November 4, 2022

Alexander Student Flies High With All Female Flight Crew

Aspiring pilot featured on Today Show

For Alexander High sophomore Bryleigh Schival, boarding an all-female flight was a dream come true. Last month she had the incredible opportunity to board a Boeing 737 piloted, staffed and crewed entirely by women. Schival’s flight took off in honor of International Girls in Aviation Day. The Delta “Women Inspiring our Next Generation” (WING) flight took to the skies with her and 130 other girls on board.

Schival’s passion for flying began in the fourth grade. Already in her second year of flight school with Centennial Aviation Academy, she is quickly learning the sky’s the limit for learning.

The historic flight allowed her to embrace even more possibilities. “It was a remarkable experience,” she explains. “It was empowering. The experience encouraged us to strive for excellence and to do better.”

As the girls flew on a Boeing 737 from Atlanta to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Orlando, Delta employees encouraged their love of aviation. Since 2015, Delta's WING program has helped close opportunity gaps for women in aviation and generate a more diverse talent pipeline. It has also inspired Schival to continue spreading her wings.

When she turns 17, Schival plans to start private pilot lessons. After graduation, she plans to attend Western Michigan or Auburn University. Her long-term goal is to be a commercial pilot when she turns 22, the required age to be a commercial pilot.

To help prepare for life after graduation, Schival has been maximizing Alexander’s learning opportunities. She excels in academics, takes part in the Marketing Management pathway, and is an active DECA member. The future pilot is grateful for the opportunities that exist not just on her campus but within the Douglas County School System. “Having a school system that allows flexibility to get your core classes and dual enrollment is important,” Schival says. “It allows you more time to do what is important to you. For me, that means one day being captain of the A350, Delta’s flagship aircraft.”

NBC’s "Today Show" interviewed Schival in their story on the historic, girl-powered flight. To watch, visit https://www.today.com/today/amp/rcna49373

FLEX First Graders Celebrate Reading With Storybook Character Dress Up Day

Flex Academy students celebrate literacy every day of the week. Last week, one class celebrated by walking out the pages of their favorite book and into their classroom. First-grade teacher Quita Cole says her students selected characters based on their favorite books. Students came ready to read from their favorite book titles, including “Pete the Cat: Firefighter Pete,” “Pirate Pups” and “The Other Spider-Man.” Dressed as their favorite characters, they bonded over their shared joy of reading.

Cole regularly plans activities like these to inspire creativity and literacy in students. “Reading is necessary for learning,” the educator says. “Instilling an early love of reading unlocks the door to lifelong learning.”

LSES is Growing Chefs

Cafeteria manager Randy Jones started the Growing Chefs program during the After School Program at Lithia Springs Elementary School. Growing chefs is a three class experience that gives students insight into what a kitchen looks like and how it operates.

Cooking and baking can be lots of fun, but elementary students need to learn the safety rules so they can avoid injuries or food poisoning. Students engage in cooking lessons that teach them how to take the temperature of food and how to prepare meals. These activities help students learn how to prepare and cook food and use the kitchen safely.

"I like to expose students to different things and ideas, so they make more informed decisions later in life," Jones said. Principal Tonia Small said, "Students are excited about seeing behind the scenes in our school cafeteria. Growing Chefs provides a great opportunity to connect math and science lessons to real-life experiences. Students also love the chef hats and the food thermometers they received."

Chapel Hill Wins Middle School Football Championship

Congratulations to Chapel Hill Middle School, the new Douglas County Middle School Football Champions! Chapel Hill defeated Fairplay Middle School on November 1 to take the title.

November is Parent Engagement Month

The month of November is Family Engagement Month. We recognize the contributions of families across our community and encourage our schools to raise awareness of the important roles parents play in a child’s education. Families are children’s first teachers and without their input, love, and support, students may not be successful in school.

During November there are many activities that families can do with their children, regardless of age, to support learning at home. Click on this link to choose some engagement adventures from the Georgia Department of Education . Options include food based learning, project Appleseed and the Georgia home classroom.

Douglas County School System appreciates our families for partnering with us as we work together to improve student learning as we prepare them for bright futures. Together, we shape the future.

The Parent Post

Facilitating Family School Partnerships

The Parent Post newsletter is published four times per year for students and families of the Douglas County School System. Click on the images below to view the full newsletter.

Emilio Herrera is one of Burnett’s brightest fifth graders. Principal Marketa Croom says Emilio is a straight-A student, participates in all class activities, and loves learning. He shows excitement for learning and consistently uses his critical thinking skills. Emilio’s leadership skills allow him to build relationships with students. He is always willing to lend a helping hand when needed. Emilio Herrera is an excellent example of Being his Best Under Every Situation! Congratulations, Emilio!

Families can now register children for the eighth annual Operation Christmas Douglas County, which is scheduled to take place December 10, 2022.

Children enrolled in school in Douglas County and their younger siblings may once again receive a free gift through the generosity of the folks at Operation Christmas Douglas County.

To qualify, children must reside in Douglas County, be age 18 or younger, and receive free or reduced price lunch or WIC or other services from the Health Department or Educational System due to financial hardship. This community effort is not sponsored by the school system.

Visit http://theelfsquad.org/#/login to complete the registration form in English or Spanish.

This community effort is not sponsored by the Douglas County School System.