DRAGON DIGEST
VOLUME 4, ISSUE 9/ APRIL 2020
PRINCIPAL'S LETTER
Dear DeSana Family Members,
Let me begin by saying how much ALL of our faculty, support personnel and administrators miss seeing and being with our young Dragons in person on a daily basis!! We miss them bunches!! We even miss their middle school antics and drama! It's just not the same interacting with our kids online or over the phone. And we also miss seeing you and talking with you at various DeSana activities and events, parents!
By now I'm sure you have heard the news that Governor Kemp announced that schools will remain closed for in-person instruction for the remainder of this school year. This is truly heartbreaking news to us, but news that we certainly understand during this challenging time when we all seek to help keep everyone safe and healthy. We know many, if not most, of our kids are disappointed about not being back in school and missing out on all of the fun year-end activities and events. We know that this is doubly difficult for our 8th graders as they do not get to have their special 8th grade activities that they have been looking forward to all year. I will tell you that our teachers and administrators are just as bummed as our young Dragons. But even though we will not be together in person again this school year, our hearts are with you and will continue to be throughout this time.
I’m sure you have many questions about a myriad of things. Rest assured we will work diligently and as quickly as we can to provide answers to your questions, so I ask for your patience. We will continue to communicate with you through our many venues --- social media, the DeSana website, and the school system Messenger, so please continue to monitor these as you can and stay in touch.
With FCS Spring Break happening next week, our teachers and staff will be taking a much needed and well-deserved break. They will not be on itslearning or monitoring their emails. I hope that you and your family will also take this time to unplug and enjoy some fun times with family as I am sure it is much needed by you as well. Parents, we can't thank you enough for all of the help and support you have given your children as you were suddenly thrust into the role of helping manage your child(ren)'s education at home, all the while working and/or caring for your family and/or extended family. We know you have LOTS on your plates right now, so please know how much we appreciate you! I also want to thank you for ALL of the support you have shown our teachers as they have quickly and fabulously adjusted to becoming online teachers. Your support means a great deal to us all!
Rest assured, our teachers, support personnel and our admin team will be back at it after Spring Break with online learning once again. We are here for our young Dragons and for you until the end of the school year. Please remember that we are ALL in this together for we are truly a family . . .the DeSana family! Do not hesitate to reach out to us as you need. My email address is tnorth@forsyth.k12.ga.us and my phone number is 770-667-2591, ext. 491515.
As a reminder of just how important it is right now to stay strong as a DeSana Family, here’s a link to our video to view one more time (at least!): https://youtu.be/pTnO8CzTn0o
Here's wishing you a great Spring Break! Keep hope alive and stay healthy and take care!
With warmest wishes,
Terri A. North
Principal
ACADEMICS
ADVANCED STUDIES FOR RISING 7TH & 8TH GRADERS FOR THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR
With the unprecedented circumstances at this time, Advanced Studies Parent/Student Meetings have been canceled. We are working to ensure parents and students are informed of the expectations and factors to consider when signing up for advanced courses here at DeSana.
Are you or your rising 7th or 8th grade student interested in learning about Advanced Studies Courses?
If So . . . Please use this link, https://www.forsyth.k12.ga.us/Page/52766,
The first link on this page is a Virtual Advanced Studies Meeting. Please watch this video.
The registration form for 7th and 8th grade is also available on this page along with the Readiness Checklist for Science, Social Studies, Math and ELA. DeSana administration highly recommends that you and your child fill out the Readiness Checklists for each subject the child would like to attempt and then have a family discussion. During this family discussion, items to address would be the number of “yes” answers on the Readiness Checklist along with the child’s I CAN attitude/motivation, eagerness to embrace the challenge, the extra time commitment per course for studying/reading/research, the amount of extracurricular activities the child is involved with, family commitments, and the overall balancing of life responsibilities. The Readiness Checklist is for you as a family – the checklist does notneed to be turned in to the school.
Originally, our due date for registration forms was April 3rd by 5:30 PM. We have currently extended the due date of registration forms to Friday, May 1, 2020 by 5:30 PM.
How do you turn in your Advanced Studies Registration Form?
We are no longer accepting forms at the school due to the required physical distancing and shelter-in-place order by the Governor.
Alternative for submitting your registration form = email the completed form in an attachment or a picture of the form with signatures to Ms. Epperson, sepperson@forsyth.k12.ga.us. Ms. Epperson will respond with an email that states RECEIVED. This email will serve as your receipt of your registration form. If you do not receive a response email from Ms. Epperson, then she did not receive your email, please contact her via phone at 770-667-2591 ext 492010.
