December 11, 2020
Community Foundation Donates to Student Technology
A community group committed to youth mentoring is donating funds to help support technology use in the Douglas County School System. Fred O’Neal and Sam Clonts of The Community Diamonds Foundation recently presented a $1,875 gift to the Douglas County School System. Their donation will be used to repair, replace and add additional Chromebook devices.

The Community Diamonds Foundation is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides mentoring and college scholarships to high school students in the west Georgia area. The foundation has a long-standing partnership with the Carrollton-Douglasville Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.  
Chapel Hill High Senior Speaks at School Boards Association Conference
Leonard addresses School Board Members and Superintendents across Georgia
The Georgia School Boards Association Conference kicked off last week and featured a Chapel Hill High School senior as a student speaker. Calogero Leonard spoke at the group’s annual event, which featured Governor Brian Kemp and State School Superintendent Richard Woods. The annual conference offers workshops and training to help local school board members fulfill their training requirements each year.

Calogero spoke to the virtual audience about the importance of public education. In his speech, he stressed that public education offers students opportunities and a platform to succeed. He attended Chapel Hill Middle School and is a member of the National Honor Society at CHHS. Calogero told members that the Douglas County School System has provided him an exceptional learning experience. 

“Public education helped transform me into the person that I am today and gave me the platform to be able to showcase who I could become,” Calogero told the audience. “The opportunities that public education gives students like me are valued by every student. Public education creates passion in individuals, sparks creativity, and develops the future of our world even if we can’t see it yet,” he told viewers. 

Calogero is enrolled in several Advanced Placement classes at CHHS and earned the Superintendent’s Award. He would like to attend the University of Georgia after graduation. 

The mission of the Georgia School Boards Association is to ensure excellence in the governance of local school systems by providing leadership, advocacy and services, and by representing the collective resolve of Georgia’s elected boards of education.
Schools Compete in Rain Barrel Project
Thousands of community members have cast votes for the best decorated barrels, and you can, too!
To make art and water education fun for schools and to involve the entire community, the Douglasville-Douglas County Water & Sewer Authority (WSA) has partnered with the Cultural Arts Council Douglasville/Douglas County (CAC) and the school system on a rain barrel project. According to Lyndsey Sargent, WSA communications coordinator, the project came about when WSA, a very active Partner in Education, was trying to think of ways to engage students on water topics during COVID, a time when guests are not permitted in schools.

“Normally, we are very active in the school system during the year and do lot of classroom visits, touch-a-trucks, career days, plant tours, etc.,” said Sargent. “We knew none of that was going to happen for the foreseeable future, so we came up with the rain barrels as a fun way to get the students and teachers talking about water and also get some good-natured competition going between the schools. We love partnering with the CAC to merge art and science, so it was a natural fit.”

“We love partnering with WSA to help expand the knowledge of water and conservation while building STEAM in the Douglas County School System,” said Emily Lightner, executive director for CAC. “Just a few years ago, the CAC launched a new initiative to use public art to further establish the community as a dynamic center of creativity and a destination for visitors,” making this project a perfect fit. “After each school received a rain barrel, they were tasked to decorate the rain barrel to make it look incredible.” Each barrel was then entered in a competition through the CAC's Facebook page. “We have loved looking at all of the wonderful creative designs by the students,” said Lightner, “and were inspired by all of the wonderful stories shared on how schools incorporated art and water conservation into their curriculum!"  

WSA purchased the 35 barrels from the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, “a metro Atlanta non-profit that does environmental advocacy, so it was great to be able to support them during COVID as well,” said Sargent.

Click on the CAC Facebook link to vote for your favorite barrel and feel free to share the link. Winners from the elementary, middle and high school levels will be announced after the voting period ends on December 18 and will receive a 5-in-1 weather station courtesy of WSA.

