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.

Chess Tournament

Staff member, Benedette Moore, has been supervising students interested in playing chess for several years.  The chess club meets almost every Friday morning in the media center at 8:15am.  Recently, a group of Dodgen students who are interested in competitive chess traveled to Alpharetta to participate in the 2008 Western Regional Chess Tournament.  Our students came away with the 3rd place trophy!  These students earned the right to travel to Gwinnett County to compete in the state tournament!  Parent volunteer, Craig Thompson, has been gracious enough to coach the team.  Check out the impressive trophy in our case at the front entrance.

America's White Table

To honor the men and women who have served in America's Armed Forces, Dodgen MS set up what is referred to as "America's White Table."  Health teacher, Roberta Fletcher, came to me a few weeks ago with this unique idea.  With my enthusiastic approval, she set a table in our school cafeteria.  The little white table we have set for Veteran's Day at Dodgen MS is just like the ones that have stood in American dining halls of the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, and Navy.  A small table is used to show one soldier's lonely battle against many.  It is covered with a white cloth to honor a soldier's pure heart when they answer their country's call to duty.  A lemon slice and grains of salt are placed on a plate to show a captive soldier's bitter fate, and the tears of families waiting for loved ones to return.  An empty chair is pushed to the table for the missing soldiers who are not here.  A black napkin is placed on the table to reflect the sorrow of captivity.  A glass is turned over to symbolize the meal that will not be eaten.  A white candle is placed on the table to reflect peace.  A red rose is placed in a vase and tied with a red ribbon in the hope that all of our missing will return one day.  It is difficult for us to understand the suffering that adults sometimes must go through to protect their families and friends that make up our great country, America.  The little white table should serve as a meaningful reminder to all of us, young and old.

Theatre/Speech/Drama Class Added

I am proud to announce that there will be an exciting addition to the connections program at Dodgen when school begins this fall.  The theatre/drama/speech curriculum will be available for students in all grades during the school day.  Maria Karres-Williams has accepted the challenge of teaching in this newly created position, as well as coordinating/directing the great tradition at Dodgen known as the Spring Production.  Maria brings with her several successful years of middle school theatre teaching experience.  She moved to Georgia from North Carolina with her husband two years ago. 

CRCT Test Results

The results are in.  Our students did very well.  Congratulations also to our teachers who work so hard to help our students succeed.  Percentage of students who met or exceeded standards in reading, math, language arts, science, and social studies: 

6th grade-R98% M91% LA98% SC86% SS97%

7th grade-R95% M93% LA96% SC94% SS97%

8th grade-R98% M94% LA98% SC94% SS97%

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.

Teacher of the Year

Dodgen Middle School's Teacher of the Year for 2007-2008 is LaTease Drawdy, 7th grade language arts teacher.  Ms. Drawdy is pictured at left with her husband John.  Congratulations!

Campus Clean-Up

  More than 50 students, teachers, and community members came out this past Saturday to work on the grounds at Dodgen.  Some of the students and teachers are pictured above.  I also want to thank Johnson Ferry Baptist Church.  About a dozen church members were on hand to help out.  One of the primary tasks was to pull milfoil plants out of the pond.  They really got in there and made a difference.  Thank you!

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!

Cobb County Middle School Counselor of the Year!

Perhaps you have already heard that Jane Burgess was named Cobb County's Middle School Counselor of the Year?  I was proud to attend the celebration yesterday at Southern Polytechnic State University that honored her, as well as the elementary and high school recipients.  One of Jane's favorite quotes comes from Ralph Waldo Emerson - "Nothing great was ever accomplished without enthusiasm."  Ms. Burgess approaches each of her tasks with enthusiasm.  Most importantly, she is an enthusiastic advocate for her students at Dodgen.  Congratulations Ms. Burgess!  Jane is pictured with her husband, Mike, and her mother Ellen.  Mike is a counselor at Pitner Elementary School in Cobb County.  Jane is also pictured holding flowers that were presented to her at the celebration earlier in the week hosted by her colleagues at Dodgen.