Every day, the schools of the DeKalb County School District are bursting with activities that support college and career readiness. We’ll share that news in TRUST in the Schoolhouse. Below are some examples of that work. Got an idea? Please share it here.

October 2018

Allgood Elementary
Allgood Elementary recently partnered with Barnes & Noble to promote STEM and STEAM education. Allgood educators will create core content lessons while simultaneously working with engaging, hands-on projects supplied by the popular bookseller. Projects will include content-related LEGO projects, coding with Ozobot and LittleBits, as well as catapult building projects.

Chapel Hill Middle
Congratulations to Chapel Hill media specialist Iradene Rantin for being named the recipient of a $2,000 grant courtesy of IBM. The funds will be used to purchase supportive curriculum paperback books as well as eBooks for the school’s reading club.

Congratulations to teacher Michael Harris for being named the recipient of a $4,000 grant courtesy of the Georgia Department of Public Health. The funds will be used to promote health, fitness, and nutrition.

Chapel Hill Middle recently hosted a Band Community Block Party for the 8th year in a row. The event assists with building a cohesive relationship between parents, community members, students and faculty, and typically includes performances from Chapel Hill’s band, Southwest DeKalb High’s band, the cluster drumline, the Chapel Hill dance troupe, the Southwest DeKalb High Dancing Divas, and the Chapel Hill Middle cheerleaders. The event also hosted food vendors, activities, and other community members.

Columbia High
In Honor of General Richard B. Dix, the Columbia High School alumni Classes of ’83-’86 Donated $550. This donation covered the insurance cost of 27 Chromebooks as part of DCSD’s Digital Dreamers initiative.

DeKalb Alternative School
Congratulations to DeKalb Alternative School for being named the recipient of a grant from Fernbank Museum of Natural History. The grant will allow eighth-grade students to experience a classroom extension, where they will walk through the history of Georgia.

DeKalb Alternative School was recently awarded a grant courtesy of the Georgia Aquarium’s SEA Grant program. Under the terms of the grant, worth $100,000, each recipient will receive $10,000 over five years with visits to the aquarium twice per year with additional instructional support from experts six times per year.

DeKalb Early College Academy
Congratulations to teacher John Alberts for receiving grant funding courtesy of the Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship. Alberts will be able to purchase mini computers, circuit materials, soldering kits, and sensors for future instruction. Students will be able to build computers, study coding, and utilize engineering principles.

DeKalb School of the Arts
Congratulations to DSA student Naylah Canty for her acceptance into the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s WISE Program. The program stands for Weekend Immersion in Science and Engineering, a three-day immersion program on MIT’s campus September 30 – October 2.

Dresden Elementary
Dresden welcomed the First Lady of Georgia, Sandra Deal, earlier this month during her tour across the state. Mrs. Deal read Will Powers by Coy Bowles and spent time getting to know DCSD students.

Dunwoody Elementary
Dunwoody Elementary was recently recognized by the Anti-Defamation League’s No Place for Hate national publication. The school was recognized after consecutive years of successfully promoting diversity awareness and acceptance through child-centered activities in the classroom. Congratulations to principal Jennifer Sanders and counselor Anna Proctor!

E.L. Miller Elementary
Congratulations to an E.L. Miller student group for their impact on the local community. The group—Girls with Purpose—was able to pack purses filled with toiletries to be donated to homeless women in the metro Atlanta area.

Flat Rock Elementary
As part of a partnership between DCSD and the Dunwoody Nature Reserve, Flat Rock received an outdoor garden. Flat Rock is one of ten other DCSD schools selected to receive a garden, the first step in developing long-lasting lessons involving the outdoors.

Henderson Middle
Congratulations to seventh-grade student Eliana March for being named the middle school STEM Talk Winner for 2018. This is the second year in a row in which Henderson Middle was named the winner.

Henderson Mill Elementary
Congratulations to Henderson Mill for hosting its second STEM/STEAM tour on October 19. Representatives from Savannah, Atlanta and Istanbul, Turkey visited the school to see what an immersive, STEAM environment looks like in person.

Indian Creek Elementary
Congratulations to Region IV STEM educator and previous Indian Creek Elementary principal Antonette Campbell for her recent General Motors Lift Award. Ms. Campbell was recognized for STEM education at Indian Creek, and was an honoree in the Who’s Who in Asian American Communities.

Congratulations to 4th grader Mue Saw for winning Abercrombie & Fitch’s Art Contest. Saw’s artwork will help support a new Abercrombie & Fitch kids store at Perimeter Mall and be on display on location. Mue received a congratulatory letter as well as a $250 gift card.

Congratulations to Indian Creek students Ciza Obed and Hiba Abdel Karim for being recognized in the 2018 Fire Prevention Week Calendar, Poster, and Essay contest sponsored by the Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner.

Livsey Elementary
Livsey Elementary had its first Think, Stretch and Grow Pep Rally on October 3. The school discussed the importance of the Growth Targets and Goals for MAP testing. A celebration for students who completed 50% or more of their summer packets also took place at the rally.

Martin Luther King, Jr. High
Congratulations to the MLK High School marching band for a fantastic performance at the Atlanta Falcons opening game on September 16. This is the third time the Kings of Halftime have performed at an Atlanta Falcons home game. The band’s drumline serves as the organization’s official Flacons drumline, performing at every Atlanta Falcons home game for the past two seasons.

Miller Grove High
Congratulations to Miller Grove High’s culinary arts class, which will be featured on CBS46’s show segment, “A Taste of Atlanta.”

Oakcliff Theme School
As part of celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, Oakcliff recently welcomed The Society of Professional Hispanic Engineers from Georgia Tech to a Career Fair in the school cafeteria. Students, staff and families had the opportunity to speak with college professors to learn about different career paths, obstacles, and the world of engineering.

Oakcliff has partnered with UNICEF to raise money to buy water pumps for underdeveloped countries that lack running water. Students and teachers will sell water bottles throughout the month of October in effort to supply aid.

Shadow Rock Elementary
Shadow Rock showed its support for Breast Cancer Awareness month by having a “Pink Out.” Students offered and ate pink popcorn, slushies and other treats to spread awareness of the issue. All proceeds and funds raised from the event were donated to Emory Hospital for cancer research.

Southwest DeKalb High
Southwest DeKalb High will host a Bowie State University Admission & Information session on October 22, 2018. Students will receive support on new challenges, discover new passions, and take the first steps in attending college.

Towers High
Towers High hosted the first National Math and Science Initiative study session. The session, made up of more than 80 students from throughout the district, sought to provide access to rigorous coursework to enable success in students.

Tucker High
Congratulations to Tucker High’s Team of Student Ambassadors for encouraging students to vote. The team was able to register more than 50 students total for the upcoming election on November 6