Pursuing Excellence for All
Vol. 3, 2020
One Dawson. Excellence Together.
YOUR CARE FROM ANYWHERE.
Whether you’re stuck at home or constantly on the go, you can still get the expert health care you count on. Northeast Georgia Physicians Group and The Heart Center of NGMC now offer video visits. That means you can interact directly with your care team from anywhere, so you get the help you need to feel your best. To learn more or to request an appointment, visit nghs.com/video-visits.
Your local REALTOR! Sunny is a seasoned agent that knows the county and surrounding areas well! Sunny Parker has been a resident of both Forsyth and Dawson County for over 27 years and was recently voted Best of Dawson Realtor for the 2018 Dawson County News Readers Choice Awards. Sunny is considered a Mega Agent that operates at a high volume level of personal and professional achievement. She has the expertise needed to help assist you in either buying your dream home or selling your current home. She is passionate about the needs and goals of her clients and specializes in have struggled with selling their own home individually or with another agent. Veteran Specialist) and a member of 400 North Board of Realtors, Sunny Parker also has a Degree in Criminal Justice and worked as an intern with the Forsyth County dedication and knowledge to her work, so you can be assured she will stay on top of all details of a deal to help provide an easy and smooth transaction. SUNNY PARKER
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One Dawson.
Excellence Together.
Table of Contents 6 7 10 12 13 16 17 20 24 23 26 30 32
Board of Education About the Cover Lighthouse School Graduation 2020 School Principals Dawson Nutrition Program School Highlights End of Year Parade Teaching and Learning Connect With Us Dawson County Family Connection Where Are They Now?
About Dawson County Schools DCS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability or gender in employment decisions or educational programs and activities, including athletic programs. The accuracy of the content within this publication is subject to change prior to dissemination.
Creative Services Provided by Metro Market Media, parent company of Dawson County News. Chelsea Sunshine - Magazine Design/Ad Design April Seymour - Ad Design
Stay connected:
Teachers of the Year 3D Printed Masks Retirees Future Educators Exceptional Children Athletics & Clubs Student Recognition Student Support Services Online Learning & Technology Technology Department Health Services Safety & 1D Golden Pass 2020-2021 School Calendar
Dawson County Schools’ Central Office To contact a member of the leadership team, call (706) 265-3246 or email as listed below:
Vikki Brannon, vbrannon@dawson.k12.ga.us Director of Youth Health Services
Dr. Damon Gibbs, dgibbs@dawson.k12.ga.us Superintendent
Linda Byrd, lbyrd@dawson.k12.ga.us Director of School Nutrition
Nicole LeCave, nlecave@dawson.k12.ga.us Assistant Superintendent of Teaching & Learning
Tracey Compton, tcompton@dawson.k12.ga.us Director of School Improvement & Accountability
Hershel Bennett, hbennett@dawson.k12.ga.us Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources & Operations
Dr. Nathan Hand, nathan.hand@dawson.k12.ga.us Director of Instructional Services, Secondary
Jamie Ulrich, julrich@dawson.k12.ga.us Chief Financial Officer
Dr. Todd Langley, todd.langley@dawson.k12.ga.us Director of Exceptional Children
Dr. Janice Darnell, jdarnell@dawson.k12.ga.us Executive Director of Instructional Support & Student Services
Scott Morgan, smorgan@dawson.k12.ga.us Director of Facilities
Roman Gaddis, rgaddis@dawson.k12.ga.us Executive Director of Technology
Jim Rich, jrich@dawson.k12.ga.us Director of Transportation
Mail: 28 Main Street, Dawsonville, Ga 30534
@DawsonCountySchoolSystemBoardofEducation
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Message from the Superintendent
The 2020- OneDawson magazine is produced by Dawson County News with the help of Dawson County Schools. For information, contact (706) 265-3246.
Telephone: (706) 265-3246 @DawsonSchools
OneDawson
2020-2021
Website: www.dawsoncountyschools.org Connect1Dawson
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One Dawson.
Excellence Together.
A Message From the Superintendent We are excited to partner with the Dawson County News to launch the third publication of the 1Dawson Magazine. While viewing this magazine, our goal is for you to find helpful information about the Dawson County School System. If you have questions or need additional information, please feel free to contact us. Last school year, due to COVID-19, we experienced a year unlike any other. Our staff and students adapted to a new normal to finish out the school year in a non-traditional format. Our team continues to work with public health officials as we begin the new school year. With parent and staff input, we have developed a plan that will allow us to make adjustments as needed with the circumstances we are given. The safety of our students and staff will remain our top priority moving forward. Please let us know if we can be of any assistance. I look forward to a great 2020-2021 school year!
We are “One Dawson!”
VISION STATEMENT
This year, a community group composed of citizens, school staff, parents and high school students, met to participate in a discussion regarding issues useful in developing a five-year strategic plan. Input from the meeting was used to craft the system’s vision, mission statement and strategic goal areas.
Vision To be an exemplary school district, preparing students for success.
Mission To provide quality instruction and student support that results in preparedness for college, career, and life.
Commitments 1) Graduation for ALL students. 2) Providing a safe, supportive learning environment. 3) Cultivating relationships with students, families, schools & community. 4) Fostering a culture of engagement, innovation, and high expectations for student learning. 5) Providing extra-curricular activities and other opportunities, which develop life skills and positive personal growth.
Sincerely, A. Damon Gibbs, Ed.D., Superintendent Dawson County Schools
Dawson County Schools One Dawson. Excellence Together.
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OneDawson
2020-2021
One Dawson.
Excellence Together.
Board of Education:
Doris Cook, District 1, 16 years
Elaine Wilson, District 2, 16 years
DISTRICT REPRESENTATION Dawson County is divided into five districts for representation on the Board of Education. Members must live in the district they represent but are elected by the county at-large. Members serve four-year staggered terms with three members elected during one election and two during the next. Communities served by each district are as follows:
Karen Armstrong, District 3, 6 years
Roger Slaton, District 4, 33 years
Nathan Ingram, at large, 1 year
Our Mission:
FEED THE HUNGRY OF DAWSON COUNTY We accept donations at the store and will pick up appliances & furniture items at your home.
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Food Bank and Thrift Store Food Bank Hours: M-W-F Noon-3pm Thrift Store Hours: Mon.-Sat. 10am-5pm
829 Hwy. 9N, Dawsonville, GA 30534 Thrift Store: 706-265-1371 • Food Bank: 706-265-1045 ric-rack.org
dawsoncountyschools.org
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One Dawson.
Excellence Together.
Meet new Dawson County BOE member
Nathan Ingram The Dawson County Board of Education has appointed local resident Nathan Ingram to fill the board’s “at-large” position.
Ingram, a Dawson County native and 1992 graduate of Dawson County High School, will serve in the board seat vacated by Will Wade, who resigned in March to qualify as a candidate for Georgia’s 9th District House Representative
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706-344-1431 • 647 Hwy 136 East, Dawsonville, GA Hours: M-F 8am-6pm • Sat. 8am-3pm • Closed Sunday
seat. According to a press release from the Dawson County School System, Ingram currently serves as Assistant City Manager for the City of Canton in Cherokee County. Previously he served as Canton’s Chief Financial Officer, as an accountant for a public accounting firm in Gainesville and as licensed subagent at Roger Slaton State Farm Insurance.
Karmen Pharris, Associate Broker ABR, MRP, SRS Dawsonville Realtor 770-561-3593 Office 404-876-4901
Ingram is married to Julayne LeBaron Ingram, who works at Robinson Elementary School and together they have three children. “Ingram believes that the board position is the perfect time to ‘give back’ to the system that has given so much to him and his family,” the press release said. At a specially called BOE meeting on Thursday night, board members said that Ingram will fill the seat on the board until a special election can be held in November, at which time voters will decide who will serve the final two years of the four-year term that would have been served by Wade.
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OneDawson
karmenpharris3@gmail.com www.karmenpharris.phprealtor.com
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2020-2021
Advertising Match Partnership
SIGN UP TODAY!
What Is The Advertising Match Partnership? Dawson County News has established a Advertising Match Partnership to assist local businesses in Dawson County during this challenging situation. As a local business ourselves, we understand what you are going through and are dedicated to serving our community and our customers.
How Does It Work? • Visit www.dawsonnews.com/amp to sign up or call 706-265-3384. You will select a range for the amount of money you’d like to invest in marketing. • Dollars matched will be on advertising purchased between now and July 31, 2020.
Contact Jenn Richardson at jrichardson@dawsonnews.com
One Dawson.
Excellence Together.
