April/May Parent Newsletter

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Falcon Families,

Wow! This year flew by! We are in the home stretch of the 2024-25 school year. If you follow us on social media, you know we had an exciting month of April filled with activities and celebrations. We have a few more to come in May, as well as the big moment our seniors have been waiting for, graduation!

These last few weeks will be filled with review of skills and content as well as final exams. Please ensure that your child is at school each day and help your student make healthy choices about sleeping and eating to ensure they are at their best for this busy and sometimes stressful time.

Thank you for all you have done to collaborate with us this year. Your support of teachers and students makes our students’ success possible. Let’s keep working together as we finish the year.

In partnership with you,

Jeannie Hidalgo

Proud Principal

Dacula High School

Please stay informed about options for your student if they have failed any classes during this school year. To find important information about Summer School, please visit this website:

https://www.gcpsk12.org/programs-and-services/summer-school

Helpful Info for your seniors as graduation approaches and they prepare for college in Georgia

Complete the online Georgia Student Finance Application (GSFAPP)

• The GSFAPP is how they can apply for HOPE Scholarship or Grant, Zell Miller Scholarship or Grant, and (if attending an eligible private college) the Tuition Equalization Grant.
• The GSFAPP can be completed in 3-5 minutes and is good for 10 years.

Check their current HOPE/Zell Miller Scholarship GPA Calculation in their GAfutures Dashboard through the My High School HOPE GPA tab.

1. Complete 2025-26 FAFSA – Check out the information in GAfutures to get started

*Students must have a GAfutures Student account to access the GSFAPP and their High School HOPE GPA. Their profile must include their correct name, high school name, address, date of birth, and social security number.

Other helpful links in GAfutures:

• Preparing for College in Georgia
• How To Track Your HOPE Academic Eligibility
• HOPE Scholarship - Initial Eligibility from High School
• Zell Miller Scholarship - Initial Eligibility from High School
• Selective Service – required for male students
• State Programs

If you or someone you know needs help with basic needs (including food, personal care items, clothing, shelter, utilities, etc.), there are resources available. Please click on the link below to find out more information. Housing Resources in Gwinnett County

Food Pantry Information: Atlanta Food Bank comes every month to Paul Duke HS, it is open to all, you do not have to attend Norcross cluster schools. See the attachment below for information!

If you have not already done so, please register for ParentVue to check grades and attendance along with registering for Parent Square to communicate with teachers. If you want to know more about ParentVue and Parent Square, you can visit the following website.

https://www.gcpsk12.org/Page/36107

• 1st time 9th graders- Ms. Wise
• A - Ec- Ms. Grimes
• Ed - Le- Ms. Rieken
• Lf - Rn- Ms. Watson
• Ro - Z- Ms. Oglesby

The US History End of Course Testing will take place on May 1!

DHS Orchestra will be visiting the Southern Star Music Festival on Friday, May 2!

The Biology End of Course Testing will take place on May 2!

We will hold our senior picnic on May 2 during 6th and 7th periods. Senior picnic is for STUDENTS ONLY. We will have pizza, drinks, and all the bouncy houses/activities you can ask for. Students will need a water bottle and socks.

DHS Orchestra will be going to Six Flags on Saturday, May 3!

Scroll down to the testing section of this newsletter for specific dates for AP Exams! Good luck!

The DHS Band will have its final concert of the school year on May 6 at 7 PM in the DHS Theater. Admission is free!

Seniors who are invited to attend Senior Awards Night will recieve an invitation! This event will take place in the main gym from 6 - 9 PM.

The DHS Orchestra will have its final concert of the school year on May 8 at 7 PM in the DHS Theater. Admission is free!

All students will follow the same bell schedule on May 12 and May 13, but SENIORS ONLY will be taking their Final Exams during each period. May 12 will be 1st, 2nd, and 4th period exams and May 13 will be 5th, 6th, and 7th period exams. See the schedule below!

7:15-7:40 / Falcon 30

7:47 - 9:30 / 1st period (May 12) / 5th period (May 13)

9:37 - 12:12 / 2nd period (May 12) / 6th period (May 13)*

12:19 - 2:10 / 4th period (May 12) / 7th period (May 13)

*Students will eat lunch during 2nd/6th period.

A lunch: 10:37-11:11

B lunch: 11:11-11:42

C lunch: 11:42-12:12

The DHS Chorus will have its final concert of the school year on May 13 at 7 PM in the DHS Theater. Admission is free!

