District Chess Champions Crowned at Turner | |
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A total of 98 students at all grade levels from across the district took part in the Douglas County School System Annual Scholastic Chess Championship at Turner Middle School on January 27.
Trophies were awarded to the top students and teams from a dozen different schools.
“The players showed great sportsmanship and passion during the tournament,” said Tournament Director James Lynn. “I am proud of them and their resolve to never give up. I look forward to seeing how much they improve next year!”
Brighten Academy won the Elementary School Championship with 17 points out of a maximum of 20. Turner squeezed by Brighten Academy to win the Middle School Championship with 14 points. And Lithia Springs dominated to win the High School Championship with 12.5 points.
The top performers at each level were Winston Chen (CHES) and Noah Torres (BAES) in the Elementary divisions, who each went 5-0; Aarion Lee (TMS), who went 5-0 in the Middle School division; and Fernando Dominguez (DCHS) and Kalechukwu Ohia (LSHS), who each went 4-1 in the High School division.
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Mayor Reads at FSMS Black History Month Event | |
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Douglasville Mayor Rochelle Robinson was a special guest for a Black History Month “Story Time With the Mayor” event on Tuesday at Factory Shoals Middle School.
Media Specialist Katrina Barnett organized the event for eighth-grade teacher Rachel Clark’s ELA students and special education teacher Cassandra Dillard’s multi-level inclusion class.
Robinson, the city’s first Black, female mayor, read “There was A Party for Langston” written by Jason Reynolds.
“This heartwarming story not only entertained our students but is also a snappy, joyous ode to Word King, literary genius, and glass-ceiling smasher Langston Hughes and the luminaries he inspired,” said FSMS Principal Dr. Raymond Leonard.
Leonard added: “We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Mayor Rochelle Robinson for her inspiring visit and for sharing her time and wisdom with our students. It is through such experiences that we can foster a deeper understanding and appreciation for diversity and inclusivity within our school community.”
He also praised Barnett for her “dedication and hard work” in organizing the event and her “commitment to promoting literacy and celebrating Black History Month.”
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DCSS RAMPS Up Additional Designations, Demonstrates Commitment to Student Success | |
A celebration is brewing at New Manchester High School and Mount Carmel Elementary School as they recently announced they have earned their Recognized American School Counselor Association Model Programs (RAMP) Certification.
The certification recognizes schools committed to delivering comprehensive, data-informed school counseling programs aligned with the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model Framework.
“We are proud of our NMHS counselors and excited for our students,” expressed New Manchester High School Principal Casey Bethel.
Applying for RAMP helps schools evaluate their school counseling program, discover areas for improvement and enhance the program’s efforts to contribute to student success.
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Mount Carmel Elementary has also been recognized as an ASCA National Model Framework, receiving an outstanding total of 59 out of 60 points.
Principal Tenia Boone expressed heartfelt gratitude for all the support throughout the process. “I am so proud of the team’s hard work and commitment to enhance our school,” she said.
The RAMP designation demonstrates to administrators, school boards, families and the community at-large that schools are committed to supporting the mission of the school and district.
To receive this designation, schools must complete an application process that is the culmination of successfully implementing the ASCA National Model Framework, showing evidence of direct and indirect services to students, program planning and improved student outcomes in the school counseling program.
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Overall, approximately 1,200 schools have earned the RAMP designation.
The recognitions at NMHS and MCES came as counselors across the district were appreciated for their contributions during National School Counseling Week.
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DCSS Embraces Art and Education With
‘Love Where You Live’ Sculpture | |
The Douglas County School System Central Office is home to one of 11 new hand-painted, heart-shaped sculptures from the “Love Where You Live” Public Art Project.
The hearts are a collaboration between the Cultural Arts Council of Douglasville/Douglas County (CAC) and the Douglasville Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB).
The heart in front of the Central Office on Veterans Memorial Highway was painted by Kalena Ramsey and shows a graduation cap atop a stack of books. The heart is titled “The Puzzle of Life.”
Other hearts are located at parks, government buildings and businesses around the county.
The colorful sculptures were designed to reflect the community in its values, history and shared connection, with each heart offering a unique selfie spot and encouraging exploration around Douglasville/Douglas County, according to the CAC, which invites the community to “join the hunt for hearts in February.”
Visit Arts Douglas to learn more about the project.
| Mt. Carmel Elementary School Celebrates Achievements with Awards Day | |
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Mt. Carmel Elementary School was alive with excitement and pride last week as the school celebrated its annual Awards Day. The special ceremony honors the outstanding academic achievements of students across all grade levels. In addition to recognizing students for Honor Roll and Principal’s Honor Roll, the event also celebrated students with perfect attendance.
Principal Dr. Tenia Boone highlighted the significance of the day: “Our Awards Day serves as an opportunity to acknowledge the hard work that our scholars are doing each and every day. We hope it will inspire others to work diligently to achieve their academic and personal goals as well.”
