Former Alexander High Cheerleaders Celebrate Championship Wins |
|
AHS Grads Celebrate Cheer and Football Victories
Two Alexander High friends, united by a lifelong love of cheerleading are celebrating epic wins this month. Bianca McLaughlin and Rickaiya Conyers joined Alexander’s award-winning varsity competition team as freshmen. As they neared graduation, their love for the sport grew, and they each decided to take their skills to the collegiate level.
McLaughlin made a winning impression, earning a spot on the University of Alabama’s cheerleading team. Conyers also shined, making the University of Georgia’s cheerleading team.
As football fate would have it, Conyers’ first big game as a UGA cheerleader was the College Football National Championship. She describes game night as an exhilarating experience. “I had faith in Georgia from the start of the game,” Conyers says. “We came out strong from the very beginning.”
In the end, Conyers’ faith was rewarded. The Bulldogs prevailed over the Crimson Tide 33-14. Conyers rejoiced from the sidelines with generations of Georgia fans as the team won its first national title in over forty years.
While the sophomore is hopeful for more national titles from UGA, she believes Alexander equipped her to succeed as a student-athlete. “Being a competition cheerleader at Alexander meant I had to learn organization. The extracurricular activities there taught me how to handle the cheer and academics load in college,” Conyers says.
McLaughlin learned the same lessons. Like Conyers, her spirits are sky-high following a big win. Her University of Alabama Cheerleading team just celebrated another national cheerleading championship title. It is the third all-girl national championship for the Crimson Tide and the sixth national title for the cheer and dance program.
McLaughlin says cheering at Alexander also prepared her to win in every area of life. “My Alexander High School cheer experience helped me build stamina, endurance, and discipline. Alexander’s routines are very similar to Alabama’s cheer routines,” McLaughlin says. “The coaching styles are related, and the way the coaches pushed us is very similar.“
Both cheerleaders agree that their support at Alexander was meaningful and has been pivotal in their academic and personal lives. After graduation, Conyers plans to join the U.S. Air Force as a commissioned officer before beginning a career in cosmetic dentistry. McLaughlin plans on attending nursing school and becoming a nurse practitioner.
Alexander High School Head Cheerleading Coach Lora McAdams says they will succeed no matter what career path they choose. “From the first day I met them, I knew they were special. They were athletically leaps and bounds above their peers,” McAdams says.
Coach McAdams says both girls were a coach’s dream in athletic competition and a teacher’s dream in the classroom. She says it makes her proud to know that she got to be their coach for a small part of their lives.
“Whether cheering in the national championship game for the Bulldogs or competing for a national championship title for the Crimson Tide, these two are Cougars at heart, ” McAdams says. “They will forever be part of the AHS Cougar family.”
|
|
Future Problem-Solvers Showcase Talents During Science & Engineering Fair |
|
Last week, the Douglas County School System successfully completed the Annual Middle and High School Science & Engineering Fair. More than 60 projects were submitted in three categories: science, engineering and computing.
Hosting the event virtually for the second year allowed us to recruit volunteer judges from near and far. STEM professionals from as far as California teamed up with local partners representing organizations like Google and Douglasville-Douglas County Water and Sewer Authority.
We are deeply proud of all that our students accomplished. Months of planning, effort and attention to detail produced a glimpse of what they are capable of.
In the end, Cody Wright from Chapel Hill Middle School and Oluwadamilola Bankole from Douglas County High School took home the two 'Overall Best In Show' awards. Congratulations to all of our student researchers.
|
|
High-achieving ASES students gifted bikes |
|
Twelve ASES students, who were either the highest achieving or the most improved were given bicycles. Our Partners in Education (PIE), Gerald Foster from New Look Detailing and Ronda Darity, from Sweet Sisters Ice Cream and Treats made this generous donation. Students were surprised and overjoyed with excitement when they were called to the office and awarded the bicycles.
Mr. Foster, another PIE partner, also donated bicycles at the 2021 honor awards program, held in December, to 5 students who had the highest percentage of accelerated reader (AR) goals met. Dr. Felton, principal, says, "It takes a village, our partner's generous donations will always be a reminder of the true meaning of community involvement, a time of joy and sharing."
|
|
SWES celebrates the MLK holiday by giving back to the community |
|
Dr. Martin Luther King Junior Day is a time to remember, celebrate and act and is often referred to as “A day on, not a day off.” SWES celebrated the MLK holiday with three days of community service projects. Wednesday was Say Thanks: Make a thank you card for a healthcare worker, Thursday was Raise the Bar: Bring one wrapped bar of soap and Friday was Yes We Can: Bring one canned food item.
School Counselor Mr. Cedric Slay organized the projects as a way for students to give back to our community. The cards will go to healthcare workers in Douglas County and the bars of soap and canned foods will go to local shelters and food pantries.
