DRAGON DIGEST
VOLUME 5, ISSUE 2 - October 2020
OCTOBER CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Tuesday, October 6 – DeSana Football vs. Riverwatch @ Denmark High School Stadium - 6:00 PM
Wednesday, October 7 – AOL Time in the morning
Thursday, October 8 – AOL Time in the morning
Friday, October 9 – Picture Day
Monday, October 12 – National School Lunch Week Begins
Tuesday, October 13 – DeSana Football vs. Liberty @ Wet Forsyth High School Stadium - 6:30 PM
Wednesday, October 14 – SEAD Lesson for Students
Wednesday, October 14 – Denmark Community Family Connect Night - Homework Free Evening!
Wednesday, October 14 – Virtual ESOL Family Night @ 6:00 PM
Thursday, October 15 – AOL Time in the morning
Thursday, October 15 – Virtual ESOL Family Night @ 6:00 PM
Friday, October 16 – End of 1st Quarter
Friday, October 16 – Dragon Academy @ 4:15 - 6:15 PM
Monday, October 19 – National Bus Driver Appreciation Week Begins
Monday, October 19 – New 2nd Quarter Connections Classes and New 7th grade Enrichment Classes Begin
Monday, October 19 – Boys Basketball Conditioning @ 7:00 - 8:30 AM in the Gym
Wednesday, October 21 – SEAD Lesson for Students
Wednesday, October 21 – Boys Basketball Conditioning @ 7:00 - 8:30 AM in the Gym
Thursday, October 22 – Girls Basketball Conditioning @ 7:00 - 8:30 AM in the Gym
Thursday, October 22 – Early Release @ 1:30 PM/Parent Conferences in the afternoon
Friday, October 23 – Sucker Sale before Dragon Time in the Commons
Friday, October 23 – Early Release @ 1:30 PM/Parent Conferences in the afternoon
Friday, October 23 – 9 Week Progress Reports available for viewing in Parent Portal
Monday, October 26 – Red Ribbon Week Begins
Monday, October 26 – Girls Basketball Tryouts @ 4:30 - 6:00 PM in the Gym
Tuesday, October 27 – Girls Basketball Tryouts @ 4:30 - 6:00 PM in the Gym
Tuesday, October 27 – Middle School Championship Football Game @ South Forsyth High School – 6:00 PM
Wednesday, October 28 – AOL Time in the morning
Wednesday, October 28 – Boys Basketball Tryouts @ 4:30 - 6:00 PM in the Gym
Wednesday, October 28 – Girls Basketball Cheer Training @ 4:30 - 6:00 PM in the Cafe
Thursday, October 29 – AOL Time in the morning
Thursday, October 29 – Boys Basketball Tryouts @ 4:30 - 6:00 PM in the Gym
Thursday, October 29 – Girls Basketball Cheer Training @ 4:30 - 6:00 PM in the Cafe
Friday, October 30 – Dragon Academy @ 4:15 - 6:15 PM
Friday, October 30 – November Grade Level eNews sent out
Friday, October 30 – November Dragon Digest goes online
Friday, October 30 – Girls Basketball Cheer Tryout @ 4:30 - 6:00 PM in the Gym
Friday, October 31 – Band Halloween Costume Party in DeSana Cafe - 6:30 - 8:00 PM
Saturday, October 31 – Halloween and Full Moon
PRINCIPAL'S LETTER
Dear DeSana Parents,
It seems the older I get the faster time flies! These first six and a half weeks of this school year have flown by for me! There has been plenty to keep everyone busy as our young Dragons and DeSana staff have settled into our new normal of how we do school this year . . . both virtually and face-to-face. These first weeks of school have been filled with varied activities and events here at DeSana, and of course LOTS of great teaching and learning! In just two short weeks we will be at the mid-semester juncture of this first semester. And with Friday, October 16th being the end of the first quarter, and thus, the designated semester midway point, that means Parent-Teacher-Student Conference Days are soon to follow. Thursday, October 22nd and Friday, October 23rd are our school system’s two fall conference days, with middle school students attending school on these two days for half a day and being released at 1:30, and the afternoons reserved for parent-student-teacher conferences. These conference days are an excellent time for parents and teachers to devote specific time to talk about your young Dragon and how he/she is progressing in his/her academic work thus far. Conferences are a time to celebrate successes and growth, as well as examine areas that may need improvement. And for some conferences, or part of the conference, it may be quite appropriate to have your middle schooler join in . . . after all, this conference time is about his/her education and how he/she is doing in school up to this point!
As we are doing many other things differently this year, so too, will parent-teacher-student conferences look different. No conferences will be held face-to-face for the safety and health of our parents, students and staff. Parents will have a choice of a virtual conference via a Microsoft Teams meeting (which our teachers will set up and send individual parents an invitation with the link to join), or a phone conference, or a check-in via email. And like everything else we are doing this year, conference times will be available for parents of both virtual students and students who are attending face-to-face.
Grade level team teachers will began sending out conference notices about available conference times starting the week of October 12th. While parent-teacher conferences are not a “have-to”, we do want to honor all parent requests for a conference. Many of you keep up to date with your child’s academic progress daily/weekly through Parent Portal. Some of you may just feel the need to “touch base” with your child’s teacher(s) through an email. Either of these ways are quite fine to stay connected to DeSana and to keep on top of your child’s academic progress. So, if you feel that you are very much “in the know” about how your child is performing thus far this year, then you may not desire a virtual or phone conference at this time. However, for those who wish to have a conference we will be happy to schedule one for you. Thus, if you do not receive a conference notice please notify your child’s teacher(s) that you would like to schedule one.
