Tuesday, April 9, 2013
The Decatur High students plan to lay a wreath at the national World War II Memorial this month during the club's annual trip to Washington, DC.
The Decatur High Close Up Club will visit Washington, D.C., this month and plans to lay a wreath at the World War II memorial in honor of the 35 Decatur residents known to have died during that war. Chris Billingsley, the retired DHS teacher who is still involved with the club, said students are seeking information about the war dead. If you know anything about these names, please contact Billingsley at chris@gomidcity.com. The list includes the name, the high school class if known and other details. 1. John Daniels. 1935. 2. Roy K. Duffee. 1935. Buried in the Decatur Cemetery, "1Lieut. Air Corps." 3. Benjamin K. Duke. 1935. Buried in Decatur Cemetery, "Benjamin F. Duke." 4. Robert J. Rogers Jr. 1935. 5. Edward H. Still. 1935. 6. Moses G. …
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Decatur High students did yard work for residents on Saturday.
- SCHOOLS
-
Saturday, April 6
Chris Billingsley retired from Decatur High last year but he's still involved with the school Close Up Club. He sent this photo and writeup on Saturday. Decatur High School Close Up Club member Tori Terrell participated in the "Spring Clean" service project today. Tori and others did yard work for Decatur homeowners like Mrs. Clyde McCarty, who later shared her family's interesting history. Mrs. McCarty's great uncle, private Joseph Marable, was the final flag bearer for the 11th Mississippi Regiment at the Battle of Gettysburg (seen in the painting "Imperishable Glory" by Dale Gallon in background frame). The DHS Close Up Club will be able to lay a wreath at the national World War II Memorial in Washington DC on April 19 in honor of the …
Monday, May 28, 2012
Conservative Club donated the money to the Decatur Education Foundation.
- SCHOOLS
-
Monday, May 28, 2012
By Chris Billingsley Decatur High Teacher and Club Sponsor The DHS Conservative Club finished the year right (no pun intended, well maybe a little) by hosting an end-of-the-year pizza party after school on the DHS flagpole plaza. Students were asked to make a donation for a slice of delicious CiCi's pizza and a drink but there was no charge. The club raised $78. The final CC donation to the Decatur Education Foundation, in loving memory of DuJuan Parker, Madison Lewis, and Ellen Nettles, is over $200. What a great way to end the year. Congratulations DHS Conservatives! The DHS CC would like to thank the four Decatur area homeowners who donated money to our "Bloomin' Decatur" cleanup and North DeKalb CiCi's Pizza. We would also like to …
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Chris Billingsley will retire from Decatur High after 35 years.
Chris Billingsley, the social studies teacher chosen to speak at the 2012 Decatur High commencement, wants to make sure people know a couple of things about him. First of all, he wants to explain the comments attributed to him on the Facebook fan page that a student created to collect his sayings. Stuff such as, "When I see a student's head motionless on the desk for 15 minutes, I know that they are in DEEP PRAYER." And, "GOOD NEWS EVERYONE!!! You were not my worst class today! That was FIRST PERIOD!" And, "Don't get on my bad side! 'Cause deep down I'm just a MEAN OLD WHITE MAN who should have retired 5 years ago." Said Billingsley, who really is retiring now: "I did say those things but I only did it to get the attention of the kids. The…
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
The Conservative Club worked in yards last weekend. The Ninth Grade Service Team donated earnings to the Decatur Education Foundation.
By Chris Billingsley Decatur High Teacher and Club Sponsor 1. The Decatur High School Conservative Club did a service project over the weekend called "Bloomin' Decatur." The purpose of the service project was to help Decatur area homeowners spruce up their yards. This was a free service but four homeowners donated more than $250 the the Conservative Club. Club members hope to have a cook-out for all DHS clubs before the end of the year. Any money left over will be donated to the Decatur Ed Foundation. Great Job DHS Conservatives! 2. The DHS 9th Grade Service Team will make their end of the year donation to the Decatur Ed Foundation this Thursday. Students raised over $1,500 through various service projects including participation in …
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Mock newspaper tells of Chris Billingsley's plan to tour the world with Snoop Doggy Dogg.
