100 Black Men Greet NMES Students for 100th Day | |
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Members of the 100 Black Men of Douglasville greeted students at New Manchester Elementary School with high-fives and words of encouragement as they arrived Wednesday morning for the 100th day of school.
Fifteen members of the mentoring organization were at the school before students started arriving at around 6:45 a.m. The men lined a hallway near the entrance, smiling and welcoming the students with cheerful “happy 100th day” greetings, as well as handing out lots of high-fives and an occasional hug.
“I think it was really good for them to see the 100 Black Men dressed up really nice, really poised, here giving back to the school,” New Manchester Assistant Principal Sidney Wilson said.
Lishers Mahone’s daughter is a fourth-grader at New Manchester. Mahone was among the members of the 100 Black Men who came out to support the students.
“What a better pick-up after 100 days of school than to see a ton of Black men here to support you and celebrate you for accomplishing what you’ve had in 100 days and to look forward to what’s coming after this,” Mahone said.
Orrick Curry, another member of the group, said it’s important to show the students that “men care” and that there are “positive role models in the community.”
“That’s what we’re here doing,” he said.
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Wilson said the 100 Black Men have partnered with NMES for a few years on several mentoring initiatives at the school, including a financial literacy program.
In addition to greeting students Wednesday morning, Wilson said the 100 Black Men were also sponsoring a writing contest for fifth graders at New Manchester as part of the 100th day of school celebration.
He added that the 100th day is big school-wide, especially in the lower grades, which incorporate counting skills into math instruction.
Many of the students dressed in costumes to look 100-years-old as part of the 100th day celebration.
“It’s an exciting time,” Wilson said.
New Manchester was among several schools across the district that took part in this week's inspiring celebrations.
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Chapel Hill Elementary, Sweetwater, Bill Arp and North Douglas Elementary School continued the celebration, recognizing the dedication and effort invested by students throughout the school year. Young scholars relished in celebrating 100 days of learning in style with creative costumes, activities and crafts, showcasing the excitement of being halfway through the school year.
The exciting milestone celebration that has transcended in schools across the globe is significant as kids reflect on their learning over the past 100 days.
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DCHS’ Brown To Attend Penn on QuestBridge Scholarship | |
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Douglas County High School senior Brittany Brown was recently named the recipient of the QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship.
The prestigious scholarship granted Brown early admission to the University of Pennsylvania (Penn), along with a full four-year scholarship, making her a Questbridge Fellow.
"Learning is not just an obligation, it is something I embrace and look forward to,” Brown said. “I am excited by the opportunity to study with like-minded and driven students who are committed to improving the people around them and learning varying points of view."
Brown has served on the DCHS Student Government Association, “demonstrating leadership and dedication from grades 9-12,” said DCHS Principal Kenja Parks.
She also served on the Film Club for four years, including one as president.
Her passion for writing and public speaking were sparked during her participation in the Harvard National Debate Diversity Project where she mastered the art of debate, earning her a spot in the Harvard Debate Project Alumni Association her junior and senior years.
She was also selected for the Governor’s Honors Program where she honed her writing prowess.
Brown plans to pursue a course of study in politics at the Ivy League school in Philadelphia.
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Chapel Hill Elementary Students Taste New Books | |
Kindergarten through fifth-grade Cheetahs at Chapel Hill Elementary School were recently treated to a Book Tasting experience in the media center, which serves as the largest classroom in the building and a central hub of learning.
Transformed into the elegant Cheetah Cafe, resembling a five-star restaurant, the media center offered students a delightful selection of books across five different genres. During the event, students had the opportunity to self-select books they wished to "taste."
The activity was thoroughly enjoyed by the students, who later had the chance to “take out” their chosen books at the end of the tasting.
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"This event was crafted to provide students with options as they self-select books in the media center,” said Media Specialist Cameron Sheldon. “The book tasting proved to be a tremendous success, with students eagerly exploring new books and discovering new series or authors to try."
Chapel Hill Principal K’Asha Davis added, "We are thrilled to witness the enthusiasm and engagement of our Cheetahs during the Book Tasting event in the media center. The transformation of our media center into the Cheetah Cafe not only fostered a love for reading but also empowered our students to make exciting choices in their literary adventures. A special thanks to Mrs. Cameron Sheldon, our school media specialist, for orchestrating this successful and enriching experience for our young readers."
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Stewart Middle School Enriches Library with Modern Sherlock Holmes Collection | |
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Stewart Middle School has expanded its library collection thanks to a generous grant from the Beacon Society and the Jan Stauber Grant Program. This contribution has allowed the school to expand its library with a diverse range of Sherlock Holmes books to enrich Stewart’s reading options.
