New Sport in Douglas County -- Esports!

May 3, 2019

NMHS Students Battle It Out in Esports League

Future of Gaming Comes to Douglas County

Douglas County student-athletes are now chasing championships in the competitive sports craze sweeping the nation known as esports. This Georgia High School Association newly sanctioned team sport is helping Douglas students rack up wins, not just on the playing field but on the computer screen. (Click here to see WSB-TV's coverage of the team at NMHS.)

Coaches Cody Bonds and Chris Frazier lead students in the school system’s newest sport. Six team members practice at home and at New Manchester High School in hopes of one day competing in the lucrative world of video gaming. Teammates G1it3h, Static Mustard, Easy, Mr. Scratch and Chico Triste believe competitive video gaming has become the sport of the future. More than 200 million people watched the 2018 League of Legends tournament compared with 100 million viewers who watched last year’s Super Bowl. This year, for the first time, economists predict the global esports economy to top one billion dollars.

Bonds believes esports is a lucrative sport offering students opportunities to win cash prizes and college scholarships. “Most of our team members are honors and Advanced Placement students. Major colleges and universities are beginning to recognize esports as a sport by awarding scholarships to these esports athletes,” Bonds says.

Fifty Georgia schools now recognize esports as an official school sport. Esports fans say gaming offers these students STEM opportunities and scholarship dollars. Bonds agrees, adding that esports offers even more benefits to school systems. “Gaming is a new high tech way to engage students and the community and enhance school spirit.”

InToneNation Crowned Best A Cappella in Nation

New Manchester’s High School’s InToneNation dominated a New York City stage Friday night, taking home the nation’s top honors in a real-life “Pitch Perfect” competition. The group wowed judges, taking home the coveted championship title in the 2019 International Championship of High School A Cappella.

InToneNation mesmerized judges before beating out eight other regional a cappella finalists during the national competition. The teens delivered a powerhouse 12-minute performance scored on vocal performance, visual performance and subjective rank. Besides the competition title, InToneNation took home honors for Outstanding Soloist (Tyler Lewis) and tied for Outstanding Arrangement. Dressed in hot pink costumes, the group flexed their vocal muscles during arrangements of Calum Scott’s “Dancing on My Own” and John Legend and Common’s “Glory.”

Under the leadership of Director Trey Giddens, the thirteen-member group achieved state and national recognition before winning the Varsity Vocals International Championship of High School A Cappella (ICHSA) title. Giddens, who also directs the award-winning Fame Choirs in the NMHS Fine Arts Magnet Program, is excited about the group’s historic win. “I am so proud of these students and what they have accomplished. These students work hard during the school year. It is rewarding to see them recognized for their dedication,” Giddens says.

Student's Art to be Displayed in U.S. Capitol

Congratulations to Adebola Adewale, winner of Congressman David Scott's 17th Annual Congressional Art Competition! Adebola, a freshman at Douglas County High School, will have her first place work "Wrinkles and Words" displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year along with the first place artwork from other congressional districts around the country.

Adebola was awarded a $12,000 scholarship from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD); a $12,000 scholarship from the Art Institute of Atlanta; $1,000 from AT&T and Georgia Power; and round-trip airfare for two from Southwest Airlines to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Capitol exhibit in Washington, D.C.

New Manchester High School student Roxy Bridges received an honorable mention in the competition for her work, titled "Faded."

Thank a School Nurse on May 8!

We love our school nurses and will celebrate them on National School Nurse Day, which is Wednesday, May 8! School nurses are essential to the smooth operation of our schools. They are instrumental in the identification and referral to community resources for health risks and are sometimes the only health professional students see on a regular basis.

Because of the care of school nurses, school attendance is improved along with academics. Nurses also help schools stay in compliance with federal and state law.

School nurses for the Douglas County School System are pictured below.

Calling All Rising 6th Graders!

Students entering sixth grade (current fifth grade students) for the 2019-2020 school year and their parents are invited to Sixth Grade Orientation on May 9 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Orientation will take place at the same time at all school system middle schools. Don’t miss this great opportunity to tour the school, meet the principal, and learn the ropes before beginning middle school! No RSVP needed.

Click here for website links and school profiles for the eight middle schools in Douglas County.