DCSS Update, November 2016 Edition

Growing
the best
students:
Learn how the DCSS is
cultivating tasty fruits and
veggies while taking learning
outside of the classroom
November 2016

DCSS Update Pg. 2
Applied learning ‘yields’ results
J.D. Sumner
DCSS Public Information Office
I’ll admit that, at first glance, seeing
a group of students digging around in a
raised box full of dirt during the school
day looks a little odd.
In fact, for students who’ve never
really planted anything before, I’m sure
the experience is a little odd.
But the Dougherty County School
System’s Teaching Gardens program is
all about broadening those experiences
for students while showing them that
learning can be hands-on and fun.
As our cover story will show you, the
system has been pushing the ‘Teaching
Gardens’ concept for a few years now.
And it’s yielding more than just fruits
and veggies.
An article by the University of
South Florida states that students who
participate in a school-sponsored garden
are more likely to learn about the science
behind the garden and are less likely to
misbehave, carry harmful stress around
and, after harvesting the crops, get the
benefit of garden-fresh food and a sense
of real accomplishment that those of
us with less-than-green-thumbs can get
downright enviable about.
Our teaching gardens even have an
impact outside of our schools.
Originally developed as a partnership
between the Dougherty County
Wellness Committee, the DCSS’s
School Nutrition Services Department
and Phoebe Putney Health System’s
Network of Trust, the teaching gardens
are a way that the system can continue
to build relationships with organizations
in the community, while promoting the
importance of making healthy dietary
choices among our students and staff.
From a parent-engagement standpoint,
it goes even further. When Lincoln
Elementary Magnet School shared
the photo that’s on the cover of this
magazine on their Facebook page, they
reached nearly 300 parents and supporters.
So the next time you stroll into a
DCSS school, take a moment to look at
the awesome things growing there and
you might even see a teaching garden or
two.
About the Cover
At Radium Springs Elementary School, they’re growing
much more than just simple vegetables. Students
are quite literally getting their hands dirty and loving
every minute of it.
Inside, learn how the DCSS Teaching Garden
Program is helping students understand how farmers
fit into the economy while getting hands-on with
Earth Science.

Pg. 3
DCSS Update
DCSS Leadership Team
Dr. David C. Mosely
Superintendent
Mr. Jack Willis
Assistant Superintendent
for Support Services
Dr. Ufot Inyang
Associate Superintendent for
Academic Services
Mr. Kenneth Dyer
Associate Superintendent & Chief
Financial Officer
Dr. Kim Ezekiel
Director of Federal Programs
Mrs. Sonya Spillers &
Mr. J.D. Sumner
Public Information Office
Dougherty County
Board of Education
Ms. Velvet Riggins
Board Chair, District 3
Mr. Robert Youngblood
Vice Chair, District 1
Mr. Milton Griffin
District 2
Mrs. Melissa Strother
District 4
Reverend James Bush
District 5
Dr. Dean Phinazee
District 6
Mrs. Geraldine West Hudley
At-Large
About our District...
The Dougherty County School System is the local education agency for Albany
and Dougherty County in Southwestern Georgia. At the end of the 2015-2016 school
year, enrollment was 15,001 students with nearly 2,600 teachers and staff members.
Our Schools:
Albany High School
431-3300
801 W. Residence Ave.
Grades 9-12
Principal: Rodney Bullard
Dougherty Comprehensive
High School
431-3310
1800 Pearce Ave.
Grades 9-12
Principal: Dr. Jeffrey Ross
Monroe Comprehensive High
School
431-3316
900 Lippitt Dr.
Grades 9-12
Principal: Vinson Davis
Westover Comprehensive High
School
431-3320
2600 Partridge Lane
Grades 9-12
Principal: William Chunn
Albany Middle School
431-3325
1700 Cordell Rd.
Grades 6-8
Principal: Eddie Johnson
Merry Acres Middle School
431-3338
1601 Florence Dr.
Grades 6-8
Principal: Dr. Gail Griffin
Radium Springs Middle Magnet
School of the Arts
431-3346
2600 Radium Springs Rd.
Grades 6-8
Principal: Dr. Valerie Williams
Robert A. Cross Middle Magnet
School
431-3362
324 Lockett Station Rd.
Grades 6-8
Principal: Thelma Chunn
Southside Middle School
431-3351
1615 Newton Rd.
Grades 6-8
Principal: Dr. Frederick Polite
Alice Coachman Elementary
School
431-3488
1425 Oakridge Dr.
Grades K-5
Principal: Melissa Brubaker
International Studies Elementary
Charter School
431-3384
2237 Cutts Dr.
Grades K-5
Principal: Dr. Zeda George
Lake Park Elementary School
431-3370
605 Meadowlark Dr.
Grades K-5
Principal: Kenosha Coleman
Lamar Reese Magnet School of
the Arts
431-3495
1215 Lily Pond Rd.
Grades K-5
Principal: Dr. Angela Shumate
Lincoln Elementary Magnet
School
431-3373
518 W. Society Ave.
Grades K-5
Principal: Dr. Todd Deariso
Live Oak Elementary School
431-1209
4529 Gillionville Rd.
Grades K-5
Principal: Laytona Stephenson
Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary
School
438-3502
3125 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr.
Grades K-5
Principal: Vontressa Childs
Morningside Elementary
School
431-3387
120 Sunset Lane
Grades K-5
Principal: Christine Ford
Northside Elementary School
431-3390
901 14th Ave.
Grades K-5
Principal: Katina Allen
Radium Springs Elementary
School
431-3395
2400 Roxanna Rd.
Grades K-5
Principal: Bruce Bowles
Robert H. Harvey Elementary
School
431-3367
1305 E. Second Ave.
Grades K-5
Principal: Dr. John I. Davis
Sherwood Acres Elementary
School
431-3397
2201 Doncaster Way
Grades K-5
Principal: Yvette Simmons
Turner Elementary School
431-3406
2001 Leonard Ave.
Grades K-5
Principal: Dr. Deborah Jones
West Town Elementary School
431-3409
1113 University Ave.
Grades K-5
Principal: Steven Dudley

