More than 840 students from 14 high schools, 20 middle schools and 51 elementary schools in DeKalb County School District (DCSD) made their way to Arabia Mountain High School on January 27 to find out who has the most comprehensive readers.

Students’ attention to detail, ability to recall information, speed, teamwork and reaction times were all tested as part of the 2017-2018 Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl in DeKalb County.

The Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl, founded in 1986 by DeKalb County media specialist Helen Ruffin, is a competition that tests students on their knowledge of 20 Georgia Book Award nominees at the high, middle and elementary school level. In 2000, the competition went statewide.

Moderators ask teams of students questions about the books’ content. The first team to buzz in and answer the question correctly was awarded 10 points. The points are added up cumulatively over the course of six rounds. The team with the highest points after six rounds was declared the winner.

At DCSD, the Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl is a highly competitive source of pride. Students begin reading, preparing and practicing for the reading bowl months in advance.

For Freedom Middle School student Muhammad Sosseh, who has participated in the Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl since fourth grade, the competition gives him a chance to partake in his favorite hobby: reading. His teachers and classmates claim he has read more than 2,000 books.

“I’ve always enjoyed reading. My dad got me interested in reading and I started reading more and more. It has helped me a lot in school,” Sosseh said. “When I’m reading, I can imagine the story in my head. I can see what I’m reading. I really get into a zone… The more you read the more you know.”

Sosseh said his love for reading began when his father took him to the DeKalb County Library’s Clarkston branch at the age of five. Sosseh’s favorite book in this year’s competition was Orbiting Jupiter by Gary Schmidt.

“It really made me tear up,” Sosseh said. “It really had a sad ending but it makes you think.”

Columbia High School sophomore Jordan Paul Harden said the competition was a good, fun experience.

“This is a first for me,” said Harvey. “It’s been a good experience for the entire team. It gives us a reason to read, which is always a good thing, and allows you to interact with other schools.”

Harvey said reading provides him an opportunity to expand his mind and mentality. His favorite book this year is We Are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson for its execution of relevant, hard-hitting topics and subject matter.

“Reading a book paints a picture without ever having a single image,” Harvey said. “It’s a beautiful thing that only literature can do.”

Winners in this year’s competition include:

High School

1. Arabia Mountain
2. DeKalb Early College Academy (DECA)
3. Lakeside

Middle School

1. Kittredge Magnet
2. Chamblee
3. Henderson

Elementary School

1. Hawthorne
2. GLOBE Academy
3. Montgomery

First- and second-place teams at the DeKalb County Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl will advance to regional competition on Feb. 10 at Clayton State University. Further levels of competition will include a divisional meet on March 3 at Southwest DeKalb High School, and a final, state competition on March 24 at the University of Georgia.

Click here to view pictures from the reading bowl.

One DeKalb County School District (DCSD) high school club is blending elements of student enterprise, business, community service and scientific certification.

Redan High School’s Interact Club—short for international action—founded in 2015, is working to become one of DCSD’s first student-run, service-based, and internationally connected teams.

In doing so, students are fostering leadership skills, forging community partnerships and aiding neighbors in the Redan community. Students say the club helps them stay focused on school, become more dedicated to work and meet likeminded peers—living the Interact’s motto of “service above self.”

For junior Ronald Antoine, club president, Interact offers a chance to make extracurricular activity a labor of love.

“For me, in my general spirit, I like helping out in any way I can and giving with generosity—I’m a loving brother,” Antoine said. “Interact helps me get outside my comfort zone and become a better leader by building better leaders. I find it so common to be surrounded by ambitious people.”

Other students share Antoine’s enthusiasm, making Interact seemingly unique among other high school clubs.

“[I joined because] I saw things that Interact was doing with the community and the amount of community service they do,” said junior Shakara Alceus. “I like helping people; I like the motivation in this club. There’s a lot of love.”

Each year, the club selects a theme based on local and global need. For the 2017-2018 school year, Redan Interact focused on the topic of water quality.

According to club founder, teacher and sponsor Rodney Finkley, Redan Interact students obtain water testing certification to test surrounding neighborhoods’ water quality. They also gained experience in working with related equipment—including lead water testers.

The club has since been in contact with the Hidden Hills Homeowner’s Association, developed partnerships with the White Oaks Baptist Church as Adopt-A-Stream, and been on-site in neighborhoods to examine local streams, lakes and home water services. During the Fall 2017 semester, Interact also attended expert-instructed workshops and took a trip to the Scott Candler Water Treatment Plant in Atlanta.

Many of the club’s findings are published in a recurring newsletter, which is developed completely by students. The students share their authentic field work with the local community and market their findings. Redan Interact hopes to share the information with homeowner associations, parent-teacher associations and even public libraries.

Finkley said one long-term goal of the club is to partner with a school internationally. He has already had students Skype with students from Indonesia and someday hopes students can visit such places in person.

“We’re going to discuss what we’re doing with kids and classrooms around the world,” Finkley said. “I don’t want our club to just visit. I want the kids to walk away with an experience that’s almost life-changing; one that causes our students to say ‘Hey, I’m a global citizen—I belong wherever I want to go. There’s no limitations in the world to who I can do business with and be friends with.’ I want to open up their minds to feel like they belong anywhere.”

Redan is one of many high schools throughout the country to start an Interact Club. Being the byproduct of Rotary International, Redan Interact Club’s main affiliate and community partner is Stone Mountain Rotary Club.

Finkley said he was inspired to bring Interact to Redan High to provide an outlet for “average” students to achieve higher. He said he hopes the club’s transferrable skills relating to biology and marketing make it more and more desirable each semester.

“I want to take the other kids, the average kids who aren’t in band or on the football team or on the basketball team, and turn them into leaders,” Finkley said. “What happens to those students? What keeps them here? I want to create that type of club, one that will start to generate a buzz where people say, ‘I want to go to Redan to join Interact Club.’ We want to build leaders, because leadership can be fun.”

Such enthusiasm has already spread to junior Alexander Rashard Kimp.

