MCMS Student-Athletes Make Dreams Come True with League of Stars

Student-athletes from Mason Creek Middle School had the opportunity to inspire and create smiles from students with special needs on September 30.

Football players and cheerleaders volunteered with Douglas County Parks and Recreation’s League of Stars at Hunter Park. For children with mental or physical challenges, the league helps their baseball dreams come true. 

“We were originally given the opportunity to volunteer on the opening weekend of the League of Stars, but it was rained out due to weather,” said MCMS football coach Brad Miller. “My kids were super excited about it and when we weren’t able to help out I could see how disappointed they were and they all immediately started asking if we would get another chance, and luckily we did just a few weeks later.”

Upon arriving at the field in the morning, League of Stars players first picked MCMS football players to review the game’s fundamentals. Then, each player got to take a turn at bat with their assigned football player, and the two ran the bases together. When they were not at bat, the pairs played defense together. While the football players assisted the athletes on the field, MCMS’ cheerleaders provided encouragement by cheering everyone on during the game. 

“It was really inspiring as a coach to see my cheerleaders interacting with all the players. They taught some of the players cheers and played baseball with them,” said MCMS cheerleading coach Hope Carnes. “Seeing the joy it brought to my cheerleaders, the players and families was heartwarming.  Our team is looking forward to working with A League of Stars again.”

Following the first game, MCMS’ student-athlete volunteers stuck around to assist a second group of League of Stars players during the afternoon game. Though this group was older and didn’t need as much help, everyone was active in cheering on the athletes and encouraging them to do their best.

“It ended up being one of the greatest things I’ve got to do as a coach with my players. We just finished an undefeated regular season, and I’m super proud of my boys, but not as proud as I was seeing them that day at the League of Stars,” said Miller. “Winning football games is great but having a positive impact on the people around you is far more important.”

A Week of Appreciation: DCSS Celebrates National School Bus Safety Week

In the spirit of unity and gratitude, the Douglas County School System came together to celebrate National School Bus Safety Week. During the celebration, the district came together to honor the employees who ensure our students’ safe daily journeys to and from school. This year, our students pulled out all the stops and celebrated our dedicated bus drivers in heartwarming ways. 

At Mason Creek Middle School, students surprised drivers with gifts and notes of appreciation. The students shared their handwritten notes and cards as a token of gratitude. Their gifts represented a small but meaningful way to convey how much the drivers’ dedication meant to the students and the school community. 

Meanwhile, at Dorsett Shoals Elementary School and Fairplay Middle School, students and staff filled bags with snacks and other thoughtful items. The bags were a creative and delicious way to show bus drivers how much they are valued. These heartfelt gestures touched the hearts of drivers and reminded them of their positive impact on students’ lives. 

And on Tuesday, the district honored the Transportation Department with a filling breakfast that started the day right. Superintendent Trent North shared words of appreciation and support with drivers while other district employees attended to show drivers how much their hard work was valued.  

This week-long National School Bus Safety Week celebration allows Douglas County schools to display appreciation within our school community. Douglas County bus drivers work tirelessly throughout the year, and our school community is grateful for their service.

SDES Celebrates a World of Dots and Dreams

South Douglas Elementary students celebrated the power of dots and dreams in recognition of International Dot Day! The celebratory day encourages students to reach for the stars and embrace their unique abilities through creative expression.    

September 15th marked the 20th anniversary of the publication of best-selling author/illustrator Peter H. Reynolds’ “The Dot,” which explores how a simple dot on a piece of paper transforms a shy young girl into a confident scholar who begins to trust herself and her creative differences. This year, each SDES student created a dot with the different tones of a specified color and STEM teachers Natalie Benton and Holly Hoffmaster created a display using the vibrant dots in a rainbow of creativity.       

A group of educators kicked off the International Dot Day celebration in 2009 to analyze the influential themes: bravery, creativity, and self-expression. Four years ago, South Douglas Elementary STEM classes joined in on the excitement and students have embraced the concept with hope and inspiration. “It's always great for students to be able to show their creativity and celebrate courage and collaboration,” said Principal of SDES, Brad Corbett. “International Dot Day inspires all of our students to make their mark and see what's possible,” he added.  