Celebrating Diversity
During the Holidays
The holiday season can
be a great time for families
to celebrate diversity!
Parents and caregivers,
you can choose to use this
time to teach your children
about customs that are
different from your own
and you can help children
to understand and embrace
other cultures.
Children learn best by
seeing, doing, and being a
part of a new experience.
Engage your child by
reading to him or her about
how other cultures celebrate
holidays during this
time of year. The Library
of Congress is a great
resource for stories about
Christmas and Hanukkah.
You can choose to search
online for resources about
observances such as and the
way that people in different
countries mark the arrival
of the New Year. You also
can find information about
celebrations that happen
on or around the winter
solstice. Once you’ve read
together, encourage your
child to create something –
like a painting, a drawing, a
mask or a sculpture – representing
some festival or
tradition that interests him

or her.
You also can head into
the kitchen! Try making a
special dish that is served
during the holidays in a
culture other than your
own. Plum pudding or
candied yams are just two
dishes that come to mind.
Parents and families
can use this time to teach
children about the importance
of volunteering in
the community as well. A
visit to a senior facility is
one way children can learn
about other cultures; the
importance of community;
and the incredible wealth of
wisdom, values, and history
that the elder members of
any neighborhood have to
share with the next generation.
Another fun activity
could be exploring how
other people and countries
celebrate and then creating
a list of places to visit.
A trip to your local
library is always a fantastic
way to find new information
and fun activities
that will allow your child
Poinsettias and candied yams are a staple of the Holiday season.
to discover how wonderful
other cultures are.
Learning about humanity’s
diversity and richness
gives us all so much more
to celebrate – during the
holidays and throughout
the year!
Carrie Jasper is director
of outreach to parents and
families at the U.S. Department
of Education.

