DRAGON DIGEST
VOLUME 4, ISSUE 5 / DECEMBER 2019
DECEMBER CALENDAR OF EVENTS
- Dragon Digest Goes Online
- Chorus Honeybaked Ham Fundraiser (through December 13)
- Collecting for Holiday House (through December 10)
- DECA Regional Competition at Cumming First Baptist Church
- Dragon Academy 4:15PM
- Dragon Basketball - All 4 Teams at home vs. Riverwatch 5:00PM
- Science Olympiad at Chattahoochee High School
- VEX Robotics Competition at Alliance Academy 8:00AM
- Basketball Spirit Week - Decades Day
- Ms. Carroll's Class Collects Cat Litter for the Humane Society (through December 13)
- DeSana Spelling Bee in the Media Center 9:15AM
- Beginner Band Practice 4:30PM
- Basketball Spirit Week - Disney Day
- Hispanic Parent Partnership Council Meeting 6:00PM
- Basketball Spirit Week - Holiday Sweater Day
- Dragon Basketball - 7th & 8th Grade Boys at Otwell MS 5:00PM
- Lady Dragons Basketball - 7th & 8th Grade Girls Home vs. Otwell MS 5:00PM
- Chorus Holiday Concert at Johns Creek UMC 7:00PM
- Basketball Spirit Week - Meme Day
- Blue Block Day w/ AOL Time
- Beginner Band Practice 4:30PM
- Band Winter Concert All Grades in the Gym 7:00PM
- Photography Club Exhibition Gym Lobby 7:00PM
- Basketball Spirit Week - DeSana Spirit - 8th Gr. wears Navy, 7th Gr. wears White, 6th Gr. wears Lime
- Sucker Day Sponsored by FBLA
- Dragon Academy 4:15PM
- Dragon Basketball - All 4 Teams at DeSana vs. PGMS 5:00
- Cast and Crew Practices for Once Upon a Mattress 9:00AM
- Deadline for Alliance Academy for Innovation Applications 11:59PM
- Local School Council Meeting 7:30AM
- Just One Africa Sales in the Commons 8:00AM
- Students Vote for D-3 Day T-shirt Design in Dragon Time
- Volleyball Tournament during Connections (All Grades)
- Blue Block Day w/AOL Time
- Pajama Day for D3 Day
- Just One Africa Sales in the Commons 8:00AM
- DMS Oratorical Rough Draft Due
- Dragon Basketball - 7th & 8th Gr. Boys Away at Vickery
- Lady Dragons Basketball - 7th & 8th Gr. Girls at Home vs. Vickery
- Blue Block Day w/AOL Time
- End of 1st Semester
- Winter Break
- First Day back for students
- 2nd Semester Begins with New Rotation/Connections
- January Grade Level eNews Goes Online this Week
- D3 Day Magazine Collection Starts/Mac n Cheese Food Drive Starts
- Blue Block Day w/SEAD Time
- D3 Day Steering Committee Meeting 8:00AM
- DMS Oratorical - All Revisions Due - Speaking Practice
- Blue Block Day w/ AOL Time
- Dragon Basketball - 7th & 8th Gr. Boys Away at Little Mill 5:00PM
- Lady Dragon Basketball - 7th & 8th Gr. Girls Home vs. Little Mill 5:00PM
- 1st Semester Report Cards Go Home
- Sucker Day - Sponsored by 7th Gr. Field Trip
- Dragon Digest Goes Online
PRINCIPAL'S LETTER
Dear DeSana Parents,
In just nine short days, this first semester will come to an end --- on December 19th! I don’t know about you, but it just does not seem possible that we have almost completed half of this school year! Where did the days go?!
Throughout this first semester, it has truly been my pleasure to watch our young Dragons work hard and learn lots . . . make new friends . . . explore new opportunities . . . stretch and grow in so many ways . . . accomplish tasks they did not think they were capable of doing . . . broaden their horizons . . . persevere when things got difficult . . . and reach out to others in kindness. Most definitely they have made me so proud on many an occasion! Truly, this first semester has been an awesome one!!
With this first semester quickly winding down, we are continually encouraging our young men and women to finish out the semester in very strong fashion. Finish Strong! is our mantra over these final days . . . both academically and in their behavior! We want all of our young Dragons to finish on a high note, feeling good about what they have accomplished these past 18 weeks and feeling successful and confident going into the second semester. Parents, we can definitely use your support with this! Talk to your young adolescent at home and ask him/her what needs to be done in order to finish strong! Help your child make a plan to get all of his/her work done and turned in, and make sure he/she studies his/her best for each remaining assessment of this semester. Remind your young Dragon each and every day to make good and wise choices, and to be his/her own person . . . don’t let others dictate how he/she acts or what he/she does. Remind your young teen to stop and think before acting. I’m thanking you in advance, parents, for supporting us and reiterating this mantra at home with your young Dragon these last nine days. We cannot do it without your support! And your young Dragon needs your support as well in order to Finish Strong!
