DRAGON DIGEST
VOLUME 3, ISSUE 8 / NOVEMBER 30, 2018
PRINCIPAL'S LETTER
Dear DeSana Parents,
As we head down the home stretch of this first semester - - - these last 3 weeks of school before the Winter Break - - - we are once again encouraging all of our young Dragons to finish strong for this first semester! This is the message that we will be sharing with our students daily starting Monday of next week, and this is the mantra we will continue to rally our students with all the way until the end on December 20th . . . to finish strong - - - both in their academics and with their self-discipline! Throughout these last 3 weeks of this first semester we will encourage and insist that every student works hard . . . that they do their work . . . that they give maximum effort . . . and that they do their absolute best. Every young Dragon needs to make sure that he/she has not only mastered the standards taught throughout this semester, but that he/she has also proven his/her mastery of these concepts and standards on assessments, through writing assignments, and their work on projects. Indeed, we want every student here at DeSana to Finish Strong!
Parents, I ask that as a partner with DeSana in your child’s education, you also carry forth this mantra of finish strong with your young Dragon. Ask your young Dragon if she has completed all of her assignments and turned them in for this semester. Trust, but verify your student’s answer by checking Parent Portal to see if he is correct. Remember: your young Dragon is a middle schooler - - - prone to forget many things! See if there are any summative assessments your student needs to retake to show better mastery of the concepts and, if so, insist that she makes arrangements to do so . . . but first arrange for a reteach/relearn time with the teacher so your child makes sure she has a good grasp of the concepts before assessing again. Ask if your young Dragon needs to come in for an extra tutoring session or two with a teacher so he can ace his last assessment. Help your middle schooler review vocabulary with flashcards. Help her study for an upcoming test. Make sure he has completed his final project in a class. And continue to ask your young Dragon every Wednesday evening or Thursday morning what teacher she is going to for AOL time - - - Additional Opportunity to Learn Time --- on Thursday mornings to get some extra help in her studies.
And lastly, even though it is an incredibly busy and wonderful time of the year with many special family holiday gatherings, activities and events happening, please let your young Dragon know that you expect his/her education to still take a top priority, and that you expect him/her to finish strong! Once again, take this opportunity to let your middle schooler know that you are there to support and encourage him/her with his/her academic pursuits, and that you believe in your young Dragon’s ability to do well in school. Nothing is more powerful or has a greater influence with your young adolescent than your voice and your expectations . . . even when your middle schooler “acts like” what you say does not matter at all. Believe me, it does matter!
Thanking you in advance for continuing to partner with us these last 3 weeks of this first semester to help your young Dragon - - - all of our young Dragons - - - Finish Strong!
With warmest regards,
Terri A. North
Principal
DESANA DAY OF GOOD DEEDS
BECOME A D3 DAY FAMILY OR CORPORATE SPONSOR
Please consider becoming a D3 Day Family sponsor or if you own a business consider being a corporate sponsor. A $50 Family sponsorship will get your Family name on the back of our D3 Day t-shirts. Consider what your $50 will help purchase:
- $15= shipping cost for 1 goodie box for active duty Troops overseas (Goal: 50 boxes) (postage for Treat the Troop boxes- US government does not pay for this)
- $25= 203 diapers and wipes will make 385 diaper/wipe packs (Goal: 400 )(NFCC-North Fulton Community Charities)
- $50= fleece fabric for 10 blankets (Goal: 75) (Project Linus, Family Promise, Homeless shelters)
- $75= 22 entertainment bags with puzzles and games for children (Goal 400) (SAFFT, CHOA, Hugh Spalding, Northside Hospital)
- $100= 59 lunches for at risk or homeless children (Goal 432) (Bags of Love, homeless children)
If you own a business and would like to donate to D3 Day or would like to be a family sponsor, please contact Dawn Bourg or Jennifer Harris (dawn@bourgs.com jharris@campharris.org), all donations are tax deductible
COLLECTIONS FOR D3 DAY
What do we need this year? Collection boxes will be located in the atrium of the school.
- Magazines (particularly men's magazines) to send in the Treat the Troops boxes.