DCSS Update 6

7
DCSS Update

Students at Radium Springs Elementary School pose with one of their planter boxes after planting recently.Currently, 11 Dougherty
County School System Elementary Schools have Teaching Gardens.
With skills they pick up in the planter boxes, our students are anything but
‘Garden’ Variety
Standing over a raised garden
bed, a group of students giggle
and snicker as a trained gardening
volunteer tries to demonstrate the
proper technique to get the seedlings
planted just right.
The courtyard area just outside
one of the main hallways at Radium
Elementary is hardly what one
might call a traditional learning
environment, and yet it’s the perfect
environment for students to learn
about...well...the environment. Or
at least the aspect of it that helps
seeds turn into delicious and vitamin-packed
veggies.
It’s here that students are getting
hands-on learning; applying
concepts and ideas they’ve discussed
in class to the real world. And it’s
having a real effect.
Over the last six years, elementary
classes throughout Dougherty
County have had the opportunity
to till, pack, plant and harvest
school-grown vegetables thanks to a
partnership among Phoebe Putney
Health System’s Network of Trust,
the DCSS School Nutrition Department
and the Dougherty County
Wellness Committee.
The idea is a pretty simple one.
If students have an opportunity to
interact with an array of vegetables,
they’ll not only learn about them
and all of the basic hortaculture that
goes along with it, but they’ll also
develop an appreciation for what
farmers do every day; grow the food
that we often take for granted.
“It’s interesting that something
that is seemingly so simple can be
multi-faceted,” DCSS School Nutrition
Director Blaine Allen says. “The
teaching gardens are a practical place
for theoretical knowledge. Students
are able to put their hands in the
dirt and see where food really comes
from.”
It seems elementary that young
people would know that food comes
from the Earth and is grown by
people and yet a growing number of
surveys show that students, espe-

(LEFT) Students at Radium Elementary School water the planter box where veggies are growing. (RIGHT) Justin Burns and Traevon
Williams pose with collards they’ve helped grow at Lincoln Elmentary Magnet School.
cially those who live in
inner-city environments,
believe that fruits and vegetables
come from grocery
stores; presumeably just
magically appearing next
to packaged bologna and
cheese.
But that’s not where
the learning stops. In a
recent article by the University
of South Florida,
teaching gardens have positive
academic benefits to
students as they reinforce
Earth Science curriculum
and allow teachers to,
pardon the pun, dig deeper
into the subject material.
But the article also
points to non-cognative
benefits such as stress relief
and attitude improvement
which often help reduce
behavioral issues and classroom
disruptions.
Currently their are
teaching gardens located
at 11 DCSS elementary
schools.
At Lincoln Elementary
Magnet School,
junior horticulturalists
Justin Burns and Traevon
Williams take such pride
in helping manage their
garden that one day, when
Traevon was running late,
he urged his mother to
hurry up because he was
afraid he wasn’t going to be
able to water the garden.
The veggies they so
meticulously care for are
now almost taller than
they are.
“Everyone learns differently
so we believe that
these teaching gardens are
a practical way to add another
learning tool to their
tool boxes,” Allen says.
With some of the
boxes now turning six
years old, Allen says that
some of his focus is now
turning towards reaching
out to some of the Partners
in Excellence at the various
schools to see if the local
business and community
leaders would be willing
to help sponsor some of
the teaching gardens in
order to keep the program
moving forward.
If you’re a business or
community leader and
would like to sponsor a
teaching garden, please call
the PIE Director, Mrs. Dot
Sadler, at 229.431-3334

Around the district:
Check out the latest news and
information from our schools
Robert Cross Dance team
donates supplies
Live Oak students decorate
DOCO Credit Union tree
Each year Live Oak Elementary Students decorate
the Christmas Tree for DOCO Credit Union, Westover
Branch. Becky Belcher of DOCO Credit Union organizes
the event each year. Students placed ornaments
that they made in their Art classes, with teachers Mrs.
LuAnn Nicholson, on the tree. After decorating the tree
students enjoyed doughnuts and a read aloud of “The
Night Before Christmas”. Students from each grade level
were chosen by teachers to represent our school. From
Left: Evelyn Lopez, Austin Swan, Ryan Wiley, Braylin
Williams, Corey Porter, and Kendia Miller. Mrs. Lee,
School Counselor, facilitated the event along with our
Partner in Excellence DOCO Credit Union staff.
Robert Cross Middle School’s Soaring Eagles Dance
Team, consisting of 25 young ladies from grades 6th and
7th, worked together over the past 3 weeks to collect
and donate almost 500 non-perishable food items to the
Salvation Army on Thursday, November 17th.
The dance team is just one of the great things happening
at our district’s 5-star school. Yes, we are a dance
team, and dancing is what we do, but being supporters
of our community is who we are.
We know that there is a system-wide donation every
year around Christmas time, but we felt that items
would still be a need for families during the Thanksgiving
holiday. The dance team is under the direction of
Mrs. Yalonda Jackson, a current 6th Grade Math teacher
at Robert Cross Middle School.

