Dragon Digest
Volume 6, Issue 6 - January 2022
JANUARY CALENDAR OF EVENTS
1/6: 3rd Quarter begins with new Connections classes.
1/10: Return to Face-to-Face Instruction
1/11: AOL
1/12: AOL
1/12: Soccer Skills Assessments 4:30 pm - 5:45 pm
1/13: Local School Council Meeting (Virtual and In-Person)
1/14: Deadline for Out-of-District Requests
1/14: Pride Awards
1/14-1/22: 7th Grade Boys and Girls Basketball Playoffs
1/17: Martin Luther King Jr. (Student/Staff Holiday)
1/18: SEAD Lesson
1/19: AOL
1/22: Robotics Club @ Alliance Academy of Innovation
1/25-1/29: 8th Grade Boys and Girls Basketball Playoffs
1/25: AOL
1/26: AOL
2/5: The Great Dane Experience (Rising 9th Graders)
PRINCIPAL'S LETTER
Dear DeSana Families,
I wanted to apologize for the delay in getting our monthly newsletter out to you all as we were preparing for asynchronous learning days this past week. I also wanted to thank you all for your continued support of our outstanding teachers as they ensured that our students had a smooth transition into asynchronous learning on January 6th and 7th. I truly believe that students learn best face-to-face!
In order to help us stay face-to-face, I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to keep your child home if they are exhibiting any symptoms of COVID-19. As a school, we will do whatever it takes to remain face-to-face. We need everyone to do their part in helping us all to stay healthy!
In addition, we are reinstituting the following mitigation measures:
Cafeteria capacity will be reduced to allow for spacing between students at lunch.
Students will eat in classrooms or the cafeteria on alternating days.
Masks are strongly encouraged when indoors.
Reminders to Mask Up, Wash Up, Cover Up, and practice social distancing when feasible.
Only essential visitors are allowed, and these visitors will be encouraged to wear a mask and will need to be symptom-free.
As we transition into the third quarter of the year, it is paramount that students maintain their momentum and finish the next two quarters strong. You should be able to access your child’s grades via the Parent Portal. If you are having issues with Parent Portal, please click here. If your child did not perform as well as you hoped, we are here to help. Please reach out first and foremost to your child’s teacher. Also, you can reach out to our Student Support Specialist, Jamie Bagget or your child’s counselor regarding resources for additional support.
We continue to experience shortages in our custodial and cafeteria staff. While we are able to overcome many of these challenges, students will be eating in our classrooms for the foreseeable future during lunch which will help us reduce the workload on our custodians, while also ensuring we maintain cleanliness.
As we kick off 2022, I certainly hope that you all have the best year ever and that our students finish this year strong!
Sincerely,
Keith Sargent
Principal
COVID-19 UPDATES
Please click here regarding updated COVID-19 facts for families.
If your child is being tested for COVID‐19, they must stay home until the test results are received.
If your child tests positive for COVID-19, contact our nurse, Samantha Tilley at f39768@forsyth.k12.ga.us.
- For attendance related questions, please email Lisa Garcia at lgarcia@forsyth.k12.ga.us.
Reminders From Nurse Sam
Please keep students home if they are sick. Also, do NOT send your child to school if he/she is exhibiting ANY symptoms of COVID-19. Symptoms include the following: fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or new loss of taste and smell. If your child has a health condition requiring medications or an action plan, please reach out to me at f39768@forsyth.k12.ga.us. I want to make sure we have everything needed for your child to be safe at school.
AWARDS CELEBRATION
2nd Quarter Pride Awards
On Friday, January 14th at 9:30 am our DeSana faculty, staff and administration will host our PRIDE Award Celebration for the second quarter of this school year. Thirty-two sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students, who were selected by their teachers, will be honored at this formal occasion for exemplifying the following wonderful attributes and characteristics:
Practices Random Acts of Kindness
Ready and Willing to Work Hard
Integrity Coupled with Responsible Behavior
Demonstrates Outstanding and Honest Efforts
Exceeds Expectations
Our honored students will receive an invitation to attend this celebration, along with their parents receiving one to join the celebration virtually. DeSana teachers and administrators will recognize each young Dragon with a PRIDE pin and a personalized plaque. Thank you, Keith Williams of All-American Specialties for designing and donating the individualized plaques for each PRIDE Award honoree!
We look forward to honoring some extraordinary students for the second quarter of the school year at DeSana!
DISTRICT UPDATES
TRANSPORTATION UPDATES
Bus Routes
As we welcome students back into our building on January 10th, please note that we may experience delays in transporting students to and from school. The administrative team will always remain at school until the last bus drops students off.
Car Rider Line
COUNSELING CORNER
Sarah Coats: 6th grade
Georgie Walters: 7th grade
Aimee Tarver: 8th grade
Jamie Baggett: Student Support SpecialistAttention 8th Grade Parents
It’s hard to believe that we are now entering your student’s final semester here at DeSana! Before you know it, high school registration will be upon us and your current 8th grader will be thinking more like a 9th grader! High school transition activities have already begun and we want to make sure that parents/guardians are aware of a few very important dates and information related to the transition.
At the end of January, Denmark High School will be mailing postcards to rising 9th graders with the full Registration Timeline.
On January 31st, February 3rd and February 4th, our 8th grade counselor Ms. Tarver will be going into the classrooms to work with our 8th graders on their Individual Graduation Plan (IGP) and discuss high school course selection.
On February 5th, our 8th graders will visit Denmark High School for The Great Dane Experience. This 3 hour experience will expose rising 9th graders to the Denmark High School campus and counselors. (*Please be advised that as of now this in-person tour has not been canceled; however, with our current climate, this could change to a virtual format).
In mid-February, you will receive a link to begin registering your rising 9th grader for high school courses in Parent Portal. The instructions for this process can be found here on our website.
ATHLETICS
Visit our website for important information related to Athletic Physicals for our sports programs.
Track and Field
Tryouts begin February 16th and 17th at 4:30pm. All student/athletes must have a physical on file with the school to participate. See DeSana athletics website for more information.
Head Coach: Joey Robinson
Golf
Tryouts begin February 16th. All student/athletes must have a physical on file with the school to participate. See DeSana Athletics website for more information.
Head Coach: Jenn Schuster
Football
If you are interested in trying out for the DeSana Football team, please email Head Coach Tyler Riddle at TRiddle@forsyth.k12.ga.us and include your student's name and your contact information.
Soccer
Soccer skills assessment will be held Wednesday, January 12th from 4:30 pm - 5:45 pm. All 7th and 8th graders wanting to participate this season MUST attend. 6th Graders need to look for an ItsLearning message from the coaches. Must have a current physical on file.
Coaches: Dan Praskovich and Maggie Palin