A Message from Dr. Janet Memark
"We ask that parents and community members do their part to help us keep this virus from spreading further out of control. We are seeing more and more cases that are occurring outside of school in settings such as slumber parties, athletic teams, holiday parties and social gatherings. We ask that you and your families are diligent about wearing your mask and keeping your distance."

Cobb & Douglas Public Health is a vital partner with the Douglas County School System. The agency provides guidance and invaluable assistance with contact tracing, which helps keep our schools open. Please read the full message from Dr. Memark at the links below.

Message from Dr. Memark in English and in Spanish
CCI Student Creates Animated Video
Students in Nicole Oliver's Audio Video Technology & Film I class at the College & Career Institute (CCI) created videos promoting the three W's -- Wash your hands, Wear a mask, Watch your distance.

According to Ms. Oliver, animation takes a long time, and Quinn H. worked endless hours on his animated video. Enjoy Quinn's video, which is both motivational and informative!

The Video Production program at the CCI prepares students for employment or entry into a postsecondary education program in the broadcast/video production career field. 
ASES Teacher Wins GA STEM Scholar Award
Congratulations to Kristina Glenn, STEM teacher at Arbor Station Elementary! Ms. Glenn was one of 23 teachers across the state named a Georgia STEM Scholar for her outstanding work to engage and improve student learning in STEM disciplines. The award includes a $500 grant to purchase STEM education materials for the classroom.

Ms. Glenn is in her 14th year of teaching. She opened the STEM lab at Arbor Station Elementary in 2017. In Ms. Glenn's class, students spend time designing and building things that apply to challenges in the real world. She will use the award money to buy additional robots for her students because they love coding. "I encourage computer science, and the robots are an easy way to create immediate excitement, starting with our youngest students in kindergarten."

Ms. Glenn holds a master's in instructional technology and is finishing her specialist degree in the same field. "I've always felt that getting technology into the hands of students should be a priority. Along with that came a very strong sense of teaching students how to solve problems, on their own, so STEM was a natural fit."

The award is sponsored by the Georgia Youth Science & Technology Centers, which is headquartered at Kennesaw State University.
Ribbon Cutting for the First Book Vending Machine in the Metro Atlanta Area
The official ribbon cutting for the first vending machine for books in the Metro Atlanta area took place on December 8 at Mason Creek Middle School. Donors and dignitaries gathered to celebrate the vending machine, which serves to reward students and motivate them to become better readers. The machine has been in use since October.

Benton Washington and George Arslanian of The Vision Fund led the efforts to bring the book machine to the Douglas County School System. The Vision Fund’s mission is to help students achieve their dreams by providing vending machines for books.

South Douglas Elementary was the recipient of the second book vending machine in Douglas County. What's next on the Vision Fund's goal of providing a book vending machine to children in schools, shelters and hospitals? Children's Healthcare of Atlanta - Hughes Spalding will receive the next machine!

Pictured cutting the ribbon are George Benton of The Vision Fund, Douglas County Board of Education Vice Chair Michelle Simmons and Board Member Rita Fasina-Thomas. George Benton and George Arslanian (pictured) spoke at the ribbon cutting of the importance of encouraging children to read.

Pictured below are students in front of the book vending machine at South Douglas Elementary, the second recipient of The Vision Fund's generosity.
Hester and Forsh Nominated as
LifeChangers of the Year
Support them in the national competition by providing
comments on their profile pages
Shelly Hester and Chet Forsh, both respected leaders in the Douglas County School System, have been nominated for the LifeChanger of the Year award. LifeChanger of the Year (LCOY) is an annual program that recognizes and rewards K-12 educators and school employees across the country who are making a significant difference in the lives of students by exemplifying excellence, positive influence and leadership.

Hester has been an educator for 27 years, serving as a teacher, instructional coach and assistant principal before her current job as principal at Dorsett Shoals Elementary School. The profile written by her nominator says she works hard to build positive relationships with her students and families and always seeks ways to make her faculty and staff feel appreciated. “During these unprecedented times, she has extended love, grace, understanding and unending support to her faculty, staff, students and parents,” says her nominator. "She has been a part of moving schools in a positive direction, not only with climate and culture, but with student achievement and test scores.”

