BHMS Weekly Update
Thursday, January 12, 2023
Principal's Corner
Dear Parents,
Tripod Survey
We will administer the Tripod Survey right after Winter Break. The Tripod student surveys gather data from students about themselves, their classrooms, and their schools. Classroom-level measures offer insight into teaching effectiveness, peer dynamics, student engagement, and the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) culture. The survey takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. You can review the Tripod Survey questions and the Tripod DEI questions at the links provided. All student survey data is anonymous and self-reported. The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) gives you the right to opt your child out of participating in the survey. The survey will be given to all students. If you do NOT wish for your child to participate in the Tripod Survey, please complete this google form by February 3rd to opt out.
Georgia Parent Survey
The 2022-2023 Georgia Parent Survey is now open. Survey participation is voluntary, but we strongly encourage participation in the surveys to provide schools with critically important data to help guide prevention and intervention strategies. This school data is included in our school's College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI) score. It is recommended that our school has at least a 75% participation rate. The surveys remain open through Friday, January 27, 2023.
Please click the following link for the survey: https://gshs.gadoe.org/Pages/Parent.aspx
Thank you to the parents that have already provided their input.
MLK Day
Dr. Martin Luther King Day is on Monday, January 16, 2023. This day became a federal holiday in 1983 and observed nationwide in 1986. This is a great opportunity for us to reflect on the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and think about how his impact has shaped the world we live in today. Below we are sharing the resources we used during advisement to help students prepare to engage and reflect.
Derrick L. Thomas, Principal,
Beacon Hill Middle School
From Our PTA
7th Grade Dance January 20th!
Mark your calendars and get your tickets for the most epic 7th Grade Dance Party in 2023! See link below for tickets.
Student tickets are $5. There will be drinks and snacks for sale at the event.
Click here for volunteer and donation signups: tinyurl.com/bhms7dancevolunteer.
For tickets: https://givebutter.com/BHMS7thGradeDance2023
BHMS General PTA meeting Tonight!
Looking for ways to be involved and contribute to our school community? Join our PTA and join us in the media center for our meeting at 6pm!
BHMS News You Can Use
MAP scores/Grades
Parents check those bookbags and talk to your students about their MAP assessment results. Students are bringing home the family report that include achievement percentile, growth percentile and GMAS projected proficiency. Teachers are also reviewing these reports to talk with students and plan for instruction within classrooms. These assessments are a snapshot of the students’ progress through the first half of the year. If you’re curious to know more about the MAP assessment, you can read more here.
BHMS Teacher Tutoring Hours
All teachers at BHMS provide tutoring times and availability to support students outside of classroom instruction time. To help you and your family navigate those sessions we have posted the tutoring school schedule on our website and it is linked below. Email your childs teacher about specific questions regarding tutoring.
MLK Day and Advisement
Teachers enjoyed talking with students during advisement this week about the importance of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service coming up on Monday, January 16th. If you are looking for a frame of reference to talk to your kids about this day or idea below is a video used during advisement.
7th Grade visists the College Football Hall of Fame
The purpose of our 7th grade field trip to the College Football Hall of Fame was to educate and inform students about the history and tradition of college football. It also served as a way to inspire and engage students in the sport, and give them a deeper appreciation for the athletes and teams that have made significant contributions to the game. This trip also gave our students an opportunity to engage in real world mathematics as they evaluated and analyzed statistics of various players, teams, and coaches.
Reach Higher Door Decorating Contests Winner!
A great time was had by students and staff during REACH Higher week before break. Our door decorating contest winner was Ms. Nathaniel! Check out more photos from the weeks activities by clicking here.
From the Desk of Mr. Lynch our Media Specialsit
Check out what’s happening at the Decatur Library!
From movies to manga to robots, your local library has something for all students and their families! Check out the pdf below!
BHMS Club Updates
Mrs. Georgia Global Continental meets with YLOE
Mrs. Braxton is Mrs. Georgia Global Continental. On Wednesday January 11th, she had the honor of sharing here C.R.O.W.N.ed in Confidence pageant platform with the Young Ladies Of Excellence. Together they explored the importance of reflecting in who influences their decisions, how to own their personal definition of beauty and power, and how to nurture a healthy relationship with themselves. The ladies were challenged to write positive affirmations and place them on their mirrors at home as a consistent reminder of how beautiful and wonderful they are.