“I need something to occupy my time because I don’t want to do anything that is not productive,” said junior. “I’ve always been the type of person that’s for the community. It’s pure positivity. By being active, you keep your brain moving.”

Redan’s Interact Club plans to host upcoming fundraisers March 10, including a road cleanup and three-on-three basketball tournament. For junior Benjamin Black, this is proof positive that Redan’s Interact Club is combining friendly atmosphere with scientific awareness and community service.

“[The club] is really close knit and we really help the community,” Black said. “I like that we’re getting awareness out. Everyone here is very supportive.”

For more information on Redan High School’s Interact Club, including information on how to donate to the club or render its services, contact Rodney Finkley at rodney_finkley@dekalbschoolsga.org. Other teacher sponsors include Deayne Johnson, Marcia Wiltshire and Lenita Stovall.

Click here to view pictures from Redan’s Interact Club.

One speaks Spanish. The other gives you a hug. The last one throws paper before cleaning it up. Not bad for three student-built and student-programmed robots.

The Avondale Elementary coding and robotics program was gifted the three robots—along with three 3D printers—from the Avondale Elementary School Education Foundation (AESEF) in January 2018.

According to Avondale Elementary mathematics teacher and technology specialist Gwendolyn Reynolds, the gifts—valued at $148.99 each—are a welcome addition to the classroom.

“The children are excited about coding and making them move,” Reynolds said. “The robots walk and talk and will do all the things they’re programmed to do.”

The robots were used by Avondale Elementary students at the 2018 DeKalb County Technology Fair on Feb. 3. Using custom code, the students instructed the robots to speak Spanish, give a hug and high-five, and sweep the floor.

“The kids are really excited to see them,” Reynolds said. “Some shout, ‘Let me see them!’ and others ask, ‘What does it do?’”

Avondale Elementary student Brody Wierda, who helped build the robots and competed at the 2018 Tech Fair, said he likens them to big toys. The robots also allowed him to show his passion for building in the classroom.

“It just lets me be me,” Wierda said. “I love LEGOs and they’re kind of like big LEGOs. Building stuff lets me clear my mind and think about other things. It’s just fun.”

AESEF also gifted Avondale Elementary three 3D printers. The printers—which vary in size—can produce a real, printable object using plastic and a computer-generated design.

With help from the 3D printers, in recent years, students have developed magnetic shoelaces, molds of popular fictional characters, headphone stands and other award-winning designs. The different sizes of 3D printers allow the students to accomplish more.

AESEF chair Keith Sagers said the foundation is constantly looking at ways to reduce barriers and increase opportunities to education.

“We’re constantly building and constantly looking at ways to raise the profile of the school,” Sagers said. “It’s a worthwhile endeavor. You couldn’t pay me to do this kind of work.”

Reynolds said the tools help Avondale Elementary students keep up with ever-changing technologies in the modern world.

“Building LEGO robots and then working with screws and allen wrenches are totally different experiences,” Reynolds said. “It takes a lot to put that stuff together. They advanced to the next level. We’re trying to get them ready for the 21st century, and they’re already used to it. We want to have our students doing what students at technology-based schools are doing. By the time they leave here, they’ll be exposed to it, and seeing a 3D printer or a robot won’t be a big deal.”

Reynolds said she hopes to have Avondale Elementary STEM-certified soon with the implementation of a STEM garden.

Click here to view more pictures.

STONE MOUNTAIN, GA. – The State Board of Education for Georgia is interested in hearing your thoughts at a public hearing on Tuesday, Feb. 27 in nearby Rockdale County.

The State Board of Education will hold a public hearing for citizens in the Fourth Congressional District from 7 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 27 at Rockdale County High School, located at 1174 Bulldog Circle NE in Conyers, Ga.

The overall purpose of the hearing is to hear comments from invested citizens and educators in the community. The State Board of Education is interested in hearing any and all issues concerning performance and problems involved with public education.

The Fourth Congressional District is comprised of DeKalb, Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale counties. In DeKalb, it encompasses portions of Decatur, Lithonia, Stone Mountain, Clarkston, and Atlanta.

Individuals wishing to speak at the event are required to sign in upon arrival. For more information, contact Debbie Caputo at (404) 657-7410.

What: State Board of Education Public Hearing

When: Tuesday, February 27, 2018 – 7 to 8 p.m.

Where: Rockdale County High School
1174 Bulldog Circle, NE
Conyers, Georgia, 30012

Every day, the schools of the DeKalb County School District are bursting with activities that supports 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.

Austin Elementary

Congratulations to Austin Elementary students for taking second and third place at the annual Inventure STEM Fair. The team that came in second place will have the opportunity to compete at a state STEM competition on March 14 at Georgia Tech.

Dunwoody Elementary

Dunwoody Elementary hosted the inaugural Inventure STEM Fair for DeKalb County students on Jan. 31. More than 40 project entries were reviewed and scored by 15 judges from across the county. Winners will compete in a state level competition at Georgia Tech and have the chance to move on to a national competition later this year. Congratulations to fourth graders Ava Ceo, Hannah Lang and Abby Thorpe for earning first-place for their remote-controlled vacuum invention.

Congratulations to Dunwoody Elementary students Luke McNamara, Myles Ea, Morgan Sturtz, Adelyn Pearson, Jaeden Brown, Ansh Chaudhary, Shiv Mheta, Bhavya Shah, Lauren Smith and Shoela Ettampola for earning first-place finishes at the 2018 DCSD Technology Fair. The school earned the most first place finishes.

Dunwoody High

Congratulations to basketball player Jared Whitehurst for being recognized as the DeKalb County basketball player of the month. Whitehurst was recognized Jan. 21 at the Tip-Off Club meeting at Columbia High School.

Congratulations to students Camila Rubiano, Niki Azadi, Andrew Sonnier, Sarah Gagnier, and Cater Carr for earning entry into the 2018 International DECA Competition and Development conference set to take place in April 2018.

