Fresh Fruit and Veggie Program Inspires Healthy Eating Habits | |
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Douglas County students are cultivating healthy habits, one crunch at a time. The USDA has awarded County School Nutrition the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) grant. This initiative brings the delightful taste of fresh fruits and vegetables to students at Annette Winn, Burnett, and North Douglas Elementary Schools.
The goal of this exciting program is to introduce students to an array of fresh fruits and vegetables. It showcases varieties of produce that students may not have encountered before. Ultimately, the program hopes to foster a greater appreciation for fresh, unprocessed produce.
In addition to savoring the program’s delectable fresh treats, students also receive nutrition education. Three times a week, students will enjoy produce right in their classroom while exploring the world of nutrition.
The program is already a tremendous success. Danielle Freeman, Executive Director of School Nutrition, says they hope to apply for the grant yearly. “Our School Nutrition Department is committed to promoting healthier eating habits by cultivating an early love for fresh produce,” she explains. “We hope to expand to reach even more schools in the future. By doing so, we hope to inspire enthusiasm for the wonderful world of fresh fruits and vegetables.”
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CHHS Guest Brings Magic Puppetry to Life | |
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The Fine Arts students of Chapel Hill High School experienced a touch of magic recently as they embarked on an extraordinary ARTS venture. Presented by the Cultural Arts Council Douglasville/Douglas County (CAC), this event welcomed talented puppeteer Chris Thomas Hayes into their creative spaces.
Best known for his puppeteering magic on Sesame Street and his contributions to shows like Teen Wolf, The Vampire Diaries, Woke, and the iconic Aflac Duck commercials, Hayes brought an enchanting world to life before their eyes. Hayes opened the presentation with personal stories that led to his career in television. He shared that his story is full of unexpected turns, all leading to the
realization that there is a reason for everything we do. Despite not knowing where his path will take him, Hayes emphasized that the adventure lies in the journey. These discoveries, he says, may come through character design or execution, behind the scenes or on set, brainstorming, or in the writing room. But Hayes told students there is one thing he knows for sure. “In the life of a puppeteer,” he explains, “problem-solving is around every corner.”
Hayes taught twenty students how to build and manipulate puppets, focusing on character development, emotion, staging, and filming techniques. Later, he gave suggestions for how to handle obstacles as an actor and writer and always to be constructive and creative.
Chapel Hill High Drama teacher Iman Hinton said the creative lessons amazed Chapel Hill High School students. “Speaking with a professional in a field they love will help students achieve futures they would have never dreamed possible.”
The after-school workshop was made possible through support from Georgia Council for the Arts, GreyStone Power Foundation, and the Douglas County School System.
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DCSS Salutes School Psychologists | |
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Next week, November 6-10, 2023, has been recognized as National School Psychology Week. According to the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), this year's theme is "Let's Grow Together," inspired by the importance of both personal and shared strengths in our growth as individuals and school communities in every season of life. The theme recognizes every aspect of growth as fundamental to effective learning environments and to school psychologists' role in supporting student well-being and learning.
Our School Psychologists wear many hats. They are often unsung heroes, yet their work is tremendously impactful for children and the school community.
The Douglas County School System would like to recognize our distinguished team of School Psychologists: Mya Bailey, Dominique Walker, Anna Finley, Jeremy Binney, Dedria Johnson, Seajae Hartness, Naia Oden, Nancy Schusterman, Jana Wallace, Cynthia Gates, and January Few. (Not pictured: Stephanie Artilus, Ajaryl Bell, Lamica Grant, Janae Hindsman, Jammie Johnson, Jevelle Lambert, Victoria Patrick)
Thank you to the Douglas County School Psychologist Team. Your dedication and commitment to students is greatly appreciated!
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NMHS Embraces "Funding the Future," a Unique Approach to Financial Literacy | |
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“Funding the Future” recently offered New Manchester High School students a non-traditional approach to learning financial literacy. The non-profit financial education tour engages musicians in schools to teach real-life lessons about personal finance.
The NMHS Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) chapter hosted the “Funding the Future'' initiative, which coordinates live musical performances in educational settings nationwide where students and accomplished musicians engage in meaningful conversations about various financial topics. While lessons ranged from the importance of maintaining healthy credit scores, wise strategies for avoiding unnecessary debt, steering clear of high-risk online lenders and other financial pitfalls, there was also a strong emphasis on the risks associated with predatory lending and payday loans, devising a robust financial savings and investment plan, and the significance of setting goals and pursuing dreams.