In order to accommodate as many parents as we can during the conference day afternoons, teachers are scheduling 30-minute time slots. Teachers may also offer conference times on other days rather than just these two conference days. We know that time does go by quickly during these conferences, and that it is difficult for parents and teachers to discuss everything. Therefore, we encourage you to prioritize the items you would like to discuss. Our teachers will do the same. Should you leave the conference with unresolved concerns or questions, or you think of something else after you leave, please do not hesitate to let the teacher(s) know so that they may arrange some more time to discuss these with you.
As we hope you know, home-school communication and keeping our parents in the loop are two things we value very highly here at DeSana. Parent-student-teacher conferences --- in whatever format you choose and whenever you desire to have one --- are an important piece of our valued communication with parents to keep them in the know. We do appreciate your support in teaming with us to provide the best education possible for your young Dragon!
With the hint of cooler weather, less humidity and beautiful clear skies in the forecast, I hope you are planning some more “outside time” with family and friends. Perhaps a drive to and through the mountains; or a visit to a pumpkin patch; or perhaps a picnic outside at a local park with some fun, family games thrown in for good measure! The fresh air is fabulous for us! In my mind, it doesn’t get much better than spending some time outdoors (especially up in the mountains . . . I’m a “mountain girl”!) with good friends and/or family, breathing in the fall air and enjoying the great outdoors! It’s a wonderful way to clear your mind and/or gain a new perspective on things! And in these times that are so different, either (or both!) is a great thing to do! Stay safe and stay healthy!
With warmest regards,
Terri A. North
Principal
ACADEMICS
VIRTUAL ACADEMY
DeSana administration hopes your start to the 2020-2021 school year has been fantastic! Our school system has been forging ahead in educational practices for many years and our Academies of Creative Education is one prime example of how Forsyth County Schools lead in educational practices.
Forsyth Virtual Academy (FVA) homepage has a wealth of information regarding this program. The principal, Drew Hayes, and his amazing team have a wonderful Restart Fall 2020 video they have published for our families.
During these unprecedented times, if your family chose to utilize FVA as the instructional option for the first semester, we want you to know that most of our students are being served by teachers from DeSana Middle School. However, the FVA program uses teachers throughout our county; so your child may have a teacher that is not part of DeSana Middle School. We are your base school and as an administrative team, we are always here to support you and your family!
FVA is designed to be flexible in nature to accommodate individual needs; therefore, classes are asynchronous. Exactly what does asynchronous mean? Teachers design engaging, interactive lessons where students work at their own pace. Teachers will post, at most, weekly the work that needs to be completed and designated due dates within that week. The lessons are structured to complete item A before moving to item B; occasionally it may be that mastery of item A must occur before item B can be accessed. There are several options teachers may use in designing their lessons. The key throughout is to help our students be successful!
Each teacher has designated synchronous times for their virtual class. These will be posted on the itslearning page for the class at a minimum of two times per week. During these times. teachers are available for help sessions, discussion board time, or possibly a live lesson --- it is important to check in regularly for updates from your teacher through itslearning.
If a teacher offers a live session and the child cannot participate during that time frame, it will be recorded for him/her to review at his/her discretion. This is where parents play a critical role in working with our school to ensure the success of students. At the age of 1, 12 or 13, discretion may need more direct support. The student may need to hear, you need to do this not you can if you want to do it 😊. Parenting with a child in the virtual world has added a new dimension to your role as a learning coach.
One additional item, we would like to bring to your attention has to do with time in class. Due to less distractions, interruptions and self-paced instruction, some students may move through a lesson quickly today but tomorrow the lesson may take longer. These are nuances that happen daily in face-to-face classes where teachers work with their students to give them additional assistance if needed or where children may need supplemental work to extend their learning. As we navigate through, please be patient with your child and their teacher to get into a groove with the virtual learning platform. We appreciate your continued support and working together as a DeSana family to aid in your child’s success!
VIRTUAL ACADEMY - PART 2
While we are quite pleased with the start of our school year, the DeSana administration has seen the need to share more information with parents and students regarding virtual learning in order to help our students be as successful as possible. Drew Hayes, the principal of Forsyth Virtual Academy (FVA), and his team have provided a wealth of information on the Forsyth Virtual Academy homepage, Forsyth Virtual Academy (FVA) homepage.
Moving through the first few weeks of school, you probably discovered your role in assisting your child in their education became very critical in our virtual world. DeSana teachers are working to ensure your child is provided the same quality in their studies in the virtual setting as they would get in a traditional setting in any Forsyth County School. At the age of 11 to 13, children need significant guidance. This is where your new role as a learning coach is imperative so that we can team together to ensure your child utilizes all the resources our teachers are providing.
Please continue reading more on Helpful Tips with Virtual Learning and Tools for a Learning Coach.
END OF FIRST QUARTER & NINE WEEK PROGRESS REPORT AVAILABLE FOR YOUR VIEWING!
Friday, October 16th marks the end of the first quarter of this school year. On Monday, October 19th students at all three grade levels will begin their new Connections classes and 7th grade students will begin their new Enrichment class. We will also rotate our schedule for the second quarter, beginning Monday, October 19th. Students will still have their same classes with their same teachers (except for Connections classes and 7th grade Enrichment class), only at a different time during the day. This allow teachers to see students at different times of the day because each student is at their best at different times. We rotate our schedule each quarter throughout the school year.