Congratulations to students Christine Chang, Sophia Cohen, Elizabeth Cowen, Filippo DiBenedetto, Galya Fischer, Justin Jasper, John Kerdasha, Carmen Morgan, Laura Pankey, Erika Smith, Weston Spenser, Brian Weinshenker, and Sophie Zhang for being selected to participate in state level interviews for the Governor’s Honors Program. The interviews will take place at Berry College on Feb. 24, 2018.

Congratulations to student Daniel Bynum, who will represent Dunwoody High at the Regional Competition for Poetry Out Loud.

Huntley Hills Elementary

Huntley Hills hosted a “Star Readers” event to celebrate achievement reached in the Accelerated Reader program. The celebration consisted of a red carpet event, a popcorn party and the presentation of a crown. Huntley Hills’ leading class, headed by Lilian Watts, had 68 percent of students reach their reading goals.

Peachtree Charter Middle

Congratulations to Peachtree Charter Middle School’s Science Bowl Team, which claimed first place in a North Georgia regional competition. The team will now compete at the state level in Savannah, Ga.

Kingsley Charter Elementary

The Kingsley Charter Leadership Club spent a Wednesday evening at the newly purchased and renovated Dunwoody City Hall. Students learned about all aspects of running a city and interviewed six department heads about their duties. After the trip, students wrote about what they learned, which will be presented to Mayor Denis Shortal as recommendations for his State of the City Address on Feb. 22.

Kittredge Magnet

Kittredge Magnet School placed first in the middle school division of the 2018 Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl on Jan. 27. The team—made up of two fourth graders, five fifth graders and two sixth graders—bested their competition by more than 50 points.

Margaret Harris Comprehensive School

Margaret Harris concluded their week by hosting a Special Olympics Bowling event at Midtown Bowling Lanes. Teachers, students and staff alike were excited as students persevered through struggles with sensory issues and physical challenges to make sure the day was successful.

DeKalb Elementary School of the Arts (DESA)

DESA 6^th and 7^th grade students hosted a benefit concert for Make-A-Wish Georgia in November, raising $2,300 to help grant a wish of a child diagnosed with critical illness.

DESA’s Student Council hosted a “Party with a Purpose” in January and raised $700 to Bert’s Big Adventure to help provide a magical, all-expenses-paid journey to Walt Disney World for five days.

DESA’s 4^th through 7^th grade students sang as part of the Atlanta Hawks’ pregame show on Jan. 21 and have been invited back to sing the National Anthem next season.

DeKalb Early College Academy (DECA)

Congratulations to Sydnie Cobb, who helped raise $6,500 for hygiene products for girls in Kasungu, Malawi. Cobb was named to Georgia’s 20 Under 20 by 21^st Century Leaders for her accomplishments.

Congratulations to students Christopher Ballenger, Moontashir Siam, Hawda Shukralla, Jovita Bell and Jackie Ochieng for claiming first-place finishes at the 2018 DCSD Technology Fair. The students placed first in such categories as Mobile Apps, Multimedia and Video Production.

Southwest DeKalb High School

Congratulations to student Abenezer Sultan for claiming first place at the 2018 DCSD Technology Fair in the category of Internet Applications for ninth- through 10^th grade students.

E.L. Bouie Traditional Theme School

Congratulations to student Yeabsira Sultan for claiming first place at the 2018 DCSD Technology Fair in the Internet Application category for third- through fourth-graders.

Browns Mill Elementary

Congratulations to students Angelia Woodley and Kamari Dixon for claiming first place in the Productivity Design category of the 2018 DCSD Technology Fair for fifth- through sixth-graders.

Miller Grove High

Congratulations to student Adelani Alegbeleye for claiming first place in the Video Production Category for 11^th through 12^th grade students at the 2018 DCSD Technology Fair.

Cedar Grove High

Congratulations to Cedar Grove student Kaleb Morris for placing 2^nd in the Job Interview category at the state DECA competition. Morris will advance to the national portion of the competition, where he will represent the school, DeKalb County School District and Georgia.

Congratulations to the Cedar Grove FCCLA students who earned gold medals in the regional FCCLA Regional Competition. First place entrants will advance to a state level of the competition.

Arabia Mountain High

Congratulations to the Arabia Mountain Reading Bowl team for advancing to the Metro Regional Helen Ruffing Reading Bowl competition. The competition will take place at Southwest DeKalb High on March 3.

Chapel Hill Middle

Congratulations to Chapel Hill Middle for being named a School of Merit by the National Beta Club.

Lithonia High

During the week of Feb. 5, Lithonia High School to celebrated CTAE Month and FBLA Week by hosting a health fair and blood drive in collaboration with the American Red Cross. On CTAE Career Day, which was held on Feb. 8, the school hosted the Mayor of Lithonia, the Chief of Police for the city of Lithonia, and three DCSD board members–Dr. Melvin Johnson, Dr. Joyce Morley, and Mrs. Vickie Turner. Other presenters included, an African-American pilot, a judge, an engineer, real estate agents, bank representatives, attorneys, and a few entrepreneurs. To end the week, the CTAE students focused on Black Wall Street.

Elizabeth Andrews High School

Congratulations to teacher Teresa Massey for being honored at the Georgia State Capitol on Feb. 6 for providing insight into the needs of science education in Georgia.

Every day, the schools of the DeKalb County School District are bursting with activities that supports 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.

March 16, 2018

Bob Mathis Elementary
Bob Mathis welcomed DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson, Judge Vincent Crawford, District Attorney Sherry Boston, Solicitor-General Donna Coleman, DCSD Public Safety Director Bradley Gober, Board of Education member Vicki Turner and non-profit director Pamela Shulterbrandt to a town hall event focused on public safety on Feb. 26.

Clarkston High
Congratulations to Clarkston High for appearing on WSBTV Channel 2 and representing DCSD well. The school as featured for their gardening program, which is used to promote cultural exchanges.

