Dragon Digest
Volume 6, Issue 3 - October 2021
PRINCIPAL'S LETTER
Dear DeSana Families,
It is nice to finally have a hint of Fall in the air and we certainly hope both you and your children were able to enjoy some quality family time during Fall Break! As we transition from September to October, we will end our first quarter on Wednesday, October 13, and the second quarter will begin on Thursday, October 14. With the beginning of our second quarter, please remember that beginning Thursday, October 14, students will report to their homeroom teacher (Dragon Time) to pick up their new schedule and begin their new Connections classes. As a friendly reminder, we rotate our schedule each quarter throughout the school year. Students will still have their same core academic classes with their same teachers, only at different times during the day.
On Wednesday, October 20 and Thursday, October 21, DMS will host Virtual Parent-Teacher-Student Conference Days. For these two conference days, students will attend school for a half day and will be released at 1:30 pm. As with the previous half days, there will be no checkouts after 1:00 pm and the car rider line can pull forward at 1:05 pm. Grade level team teachers will begin sending out conference notices regarding the availability of conference times the week of October 11. You may elect to have a phone conference or virtual conference. In order to accommodate as many parents as we can during the conference days, teachers are scheduling 20-minute time slots. Teachers may also offer conference times on other days rather than just these two conference days. While conferences are not required, we want to honor all requests for a conference. We know many of you keep up with your child's academic progress through Parent Portal or communicate regularly with your child’s teachers. Please know that conferences are not required. Also, as a reminder, Friday, October 22, is a student holiday.
Finally, Nine Week Progress Reports for all students will be available on Parent Portal beginning Thursday, October 21. We will not be sending home a hard copy of progress reports this year. If you have not signed up to have Parent Portal Access, please follow these steps to gain access.
Your child’s Nine Week Progress Report is an excellent marker for the half-way point for the first semester. The Nine Week Progress Report is not the final grade for the semester. The final grade for the semester occurs at the 18 weeks in December. The Nine Week Progress Report will show your child’s formative average, summative average, and their present course average for each academic course. In addition, you will also see your child’s absences for each course.
Sincerely,
Keith Sargent
Principal
DeSana Middle School
ADVANCED STUDIES
Please click here for updates regarding students currently enrolled in Advanced Studies courses and options to potentially withdraw from Advanced Studies.
EDUCATIONAL SETTING SURVEY FOR THE SECOND SEMESTER
Families will have the choice to select the educational setting for their child for the second semester beginning Monday, October 11, starting at 9:00 am through Friday, November 5, at 4:00 pm. We are asking you to fill out this survey ONLY if you wish TO CHANGE your child from either in-person to virtual or from virtual to in-person.
If you want your child to remain in their current educational setting, there is NO NEED to fill out the survey. Your child will remain in their current educational setting if you do not fill out the survey.
Once the window has closed, there will be no extension of the deadline.
PARTNER IN EDUCATION HIGHLIGHT
On behalf of the faculty and staff at DeSana Middle School, we would like to thank RBM of Alpharetta for their continued generosity and support! RBM of Alpharetta has gone above and beyond in supporting the needs of our school, especially our students. Please be sure to show your support and appreciation to RBM of Alpharetta!
PTO UPDATES
DeSana Middle School would like to thank the Chadbourne neighborhood for their donations of classroom supplies to not only DeSana Middle School, but also Brandywine Elementary School and Denmark High School. The supplies will be distributed to our teachers by the PTO.
Come to the DeSana vs Piney Grove tailgate and home football game on October 5th. DeSana students receive a FREE piece of pizza if the family is a registered PTO member.
Parents, please join the PTO and support our school and students. All funds raised by the PTO go directly back to DeSana. Visit https://bit.ly/2Cz5gYZ, fill out an easy form and select a membership level.
LOST & FOUND
Lost and found items not claimed by Friday, October 15, will be donated. Please remind your student to retrieve items they may have left behind at the table nearest the stairs by the counseling office.
YEARBOOKS ON SALE NOW!
If you have not already done so, please click here to order your child’s yearbook. Please reach out to Ms. Kristy Ventre if you have any questions at f39278@forsyth.k12.ga.us.