International Dot Day is expected to continue its tradition of inspiration in classrooms across the world for years to come as pages in a story book have ignited people of all ages to rediscover the importance of using creativity to make the world a better place.   

AHS Student Receives Distinguished Honor

The concept of individuality is occasionally associated with feelings of discomfort and shame. However, Alexander High School’s Christopher Morgan embraces a different perspective as he acknowledges his distinct characteristics with strength and pride. In fact, the sophomore’s recent recognition is evident of his resilience and determination to always strive for more, despite the obstacles he may endure. The exceptional student is one of 69 selected by State Superintendent Richard Woods to represent his peers on the 2023-2024 Student Advisory Council, and Morgan is truly grateful for the notable honor. “It is an honor to have been selected to be a part of the Student Advisory Council, but it feels even better, considering that oftentimes, people will automatically discount me because of my blindness,” said Morgan. “They fail to realize that I am the same as everyone else, the only difference is I can't see,” he added. Morgan expressed heartfelt appreciation for being chosen from among 1700 other applicants to serve on the Advisory Council as a blind student. 

These remarkable students will have the opportunity to meet with Superintendent Woods throughout the school year, providing invaluable feedback on the impact of state policies in the classroom. Additionally, Student Advisory Council Members will discuss other issues surrounding education, serve as the Superintendent’s ambassadors to their respective schools, and participate in service projects to benefit schools and students.

Students in grades 10-12 who attend a Georgia public high school are welcome to apply for consideration of the Student Advisory Council, which includes at least four students from every Educational Service area in Georgia. The application includes short essay prompts that allow students to share their ideas about public education. 

Principal of Alexander High School, Lora McAdams, expressed excitement about Morgan’s impressive milestones as a Cougar. "Christopher is an exceptional student in so many ways. He is not only amazing in the classroom, earning the honor of Top 10 for his class, but he is a vital part of our school culture,” she said. According to McAdams, Morgan’s welcoming spirit lights up the hallways and ignites the student section at sporting events. Furthermore, he sets the Cougar standard with his patience, consideration, and infectious personality. Morgan feels his blindness has given him the opportunity to share a different perspective as a student achieving academic success and thriving outside of the traditional education process. 

The high school scholar continues to make his mark and exceed expectations. Most recently, Morgan was inducted into the National Honor Society, Beta Club and recognized as a Superintendent’s Scholar. He also entered into the Georgia Council of the Blind Creative Writing Contest under the direction of his Teacher of the Visually Impaired, Ms. Sadisha Clarke. His powerful story about the role of Braille in his life won the contest in the student category, and Morgan is now anticipated to recite his poem at the the GCB Conference and Convention in November. Additionally, the article will be represented in the GCB Digest. Other accolades for Morgan include earning first place in the National Braille Competition among the top 10 students in his age group, and being voted on the 2022 US National High School Boys All-American Team Honors for his dominance in a blind Paralympic sport called GoalBall.  

“I will bring the perspective of someone who has special needs and sometimes struggles with things in school, especially socially,” Morgan said. He emphasized how special needs children struggle to make friends and be included. His goal is to advocate for more awareness and acceptance of all kids with special needs, with a special emphasis on social inclusion so that every student can have an overall positive experience at school.

“While we know we are teaching Christopher many things here at AHS, there is so much more that Cougar Nation is learning from him,” McAdams said. Morgan’s mom credits the love and energy from his entire village, including his braille transcriptionist and teachers for his ongoing achievements.

Registration Now Open for Operation Christmas

It’s the season of giving, and Operation Christmas Douglas County is at the middle of it all.  

Registration for this ninth annual program is now open and the Douglas County School System invites all eligible families to take part in the heartwarming holiday tradition. 

Children enrolled in school in Douglas County and their younger siblings may once again receive a free gift through the generosity of many local community organizations, schools and businesses. 

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.

As the holiday approaches, local church and  community organizations work together to ensure that every child and teenager in need experiences the magic of Christmas. Community helpers distribute the gifts at different locations to deliver the joy of Christmas to children. The volunteer elves have toys for children of all ages, but you must register and be eligible. 