Columbia Middle
Columbia Middle welcomed Martin Luther King III on March 1, who addressed students, faculty and staff with a discussion about his life and what it was like being the son of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Destiny Achievers Academy of Excellence
Destiny Achievers Academy recently announced its partnership with Wheels of Dreams, a leadership program focused on computer skills, entrepreneurship, employment and college readiness. Students are trained on college applications, scholarship opportunities, the FAFSA form for student aid, building resumes and writing long-form personal essays.

Dunwoody High
Congratulations to several Dunwoody High clubs and students for representing DCSD well. The Dunwoody High girls’ swim and dive team claimed first place in DeKalb County, and 10th in the Georgia state championship; the boys’ team finished third in DeKalb County and fifth in the state. Dunwoody High freshman Rose Lubin, sophomore Omari Foote, junior Hayris Panchi and senior Hannah Bowman won for their various entries into the Young Georgia Authors competition and will represent the school at the county level. The Dunwoody High band visited Scotland Feb. 14-21, sitting in on a rehearsal with the Edinburgh Brass Band and performing with high school students from James Gillespie’s established school. Dunwoody’s DECA Club collected food and made more than 225 to-go meals for the homeless while also raising $1,000 for the Trinity Table charity.

Flat Rock Elementary
Flat Rock hosted a Family Math Night on Feb. 20, welcoming more than 50 parents and 75 students. The event featured parent engagement, door prizes and new ways of learning mathematics. On March 2, Flat Rock welcomed DCSD Superintendent/CEO R. Stephen Green and DeKalb County Board of Education Member Vicki Turner for Read Across America Day as well as a Moms & Muffins event.

Flat Shoals Elementary
Flat Shoals celebrated Black History Month with two programs that featured African-American inventors, musicians, athletes, entertainers, educators, writers and veterans.

Huntley Hills Elementary
Huntley Hills students created a Civil Rights Wax Museum on Feb. 23 in honor of Black History Month. Figures featured in the museum included important African-American scientists, doctors, authors, artists, actors, politicians and sports figures. Students walked the hallways to view the exhibits while former president Barack Obama’s words and jazz music played over the school intercom.

Marbut Elementary
Marbut hosted a career day on Feb. 23, welcoming more than 40 invited guests who shared their experiences and journeys in their respective careers. On Feb. 27, the school celebrated Black History Month with an evening program that highlighted the legacy of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, as well as a play about the African-American struggle for freedom.

Margaret Harris Comprehensive
Students at Margaret Harris Comprehensive School held a Black History Month program on Feb. 28, in which students, family and community members explored lesser known African-American figures throughout history. This included the artist Romero Bearden, musician Norma Miller, graphic novelist David Walker, and the inspiration for The Lone Ranger, Bass Reeves. Teachers showcased their own talents in the arts for students and the community while also enjoying traditional foods.

Peachtree Charter Middle
Congratulations to the Peachtree Charter Science Bowl Team for claiming second place at the state competition in Savannah, Ga., on Saturday, Feb. 24. The team includes eighth graders Piranavaskanthan Abeyakaran, Prathmesh Joshi, Manas Gangwar and Aadi Jangid.

Salem Middle
Students in Salem Middle’s band program have been invited to play at Carnegie Hall in New York City, New York. The band will visit the Big Apple on March 23-26.

Shadow Rock Elementary
Shadow Rock Elementary’s PTA hosted its annual Black History Month program before parents in February 2018. Under the direction of first grade teacher Luvenia White and music teacher Cynthia White, the program included Kente-clothed youth dancers, recitation of poems, and renditions of popular R&B music by students. The event concluded with a procession of student portrayals of famous past and present African Americans.

Snapfinger Elementary
Snapfinger hosted a Men Engaging in Nurturing and Teaching (MENT) event on March 1, celebrating all men who positively impact youth by serving as a father figure or mentor.

Stone Mill Elementary
Congratulations to Stone Mill Elementary and their new partnership with United Way. Under the direction of Pam Ross, the school received a community outreach grant opportunity to help increase literacy and language skills in third graders. Stone Mill will partner with surrounding apartment complexes, local businesses, early learning centers and more to distribute books and literacy activity packets to the surrounding community.

Stoneview Elementary
Stoneview Elementary recently upgraded their front foyer and lobby. One wall in the school’s front entrance now bears a mural featuring the Stoneview’s motto: “We can, we will, we must succeed!” The mural was painted by Art Institute of Atlanta students Audrey Everett and Kiontaye Miller.

Vanderlyn Elementary
As part of Vanderlyn’s STEM Career Day, students and teachers came to school dressed in attire appropriate for a STEM-related workplace. This included police, firemen, doctors, teachers, engineers, surgeons, veterinarians, nurses, astronauts, artists and more. The school also welcomed visitors from STEM-related fields who presented to students.

Wadsworth Magnet
Congratulations to Wadsworth Magnet School for receiving a superior rating at a recent band competition at Southwest DeKalb High, a first-place finish in Gov. Nathan Deal’s Red Ribbon Week celebration, and a first place finish at the 101 Black Men of Atlanta Drone Competition at Grady High School.

Periodically, the district will use this forum to clarify news reports regarding its activities. The district believes its constituents are entitled to the complete story, and will always work to keep you well informed.

This edition clarifies a report from 11Alive regarding an employee linked to a violent crime in Clayton County.

CLARIFICATION NO.1

“(DCSD) have yet to notify the parents and students at the elementary school since White has not been convicted of a crime…”

DCSD contacted 11Alive on Wednesday, March 28, to clarify and correct a portion of the news outlet’s reporting that stated parents at Toney Elementary School had yet to receive notification from the school or DCSD regarding the arrest of an employee.

On March 23, the school did send home a letter with students. As of 9:12 a.m. on Thursday, March 29, 11Alive has not updated its story.

DCSD’s standard procedure is to notify all parents of events that deviate from the norm with a letter or phone call from the principal.

Periodically, the district will use this forum to clarify news reports regarding its activities. The district believes its constituents are entitled to the complete story, and will always work to keep you well informed.

