Happy Thanksgiving!

November 22, 2019

We Are Thankful for Our Students!

Students in kindergarten at Mirror Lake Elementary and Arbor Station Elementary were all smiles on Thursday! Kindergartners at Mirror Lake have learned about the first Thanksgiving, the Mayflower, and Thanksgiving traditions. Arbor Station students enjoyed a Thanksgiving feast!

Good Deeds at New Manchester High School

New Manchester High School FBLA members, along with several other student organizations including Student Ambassadors, DECA, HOSA and the Interact Club, collected more than 1,400 canned goods and non-perishable items during its school-wide Thanksgiving food drive. These items along with toiletries will be donated to the local food pantry. Students were excited about having the opportunity to give back and support those in need in Douglas County.

Devoted French Teacher Wins State Honor

Alexander High School's Madame Rebecca Sundberg has a new title to add to her list of accomplishments. The American Association of Teachers of French (AATF) has named Madame Sundberg Georgia’s AATF Teacher of the Year. AATF is a 9,000 member professional organization representing French teachers across the country. They have recognized her for spreading awareness of foreign language and its benefits, not only at AHS but throughout the state. Students in her class read French novels and participate in the West Metro Language Forum each spring. This spring, they will enjoy French theatre at Theatre du Reve and eat at a French cafe. Her students will also journey to see a play at Theatre du Reve in the spring and dine at Cafe Amelie.

Madame Sundberg says many of her students have gone on to successfully integrate French in their careers. French, she says, is an international language that is also fun to learn. “French is one of the fastest growing languages in the world, due to population growth in Africa. It is truly a global language. By learning a global language, my students learn a valuable skill that sets them apart and makes them a global citizen, ready for the 21st-century workplace."

Winning this honor is especially meaningful to Madame Sundberg because of her passion for the language. “I love French because it's not just one culture or one person. There is never an end to studying French,” Madame Sundberg explains. “There are so many Francophone countries, one could spend their life studying and never be finished. To speak another language is to have another way to make a friend and that is what French brings me.”

Madame Sundberg is pictured second from the left.

Experiential Learning at CHES

Students at Chapel Hill Elementary experienced many hands-on activities for their Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) night on October 29.

LaTonya Jones, principal at CHES said, “STEAM Night at Chapel Hill Elementary School is an opportunity for our community to enjoy a variety of activities and explore different STEAM phenomena. Through STEAM, we encourage our students to take risks, engage in experiential learning, and persist in problem solving through the use of the 4C’s (communication, critical thinking, collaboration, and creativity). Our students are the innovators, educators, leaders, and learners of the 21st century.”

Some of the presenters were from Southwire, High Tech High Tough (touching organs), KSU Maker Space Bus, and a STEAM bus. Each grade level also had engineering activities in their classrooms for students and their families to explore. Sirai Shepard said, “I loved making my own flashlight that we got to keep. That was cool!”

Coming Soon: Information on Digital Learning Days

During the 2018-2019 school year, students in Douglas County used technology to complete assignments at home during an inclement weather day. Teachers were available by email and other methods for students and parents who had questions.

In a parent survey conducted in February of 2019, 75% of parents indicated that they preferred for their children to participate in online learning at home during inclement weather days rather make up days during scheduled breaks or at the end of the school year.

Look for more information soon about expectations and how to find assignments for digital learning days. Our goal is to improve our processes so that online learning is both productive for students and manageable for parents.

Transportation Committee Has Been Formed

Thank you to all of the parents who applied to serve on the school system's Transportation Committee. Seventeen parents were selected who represent elementary, middle and high schools in various areas of the county.

The purpose of the committee is to maximize and support each student's instructional engagement and each school's efforts by providing highly efficient, timely, and safe bus transportation for more than 15,000 students in the Douglas County School System.

Meetings will begin in January of 2020.

Welcome to Basketball Season!

Featured Teams: Lithia Springs High School

“One man can be a crucial ingredient on a team, but one man cannot make a team.”

― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

On November 6, the school system kicked off the season with a media day. Coaches for the boys and girls teams brought a few stand-out players for photos, and each coach gave a brief preview of the season. Hear what the head coaches at Lithia Springs High School had to say about their teams.

Pictured below are MaKenzie Griffin, Demeara Hinds, and Joshea Dorsey from the LSHS girls basketball team. Boys are Antonio Lewis, Anthony Hardy, Coach Duane Kelley, Christian Bishop, and Justin Hartley.

Click below for the basketball schedule and come support our players!

2019-2020 Girls and Boys Varsity Basketball Schedule

End-of-Course Tests for High School Begin December 2

High school students enrolled in the following classes will take End-of-Course (EOC) exams in December. EOCs count as 20% of a student's final grade in the class. We wish all of our test-takers the best of luck as they show what they have learned this semester!

December 2: American Literature, Section 1

December 3: American Literature, Sections 2 and 3

December 4: 9th Grade Literature, Section 1

December 5: 9th Grade Literature, Sections 2 and 3

December 6: Geometry, Sections 1 and 2

December 9: Algebra, Sections 1 and 2

December 10: Economics, Sections 1 and 2

December 11: U.S. History, Sections 1 and 2

December 12: Biology, Sections 1 and 2

December 13: Physical Science, Sections 1 and 2

December 16-17: Make Up Testing

Practice Test Questions for the EOC

Are you looking for some practice on the EOC? This website contains practice questions for the EOC: Practice EOC

Andi Escourse is a sweet, brilliant, and talented student. She is an excellent reader who enjoys reading chapter books in kindergarten! She loves to be challenged and is eager to learn new concepts. Andi enjoys helping her peers and teachers, too. Considering all this young lady is conquering in kindergarten, we can’t wait to see where the future will take her!

Reminder for 8th Grade Parents:

Deadline to Apply for Magnet Programs Is December 16

Applications for the magnet programs at all five high schools are due on Monday, December 16, 2019, for the 2020-2021 school year. For the Academy at CCI, students may register for the lottery between January 10, 2020, and January 29, 2020.

Below are links to each school's application or to information about the application process. A link to a timeline and contact information is also below.

Alexander High School Chapel Hill High School Douglas County High School Lithia Springs High School New Manchester High School

The link for the lottery for the Academy at CCI will be posted on the CCI website beginning January 10.

Timeline for Magnet Selection Process for 2020-2021 School Year