“SWES is committed to actively engaging with our community and in a spirit of service. We aim for this in and out of the classroom every day,” assistant principal, Tameka Scott said.
Pictured are school counselor Mr. Cedric Slay with students Jamiyah Robertson, Kerlanges German, Joel Sandefur, Zion Jackson and Londyn Fortson. Mr. Slay is pictured again with students Ashley De La Rosa and Jana Dodoo.
|
|
BAES students collect over 8,000 food items |
|
Students at Bill Arp Elementary School recently exhibited their generosity and community spirit with a food drive supporting local families in need. Mrs. Jessica Fortier, school counselor, led the effort and saw overwhelming support from the students and families.
In a few short weeks, the school collected a total of 8,230 food items that were donated to a local food bank.
Food was collected from classrooms and tallied each day. BAES students were able to reflect on the importance of kindness, generosity, and service to the community.
Mrs. Fortier said of the effort, "A donation is an act of kindness that can be done by anyone or everyone. We appreciate the efforts of our students and families to help Bill Arp students and others in the community. This generosity and kindness has touched the lives of so many others.
|
|
Accelerated Reader celebrations at Factory Shoals Elementary School are a big deal! Of the two events hosted this school year, nearly 200 dolphins have been invited to each celebration! Students are awarded with the opportunity to participate in a fun-filled event simply for reading books and meeting their reading goals. Students have enjoyed pizza parties, a cookie decorating event, building on the Lego wall, playing cornhole and devouring ice cream! Dolphins are really looking forward to the spring semester AR celebrations. There's a promise of popcorn and a movie, a popsicles party, and a super fun kickball game.
Factory Shoals Elementary School principal, Tosha Wright shares, "The ultimate goal of the celebrations is to motivate students to increase their interest in reading. We use these celebrations to acknowledge students' efforts towards earning points, achieved through reading books, which earns them the chance to attend. Not only have we seen nearly 200 dolphins in attendance at each celebration, but we have also seen an increase in students' reading lexiles, meaning they are increasing in their reading comprehension abilities! It's a win-win! Today's readers are tomorrow's leaders."
|
|
College acceptance letters for LSHS engineering seniors |
|
Each year around this time high school seniors commit to plans after high school. LSHS is LION PROUD that so far this year, 20 of their 22 senior engineering students have received acceptance letters into several colleges and universities. Physics, Math, Engineering & Technology teacher, Chris Okafor says “I believe that this is the first time in LSHS history more than eight of the engineering students have been admitted into Georgia Tech.”
The following students have been offered full academic scholarships to the following colleges and universities:
MIT - Christopher Suarez and Prince Tufon
Vanderbilt - Sobenna Onwumelu
Wittenberg and Missouri S&T - LaVaughn Davis
This is an exciting time for the proud Lithia Lions. Congratulations to all senior students who are making plans beyond high school!
Pictured from left to right are LaVaughn Davis, Christopher Suarez and Sobenna Onwumelu
|
|
Jehrus Twum is a stellar North Douglas Stingray! Principal Pamela Wooley says Jehrus is a straight-A student who enjoys participating in Program Challenge. She is also a student role model, a responsibility she takes very seriously. Jehrus is a news anchor on the school’s daily morning news broadcast and is the NDES Spelling Bee Champion.
She represents the school in the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council. Her teachers say she shines as a positive role model by being kind to everyone and checking in on her classmates if she sees someone struggling. Jehrus is a stellar Stingray in every sense of the word!
|
|
2022-2023 Career Planner Is Now Available!
Booklet Outlines Career Pathways Available for High School Students
Preparing students for success after high school is an inherent component of the Douglas County School System's vision. Whether students plan to enter the workforce immediately or attend college after high school graduation, careful consideration of high school course options can impact their futures.
To better prepare students for the demands of the 21st century economy and for post-secondary education, the Douglas County School System has provided this planning guide for use by students and their parents. Use this planning guide to set career goals and plan for the world of future work.
This planning guide shows the clear connection between class work and future success, pointing out the relevance of academic learning in the classroom. It also provides information on a variety of occupations that differ in the scope of education and training required to obtain future employment.
The Career Planner is updated each year and published in January to guide students through advisement and registration.
|
|
February 7: BOE Work Session
February 9: Progress Reports for Elementary and Middle Schools
February 14-18: Holidays (Except 240)
February 21: BOE Meeting
March 7: BOE Work Session
March 14: Teacher Work Day
March 16: Report Cards, Elem & MS
March 16: Progress Reports, HS
March 21: BOE Meeting
April 4-8: Holidays for all
April 11: BOE Work Session
April 20: Progress Reports, Elem & MS
April 25: BOE Meeting
|
|
Check out the available opportunities in the Community Bulletin Board! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