This edition clarifies a report from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution regarding land that will house the new Smoke Rise Elementary School.

 CLARIFICATION NO.1

“I have not been able to get evidence of thorough due diligence from the county,” she said. “All the sites they looked at had some risk associated. I was looking for some write-up on eliminating (risk concerns). There’s none.”

DCSD will not place a school in a location that will be harmful to students. Prior to the purchase of the property, the district conducted an extensive environmental review of the site via a third-party professional engineering firm, Matrix Engineering Group, Inc.

The engineer’s finding, based on the firm’s Risk Hazard Analysis and Evaluation, was that the site is suitable for the proposed Smoke Rise Elementary School provided that the mitigation measures listed below be implemented:

• Minimize the use of large glass windows (max. 6 foot and 8 foot high) for a portion of the facility.
• Utilize shatterproof glass windows for the building’s southern elevations.
• All exterior walls should be of steel reinforced masonry construction with brick veneer.
• Locate the buildings as far away from Hugh Howell Road as possible.
• Create a barrier along the southern boundary of the property such as an architectural wall. The wall should be a reinforced masonry or concrete wall with a minimum height of four (4) feet.
• Design of air handling and ventilation systems should incorporate engineering controls to prevent intrusion of hazardous airborne contaminant.
• Prepare an emergency preparedness plan to address the potential hazards.
• Prepare an evacuation plan consistent with the type of hazards identified to provide for efficient and timely evacuation of the buildings in case of an emergency.
• A fence is recommended on all sides of the property.

As a result of this third-party environmental and hazard analysis, the Georgia Department of Education Facilities Services Unit approved the site location for the new Smoke Rise Elementary School, subject to the inclusion of the mitigating measure noted above.

CLARIFICATION NO. 2

“An email from the DeKalb County fire marshal says the site is dangerously close to a hazardous materials manufacturer.”

DCSD had discussions with the DeKalb County Fire and Rescue (DCFR) Department regarding the state of the property. At no time did the department indicate that it would be illegal or harmful to students to build on the property.

The Fire Chief offered an advisory opinion, which was reviewed by the district and considered. DCFR and DCSD will continue its ongoing discussions regarding the implementation of the specific mitigating measures as part of our collaborative site planning review process for major construction projects.

Thank you for your making DCSD your source for news.

The DeKalb County School District (DCSD) students, teachers, staff and community members celebrated the official opening of one elementary school and the groundbreaking of another in March 2018.

Rockbridge Elementary Official Opening

Rockbridge Elementary, located at 445 Halwick Way in Stone Mountain, held its official ribbon cutting ceremony on March 16. The event featured student performances as well as statements from school and district officials.

Rockbridge shares Fernbank Elementary and Barack H. Obama Elementary Magnet School of Technology’s new, state-of-the-art design, which features collaborative learning spaces, flexible fixtures to suit student needs, and improved security measures.

“This is a great moment and celebration for a future-ready elementary school. We have built a facility that will make sure the sky and beyond is the limit,” said DCSD Superintendent/CEO R. Stephen Green. “This doesn’t happen with one individual, one vote, or one recommendation. This happens with one collective village and one collective community. This is truly a village coming together. We will continue to build an edifice, one that supports the uplift of our children. We are committed to making sure our children’s future is limitless and always bright.”

Green announced on March 16 that The Associated General Contractors of Georgia awarded Rockbridge Elementary first place in its category in the Build Georgia Awards Program.

Principal Derrick brown thanked Dr. Green, central office staff and the Board of Education for allocating the resources to make the new facility possible.

“Our school’s aspiration is to prepare every student for higher education, careers and community service. We aim to instill values of hard work as well as giving back. Our elementary schools are the foundation for the remainder of our students’ education. If we help them build a solid foundation here, they will rise to the challenges they face academically and professionally to pursue their dreams,” said Brown.

Guests also enjoyed an instrumental flute performance from musician Arthur McLenton, a demonstration from the Rockbridge Cheer Squad, songs from the Rockbridge Honor Choir as well as teachers Dr. Donna Newsome and Brandon Marshall. Students Kaydence Redmond, Dashyre Altidor, Chantayvia Beckett, Jevon Williams and Aaliyah Walker also shared an inspirational poem promoting positivity and tolerance.

Region 3 Superintendent Rachel Zeigler concluded the event with remarks about Rockbridge’s history and continued heritage of success.

“This is tremendously a community school,” Zeigler said. “We came together and started the journey and started the ball rolling on this project. The school cannot live apart from the community. Thank you for partnering with DeKalb County School District.”

John R. Lewis Elementary Groundbreaking

Less than two weeks later, on March 29, the community joined DCSD in celebrating the groundbreaking of the new John R. Lewis Elementary, which will be located at 2630 Skyland Drive NE in Brookhaven.

The new John R. Lewis Elementary will also feature collaborative learning spaces, flexible fixtures, security improvements and abundant natural light.

The event featured remarks from DCSD Superintendent/CEO R. Stephen Green, John R. Lewis principal Julie Brown, Brookhaven mayor John Ernst, Region 1 Superintendent Sherry Johnson, as well as DeKalb County Board of Education members Vicki Turner, Marshall Orson and Jim McMahan.

“This is the first public school in the nation to bear the name of United States congressman and renowned civil rights leader John Lewis,” said Dr. Green. “This is a prime example of one team, one voice and one DeKalb.”

Principal Brown said John R. Lewis is built on five pillars: targeted instruction, bridging gaps, communicating with the community, improving the school climate, and working in partnership.

“We’re going to exceed expectations,” Brown said. “Our students came up with a school motto on their own: We are smart, kind and hardworking. We are courageous and going to college. We are the John Lewis Jaguars. Perfection is unattainable, but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence.”

Mayor John Ernst said it is important to remember the overall aim and goal of the new facility: educating children.

Board members Vicki Turner, Marshall Orson and Jim McMahan also made remarks to celebrate the joyous occasion.