Nine Week Progress Reports for all students will be available on Parent Portal beginning Friday morning, October 23rd. We are not sending home hard copy Progress Reports this year; they are all online, in Parent Portal. If a parent has not signed up to have access to Parent Portal to see his/her child’s grades and other information, please follow these steps to gain access.
Your middle schooler’s nine week Progress Report gives you and your middle schooler some excellent information about how he/she is doing in all of his/her classes at this half-way mark for the first semester. Please remember: This report shows how your child is progressing in his/her Math, Science, Language Arts, Social Studies, Enrichment, and/or 8th grade Spanish class thus far. It is not a final grade. The final grade for the first semester comes at the 18-week juncture in December. This Nine Week Progress Report also gives you/your young Dragon his/her final grade for the first nine weeks’ Connections classes.
The format for this Nine Week Progress Report looks quite different from the Progress Reports you were able to view at 4 ½ weeks (and different from what you will be able to view at 13 ½ weeks). This Progress Report shows your child’s formative average, summative average and his/her present course average thus far for each academic course. It also shows your young Dragon’s absences for each course.
We hope that the format for this Nine Week Progress Report (and the first semester Report Card) gives you valuable information to better inform you and your student as to exactly where he/she stands in mastering the standards for the first semester. As always, should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your young Dragon’s teacher(s)! If you do not have access to the internet to view your student’s grade via Parent Portal, please do not hesitate to reach out to your child’s teachers and ask for a hard copy of his/her nine week Progress Report.
SURVEY ABOUT YOUR PLANS FOR YOUR YOUNG DRAGON’S EDUCATIONAL SETTING FOR THE SECOND SEMESTER
DeSana Parents, what are your plans for your middle schooler’s educational setting for the upcoming second semester of this 2020-2021 school year? Do you want your young Dragon to attend school face-to-face (F2F) or do you prefer that he/she stays home and attends school virtually? This is a very important question that you need to start thinking about and discussing as a family now! On October 19th we will send out a Semester 2 Survey, asking all DeSana Families to tell us how they want their middle schooler to “do school” the last half of this school year . . . either face-to-face at DeSana or learning online from home –virtually. Families will have until November 2nd to make their final decision, fill out the survey and send it back to us. We need every family to fill out a survey for each of their student(s) who are districted for DeSana. Once a decision is made for each student, families are making a commitment to stay in that educational setting for the entire second semester. Even if you want your child to stay in the same setting he/she is in now, we still need you to fill out this survey and send it back in. Adhering to the November 2nd deadline is imperative! We will need the remaining six weeks before the Winter Break to completely redo the master schedule (i.e. what classes teachers are teaching, which periods they teach which class, and whether they are teaching F2F or virtual, creating a course schedule for all 1056 students for each block day, etc. for the second semester) so that teachers and students will be all set with their individual schedule when they resume their DeSana education after the break. Parents, be on the lookout for this Semester 2 Survey coming your way on October 19th! It is vital that you fill it out and send it back to us in a timely manner!
EARLY RELEASE DAYS & PROFESSIONAL LEARNING DAYS FOR FORSYTH COUNTY SCHOOLS
This year’s Forsyth County Schools’ calendar has for the first semester: one (1) Early Release/Professional Learning Day on Friday, September 4th and two (2) Early Release/Conference Days, on October 22nd and 23rd. For the second semester, there is one (1) Early Release/Conference Day on and March 12th and one (1) Early Release Day on the last day of school, May 27th. For all Early Release Days, middle school students will be released at 1:30 PM . We hope that our DeSana parents will take advantage of these days by scheduling your child’s doctor and dentist appointments on these afternoons in order to minimize time spent missing classroom instruction. During the afternoon of October 22nd & 23rd, all DeSana teachers and administrators will be involved in parent/teacher/student conferences; therefore, no after school activities, club meetings or team practices will occur on these afternoons.
ALTERNATE CLASS SCHEDULES FOR EARLY RELEASE DAYS
On Thursday, October 22nd & Friday, October 23rd, class period schedules will be different due to early release. This is particularly important for our part time virtual students, so please take note of these changes.
On October 22nd and October 23rd school will end at 1:30 PM each day. Below is the class period schedule we will run for these days:
Thursday, October 22nd
9:00 AM - 9:59 AM – 2nd Period
10:02 AM - 11:01 AM – 5th Period
11:04 AM - 12:28 PM – 3rd Period & Lunch
12:31 PM - 1:30 PM – 7th Period
Friday, October 23rd
9:00 AM - 9:28 AM – 1st Period
9:31 AM - 9:59 AM– 2nd Period
10:02 AM - 10:30 AM – 4th Period
10:33 AM - 11:01 AM – 5th Period
11:04 AM - 12:28 PM – 3rd Period & Lunch
12:31 PM - 12:59 PM – 6th Period
1:02 PM - 1:30 PM – 7th Period
SEAD AT DESANA
For the month of October, our SEAD focus is Leave a Legacy. Our students will explore responsible decision making. The first lesson of the month (on the 14th) will look at legacies and how legacies are created. Students will discuss what a legacy is and five people who have a lasting legacy (Albert Einstein, Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, and Marie Curie). Students will then answer questions posed by author Susan V. Bosak in her book Dreams to determine what kind of dreamer they are. Teachers will work with students to determine if their personality tends to lean more toward the Believe, Do, or Think aspect as one turns their ideas into reality. Students will then discuss with classmates what they want their legacy to be while at DeSana and moving forward. They will finish by watching videos on the legacies of Nelson Mandela and Roberto Clemente. The Family Challenge for our Legacy lesson stems from Simon Sinek’s quote: “There are only two ways to influence human behavior: you can manipulate it or you can inspire it. Very few people can clearly articulate WHY they do WHAT they do. By WHY we mean your purpose, cause, or belief – WHY do you exist? WHY do you get out of bed every morning? And WHY should anyone care?” We are asking family members to share with each other their WHY. How are you going to use your WHY to inspire others and leave a lasting legacy?