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
BHMS Boys basketball Updates
The Beacon Hill Boys Basketball team has been fighting hard this season. In the very competitive Dekalb County league, the BHMS boys team currently holds a 5 - 4 record. There have been some exciting wins this season and we look forward to our next home game against Chamblee this Saturday at Beacon Hill Middle. Come out and cheer on the Bulldogs!
ATTENTION: All Spring Sport Athletes!!
All students interested in participating in a Spring sport must have an updated medical profile in our DragonFly system. Please visit the link HERE for instructions on how to create or update your profile. Do not wait until tryouts begin to start this process! Contact your coach with any questions.
Track & Field at Beacon Hill Middle School
Attention all 6th, 7th and 8th graders interested in participating in Track & Field at Beacon Hill Middle School:
Tryouts will take place on the following dates:
Monday, January 23: (Boys ONLY)
Tuesday, January 24: (Girls ONLY)
Please complete the interest form here: 2023 BHMS Track & Field Interest Form
Athletes must have an updated physical and medical forms in DragonFly by Friday, January 20th to participate: https://decaturbulldogsathletics.com/sports-forms/
NO ATHLETE will be allowed to try out without an updated physical and all forms on file.
1st day of regular practice will take place on Thursday, January 26th.
Practice for the season will occur on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.
More information will be posted soon about times and dates of practice and meets.
Please contact Coach Frazier (lfrazier@csdecatur.net), Coach Rabold (nrabold@csdecatur.net), and Coach Philippi (wphilippi@csdecatur.net) with any questions.
For more information, visit decaturbulldogsathletics.com
Tennis Tryouts
The Decatur High School tennis tryouts will be on January 17th and 19th for boys and January 18th and 20th for girls from 4 pm to 6 pm at Glenlake Tennis Center. The tryouts are for 8th grade through 12th grade students. Please make sure that you have your tennis racquet and shoes, a water bottle, and are dressed for the weather.
Contact Coach Messer (dmesser@csdecatur.net) with any questions
BHMS Baseball Tryouts
Attention all Beacon Hill Parents/Students,
Baseball tryouts will occur next week January 17-19, 2023. Tryouts will occur at two locations. The locations for tryouts are as follows: Medlock and McCoy park.
Tuesday (January 17, 2023) will be held at Medlock Park.
6th grade tryouts will occur from 5:30 to 7:20.
7th grade tryouts will be held from 7:30 to 9:00.
Wednesday (January 18, 2023) Tryouts will be held at McCoy Park.
8th grade and 7th grade from 7:30 to 9:00.
Thursday (January 19, 2023) Medlock Park
Make-up Session for anyone who missed tryouts.
All students planning to try out are asked to fill out the google form below:
https://forms.gle/9sbR2sn7RbcFz4Dy8
Contact Mr. Ferguson with questions!
BHMS Girls’ Soccer Tryout Information
Spring sports are rapidly approaching! Please see the information below and click the link HERE regarding to tryouts for the girls' soccer team at Beacon Hill Middle School.
When: Week of January 23, 4pm-5:30pm
Where: Field at Oakhurst Recreation Center
Contact Coaches Herriot (htrenovations@earthlink.net) and Altizer (daltizer@csdecatur.net) with any questions.
Please complete this INTEREST FORM so that coaches have your information!
REMINDER: All students planning to participate in tryouts must have an updated medical profile in our DragonFly system. See the link HERE for instructions.
BHMS 8th-Graders interested in JV Lacrosse
DHS Lacrosse is starting next week. Any 8th-graders interested in trying out for the high school program will have the opportunity to "showcase" their skills on Saturday, January 21st from 10:00 - 12:00 at DHS Stadium. Contact Coach Kasper (skasper@csdecatur.net) for more information about middle school lacrosse opportunities.
News from the Decatur Bulldog Booster Club
Register TODAY for Run With the Dogs (RWTD) 2023!
Join us on Saturday, January 28, 2023, for Run With the Dogs, a Decatur tradition now in its 19th year.
We’re back at Beacon Hill Middle School for the 5K and Pup Trot, and we are pleased to announce that this year’s race is an official qualifying event for the Peachtree Road Race!