DHS Guitar will have its final concert of the school year on May 14 at 7 PM in the DHS Theater. Admission is free!

DHS Visual Arts will be hosting their annual Senior Art Show the evening of May 14 in the visual arts hall. Join us to see the beautiful work that our seniors have created!

Students will use the following bell schedule on Final Exam dates:

1st period exam: 7:15-9:30

2nd period exam: 9:40-11:45

Students will use the following bell schedule on Final Exam dates:

4th period exam: 7:15-9:30

5th period exam: 9:40-11:45

Graduation practice for all May graduates will at DHS on May 20 beginning at 1:00 PM. Attendance at graduation practice is mandatory.

Students will use the following bell schedule on Final Exam dates:

6th period exam: 7:15-9:30

7th period exam: 9:40-11:45

May 21 is the last day of school for GCPS! Have an amazing summer break, Falcons!

Graduation will be on May 22 at 2 PM at the Gas South Arena. Graduating seniors will receive an allotted number of tickets to distribute to friends and family. We look forward to celebrating the class of 2025!

Senior Chromebook Collection will begin on Friday, May 9. Seniors should keep their Chromebooks until they complete their last final exam and should bring a fully charged Chromebook to each final exam they need to complete. Once they have completed all the final exams they need to take, they may turn in their Chromebooks. Seniors will also have the option to turn in their Chromebook during Graduation Practice.

Students who are not seniors, but know they are not returning to Dacula High School in the fall, may turn in their Chromebooks after their last final exam is complete.

If you are taking GCPS summer courses, please do not turn in your Chromebook before completing those courses.

All students turning in their Chromebooks need to make sure of the following:

• Ensure that the Chromebook is clean and has no personal stickers. Please remove any stickers from the Chromebook that were not present on the Chromebook at the time of checkout.

• Bring your charged Chromebook and turn the Chromebook on while in line waiting to turn it in.

• Bring your Chromebook charger.

Underclassmen: All other students should keep their Chromebook in a safe place over the summer. Students will be responsible for any damages to the Chromebooks that occur at any time it is checked out to them, including over the summer. If your Chromebook has any damage at this time, please report it to the Media Center as soon as possible.

Dear Parents,

If you have a student receiving special education services, each state is required to conduct a yearly parent survey to measure parent/family perceptions of parent engagement between home and school. Below you will find the links to the parent letter and the survey. Please take a moment to take this very valuable survey. Your feedback assists us in providing support to our families.

Brandi Poore, Special Education Department Chair

Survey link:https://survey.gadoe.org/SPEDParentSurvey

Parent Letters: English/ Spanish

In the summer of 2026, Ms. Andrea Craig is leading a student group on a Europe trip! The dates of the trip are June 22 - June 30, 2026 and you can contact her for more information: Andrea.Craig@gcpsk12.org.

Does your student need to “free up” his or her schedule to allow for band, athletics, orchestra, theater, chorus, a language, AP class, etc? If you answered yes, you should consider enrolling your student to take Summer Health & Introduction to Lifetime Fitness (PE) through Dacula Community School. Click here to read more.

Register today on our website for our online 2025 Summer Health & Introduction to Lifetime Fitness (PE) through the Dacula Community School!

https://www.gcpsk12.org/daculacommunityschool

Check out these opportunities that DHS Volleyball is offering:

• Elementary Dacula Volley Academy, Every Monday, 3/3-4/17
• DMS Skill Training- Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3/4-3/27
• Middle School Training for Tryouts- 4/21-4/24, 4/28-5/1
• Summer Fun Clinic (4-10 year olds)- 6/2-6/5

Dacula High School Volleyball try outs will be held May 5th- May 7th in the main gym. See the Dacula HS Volleyball Google Site for more information.

Join Dacula HS Cheerleading for a one-day clinic for students in Kindergarten through 7th grade on Friday, May 9 from 4:30 to 7:30 pm. You'll spend a fun afternoon with DHS cheerleaders learning some cheer basics! Snacks and water will be provided. $25 registration (cash or check) accepted at the start of camp. Email brandi.poore@gcpsk12.org with questions. Register at this link!