Merry Acres ASPIRE student gives moving presentation
Cedric Brown is an 8th
grade student who attends
Merry Acres Middle. Cedric
aspires to attend college to
study criminal justice, law,
or play for the NBA.
During his ASPIRE
(Active Student Participation
Inspires Real Engagement)
meeting, he used his
laptop to present his Power-
Point about how he learns
best, some of the things he
does well, and some of the
challenges that he faces in
the day-to-day classroom.
He expressed his preferences
to his team of teachers
about how they could assist
him and the teachers shared
their praises and needs for
him as well. Cedric demonstrated
self-advocacy and
leadership skills so many of
our youth need for success!
His mom was so proud of
her son and his accomplishments,
all the way back to
Live Oak Elementary.
While she did cry, those
were tears of joy and pride.
His team of teachers and the
leadership team at MAMS
take great pride in teaching
self-advocacy and leadership
to all of their students
through the ASPRIRE
initiative.
Cedric Brown, center back row, stands with his teachers, parents
and staff following his presentation.
Dougherty chosen for Chik-Fil-A Leadership Academy
Dougherty Comprehensive
High School was
among four local high
schools selected by the
local owner/operator of
Chick-fil-A on Dawson
Road to start up a leader
academy. The Chick-fil-A
Leader Academy is a national
high school leadership
program focused on
impact through action.
Chick-fil-A believes the
world needs more leaders
who impact their local
communities. High school
students are the answer!
Chick-fil-A Leader
Academy engages students
in monthly leader labs
which focuses on important
leadership skills
students will use to create
student-led Community
Impact Projects. The
Chik-Fil-A Marketing Manager Corey Holman speaks to participants in the 2016 Chik-Fil-A Leadership
Academy at Dougherty Comprehensive High School.
Chick fil-A facilitator,
Mrs. D. Lewis, selected 30
DCHS students, grades
9-12, through an online,
application process.
The student leaders
participate in monthly
Leader Labs using unique
CURRICULUM TECH-
NOLOGY to gain insight
and principles, then involve
them in their school, while
IMPACTING THOU-
SANDS in their community!
Mr. Corey Holman,
Marketing Manager of
Chick-fil-A, participated
in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff
Experience. The DCHS
Leaders completed a community
service team project
by packaging 71 meals for
the local food bank. The
students participated in the
second leader lab on October
28. The theme of the
lab was Visions and Values.

RCMMS EXCEL students
use students to write
children’s book
Robert Cross 6th grade ELA Excel students interviewed
Live Oak Elementary School 2nd graders in
order to write and publish a book using the 2nd graders
as their main characters. Students are in the process of
writing, revising, and illustrating their fictional book
which will be published and presented to the 2nd graders
during the spring of 2017. Dr. Ethelene Kimber is
the Excel ELA teacher for these young authors.
Pictured from left-to-right are: Kelley Crawford, Thomas Amos,
Lt. Col Don Mills, Tye Beck, Principal Chunn, Ronald Dees, Jack
Clay, Ben Bateman and Pamela Heard, Not Pictured are Robert
Alexander and MSGT Willie Jordan.
Westover says ‘Thank You’
to its veterans with special
luncheon
On Thursday, November
10, 2016, Westover
Comprehensive High
School had a special
luncheon to show appreciation
for its Veterans and
to thank them for their
service to our Country.
Westover Veterans included,
Kelly Crawford Navy
12 years, Thomas Amos
Navy 6 years, Lt. Col Mills
Marines 25 years, Tye
Beck Marines 20 years,
Ronald Dees Air Force 4
years, Jack Clay Army 23
years, Ben Bateman Army
4 years, Pamela Heard
Air Force 3 years, Robert
Alexander Army Reserve
19 years, MSGT Willie
Jordan, Marines 25 years.
This salute started with
a moment of silence to
honor Veterans everywhere
then the Westover Veterans
were saluted individually
afterwards with a special
luncheon. The Westover
Veterans were given a big
pat on the back from the
Westover students, Westover
administration and the
Westover faculty and staff
for a Job Well Done!!