- One yard of new fleece for cat toys
- Old towels and blankets to donate to animal shelters
PTO
PTO FUNDRAISER
Thank you to the parents who have contributed to the 2018 Fall "One and Done" Fundraiser. We have raised roughly 20% of our goal of and have decided to extend the Fundraiser through December 7th. Please keep in mind that the money collected at the beginning of the year was for PTO membership and goes to fund events and teachers, but unfortunately, memberships alone don’t raise the type of budget we need to support our teachers and students. This fundraiser takes the place of a Readathon, or our Dragons selling wrapping paper, magazine, cookies or other items. Click here for a peek at the awesome items you have a chance of winning depending on your level of support! Our goal is to raise AT LEAST $10,000! Please click here to make your donation. 100% of the funds will go directly back into the school by way of teacher grants, D3 Day support, social events and other items needed to help make DeSana the best it can be! Thank you in advance for your support!
ACADEMICS
FCS COLLEGE AND CAREER FAIR
DeSana Middle School 8th Grade Students will attend FCS College and Career Fair on December 14, 2018. Each year our school system hosts a college and career fair for all 8th grade students at Lanier Tech. This year the date is Friday, December 14. Students will need a completed permission form returned prior to departure at 9:00 AM. The permission forms were given to students on November 27th in Dragon Time. There is NO COST for students to participate for this wonderful experience!
Students will visit information booths at the conference center regarding various career pathway exploration and learn more about businesses/industries in our community. We are asking that students dress professional for this event. If you have any questions please email Ms. Baggett at jbaggett@forsyth.k12.ga.us or Ms. Epperson at sepperson@forsyth.k12.ga.us.
DRAGON ACADEMY FOR THE 2018-2019 SCHOOL YEAR - - - AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ADDITIONAL LEARNING & ASSESSMENT TIME FOR STUDENTS!
Dragon Academy is an opportunity we offer students throughout this year from 4:15-6:15 for completing, taking or re-taking formative and/or summative assessments (i.e. unit tests, projects, essays, quizzes. etc.). Dragon Academy happens at least two times a month --- on Fridays --- with teachers and an administrator supervising each session. It is a fantastic opportunity for students to drastically improve both their learning and their grades. Students are be invited by their teachers . . . or they may invite themselves . . . to attend Dragon Academy if they are missing work or need to re-take an assessment to show better mastery of the standards or complete a project. Although students have about two hours to complete their work, once they complete all that they came to accomplish, students are able to call their parent to come pick them up. Snacks and drinks are sold for a very reasonable cost so students may focus on their work, not on their gurgling stomachs! Any necessary school supplies are provided for students to use to complete their work, as needed.
Please mark your calendars now for these Dragon Academy dates for the rest of the school year:
· December 7 & 14
· January 25
· February 8 & 22
· March 15 & 29
· April 19 & 26
· May 3 & 10
ATHLETICS
DENMARK COMMUNITY MIDDLE SCHOOL BASKETBALL NIGHT
Denmark Community Basketball Night, featuring all four girls and boys teams of DeSana battling Piney Grove on this Friday evening, has a new location! All four games will now be played at DeSana Middle School . . . not Denmark. We hope you will join us for an evening of community fun and fellowship, and some exciting basketball action, this Friday evening! The first game begins at 5:00 in the DeSana gymnasium, with three more games to follow! Click here for all the details.
LADY DRAGONS BASKETBALL
Lady Dragon Basketball season is off a running at DeSana! The girls have been practicing since late October and have already played in two games against Lakeside and Liberty Middle Schools. Here’s a look at their schedule of games for the month of December:
· Friday, November 30 vs Piney Grove at DeSana (7th Grade tips off at 5:00pm and 8th Grade tips off around 7:30pm)
· Tuesday, December 4 at North Forsyth Middle (7th Grade tips off 5:00pm)
· Thursday, December 6 at North Forsyth Middle (8th Grade tips off 5:00pm)
· Tuesday, December 11 at Otwell Middle (7th Grade tips off 5:00pm)
· Thursday, December 13 at Otwell Middle (8th Grade tips off 5:00pm)
· Tuesday, December 18 vs Vickery Creek Middle at DeSana (7th Grade tips off at 5:00pm and 8th Grade tips off around 6:15pm)
THE ARTS
BAND NEWS
We are very excited to have 16 students trying out for the GMEA All State Band and All District Band on December 1st. Our students have been working very hard on their auditions and are eager to try-out for these honor groups. Best wishes and good luck to: Navy A., Zac B., Kai Kai B., Selena C., Srushtee D., Saahil G., Kyle G., Tereya H., Christopher K., Kelis K., Druvitha L., Thomas P., Mahita P., Kanishka P., Sakthi Priya R. and Kunal T.