I want to take this opportunity to say thank you for your continued support of our young Dragons at a variety of school activities and events throughout this first semester. Our young Dragons may not always remember to tell you so, but trust me, you being present for such activities and events means the world to them . . . more than they will ever probably let you know. And please know that it means a great deal to us - - - our faculty and staff and administrators. We always want you involved in whatever your child is participating in here at DeSana! And we love seeing you here cheering on our teams and/or applauding our different musical groups’ performances and/or beaming with pride as your child is recognized with an award! Please continue to come spend time with us and support all of our young Dragons in their different endeavors throughout the second semester!
On behalf of our entire DeSana staff . . . here’s wishing all of our DeSana Family a holiday season that is wonderful and merry and bright! May the joy and wonder of this holiday season linger with you throughout this coming year and may the dawn of the New Year bring much hope and promise to you and your family. I hope you take some time to rest, relax and recharge with family and friends, and plan for many, many FUN times! Please stay safe in your travels, whether near or far. We look forward to seeing all of our young Dragons back with us . . . safe and sound, and re-energized . . . on Tuesday, January 7th, 2020 to begin the new year and our second semester of this school year in VERY fine fashion!
Thank you, parents, for truly, the best gift of all . . . allowing us the pleasure and privilege of working with your young Dragons each and every day here at DeSana! They are quite fabulous!!
Wishing you the Merriest of Holidays!
Terri A. North
Principal
DESANA DAY OF GOOD DEEDS
T-SHIRT DESIGN VOTE
PAJAMA DAY FOR D3 DAY
D3 Day will be hosting a Pajama Day on December 18th. The cost is 3 dollars to wear your comfy PJs before Winter Break. Please pay in the Commons the morning of December 18. Students wearing pajamas must still meet dress code. Be cozy while supporting our DeSana Day of Good Deeds!
SAVE THE DATE FOR BINGO!
D3 Day Bingo will be Friday February 7th, 2020. We will have 2 sessions. ALL purchased bingo cards get you an entry to win an APPLE WATCH! It is a super fun night and all proceeds go to support the work of D3 Day.
PTO
IMPRESSIONS CONTEST
Congratulations to our 2019 Impressions Winners!!
For 6th Grade
Literature
1st – Rhea M.
2nd – Aadhav T.
3rd - Divine C.
Music Composition
1st – Sahithi C.
Visual Arts
1st - Maryam M.
For 7th Grade
Literature
1st - Anika T.
Music Composition
1st - Thea V.
For 8th Grade
Literature
1st – Gabriella O.
Visual Arts
1st – Aleena N.
2nd – Katrina P.
Photography
1st and 2nd- Quinn J.
3rd – Shailee S.
Each of our winners received a ribbon and will go on to county competition. Good luck to all!
PTO FUNDRAISERS
Coming soon – DeSana PTO Coupon Cards! Want to save some money at local businesses and support DeSana Middle School? Purchase a Coupon Card! The fundraiser is our primary method of raising funds to support teacher grants, hospitality programs, and supported school activities. We will have a sample card in January to show offers. Cards will be $10 each. If you own a local business and would like to be featured on the coupon card, please contact the PTO at desanadragonspto@gmail.com. We’d love to work with you. Watch for more information and sales incentives!
With the end of 2019 approaching, we would like to remind families that the PTO is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law. Many local businesses will match donations to 501(c)(3) organizations.
DeSana families and staff have generously supported PTO so far this year and we are so thankful for that. However, we have not yet met our goal of raising $10,000. Fulfilling teacher grant requests is our largest and most important expenditure and we start funding grant requests in January. It is a privilege to assist teachers as they provide unique, exciting learning opportunities for our students. Would you please consider making an end of year donation to PTO? Online donations may be made here: https://bit.ly/2RtAhlM. Please contact PTO at desanadragonspto@gmail.com with any questions. Thank you for your continued support!
SPIRIT NIGHT POSTPONED
Please note that the December 10 Spirit Night at El Don is postponed. The restaurant has a new owner. We will reschedule in January. Thank you!
ACADEMICS
FROM THE MEDIA CENTER
Are graphic novels “real” books? YES!
If your child comes home with a graphic novel or “comic,” from the media center, you may be tempted to send him/her back for a “real book.” But graphic novels ARE real books! Our media center has an extensive collection of graphic novels covering all genres of fiction (historical, humor, fantasy, realistic, science fiction) as well as biographies, history, art, and environmental science.
CLICK HERE to read about the benefits of graphic novels! And the next time your child comes home with a graphic novel, why not read it with them?
FIRST SEMESTER REPORT CARDS ARE COMING YOUR WAY IN JANUARY!