How do I sign my child up for Accelerated Math Testing?
Email Ms. Epperson at sepperson@forsyth.k12.ga.us stating the current math class your child is taking and which date they will attend [July 16th at 9 AM or July 20th at 4 PM]. Ms. Epperson will send you a document that has extra information on the standards your child will need to master.
Do you still have questions?
Contact Ms. Epperson at sepperson@forsyth.k12.ga.us or 770-667-2591 ext 492010.
SPRING FIELD TRIPS AT DESANA
With Governor Kemp’s order that schools will remain closed for in-person instruction for the remainder of this school year, our spring field trips for the different grade levels are now cancelled. Those field trips are:
· 6th Grade Field Trip to the TELLUS Museum in Cartersville
· 7th Grade Extended Day Field Trip to the US National Whitewater Center in North Carolina
· 8th Grade April Extended Day Field Trip to the College Football Hall of Fame & Atlanta Braves Game
· 8th Grade May Extended Day Field Trip to the Atlanta Movie Tour, Mercedes Benz Stadium and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center
We have been in touch with the tour companies that have been organizing and planning some of these trips about the possibility of their cancellation. We will be in touch with them this week and/or next about refunding any monies we have already given them as a deposit. We know that refunding your money in a very timely manner is important to you so we will work as diligently and as quickly as we can to get refunds back to parents. We will also communicate with you how we will make that happen once we determine when it will happen, which we hope will be soon after Spring Break. Thanking you in advance for your patience and your continued support.
TOP 10 TIPS FOR PARENTS FOR ONLINE LEARNING
1. Keep to a schedule. Get up, get dressed, plan what your learning time will be each day and try to keep to a schedule as best as possible. Having a routine helps you get your work done.
2. Have a dedicated space where students will work where they have everything they need.
3. Be organized and have a plan for each day and for the week. If your student knows what needs to be accomplished each day and for the week, he/she will realize that a plan to complete assignments will prevent all the work from piling up.
4. Take a break as needed. Go outside for a walk, have a snack, enjoy time with a furry friend!
5. Put other devices/apps in quarantine while school work is being done. Video games and social media are very tempting and distracting from school work so try to limit student access to those while working.
6. Monitor your student as they work. You don’t have to sit with him or her the entire time, but check to be sure they are engaged by seeing if his/her eyes are following along with the monitor or if he/she seems checked out. Ask questions about assignments to see if actual learning is taking place. And of course check itslearning for completion information.
7. Take advantage of resources. Free audible books, e-libraries, virtual field trips of museums and zoos are just some of the resources out there.
8. Take time to learn away from screens. It’s never wrong to take time to read. What are your student’s Connections classes this quarter? Practice singing, a band instrument, paint a picture, design a robot!
9. Let students connect with one another. The friendships and daily interactions will surely be missed during this quarantine time. Give students times to face time with friends, for fun as well as to talk about school.
10. Don’t go it alone! We’re all in this together! Reach out to your student’s teachers with questions or concerns. Talk to other parents to see what is working for them. And let’s all be positive and encouraging to each other and our students!
** Tips taken from the following two articles:
https://www.metroparent.com/daily/education/homeschooling/tips-for-digital-at-home-learning/
SPRING BREAK --- April 6th – 10th
Spring Break for all Forsyth County Schools is next week . . . a welcome and much-deserved break for all from three weeks of online learning, I’m sure!! Teachers will not be giving any assignments for students to work on during this break. However, if a student has some work to catch up on from previous assignments, spring break would be the perfect time for young Dragons to get caught up! And READING is always a wonderful option! Please also know that teachers will not be on itslearning or checking emails during this break, as well. They also need this time away from teaching and learning to recharge their batteries. And DeSana’s office will be closed. Even though Spring Break 2020 may be quite different than any other one you have ever experienced, I hope it is filled with lots of fun and good times with family. Please see our article in this Dragon Digest about fun suggestions to do over Spring Break. And I’m sure as a family, you will invent some new ways to relax and enjoy the break! Take care and Happy Spring Break!!