We are also pleased to announce that our Face of the Race winner is Tuck the Pug! Thank you to everyone who submitted your dogs for the contest, and thanks for voting. Register TODAY to make sure you get a long-sleeved T-shirt with this adorable little guy.
Run With the Dogs is an annual fundraiser of the Decatur Bulldog Boosters and supports the athletic programs at Decatur High School and Beacon Hill Middle School. For more information and to register for the race, click here.
CSD News and Announcements
An Evening with Dr. Ibram X. Kendi and Nic Stone!
Recommended for grades: 7-12; Ages 12 +
Date and time: Sun, January 29, 2023, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM EST
Location: Decatur High School - Performing Arts Center
How to be a (Young) Antiracist LAUNCH event with Dr. Ibram X. Kendi & Nic Stone
Brave and Kind Book Shop invites CSD students and staff to an evening with Dr. Ibram X. Kendi and Nic Stone discussing How to be a (Young) Antiracist, based on the #1 NY Times bestseller How to be a Anti-Racist, followed by a Q and A with audience members.
Your book purchase is your ticket to the event.
CSD teachers may use the “DHSteachers” code to order a free companion ticket.
A limited number of free tickets/book copies are available for CSD students
All attendees must register through Eventbrite to enter; registration will be checked at the entrance. There will also be a bag check at the door. Please leave big bags at home or in the car.
Books will be pre-signed, no personalizations. Extra copies can be purchased with registration, or at the event while supplies last.
Please email DHS Media Specialist Ms. Hill for more information - ihill@csdecatur.net
Community Celebration of Black Joy!
On Friday, February 3, 2023, from 6:00 to 8:30 PM, the GPB and Decatur High School Library program partnership, ASALH, and AAHGS will host a “Community Celebration of Black Joy” at DHS. Events will include a panel discussion centered around clips from the series “Making Black America: Through the Grapevine'', spoken word performances, a student-curated gallery walk, a genealogy exhibit, and more facilitated by the DHS Black Student Union.
Click below to register for the event.
DHS Band Mattress Fundraiser
Come out to support the DHS Band at the DHS Band Mattress Fundraiser on Saturday, January 21, 2023 from 10:00-5:00 p.m.. There will be 25+ different styles of beds on display for customers to try. The beds are new, brand name, made to order, available in all sizes, and cost less than retail stores. In addition to beds, there will also be premium pillows, luxury sheets and even adjustable power bases!! See flyer for more details.
K-12 Winter Break Intersession
Winter Break Intersession will be February 13-15, 2023 from 8:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m. Students will be invited from their school by January 6, 2023. See flyer below for more information.
Community Partner Announcements and Updates
Decatur Education Foundation
Decatur Education Foundation
Don’t cook, dine out for DEF next Thursday, January 19th! Just click here to place your order in advance: https://naanstop-decatur.square.site/. Order by 8:00 pm on Wednesday, January 18th and pick up between 5:00 pm and 5:45 pm on Thursday, January 19th. Pick-up at Avery/Bucher in Winnona Park. 20% of proceeds will be donated to DEF, thanks to Naan Stop and Greg Kodesh Realty.
Thank you to everyone who donated to our Lighten the Load snack and weekend backpack program for January! There are just a few items left for the weekend backpack program for those families in need of supplemental food. Here’s the link: https://a.co/6Etc74W Check back at the beginning of each month when the lists are updated.
You can also help DEF by volunteering your time as a Virtual Pal Tutor for a 2nd-8th grade CSD student. Click here to sign up: https://forms.gle/SnUp5TNx3JZRTNja7
Two more dates to put on your calendar: Saturday, February 4th is the Mead Rd Mardi Gras Parade. Info for participating as a community krewe is available at www.meadrdmardigras.org. And Saturday, March 11th is the Tour deCatur 5K and one-mile Fun Run. Registration will begin in the coming weeks, stay tuned.
Decatur Farm to School
Are you interested in growing your school garden program or improving student access to fresh fruits and vegetables? The Decatur Farm to School Committee is accepting new members for the remainder of the 2022-2023 school year. In addition to general volunteers, the committee is specifically looking for "School Garden Liaisons" from each CSD school. If this sounds like you or someone you know, learn more and sign-up here.