COUNSELOR'S CORNER
Sarah Coats: 6th grade
Georgie Walters: 7th grade
Aimee Tarver: 8th grade
Jamie Baggett: Student Support Specialist
Parents of current 8th grade students - Save the Date for Coffee & Conversation with Ms. Tarver and Denmark High School counselors Tuesday, October 12th at 9:15 AM.
If you are interested in becoming a mentor for our students at DeSana, please follow this link! If you have any questions, please contact Georgie Walters at glwalters@forsyth.k12.ga.us.
TEACHER OF THE YEAR
Please join me in congratulating Ms. Lizzette Nixon for being named DeSana Middle School’s Teacher of the Year! Ms. Nixon teaches Spanish I as well as Spanish for Native Speakers.
BASKETBALL AND CHEERLEADING
Girls Basketball:
Interest Meeting: Friday, October 1st at 8:50 am in the gym for 7th & 8th grade girls.
Open Gym: October 12th and 14th from 7:30 am - 8:30 am.
Tryouts: October 20th and 21st from 7:00 am - 8:30 am.
Please email Coach Kyle Keener at f39858@forsyth.k12.ga.us for more information.
Boys Basketball:
Interest Meeting: Friday, October 1st at 8:50 am in the gym for 7th & 8th grade girls.
Open Gym: October 12th and 14th from 7:30 am - 8:30 am.
Tryouts: October 25th and October 26th from 6:45 am - 8:30 am each day.
Please email Coach Joseph Clack at joclack@forsyth.k12.ga.us for more information.
Basketball Cheerleading:
Interest Meeting: Friday, October 1st at 8:50 am in the gym.
Cheer Clinic: October 13th and 14th from 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm.
Cheer Tryout: October 15th from 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm (please note we may end after 5:30 pm)
Please email Coach Dianne Eidson at deidson@forsyth.k12.ga.us for more information.
SIGN UP FOR THE FORSYTH BYOT BENEFIT iCHALLENGE!!
Over 2000 families in Forsyth County do not have Internet in their homes. With so much of the schoolwork requiring online access, we want to make a difference in the lives of those who do not have the same privileges as others. In seven years, the Forsyth BYOT Benefit has raised over $350,000 to put internet in the homes and devices in the hands of students without them. This has been accomplished through the efforts of our sponsors, golfers, runners and volunteers. Please click the following link: https://runsignup.com/BYOT
"The last 18 months have been challenging for everyone. As a school district we were well positioned due to the generosity of Dr. Jim and Peggie Morrow and the Forsyth BYOT Benefit. Because of their support, and our community’s support of events such as the iChallenge, we have been able to meet the needs of all students whether they are learning virtually or in-person. Over the years, the Forsyth BYOT Benefit has raised more than $350,000. This huge sum of money has enabled us to purchase devices and connectivity for families in need. As we begin a new school year that still is surrounded with uncertainty we must be prepared. ‘Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.’ Forsyth County Schools will be ready for any scenario. Unfortunately, we are not able to have our planned Evening of Elegance. That does not mean we don’t have needs. We do. I ask all who can, to please contribute and take part in the iChallenge. Your donations help us meet the demands of our most vulnerable population. We are all in this together. And, together, as a community, we must meet the needs of all of our children. Thank you for your continued support of the Forsyth BYOT Benefit and Forsyth County Schools." -- Superintendent Dr. Jeff Bearden
IMPORTANT OCTOBER DATES
10/2: Robotics Club at Alliance
10/5: Home Football Game @ DMS 5:00 pm (Bring your chairs)
10/7: Fall Concert Symphonic Bands
10/11: Fall Chorus Concert
10/11:Educational Setting Survey emailed
10/12: Football vs. Gainesville @ Denmark 6:30 pm
10/12: 8th Grade Parents: Coffee and Conversation with Denmark High School Counselors @ 9:15 am
10/14: Second Quarter Begins
10/15: Last day to claim lost & found items
09/15-10/15: Hispanic Heritage Month
10/18-10-/25: Pumpkin Decorating Contest
10/19: Football Playoffs TBD
10/20: Early Release @1:30 pm
10/21: Early Release @ 1:30 pm & Progress Reports available via Parent Portal
10/22: Student Holiday
10/23: Robotics Club at Otwell
10/25-10/29: Red Ribbon Week