FORSYTH COUNTY SCHOOLS TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT CENTER
If students are having hardware issues with school-issued Chromebooks, they will have the opportunity to drop them off for repairs at the Technology Support Center - located at 1130 Dahlonega Highway, Cumming, GA 30040 (Note: this is the cafeteria building directly behind Central Office). Parents may simply drop off the Chromebook with a Technology Specialist at the facility. Parents should be prepared to supply their contact information – phone number and/or email – so that they may be contacted upon completion of the repairs. Please do not call to check on the status of the repair. The drop off dates are as follows:
- High Schools/Middle Schools - April 13th - 17th
- Elementary Schools - April 27th – May 1st
Please Note- Devices will NOT be repaired while waiting due to social distancing recommendations. Drop off times are 9:00 – 11:00 am and 1:00 – 4:00 pm. Repair services for personal devices are NOT accepted as this service is only for district or school owned devices.
TIPS FROM DESANA TEACHERS FOR DOING YOUR BEST WITH ONLINE LEARNING!
· Don't do everything at one time...take some time to yourself...take a break...play some, walk the dog, do some YOU time!
· Students & parents should not be shy about reaching out to teachers about things they do not understand. Remember that at DeSana, asking questions is a GOOD thing! It means you want to know, grow and understand.
· Many DeSana teachers are hosting “google meet” help sessions for students. If your teacher is, and you are having difficulty understanding some concepts, tune in when they have these help sessions. They can be quite helpful!
· When a teacher asks for your feedback, he/she sincerely wants your honest feedback about a lesson or an assignment. That is the only way we can get better at teaching online and meeting our students’ needs. We’re all in this together as we explore and use online learning for an extended period of time. So help us help you! 😊
· The teaching and work that your Connections teachers are doing with you and assigning you is important work! We want you to do this work as well. Many times, the assignments they are giving you are somewhat different from the work you are doing in your math, ELA, science and social studies courses, and asks you to apply some different skills and knowledge . . . skills and knowledge that you should refine and learn how to better apply to real life. So don’t ignore the work from your Connections teachers. Take the time to do it as well!
· Find a quiet place, where you are comfortable, for your online learning each day. Make it yours if you can. Personalize it. That is what many, if not most, of your teachers are doing as they find their own new “classroom” space to work from at home.
YOUR FAMILY'S WELL-BEING
FAMILY SUPPORT DURING EXTENDED ONLINE LEARNING
Dear Parents,
Please check out the resources below provided by our School Counselors and School Social Worker. These resources are for any families who need support during this extended time at home, whether it be food resources or other needs.
Resources for Food & Financial Assistance:
Link: Food Distribution Information (In both Spanish & English) Please note that there is no food distribution during spring break the week of April 6-10. See below for options during this week.
Link: Resources for Financial Assistance
Form for Families to Request Support if they have TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS to getting resources listed in links above:
Link: Parent Self-Referral For Resource Assistance
Please do not use this form unless you have attempted contact with the agencies listed above for Food or Financial Assistance first.
Info for Community Members Who Want to Donate/Help:
Link: How to Donate/Support
Additional Community Resource Information: United Way of Forsyth County Help List
FOOD PANTRY OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILES OVER SPRING BREAK - - - THE WEEK OF APRIL 6-10
The Place of Forsyth
2550 The Place Circle, Cumming, GA 30040
770-887-1098
10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Monday - Thursday
9 a.m. - 11 a.m. Saturday
Bags with Kid-Friendly foods will be distributed in addition to regular food distribution
Drive Thru outside the building
Cumming First United Methodist Church
770 Canton Hwy
Cumming, GA 30040
(770) 887-2900
9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Wednesday
Drive Thru outside the building
Meals by Grace
432 A Canton Road
Cumming, GA 30040
404-426-4055
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Tuesday/Thursday
St. Brendan’s/St. Joseph’s Pantry
4633 Shiloh Rd
Cumming, GA 30040
(770) 205-7969
4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday
Drive Thru outside the building
HOW TO HELP NAVIGATE YOUR CHILD THROUGH OUR "NEW NORMAL"
Parents, these are new, and possibly difficult circumstances that you are experiencing…so we hope you really do care of yourselves as much as you are caring for your families. Remember, a stressed-out child is not always going to tell you they are stressed; their anxiety can show in many different ways. They can be angry, struggle to focus, have trouble sleeping, be defiant, avoid getting tasks done, or work themselves up over small issues. All of these are normal responses to a stressful situation, but can be hard to see especially when you, as the parent, are experiencing that same stress with them!
Dr. Margaret Lemp contributed to an article (https://www.trihealth.com/dailyhealthwire/health-topics/well-being/helping-children-cope-with-covid-19-and-quarantine) discussing ways to help your child cope while you are in the house practicing social distancing. These ways can help your child, and yourself, feel a little calmer and have a sense of normalcy.