Toward the end of October, we will have some fun exploring decision making. This lesson is focused primarily on playing a variety of games where decisions must be made. Some decisions are quick and easy (would you rather), while others might require some thought because a strategy is involved (musical chairs, tic-tac-toe, pick up sticks), and still others require even more thought because there are more long-term ramifications (stuck on a deserted island). While playing the games, students will discuss how these decisions relate to decisions they make in real life. For example, when decisions are tricky or difficult, or when decisions affect other people. We will watch a video on decision-making strategies to cap off the lesson. The Family Challenge for this lesson is to play “what if?” with family members. To play, write a series of “what if?” questions on pieces of paper and place them in a container. Take turns selecting and answering the “what if?” questions posed on the pieces of paper. Some suggested “what if?” questions might be: What if you found $100…what would you do? What if a stranger tries to talk to you? What if your sister/brother took something from your bedroom without asking you?
We hope our families will take on the Family Challenge after each SEAD lesson. If you have any questions regarding the SEAD lessons for October, please contact Stacey Hannel (shannel@forsyth.k12.ga.us).
ITSLEARNING
What is itsLearning?
ItsLearning is a learning management system (online platform) that allows teachers to have an online component alongside their traditional instruction. Not only can teachers post classroom content but they may also have students participate in online discussions, submit assignments, complete assessments, and create content. In addition to being a vital component for everyday teaching and learning for both virtual and face-to-face classes, itsLearning will also be utilized during any days missed due to unscheduled school closures (ex. inclement weather) or extended online learning, should that happen for ALL of our students at some time this year. ItsLearning is also a communication tool for administrators, teachers, students, and parents. Additionally, teachers can utilize the recommendation engine to provide students with either remediation or enrichment on course standards.
What can I do as a parent?
In all courses, parents can monitor content assigned to their children through itsLearning. Parents can log-in with the same credentials they use to get in Parent Portal or by using their child’s log in information. Here at DeSana we recommend using your child’s log-in information. This will give you a little more access to things when you are trying to assist your child. Be sure to ask your child for their username and password. In both instances, parents can check the Lesson Planner section for the class lesson presented that day, see posted homework or posted ‘no homework’, see class resources used, class activities, and any information about upcoming tests, projects, and quizzes. Using the student log-in will allow parents to find bulletins or reminders in individual courses. Parents can also find links to valuable resources that students may need throughout the year. This can include on-line text books and more.
How do I get there?
There are 2 easy ways to get there: 1. Go to https://forsyth.itslearning.com. Use your child’s username and password to log-in. 2. Visit our DeSana Middle School web site and use the quick link at the top right to access itslearning. Again, use your child’s username and password. If your child does not know their information, they can ask one of their teachers or go see Mrs. Gooch, the DeSana Instructional Technology Specialist in her office located in the Media Center. This information cannot be emailed or given out over the phone. Having this information and checking it regularly are vital for helping your child succeed to the fullest at DeSana.
Still need help?
Visiting the DeSana Webpage will be your first step. On the right side under Quick Links is a link to valuable resources. These resources include print and video resources about using and navigating itsLearning for both parents and students. You can also access these resources through the link here. Please feel free to call or email Mrs. Gooch if you have any questions or need assistance. She is happy to either talk you through it or set-up a time to meet to better assist you. Mrs. Gooch’s contact information is 770-667-2591 ext. 491590 and lgooch@forsyth.k12.ga.us.
ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN (AOL) TIME
Some students simply need the gift of time to master some of the concepts they learn in school. They can master them . . . they just need a little more time. And for some students, coming to school early for a morning help session with their teacher is just not possible. That is why we created AOL Time here at DeSana - - - An Additional Opportunity to Learn time. AOL is a 45 minute block of time that will happen first thing in the morning on Thursdays, and on some Wednesdays (9:05 – 9:50) beginning Thursday, August 27th. During this block of time, students have the opportunity to receive re-teaching from their teachers should they need it. If your child is struggling in a class, or if they have a big summative assessment coming up that their teacher is offering a review session for, or if they have received a low score on a summative assessment and need to relearn some concepts before they re-take the summative, please encourage them to take advantage of AOL time! Ask your young Dragon each Wednesday evening/Thursday morning where he/she is going for AOL time on Thursday. Then ask your young Dragon Thursday evening what teacher he/she went to that day for extra help. Truly, taking advantage of our AOL time can make a BIG difference in a child’s success in school. Thanking you in advance for your help in making sure our young Dragons take advantage of this learning opportunity during AOL time!
DRAGON ACADEMY FOR THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR - - - AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ADDITIONAL LEARNING & ASSESSMENT TIME FOR STUDENTS!
Dragon Academy is an opportunity we began offering students on Friday, August 28th 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 will happen 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 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, or they may bring their own.