Click here to complete the registration form in English or Spanish. For more information, please reach out to operationchristmasdc@gmail.com.

New State Program Empowers Seniors: Enhances Higher Education Journey

Seniors seeking their ideal college or university are in store for a GEORGIA MATCH made in heaven, thanks to an exciting new statewide initiative! GEORGIA MATCH is a program designed to help students identify Georgia college options most suitable for their higher education journey and overall career aspirations based on academic eligibility.   

To kick off the inaugural campaign initiated by Governor Brian Kemp, students were sent personalized letters listing colleges from the Technical College System of Georgia and participating colleges and universities in the University System of Georgia that were an academic match. The qualifications for each school have been based on the students calculated HOPE GPA as of September 12, 2023. However, seniors are encouraged to request information from their GEORGIA MATCH colleges in order to claim an admission spot at a Georgia College or University.    

The GEORGIA MATCH initiative is the largest state-run direct admissions initiative in the nation. Additionally, the new endeavor is a collaboration between the Georgia Student Finance Commission(GSFC), the University System of Georgia (USG), the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG), the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE), and the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement (GOSA).

Seniors, please remember to tag the Douglas County School System with an exciting photo of you unveiling your personalized GEORGIA MATCH letter to win a lucky prize! We can’t wait to see all of your perfect matches! 

For further information regarding how GEORGIA MATCH can assist your senior, please reach out to your child’s assigned counselor. For general information about the GEORGIA MATCH program, please visit www.gafutures.org.

Classroom Corner

DCSS Schools Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated in the United States from September 15 – October 15 each year. According to the U.S. Department of State, our government celebrates the countless contributions of more than 60 million Hispanic Americans, Latinos, Latinas, and Latinx-identifying people to our culture and society. Hispanic Americans are the largest minority group in the United States today, and generations of Hispanic Americans have consistently helped make our country strong and prosperous.

Various celebrations and presentations take place across the Douglas County School System providing countless learning opportunities for students. Engaging lessons about historical figures, performances of music, dance, and traditional costume, and interactive experiences with food and art are examples of the offerings rich in cultural education and enjoyment.



Featured above are a few photos from activities at North Douglas Elementary, Turner Middle, and New Manchester High schools.

DCSS Celebrates Our Hardworking Principals

Student Spotlight

Eleventh grader, Ivan Ou takes pride in being a Chapel Hill Panther who is passionate about learning. His academic success is evident as he maintains a 4.0 GPA while tackling seven challenging Advanced Placement classes this school year. 

Ou’s aspiration to pursue Math and Computer Science in college, led him to visit the Georgia Tech campus where they made a tremendous impression on him. The outstanding scholar is also setting his sights on Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Ou exhibits leadership in all of his endeavors. The tech enthusiast is the co-founder of the Math and Computer Science clubs, a member of the Beta Club, and an active member of the school's Yearbook staff. 

CHHS is proud of Ou’s accomplishments and looking forward to his continued success as a Panther! 

Weekly Athletics Schedule

Key Dates

• 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 Cars (elementary schools)

DCSS Testing Dates

Family Resources

Get Your Pink On Race

Join the Winston Elementary School family for a day of fun and fellowship for the annual Get Your Pink On Race on October 22 at the school. The festivities begin at 1:00 p.m., and race day registration is available. See the links for English and Spanish flyers about the event.

DCEF Fun Run Cancelled

Please be advised, with much regret, that the DCEF Fall Fun Run scheduled for Saturday, October 21, at New Manchester High School has been cancelled due to unexpected circumstances. A refund has been issued and will appear back through the payment method you used to process your payment within5 business days.

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.

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.

DCSS Family Health Center

DCSS' Family Health Center is a resource for families and staff within the school system. The center is located at the lower level of Burnett Elementary School and offers several services. Click the flyer above to learn more.

AHS Cougar Cruise & Craft Show

Alexander High School's band is hosting a car and craft show on Saturday, November 4.

Come out to enjoy a day of classic cars, crafts, food trucks, and a 50/50 raffle! Click the flyer above for more information.