All students will receive a printed Report Card with their grades for the first semester, to take home, after Winter Break, on Friday, January 10th. This Report Card will show your student’s final semester average for their yearlong courses, which includes the core subjects of Math, Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, and Spanish (8th graders only). Grades for each quarter’s Connection classes and students’ Enrichment classes will also be included on this semester Report Card.
Parents, be on the lookout for your child’s Report Card coming home on January 10th! We hope you and your young Dragon will sit down together and take a look at his/her grades and discuss whether or not he/she is working up to his/her full potential thus far, this year.
THE YOUTH VAPING EPIDEMIC
Patel and Quintero (2019) of the Brown Center Chalkboard state, “Last December, the U.S. surgeon general raised an alarm regarding the rise in e-cigarette use among the nation’s youth, saying it has increased “at a rate of epidemic proportions.” According to the 2019 National Youth Tobacco Survey, over 5 million youth are currently using e-cigarettes, primarily the JUUL brand, with nearly 1 million youth using the product daily. This substantial increase in teenage vaping is seriously impacting middle and high schools across America.” Therefore, DeSana Middle School is partnering with the Forsyth County Office of School Safety to educate our students during an assembly on Wednesday, December 11th about the dangers and consequences of vaping. This epidemic affects all of us and we want to help prepare our Dragons to make the right choices when it comes to vaping. We hope that parents will continue this conversation at home with your students to help ensure we are keeping all of our kids safe.
SPELLING BEE
FINISHING THIS FIRST SEMESTER OF THE SCHOOL YEAR & WINTER BREAK
Thursday, December 19th is the last day of this first semester. It is hard to believe that the first 18 weeks of this school year have come and gone already! Academic work from all students should be turned in by the 19th (if not before!), as teachers will be finishing up last minute grading and preparing grades when they come back to school on January 6th for their Teacher Professional Learning Day.
Winter Break for FCS students will begin on Friday, December 20th, with students coming back to begin the second semester on Tuesday, January 7th. Our DeSana office will be closed throughout the Winter Break. Students will receive their schedules for the third quarter when they arrive back at school on January 7th, as we rotate our master schedule one more time. New Connections classes for all grade levels and new Enrichment classes for 6th and 7th graders will begin on January 7th.
All students will receive a printed Report Card for the first semester on Friday, January 10th to take home. This Report Card will show students’ final semester averages for their yearlong courses, that include the core subjects of Math, Language Arts, Science, Social Studies and Spanish (8th graders only). Grades for each quarter’s Connections classes and students’ Enrichment classes will also be on this semester Report Card.
Parents, please be on the look-out for your child’s Report Card coming home on January 10th. We hope you and your young Dragon will sit down together and take a look at his/her grades and discuss whether or not he/she is working up to his/her full potential thus far, this year.
DRAGON ACADEMY FOR THE 2019-2020 SCHOOL YEAR - - - AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ADDITIONAL LEARNING & ASSESSMENT TIME FOR STUDENTS!
Dragon Academy is an opportunity we began offering students on Friday, August 23rd from 4:15 – 6:30 for completing, taking or re-taking formative and/or summative assessments (i.e. unit tests, projects, essays, quizzes. etc.). Dragon Academy will happen at least two times a month --- on Fridays ---beginning Friday, August 23rd, 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 will 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 will have about two hours to complete their work, once they complete all that they came to accomplish, students will be able to call their parent to come pick them up. Snacks and drinks will be sold for a very reasonable cost so students may focus on their work, not on their grumbling stomachs! Any necessary school supplies will be 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 6
December 13
January 24
February 7
February 21
March 6
March 20
April 17
May 1
May 15
ATHLETICS
BASKETBALL SPIRIT WEEK NEXT WEEK
DeSana Dragons Basketball Spirit Week is coming up. We want all of you to show to us your school spirit by participating in the greatest spirit week yet! I believe the teachers have way more school spirit, so students, prove all your teachers wrong by coming dress to impress!
Monday, December 9: Decades Day: Come Dressed as your favorite Decade of the 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's, 2000's, 2010's
Tuesday, December 10: Disney Day- Come Dressed as your favorite Disney character
Wednesday, December 11: Holiday Sweater Day- Wear your favorite holiday sweater
Thursday, December 12: Meme Day- Dress up as your favorite aesthetic, meme, or TV Character
Friday, December 13: DeSana Spirit Day (8th Grade- Navy Blue, 7th Grade- White, and 6th Grade- Lime Green)
LADY DRAGONS
Basketball season is upon us and December brings great opportunities to see the girls program all month long! Both 7th and 8th Grade teams have four home games during the month of December. They play Riverwatch on Friday the 6th, Otwell on Wednesday the 11th, Piney Grove on Friday the 13th, and Vickery Creek on Wednesday the 18th. Come out and support the Lady Dragons!