Please mark your calendars now for these Dragon Academy dates (all are on a Friday) for the rest of the school year:
October 16
October 30
November 13
December 4
December 11
December 18
January 22
February 5
February 19
March 5
March 19
April 16
April 30
May 7
May 14
GRADE LEVEL NEWSLETTERS
We know that when it comes to sharing information with parents about what is happening in their classes at DeSana, many middle schoolers are not the best conduit of information about what is happening in all of their different courses. Itslearning is a BIG help in reminding students about assignments and what they are studying in class, as well as providing a wealth of information for parents. But we want to make doubly sure that our parents are definitely in the know about their young Dragon’s academic endeavors, so that is why we publish our digital, monthly, Grade Level eNewsletters at the beginning of each month. These eNewsletters are nothing fancy --- just the facts --- and are designed to give you a brief synopsis of what is happening in the four main content areas . . . Math, ELA, Science and Social Studies (five for 8th graders, which includes Spanish) . . . on a monthly basis. Each Grade level eNewsletter (eNews, for short) may contain information about standards/topics/concepts being studied throughout the month, formative and/or summative assessments coming up, project assignments, and/or reminders about other upcoming activities or events. Grade level eNewsletters will be sent out to parents at the start of each month. So stay tuned to your email in-box on the Friday of the first of each new month to get your electronic copy of our eNews.
REACH SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
We are incredibly proud of DeSana Students Amy S-A. and Jose C. for being named as REACH Scholars for the 2020-2021 school year! Amy and Jose went through a rigorous application and interview process to earn this scholarship and we are thrilled that they are representing DeSana in such a fantastic way! The REACH Scholarship gives students $10,000 to attend one of over 50 private or public Georgia 4-year universities or 2-year institutions. Some universities offer to match or double match the scholarship money, meaning our students could receive an additional $10,000 to $20,000! REACH Scholarship is accepted by Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia Southern University, Georgia State University, Mercer University, University of Georgia, Emory University, Augusta University, Berry College and many more! Congratulations, Amy and Jose!
PARENTS OF ESOL STUDENTS
Please mark your calendars to join us virtually either Wednesday, October 14th, or Thursday, October 15th, at 6 PM for a fun filled game night for the whole family – we will have prizes. The purpose of our meeting will be to communicate a few expectations we have here at DeSana and ways we work to help your child be successful. Your child will bring home a flyer with more information.
YES! VIRTUAL STUDENTS MAY CHECK OUT BOOKS FROM OUR MEDIA CENTER!
Our DeSana Media Center has recently added some amazing new books to the collection, and ALL students have access. If your virtual student would like to check out a book, they simply go to the Destiny catalog through Classlink, find a book they’d like, and click “HOLD.” This month’s highlighted titles are shown on the top row (Hispanic Heritage Month titles are featured now), and there are also “collections” of books for various interests. Once a virtual student places a book on hold, the book will be labeled with the student’s name and put in the pickup area of the front office by the end of the day. Students may keep the books for 2 weeks before returning them.
Unfortunately, if your student still has books checked out from last year, he/she will not be able to check out physical books until they are returned. There are, however, many eBooks in the catalog that students can check out and read on any device. If your student would like to check out a book AND return some from last year, they certainly may. Happy reading!
COUNSELORS' CORNER
The DMS counseling department is proud to support all Dragons and their families. Mrs. Michelle Manos is the 6th grade counselor, and this is her first year at DeSana Middle. Ms. Trish Morriss is the 7th grade counselor, and previously served students at Sawnee Elementary. Mrs. Carolyn Moore is the 8th grade counselor, and this her 5th year at DMS. Together, we have many exciting plans in place to support our Dragons.
Last month Mrs. Manos taught 6th grade students a lesson on Directionality to help students identify personality types, communication styles and relationships. Students completed short informal assessments to identify their personality types (green, yellow, blue and red). Ask your student what color he/she is!
In October, the counselors will be teaching Signs of Suicide to all 7th grade students during their Connections class. This lesson addresses how to identify suicidal ideation within self and in others for prevention of self-harming behaviors. Information about this lesson will be sent home the week of October 5th and the lesson will take place during the week of October 26th.
Red Ribbon Week takes place October 23rd-30th. The theme for the school year is “Be happy. Be brave. Be drug free.”. For every day of Red Ribbon Week, there will be a dress-up theme, which all students are welcome to participate in! Please refer to the DeSana website for daily themes.
We look forward to hearing from students and parents, if you wish to reach out to a counselor. Please check out our Counseling Check-In form to let us know how you are doing.
TEACHER OF THE YEAR
Please join us in congratulating Mrs. Lacey Gooch for being named DeSana Middle School's Teacher of the Year! Mrs. Gooch is our Instructional Technology Specialist (ITS) along with teaching a 6th grade STEM Connection class. She has taught all three grade levels in middle school during her twelve years of teaching. Mrs. Gooch loves all disciplines but has a special place in her heart for both Mathematics and English Language Arts. We are very proud of the work she does daily with our students and teachers and representing us at the county level as our Teacher of the Year – Congratulations Mrs. Gooch!
ATHLETICS
BASKETBALL AND CHEERLEADING
Hello all you Dragon fans! Our Fall season is wrapping up and we are getting ready for the Winter season. In the month of October, we will be having tryouts for our basketball teams and our basketball cheer squad. These tryouts are open to any face to face or virtual student in the 7th or 8th grade that meet the eligibility requirements. Students must have passed a minimum of 5 classes last Spring, be enrolled in at least 5 courses this semester and have updated athletic forms on file in order to tryout. You can visit DeSana’s athletic webpage or click here to find these forms. If you have any questions, please contact the coach of the team.
