Week 6 Virtual Learning Update

Good evening DSA!

Here’s your week 6 update:

DCSD Announces Re-Opening Plan

Superintendent Watson-Harris and her team presented re-opening plans during the Sept 14th Board meeting. The plan outlined a “phased-in” approach for students and staff, all of which will still be based on the number of COVID-19 cases reported by the CDC and Georgia Department of Health. The district’s update is posted here: https://www.dekalbschoolsga.org/covid-19/covid-19/update-34-dcsd-announces-re-opening-plan/

4.5 Week Grade Posting

Progress Report grades are live and posted on Infinite Campus. Due to our virtual delivery model, progress reports will not be printed and distributed. Please keep in mind that grades posted on Infinite Campus are accessible in real-time. If you have questions regarding your student’s current grade, please email the teacher directly.

PSAT will be offered at DSA for Sophomores and Juniors

The PSAT/NMSQT will be administered at DSA for all interested sophomores and juniors on Wednesday, October 14, 2020. To register and for more details, visit the following link: http://dsa.dekalb.k12.ga.us/protected/ArticleView.aspx?iid=5P3PA0&dasi=2PI

Congratulations to Our Award-winning Filmmakers!

Jack Thomas and Layla Louard’s short film “Be-Treyed” was featured at the Atlanta Film Festival this weekend! Jack and Layla were this past year’s winners at the DeKalb Film Festival, winning Audience Favorite and Best Picture.

Week 5 Virtual Learning Update

Happy Sunday DSA!

Hopefully, everyone has had the chance to enjoy the beautiful fall-like weather this weekend – socially-distanced of course. Here are some updates for week 5 of virtual learning.

 

DCSD Announces Re-opening plan

Superintendent Watson-Harris and her team presented re-opening plans during the Sept 14th Board meeting. The plan outlined a “phased-in” approach for students and staff, all of which will still be based on the number of COVID-19 cases reported by the CDC and Georgia Department of Health. The district’s update is posted here: https://www.dekalbschoolsga.org/covid-19/covid-19/update-34-dcsd-announces-re-opening-plan/

Booster Club Policy Townhall

DCSD is hosting a virtual townhall on Booster Club policy on Thursday, September 24th from 4-6 pm. The townhall will be aired on DSTV Channel 24 and online at dekalbschoolsga.org/communications/dstv Questions can be emailed to boosterclub@dekalbschoolsga.org.

Hot Lunch and Free-Reduced Lunch Application

Meal sites in DeKalb – including the DSA hub – will be serving hot lunch on Wednesdays from 10am – 2pm. You may choose to pick up lunch at a meal site near you or at DSA. If you have not already done so, please complete your Free/Reduced Meal Application here: https://www.schoolcafe.com/

Staff on Campus

Teachers and administrative staff are reporting to campus by appointment. You may make appointments via email to receive ADAP forms, textbooks, etc., but there are no staff members available to answer phone calls. Please email administrative or office staff for assistance.

The next Family Friday meeting will be held this Friday, September 25th from 9-10 am via Teams. The link was sent via email.

 

Week 4 Virtual Learning Update

Good News: GaDOE School of the Day

DSA was recently featured by the Georgia Department of Education as School of the Day. DSA is the fourth school and the first in DeKalb County to be recognized on the DOE’s social media pages. You can see the posts here: Facebook|Instagram

More good news: AP Results

Despite the pandemic, our students produced fantastic results on the 2019-2020 AP Exams. The percentage of students who received scores of 4 and 5 on exams are listed below:

Calculus AB – 40%

English Language and Composition – 35%

English Literature and Composition – 10%

Environmental Science – 53%

Human Geography – 33%

Macroeconomics – 68%

Microeconomics – 56%

Music Theory – 17%

Psychology – 47%

Statistics – 35%

US History – 31%

World History – 50%

Great work ants!

Social Media Guidelines

We are in the process of developing guidelines for social media pages maintained by DSA student groups. While we are finalizing these guidelines, there is a temporary moratorium on posting pictures of students’ faces and tagging individual students’ pages. Students will be able to provide input during engagement sessions this week.

DSA will continue to handle all official business via approved platforms: Office365 and Google Classroom.

Senior Naviance Sessions

The counseling department and post-secondary transition specialist, Ms. Vickie Christopher will lead Naviance presentations on Tuesday, September 22nd and Thursday, September 24th at 9 am. Students, check your DeKalb email to sign up.

PTSA Membership

DSA has, by far, the best PTSA in DeKalb County. Why should you join? PTSA maintains a weekly newsletter for parents, contributes to teacher appreciation activities, and so much more! If you have not joined the PTSA, please visit ptsa4dsa.org to do so and to receive more information. We love our PTSA!