About the cover:
RIDING WITH THE VOLUNTEERS FEEDING DAWSON COUNTY STUDENTS By Erica Schmidt eschmidt@dawsonnews.com
Despite the fact that in-person classes in Dawson County were cancelled in mid-March due to COVID-19, at 10:30 a.m. on March 18, school buses started out on their normal routes from schools throughout the county. But instead of empty buses driving their routes to pick up students, these buses were full, seats crowded with coolers and boxes crammed with hamburgers, sausage biscuits, milk, juice, fresh fruit and vegetables. School staff and volunteers were the buses only passengers, all united in their mission to keep students happy, fed and healthy. With schools closed for coronavirus precautions, the Dawson County school system has implemented a school bus meal delivery system in order to bring school lunches to students who will be at home full-time until schools reopen. Delivery routes consist of 19 school buses, each running their normal routes. Under normal operations, each school bus runs the same route twice a day, once by an elementary school driver for the elementary age students and then again by a middle or high school driver for students on the same route. For the sake of meal delivery, both the elementary driver and the high school driver ride the route together and deliver to all age groups at the same time, according to Tony Wooten, safe schools coordinator for Dawson County Schools. “We have two bus drivers on each bus, both of whom know the route well,” Wooten said. “And they deliver meals to all the children on the route, from babies to age 18.” In addition to the two bus drivers, volunteers also ride the routes to help with meal distribution. “We need as many volunteers as possible,” Wooten said. “People might not volunteer because they don’t know what to expect, but our goal is simple — we’re trying to keep our kids fed and safe.” Scott Sorrells is a high school bus driver for Dawson County Schools. He and Beverly Gaydon, his elementary school route partner, rode their bus route on Wednesday handing out meals to any students at the stops. “We recognize the kids on the route because they all either ride my bus or Scott’s,” Gaydon said. Children, excited to see the bus pull up, ran up to the stop to wait, meeting the school bus with smiles and laughter. Parents walked with the younger children, all happy to see the bus arrive. Many children in the county depend on school meals for food each day, so the bags of food, which contain not only lunch for that day, but also breakfast for the next day, are extremely welcome. “School meals may be the only meals some students get,” Gaydon said. “And even for parents that can afford food for three meals a day, some may not be able to get food from the grocery stores right now.” In three hours, the workers gave nearly 180 meals. “It’s hard work,” substitute bus driver Melinda Marshall said, “but I don’t mind working hard since it’s for a good cause.” During the delivery routes, bus drivers and volunteers are tasked with keeping an eye out for anything that might seem out of the ordinary. 10
OneDawson
2020-2021
One Dawson.
Excellence Together.
“Be on the lookout for any children that may look sick, anything like that,” Wooten said in a briefing to the group of volunteers. “If you see something that alerts you, let us know.” Tuesday, March 17 was the first day of the meal delivery routes being in operation, and together the school workers and volunteers prepared and delivered 1,410 meals. “I don’t know anybody else that’s fed over 1400 kids in about 5 hours before,” Wooten said. “We have seven school kitchens all cooking meals at once and 19 buses delivering.” The meals are available to any student, regardless of whether or not he or she usually rides the bus. As long as the students are at the bus stop, they will receive a meal. For students that don’t have a bus route, such as preschool-aged children who haven’t been assigned a bus route yet, parents have been calling in to the Board of Education and the Dawson County Fire Department or Dawson County Sheriff ’s Office have been assisting with special deliveries. “The fire department has graciously helped with deliveries and has people out at each station helping load and unload the buses,” Wooten said. Dawson County Fire Chief Danny Thompson said that the implementation of the meal delivery system will make a lasting impact on the local community. “15 to 20 years from now we’re going to look back on this and learn a lot from it,” Thompson said. “This has never been done in the history of
Dawson County.” At the end of the day, all of the bus drivers and volunteers say are glad they can be a part of the meal delivery, according to Gaydon. “I’m just glad that we as a community can come together to serve these kids,” Gaydon said.
dawsoncountyschools.org
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One Dawson.
Excellence Together.
Dawson County Middle School recognized as Georgia Lighthouse School to Watch By Erica Schmidt eschmidt@dawsonnews.com On Friday, March 6, Dawson County Middle School was officially recognized as a Georgia Lighthouse and National Forum School to Watch. In a ceremony on the morning of March 6, state, local and school district officials gathered at Dawson County Middle School along with the entire staff and student body to celebrate the school’s achievement. The program included musical performances by the seventh grade chorus and band, as well as spoken remarks by Dawson County Schools Superintendent Damon Gibbs and Georgia Department of Education Director of Curriculum and Instruction Justin Hill. The school was presented with an official Lighthouse award, and each staff member received a Lighthouse pin. During the ceremony, Dr. Randi Sagona, principal of Dawson County Middle School, said that all in attendance were excited to help celebrate the distinction, including the students. “Our entire student body attended the celebration, and they honestly seemed to be just as excited as the staff,” Sagona said. The National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform established the Schools to Watch designation as a way to recognize eligible middle schools across the country. In order to qualify for the distinction, schools must prove that they are high-performing in each of four domains: academic excellence, developmental responsiveness, social equity and organizational structures and processes. Sagona said that the discussion of whether or not to apply as a School to Watch began two years ago. “When we first began the discussion about whether to apply to become a Georgia Lighthouse School to Watch, we read through the specific requirements for each domain and we just kept saying ‘oh, we do that,’” Sagona said. “It became clear to us pretty quickly that we might have what it takes to earn this national designation.” The application process included a self-study, a written application by the school, and a site visit by the Lighthouse team in October of 2019. On Dec. 12, the school received a call saying that they had been selected as Georgia’s newest Lighthouse School to Watch. “There are currently only 16 other middle schools, out of over 500 in our state, that hold the Lighthouse designation,” She said. “So we joined a very elite group.” Sagona said that she hopes the distinction helps show how special Dawson County Middle School is. “I have known for years that Dawson County Middle School is truly one of the best our country has to offer, and I hope everyone else now realizes what a gem this community has in DCMS,” Sagona said. “Our staff is second to none; they will do whatever is necessary to help a child succeed and they never stop trying to improve. I want the community to know that their sixth and seventh graders are surrounded by a staff that are not only top-notch instructors, but that also understands the needs of middle grades at a level that goes much deeper than classroom instruction.” 12
OneDawson
2020-2021
One Dawson.
Excellence Together.
TO THE CLASS OF 2020, It is with a very somber heart that I write this message to you. You all have missed out on so many events, ceremonies and memories to round out your senior year. I know you must feel that both as a class, and as individuals, there are things that have been left undone. There were classes together with friends that were suddenly halted. Athletic games with teammates that were never played. School records that should have been broken. Going to senior prom with a date, or a group of friends and a night you looked forward to for so long that never came to fruition. The list goes on and on... It is truly heartbreaking. The class of 2020’s journey did not end the way we would have hoped and planned. Still, despite all of the circumstances that have transpired, the class of 2020 has completed the drill. You all have persevered through a very difficult time. Individually, you have worked through your own struggles, both with school and in your personal life. Though you all have been apart from one another physically over these last weeks, I have watched as you all have come together as a class. You have helped one another adjust to online learning, lifted each other up when all you really wanted to do was cry, and supported each other no matter the distance or obstacles. For these things, you will always be remembered. As you all leave the halls of Dawson County High to follow your dreams, it is my hope that you will reflect and draw strength from the lessons you have learned through these trying times. The lesson of perseverance when the plan becomes not really a plan at all. The lesson of finding hope in what seems to be a hopeless cause or situation. The lesson of adapting to strange and difficult circumstances. And perhaps the most important of them all: the lesson of being kind and considerate to one another because you never really know what someone else is going through. In the end, it doesn’t cost anything to be kind, anyway. Not only have you learned these lessons, but you have helped the DCHS staff to learn them, as well. I am so proud of each one of you and am blessed to have witnessed your perseverance. I look forward to hearing of the great things that each one of you will accomplish in your lives. Congratulations, graduates! Always a Tiger By Brody Hughes, former principal of Dawson County High School dawsoncountyschools.org
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One Dawson.
Excellence Together.
GRADUATION 2020
Perhaps for the first time you missed school and wanted to be there Do you regret saying you hated school and perhaps began to care? The teachers and staff missed you and tried to do what they could Videos, messages, and letters: all tried to help you feel good
Ode to Senior Year Once Upon A Time In the Land of the Free A virus came a-calling what could it be? It was called the coronavirus but also covid-19 This is surely not happening, it’s just a bad dream.
Now since you have been home, your focus may have shifted Who knew it would take so long for this quarantine to be lifted? The silver lining has appeared at last-we can venture out again. What joy and excitement was felt when we got to hang out with friends!
The school was off-limits the Tigers were told The virus was dangerous, especially if you were old It’s presence disrupted senior year, it did, pretty bad Some seniors were happy, but others were mad
We know the lesson you learned wasn’t what was expected Never take things for granted, enjoy every moment is what should be reflected The legacy you leave behind is one of hope and faith You showed us how to care from a distance and act with a lot of grace.
This threat & disruption really had them shook They had left school on Thursday without even a book A March departure was definitely not in the plan, Forced to stay away from every woman and man The class of 2020 whose future had been clear Now was uncertain, not a great ending for senior year. A lot of things you missed, most of them fun Sports, prom, senior luncheon just to name some. Who knew you would be so sad when told there was no school Without a daily schedule some didn’t know what to do Some went to work and took on a different role Some helped younger sibling so they could meet their goals 14
Those that love the seniors will recall fondly as they leave the stage We learned that although they missed out on so much they stood strong despite their age. When you think back on the class of twenty-twenty, Remember to send them a blessing: may their life be filled with plenty! By Stefanie Gibbs “Seniors, it has been my honor to watch you over the last four year. I pray you find your passion and make the Tiger community proud!”