Attendees also enjoyed an inspirational poem from two John Lewis students as well as a recorder performance.

Click here to view photos from the Rockbridge Elementary ribbon cutting

Click here to view photos from the John R. Lewis Elementary groundbreaking

Every day, the schools of the DeKalb County School District are bursting with activities that supports 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.

March 30, 2018

Arabia Mountain High
Congratulations to Arabia Mountain High for having 46 percent of the student body (631 students) as part of the A or A/B honor roll.

Barack H. Obama Elementary Magnet School of Science & Technology
Congratulations to Barack H. Obama students Dontaye Bell and Jonathan Mendez for placing at the 2018 Georgia Technology Fair in March. Bell claimed second place in Mobile Apps while Mendez placed third in Productivity Design.

Bob Mathis Elementary
Congratulations to students Princeton King and Zavier Smith, who represented Bob Mathis and DCSD at a regional social studies fair in Rockdale County. The students, respectively, presented a project on Colin Kaepernick’s protest and social media changing social skills.

Cedar Grove High
Congratulations to Cedar Grove High students Larry Carr and Evan Carr for placing first in Audio Production at the 2018 Georgia Technology Fair.

Chesnut Elementary
Congratulations to students Nia Elekwachi and Milan McKinney for claiming first-place finishes in the 2018 Georgia State Technology Fair competition in graphic design. Congratulations to students Nate Cartwright and Micah Foote, who will represent DCSD at the state Social Science Fair, after submitting projects on becoming a professional baseball payer and food deserts, respectively.

Clarkston High
Congratulations to Clarkston’s FCCLA chapter, which claimed one gold, two silver and one bronze medal at the most recent state competition. Clarkston students also represented DCSD at the nationally by hosting NSTA conference attendees on March 16.

DeKalb Alternative
Congratulations to students Ezekiel Dobbs and Makaila Bradshaw for representing DeKalb Alternative School and DCSD at a recent Unite for School Safety Town Hall meeting.

DeKalb School of the Arts
Congratulations to DSA’s participation in the FAME Concert and Show-Choir competition in The Bronx, New York at Hostos College on March 9. While there, DSA’s ProArte won first place in the unisex ensemble division, while HighLeitt won first place in the mixed ensemble division. HighLeitt also won best overall vocal sound and placed second in the show choir division, with DSA senior Kalonjee Galimore won best male vocalist.

Druid Hills High
Congratulations to Druid Hills student Sophie Reiss or earning the Gold American Voices Medal for poetry in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. As a winner, Reiss and her teacher will be recognized in June at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

Dunwoody Elementary
Fourth grader Bhavya Sha and fifth grader Jaeden Brown both earned a third place title at the 2018 Georgia Technology Fair in Macon in early March. Fifth grader Arnav Gupta finished first place in the regional social studies fair this month and will represent DCSD and Dunwoody in the state competition.

Dunwoody High
Dunwoody High clubs and students continue to achieve locally and countywide. Dunwoody High partnered with the Mad Italian, Dunwoody Wing Factory, Dunwoody Police Department and DeKalb County Special Olympics this month for a celebration of Exceptional Children’s Week. As part of the celebration, staff and students raised $1,138 for the DeKalb County Special Olympics. Dunwoody’s Academy of Broadcast Journalism, Pep Band and PTSO Hospitality Committee provided several events for exceptional students throughout the week, ending with a morning dance party.

Congratulations to Dunwoody’s Tech Student Association for claiming fifth place at a recent state competition. Student Seth May claimed first place in written exams. Student Ben Shifrin was one of six students in the state to be recognized for his efforts as a Sergeant-At-Arms for the Georgia TSA.

Dunwoody-based rock band Lucy and The Glassmen won an annual Battle of the Bands competition, earning a spot at the Lemonade Days event in downtown Dunwoody as well as a professional recording session. The band includes students Lucy Yates, Brian Weinshenker and Noah Covey.

Congratulations to Dunwoody High’s 2016-2017 yearbook staff for being recognized in the 2018 Jostens Look Book, which celebrates the best yearbook design and coverage.

Eagle Woods Academy
Congratulations to Eagle Woods student Dareious Copeland for being nominated in the 2017-2018 Art Star awards on March 21. Copeland designed the CEC button for DCSD.

Edward L. Bouie Elementary Theme
Congratulations to students Caleb Davis and Maurice Seals, who represented E.L. Bouie and DCSD at a regional social studies fair in Rockdale County. Davis, who placed first in his division, will represent DCSD at the state level at Clayton State University in April.

Fairington Elementary
Students, parents and staff at Fairington united to raise $1,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for Pennies for Patients, which helps fund research and access to therapies and treatments for blood cancer patients.

Hightower Elementary
Congratulations to Hightower students Aiden Scott and Augusto Gonzalez who placed at the most recent statewide Technology Fair. Scott claimed first in Device Modification while Gonzalez placed second in 3D Modeling.

Huntley Hills Elementary
Huntley Hills’ Page Turners Book Club celebrated the successful completion of Thomas Rockwell’s How to Eat Fried Worms with the recreation of a Wacky Worm Dirt Desert. The newly established club is designed for third grade students who love to read, with an overall goal of inspiring them to read and develop comprehension skills.

John R. Lewis Elementary
Congratulations to John R. Lewis Elementary for being designated as a 2018 National Beta School of Merit.

Lithonia High
More than 100 Lithonia High students joined those at Stoneview Elementary for a morning reading event in March 2018. The students read sections of The Magician Hat.

Marbut Elementary
Congratulations to students Amani Lynch and Kevin Harper, who represented Marbut and DCSD at a regional social studies fair in Rockdale County. Lynch claimed a Best-In-Fair award while Harper earned a first place ribbon. Both students will represent DCSD at the state level at Clayton State University in April.

Mary McLeod Bethune Middle
Congratulations to Bethune Middle students Idiya Gebreegziabher and Cameron Penn for placing first in the Problem Solving category at the 2018 Georgia Technology Student Association competition held March 16-18.