Georgia Milestones update/SB 367

Keeping in line with Senate Bill 367, State Superintendent Richard Woods and the State Board of Education have voted to eliminate four Georgia Milestones End-of-Course Tests: Analytic Geometry, 9th grade Literature, Physical Science, and Economics. High school students will continue to take EOCs in Coordinate Algebra, American Literature, Biology, and US History. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Georgia DOE requested a waiver of federal testing requirements for the 2020-2021 school year. The US Department of Ed has not responded to Georgia’s request, but sent a letter to all State School Officers saying they “should not anticipate such waivers being granted”.

Superintendent Woods released a response expressing his disappointment.

DCSD Re-entry Survey

The DeKalb County School District (DCSD) wants your input on school re-entry. Make sure your voice is heard and complete the survey found here: https://dekalb.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eWmgYlD2vghMk1n?fbclid=IwAR3CTbJClAAPpDgAr3cNxt5yMSECF_DAplfmbhfBGxCtBKBnK4iJbZ-bspY

 

The Next Family Friday will be: Friday, September 25th at 9 am

 

Week 3 Virtual Learning Updates

We’ve made it through week three and we’re getting better every day. Thanks to our students for being involved and invested in their education and our teachers for continuing to pivot as we move deeper into the unchartered territory of virtual learning. I enjoyed meeting with our students to discuss the schedule last week and look forward to having more meetings to engage our student population in meaningful discussions in the future.

Below are a few updates and reminders for all stakeholders:

Upcoming Schedule Changes

Due to upcoming Monday holidays (Labor Day and Columbus Day), we will alter the Odd-Even rotation for the weeks of Sept. 7-11 and Oct. 12-16. The changes are as follows:

Mon. September 7th: Labor Day Holiday

Tue., September 8th: Even Day

Thur., September 10th: Odd Day

Fri., September 11th: Even Day

 

Mon. October 12th: Columbus Day Holiday

Tue., October 13th: Odd Day

Thurs., October 15th: Odd Day

Fri., October 16th: Even Day

DSA Library Curbside Checkout

DSA will have curbside checkout of library books every Wednesday from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. This is also time to enlist Ms. Roohi’s help in answering questions you may have on finding resources or small technology challenges. To access this service, email Ms. Roohi your questions or book requests before 10:00 am each Wednesday. You may also reach her at 678-676-2521 during those hours. To check out books:

– Locate the books you’re looking for by searching in our catalog here:  DSA Catalog

– Login with your s# as your username (be sure to include the s) and use “mydestiny” as your password.

– Search for the book(s) you would like to borrow, and when you find one you like, click on the cover and then click “hold”

– You may also search the catalog and email Ms. Roohi your request or question

– When you arrive, call the circulation desk at 678-676-2521 and pull up to the media center side door (by the cafeteria). She will come out and give you your books in a bag.

– **If you have books to return, please place those in a bag and hand them out the window.

School Nutrition

DSA is a meal site! And the cafeteria staff has been serving meals Monday, Wednesday, and Friday of each week from 10 am – 2 pm. Please take advantage of our site or a meal site near you.

Free and reduced lunch applications can be completed online at: https://www.dekalbschoolsga.org/school-nutrition/fr-meal-applications/

Seniors: College Recommendations

Seniors, please be proactive in obtaining your college recommendation letters from staff.

– Start by sending an email request

– Once accepted, attach a resume so the recommender can speak to your accomplishments

– Please give your teachers a reasonable amount of time to produce a well-written letter for you.

Virtual Participation and Grading

We would like to ask that students remain present as much as possible during virtual learning. Students will be counted present if they are logged on and engaged in the class. Please treat your online classes as you would face-to-face courses. If you have a doctor’s appointment, please provide a copy of the doctor’s note to your teachers and Ms. Howard at donna_howard@dekalbschoolsga.org to excuse the absence.

We cannot accept notes after two weeks from the date of the absence; it will remain unexcused. Also, a doctor’s note is required for 3 or more consecutive days of absence.

Please keep in mind that teachers will take attendance each class period. If the student signs in after attendance is taken, then that student may be marked as “Tardy-Unexcused”. However, if the student has a valid tardy excuse, please email Ms. Howard as soon as possible.

Upcoming Friday Family Meeting

Our next Friday Family Meeting will take place on Friday, September 11th. During this meeting, we will have presentations from our PAC Candidates and discuss our new Mission, Vision, and Core Values. More information will be distributed next week.

The link for the meeting is here:  https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_OGNkMjZmYjQtNzRhZC00ZTQ5LWE2ZDMtZDk3YzBjMTJiMTg5%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22312b238a-c083-41c1-a18b-736b02696f79%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22435f6029-f406-4f7c-b71e-9c519d93c6b4%22%7d