THE ARTS
CHORUS HOLIDAY CONCERT
The DeSana Chorus Holiday Concert is on December 11th - 7pm at Johns Creek United Methodist. Admission is free, so make sure to come and support our singers!
BAND CONCERT AND PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION
The DeSana Winter Band Concert for all grades will be held in the gym on Thursday, December 12 at 7PM. The DeSana Photography Club will hold an exhibition in conjunction with the concert just outside the gym in the hall. Best in Show will also be presented.
CHORUS HONEYBAKED HAM GIFT CARD FUNDRAISER
Do you like ham? Do you want to support our very own DeSana Chorus program? Use the link below to purchase a gift card – free shipping and no extra fees! The deadline is December 13th, so get those orders in!
https://honeybakedfundraising.com//fundraisers/DeSana_Middle_School_Chorus
ALTRUISTIC ENDEAVORS
HOLIDAY HOUSE
In the holiday spirit of giving, DeSana Middle School will be partnering with The Place of Forsyth, to donate toys to the Forsyth County Holiday House. The Holiday House provides families in need with toys, wrapping paper, and food, so they can have a happy, stress-free holiday season. DeSana Middle School will be collecting money in Dragon Time classes December 3rd- December 10th. 6th grade students who donate money will then be put in a raffle to take a field trip to Wal-Mart to pick out the toys to donate. Collected money from 7th and 8th grade will go in the donation fund for 6th graders to purchase these toys. Happy Holidays!
JUST ONE AFRICA SALES
Does anyone have any holiday shopping to complete? If so, please plan to shop at the Just One Africa pop-up store coming to DeSana on Tuesday, December 17 and Wednesday, December 18! The store will be open before school from 8:00-9:00 in the Hex and club members will be helping to sell a wide variety of items including (but not limited to) beaded jewelry, greeting cards, bags, stuffed animals, and t-shirts. Most items range from $1 to $30. This is a wonderful opportunity to make a purchase that will not only bring a smile to the face of the recipient, but also help to bring clean water – in the form of water filters – to needy communities in Kenya.
ACTIVITIES
TECH FAIR REGISTRATION OPEN
Attention students! Do you love technology? Love making things with tech? Creating animations, apps, games, videos? The Forsyth County Tech Fair is coming up - - - it’ll be held January 25, 2020 and registration is now open! Click here for more details.
SUCKER DAY
Looking for a unique and fun Christmas gift or stocking stuffer!? Try delicious gourmet suckers that you can buy on Friday, December 13. As a plus…these suckers are sugar-free, making them a great choice for most everyone on your list! Flavors include Cherry Vanilla, Peach, Berries n Cream, Mango, Cherry Cheesecake, Pina Colada, and many more! For $1 each, you can purchase suckers in the morning before school, with the added bonus of supporting DeSana’s Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA). The funds will go toward FBLA student efforts in service projects and leadership training.
PARENT 411 - HELPFUL LINKS FOR YOU
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION
LOST AND FOUND DONATED SOON!
Attention Parents – If your student has lost a personal item at school, please encourage him/her to claim it from lost and found before we are out for the Holiday Break. We have jackets, sweatshirts, shorts, lunchboxes, books and water bottles. Any item labeled with the student’s name will be returned to the student. Lost and found is located in the hallway outside the Media Center and the bins on each grade level hallway. All unclaimed items will be donated on Thursday, December 19th! Thank you!
DESANA LOCAL SCHOOL COUNCIL
DeSana’s Local School Council (LSC) will hold its next meeting on Monday morning, December 16th at 7:30 in the front conference room. Meetings have been scheduled for the year on the following dates: January 13th, February 10th, March 9th, April 15th, and May 11th.
YEARBOOKS NOW ON SALE!
The 2019-2020 DeSana Yearbook is now on sale! Please visit: balfour.com to order yours today. Cost is $50.
You may also bring cash or check to Mrs. West on the 7th grade hall. Don’t miss out!!!
8TH GRADE ADS
8th graders!! Ads are available- 1/9 of a page for $15. Click here for directions for creating an 8th grade ad.
THANKS TO CITY CHURCH!
City Church has been a wonderful partner with DeSana Middle School! Every month they provide a coffee cart to our staff which is everyone's favorite treat! Right before Thanksgiving Break, they also provided lunch to the whole staff. THANK YOU City Church!!
MANY THANKS TO OUR FANTASTIC BUSINESS PARTNERS!
*ALL AMERICAN SPECIALTIES
*BROWNS BRIDGE CHURCH
*CHICK-FIL-A @ THE COLLECTION
*CITY CHURCH
*DR. HOM PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY & ALPHARETTA COMPREHENSIVE DENTISTRY
*GEORGIA ORTHODONTICS AND CHILDREN'S DENTISTRY
*MARVEL SOCCER
*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.