Thank You to Our Board of Education!
School Board Appreciation Week: March 15-19
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The Douglas County School System joins in a statewide celebration next week saluting the efforts of local school board members. The week of March 15-19, 2021, has been proclaimed School Board Appreciation Week in Georgia. The weeklong observance sponsored by Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA) calls attention to the contributions of local boards of education.
Superintendent Trent North celebrates the contributions the board members have made and acknowledges their role in supporting student achievement. “I am proud of the role our board members play in our community. Citizens elect board members to represent the community’s voice on education matters and to set the vision for the school district,” says North.
We are proud that our board was recognized as a 2020 Exemplary Board by the Georgia School Boards Association. Douglas County was one of 56 school boards in Georgia to earn this prestigious award.
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Tracy Rookard
District 3, Chair
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Michelle Simmons
District 4, Vice Chair
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Devetrion Caldwell
District 1
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Glenn Easterwood
District 5
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Students Gain Valuable Career Insight Through Virtual Job Shadow Days |
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Thanks to numerous businesses and organizations, many of whom are Partners in Education, around 1,800 high school students in the Douglas County School System now have firsthand knowledge of various professions and potential employers. During the week of February 8 – 12, students participated in Job Shadow Days, which were coordinated by their high school CTAE (Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education) leaders.
The coronavirus pandemic forced this year’s format to be virtual. Businesses submitted brief videos that provided information about their profession, the skills and education required to be part of it, and salary ranges. The videos also shared information about typical days on the job.
In prior years, Job Shadow participants would actually go to a business from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. to shadow employees and tour facilities. While the actual visit provides an in-depth look at one company, this year’s virtual format allowed students to learn about numerous companies and professions. Videos from 83 careers were available, representing mainstream professions as well as less common ones such as art curator, chef and fisher.
“It’s interesting to learn about all of these job opportunities,” said Kennedy Doucet, a sophomore enrolled in the Nutrition and Healthcare CTAE Pathways at Chapel Hill High School.
To encourage students to view several videos, they were entered in a drawing for 70-$5 gift cards provided by various Partners in Education. By the week’s end, the career videos received an impressive 3,734 views from District students!
“Students were engaged and taking advantage of the event and asking for access to different career videos,” said Leslie Austin, work-based learning coordinator at Chapel Hill High School and one of the coordinators of the annual event. “Participation in the event leads to informed career decisions,” she added.
Below is a link to a diesel fleet video provided by Gordon Foods. It’s one of 83 career videos students were able to watch during Job Shadow days.
Above, Kennedy Doucet from CHHS views one of the career videos.
Camden Hatfield from CHHS was one of the gift card winners. Students were entered in a gift card drawing sponsored by Partners in Education each time they viewed a video.
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Skating for Fun and Fitness at CHES |
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Students at Chapel Hill Elementary are gaining unique experiences while having fun exercising. PE teachers Coach Ethan Dennis and Coach Melissa Spence arranged for the delivery of roller skates for a two-week unit for students.
"This is the one and only time some of our children may have the experience of roller skating," said Coach Dennis. "Coach Spence and I wanted to provide the opportunity for students to find a new love of exercise in a fun way."
At the beginning of the unit, students began in the middle of the gym around the floor pads. As they gained confidence, they quickly moved to skating around the skating rink. Now, lots of laughter is ringing throughout the gym!
On the day this picture was taken, students enjoyed Pajama Day to celebrate Read Across America!
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CHHS COED Cheerleaders Push Through Pandemic, Win 5th in State |
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The 2020-2021 season for the CHHS COED Competition Cheer Team started with virtual tryouts last July and ended with a 5th place state finish at the GHSA Cheerleading State Championships. Only in its second year, the team's season was prolonged due to the pandemic. Normally a fall sport, the season extended through the winter. Team members practiced and performed in masks and kept safety and health a priority.
"This season, much like 2020, presented a new set of challenges for our program," said Coach Alyssa Handley. "We started our season practicing only individual skills while socially distancing and unsure if competition would happen during the COVID pandemic. These athletes continued to demonstrate perseverance through the extension of our season and positivity when the pandemic often presented hopeless challenges. Above all, I'm deeply proud to coach a team of athletes that displayed compassion and understanding for their teammates and grew closer due to the adversity they faced."
CHHS competes in 5A - Region 6 for athletics, but coed cheerleading teams compete against teams in all classifications. Many of the teams competing against CHHS at state finals on February 15 in Macon were powerhouse teams with a track record of success in coed cheerleading. For eight of the team members on the CHHS squad, this was their first year competing at the high school level.
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Principal 4 A Day Provides Peek Into Schools |
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The principals of all 35 schools hosted a "Principal 4 A Day" this week! The annual event, organized by Partners in Education, went virtual this year. Members of local businesses and organizations in Douglas County signed up to shadow a principal at a mutually agreeable time this week. They were able to ask questions and enjoy seeing at least four areas and activities in the school. Participants included Mayor Rochelle Robinson, Commission Chair Dr. Romona Jackson Jones and Douglas County Development Authority President Chris Pumphrey.