OneDawson
2020-2021
One Dawson.
Outstanding Assistant Principal of the Year GAMSP NAMES LARRY COBB AS NAESP NATIONAL OUTSTANDING ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR William Larry Cobb of Dawson County Jr. High School has been named the 2020 National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) National Outstanding MiddleLevel Assistant Principal of the Year representing Georgia. Dr. Bob Heaberlin, the Executive Director of the Georgia Association of Middle School Principals (GAMSP), made the announcement on April 30.
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619 Sporting Hill Drive • Dawsonville, GA 30534
706-265-6543 706-265-1611
His current principal, Mrs. Connie Stovall, made the following comments regarding his selection. “Great assistant principals are far and few between. The assistant principal is charged with embracing the vision and direction of his principal while still being able to make independent decisions in the best interest of the school. This is a delicate balance and one that Mr. Cobb accomplishes daily with ease and confidence. GAMSP could not have made a better choice.” Mr. Cobb has been an assistant principal at Dawson County Jr. High School since 2018. Larry began his teaching career in Georgia in 1999 and has taught in the school systems of Gilmer County, Spalding County, Forsyth County, Pike County, and Murray County. Mr. Cobb has also served as an assistant principal at Brunswick High School and Albany Middle School. In addition to his educational experience in Georgia, Larry has served as a principal in Alaska at the Alakanuk School in Alakanuk and the Shaktoolik School in Shaktoolik. He was also the Director of Curriculum at the Kuspuk School in Kuspuk, Alaska.
Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00am – 4:30pm Main Office: 1162 Highway 53 East (P.O. Box 769) Dawsonville, GA 30534
Larry earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Georgia Southern University in 1996 and his Master’s Degree in Education from Columbus State University in 2004. Mr. Cobb will be honored by NAESP at the annual NAESP Conference in July in Louisville, Kentucky, and at the annual GAMSP/ GAESP Fall Conference in October at Lake Lanier Islands.
dawsoncountyschools.org
Telephone: 706-216-8474 Fax: 706-216-6170 Emergency Only (After Hours): 706-265-3395
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One Dawson.
Excellence Together.
SCHOOL PRINCIPALS: Dawson County Schools enroll more than 3,500 students across seven sites, consisting of four elementary schools, one middle school, one junior high school, one high school, with a non-traditional academy campus and our central office.
Black’s Mill Elementary School Cindy Kinney, Principal 1860 Dawson Forest Road E (706) 216-3300
With over 500 employees, we are the county’s largest employer.
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Kilough Elementary School Teresa Conowal, Principal 1063 Kilough Church Road (706) 216-8595
Riverview Elementary School Adam Maroney, Principal 370 Dawson Forest Road E (706) 216-5812
Robinson Elementary School Page Arnette, Principal 1150 Perimeter Road (706) 265-6544
Dawson County Middle School Randi Sagona, Principal 5126 Hwy. 9 S (706) 216-4849
Dawson County Junior High School Brody Hughes, Principal 109 Allen Street (706) 216-5801
Dawson County High School Michael Negley, Principal 1665 Perimeter Road (706) 265-6555
OneDawson
2020-2021
One Dawson.
Excellence Together.
Dawson County School
NUTRITION PROGRAM MISSION: The mission of the Dawson County School Nutrition Program is to be a part of the education process by providing students with nutritious meals and nutrition education experiences that promote healthy children who are ready to learn.
BENEFITS: The Dawson County School Nutrition Program provides a nutritious breakfast and lunch for school children every day. Free or reduced-price meals are available to students whose families meet qualifying economic guidelines. The program provides meals that meet at least two-thirds of the recommended daily dietary allowances. Meal choices offered each day include: protein rich entrees, plenty of fruit and
Meal Prices for 2020-21 School Year Meal Prices for Elementary Schools Breakfast: Cost $1.50, Reduced $.30 Lunch: Cost $2.35, Reduced $.40 Meal Prices for Middle, Jr. High, & High Schools Breakfast: Cost $1.50, Reduced $.30 Lunch: Cost $2.65, Reduced $.40
Get Started: 1 Go to myschoolbucks.com 2 Visit School Store & add items to your cart 3 Check out with your credit/debit card dawsoncountyschools.org
vegetable selections, whole-grain breads and cereals, and calcium rich milk.
DID YOU KNOW? Students approved for free meals for the 2019-2020 school year may eat one breakfast and one lunch meal free each day. Additional foods/beverages selected above the standard meal must be purchased with additional funds at the a la carte price. A La Carte Purchases: additional items from the daily menu, as well as selected other foods and beverages that comply with the USDA Healthy Snacks guidelines, may be purchased a la carte to compliment school meals or meals brought from home. All extra purchases require funds to be available (on meal account or in hand) at the time of purchase.
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Dawson County School Nutrition Program Will Celebrate Each Month With Fa School Featuring Locally And Georgia Grown Produce In Our Schools One Dawson. Excellence Together.
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OneDawson
2020-2021
One Dawson.
Excellence Together.
Dawson County School Nutrition Program Supports Georgia Organics & Farm To School School Nutrition partners with the culinary arts program teaching them knife skills and preparing fresh fruits and vegetables as they help prepare salads and fresh fruits and veggies in the high school cafeteria. Each school has a wellness committee and we have a system wellness committee that sets student and staff goals each year. They also plan and sponsor one free wellness community event each year. In the past, the wellness committee has organized the Glow Run 5K. Weather permitting, the wellness committee is planning to hold a Walk, Run & Roll-a-thon in March 2021.
We are here to help you! For questions or concerns, please contact:
LINDA BYRD Director of School Nutrition (706) 265-3246 ext 1008 lbyrd@dawson.k12.ga.us
RITA GILLELAND Administrative Assistant (706) 265-3246, ext 1019 rgilleland@dawson.k12.ga.us dawsoncountyschools.org
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Pursuing Excellence for All
Team Work Makes the Dream Work
BMES ROBOTICS CLUB Our mission for the BMES Robotics Club is to provide our students with opportunities to create, collaborate and explore. The BMES Robotics Club through the leadership of Kaylee Lusk, a 4th grade teacher at our school, thrived this year with over 60 students participating ranging from Kindergarten to 5th grade. Mrs. Lusk has made it a priority to have this club be an inclusive environment to help our Bears find their passions. No matter their age, technological experience or abilities this club is for everyone. Students collaborate in teams using LEGO We Do 2.0 and LEGO Mindstormers sets to create robots. The Robotics club is a total of 7 weeks long and we do 3 sessions a year. By providing 3 sessions, it allows for more opportunities for all students to be able to participate. Throughout the weekly sessions, students are presented with different challenges that they must adapt and overcome through their robots. These tasks incorporate real life experiences which require collaboration and creativity. In order to be a Robotics member at BMES, students must follow our club guidelines which help promote academic success, being responsible, being respectful, and overall students must encompass what it truly means to be a Black’s Mill Bear!
KILOUGH’S
COUGAR ACADEMY TIME During Cougar Academy Time (CAT), students embrace and explore ways to sharpen their individual areas of growth. This time is intentionally designed to help students set goals, work together, increase social & emotional capacity, and create overall plans for success. One way we accomplish this is by offering our students choice based learning academies. In lower grades, students may choose to attend book clubs, participate in STEM activities, or serve as mentors to other students. In the upper grades, students may choose to participate in board and strategy card games that build higher order reasoning skills. The student coaching academy provides leader and mentorship opportunities school-wide. Other academies also include; learning how to play chess and participating in exciting tournaments or creating a culminating performance through our drama/tech academy. At Kilough Elementary we offer students highly engaging, hands-on opportunities during and outside the school day that nurture learning of the whole child and inspires students to strive for excellence. 20
OneDawson
2020-2021
One Dawson.
Excellence Together.
QUALITY LEARNING EXPERIENCES AT ROBINSON ELEMENTARY Quality Learning Experiences (QLEs) utilize technology to combine Student Engagement (High Attention & Commitment) + Student Choice + Students know the What and Why. When kids are engaged in QLEs they can/are attentive, persistent over time, committed voluntarily, and measure the meaning and value. Quality Learning Experiences are a move from using technology tools to simply digitizing what was previously learning practice in a pencil paper format to a memorable experience where students are creative and collaborative in learning and demonstrating what they know and understand.
RIVERVIEW
Literacy
This year Riverview Elementary focused on literacy. When the school year began, teachers were provided training in an approach to writing instruction called Writer’s Workshop. In writer’s workshop, students are taught a quick 10-minute mini-lesson on a given writing topic. They are then encouraged to go and write on topics of their choice. Students are given choice and voice into their writing and teachers no longer tell students what topic they want them to write about. Teachers circulate around the room conferencing with students teaching them “powerful writing tools” to improve their writing. At the conclusion of the writing period, students are invited back into a whole class setting, where some are asked to share their writing for the day. Teachers follow The Units of Study in Opinion, Information and Narrative Writing curriculum based on the research from Columbia University. The curriculum is rigorous and pushes student thinking. Fortunately, both teachers and students report they love the new approach. Students love that they are able to choose their own writing topics, which quickly became evident when teachers saw students write more and more on a topic and write for longer periods of time. Because students are writing about topics that are important to them, teachers report they are learning more about their students 22
through their writing. Parents even comment their children are coming home talking about writing and how much they enjoyed it. Riverview was pleased with the progress students and teachers made with the new approach and look forward to working within the units during the 20-21 school year. Following the theory of “Good readers are good writers and good writers are good readers,” Riverview also set about to improve reading instruction when the second semester started. Using the work of Dr. Jan Richardson in The Next Steps Forward in Guided Reading, teachers embarked on a professional learning journey through guided reading. Research tells us that guided reading supports all readers including those above, on and below grade level with the ultimate goal of getting students to independent reading. The work Riverview is undertaking provides a lesson plan template so teachers are able to fine-tune their skills for each part of the guided reading lesson. Riverview’s work on improving reading instruction has just begun and they are excited to continue this work during the 20-21 school year.
