Notes From Mr. Snell's Office

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

• Individual CRCT reports for students will be available at our school June 10, 11, 12.  The reports can be obtained each of these days from 8:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M. If you are not able to pick your child's report up on these days, it will be available during pre-planning.
• Registration for students new to Cobb County will be Friday, August 1, from 9:00 A.M. - 3:30 P.M.
• Panther Day (Meet and Greet) will be Thursday, August 7, from 12:30-4:00 P.M.  Suggested visitation times are: 8th grade 12:30-1:30;  7th grade 1:45-2:45;  6th grade 3:00-4:00            
• Summer Orientation Day - Wednesday, June 25 - NOT a requirement (See May 16, 2008 post below for registration information)
• Marietta Tree Experts to the rescue! (see Feb. 1, 2008 post below for details)

Students New To Dodgen MS

We will offer an optional orientation/activity day for students who will be new to Dodgen MS for the 2008-2009 school year.  Students will have an opportunity to learn more about the school and make new friends.  This orientation session is not required.  You can pick up a registration form at the front office, or click on the following link if interested Download summer_orientation_2008.doc 

Great Opening!

What a grand opening!  What a great group of students!  The 2007-2008 school year marks the 32nd birthday for Dodgen Middle School.  I believe that it would be accurate to say that the previous 31 openings could not have been any better than the one I experienced on Monday.  Thank you for sending such wonderful young ladies and gentlemen to Dodgen.  Our enrollment is up this year to a grand total of 1,131.  That breaks down to about 380 in 6th, 390 in 7th, 350 in 8th.

Dr. John Crooks Visits Dodgen

Dr. John Crooks, Post 6 Board of Education member, visited Dodgen's campus twice in one week!  He was a special guest at our School Council meeting on Wednesday, March 28, and then returned on Friday, March 30, to join our faculty meeting.  The staff and I greatly appreciate Dr. Crooks taking time from his busy schedule to spend time with us.  He is shown above addressing our staff.

Immunization Requirements

The requirements have changed a bit for rising 6th graders.  Check this link for complete information:  http://www.cobb.k12.ga.us/generalinfo/enrollment.htm

School Opening Update

Enrollment has climbed to 1,068 as of Friday.  We will probably top out at just under 1,100 students on Monday, August 28.  This is the day that school bus transportation is provided for students who have chosen to come to Dodgen MS as a result of NCLB.  Most of the 120 families who have transfered their children to Dodgen have driven them to the campus these past two weeks.  We expect about 20 more to enroll on Monday.  Outside of challenges created by traffic in the carpool line in the afternoon, and some slightly overcrowded classrooms, the inclusion of more than 100 children has been an overwhelming pleasure.  This is the third year that we have welcomed students from other schools.  Once again, I must say how very proud I am of our outstanding talented and nurturing staff. 

The traffic congestion should be greatly reduced on Monday as bus routes take effect.  As far as the overcrowded classrooms, I continue to interview qualified applicants.  I anticipate lowering all class sizes to 28 or less within a few more days.  There are a few classes that have 31 and 32 students.  The majority of larger classes are at the 6th grade level.  There are also a few isolated cases in the 7th and 8th grades.  I have been encouraged by the qualifications of the teaching candidates I have interviewed in the past week.  I will not rush to fill a position.  I appreciate your patience as I continue the search.

Great Opening!

What an incredible opening!  Our student enrollment on the first day was 1,059!  This is significantly larger than the figure of 940 that was projected in the spring.  We ended the 2005-2006 school year with an enrollment of 850.  Even with this surge in population, we greeted each precious child in the morning with a smile and a schedule.  There will undoubtedly be some shuffling of student schedules in the near future so that we may do a better job of balancing classes.  I would venture to say, however, that there is not a school staff in the country that could take better care of its larger than expected enrollment of students.  Be sure to read the September issue of the Dodgen Dateline PTSA newsletter to see the names of our wonderful new staff members. 

First Day Of School

Well...tomorrow is the big day!  Students, I hope that this is your best year yet.  Parents, everything will be just fine. 

I am honored to be a part of your lives.  I do not take the responsibility lightly.

Incredible Attendance For Orientation!

There were over 140 students in attendance for our orientation today!  This was the second orientation held at Dodgen MS this summer.  We had over 70 students at the first session on June 23!  Close to 70% of students who will be new to Dodgen next year joined us for one of the two meetings!  I had the privilege of meeting many outstanding young ladies and gentlemen at these two events.  I appreciate parents bringing them.  A special thank you to the teachers and staff members who volunteered their time to meet our new students.  More than 20 teachers participated at both events.  These teachers did so without guarantee of compensation other than the intrinsic value of helping to ensure a more successful transition into Dodgen MS for our students.  The Marietta Daily Journal was alerted to the orientation program by one of our teachers and was kind enough to show up with reporter, Jon Gillooly, and photographer Damien A. Guarnieri.

Super Day!

Dodgen's 1st annual Summer Orientation was a blast!  I hope the young ladies and gentlemen who attended learned a lot, met new friends, and enjoyed themselves.  Over 70 students participated!  I would especially like to thank the teachers and staff, as well as the student representatives from Dodgen's Student Council who assisted with the orientation.  If you will be a new student to Dodgen MS next year, and you were not able to attend today, you have another opportunity on July 21.  Simply download the registration form from this web site (refer to an earlier orientation message post for the download link), fill it out and fax, mail, or bring it to the office.  More than 50 have already registered for the July event!