Notes From Mr. Snell's Office

Science Olympiad Team - Number 1 In Region!

Dodgen students (pictured at left with coaches) traveled to Georgia State University this past Saturday to compete in the regional Science Olympiad.  Our students placed 1st AND 4th in the competition!  The top four teams will travel to Augusta to compete in the state competition.  Each school can only send one team to state, however, so our 4th place team will have to yield to the 5th place team.  What an achievement!  Thank you to the many parent volunteers who assist our students!  And a special thank you to teacher coaches Debbie Amodeo and Jeff Miller.

Science Standards

Follow this link to the standards for science:  http://picasso.cobbk12.org/cobbcurriculum/curriculum/ParSciINDEX.HTM

Science Classes Highlighted

Soon you will see one aspect of our 8th grade science curriculum highlighted on COBB edTV.  You can visit the Cobb County BOE web site to find out additional information about the TV station, as well as program listings.  COBB edTV visited Dodgen last Thursday to do a story on what I believe to be the most unique outdoor classroom in the United States.  Our pond!  8th grade science students reap the greatest benefit from this special learning environment.  Some of our award winning (see February 23, 2007 post) students are shown at left as they are filmed for the program, and as they meet with their teacher, Judy Cox this past Thursday.

Pond Project Students and Teacher Recognized

 

Congratulations to Judy Cox and her 8th grade students!   Ms. Cox received two prestigious awards at an assembly yesterday for her work with the Dodgen Pond Project.  She was selected as the 2006 Outstanding Outreach Award Winner from Georgia Adopt-A-Stream.  She was also selected by the same organization as the Volunteer of the Year!  Ms. Cox's science classes have been utilizing the pond in front of our school as an outdoor classroom/lab for the past few years.  The students collect samples to find the amount of oxygen, pH levels, and air and water temperatures.  This year they have also researched the invasive plant called milfoil that is spreading rapidly in the pond.  A select group of her students traveled to the Atlanta Zoo on February 23, to conduct a presentation at the Youth Environmental Symposium.  I am extremely proud of Ms. Cox and her students!

Regional Science Olympiad

Student members of the Dodgen Science Olympiad (pictured at left) accompanied by their coach Deborah Amodeo, and a host of parent volunteers, traveled to Georgia State University last week to participate in the regional competition.  Dodgen MS fielded two teams for the event.  I am proud to announce that our students placed 2nd and 5th in the region!  The top six teams advance to the state competition to be held in Augusta, GA, at the end of March.  Although both of our teams placed well enough to advance, the guidelines only permit one team from each school to be represented.  Way to go ladies and gentlemen!

Dodgen Pond Project

Twenty students in Judy Cox's 8th grade science class traveled to Zoo Atlanta this morning to present their research project to a panel of judges.  Earlier this month they were selected as the 2006 Outstanding Outreach Award Winner from Georgia Adopt-A-Stream.  Ms. Cox's students have been utilizing the pond on Dodgen's campus as their very own outdoor classroom/research lab for years.  Their outstanding presentation today was the culmination of hours of hands-on research and experimentation as they monitor life on the pond.  Dodgen is one of only nine other schools in the state of Georgia selected to be honored as finalists.  On March 26, these exceptional young ladies and gentlemen will officially be presented with an award from the State Coordinator of the Environmental Protection Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.  I will be sure to post a group picture of Ms. Cox and her students at that time.  Great job!

Science Fair

Congratulations to all of our students who participated in Dodgen's Science Fair!  Six of our 8th grade students (pictured at left) will advance to the Cobb Paulding Science Fair.  8th grade teachers, Joan Jackson and Marilyn Pope, are proud of their students.  These teachers are to be commended for thier efforts as well.

Science Olympiad Team Strikes Again!

Dodgen Middle School sent two teams to the Regional Science Olympiad competition at Georgia State University this past Saturday.  There were eighteen schools from around the region who participated in the event.  There were twenty-one teams in all as two other schools brought two teams as well.  Dodgen's two teams placed first and fourth in the Region!  Let me repeat that... Dodgen's two teams PLACED FIRST AND FOURTH IN THE REGION!  Dodgen students were awarded twelve of the twenty-three first place medals!  Team Dodgen is pictured at left along with a picture from the bridge building competition.  Our students are awesome!  Our adult volunteer coaches are special and appreciated as well.  Dodgen Middle School had an amazing twenty-three parent volunteers to assist in coaching our students!  Thank you parents for your time and involvement!  Last, but not least, I want to thank our teacher coaches.  Ms Amodeo accompanied the team on Saturday.  Also assisting with the organization of the Science Olympiad Teams are Ms. Cox, Ms. Kellet, and Ms. Pope.  I am so proud of all of you!  Dodgen students travel to the State Science Olympiad Competition to be held in Augusta, GA, in a few short weeks.  Stay tuned...

Science and Engineering Fair

Three students from Ms. Jackson's eighth grade science class were awarded ribbons for their exhibits in the recent school level Science Fair at Dodgen MS.  Sindhuja, Kate, and Gloria went on to represent Dodgen this past Saturday at the Regional Science and Engineering Fair at Wheeler HS.  They are pictured with Sindhuja's project which won first place in the local event.  Ms. Jackson is pictured in her classroom supervising a science lab lesson. 

Dodgen Hosts Science Olympiad

Dodgen MS was the host site for the county Science Olympiad competition today, December 10, 2005.  Other middle schools who brought teams to participate in the event along with Dodgen included Campbell, Daniell, Dickerson, Durham, East Cobb, Lindley, McClesky, and Simpson.  Special thanks to volunteer, Ms. Jacobson for the countless hours that she dedicated in preparation for this exceptional event.  Ms. Amodeo and Ms. Dalton, teachers at Dodgen, also deserve much credit for the success of the olympiad.  Countless other parent and teacher volunteers also are to be commended for their assistance.

Ms. Amodeo (left) and Ms. Jacobson (right) prepare the sign-in table before the competition begins.