Girls Basketball Information
8th Grade Head Coach: David Berger (dberger@forsyth.k12.ga.us)
7th Grade Head Coach: Patrick Coffield (pcoffield@forsyth.k12.ga.us)
Open Gym (Optional) - October 22 @ 7:00am-8:30am (Gym)
*Tryouts - October 26 and 27 @ 4:30pm-6:00pm (Gym)
Boys Basketball Information
8th Grade Head Coach: Joseph Clack (joclack@forsyth.k12.ga.us)
7th Grade Head Coach: Coby Rosson (crosson2@forsyth.k12.ga.us)
Open Gym (Optional) - October 19 & 21 @ 7:00am-8:30am (Gym)
*Tryouts - October 28 and 29 @ 4:30pm-6:00pm (Gym)
Basketball Cheer Information
Head Coach: Dianne Eidson (DEidson@forsyth.k12.ga.us)
*Routine Training - October 28 and 29 @ 4:30pm-6:00pm
*Tryouts - October 30 @ 4:30pm-6:00pm
*Mandatory
Basketball Schedule (7th Grade Plays at 5pm and 8th Grade Plays at 6:15pm)
November 12 vs Lakeside - Girls @ DeSana Gym/Boys @ Lakeside Gym
November 17 vs Liberty - Girls @ DeSana Gym/Boys @ Liberty Gym
November 19 vs Piney Grove - Girls @ Piney Grove Gym/Boys @ DeSana Gym
December 2 vs North Forsyth - Girls @ North Forsyth Gym/Boys @ DeSana Gym
December 3 vs Riverwatch - Girls @ DeSana Gym/Boys @ Riverwatch Gym
December 10 vs Otwell - Girls @ Otwell Gym/Boys @ DeSana Gym
December 15 vs Vickery Creek - Girls @ Vickery Creek Gym/Boys @ DeSana Gym
December 17 vs Piney Grove - Girls @ DeSana Gym/Boys @ Piney Grove Gym
January 7 vs Little Mill - Girls @ Little Mill Gym/Boys @ DeSana Gym
January 13 vs South Forsyth - Girls @ DeSana Gym/Boys @ South Forsyth Gym
Competition Cheer
Our Competition Cheer squad is hard at work gearing up for their season. The girls have been practicing very hard and are excited about their up coming competitions.
Competition Cheer Schedule
November 21 @ Mill Creek HS (Time TBD)
December 5 @ Cherokee Bluff HS (Time TBD)
December 19 @ North Gwinnett HS (Time TBD)
ACTIVITIES
PICTURE DAY
Smile pretty… it’s time for pictures! DeSana will have Fall Picture Day on Friday, October 9th. This picture goes in the yearbook, so we would like to have ALL of our students photographed on this day.
Lifetouch is following the guidelines and recommendations related to COVID-19 including:
Safety Training
Lifetouch employees are required to complete enhanced safety and cleaning protocol training.
Social Distancing
Employees will follow new posing and social distancing requirements to ensure a safe and comfortable picture day.
Electronic Check-in
To limit interactions and improve efficiency, students will not carry a name card to the camera.
Enhanced Cleaning
Photographers will have a sanitation kit to clean camera stations and equipment.
Face Masks
Photographers are required to wear face masks during the entire photography session. We recommend face coverings for students and staff being photographed. During their individual session, they will be advised to remove their face covering to capture their image.
We have developed a plan to meet the needs of our face-to-face students, as well as our virtual learners.
Picture Taking Times Are:
Face-to-Face Students
· 9:15 – 11:30 in the media center
· Teachers will be provided a schedule to ensure that all students will have their picture taken before lunch.
Virtual Students
· 1:00 – 3:30 in the cafeteria
· A Sign-Up Genius will be sent out through Messenger for our virtual families to sign-up for a designated time to have their student’s photograph taken. Parents must drop their student off at the front of the school and wait in their car. Students will enter DeSana through the front door and go directly into the cafeteria. There will be designated areas marked for the students. After the picture is taken, the student will exit on the far side of the cafeteria and return to their awaiting car. It is important that ALL parents remain in their car during this time.
Please mark this date on your calendar and plan to participate. Click here to place your order with Lifetouch in advance.
School Name: DeSana Middle School
Picture Day Date: Friday, October 9
Picture Day ID: EVTH9BBWD
YEARBOOKS NOW ON SALE!
The 2020-2021 DeSana Yearbook is on sale! Please visit: balfour.com to order or see Mrs. West on the 7th grade hall with cash or check. Price is $45. Don't miss out on this memory book of a year to remember!
5TH ANNUAL PUMPKIN DECORATING CONTEST!
It’s that time of year! See below, and e-mail Ms. MacMillan with any questions (tmacmillan@forsyth.k12.ga.us)
FIRST PRIDE AWARD CELEBRATION OF THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR
At the end of each quarter throughout this school year, DeSana will once again host its PRIDE Award Celebration, honoring students who are exemplary young men and young women in their actions, words and deeds. This year, because of the guidelines we are following in our Forsyth County Schools in order to keep students, staff and parents safe and healthy, our PRIDE Award Celebrations will be for our honored students only at the celebration. We will practice social distancing throughout this celebration with our students, administrators and staff taking part in the celebration. Parents of our PRIDE Award recipients will be able to view the celebration virtually.