McNair Middle
Congratulations to McNair Middle for winning the Champion’s Award at a recent drone competition held at Grady High School on March 10.

Miller Grove High
Miller Grove High will host a Culinary Boot Camp event June 24-29. The event—featuring chefs Keio Gayden and G. Garvin—will lead students through a weeklong program showcasing a variety of cooking techniques. Participating students will be selected through a 500-word essay contest.

Stoneview Elementary
This month, Stoneview welcomed students from the University of Maryland for in-class coaching sessions focused on appropriate classroom behavior as well as Greek and Latin.

Tucker Middle
Congratulations to Tucker Middle’s Technology Student Association for representing DCSD well at the Annual State Conference in Athens, Ga., on March 17, where Tucker Middle was named fifth overall in the state. Students Bayden Patel, Nuhamin Chernet, Brooke Slone and Cindy Lin claimed first place finishes in mass production, medical technology and promotional marketing. The club’s advisors, Nathaniel Williams, Amber Clinton, and Eric Knapp, were also awarded the Tommy Pitchford Inspirational Teacher Award, which recognizes chapters for excellence in placement.

Wadsworth Magnet
Congratulations to Wadsworth’s Mathematics Team, which traveled to Shiloh Middle in Gwinnett County on March 17 to compete and represent DCSD. Fifth grade students Justin Palmer and Lauren Williams placed third.

Warren Technical School
Congratulations to Warren Tech students for placing in the HOSA State Leadership Conference, held March 8-10. Victoria Holloway placed third in Life Support Skills while Kenya Moon placed second in Speaking Skills. Both students qualify for the HOSA International Leadership Conference in Dallas, Texas on June 27-30.

Every day, the schools of the DeKalb County School District are bursting with activities that supports 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.

April 20, 2018

Arabia Mountain High
Congratulations to Arabia Mountain student Patra Williams for winning $100 as part of the 2017-2018 Georgia Rotary Clubs Laws of Life Essay Contest.

Chamblee Charter High
Congratulations to Lucretia Gant for being awarded the title of High School Engineering Technology Teacher of the Year at the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association’s national conference.

Chapel Hill Middle
Congratulations to Chapel Hill Middle for receiving a $500 grant from USA Football. The school will use the funds to purchase new equipment from Riddell, USA Football’s equipment partner.

Clarkston High
Congratulations to Clarkston High for heading a Citizenship Workshop on March 24 in partnership with Asian Americans Advancing Justice. More than 40 students, parents and community members attended the event, which helps assist applications for U.S. citizenship.

Dunwoody High
Congratulations to students John Spalding and Van Craven for being honored by the Georgia High School Musical Theatre Awards, also known as the Shuler Hensley Awards. Spalding was nominated for best supporting actor for the school’s production of Urinetown, while Craven received an honorable mention for best orchestra.

Congratulations to students Madison Pankey, Sophia Kile and Justin Jasper for placing second in the Earth and Environmental Sciences category of the 70th Georgia Science and Engineering Fair.

Congratulations to the Dunwoody High Girls JV Soccer team, who went undefeated under the leadership of Phillip Davis, as well as the Dunwoody High Boys Varsity Tennis Team, who finished third in a regional tournament, qualifying for state competition.

Congratulations to Dunwoody students Alex Eldridge, Zac Pankey, Andre Sonnier and Jacob Starks for placing first in the Georgia Personal Finance Challenge.

Congratulations to students Rose Lubin and Hannah Bowman for winning first place in the district level of the Young Georgia Authors contest.

E.L. Bouie Elementary
Congratulations to the E.L. Bouie community for raising $2,000 in three weeks in just pennies, marking the most the school has ever raised. The funds will be used for critical research in partnership with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Fairington Elementary
Fairington Elementary partnered with Atlanta Food Bank to feed 85 families with nearly 3,000 pounds of donated food.

Hambrick Elementary
Congratulations to student Ta’Leeyah Camsel for being named a winner in the Young Georgia Authors Writing Contest.

Hawthorne Elementary
Congratulations to teacher Heather Ledet for being named a presenter at the 2018 STEM Forum in Pennsylvania in July 2018. Ledet will be presenting on garden-based learning and how to improve STEM outcomes in an elementary setting.

John R. Lewis Elementary
The Atlanta Silverbacks soccer team visited John Lewis to show support to students and granted free tickets to the student body.

Lithonia High
Congratulations to student Madysen Vault for advancing in the Young Georgia Authors Writing Contest for her work titled Moma.

Montclair Elementary
Congratulations to Montclair students Miguel Cortez, Angely Torres, Aury Martinez, Alexa Aguilar, Ashley Lorenzo and Kimberly Bimbiano for placing first in the Montclair Science Olympiad.

Panola Way Elementary
Panola Way hosted a motivational rally to celebrate students taking the Georgia Milestones Assessment exam. The event was attended by radio personality Art Terrell as well as other members of the KISS 104.1 Morning Groove crew.

Region 1 (Multiple Schools)
Congratulations to principals Jennifer Sanders (Dunwoody Elementary), Brian “Scott” Heptinstall (Peachtree Charter Middle), Tracey Crenshaw (Vanderlyn Elementary), Andrea Wright (STEM Coordinator), Delores Paschall (Oakcliff), Renita McMillan (Ashford Park), and Mitch Green (Henderson Mill Elementary) for serving on the principal’s panel at the STEAM

Leadership Conference at Georgia Tech University, where they shared challenged and triumphs at their respective schools while seeking STEM/STEAM certification.

Sequoyah Middle
Congratulations to Sequoyah Middle for being named a 2017-2018 National Beta School of Merit.

Stone Mountain Elementary
Congratulations to Stone Mountain Elementary for hosting a community leadership lab on March 3. The event engaged conversations with community leaders, administrators, students, parents and teachers to help grow their school community.