On December 13th at 7pm in the DeSana Gym, the band program will be presenting its’ 3rd Annual Winter Concert. We will feature all three performing groups, Beginning Band (first performance of the year), Concert Band and Symphonic Band. There will be holiday and secular music performed. We hope that you will be able to attend this exciting event. As always, our concerts are free and open to the public.
Mr. Mitchell has been honored once again by invitation to conduct the Okaloosa County Honor Band in Florida in January. This will be Mr. Mitchells’ 37th honor band he has conducted in his career and we are excited for this honor for Mr. Mitchell. Good luck and have fun with the Okaloosa County kids!
CULTURAL ARTS NIGHT TABLE SPONSORS
DeSana is hosting its first ever Cultural Arts Night on February 7, 2019! We are looking for families willing to sponsor a table to represent their culture. Table sponsors are responsible for making a traditional food dish to share, decorating the table, and standing at the table the night of the event. One family can sponsor a table or multiple families can contribute. If interested, please email Sarah Fogg sfogg@forsyth.k12.ga.us
CULTURAL ARTS NIGHT COOKBOOK
DeSana is compiling a cookbook to sell at our first ever Cultural Arts Night. Please submit a favorite family recipe from your culture by December 20th to Angela Petit apetit@forsyth.k12.ga.us. Don’t forget to include which category the dish should be included in: Appetizer, Main Course, Side Dish, Dessert.
CHORUS
Congratulations to the following students for passing the first round of All-State Auditions:
April C.
Deeksha R.
Elizabeth G.
If you see them around, please join us in congratulating them!
The Winter Chorus Concert will take place on Thursday, December 6th at Denmark High School Performing Arts Theatre. Call time for students is 6pm, dressed in their performance uniform and ready to go! Please remember to park and enter the school by the bus lanes! Nothing like a wonderful Chorus Concert to put you in the holiday spirit!
6TH AND 7TH GRADE UKELELE GROUP
The 6th and 7th Grade Ukulele Classes have been selected to perform at the Board of Education on Thursday, December 13th at 1pm. We WILL be performing songs learned throughout the quarter as well as holiday song favorites!
3RD ANNUAL EXHIBITION OF PHOTOGRAPHIC ART SPONSORED BY THE DESANA PHOTOGRAPHY CLUB
On Thursday evening, December 13th from 7:00 – 8:30, some of our young Dragons, with a keen photographic eye, will exhibit their artistic talents in our 3rd Annual DeSana Exhibition of Photographic Art in the gallery outside of the DeSana gymnasium. This art exhibit is being held in conjunction with our Winter Band Concert. Each budding photographer has created a photo essay centered around a theme of their choosing. Throughout this fall, the DeSana Photography Club has gone on several photography expeditions throughout the Atlanta metro area and beyond, and many of their photographs taken on these outings are the central focus of their exhibit. You won’t want to miss this stellar show of young talent, as well as see the unveiling of the photo chosen as “Best in Show”, so plan on joining us Thursday evening, December 13th, and take in the Winter Band Concert as well!
ALTRUISTIC ENDEAVORS
HOLIDAY HOUSE
DeSana’s Holiday House fundraiser started Monday, November 26! Classrooms will collect money to buy gifts and gift cards for families in our community! We collect toys, money and gift cards from our students and families and present the donations to The Place of Forsyth on December 5 for them to distribute to families in need. Each grade level is collecting something different. Sixth grade is collecting money to go shopping on December 4 at Walmart to buy toys; seventh grade is collecting money to buy gift cards from Walmart, Kroger and other stores; and eighth grade is collecting money to give to our sixth grade shoppers. Help us make this holiday season great for our community!
JUST ONE AFRICA SALE
On Thursday, December 13 students from DeSana’s Just One Africa (JOA) club will be selling JOA merchandise in the Hex before school to both students and staff. Just One Africa is a local organization whose mission is to care for orphans and vulnerable children in Kenya by providing access to clean water and by partnering with local leaders to provide sustainable solutions which create hope through care, education, and community development. Students will be selling several items, including beaded jewelry and holiday ornaments; some of these are items club members helped create in meetings earlier this year! Most items range in cost from $10 to $30; all money earned goes toward the purchase of water filters or other sustainability projects. This sale is a fantastic opportunity for students and staff to buy gifts for friends, family, and/or teachers, and also to support an incredibly worthy cause.