Dacula High School Basketball will be hosting a Summer Youth Basketball Camp June 23 - June 26 for rising 1st - rising 8th graders. The camp will take place from 9am until 1pm. Use the following link to register: https://forms.gle/WXMafpiQg8wdDxLA8

10th Grade Students / current 11th Grade:

ALL Juniors need to present proof of receiving a meningitis booster after they turn 16 years of age. You must provide an updated Georgia 3231 Immunization form to Dacula HS. An updated 3231 is also required if your student plans to continue their education in GA . Meningitis is a serious bacterial illness that affects the brain and spinal cord. Georgia law requires students to be vaccinated against this disease unless they have a documented exemption. Please send your student's updated GA 3231 Immunization form to the Registrar's office, or via e-mail to tammi.boswell@gcpsk12.org.

Moving, or Moved?

Please contact the Registrar's office to make arrangements to update your student's address on record and to receive an updated bus pass for your student. This will also be the address used to forward important mailings and grade reports. If you're moving out of the Dacula school cluster, your student must enroll into the school zoned for their address.

Will your student be attending a different school next 24-25 school year?

The enrolling parent must complete a withdrawal form, available from the Registrar office. The withdrawal form can be completed any time before the last day of school. Your student won't be withdrawn until after second semester finals. The borrowed Chromebook, charger, and any books/borrowed items must be returned on your student's last day of attendance.

Do you need to update your Residency Affidavit for 25-26 Attendance?

All Residency Affidavits will need to be renewed for your student to attend during the 25-26 school year.

If you reside with another family, Dacula High School will be holding two events to make the process more convenient for you and the Homeowner. Please join us on Thursday, April 17 or Thursday, May 1 between 3PM to 6PM to have next school year's Residency Affidavit notarized. Both the Parent and Homeowner must be present with photo ID & Current Residency documentation (all pages). Please contact Tammi.boswell@gcpsk12.org with any questions. Further information will be sent via email and available on the Dacula HS website under the Enrollment and Withdrawal tab.

Applying to College-Final Transcript?

If you plan to attend any Postsecondary Institution, an official, final transcript must be sent after semester 2.

Your FINAL transcript can be ordered through My Payments Plus for the cost of $5 (select "final transcript" & enter the mailing address for the college). If you select to pick up your final transcript, it will be available in the front office once available.

If the college is in the state of Georgia, you can send it electronically at www.gafutures.org (your ssn must be on file with Dacula High school for you to use this option).

Graduating Seniors-STUDENT ATHLETES:

If you will be playing sports in college, your final transcript must be sent to NCAA or NAIA. Please e-mail tammi.boswell@gcpsk12.org to request an upload to NCAA or NAIA. (Remember that your FINAL transcript will also need to be sent to the Postsecondary Institution - see transcript instructions).

In the event your Chromebook is lost, please contact your local school. Please note that the number of incidents does not reset each school year. In the event your Chromebook is damaged, please contact your local school. Please note that the number of incidents does not reset each school year. Lost and/or damage fine amounts are listed below. These fees are effective July 1, 2024.

Chromebook Loss: $200

Chromebook Damage: $25

Charger Loss and/or Damage: $25

Visit YearbookOrderCenter.com and enter the school code 25024 to purchase yearbooks!

The class of 2025 Senior Sponsor is Ms. Kesler. She can be reached at alex.kesler@gcpsk12.org.

Senior students and parents, mark your calendars for these important dates:

1. Senior Picnic - May 2 - Here at DHS- We will hold our senior picnic on May 2 during 6th and 7th periods. Senior picnic is for STUDENTS ONLY. We will have pizza, drinks, and all the bouncy houses/activities you can ask for.

2. Baccalaureate - May 4 - Dacula Methodist Church @ 4 PM

3. Senior Awards Night - May 7 - DHS Main Gym at 6 PM

4. Final Exams - Week of May 12

   Because of our graduation date, we need to move final exams up a week for SENIORS ONLY. More information will be forthcoming.

5. Graduation Practice - May 20 - Here at DHS

   Graduation practice for all May graduates will be here at DHS beginning at 1:00 PM. Attendance at graduation practice is mandatory. More information will be forthcoming.

6. Graduation - May 22 - Gas South Arena

   More information on arrival time and dress code will be presented after spring break.

Applying to College?

Official transcripts to accompany the application can be ordered through your MyPaymentsPlus account ($5 ea). (A Final transcript will also need to be requested for the college at the end of the school year). Transcripts ordered through MyPaymentsPlus can be mailed to the college of your choice or you can opt to pick it up from the Dacula HS main office. Transcripts will be available within 48 school hours.