On Friday, November 6th at 9:30 AM our DeSana faculty, staff and administration will host our PRIDE Award Celebration for the first quarter of this school year. Thirty-seven 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 Award certificate and PRIDE pin donated by our incredible Business Partner, RBM of Alpharetta, and a personalized plaque, made expressly for our DeSana PRIDE Award recipients by our fabulous Business Partner, All-American Specialties. A huge shout out and thank you to David Ellis of RBM of Alpharetta for his generosity in providing the certificates and pins for our students and to Keith Williams of All-American Specialties for designing and donating the individualized plaques for each PRIDE Award honoree!
In addition, at each PRIDE Award Celebration, we invite a Forsyth County Schools or community business leader to come and share a few pearls of wisdom with our PRIDE Award honorees and their parents.
We look forward to honoring some extraordinary students for this first quarter of the school year as we toast the pride of DeSana!
JOIN IN THE FUN . . . SIGN UP FOR THE FORSYTH BYOT BENEFIT iCHALLENGE!!
Hello to all members of our Dragon Family! Every year for the past several years, The Morrow Community Foundation, established by Forsyth County community members and leaders, Dr. Jim and Peggy Morrow, has sponsored the Forsyth Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT) Benefit fun run to raise money for our school system’s BYOT fund (click on the link here to learn more about this foundation: http://www.forsythbyotbenefit.org/about-us.html). Over 2000 families in Forsyth County do not have Internet in their homes. With so much of today’s schoolwork requiring online access, the Morrows have acted under the belief that it is important 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 the foundation’s sponsors, golfers, runners and volunteers. Now more than ever, we have families in our schools that need help with at-home technology and this fundraiser is a wonderful way YOU can help! Due to everything that is happening this year, the Forsyth BYOT Benefit will not be a run this year, but instead will be a fitness challenge . . . something that everyone can participate in, in some form or fashion. Do you like to walk, or jog, or hike, or skip, or cycle or jump rope, or do yoga, participate in a Zoom class, or swim, dance, use a treadmill, take part in strength training and conditioning, or some other type of sustained exercise? If you answered “YES” to just one of these, then this year’s BYOT iChallenge is for you! Better yet, make it a family affair . . . an extended family affair!!
Here is the link that will give you all the specifics about signing up and logging in your time spent doing your daily/weekly physical activities: https://runsignup.com/Race/GA/Cumming/BYOT. The fee to join is just $25, all which goes to purchasing more technology for our students who need it in our school system. Make sure you sign-up to join Team DeSana! Basically, all you have to do is log the workout minutes you do during the month of October. Easy, right?! We hear all the time about the many hours our DeSana Families spend exercising and working out, so this event gives everyone in our DeSana community an opportunity to show off their commitment to staying healthy and physically fit AND to helping students in need in our great school system! There are some prizes for the individuals and schools with the most activity recorded, but the real prize is the money we can raise for our students! There is also an option to just donate the $25 entry fee if you would rather not submit all the exercising you do (you will still get a t-shirt)! This challenge is for anyone and every member of our DeSana Family, so talk to all your friends, neighbors and relatives, but especially to your young Dragon, and let’s get as many as we can signed up . . . participating in some sort of physical activity daily (or at least several times per week!) . . . logging in their activity time on a regular basis! Together . . . as a DeSana Family . . . we can accomplish quite a bit for this awesome cause!!
FAMILY CONNECT NIGHTS
The Denmark Community of Schools is made up of Denmark High School, Piney Grove Middle School, DeSana Middle School, Shiloh Point Elementary School, Brandywine Elementary School, Midway Elementary School, and Big Creek Elementary School. This group works together to meet the needs of the students and families in our community. As part of the Denmark Community of Schools, DeSana supports the Family Connect Nights. These monthly homework-free evenings provide families time to reconnect with one another without technology, promoting a fun family evening! Please support this initiative by unplugging from technology and designating time to spend together by the pool, playing outside, or even with a boardgame. The Family Connect Nights are for everyone in the Denmark Community of Schools, including our virtual kiddos and families too! As a member of the Denmark Community of Schools, let’s encourage one another to take advantage of these nights to connect and spend time together as a family.
Here are the dates for the Denmark Community of Schools’ Family Connect Nights for 2020-2021:
October 14th
November 11th
December 9th
January 27th
February 24th
March 17th
April 21st
May 12th
VETERAN'S DAY
We are excited as we make plans for our fourth Veterans Day Celebration! Our last few celebrations were such wonderful events! Due to the current pandemic this year, we are unable to host an honorary breakfast for our veterans and a school-wide assembly with our community veterans as our guests of honor; however, a committee of volunteer DeSana staff members are working diligently to bring this day of tribute to life for our young Dragons. We look forward to continuing this awesome DeSana tradition for many more years to come!
Our Veterans Day Celebration is coming up in a few weeks and we want to create a Gallery of Honor for the day of our Veterans Day Celebration, filled with photos of our veterans and service men and women still serving in our armed forces. We could use your help with this! If you could bring to the school or send by your young Dragon a photo of the veteran(s) in your family and/or a photo of any service men or women in your family or neighborhood still serving today, we promise to take good care of the photo and will display it on November 11th for all of our students and staff to see throughout this day. Photos should be sent to Ashley Starr, DeSana assistant principal, no later than Friday, November 6th by 4:30. Thank you in advance for your help in supporting another successful Veterans Day Celebration at DeSana.
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION
SAFETY IS . . . AND ALWAYS WILL BE . . . OUR #1 PRIORITY AT DESANA!
Please know that providing a safe and secure environment at DeSana for our students and staff is our #1 Priority each and every day! We know that if our students do not feel safe here, then the learning will not take place. We very much understand that you are sending us your most precious thing in the world daily, and you want them to be in a safe place. This is not something that I, nor the rest of my administrative team or staff, take lightly. That is why safety here at DeSana is and always will be our #1 Priority each and every day.