Forsh has taught, mentored and coached numerous sports at Douglas County High School for 48 years. He has directed and organized the Special Olympics for the county for over 30 years. “Coach Forsh has committed to shaping the lives of young people in the Douglasville community for nearly a half a century,” said Kim Eldredge, a retired teacher and former student of his. “He has provided a lifelong foundation for hundreds of student athletes who have successfully transitioned to college, both athletically and academically. The standard he has established has made him a pillar in so many lives.”

Friends, family and former students are encouraged to support Principal Hester and Coach Forsh in the national competition by leaving comments on their LCOY profile pages. Judges review comments left on their profiles when naming winners. This is a wonderful opportunity to show appreciation to leaders who have made a difference in the lives of students and their families and the people with whom they have worked.

To leave a comment supporting these great leaders, click here and search for Hester and Forsh.
Meet Our SRO: Aretha Griffie
Aretha Griffie's goal as a School Resource Officer at North Douglas Elementary is to continue to make a difference and build relationships within the community. "It makes me happy to know that I am, I will and I can make a difference in someone's life today, tomorrow and always."

Officer Griffie began her career in law enforcement in 1999 working in the jail as a detention officer. She attended the Fulton County Academy for 12 weeks in 2003 to become a certified police officer. In 2004, she received certification as a field training officer. Additional experience includes work as a corporal, sergeant, detention, transport, court officer, patrol and SRO. She obtained her Terminal Agency Operator (TAC) certification in 2010.

Officer Griffie was born and raised in Atlanta where she attended Therrell High School. She and her husband have a blended family that includes five children. They enjoy spending time together watching movies or bowling.
Deadline to Apply for Magnet Programs: December 14
ATTENTION 8th GRADERS AND PARENTS:

Monday, December 14, is the deadline for 8th grade students to apply for the magnet programs at all five high schools for the 2021-2022 school year.

Please use the link below to apply for the magnet program at any of the five traditional high schools in Douglas County:


As you fill out the application, if fields are not appearing, please refresh the application. If you run into problems, please reach out to the coordinator of the magnet program for which you are applying. You will find the contact information for the coordinator at each school in the Magnet Program Timeline.


For information about each program, please click the links below.

Coty Draper enjoys being a New Manchester Jaguar and is a very active student. He is a member of the Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA), the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), the Student Government Association, and he is the 2020 Homecoming King! He is also a third year Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) student whose favorite subject is history. After graduating from New Manchester, Coty plans to attend Georgia State University or Kennesaw State University to major in theater and film. Once he earns his bachelor’s degree, he would like to start a career in entertainment, such as acting and modeling. According to his teachers and administration, Coty is determined to be the best and always puts his best foot forward. When he is not at school, he enjoys playing video games, shopping, and spending time with family.  
Upcoming Events
December 16-17: Half Days for High School
December 18: Semester Ends
December 21: Holidays (Except 240 Employees)
December 22-31: Holidays for All
January 1: Holiday for All
January 4-5: Teacher Work Days
January 6: Students Return
January 6: Report Cards, All Levels
January 11: BOE Work Session
January 12: Science Fair Judging for 6th - 12th
January 14: Science Fair Awards for 6th - 12th
January 15: District Spelling Bee (Virtual)
January 18: Holiday for All
January 19: BOE Board Meeting (Tentative)
February 1: BOE Work Session (Tentative)
February 8: BOE Meeting (Tentative)
February 10: Progress Reports for Elementary and Middle
February 15-19: Holidays (Except 240)
Check out opportunities that are available in our area by clicking the Community Bulletin Board below!
Douglas County School System |770-651-2000 | response@dcssga.org | dcssga.org