Conner writes in…

Hi, all:

My name is Connor Allison and I’m a senior at Decatur High. On March 22nd, from 8:30AM to 4PM, I will be leading a “Rake & Run” as my senior project. A team of Decatur students along with an adult chaperone will come to your house and rake leaves, spread mulch and do other assorted yard work. This is a free service but donations will be accepted. All donations will be used to help pay for the Decatur High Close Up club’s annual trip to Washington, DC. I attended the Close Up trip my sophomore year, and I’m heading back this year. I’ve taken many out of state school trips during my years at DHS, but this trip has been the most meaningful as the opportunities to interact with government are so beneficial to people my age. If you’re not familiar with the trip or foundation, I encourage you to check out the website (closeup.org).

Please contact me at ([email protected] ) for a spot. Thank you!

Chris sends along this post of the Close Up Club laying a wreath at the WWII Memorial in D.C. today.

A full list of the alumni honored are after the jump.

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Chris writes in…

The Decatur High School Close Up Club arrived in Washington DC this afternoon and spent time at Arlington Cemetery, paying respects at the grave of DHS grad Harry Edwards, seeing a wreath ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns, and visiting the gravesite of John F. Kennedy. Mt. Chris Curtis, DHS Social Studies teacher is leading the group in a week long citizenship training program. The students will be meeting Georgia senators and other members or Congress, national policy leaders, and lay a wreath at the WWII memorial on Friday in honor if the thirty five Decatur boys who were killed during that conflict.

DHS teacher Chris Billingsley writes in…

The Decatur High School Close Up students are having a great time in Washington, D.C. Wednesday’s “Capital 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 Capital, met with staff from John Lewis and Saxby Chambliss offices, 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 Cemetery.

If you have any information you would like to share concerning these students, please reply [email protected]

DHS teacher Chris Billingsley writes in…

We have 26 students signed up (22 at meeting). [for the April D.C. trip]  The students came up with some fundraising ideas. To help raise money for their trip, Close Up students would like to walk dogs in the afternoon and on the weekend. They also proposed a big “Spring Clean Up” (kind of like Rake&Run) for early March. Please contact Mr. Chris Billingsley ([email protected] ) for more information.

DHS teacher Chris Billingsley writes in…

The Decatur High School Close Up Club had a successful “Rake&Run” over the weekend. More that thirty students and ten parents began the service project early Saturday morning. Four teams of students went to the Glenndale, Vidal/Lamont/Garden, Great Lakes, Adair, and the Candler/Midway neighborhoods to rake and bags leaves. Almost 500 bags of leaves were collected, 37 at one Glenndale home and 29 at a Garden Lane home. More than $1,700 was donated by the very generous Decatur homeowners. One of my favorite stops was on Midway Road, where two young parents, their beautiful children, and friendly black labrador retriever supervised the raking. Another was a young married couple and new homeowners in Decatur who provided drinks and snacks for the kids, as well as a very generous contribution for the spring trip to Washington, D.C. Finally I want to mention a Decatur homeowner who has supported our efforts over the past four years with contributions totaling $1,200. A homeowner with no kids in the system but one who sees the value of teenagers working together to raise money for a good cause and provide a valuable service for homeowners.

Thanks to all who helped to make that year’s R&R one of the best. Happy Thanksgiving!

DHS teacher Chris Billingsley writes in…

The DHS Close Up Club will have our annual “Rake&Run” service project on Saturday, November 19, from 8:00 until 4:00. A team of DHS students and adult chaperons will come to your home to rake and bag leaves, clean gutters (adults handle this), and other types of yardwork. This is a free service but donations will be accepted. The club will use all donations to help pay for the spring trip to Washington, D.C. This is the sixth service project of the school year for CU students- two at Glenn Creek, Decatur Cemetery Cleanup, Cemetery Flags for Veterans, and the Dearborn Park/Renewal Competition (tomorrow morning). Please contact Mr. Chris Billingsley ([email protected] ) for a spot. As of 11/11, we have nine more spots to fill. Thank you for supporting DHS Close Up!