OneDawson
2020-2021
One Dawson.
Excellence Together.
MOCK INTERVIEWS WITH DAWSON COUNTY COLLEGE AND CAREER ACADEMY AND GOODWILL CAREER CENTER Dawson County College and Career Academy partnered with the Goodwill Career Center to host their first annual Mock Interviews. Approximately 169 students taking a third level pathway course participated in interviews with community volunteers from a variety of businesses across Dawson County. A mock interview provides students with a professional one-on-one opportunity to practice their interviewing and resume writing skills with a member of the business community. The experience also allows students immediate verbal and written feedback from the business community regarding their interview performance, resume, and professional dress. Dawson County College and Career Academy plan to host this event annually to better prepare students for college and career success.
r e n t r Pa
We are proud and honored to serve the Dawson County community.
• IN EDUCATION •
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It is the mission of the Dawson County Sheriff’s Office to protect the lives and property of our people through professional, progressive, and proactive service. We shall serve with compassion and respect while seeking solutions to improve quality of life, liberty, and safety for all.
We appreciate your support and look forward to continuing to serve you!
Sheriff Jeff Johnson
dawsoncountyschools.org
Visit us on Facebook @ Dawson County Sheriff’s Office Dawsonville, Ga www.dawsoncountysheriff.org Non-Emergency 706-344-3636 Tip Line- 706-265-4744
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End of Year Parade DAWSON COUNTY EDUCATORS LEAD PARADE THROUGH LOCAL NEIGHBORHOODS Erica Schmidt DCN Staff A long line of cars, each one decorated with window paint and handmade signs, snaked slowly down the road. Car horns honked friendly beeps at each other and at the parents and children standing by the side of the road. Passengers in bright green shirts stood in the cars waving gold pom-poms and drivers waved out their windows, while one passenger with a megaphone yelled to the children, “We miss you and love you!” And from their front yards and driveways, children and parents waved back to the cars, calling back to their teachers, “We miss you too! Thank you!” Though all schools in Dawson County were closed prematurely in March due to the outbreak of COVID-19 in Georgia, teachers and staff at Black’s Mill Elementary did everything they could to keep school spirit going and let their students know they still care. In March, educators at the elementary school organized a “teacher parade through neighborhoods in their area, to see their students and spread joy in the community. Mrs. Cindy Kinney, principal of Black’s Mill Elementary, said that even though the main goal of the parade was to spread joy to students and their parents, they ended up bringing just as much happiness to all neighborhood residents, regardless of whether or not they had children who go to the school. “We had older people without kids who were smiling and waving at us, even construction workers who stopped to wave,” Kinney said. Before the parade, school staff met up at the school to line up their cars. Led by Kinney, the long line of cars made their way through the neighborhoods, where the students and their parents waited smiling, waving and holding up their own signs. The students’ reactions to their teachers driving past made as much of an impression on those in the parade as the parade itself made on the onlookers, according to Kinney. “We set out to spread joy to the families, and they in turn did it to us,” She said. “We ended up getting as much of a blessing out of it as they did.”
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Teaching & Learning IN DAWSON COUNTY SCHOOLS The Dawson County School District believes students deserve a well-rounded education that includes academic and non-academic skills. The district strives to graduate college and career ready students who excel in both. The district takes great care to provide a secure, supportive learning environment, high-quality, engaging learning experiences that are rigorous and relevant, and current and emerging technologies to support 21st-century learning. All curriculum and instruction in Dawson County are based on the foundation of the Georgia Standards of Excellence. For more information, visit the Georgia Department of Education website. Dawson County Schools offers a wide range of learning opportunities including special assistance in remediation and enrichment of basic skills, classes for gifted and talented, advanced placement courses for college credit, dual enrollment opportunities, and professional technical courses for career pathways. Assessments and data help teachers determine how to fulfill the individual needs of every child. Tutorials, interventions, and other district-wide programs allow staff to provide better quality, personalized instruction that meets the unique needs of every child. In addition to classroom instruction, extracurricular programs at all levels offer enrichment in academics, the arts, athletics, and areas of special interest to students. Media services and technology are provided at each school to support student learning. The school district is dedicated to helping all children learn and believes that every child can be successful in school and beyond. Dawson County School District’s Teaching and Learning Department is committed to providing highly engaging learning experiences that are rigorous and relevant. We believe that purposeful planning, quality teaching, balanced assessment, and collaboration with colleagues and students is the key to improving student achievement. We aim to provide exemplary support to our teachers and staff members, equipping them with the tools, skills, and resources to Social Media pursue excellence for every student! Follow us on Facebook: Search: Dawson County School System Board of Education
Want to see the great things happening in our classrooms? Follow the teaching and learning Social Media department on @DCS_TEACH and on @ Dawson County School System Board of Education. Follow us on Twitter: Search: @DawsonSchools
Follow us on Facebook: Search: Dawson County School System Board of Education
Follow us on Twitter: Search: @DawsonSchools
Mrs. Nicole LeCave Dr. Nathan Hand, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching & Learning Director of Instructional Services, Secondary nlecave@dawson.k12.ga.us nathan.hand@dawson.k12.ga.us Mrs. Tracey Compton Director of School Improvement & Accountability tcompton@dawson.k12.ga.us
Dr. Janice Darnell Executive Director of Instructional Support & Student Services
jdarnell@dawson.k12.ga.us dawsoncountyschools.org
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Connect 1Dawson is an authentic campaign to “Tell Our Story” using current Connect 1Dawson is an authentic campaign to “Tell Our Story” using current media media trends. We will create and distribute a steady stream of short video stories trends. We will create and distribute a steady stream of short video stories to inform a to inform a receptive audience about what’s going on in Dawson County Schools. receptive audience about what’s going on in Dawson County Schools.
Visit www.connect1dawson.org to view the videos!
Visit www.connect1dawson.org to view the videos!
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2019-2020 2020-2021
One Dawson.
Excellence Together.
SCHOOL SCHOOL CLOSURES CLOSURES & DELAYS. & DELAYS.
Get Connected! Stay in touch with Dawson County Schools by downloading our new mobile app! Download on your mobile device today and select yes to receive push notifications with the latest news and updates from the District.
School closures and updates will be sent out
KEY FEATURES
through Dawsonand County Schools social media School closures updates will be sent out accounts, as well as through 'Remind' through Dawson County Schools socialand media
notifications Push Select yes when you download the app
School Messenger. are'Remind' no inclement accounts, as well asThere through and weather days built into theare school calendar, as School Messenger. There no inclement
to receive the latest push notifications from the district and your school.
we will use Online to recover lost as weather days builtLearning into the school calendar, instructional time. For more information, we will use Online Learning to recover lostsee
Events Calendar Add events to the calendar on your
page 36 or visit dawsoncountyschools.org. instructional time. For more information, see
personal mobile device directly from the calendar section on the app.
page 36 or visit dawsoncountyschools.org.
YOUR CHILD'S SAFETY YOUR SAFETY IS OURCHILD'S PRIORITY. IS OUR PRIORITY.
The Superintendent and Administrative staff carefully monitor weather conditions during the The Superintendent and Administrative staff seasons of inclement weather. carefully monitor weather conditions during the seasons of inclement weather.
News Check out the latest district wide and IF THERE ARE NO CLOSING MESSAGES ON SOCIAL IF THERE ARE NO CLOSING MEDIA, THROUGH REMIND MESSAGES ON SOCIAL OR SCHOOL MESSENGER, MEDIA, THROUGH REMIND SCHOOL IS OPEN OR SCHOOL MESSENGER, SCHOOL IS OPEN
Social Media
school news all in one place!
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text, text @dc-schools to 81010. You can opt-out of messages at anytime by replying, 'unsubscribe @dc-schools'. Trouble using 81010? Try texting @dc-schools to (706) 256-8294 instead.
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Dawson County Family Connection Positive Social Norms (PSN) Each school year, Dawson County Family Connection provides a Positive Social Norms (PSN) program in the Junior High school. This program provides information, encouragement, resources and positive messages for all 8th and 9th graders. This school year, the program included announcements on display in the lunchroom and in classrooms, posters in classrooms and bathrooms, bulletin boards, and informational handouts. The PSN program incorporated underage drinking and vaping prevention, drug prevention and mental wellness. This school year, the messages also incorporated social emotional tools from The 7 Mindsets curriculum. Family Connection believes using positive rather than negative norms provides for the best development in youth and helps them to become self-sufficient, resilient, and healthy adults.
