BHMS Weekly Update

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Principal’s Coffee Chat

We are so excited to host our next coffee chat on Friday, March 31st at 9:00. The topic will be “test anxiety” as we prepare to move into the Spring testing season. Please share this with your parents. For those unable to attend in person, they can access the meeting virtually here: meet.google.com/kph-wayc-zgw

Derrick L. Thomas, Principal,

Beacon Hill Middle School

National Social Worker month is in March. BHMS would like to give a BIG shout out to our Social Worker Dr. Melvin Radcliff! Dr. Radcliff works tirelessly to ensure students in our district have the supports they need to be successful and thrive. Dr. Melvin Radcliff continuously shows IB learner profile attributes of caring, knowledgeable, and communicator when he works with our students and families. He is a community resource that we value and appreciate. He is a mentor to many, helps with the GENTS club, and advocates for the best interest of students.

This week's teacher spotlight is on 7th grade ELA teacher Angelina Prophet. When Mrs. Prophet moved over from FAVE to BHMS to join our 7th grade ELA team she brought with her the ability to model IB learner profile traits of inquiry, principled, and risk taker. Mrs. Prophet played a critical role in encouraging students to participate in the district King awards competition. As the 7th grade team was collaboratively planning their most recent unit, Mrs. Prophet highlighted the opportunity to incorporate the CSD King Award competition into the students’ choice options to extend the work they were doing in the classroom. The CSD King award competition is meant to motivate our BHMS bulldogs to be principled, thinking, open-minded citizens who advocate for positive change. Mrs. Prophet is a phenomenal advocate for every child at BHMS, and brings an enthusiasm for teaching that is invaluable. We’re so glad you’ve joined the BHMS Bulldog team!

The 7th Grade PTA sponsored spring dance is around the corner. Get your tickets today!

Please sign up to volunteer and make a snack donation.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094FABAD23A2FAC43-bhms

Click Here to get 7th Grade Spring Dance tickets.

https://givebutter.com/7thGradeDanceBHMSPTA

8th Grade Service Learning Project is partnering with Funds2Orgs for a shoe donation drive. From March 6-March 17, 2023, 8th grade students will be collecting your new or gently worn used shoes (or you may drop off at the school in the designated team box). Funds2Orgs will collect the donations from us and send them to other countries in hopes to spur entrepreneurship and support. In turn, Funds2Orgs will provide us with funds for the shoes we donate. Each 8th grade team will then decide where they want to donate the funds within our own community. Please support us if you can!

Please reach out to Shani Vickery (svickery@csdecatur.net) with any questions.

We recently had our second Parent Meeting concerning the shifts in Math Pathways. Information from that meeting can be found on our website here.

Our rising 8th graders have to decide which 8th grade math course will be best for them next year. This week, our 7th grade math teachers have been sharing the pathways and a student decision document in their classrooms. Your rising 8th grader should come home to share with you what they think they should take and why. As a family, use the attached documents to guide your decision. Please complete the attached Google form by 4:00 pm TOMORROW- Friday, March 17, 2023.

Math Pathways One Page Information Document

Decision Making Guide for Families

Decision Making Guide for Students

Thank you to those families who have already completed the Google Form- If you have not:

Indicate your decision Here!

*Rising 8th graders who have already completed 8th Grade Math will take Algebra Concepts and Connections next school year. You can also indicate this choice on the Google Form.

The Beacon Hill Garden is getting ready for spring. We have recently received grants for compost from CompostNow!, seeds from Botanical Interests and for paint, stain, and some pollinator plants from our PTA. Students have begun spreading mulch and compost as well as sowing seeds in our beds and in our greenhouse. Many hands make light work. Please consider joining us for a community volunteer day March 25th from 9-12 to stain tables, paint the shed and spruce up our post-pandemic garden. Bring a water bottle, sunscreen and gloves, we'll have the rest. Rain date Sunday March 16th, 9-12.

6th grade students enjoyed previewing concepts in Meteorology and Hydrology with a visit to the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage center this week! Students had fun hiking and observing the way that water changes the land.

World Languages students have been visiting the media center this month for quick, efficient lessons on Digital Citizenship from Common Sense Media centering on discussing balanced media use and the challenges of online presentation and social media. Other lessons have been about our digital footprints, and why it’s important to be aware of them.

If you would like to engage in discussions with your child, but need some guidance, consider using this tip sheet from Common Sense Media.

The annual Beacon Hill Stacey Daniel Poetry Slam is open to all Beacon Hill students (6th, 7th, & 8th grades) and will take place on April 26th at 6 PM. All students who would like to take part will have the opportunity to be coached by professional teaching artists/Slam Poets. To sign up, students should contact their ELA teacher OR email Holly Lanford (hlanford@csdecatur.net).

Slam Poetry is a unique style of spoken-word poetry that combines the elements of writing, performance, competition, and audience participation. It is spoken-word ‘riffing’ on contemporary issues - and in the hands of Beacon Hill students, it is an opportunity for our community to see the depth of passion and insight that these kids have to offer. Preparation for this event kicks off each year with a week-long Poetry Residency for all 7th graders in their ELA classes. Then all students from all grade levels are invited to participate in twice weekly coaching sessions starting Wednesday, March 22nd from 3:50-4:50 in Ms. Wicks room. Coaching sessions will continue Tuesdays and Wednesdays until the actual Slam. If you are a parent that would like to volunteer to help with the Poetry Slam, please email Holly Lanford (hlanford@csdecatur.net), the faculty sponsor.

