Thankful
November came and went in what seemed like a flash and the holiday season is upon us! We want to extend a huge thank you to our volunteers who have been taking time out of their days to volunteer with our kids. Some are mentors, others are bucket reading buddies, and still others have started clubs on one of our campuses to share thier passion with our students. These acts of generosity make our schools rich in relationships, and we are so grateful!

We also want to thank those who have so generously given to families during the holidays, which is a time of great need for many of our families. Synchrony Financial donated 15 full Thanksgiving meals allowing 5 families from each campus to celebrate the holiday with their families. The Riverdale Optimists donated 80 Chipotle gift cards to be used as incentives and rewards for our scholars. These acts of kindness are often unseen by many but make some of the biggest differences. Thank you!
A Life Well Lived, DECA says Goodbye
Our DECA family mourns the loss of Cyrus Spurlino who passed away November 24 at the age of 87. Mr. Spurlino has had a profound impact on our organization, and countless lives have been changed because of his generosity. Mr. Spurlino believed in the power of a top notch education. He not only believed every child deserves the opportunity to enjoy and benefit from a quality education, he helped to make that passion a reality in his great support of DECA. We are immensely grateful for Cy's generosity, his impact will continue on in the lives of our students for years to come. 
Highlights from Each Campus
If you have toured the campus of DECA High at any point, you have heard of our Gateway System. This system was put in place to challenge scholars to become accountable for their daily attendance and effort, responsible in pacing their work with community service and job shadows, broad minded in research and relations, confident in presentations and public relations, and in the end, complete their DECA career well-rounded and college ready. From the very beginning of DECA it has been this high standard and demand for success that has set us apart from surrounding school districts.

During the first semester of each new school year, DECA holds a “Gateway Night” for our freshmen and on November 14th, more than 50 freshmen attended and presented their Gateway One. The evening was full of powerpoints and well dressed presenters as parents, staff, and volunteers assembled as the panelists for our scholars. 
DECA Middle started a new tradition to celebrate their Honor Roll students with the Wall of Honor. Over 150 students across all four grade levels enjoyed a sweet treat, painted their handprint on the wall in their house color, and received a certificate for their hard work in quarter one.
Dr. Burks' fourth grade class hosted a Poetry Picnic event at PREP and though their teacher had been out due to illness for over a month, she and her team pulled off an amazing poetic experience!

The students sat at decorated tables, in front of the "Poet Tree" and each took turns at the microphone reciting their poem and what their inspiration was to write it. The students were excited to showcase not only their work but what they had learned about poetry. It was a great event for our fourth grade scholars to shine with pride!
On behalf of superintendent David Taylor
and our entire DECA family;
We wish you and your loved ones a joyous holiday season and a healthy and happy 2023!