(Source: 2013-2019 Georgia Student Health Survey). It takes all of us to protect Dawson youth. We can all #BeTheKey in preventing underage drinking, drug and vape use!
Some of the social norms use in this program include: 9 out of 10 Dawson County Junior High students report that they do not drink alcohol, and 73% of Dawson County teens have NEVER smoked or vaped (Source: 2019 PSN Survey). Using the positive statistics from our surveys encourages students and shows them that they do not have to drink, vape, or do drugs to be accepted. Dawson County Family Connection’s Positive Social Norms program began in 2013, and since its inception, underage drinking has gone down 4% overall in Dawson County 30
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Most Dawson County Most Dawson County students say they decide students theystudents decide to leave ifsay other to leave other students start to if drink. start to drink. Source: 2019 Positive Social Norms Survey
Source: 2019 Positive Social Norms Survey
You Are Not Alone In Your choice. You Are Not Alone In Your choice. SUMMER is grilling season! ess Edition
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706-265-3384 31
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Where Are They Now? DAWSON COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
ALUMNI
DAWSON COUNTY SCHOOLS IS PROUD OF OUR DCHS ALUMNI! WE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW ALUMNI THAT ARE NOW IN EXTRAORDINARY ROLES IN THEIR PROFESSIONAL LIFE...
VICTORIA (SMITH) OEHRLEIN After graduating from DCHS as Salutatorian in 2000, Victoria (Smith) Oehrlein was accepted into the Servant Leadership Program at Columbus State University (CSU) in Columbus, Georgia. This program’s vision is to empower students to lead with a lifelong commitment to service. During this four-year program, she completed hundreds of hours of community service. In 2004 Victoria earned a Bachelor of Science and graduated Magna Cum Laude in Chemistry. Shortly after graduation, she became a Forensic Chemist with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation: Division of Forensic Sciences. Her daily duties include Drug Identification Analysis (testing evidence for the present or absence of control substances) and Fire Debris Analysis (testing evidence for the present or absence of an ignitable liquid). In this position, she has been a guest instructor for Arson Investigators class at 32
the Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) program in Forsyth, Georgia, on multiple occasions. In 2015, she had the honor of participating in the Georgia International Law Enforcement Exchange Program with Israel State Police through Georgia State University. She also currently serves as an external auditor for ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB), which provides accreditation services to other forensic laboratories. Victoria enjoys sharing her career with students interested in forensics. She has given numerous presentations to academic institutions to include both high schools and college venues. Victoria married her college sweetheart David in 2005, and together they have two beautiful children, Addie and Oliver. Addie and Oliver take up much of her free time, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. She currently lives near Columbus, but still visits family in Dawson County often.
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DR. DAN SHUMAN Dr. Dan Shuman graduated Dawson County High School in 2000. He attended LaGrange College in LaGrange, GA and graduated in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy. After 3 years of financial statements auditing, his personal aspirations took him on a different career path . He enrolled at Life University in Marietta, GA in their Doctor of Chiropractic program and graduated in December of 2010. He worked in a group practice in Decatur, GA for 6 years specializing in sports chiropractic, performance and rehabilitation. In November 2016, he opened his own private practice, FX Chiropractic and Performance in the Midtown neighborhood of Atlanta. He continues to specialize in sports injuries and is a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician (CCSP). He also travels around the country teaching Active Release Technique (“ART�) to doctors and therapists who share his passion of helping people get out of pain and function better. Dan lives in Midtown with his husband and their rescue Boxer, Millie. When not working, Dan is on a plane exploring the globe or on a paddle board enjoying the outdoors.
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2019-20 Teachers of the Year We are thankful for all of our amazing teachers in Dawson County! Each school has a Teacher of the Year, selected by their peers. The finalists are then interviewed and selected by a panel. The 2019-20 will be serving another term for the 2020-21 school year. Black’s Mill Elementary School - Julia Morang Kilough Elementary School - Sarah Stewart Riverview Elementary School - Jill Fisher Robinson Elementary School - Rebecca Madsen Dawson County Middle School - Renee Rogers Dawson County Junior High School - Charles Beusse Dawson County High School - Keith Pankey Congrats to all finalists! We appreciate all that you do!
Michael Negley appointed as Dawson County High School principal Educator Michael Negley has been announced as the new principal of Dawson County High School. “I am very pleased to announce that Mrs. Michael Negley has been approved as the new principal of Dawson County High School,” Dawson County Superintendent Damon Gibbs said following the announcement in May. “I look forward to the accomplishments that will be achieved under her leadership.” Negley, a Gwinnett County native, holds an undergraduate and Master’s degree from the University of Georgia and an Education Specialist degree and leadership certification from Valdosta State University. Now in her 19th year in secondary public education, Negley was a classroom teacher for 11 years, a graduation coach for two years, and assistant principal of curriculum and instruction for six years. She previously worked at White County High School and West Hall High School and most recently served at Dawson County High School. “I am humbled and honored to be able to continue to serve the students and families of Dawson County in this new role,” Negley said in the release. “We have amazing kids and an amazing staff, and I am excited to see what the future holds for DCHS. The sky is the limit.”
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3D Printing
Facemasks
This Dawson County High School teacher is helping with the COVID-19 outbreak by 3D printing face masks and shields By Erica Schmidt eschmidt@dawsonnews.com
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic in Georgia, a Dawson County teacher began designing and 3D printing face masks and shields to help his community. Dusty Skorich is an engineering teacher at Dawson County High School. When he saw an article about Mark Causey, a Forsyth County dentist who designed a pattern to make n95 masks on his 3D printer, Skorich knew it was something he wanted to help with. “I downloaded his pattern and we started talking and collaborating on this project,” Skorich said. The men have submitted their printed masks to Infection Control for North Georgia to test whether the pieces are certifiable as n95 masks. “The idea is to collect as many 3D printers as we can and mass produce,” Skorich said. “We’ll collect the printers from schools to use, and we’ll circulate the design to people who have 3D printers in their homes so they can help print them too.” The design can take anywhere from four to seven hours to print, depending on the printer, but bulk printing masks can decrease the printing time, according to Skorich. During this printing time, the person operating the printer is fully free to work on other things. “3D printers can run 24/7 as long as someone is monitoring them,” Skorich said. “You can do this at home while working on other stuff.” Skorich began 3D printing around seven years ago and has worked with 3D printers in the classroom on both a university and high school level. Teaching and learning how 3D printing works, has proved to be useful in many ways, he said. “It’s such a big part of classrooms,” Skorich said. “‘Career tech’ is skills like 3D printing, which as the current scenario shows, is useful in real life.” Several of Skorich’s students at Dawson County High School have expressed interest in helping with the printing process once they get the green light to begin mass production of the masks. In addition to beginning mass production of the masks, Skorich says that his next project he is currently working on is designing and printing face shields, another piece of equipment that are in critical need. “Right now I’m working on printed prototypes of face shields using transparency sheets,” Skorich said. “So that will be the next thing I send in for approval.” Throughout the whole process, Skorich says that Dawson County Schools Superintendent Damon Gibbs and Dawson County High School Principal Brody Hughes, along with other school administrators, have been a huge help in providing anything he needs for the project. “I have to give props to the superintendent and principal for their eagerness to pursue this,” Skorich said. “It’s not often that you see administration willing to go all in to help the community and to urge a process like this forward.” dawsoncountyschools.org
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1Dawson Learning Academy for Parents & Community Members Coming Soon Dawson County Schools plans to offer our community another 1Dawson Learning Academy. Parents and community members will learn about all things Dawson County Schools and will become an ambassador for the system.
Learning Academy will be planned in accordance with current meeting and health guidelines.
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Dawson County Schools 2020 Retirement THANK YOU AND BEST WISHES TO OUR 2020 RETIREES Robinson Elementary Cecilia Rogers Greta Shope Kim Porter
EMPLOYMENT
JOIN OUR 1D TEAM! View Job Opportunities on our website: dawsoncountyschools.org, click “Job Opportunities” and view open positions. Dawson County Schools has partnered with ESS to manage our substitute program. If you’re interested in working as a substitute for our district, please visit www.ESS.jobs to apply or call 877.983.2244 for more information.