The school’s new Sherlock Holmes books are available in various formats, which include highly popular graphic novel adaptations. These modern renditions of the classic mysteries introduce students to the legendary detective in a fresh and engaging way.
The school has also added Sherlock Holmes books in Spanish and Russian. This translation allows even more students to enjoy classic literature in their native languages.
Media Specialist Heather Deal says the grant ties into the Douglas County School System’s mission of providing a high-quality education to all students. “Stewart Middle School is grateful to enhance its library resources,” she explains. “This support emphasizes the vital role of literacy and the enduring appeal of mystery literature in education.”
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Building a community of lifelong learners every day | |
Local Firefighter Supports Learning at Burnett Elementary | |
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Burnett Elementary students are enhancing their comprehension of context clues with the support of a special guest firefighter. According to Principal Khalilah Allen, Burnett Elementary scholars have been studying context clues to help identify unfamiliar words.
“One of the passages reviewed was about firefighters and the tools they use during a fire. Students had to find the meaning of words such as, extinguisher.”
Students were highly engaged and excited to explore the tools used for school safety. Firefighter Cousins used his equipment to demonstrate to students and explain the importance of each tool. He offered them context clues to see if they would be able to name the tools he uses to protect himself and others.
Burnett students were grateful for Firefighter Cousins taking the time out of his busy day to educate the Burnett Elementary Tiger Cubs!
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South Douglas Elementary Welcomes Innovative Approach for Mastering Sight Words | |
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South Douglas Elementary School Kindergarten teacher Heather Palmer has embraced shaving cream to transform sight word learning. Kindergarten students aim to learn 220 sight words by the end of the school year.
Palmer found joy in discovering a unique method to help students retain each word. “The students loved writing their sight words in shaving cream. Practicing sight words can get boring and monotonous at times so I try to find engaging, hands-on ways to learn them,” she said.
Some students were hesitant to join in on the excitement, but they quickly discovered the experience was quite entertaining.
“The added bonus for me is that students remember their sight words, AND I get clean desks out of it,” expressed Palmer.
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Adonis Holmes is an outstanding student at FLEX Academy who has consistently exceeded expectations and maintained academic excellence since the beginning of the school year. According to Principal Tonya Johnson, the senior takes a proactive approach to his academic success by seeking clarification when uncertainties arise.
“Without hesitation Holmes reaches out to his teachers to ensure he has the information needed to be successful in all aspects of the FLEX Academy program. His positive attitude and strong work ethic has been a huge contribution to his success,” she said.
Holmes is on track to be an early graduate, which will allow him to get a jumpstart on his future career as an actor. Principal Johnson is proud of the young scholar’s accomplishments and looking forward to his ongoing successes.
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Turner Middle School is proud to spotlight Ms. Savannah Ward as a new teacher who is serving the students in DCSS with excellence. Ms. Ward is an ESOL teacher at Turner and has accepted the challenge of providing the highest quality education for her students. Principal John Chandler said, "Ms. Ward jumped right in and became an amazing advocate for our new-comers group and the other ESOL students. Sometimes, I have to remind myself that she is a first-year teacher because she is a natural when it comes to the job." Ms. Ward is committed to serving this community and looks forward to celebrating the achievements with her students. | |
Douglas County Sees Continued Growth in Wrestling Program | |
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Douglas County High School Wrestling Coach Eric Carter has seen growth this year from his young program.
Carter said the program now has 20 athletes, up from four when he took over four years ago.
Carter said senior Cristian Sierra at 144 pounds and junior Darius Turner at 157 pounds are two of his top wrestlers heading into the West Georgia Championships on Saturday and the Region 5-6A varsity meet on February 3.
“This year is definitely a year of growth for our program,” Carter said. “I have a new young program with about four senior athletes. The rest of the program are freshman and sophomores. Even though our numbers are low they have definitely grown from the past years.”
Additionally, he said he has an “outstanding group of athletes who are champions in their academics and aspirations.”
One in particular, Jonathon Essian, has received an appointment to the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York.
“I am proud of their achievements,” he said.
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Weekly Athletics Schedule | |
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- 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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Who: Seniors
What: DCEF Scholarship Application
When: January 1 -26
The Portal is Open!
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DCCA Scholastic Chess Championship
Where: Turner Middle School
When: January 27, 2024
Time: 10 a.m. (check in at 9:30)
Cost: $15 per student
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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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DCSS Family Health Center
DCSS' Family Health Center is a resource for families and staff within the school system. The center is located on the lower level of Burnett Elementary School and offers several services. Click the flyer above to learn more.
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