Stoneview Elementary
More than 25 volunteers and 150 students participated in a literacy event at Stoneview hosted by the Junior League of DeKalb County. The event featured storytellers, book giveaways, arts, crafts, a parade, parent resources, food, drinks and even dancing from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Congratulations to Stoneview Elementary for receiving a grant from the Krystal Foundation worth $1,919 to maintain the school’s STEM garden.

Towers High
Congratulations to the following students for receiving full scholarships to various colleges and universities: Michael Pollard, Vincent Gilleylen, Alejandro Silva, Elisha Rouse, Miiftaha Badada, Thanh Ton, Rekeishah Sanders, Traci Brown and David Manigo.

Tucker Middle
Congratulations to Tucker Middle’s Mixed Chorus, who received a gold rating for their performance in Chicago at the World Strides Music Heritage Festival 2018. This is the fourth year in a row that the Tucker Middle’s Chorus has received a gold rating.

Congratulations to counselor Natasha Moon for receiving the 2018 Reese House Social Justice Advocate of the Year Award from the Counselors for Social Justice division of the American Counseling Association.

Every day, the schools of the DeKalb County School District are bursting with activities that supports 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.

May 4, 2018

Arabia Mountain High
Congratulations to the Arabia Mountain debate team for their recent third place finish in the Atlanta Urban Debate League’s state tournament. Student John Radford placed first in speaking while student Taylor Jones placed eighth in speaking. Both students placed first in the open team category.

Congratulations to the Arabia Mountain varsity track team and varsity baseball team for winning their respective Region 5A Championship tournaments.

Arabia Mountain High was recently named the recipient of the College Success Award from GreatSchools.org. The award recognizes schools who are excelling in preparing graduating students for success in college, careers or the military.

Barack H. Obama Elementary
Barack H. Obama students visited Pinewood Studios in Fayetteville on April 21 and 23. Students enjoyed free classes from Pinewood staff, lunch, and breakfast courtesy of community partners.

Browns Mill Elementary
Congratulations to Browns Mill Elementary’s Drama Club for putting on their first big production of The Lion King on May 4 and May 5.

Congratulations to students Myrna Nicholas, Kameelah Chase, Bilonda Hadnot, Corinthia Myrick, and Makeisha Adams for graduating from Fernbank Science Center’s Master Gardner program.

Chamblee Charter High
Chamblee Charter was recently named the recipient of the College Success Award from GreatSchools.org. The award recognizes schools who are excelling in preparing graduating students for success in college, careers or the military.

Congratulations to Chamblee Charter High’s Interact Club for raising $250 for the Women’s Resource Center to End Domestic Violence. Donations were made during the club’s ‘Hat Day’ event.

Congratulations to Chamblee Charter High’s varsity boys and girls tennis teams for advancing in the state tournament after a very successful season.

Congratulations to students Brian Kang and Sakshi Sehgal for being named recipients of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s College Scholarship. The scholarship will provide up to $40,000 annually to both students as they complete their bachelor’s degree.

Clarkston High
Clarkston welcomed author Nic Stone to an event that culminated the school’s Book of the Month event, featuring Stone’s book Dear Martin. The author autographed copies of the book and led discussions on the book’s themes.

DeKalb Early College Academy
Congratulations to DECA senior Mia Stroud for winning the National Center for Women and Information Technology’s Award for Aspirations in Computing. This is the third time in four years at DCSD that Stroud has received this award.

Dunwoody High
Congratulations to Dunwoody High students Justin Nettles, Sam Shapira, Daniel Jakubowski, Landis Mangum, Ahna Lorden and Dabney Duncan for earning honors on the 2018 National Latin Exam for Latin I. They were joined by Latin III students Anna Wilkinson, Luke Freedman, Robert Freedman, Alessandra Tadei and Valentina Thelen, who earned similar distinctions.

Congratulations to Dunwoody High students Filippo Di Benedetto, Galya Fischer, Justin Jasper, Erika Smith, John Kerdasha, Weston Spencer, Brian Weinshenker, and Elizabeth Cowan for being named in the Governor’s Honor Program for Summer 2018.

Elizabeth Andrews High
Congratulations to Elizabeth Andrews students for taking a fourth college tour on during the 2018-2019 school year on April 10. Students who took the trip were required to meet the criteria to attend the school—Georgia Gwinnett College—and many applied for attendance while visiting. The students were greeted by DeKalb County Board of Education chairman Michael Erwin, who ate lunch with students.

Henderson Middle

Congratulations to Henderson Middle technology teacher Brett Ernst, who was recently awarded the honor of Middle School Teacher of the Year for the state of Georgia by the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association.

Indian Creek Elementary
Congratulations to Indian Creek principal Antonette Campbell for earning honors from the Who’s Who in Asian American Communities (WWAAC) Awards on Saturday, September 22 at the Rialoto Center for the Arts. Campbell will be serving as a keynote speaker during a WWAAC luncheon. The organization will also present to Indian Creek a LIFT Award and modest grant honorarium.

Marbut Elementary
Congratulations to Marbut Elementary Traditional Theme School’s competitors in The New & Scrappy Science Olympiad on March 24 at Druid Hills Middle. Of the 12 events students competed in, the team placed in nine, winning six first place medals, one second place medal and two third place medals.

Margaret Harris Comprehensive
Margaret Harris Comprehensive welcomed the FOX 5 news team to a rocket launch in honor of STEM Week in late April. The week also featured a STEM show for students, a group reading of Dr. Seuss, experiments, and a school-wide science fair.

Miller Grove High
Miller Grove High hosted a Making Memories with Mom event on April 20. The event—designed to celebrate the bond of relationships between mothers and daughters—featured 60 participants, who took part in live music, painting, a community meal, and guest speaker Teresa Samuel.

Peachtree Charter Middle
Congratulations to Peachtree Charter science teacher Brian Gardiner for being awarded the Torch Bearer’s Award for Excellence in Science Education.

Stone Mountain Middle
Congratulations to Stone Mountain Middle students Fatima Sadi, Chyna Hughey, Ingabire Lydia, and Za’kariya Goods for their participation in the DCSD Science Fair.