Dawson County Junior High Connie Stovall Hilda Jackson Steve Sweat Dawson County High Jeff Gerrell, Teacher Central Office Gail Lowman Facilities Steven Wilson Registration Patricia Yaegle
Meetings held the second Monday of each month, 6:30PM Social, 7:00PM Meeting Chair: Seanie Zappendorf, 678-643-9019 1st Vice Chair: Mike Berg, 404-713-1540 2 Vice Chair: Pepper Pettit, 404-401-8586 Secretary: Dale Smart, 404-456-8258 Treasurer: Katie Hulsebus, 678-410-9090 Member at Large: Norman Samples, 770-335-7246 East Precinct: Scott Yochum, 404-307-4574 Central Precinct: Greg Hicks, 404-405-5315 West Precinct: Gerald Swafford, 706-344-2127 nd
Hightower Tammy Brinkley
Election & Registration Board Members: Dan Pichon, 706-265-4480 Katrina Holbrook, 706-531-4761 (Past Chair) Bill Minor: 404-797-4424
dawsoncountyschools.org
Membership: Single - $35.00 Couple - $50.00 Family - $100.00 Contact Katie Hulsebus
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Future Educators Future educators honored by Dawson County School System with virtual signing ceremony Erica Schmidt DCN Staff
In a virtual ceremony on May 19, the Dawson County School System celebrated it’s graduating seniors who will pursue a degree in education during the coming years. The school system’s signing ceremony is typically held in person, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic this year’s event was held entirely virtually, with each senior in their own home receiving recognition via a video meeting room. “It kind of stinks we had to do it this way, but these kids are great kids and they deserved some recognition,” Amy Smith, CTAE director for Dawson County High School, said. The ceremony included a message from Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Nicole Lecave and remarks from DCHS counselors, as well as other leadership and administration staff. Students had the opportunity to share where they are attending college and what degree they are planning to pursue.
County High School. “I am so incredibly proud of you. I am wrapping up my 19th year of education and even though I’m out of the classroom and up in the front in administration now, I’ll always be a teacher,” Negley said. “I truly believe that those of us who teach, are called to teach. It’s too important, and too hard of a job for it not to be a calling and I think it is wonderful that you guys are starting on this journey.
THE SENIORS RECOGNIZED DURING THE CEREMONY INCLUDE: • Chesney Bottoms
• Elizabeth Lessard
• Whitney Brooks
• Kaselyn Martin
• Jacquelyn Conner
• Kennedy Mays
• Chris Garrett
• Ben McGinnis
“I know most of these students were in the work-based learning program this year, and wherever you were placed in the school system they have sung your praises about how wonderful each of you been in the classroom and with the students, and I know that each one of you will make a great teacher,” school system staff member Kristy Moore said.
• Mattie Grant
• Tayler Mullenburg
• Matthew Griffin
• Trinity Nichols
• Riley Herndon
• Abby Sanders
• Brody Howell
• Luke Wilkie
• Molly Kirk
• Avery Young
The ceremony closed out with remarks by Michael Negley, who was recently appointed as the new principal for Dawson
• Lexis Painter
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PARENTS OF PRESCHOOLERS:
dawsoncountyschools.org
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"BRIDGING THE GAP"
OUR DAWSON COUNTY PARTNERS:
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Wil ly par ou t wit ner hu s?
Athletics & Clubs
Several extracurricular options are available at each school. Visit your school’s website or see your child’s school or teacher for more information.
dawsoncountyschools.org
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Student
Recognitions
Local high school student recognized by Georgia Department of Education By Erica Schmidt eschmidt@dawsonnews.com A Dawson County high school student has been selected by the Georgia Department of Education as the Spring 2020 Exemplary English Learner in Georgia. Briana Ray was born in India and came to the United States in 2009. Her native language is Hindi. When her ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) teacher at Dawson County High School suggested she be nominated for the statewide excellence award, the high school senior said she didn’t expect to win. “When I got the phone call it really caught me off guard,” Ray said. “My dad and my brother and his wife were all so excited, I just wasn’t expecting it.” Nominees for the achievement must meet specific guidelines including academic achievement, involvement in extracurricular activities, and strong attendance and discipline records. During her time at Dawson County High School, Briana has been involved in several clubs and sports, including track, cross country, wrestling, Key Club, Youth Leadership, Juniorettes, Sources of Strength and Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). Stefanie Gibbs is the graduation coach at Dawson County High School and knows Ray through FCA. Gibbs was one of the teachers Ray was able to go to with questions or concerns throughout her time at the high school. Following the announcement of Ray’s award, Gibbs said she is extremely proud of what the teen accomplished. “I think the thing I love the most about Briana is her positive attitude,” Gibbs said. “Even when she has a problem, she never lets it bring her down for long. I first became acquainted with her through the FCA. She shared her testimony to a crowed room of her peers without fear of judgment, and she receives people the same way, without judgment.” After graduating with the class of 2020, Briana plans to attend Dalton State College to pole vault for the track team and to study criminal justice so that she can join the FBI someday. “Briana is such a bright light,” Gibbs said. “I am truly blessed to have spent four years with this amazing young woman and I can’t wait to see all she accomplishes in the future.” 42
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Student
Recognitions Dawson County High School student earns spot in All-State Band By Erica Schmidt eschmidt@dawsonnews.com Palmer Hartley has always loved music. When he was young, he would play around with different instruments, but when he was in the third grade he took up playing the trumpet, and it just stuck. Now the Dawson County High School sophomore has earned a seat on the All-State Band for his trumpet skills, an achievement that has not been done before in the history of the school, according to band officials. The audition process began when several students from Dawson County tried out for the District 9 Band. Hartley and one other student were selected to play in the district band and given the opportunity to perform along with the other top musicians in the district. Following the district performance, the highest-scoring students were given the chance to try out for the All-State band. During the audition, Hartley scored high enough to earn himself a spot in the band along and was given the opportunity to travel to Athens and perform with the AllState band in early March.
see some students achieve All-State, a feat that had not been accomplished at DCHS, he had an extra incentive,” Diane Hartley said. “God gives us all talents; Palmer is just fortunate that he found one of his at a young age.” Palmer Hartley accredits his success to being taught both at school and privately and to a lot of practice. “It’s all about knowing how to practice properly,” Hartley said. “And my teachers have helped me learn.” Renee Livingstone, treasurer for the Dawson County High School band boosters, said that she and the rest of the school are proud of Palmer and his accomplishments. “We’re incredibly proud of Palmer,” Livingstone said. “He’s very driven and responsible, and he’s just one of those kids that everyone likes.”
Hartley’s mother Diane said that knowing no student had ever been admitted into the All-State Band helped motivate the young musician even more.
According to Hartley, his goals moving forward are to continue working at his trumpet playing to become even better at the instrument.
“Palmer had the drive to make All-State, but I think that when his band director indicated that he wanted to
“I hope to make it to the top chair,” he said. “So I’m just going to keep practicing and be the best that I can be.”
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Awesome Dawson presents
2020
A comprehensive guide for all residents of Dawson County, featuring attractions, local resources and more. Awesome Dawson keeps residents new and old up to date with all the changes occurring in the fast growing county. This magazine is inserted in the August 26th Dawson County News, in racks throughout Dawson County including restaurants and attraction sites for a full year. It is also available on dawsonnews.com - With more than 35,000 unique visitors per month Promoted on our social media and through emails to local subscribers.
DAWSON COUNTY’S ANNUAL NEWCOMER’S GUIDE Ad reservation deadline is Friday, July 31st. For more information, CONTACT: 706-265-3384 or email Jenn Richardson at jrichardson@dawsonnews.comcom
One Dawson.
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STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES TITLE I Title I, Part A provides federal funds through the Georgia Department of Education to local educational agencies (LEAs) and public schools with high percentages of economically disadvantaged children to help ensure that all children meet challenging State academic content and student academic achievement standards. Black’s Mill Elementary, Kilough Elementary, Riverview Elementary, and Robinson Elementary all receive funding as a Title I Schoolwide School. For the 2nd year in a row, Black’s Mill and Robinson Elementary schools were named as a High-Progress Reward School. A High-Progress Reward School is among the highest 10% of all Title I schools in the state. Additionally, for the 2nd year in a row, Riverview Elementary was named as a Highest-Performing Reward School. Highest-Performing Reward Schools are among the highest 5% of all Title I schools in the state. Each Title I school works to actively engage parents as partners in the educational program. The schools have parent compact agreements that outline the ways the school, parents, and students will commit to working together for a great school year. The schools also create plans to involve parents in all aspects of their student’s educational experience. Parents have the opportunity to learn about ways to support their child’s learning by attending special events throughout the year. Each Title I school also has a parent resource room filled with games, resources, activities, and computer access to assist parents with helping their child to be successful.
TITLE III/ESOL (ENGLISH TO SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES) ESOL is a state-funded instructional program for eligible English Learners (ELs) in grades K-12. The program emphasizes academic and social language development and its coursework is based on the WIDA Consortium English Language Development (ELD) standards. Classroom teachers integrate the ELD standards with the Georgia content standards to enable ELs to communicate in English and demonstrate their academic, social, and cultural proficiency. Title III is a federally funded program that provides
supplemental funds to support ESOL services that are already in place. Dawson County Schools provides language support services to EL students in multiple formats. Schools utilize push-in and pull-out support from a certified ESOL teacher, scheduled ESOL courses, and online supplemental computer assisted instruction. Once an EL student meets language proficiency requirements, the student is exited from supplemental language services.
EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM Children start school at a designated chronological age, but differ greatly in their individual development and experience base. The Early Intervention Program (EIP) is designed to serve students who are at risk of not reaching or maintaining academic grade level. The purpose of the Early Intervention Program is to provide additional instructional resources to help students who are performing below grade level obtain the necessary academic skills to reach grade level performance in the shortest possible time. The Early Intervention Program Placement and Exit Criteria are based on documented student performance in ELA/ reading and mathematics and is a part of the Response to Intervention (RTI) framework for providing support to students. The EIP provides a structure for additional instruction to ensure students meet grade level expectations at the elementary level.
REMEDIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM The Remedial Education Program (REP) is an instructional program designed for students in grades 6-12 who have identified deficiencies in reading, writing, or math. This program provides basic skills instruction as mandated by Georgia Law in the areas of reading, writing, and mathematics. The instruction may be provided as a scheduled class with push-in support, a smaller class size, or pull-out support. The REP is a part of the Response to Intervention (RTI) framework for providing support to students. The REP Program provides a structure for additional instruction to ensure students meet grade level expectations at the middle and high school level.
dawsoncountyschools.org
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REACH SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM In 2019, Dawson County will announce its 5th cohort of REACH Georgia Scholars. REACH stands for Realizing Educational Achievement Can Happen (REACH). REACH is a needs-based scholarship designed to promote academic success and expand access to higher education. The program requires students to sign contracts to maintain a certain grade point average, good behavior & attendance, and remain crime & drug free. The scholars also commit to meet with a volunteer mentor and academic coach until they graduate from high school. Additionally, the student’s parents or guardians sign contracts to support their student through their education. When these scholars graduate from high school, they will receive up to a $10,000 scholarship ($2,500 each year for up to four years) to be used at a HOPE eligible Georgia two or four-year college. Many colleges will match this scholarship and some will double match the scholarship, providing scholars additional resources for their college education.
emotional support. The counselors work with teachers and administrators in monitoring and assessing student academic progress. They help to provide scheduling of appropriate interventions that may be needed to help struggling students, as well as, high performing students. Counselors provide career cluster and guidance lessons to students as they work toward becoming college and career ready.
SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING School counselors work with the teachers as advisors to implement character education and social-emotional learning programs. The Voyage: At the elementary level, schools utilize The Voyage curriculum. Through the use of weekly lessons, students study 8 character attributes through developmentally appropriate lessons. The lessons include supplemental videos and activities to reinforce a strong connection between the character attributes and behaviors. Habitudes: At the middle, junior, and senior high levels, schools utilize the Habitudes curriculum. The Habitudes curriculum helps to teach students about integrity, learning to be a leader, the importance of strong leaders, and how to be a positive influence. These are all skills that are not only applicable as a young adult, but throughout life as well.
Dawson County is one of 103 school systems out of 180 that participate in the REACH Georgia scholarship program. REACH Georgia is a key component of the governor’s Complete College Georgia initiative, which calls for and identifies strategies for the state’s public and private colleges to add an additional 250,000 college graduates by 2020 and ensure these students graduate with relevant postsecondary degrees in a timely manner.
CRISIS PREVENTION If you or your child are in crisis, please call toll-free National Suicide Prevention Lifeline* 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
GIFTED EDUCATION
Georgia Crisis & Access Line* | 1-800-715-4225
The vision of the Dawson County Gifted Program is to be an exemplary program as we advocate for and meet the needs of each gifted child. Dawson County Schools provide services to those students who meet the local and state criteria for gifted eligibility utilizing one or more of the following models of service: cluster grouping within a traditional classroom, advanced & accelerated content courses, enrichment & resource support courses, and internships. Gifted students must meet and maintain high performance in both gifted and non-gifted courses to continue services in the program.
Crisis Text Line* | Text “HOME” to 741741 *All calls are confidential and answered 24/7. Each school counselor works to support the district-wide initiative to partner with families and the community in addressing issues and concerns related to suicide, substance abuse, and mental health. Schools will implement the following programs:
COUNSELORS & SUPPORT Each school in the district has a full-time counselor who works to provide students with academic guidance and social46
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Riding the Waves: 5th graders will learn about healthy emotional development, depression, and anxiety. Through a series of 12 lessons throughout the year, the students will learn ways to make healthy decisions, strategies for coping with difficult situations, and how/who/when to ask for help. Signs of Suicide: 6th & 7th graders will be provided with age-appropriate lessons that raise awareness about suicide 2020-2021
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and depression. Students are taught the action steps to take if they encounter a situation that requires help from a trusted adult.
POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS & SUPPORTS (PBIS)
More Than Sad: 8th – 12th graders will learn how to recognize the signs of depression in themselves and others. They will also learn how to challenge the stigma that surrounds depressions and better understand the treatment process.
All Dawson County Schools utilize the PBIS as a framework to prevention and intervention to support academic, social, emotional, and behavioral learning for all students. Through this framework, each school develops positive, predictable, and safe environments that foster the creation of strong interpersonal relationships through teaching, modeling, and providing encouragement. Students are taught social skills and appropriate social behavior expectations. Through this teaching, combined with acknowledgement and feedback, there is an increase in positive behaviors, which promotes a greater climate of productivity, safety, and learning.
Sources of Strength: In partnership with the Suicide Prevention Action Network of Georgia (SPAN-GA), Dawson County students in grades 6 – 12 will participate in Sources of Strength training and implementation. This is a prevention program for suicide, violence, bullying, and substance abuse. Peer leaders and caring adults will be trained and supported in the importance and implementation of connection, hope, help, and strength with fellow students. Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA): YMHFA training has been provided to all administrators, school counselors, support staff, and school nurses across the district. This training provides instruction on how to help adolescents (age 12-18) who are experiencing a mental health or addiction challenge or are in crisis. Training of district leaders will continue in 2019-2020.
SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER & MCKINNEY-VENTO LIAISON The district social worker and McKinney-Vento liaison continually works with the local law enforcement, judicial system, and health care professionals to address the needs of students and their families. They work to address problems students and families face when enrolling, attending, and succeeding in school. The district will continue its partnership with AVITA to provide professional mental health counseling services at the junior and senior high schools.
Attention Parents!
YOUR CHILD CAN EARN COLLEGE CREDIT IN HIGH SCHOOL!
Dual Enrollment Program for Georgia High School Students *Schedule an appointment with your child’s counselor to learn more. dawsoncountyschools.org
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How can I make a difference? If this is a question you have pondered, now may be the time for you to join those who...
Dawson County Schools
How do I BEGIN? • Contact the school district to express your interest. • Complete required backgroud check. • Attend required training session. • Attend MENTOR support meetings. 48
VISIT DCS WEBSITE FOR INFO HTTP://DAWSONCOUNTYSCHOOLS.ORG/ DEPARTMENTS/STUDENT_SERVICES/ M_E_N_T_O_R_DAWSON
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Online Learning Plan for School Closures Dawson County Schools will recover instructional time lost due to school closures by utilizing online learning using Schoology, the district’s online learning management system. We understand and realize that during a weather emergency that there could be sporadic power outages, internet unavailability, etc. That is why our lesson plans have some
FOR 2020-21 SCHOOL YEAR
activities available online and some that your child can complete at home without the use of technology. Upon return to school, students will be given five days to complete any work assigned that may have not been completed. *Refer to individual school and/or website for details.
MIDDLE, JUNIOR HIGH, AND HIGH
• Teachers will post all assignments by 9 a.m. in Schoology on the first O-Learning day. • Assignments will be limited to no more than 20 min/ subject. This includes any assigned reading, multimedia and/or videos. • Students should begin working on their lessons on the day missed when possible. Student work is due five school days after returning to school. • Student attendance is not connected to the completion of work.
2020-21 CLASS SCHEDULE When school is closed, elementary (Grades K-5) will follow an A or B schedule to balance the student workload. ELEMENTARY “A” DAY
ELEMENTARY “B” DAY
English/Language Arts
Math
Social Studies or Science*
Science or Social Studies*
Art (K-2)
Music and PE (K-2)
Music and PE (3-5)
Art (3-5)
Grades 6th-12th will follow their normal schedule for that day, and students will complete lessons for classes they would have attended that day (For example, on Monday, Tuesday and Friday a school may have a seven-period day, while Wednesday and Thursday they may be a block day).
TEACHER COMMUNICATION Prior to school closings, teachers will communicate with parents and students how students can find assignments in Schoology and the mode of communication to use to contact teachers. Additionally, teachers will have digital office hours on the days that school is closed. • Elementary: 9-10 a.m. and 2-3 p.m. • Middle and High: 10-11 a.m. and 1-2 p.m.
*Refer to individual school for details. Please note that elementary schools may have additional specials. Please refer to the individual school for details. dawsoncountyschools.org
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Technology Department The purpose of the Dawson County School System is to be an exemplary district, with outstanding staff, that prepares students to compete globally. We believe we can prepare students to compete globally by offering opportunities for personalized learning. DawsonLEAD represents Learning & Engagement Achieved Digitally, and encompasses all instructional technology initiatives. DawsonLEAD includes the one to one mobile device initiative, the district wide learning management system (Schoology LMS), Google Apps for Education, and preparing all of our students to become college and career ready.
Teachers
WILL USE TECHNOLOGY TO SUPPORT MORE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT INSTRUCTION IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS: • Use resource tools to access information that supports their instructional efforts. • Teach lessons using technology resources that provide for diverse student populations. • Use software that supports their administrative tasks. • Use adaptive/assistive devices for special needs students. • Model responsible, ethical, and legal uses of technology.
Students
WILL USE TECHNOLOGY TO FACILITATE LEARNING AND IMPROVE ACHIEVEMENT IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS: • Use resource tools to access information that supports their learning efforts. • Use software that supports their learning tasks. • Use technology resources to help support student achievement. • Demonstrate computer literacy skills. • Demonstrate responsible, ethical and legal uses of technology.