The Beacon Hill PTA generously supplies funds for the residency and for several coaching sessions to help students who have elected to participate in the Poetry Slam. This year Beacon Hill has again partnered with Paint Love, a local arts organization that provides the teaching artists for the residency and the coaching sessions.

• Use this LINK to pre order your middle schooler's yearbook. [https://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A01399350]
• Distribution will be at the end of May.
• Consider DONATING a book. Put the word DONATION in the Homeroom field.
• Use this LINK to order a portrait package from Legacy if you haven't done so already. [https://legacystudios.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2c8552ea45aa34df0423da31&id=6686b108a2&e=a00ceed776]

A huge shout out to Ms. Jackie, Ms. Bradley, and Dr. McFadden for being panelists at the annual GENTS Women in Leadership Experience. The mentees learned from women leaders how to be better advocates for the women in their lives.

Greetings ~

This month's FAB LAB MAKERSPACE workshop has been announced! Join us on March 29th any time from after school until 8 pm where all participants young and old can learn how to do laser engraving and cutting! All participants will get to design, make, and take home their very own set of laser engraved cup coasters! Space for this workshop is limited and please see the attached registration form for more information!

See you in the lab,

Mr. Heuser

From Left, Lower: Ms. Tammie Willis, Andreas Brennamen, Bodhi Snyder, Cecilia King, Nicole Alexander

From Left, Top: Harriet Devereaux, Levi Howle, Katelyn Frank, Ishan Khullar

Not Pictured: House Pugh

Every Thursday, each grade level will publish its newsletter. Please check them out after you read the school Eblast. Here are the links:

6th Grade Website

7th Grade Website

8th Grade Website

Bulldog Bash: Sat. March 18; Auction Open 3/15

Check out all the amazing items up for bid – either online or on your phone – for the Bulldog Bash online, silent auction.

Click here to register, purchase tickets to the event and bid on items!

You can participate in the auction without coming to the event, but the adult-only party is going to be super fun with a food truck, bar, Coach of the Year Award and fantastic music from The Dammages and The Thrillbillies. Spread the word and bring your friends.

***Most important – this is all to raise money for sports at DHS and BHMS!

• Fri. Mar. 17 @5 pm Home vs Drew Charter

• Mon. Mar. 20 @5:30 Away vs. Drew Charter

• Th. Mar. 23 @5 Away vs Padeia

• Th Mar. 23 @6 Home vs DHS JV (yes a double-header day)

• Fri. Mar. 24 @5 TBD vs. Padeia

• Th. Mar. 30 @5 Away vs Woodward

Baseball at BHMS is in full swing! Check out the schedule below and come on out to cheer on the Bulldogs!

CSD, in partnership with The Dekalb County Coalition and The Decatur Education Foundation, is excited to host our inaugural Spring Resource Fair! The Community Resource Fair will take place on March 16 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at 105 Electric Avenue (in the green space across the Wilson Center and Ebster Gym). We have 20+ vendors and organizations planning to come out to connect with families. The vendors and organizations will be offering mental health resources, physical health resources, food resources, and housing resources. We will also have fun activities on-site for families. For any questions, please contact Madison Bobbitt at mbobbit@csdecatur.net or 470-421-2279.

Interested in Decatur Virtual Academy?

The window to sign up for Decatur Virtual Academy (DVA) by choice for next year is open now. The window will close at noon on June 16, 2023. If you want your student to attend DVA for the 2023 -24 school year, please complete this form before noon on June 16, 2023. Space is limited. Once DVA is full, families will be on a wait list. This form may only be completed by a parent or guardian who has educational rights for a CSD student. PLEASE COMPLETE ONE FORM PER STUDENT.

Ms. Whatley will contact you once the form is complete and residency requirements are met to set up an appointment for course selection. Please scan the QR code to see a list of frequently asked questions about DVA.

The Decatur Student Center is looking to connect with parents and provide information about mental health topics that impact our students and community. To see what parents are most interested in, the DSC has created this form that parents can fill out so we have information to inform our topic choices. We would love to hear from you!

Attention all ESOL & Federal Programs Parents and Families!!!

Please RSVP for our College and FAFSA workshop to be hosted on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. at the Wilson Center Central Office, 125 Electric Avenue, Decatur, GA 30030.

This is an opportunity to learn about college funding resources and speak with professionals regarding the admission process. We will have light refreshments for students and parents to enjoy. Plus some amazing giveaways!

Additional information about the meeting can be found on the flyer linked here.

If you have any questions pertaining to the event please contact Raven Aderibigbe, ESOL & Federal Programs McKinney-Vento Liaison, at raderibigbe@csdecatur.net or (470) 936-2522. This meeting will be recorded. Interpreter and childcare services are available upon request.

The CSD Art Teachers will host their annual system-wide student art exhibit, April 19 - 21, 2023 at the Solarium in Oakhurst.

THANK YOU to everyone who walked, ran, and trotted in last week’s Tour deCatur – you helped raise funds to ensure all Decatur students can learn and thrive! Photos of the event are now up on our Facebook page – check them out and tag your friends: https://www.facebook.com/DecaturEducationFoundation

Volunteers needed: Your skills could help a Decatur student in just one hour per week as a Virtual Pal Tutor! We pair 2nd-8th grade students with upper high school or adult tutors to help with homework, organization and motivation. It’s an easy way to give back to your community in a meaningful way (and for high school students to earn volunteer hours!) Click here to sign up: https://forms.gle/SnUp5TNx3JZRTNja7

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. Your evening of live music will support DEF, Decatur Cooperative Ministry and Giving Kitchen.

Teen Experience Programs at the YMCA