ACTIVITIES
SAVANNAH TRIP
We are so excited about this year’s 8th grade trip to Savannah, GA scheduled for May 8 through May 10! We have 180 students signed up to go which is awesome! If your student is signed up, you should have paid at least $240.00 so far. The first payment of $140.00 was due with the application on or before September 14. The second payment of $100.00 was due on or before November 2. The third and final payment of $100.00 will be due on or before February 1. If you have any questions please email Ms. Baggett at jbaggett@forsyth.k12.ga.us .
MARKETING CLASS DECAL SALE
Decals are basically long-lasting stickers that can be affixed to car windows, mugs, laptops, or any other hard surface and Mrs. Solano’s 1st quarter 7th grade students created their own vinyl decals during a competitive marketing project. The winners from this project will be hosting their second and final decal sale on Wednesday, December 5, 2018, from 8 – 9am in the Hex. Decal prices range from $3 to $5 and proceeds from the sales will benefit community charities selected by the participants.
BOOK FAIR WAS A GREAT SUCCESS!
The media center would like to say THANK YOU to everyone who helped out with our book fair! Whether through volunteering, shopping, or sending in a little money so your child could buy a book, every little bit helped. We had a very successful fair, the students had a blast, and even Frosty paid us a visit. Until next year's fair...keep reading!
SCIENCE OLYMPIAD COMPETITION
On Saturday, December 8th, Science Olympiad will send two teams to the Chattahoochee Invitational at Chattahoochee High School.
PARENT 411 - HELPFUL LINKS FOR YOU
SOAR Student Safety Brochure regarding School Bus Safety
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION
CAREER FAIR PROFESSIONALS NEEDED
FCS is seeking professionals to showcase their business/industry with middle school students on December 14 from 9 AM to 4 PM at the Forsyth Conference Center. Help the next generation explore the career possibilities that await them! Sign up: https://tinyurl.com/yarnmu78 #fccollegecareer
SCHOOL BUS SAFETY
Keeping Our Kids Safe To & From School on the Bus is ALWAYS our #1 Priority! Reviewing these Safety Tips with your child throughout the year serves as good reminders for our young Dragons as to how they can help keep themselves safe at the bus stop and on the bus. Thanking you in advance, parents, for taking a moment and going over this brochure with your child. Click on the link for the brochure:
YEARBOOKS!
2018-2019 DeSana Yearbooks are on sale. Visit balfour.com and order yours today! The price is $45. Students may also see Mrs. West on the 7th grade hall with cash or check.
8th graders! Don’t miss out on the chance for an 8th grade ad. They are 1/8 of a page, cost $15, and are due by January 31, 2019. Directions are attached HERE.
DESANA'S LOCAL SCHOOL COUNCIL (LSC)
The next DeSana LSC meeting will be held on Friday, December 7th at 7:30 AM in the front office conference room. The LSC meets monthly (except for January) at 7:30 AM on the following dates:
· December 7, 2018
· February 8, 2019
· March 1, 2019
· April 12, 2019
· May 3, 2019
Members of the DeSana LSC are:
· Barry Herrin Parent / Businessperson Rep
· Christopher Naffky Parent / Businessperson Rep & LSC Vice Chairperson
· Michael Smith - Parent Rep
· Victor Williams - Parent Rep & LSC Chairperson
· Jennifer Hester-Hall - PTO Rep
· Bridget Bryson - Teacher Rep
· Laureen Krawiec - Teacher Rep & LSC Secretary
· Stacy Dockter - Teacher Rep
· Terri North - Principal
MANY THANKS TO OUR AMAZING BUSINESS PARTNERS!
*ALL AMERICAN SPECIALTIES
*BROWNS BRIDGE CHURCH
*CHICK-FIL-A @ THE COLLECTION
*DUNKIN DONUTS
*DR. HOM PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY & ALPHARETTA COMPREHENSIVE DENTISTRY
*HI FIVE SPORTS
*MARVEL SOCCER
*MILTON DENTAL SPECIALISTS
*NORTH GEORGIA PROMOTIONS
*OMEGA LEARNING
*RBM OF ALPHARETTA
*RISPA
*VERTICAL CHURCH
Forsyth County Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, or gender in employment decisions or educational programs and activities.