website: csdecatur.net/DHS
Location: 310 North McDonough Street, Decatur, GA, USA
Phone: 404-370-4170