New Manchester High School was privileged to collaborate with "Funding the Future" in their mission to promote financial education. "We find it important for our fellow classmates to know as much as possible about finances. In a world where numbers speak louder than words, financial literacy becomes the universal language of empowerment,” said NMHS FBLA Chapter President Kossivi Edoh.
Notably, the event featured a special appearance by national recording artist, Carter Hulsey, who traveled from Nashville, Tennessee, to grace the audience with their music and share valuable insights on financial literacy.
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CHES Celebrates Careers on Wheels | |
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Chapel Hill Elementary and FLEX Academy students recently embarked on an exciting journey of exploration during their "Careers on Wheels" event. This event brought students face-to-face with a diverse group of community professionals who are always on the move. These mobile community experts generously volunteered their time to provide valuable insights into their careers and showcased the vehicles that play an integral role in their work.
Throughout this event, CHES students could dive into careers across all 17 Georgia Career Clusters, which broadened their horizons and ignited their imaginations. Several organizations helped inspire the next generation of professionals that day, including Douglas County WSA, DOT H.E.R.O. Unit, Connect Douglas, Douglas County Fire Department, C.W. Matthews Contracting, Douglas County Sheriff, Douglasville City Police, Greystone Power, National Guard, and Wyatt’s Pharmacy Medical Equipment.
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Building a community of lifelong learners every day | |
ASES Welcomes Innovative Teaching and Learning | | |
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Third-grade students at Arbor Station Elementary School experienced a creative way to master essay writing! Ms. Bonner used a delicious S’More dessert to engage her ELA scholars with the essential steps of writing a compelling essay.
Principal of ASES Dr. Emily Felton, suggests this engaging approach not only made the learning process enjoyable but also helped the students understand the importance of organizing their thoughts and providing evidence to support their ideas.
Overall, students were delighted to experience interactive learning with food and fun to enhance their writing skills. "This hands-on activity allowed them to visualize the structure of a paragraph and understand the significance of each component," said Felton. "As students continue to practice their writing skills, the S'more method will serve as a helpful tool to guide them in crafting well-organized and informative essays," she added.
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Doreen Cordia is an exceptional sixth grade AVID student committed to creating excellence at Chestnut Log Middle School! As a class manager always exhibiting respect and preparedness, her teachers agree she is diligent, passionate, and naturally takes on leadership roles. In fact, Cordia’s teachers suggest her presence in the classroom makes for more engaging discussions.
It’s no surprise Cordia aspires to be a pediatrician because it correlates with her nurturing and generous character, a quality observed by many. However, English Language Arts currently holds a special place in her academic interests and passions. Cordia goes above and beyond in all she does, and we’re bear-y proud of the positive impact she makes everyday at CLMS.
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November Parent Post
Families please be sure to read this recent addition of the parent post newsletter.
English
Spanish
Russian
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Weekly Athletics Schedule | |
- November 7: Teacher Work Day
- November 15: Progress Reports (elementary & middle schools)
- November 20-24: Thanksgiving Holidays
- December 15: End of First Semester
- December 18-January 1: Holiday Break
- January 2: Teacher Work Day
- January 3: Students Return for 2nd Semester
- January 3: Report Cards (all levels)
- January 15: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- February 7: Progress Reports (elementary & middle schools)
- February 19-23: Winter Break
- March 11: Teacher Work Day
- March 20: Report Cards (elementary & middle schools)
- March 20: Progress Reports (high school)
- April 1-5: Spring Break
- April 24: Progress Reports (elementary & middle schools)
- May 22: Report Cards (elementary schools)
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DCHS Theater Hosting Fall Play
DCHS Theater Hosting Fall Play
Douglas County High School's theater will
be presenting The Complete History of
Theatre on November 1-3 at 7:00 p.m.
Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for
students. Call 770-651-6574 for more
information.
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DaySpring Road Race to Benefit HSES
Registration for the Dayspring Road Race is open! The DaySpring 5K will be held on November 11, 2023. The race is partnering with Holly Springs Elementary School to help raise funds for one of their school projects. Registration is available the day of the race or by visiting the following link:
https://www.active.com/douglasville-ga/running/distance-running-races/dayspring-5k-1-mile-2023
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DCSS Community Bulletin Board
Looking for a great weekend event, after-school care, or a new activity? Check out DCSS' Community Bulletin Board at the link above to learn all about events and activities occurring in Douglas County.
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Douglas SEES
DCSS offers several resources for student health, wellness and support through the Douglas SEES website. Visit the link above to learn more about the resources available to students and families.
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