NMHS Hosts Eastside High School Tonight in Round 2 of Football Playoffs! |
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Congratulations to the New Manchester High School Jaguars for an exciting win last Friday over Hiram High School in the first round of the football playoffs! The Jags are the Region 6 AAAA A Champions.
New Manchester will face Eastside High School from Newton County in the second round of playoffs on Friday, December 4, 7:30 p.m. at New Manchester High School. Good luck, Jags!!!
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STEAM Class Learns by Building,
Giving and Improving Lives
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In Matthew Nauman’s STEAM class at Bill Arp Elementary School, students learn a lot more than engineering concepts. They take those concepts and build devices that serve others. They learn about fundraising so they can afford materials. And most importantly, they learn about the joy that comes from giving to others.
Several years ago, Nauman heard about the GoBabyGo program started by the University of Delaware. The university provides designs and guidance for organizations wanting to build low-cost powered mobility devices for children. An off-the-shelf ride-on toy car, such as a Power Wheels Wild Thing, along with a bit of ingenuity and hands-on work, becomes a personalized therapy tool and a really fun ride for children with mobility limitations! Power wheelchairs are often too expensive or are not covered by insurance for children who outgrow them quickly, leaving children waiting on someone to push them where they want to go.
Nauman and his 5th grade students converted their first Power Wheels Wild Thing two years ago for Maddie, a Bill Arp student at the time who uses the vehicle now at Mason Creek Middle School. After seeing Maddie with her vehicle, his 2019-2020 students wanted to build more. They asked other schools if there was a need and received requests from two different schools. The 5th graders organized a fundraiser and began ordering parts, but were interrupted by the Coronavirus quarantine. “In spite of this, students still joined in live Meets (virtual classrooms), shared their ideas and drawings, and remotely helped me build two powered wheelchairs,” said Nauman. Nauman’s current 5th graders were a part of the two latest builds by testing and modifying the vehicles so they functioned appropriately for each recipient’s specific requirements.
“It feels great when we deliver the finished product,” said Nauman, “especially when a child who normally moves only under the control of an adult pushing their chair, suddenly gets to decide when and where to go. The students at our school really light up when they see their classmate riding around giggling in something they made with their own hands, or see pictures and videos of the deliveries. I love seeing them feel proud of helping someone else, and learning that these complex problems like designing a mobility device for a child, can be broken down into smaller parts, researched, and made possible by them.”
One of the cars was delivered to Paris at Chapel Hill Elementary. “Paris was thrilled to operate the vehicle all on her own,” said Kandice Vaughn, Special Education teacher at Chapel Hill. “Her teachers are so grateful for the hard work of the STEAM class. Paris will enjoy her vehicle for many years to come!”
In addition to the cars, Nauman and his students have made several prosthetic limbs for adults and children. Nauman was recently connected with a family of two adopted children who are missing both arms. He and his students are designing motorized prosthetic limbs for them right now and hope to deliver the devices this winter. Two more cars are also in the works for this winter for kids at two different schools!
Pictured above, STEAM students make early modifications to a Power Wheels Wild Thing.
Also pictured is Paris from Chapel Hill Elementary in the driver's seat with Nauman and Vaughn at her side. The finished product has a joystick for easy control, a padded seat, seat belts, protective roll bars and a Minnie Mouse motif!
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College Bound: DCHS Seniors Earn
Prestigious Scholarships
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Zharia Minor, Vanderbilt University |
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Neah Danku, Duke University |
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Congratulations to Neah Danku and Zharia Minor, seniors at Douglas County High School. These two International Baccalaureate Diploma Program seniors were awarded the prestigious QuestBridge College Match Scholarship.
Zharia will attend Vanderbilt University, where she plans to study pre-medicine. Neah will head to Duke University to study aerospace engineering.
The QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship connects high-achieving high school seniors with full, four-year scholarships worth over $200,000 each to the nation’s top colleges. The scholarship covers the cost of attendance, including tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, as well as travel expenses. Out of more than 18,500 applicants in 2020, QuestBridge selected 1,464 scholarship recipients. For more information about QuestBridge, click here.
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TMS 6th Graders Tackle Computer Programming Challenges with Success |
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Computer science, a necessary skill set in today’s digital age, is an important component of K-12 curriculum in the Douglas County School System. Turner Middle School (TMS) is doing its part to provide computer science (CS) for all students. CS teacher Amber Jones usually teaches web and app design to 7th graders, but this year, her 6th graders became the youngest students at TMS to write webpages using HTML.
Foundations of Interactive Design is a two-part class that consists of learning HTML, and for the more advanced students, learning style sheets. The second part of the class is app design using JavaScript. “I was more than proud of how the 6th graders did,” said Ms. Jones.
Ms. Jones explains that coding and web design are often thought of as individual pursuits, but she makes sure her students collaborate, even if it is digitally. “The students had to work together and be active and share their screens,” said Ms. Jones. “When coding, you have to write long instructions for the computer. One typo or one missed punctuation mark can mess up an entire webpage. By working together, they helped each other spot and correct coding problems.”
Students Tiffany Campbell and Ahmad Outlaw both chose to attend after school tutoring just to learn more. Tiffany made a webpage about her favorite video game. “I liked learning the marquee tag,” said Tiffany. “I liked making the words move and seeing them go on and on.” Ms. Jones says her webpage has great organization, movement, and includes responsible crediting of images.
Ahmad Outlaw used his webpage project to build a business page to support his mother's baking business. “I learned a lot of stuff, like different types of tags,” said Ahmad. “I enjoyed Ms. Jones’s web design class because I had the freedom to use my imagination to help launch my mom’s business. I believe in my mom, and I felt happy to be able to help.” Ahmad added original pictures to his website that he took of his mother’s cakes and learned HTML beyond many of his classmates to make the page appealing.