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POWERSCHOOL SCHOOLOGY Schoology is Dawson County’s Learning Management System. This is the teacher’s online classroom for content delivery to our students. This is also the platform for online learning.
PowerSchool is Dawson County’s Student Information System. This is where attendance and grades are recorded.
CLASSLINK Classlink is Dawson County’s Single Sign On platform. Here, students can login one time and have access to all DCS’s online educational resources.
Everything you need to know About Dawson County Technology
IPADS
DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP
All students grade K-12 will be issued an iPad. The DCS technology committee selected these devices because it was the most flexible device for assessment and instruction.
Dawson County Schools is working to ensure a positive school culture and climate that supports safe and reasonable technology use. All students go through an age appropriate digital citizenship curriculum.
NETWORK SECURITY Dawson County Schools takes content filtering seriously. DCS deploys the latest in firewall & network security to help keep your children safe online. dawsoncountyschools.org
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Health Services
School Nurses
IN DAWSON COUNTY SCHOOLS Dawson County Health Service’s team believes that a life lived with optimal health directly affect academic success of a child. We are proud to be a part of a team that supports the whole student, mentally and physically, throughout their educational years. The goal for our students is that “every child that comes to school is healthy, safe, and ready to learn.” To ensure that our goal is met, our clinical staff members abide by the National Association of School Nurses Framework for the 21st Century School Nursing Practice. This framework includes using evidence based standards in everyday clinical practice, being a medical liaison for healthcare coordination throughout our community, advocating for each and every child, continually monitoring and improving the care that is given, and remaining culturally competent and aware of the social determinants of health that affect our students, teachers, and staff. Our school nurses are a primary resource for the management of acute and chronic medical conditions, health related issues, as well as health education and promotion throughout the school year. We are devoted to providing a high level of quality care to each student we serve and dedicated to improving the health and well-being of our community.
Stop Germs! Wash Your Hands.
Mrs. Vikki Brannon BSN, RN, MSN NBCSN Director of Youth Health Services vbrannon@dawson.k12.ga.us
Handwashing: Keeping Your Family Healthy
When?
Handwashing is an easy, cheap, and effective way to prevent the spread of germs and keep kids and adults healthy. When your family is healthy, you don’t have to worry about missing school, work, or other activities.
• After using the bathroom • Before, during, and after preparing food • Before eating food
Help your child develop handwashing skills
• Before and after caring for someone at home who is sick with vomiting or diarrhea • After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
Parents and caretakers play an important role in teaching children to wash their hands. Handwashing can become a lifelong healthy habit if you start teaching it at an early age. Teach kids the five easy steps for handwashing—wet, lather, scrub, rinse, and dry—and the key times to wash hands, such as after using the bathroom or before eating. You can find ways to make it fun, like making up your own handwashing song or turning it into a game.
• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing • After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste • After handling pet food or pet treats • After touching garbage
How?
Lead by example Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Be sure to lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
Rinse hands well under clean, running water.
Dry hands using a clean towel or air dry them.
Keeping hands clean is one of the most important things we can do to stop the spread of germs and stay healthy.
www.cdc.gov/handwashing
www.cdc.gov/handwashing This material was developed by CDC. The Life is Better with Clean Hands Campaign is made possible by a partnership between the CDC Foundation, GOJO, and Staples. HHS/CDC does not endorse commercial products, services, or companies.
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Young children learn by imitating the behaviors of adults in their lives. When you make handwashing part of your routine, you’re setting an example for your children to follow.
This material was developed by CDC. The Life is Better with Clean Hands Campaign is made possible by a partnership between the CDC Foundation, GOJO, and Staples. HHS/CDC does not endorse commercial products, services, or companies. CS310027-A
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Information: If you are a Dawson resident who will be 65+ during the 2019-2020 school year, or if you are a Dawson County Schools (DCS) retiree, you are eligible to receive an annual 1D Golden Pass.
THE 1D GOLDEN PASS ENTITLES YOU TO THE FOLLOWING SPECIAL PRIVILEGE: • Admission to DCS home high school athletic events. (Free admission does not extend to away games, play-off games, graduation or PTO/A sponsored events.) • Golden Passes are issued at Dawson County High School front office, 1665 Perimeter Rd, Dawsonville, GA 30534, Monday Friday of regular school days, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Please present a valid Driver’s License or I.D. • $20 card processing fee
DAWSON COUNTY SCHOOLS TRANSPORTATION “Safely Transporting Dawson County’s Future”
e r ’ e W And
Looking for Bus Drivers!
• Appealing Work Schedule • Benefits • CDL Training • $500 Incentive
Apply online at: dawsoncountyschools.org or call 706.216.5568 dawsoncountyschools.org
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DAWSON COUNTY SCHOOLS
2020-2021 STUDENT CALENDAR July
August
3-6 7
JULY 2020
Pre-planning First Day of School
S 5 12 19 26
September
October
7 Labor Day (No School) 24-28 Fall Break
22 23
Early Release/ Parent Conference Prof. Dev. (Student Holiday)
December
Early Release/ 11 Veteran’s Day 23-27 Thanksgiving Holiday
Early Release & 22 st Last day of 1 Sem. 23-31 Holiday Break
January
February
1 4 5 18
S 6 13 20 27
11 12 15
S 1 8 15 22 29
Prof. Dev. (Student Holiday) Student/Staff Holiday Presidents’ Day (No School)
March 11 12
April Early Release/Parent Conference Prof. Dev. (Student Holiday)
5-9
26 27-28
nd
School Hours Elementary Middle Junior High High
T 1 8 15 22 29
M 2 9 16 23 30
T 3 10 17 24
S 3 10 17
M 4 11 18 24/31 25
S 7 14 21 28
TOTAL DAYS 180 - Students 190 - Staff
Begin End 8:10 a.m. 3:05 p.m. 7:45 a.m. 2:45 p.m. 7:40 a.m. 2:30 p.m. 7:40 a.m. 2:30 p.m.
M 7 14 21 28
W 2 9 16 23 30
W 4 11 18 25
T 5 12 19 26
W 6 13 20 27
M 1 8 15 22 29
T 2 9 16 23 30
W 3 10 17 24 31
TH 5 12 19 26
TH 7 14 21 28
TH 4 11 18 25
MAY 2021 S 2 9 16 23 30
M 3 10 17 24 31
Early Release 12:30 p.m. 12:15 p.m. 12:00 p.m. 12:00 p.m.
T 4 11 18 25
W 5 12 19 26
TH 6 13 20 27
F 3 10 17 24 31
S 4 11 18 25
18 Days
F 4 11 18 25
S 5 12 19 26
16 Days
F 6 13 20 27
W 5 12 19 26
TH 6 13 20 27
F 7 14 21 28
S 4 11 18 25
M 5 12 19 26
T 6 13 20 27
W 7 14 21 28
TH 1 8 15 22 29
M 7 14 21 28
T 1 8 15 22 29
W 2 9 16 23 30
S 7 14 21 28
M 1 8 15 22
T 2 9 16 23
W 3 10 17 24
S 4 11 18 25
M 5 12 19 26
T 6 13 20 27
W 7 14 21 28
TH 3 10 17 24 31
F 5 12 19 26
S 6 13 20 27
M 7 14 21 28
T W TH 1 2 3 8 9 10 15 16 17 22 23 24 29 30
Early Release
Pre/Post Planning/Prof. Dev.
First/Last Day of Semester
Student/Staff Holiday
S 6 13 20 27
17 Days
TH 1 8 15 22 29
S 5 12 19 26
17 Days
TH 4 11 18 25
2020-2021
F 4 11 18 25
F 2 9 16 23 30
S 3 10 17 24
F 4 11 18 25
S 5 12 19 26
JUNE 2021
S 3 10 17 24 31
16 Days
APRIL 2021
S 6 13 20 27
S 1 8 15 22 29
S 6 13 20 27
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F 2 9 16 23 30
S 1 8 15 22 29
21 Days
FEBRUARY 2021
S 2 9 16 23 30
18 Days
F 7 14 21 28
T 4 11 18 25
OCTOBER 2020
S 7 14 21 28
22 Days
F 5 12 19 26
M 3 10 17 24 31
DECEMBER 2020
18 Days
F 1 8 15 22 29
S 2 9 16 23 30
542020-2021 CALENDAR
TH 3 10 17 24
MARCH 2021
Spring Break
June Last Day of 2 Sem. & Early Release Post Planning
TH 2 9 16 23 30
JANUARY 2021
May
W 1 8 15 22 29
NOVEMBER 2020
Holiday Break Prof. Dev. (Student Holiday) Students Return MLK Day (No School)
T 7 14 21 28
SEPTEMBER 2020
November
M 6 13 20 27
17 Days
AUGUST 2020
Peter Truong* FIC 208 Bradford Street Gainesville, GA 30501 678-997-3111 peter.h.truong@mwarep.org
Heather Failla* 135 Prominence Ct. Suite 140 Dawsonville, GA 30534 770-545-4310 heather.a.failla@mwarep.org
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