Forsyth County Schools and DeSana Middle School have many practices and procedures in place to help safeguard your young Dragon every minute of every day to, from and on campus. Detailed safety plans for all kinds of emergencies --- including lockdown situations --- have been carefully planned, written, shared with staff, put in place, and will be practiced frequently with our staff and students as we begin this school year. We will continue to practice these drills in an organized way, and as if they were the real thing, throughout the school year. In regards to practicing our lockdown drill, we have shown our teachers and staff a video about the correct procedures to follow in this scenario so that they can go over these procedures with students, as well. And in the near future, we will be showing all of our students this same video. We will also walk our students through a lockdown drill at least four times this year - - - one time each quarter - - - with the first one happening within the near future. You may access this video via the FCS website by clicking here. I encourage you to view the video together with your son or daughter and also discuss what they need to do in such a situation.
Our school system has an excellent partnership with the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office. Our School Resource Officer (SRO), Deputy Zach Dobleman, is one of 40+ deputies in the county’s schools, and is assigned to DeSana, checking on things, talking to students, and getting to know them.
DeSana has security cameras throughout the school and lockdown buttons that are connected directly to 911 dispatch. We also have a control access point for entering and exiting our school building. All visitors must come to this single front door and be buzzed in by one of our secretaries who has a wide view of the entire person and the surrounding area. From the reception area, parents no longer have access to the rest of our building. They can only be buzzed in to the rest of our facility by a staff member if they have pertinent and authorized business on our campus. Check-in procedures that are strictly adhered to are in place, and in order for a parent to check-out a child, he/she must enter our reception area to do so and present a valid driver’s license. Visitor scanning technology is in place in our front office for any person visiting our school outside of the reception area. Outside doors are checked throughout the school day to make sure they are always locked and no one has left a door propped open.
Some of DeSana's daily standard operating procedures are to have our head custodian check the entire facility and campus early each morning to look for any unusual objects. Phones are in every classroom. Diligent supervision of our students by our entire staff, from the moment they step foot on campus until they leave, is a daily practice. Administrators are out and about the school daily, and are in constant communication with each other, our SRO, and the front office through radios, as well as with the school district's Safety Office via special radios. Our school phones come equipped with sophisticated technology that allows for tracing phone calls in the event of a bomb threat or other threatening phone calls.
All Forsyth County school buses are equipped with two-way radios so that they can be in constant communication with the transportation department and the school. They are also equipped with GPS so that bus locations may be tracked at all times. In addition, our FCS Code of Conduct Dress Code prohibits students from wearing over-sized, over-length or baggy clothing items so that weapons and other contraband are less likely to be hidden on students. The FCS Dress Code is enforced at DeSana.
Parents, one of the biggest things you can do to help us keep our young Dragons safe at DeSana is to have a frank talk with your child(ren) about the importance of them communicating with us here if they see, hear, read (anywhere . . . including on social media), or suspect something that concerns them about their safety at DeSana. They should immediately share their concerns with a teacher, counselor, administrator, or Deputy Dobleman. We take all reports of such concerns seriously and investigate them thoroughly, doing what we need to do in order to insure the safety of everyone at DeSana. The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office and Forsyth County Schools work together to provide P3 Campus Reporting, which provides an avenue for all members of the community to submit anonymous tips. Simply download the free P3 Campus app from Google Play or the App Store to make a report. You can also provide a tip through P3Campus.com. P3 Campus posters are displayed throughout our school and have information on how to anonymously report tips. Once again, we want to encourage our students to: See Something, Say Something!
Please also emphasize to your young Dragon that joking around about shooting people, blowing up things, harming others at school, the mall, the movie theater, or anywhere else may get them in serious trouble . . . more trouble than they could ever imagine. People are going to take such statements seriously. Our administrative team will investigate thoroughly and act on such threats . . . whether they are meant as a joke or not.
We continue to talk with our students about safety being a top priority at DeSana, and letting them know that it is also their responsibility to help keep our school safe by reporting any safety concerns that they have. And we will continue the mantra of if you see/hear/read/suspect something, you need to say something. We will continue to need your help with this parents, as middle schoolers many times see only the social implications of reporting something about another student. Rest assured any information of this nature that is shared with an administrator, counselor or teacher is held in strictest confidence. Please let your child know that it is your expectation that he/she take personal responsibility in reporting anything he/she sees/hears/reads that could jeopardize the safety of any or all of our students and staff.
While I am not a parent myself, I think I do understand, and most definitely share your concern about the safety of your young Dragon here at DeSana. It is something that is always on my mind. I encourage you, parents, that any time you have concerns about the safety or well-being of your child, you will not hesitate to call or email me, or Mr. Starr or Ms. Epperson, our two Assistant Principals, or Mr. Coffield, our Assistant Administrator, to discuss these concerns. We want Desana to be a place where all students, staff and parents feel safe and comfortable. But we need everyone's help to keep it that way throughout this school year.
Thanking you in advance for your help and support when it comes to the safety of our young Dragons!
DESANA LOCAL SCHOOL COUNCIL
DeSana’s 2020-2021 Local School Council (LSC) will hold its first meeting on Friday morning, October 16th at 7:30 AM in the media center.
PARENT 411 - HELPFUL LINKS FOR YOU
MANY 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
*MAYNARD REALTY (TIM ROSE - REALTOR)
*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.