“My 6th graders started the year new to middle school, new to digital learning from home, and new to coding,” said Ms. Jones, “but they rose to all the challenges presented to them. I couldn’t be prouder.”
Tiffany and Ahmad are pictured above working on their webpages. Pictured below are some of the great-looking desserts on the webpage Ahmad designed for his mother's baking business.
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A Message for Parents Regarding
Expectations for SBDL in 2nd Semester
From the Department of Student Achievement
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To improve the learning experience for our students in School-Based Digital Learning (SBDL), the district has issued the following guidance for the second semester, which begins January 6. As you are making decisions about the best learning option for your child for the third nine weeks, please consider the following expectations, which will be in place at all schools for students in SBDL.
- After making a choice for either Traditional Learning (in person) or SBDL, a student must remain in that learning option for the entire nine weeks. A student may change his or her choice only at the beginning of each nine-week period, unless approved by the principal.
- Students must log in on time for online classes and stay logged in for the entire class. Schools will decide whether classes will be recorded and available to students who are absent.
- A student enrolled in Traditional Learning may not attend class via SBDL (online) unless the absence is due to illness and/or approved by the principal.
- Students will be allowed to do make-up work for a class ONLY IF the student has an excused absence as stated in the DCSS attendance policy.
- Students who disrupt the learning environment will be removed from a Google Meet session. It is expected that parents monitor students who are learning through SBDL. If disruptive behavior continues, the student will no longer be eligible for SBDL and must return to school for Traditional Learning.
We appreciate all the support our parents and guardians have provided during the first semester, and we look forward to an even more successful second semester.
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"Pandemic Pen Pals" Spread Cheer
to Nursing Home Residents
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Students in Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) ensured that nursing home residents in Georgia felt loved over Thanksgiving. Club members at New Manchester and Douglas County High Schools sent warm letters to nursing home residents seeking pen pals. The "Pandemic Pal" service project is one of the many ways that students are giving back during the holiday season.
“I think that giving back to the community is essential, especially during these trying times," said NMHS FBLA president Cameron Brown. "I hope that these letters put smiles on the faces of those who received them."
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It's Time for Hoops!
Spotlight on Alexander High School
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Good luck to all of our basketball teams as they embark on the 2020-2021 season! For a schedule for basketball and all winter sports for middle and high schools, please go to the link below.
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AHS Girls
From AHS Girls Head Coach Dallas Smith:
"We are excited and grateful to start our journey through this unforgettable season. We have a great group of experienced upperclassmen this year that we are expecting to lead the way with their leadership, work ethic and determination. We also have an amazing supporting cast out of our underclassmen, and we are excited to watch this group grow. They work extremely hard, they work together, and they truly care for one another.
"Throughout this tough time, the girls have really understood not to take anything for granted, and we hope to display that mentality in every game. Our sisterhood is something that we take pride in, on and off the floor, and we are looking forward to a great season."
Pictured below are leaders on the team, including front row, left to right: Ivy McDonald, Abby Crawford, Chloe Pollock, Haley Helton. Back row: London Maxwell, Taylor Caldwell, Kayla Brown, Michelle Pollock.
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Coaches for the Lady Cougars include, left to right, Molly Brown, Jerlisa Taylor, Christin Mercer, Dallas Smith, Jessicca Ellison and Daijea Anderson. |
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AHS Boys
Boys Head Coach Jason Slate is looking forward to the new season.
"The boys have been working extremely hard in practice. We have dealt with some challenges to start the season, but we are very excited to begin our journey."
Pictured is Head Coach Jason Slate. Two seniors who are expected to provide leadership this season are Justin Brown and Kristopher Harris.
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New Dates for Magnet Information Sessions |
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ATTENTION 8th GRADERS AND PARENTS:
Some schools have changed or added dates for their magnet information sessions. Please click the link below for the most updated timeline with revised dates:
This year, 8th grade students may apply for any of the magnet programs at the five traditional high schools through one link:
Podcasts about each program are available on the dcssga.org website. Look for the magnet news article on the home page. The deadline to apply is December 14.
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Diego Canas is in the Dual Language Immersion program at Beulah Elementary School where he receives half of his instruction in English and half in Spanish. Despite being in the United States for only a year, Diego is excelling with his English proficiency while maintaining a strong foundation in Spanish. His teachers say he is a dedicated student and always works to improve. He currently maintains As and Bs in all classes and is quickly approaching his goal of achieving straight As. He utilizes the school’s computer-based learning programs during his own time to get extra practice and strengthen his skill set. Diego also demonstrates outstanding behavior and impeccable character. He is kind and respectful to everyone he meets and is a natural leader among his peers. When he’s not working hard in the classroom, Diego is an outstanding soccer player. With such a great attitude and work ethic, we are certain Diego will go far in life. |
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Oscar Serna exemplifies all the qualities of an exceptional Stewart Middle School Eagle. He has been recognized as a top academic student in math, consistently makes all As, and served as president of BETA Club. He was part of the mathletes team and placed individually in the top three in the county competition. Oscar has moderated the Black History program and has been instrumental in many student led initiatives. Oscar has played on both the soccer and football teams and is a motivational force for his teammates. Outside of school, he enjoys drawing, spending time with his family and playing select soccer. Oscar has already started thinking about his career and is interested in becoming a lawyer. |
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December 7: BOE Work Session and Meeting
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 (tentative)
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)
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The Chapel Hill High School SkillsUSA and Student HBA will raffle off this custom-built playhouse on December 11! Tickets are $20. For more information and to purchase a raffle ticket, please click here.
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Check out opportunities that are available in our area by clicking the Community Bulletin Board below! |
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