- GRADUATION
-
Thursday, May 3, 2012
(Social studies teacher Chris Billingsley has spent 36 years at Decatur High School. He sent along these photos and words.) For many years, I've been telling my students that when I ran out of wall space to post headlines, I would retire. Since posting the news of the death of Steve Jobs, I had room on the wall for one more headline. Yesterday at the City Schools of Decatur retirement reception, Coach Eddie Fowlkes gave me the final headline for the last space. Needless to say, I was surprised. What a great way to end my career at DHS, a career that has blessed my family and I in so many ways. Thanks Eddie and Ann Fowlkes and all the DHS students and parents that have given me so many positive memories. Well, I guess that's it. Time …
Thursday, April 12, 2012
The students visited the Supreme Court, the offices of U.S. Rep. John Lewis and Sen. Saxby Chambliss and the Heritage Foundation.
- SCHOOLS
-
Thursday, April 12, 2012
By Chris Billingsley Decatur High teacher and Close Up Club sponsor The Decatur High School Close Up students are having a great time in Washington, D.C. Wednesday's "Capitol Hill Day" was a lot of work but the kids enjoyed themselves and learned a great deal. The students took a tour of the Supreme Court, the Capitol, met with staff from the offices of John Lewis and Saxby Chambliss and had a seminar at the Heritage Foundation. On Thursday, students will tour Mt. Vernon and the Newseum. On Friday, students will lay a wreath at the Korean Memorial (dedicated to Edward R. Ravenel, Class of 1943, Charles Jackson, Class of 945 and Gene S. Blough, Class of 1948). The students will end the trip taking a tour of the White House and Arlington …
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Decatur High students spread mulch at the park.
- SCHOOLS
-
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
By Chris Billingsley Decatur High teacher and Close Up Club sponsor Great service project on Saturday at the Glenncreek Nature Preserve. The students dedicated their work to the senior class (Louis Farley who volunteered at the Glenn Creek as a 9th grade student, was the only senior present). Ethan Magnes and Connor Allison represented the Class of 20114 and Mirette Carpenter, Claire Thiault, Noami Griffin, Emily Schulke, Lulu Atik, Austin Bass, Bryce Holden represented the Mighty Fresh Class of 2015. Mr. Neil Norton, president of the Glenn Creek Nature Preserve Alliance remarked that a great deal has been accomplished at the preserve "and 75 to 80% because of the efforts of the DHS Close Up Club, the 9th Grade Service Team" (and …
Thursday, March 15, 2012
They met legislators, lobbyists and state Supreme Court justices.
By Chris Billingsley Decatur High teacher and Close Up Club sponsor More than 40 Decatur High School students were at the General Assembly Wednesday participating in Georgia Close Up. Several legislators, including Margaret Kaiser of Grant Park and Stephanie Stuckey-Benefield of Winnona Park, invited us to the floor before the start of the session for Q&A concerning some of the critical bills being considered over the next few days. Later in the morning the students met with influential lobbyists Tripp Martin and Mo Thrash. Returning to the house gallery, the students were honored when Representatives Kaiser, Stuckey-Benefield, Abrams, Elena Parent, Mary Margaret Oliver and others asked them to stand and be recognized. Before leaving …
Friday, March 9, 2012
Chris Billingsley sent Patch this memory on Thursday.
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
-
Friday, March 9, 2012
Editor's note: Chris Billingsley is retiring from Decatur High school his spring after teaching there more than three decades. By Chris Billingsley Today I took my final field trip to the Jimmy Carter Center and Museum. Seventy students and seven chaperones seem to have enjoyed the experience (including the Varsity for lunch). I took my first trip in the late '80s but my relationship with the Carter Center began to strengthen in the early '90s when the superintendent, Dr. Don Griffith, encouraged teachers to use the Expeditionary Learning model. The Carter Center field trip program that I used today still has many of the core ideas of Expeditionary Learning. Except for time that the Carter Center was being renovated, I brought at least …
Deanne
2:21 pm on Sunday, May 27, 2012
As a teacher, Mr. B seems to have stayed engaged 'til the last day-- it's the ultimate compliment to have been asked to be the 2012 commencement speaker. I had the pleasure of seeing Mr. B in action with his students at some City workshops and meetings this past year. The kids weren't just there for the grade; they listened intently to the info Mr. B shared. It was really cool to hear Mr B. … more ›