Many Georgia colleges will accept an official transcript through your student's GA Futures account. Your student's social security number must be on file with Dacula HS to use this option. Transcripts ordered electronically through GA Futures will be sent after the current semester's grades are completed. Semester One transcripts will be available by January 13, 2025.

Student Athletes that plan to play a sport in college should contact Ms. Boswell to upload your transcript to your NAIA or NCAA account. Tammi.boswell@gcpsk12.org

All seniors that have applied through Common App must match their account in Naviance. Video link with instructions on matching accounts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEi95mlJfZc

Common App Midyear Reports will be submitted via Naviance by the end of January.

Graduation Signs will be sold through the school store this year. Parents and students can stop by the school store to order a yard sign and/or banner. Payment will be accepted in the store or on My Payments Plus. We will begin accepting orders in February. See the order form attached below!

Our seniors will walk across the stage on May 22, 2025 at 2 PM!

Senior fees can be paid on Scholastic Images' website- scholasticimages.com. The fee covers cap/gown, senior dinner, senior breakfast, senior carnival, and all fees associated with the graduation ceremony. As of February 1, a late fee will be charged when paying senior fees.

Please keep in mind the following:

• Senior fees must be paid in order to participate in any senior activity, including the graduation ceremony.
• There is no itemizing fees based on activity.
• Be sure to pay early- there will be a cut-off date for participation in activities.
• Students must check their school email regularly

In addition to the SAT School Day administration of the SAT on March 18, Dacula High School will be a testing location for the SAT on the following dates:

• Saturday, May 3, 2025
• Saturday, June 7, 2025
  

The Final Exam schedule below is for SENIORS only. Underclassmen will take their finals on the last 3 days of school.

• May 12- 1st, 2nd, and 4th period Final Exams
• May 13- 5th, 6th, and 7th period Final Exams

The Final Exam schedule below is for underclassmen (9th-11th graders) only. Seniors will have an alternative schedule for their Final Exams.

• May 19- 1st and 2nd period Final Exams
• May 20- 4th and 5th period Final Exams
• May 21- 6th & 7th period Final Exams

The following End of Course Exams will be administered on these dates:

• American Literature EOC Section 1- April 28
• American Literature EOC Section 2 & 3- April 29
• Algebra EOC Sections 1 & 2- April 30
• US History EOC Sections 1 & 2- May 1
• Biology EOC Sections 1 & 2- May 2

ALL EXAMS WILL BEGIN PROMPTLY AT 7:30 AM.

AP Exams will be administered May 5 through May 26.

• May 5- AP Biology
• May 6- AP Chemistry, AP Human Geography, and AP US Government and Politics
• May 7- AP Lit and AP Computer Science A
• May 8- AP African American Studies, AP Statistics, and AP World History: Modern
• May 9- AP US History and AP Macroeconomics. AP Art Portfolios due.
• May 12- AP Calculus AB and AP Calculus BC
• May 13- AP Precalculus and AP Environmental Science
• May 14- AP English Language and Composition and AP Physics C: Mechanics
• May 15- AP Spanish Language and Culture and AP Computer Science Principles
• May 16- AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based and AP Psychology

Congratulations to our GSLT Seniors, Abby, Riley (not pictured), and Pius, for officially graduating from the Gwinnett Student Leadership Team program! We’re so proud of them and all that they will go do!

Congratulations to Anderlyn Burford, lacrosse and softball, for winning the Female Outstanding Senior Athlete Award for Dacula!

Congratulations to DJ Quary, baseball and football, for winning the Male Outstanding Senior Athlete Award for Dacula!

Congratulations to Christa Agborsangaya, the GCPS Foundation’s Joseph Abraham Memorial Scholarship recipient. She received this $1000 scholarship from the GCPS foundation on behalf of the Abraham family in honor of their son Joseph who died from a fentanyl overdose in 2017.

We are excited to share that the National Strength and Conditioning Association has recognized three Dacula High School athletes as recipients of their NSCA All-American Strength and Conditioning Athlete of the Year Award. This award recognizes athletic accomplishments and dedication to strength and conditioning. Students are nominated by their coach for their determination to improve in athletics while maintaining academic prominence. Award winners are honored for being a great model for all student-athletes at their institution. Join us in congratulating Lianna Rodriguez, Elena Pucciano, and DJ Quary!