The event also included a greeting and message of congratulations from Superintendent Trent North. “Awards Day is an exciting way to recognize what students have accomplished. We all play a vital role in the education and success of our students,” he explains. “This day is a milestone in their academic lives, and we hope it will encourage scholars to continue their studies with determination and enthusiasm.”
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Four DCSS Students Named Posse Scholars | |
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Four Douglas County School System high school students have been named 2024 Posse Scholars and will receive four-year, full-tuition scholarships.
The students were recognized recently at the Posse Atlanta Awards Ceremony. Posse Foundation scholarships are valued at upwards of $250,000 and are awarded nationally to students who have extraordinary leadership potential.
The DCSS Posse Scholars are:
- Theodore Baker - New Manchester High School - Texas A&M University
- Cheridan Sanders - Chapel Hill High School - The College of Wooster
- Sophia Tyson - New Manchester High School - The George Washington University
- Madison Wilson - Chapel Hill High School - The College of Wooster
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Building a community of lifelong learners every day | |
DCSS Students Excel at West Georgia Regional Science Fair, Advance to State | |
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Douglas County School System students recently competed at the West Georgia Regional Science Fair and earned recognition as top STEM researchers in the region. Sixteen DCSS students won or placed at the regional level and will now move forward to the state fair at The Classic Center in Athens in April.
The Douglas County School System had an impressive showing at the event. DCSS had the most finalists in the West Georgia Region, with six of the total 11 high school finalists and 10 of the 30 middle school finalists.
Congratulations to the following students for being selected from the West Georgia Regional Science Fair:
Chapel Hill Middle
Xiyao Gu
Cody Wright
Madison Gibson and Mikayla Gibson (Team Project)
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Fairplay Middle School
Rian Moore
Dheephaasakti Chandrasekaran
Mason Creek Middle School
Violette Melara
Xavier Mathurin
Kyle Roque
Yeager Middle School
Levi Vargas
Douglas County High
Chloe Blacknall
Allison Martinez
Vincent Bui
Sophia Yang
Lithia Springs High School
Ayomide Balogun and Oluwafemi Balogun (Team Project)
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Bethany King is a senior at Lithia Springs High School, where she is a shining example of dedication and excellence both on and off the field. As a valuable member of the State Champions Flag Football team and as a talented drum major, she consistently demonstrates leadership and teamwork.
Beyond her extracurricular achievements, the young scholar excels academically and serves as a trusted role model for her peers. Her unwavering focus and commitment make her a true asset to the Lithia School Community. Principal Felicia Jones is proud to call Bethany a Lithia Lion!
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Chapel Hill Middle School is thrilled to highlight the outstanding work of their newest Wildcat, Ms. Alexis Erp. In just her first year as a Special Education and sixth-grade math teacher, she has surpassed expectations, creating an engaging and dynamic learning environment for her students.
Having previously excelled during her student teaching with Chapel Hill Middle, Ms. Erp brings a unique blend of passion and the ability to build meaningful relationships to the classroom. Her students have been impacted by her unwavering dedication and enthusiasm. Chapel Hill Middle School is grateful for the opportunity to have Ms. Erp as part of the Wildcat family, and they look forward to the continued positive impact she will undoubtedly bring to the school community.
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Panthers Look to Build on Recent Success | |
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The Chapel Hill High School baseball team is looking to build on recent success as the Panthers begin their 2024 campaign.
Chapel Hill went 21-12 and finished as region runner-up last year before falling to eventual state champion Loganville in the second round of the state playoffs. Last year’s run marked the first time in eight seasons the Panthers had advanced out of the first round.
The Panthers return nine starters in 2024, led by seniors Will Barbary, Caiden Stewart and Daniel McIntosh, according to Coach Thomas Watson.
“I am really excited about our team this season,” Watson said. “We have a lot of competition at every position and are really deep with arms (pitching). I think you will see us capitalize on the great seasons that we have had the past two years. This could be a really special group at the hill.”
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Spotlight on Bowling: National Recognition for AHS Bowlers | |
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Alexander High School’s Toni Pascal and Trisha Doolittle are being recognized for their hard work and dedication to the sport. Both bowlers have been recognized by the National Bowling Association for their achievements so far this season.
Toni Pascal was recognized for bowling 50 pins over her average in a single game.
Trisha Doolittle was recognized for bowling 50 pins over average in a single game and for bowling a 650 series.
The bowling team has their next tournament on Saturday, February 17, in Woodstock, where they will compete in singles, doubles, and all events competition.
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Weekly Athletics Schedule | |
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- 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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Home Grown at NMHS
What: New Manchester High School FAME Program Presents Home Grown, a Black History Celebration Saluting the Culture & Excellence of Atlanta.
When: Thursday, February 15, 7 p.m.
Where: NMHS Theatre.
Tickets: $8 Students, $10 Adults at www.frextix.com
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African Night at DCHS
What: DCHS African Student Association Presents African Night
When: Friday, February 16. Gallery Walk of Local Black Businesses from 5-5:45 p.m. Show starts at 6 p.m.
Where: Mashburn Theater at DCHS.
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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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