Monroe JROTC ‘A’ Flight capture 1st at ROTC competition
Click for video!
Dougherty, Monroe and Westover JROTC cadets competed against each other in an eventful and thrilling inner-city rivalry. Monroe
hosted the event and the Marine Corps Logistics Base provided several active duty Marines to serve as judges. Parents, staff and
community members witnessed over 200 cadets perform precise drill movements. Monroe’s A Flight (1st Year Cadets) captured 1st
place. Monroe’s 2nd year cadets Shavara Gains and Christopher Hall won 1st place in individual awards.
Albany High School’s Future Business Leaders of America students
learned leadership and values skills at a recent Fall Rally at
the Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry.
AHS students attend fall rally
On October 13, Albany
High Future Business
Leaders of America students
traveled to the Georgia National
Fair in Perry, GA, for
the annual Fall Motivational
Rally. In addition to attending
the rally, students also
competed in various business
and technology tests.
Students enjoyed a fun-filled
day that began with a motivational
speaker Al Sheen,
founder of the charity, Because
I Said Would, talked
about making and keeping
promises. He told everyone
about how he made a bad
promise and had to keep his
word for it. His words were
very inspiring and moving.
After listening to his great
words of encouragement
students ended the trip with
rides, various fair foods and
activities.

Sherwood Acres gets creative with ‘Reading Fair’ concept
Sherwood Acres Elementary
Magnet School
hosted a Reading Fair Night
on Tuesday November 15
to get parents, students, staff
and the community involved
in reading strategies, games,
lexile growth strategies and
various activities.
Students were encouraged
to create a reading
project on a tri-board about
a book of their choice. The
projects were displayed
around the gym as a walk
through gallery during the
reading fair.
Each grade level set up a
station that allowed parents
and students to be engaged
and have hands on experiences
that showed how reading
can be fun and exciting. The
spelling bee participants for
this year also presented a mini
spelling bee run through to
encourage students to read
more books.
Sherwood Acres hosts Veterans
Day program
Faculty, staff, students,
and family mem
bers honored Veterans
on Thursday, November
10, 2016 at Sherwood
Acres with a program
titled “We are America,
A Salute to Our Veterans”.
Sherwood’s Chorus
rendered beautiful selections
and inspiring words
to the Veterans in attendance.
A slide show presentation
featured family
members who served or
are currently serving in
the armed forces. Westover
High School Color
Guard provided The
Presentation of Colors.
MSGT Alejandra Medina
of the United States Marine
Corps was the guest
speaker. MSGT Medina
is currently serving as
Special Events Coordinator
at Marine Corps
Logistics Base Albany,
GA. All Veterans received
a bookmark as a token
of appreciation for their
service to our country!
The Air Force JROTC program at Monroe Comprehensive High
School completed a successful week of community service events
for veterans. AF JROTC cadets invested several hours performing
community service hours at Albany Technical College,
Northside Elementary School, American Legion Post 512 and
Applebees.

Shriners make donation to
Albany Middle School
Sherwood Acres entices
parents to engage at school
with job boards, resources
As part of Parent Engagement
Month, Sherwood
Acres Elementary
Magnet School sponsored
a Parent Resource Center
Open House during the
week of November 7 –
November 10, from 9:00am
– 2:00pm.
Parents were able to
come by and visit the new
and improved resource
center that allows them to
check out resources that will
assist them with reinforcing
what their children are
learning during their class
sessions.
Some of the resources
available are educational
games, workbooks, and
literature for parents to
read. In addition, academic
websites were provided to
parents.
Sherwood Acres Parent
Resource Center now has a
Job Announcement board
for those parents who are
currently seeking employment
as well as a Hot Topic
board that shows the activities
and programs that are
available at Sherwood Acres.
Computers are available
for Parent’s use in the resource
center. Parents will be
able to perform job searches,
work on resumes, or online
GED classes. The Resource
Center will provide parents
with resources to assist them
with their children in various
academic areas.
During Parent Engagement
Month, parents
were invited to sign-up for
Remind 101. Remind 101is
a tool that allows parents
to receive announcements
via their mobile phones
and emails pertaining to
the school programs and
workshops provided by Title
I. Parent volunteers, Tammy
McNair and Glenda Harrell,
were on hand to assist
visitors as needed.
Visitors received a token
of appreciation, and they
were encouraged to come
by the center during regular
hours, Monday – Friday
7:30am – 3:00pm. Timothy
Robinson, Parent Facilitator,
organized the event.
Al Rakim Shrine Temple #142 presented a check for
$600 to the Albany Middle School Athletic Department.
The financial support will help the coaches to make
sure they have necessary equipment for all students who
participate.
Past Potentate James Laster, Past Potentate Derwin
Canty and Noble Dennis Turner were on hand to
present the donation to the staff. Albany Middle School
truly appreciates the partnership and support from this
generous group of Shriners led by Noble Kyle Walters,
the current Illustrious Potentate.