Winston Elementary Principal Chelsie Goodman hosted Carley Lawson of the Douglas County Chamber of Commerce. "We had a blast discussing this year as a whole. We both gained insight into each other’s profession, and the best part was taking Carley into some of our classrooms to see our teachers and students hard at work."
Sandy Gamble from the Douglas County Chamber shadowed Mt. Carmel Elementary Principal Marco Holland. "I was impressed with how intentional Mr. Holland and his team are about ensuring success for every student, including those at home learning virtually as well as those in the classroom. They use data to drive instruction, and I love that the sight words for every grade level are displayed in the hallways."
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CHHS Celebrates Historic Basketball Season |
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Congratulations to the Chapel Hill Boys for their historic season. Although they came up short on March 6 in the Final Four state basketball finals against Eagle’s Landing, it was an amazing season.
CHHS faculty and schoolmates celebrated the team's success during a "Walk of Fame" at the school on March 10.
"What a great time to be a Chapel Hill Panther," said Head Coach Rodney Latham. "In the midst of a pandemic, the 2020-21 boys basketball team endured a season like no other. This group is special and earned the trip to the school's first ever Final Four appearance.
"I am grateful for the players and our coaching staff; and very thankful for the parents, school administration and the community throughout this season as memories were made," continued Latham. "This is just the beginning as we will compete for years to come. The expectation is set and the standards are high!"
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The Family Health Center at Burnett Elementary:
Providing Behavioral Health and Other Services
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The Family Health Center serves all students enrolled in the Douglas County School System, as well as their siblings up to age 18 and their pre-school age siblings beginning at age three. The center accepts insurance or charges parents for services based on a sliding scale.
Services provided at the clinic include primary care, immunizations, laboratory services, physicals, chronic disease management, health education, nutrition counseling, and behavioral health.
For an appointment, call 770-651-2273.
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Time to Apply for Foundation Scholarships
46 Scholarships Worth Over $57,000 Available to DCSS Seniors
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The Douglas County Education Foundation (DCEF) online scholarship application is now open! Any DCSS graduating senior may apply for one or more of the 46 available scholarships.
The online portal will remain open through March 26.
DCEF supports the students and teachers of the Douglas County School System through Classroom Impact Grants, honorariums for Teachers of the Year and scholarships for graduating seniors.
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Faith Guger is an International Baccalaureate senior at DCHS where she serves as JROTC Battalion Commander and competes on the Rifle team as well as the Raider team. She is also part of the school’s inaugural girls flag football team. Faith is a dedicated school and community volunteer and enjoys serving as a Spanish language translator at her church and volunteering at the Georgia Tech Language Institute. She plans to study for a dual language degree, possibly in Spanish and Farsi. She has received an appointment to the United States Military Academy - West Point and has been accepted to Georgia Tech and the University of North Georgia. Faith is an exceptional student with an exciting future!
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March 15: BOE Board Meeting
March 17: Progress Reports, High Schools
March 17: Report Cards, Elementary and Middle Schools
March 25: Freshman Expo at All High Schools (Times Vary)
April 2: Holiday (Except 240 Employees)
April 5-9: Holidays for All
April 14: Elementary Science Fair Judging (New Date)
April 16: Elementary Science Fair Awards (New Date)
April 19: BOE Work Session
April 21: Progress Reports, Elementary and Middle Schools
April 26: BOE Board Meeting
May 3: Kindergarten Registration Begins for 2021-2022
May 3: BOE Work Session
May 6: 6th Grade Orientation
May 17: BOE Meeting
May 25, 26: Half Days for All Students
May 26: Semester Ends
May 26: Report Cards, Elementary Schools
May 27, 28: Post Planning
May 31: Holiday for All
June 1, 2: Professional Learning
June 4: Report Cards Mailed, Middle and High Schools
June 21: BOE Work Session/Board Meeting
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The award winning Fine Arts Magnet Education program at New Manchester High School presents the Broadway hit In The Heights, conceived by Lin-Manuel Miranda (the man behind the Hamilton phenomenon). In the Heights will run March 18 through 20 in the Fine Arts theater on the NMHS campus.
In The Heights tells the universal story of a vibrant Cuban, Dominican, and Puerto Rican community in New York City’s Washington Heights neighborhood—a place where the coffee from the bodega is light and sweet, the windows are always open, and the streets explode with the songs and rhythms of three generations. In The Heights is the winner of the 2008 Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Score, Best Choreography, and Best Orchestrations.
There will be limited seating and strict COVID compliance guidelines regarding seating and mask usage.
Tickets are $15 (adults) / $10 (students). To book tickets, go to www.freshtix.com or call 678-701-6114
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The Foundation Fun Run is back! Boys and girls in pre-K through 8th grade are invited to participate in this fun and exciting event on April 17 at New Manchester High School. For a printable PDF of the registration form, click here.
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For a PDF of the Virtual Parent Workshop flyers with clickable links, please click English or Spanish.
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SAVE THE DATE! Kindergarten registration will begin May 3. Click here for additional information and updates.
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Check out opportunities that are available in our area by clicking the Community Bulletin Board below! |
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