- Help them stay connected with others - Face time or call friends and relatives, play games or puzzles together, make cards for the elderly or those who are isolated.
- Keep up their physical activity – Take advantage of nice weather to get outside and walk or play. When inside, explore online videos to dance to, do yoga or workout.
- Monitor their news and social media intake – Talk to your children about how to select news with factual information and limit the amount of time they spend on media. Monitor your own use and avoid watching or listening to anything that might be upsetting when your children are present.
- Keep up their routine - Continue their normal day to the best of your abilities…same time for waking up, getting dressed, eating breakfast, doing schoolwork, taking a break, going outside for recess.
- Practice mindfulness with them to stay present - Do breathing exercises, draw, paint, sing, cook, meditate, make slime, read a story.
- Mindful Schools is offering a free mindfulness class for kids
- Remain calm and provide reassurance - Talk about their feelings, help them reframe their concerns, let them know adults in their lives are there to keep them safe and healthy. Make sure your explanations are age appropriate.
- Keep them positive - Talk about things you are grateful for as a family or things that are going well. Help them choose activities which are pleasant and improve their mood.
- Acknowledge that there is, for now, a new normal - Talk about being flexible as a family to cope with each day’s new challenges.
Don’t forget that Mrs. Moore and Ms. Bell, your DeSana counselors, are still meeting with kids (virtually of course), to address any social/emotional needs. Please reach out to them (CMoore29@forsyth.k12.ga.us or ABell90@forsyth.k12.ga.us ) if your child is in need of counseling services, or you are looking for more or other resources.
FUN IDEAS TO COMBAT BOREDOM DURING SPRING BREAK!
Dragons, as we approach Spring Break, we understand that this year’s break may look a little different than what you are used to. Never fear, we have collaborated with some of our DeSana teachers to help you stay busy, have fun, and relax next week!
Technology and Media
- Forsyth County Public Library
- Mrs. MacMillan wants to remind you that ALL students have access to the Forsyth County Public Library’s ebook selection. There are tons of books, magazines, audiobooks and more.
- Login for Forsyth County Public Library- Username= your student number. Password is the last 4 digits of your home phone number.
- Calling all Wizards!
- Free Harry Potter Escape Room presented by PA Public Library
- https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSflNxNM0jzbZJjUqOcXkwhGTfii4CM_CA3kCxImbY8c3AABEA/viewform
- Learn to Computer Code at home
- Learn to Run a Business- Uber Driver Game
We hope everyone has a safe and fun Spring Break. Don’t forget to use the hashtag #WeAreDeSana to show us all the fun activities you are getting into on Spring Break!
GET FIT DURING SPRING BREAK!
Just because we are practicing social distancing, does not mean that you cannot stay active!
Here are some fun ways to get your fitness in over spring break…
- Fitness Uno
- Turn a card game like UNO into a movement challenge! Complete the task listed next to the card before playing the card.
- NFL Play60
- The NFL has made all of their PLAY60 content free! Click the link below to try at home workouts with NFL athletes, tour facilities, or maybe even create a fitness challenge with your family!
- https://aha-nflplay60.discoveryeducation.com/?EC=a0d9699e-2500-4eaf-b683-6fdb50c9a382
- Check out major fitness brands’ social media and websites.
- Nike, PopSugarFitness, Lululemon, Peloton, and Planet Fitness are all offering free online training for the next few weeks!
Art/ Crafting Ideas during Spring Break
Art and Music can be a great way to let out any emotion may be experiencing!
- Missing Photography Club with Ms. North? Grab your parent, and try out the Professional Photographers of America’s free online photography course
- Mrs. Petit has provided a plethora of online Art activities free for students during this time.
- Mrs. Petit also wants to remind you to use YouTube as a tool for drawing tutorials
Art Games:
Museums:
Google Arts & Culture: Virtual Museums
Digital Art (some require flash):
WEEKLY WELLNESS LINK
PARENT 411 - HELPFUL LINKS FOR YOU
THANKS TO OUR FANTASTIC BUSINESS PARTNERS
*ALL AMERICAN SPECIALTIES
*BROWNS BRIDGE CHURCH
*CHICK-FIL-A @ THE COLLECTION
*CITY CHURCH
*GEORGIA ORTHODONTICS AND CHILDREN'S DENTISTRY
*NORTH GEORGIA PROMOTIONS
*OMEGA LEARNING
*RBM OF ALPHARETTA
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.