Lead Learner Update

• Celebrating Dublin City Schools' 2025 Teachers of the Year
• Dublin High School's Criminal Justice Students Host Mock Trial at Laurens County Courthouse
• Dublin High School's School Nutrition Department Earns Perfect Score During Halloween Health Inspection
• Dublin City College & Career Academy Cosmetology Students On The Fast Track to Graduating Salon-Ready
• Dublin Middle School Wins MGMSAA Football Championship
• Dublin High School Celebrates Halloween With Fall Festival
• Hillcrest Elementary's School Nutrition Department Celebrates Halloween By Making Homemade Cupcakes For Every Student
• No Tricks, All Treats at Susie Dasher Elementary
• Hillcrest Elementary Pre-K Students Explore Greene Acres Farm
• Dublin Middle School Competition Cheerleaders Place 5th at Falcon Frenzy
• Celebrating the Class of 2025 During Fall Senior Night
• Irish Gifted Academy's Fall Festival
• Miyona Wells & Devontay Vickers Selected for Region All-Star Cast!
• Celebrating Dublin City Schools' 2025 Support Staff of the Year
  
• Dublin High School Announce the formation of its first-ever JROTC Leadership Academic Bowl Team
• Dublin Middle School & Irish Gifted Academy Jr. Beta Club Members Win Big at Leadership Summit
• Dublin City's School Nutrition Department Earns Farm to School Award
• Leaping Leprechaun Classes Go Trick-Or-Treating Down the Dublin High School Hallways

Dublin City Schools is proud to announce that Sergeant Philip C. Baham III has been awarded the prestigious title of 2025 District Teacher of the Year. Known for his exceptional dedication, innovative teaching methods and commitment to student success, Baham’s work has left a lasting impact on Dublin High School and the entire district community.

Currently teaching Air Force JROTC to 9th - 12th Graders, he was named the DCS Teacher of the Year during today’s special banquet.

Upon hearing his name being called, Baham said he was in absolute shock.

“My first thought was that they got it wrong,” he said. “Dublin City Schools has so many strong teachers. You could have just thrown a dart and picked anyone to fill my seat, and they would have been just as deserving, if not more so. I’m very thankful and humble.”

Baham is recognized for his ability to connect with each student on a personal level. His teaching repertoire includes courses such as Leadership Education (LE)-100: Citizenship, Character and Communications; LE-200: Communication, Awareness and Leadership; LE-300: Life Skills and Career Opportunities; and LE-400: Principles of Management. Now in his tenth year as an educator and fourth with Dublin City Schools, Baham prioritizes purposeful, inclusive teaching and fostering an environment where every student feels valued and understood.

“In and outside of the classroom, I want to ensure every lesson has purpose and relevance,” he said. “I get the joy of teaching soft skills like communication, time management and how to pick a college or a career. I get to teach all the things that are fun but also important for my students to transition to life after high school. My biggest thing is how can I convey to them what they have to do to be successful in life, regardless of whether they’re going to a four-year university, beginning a career, joining the military or going straight into one of the trades.”

Read more here. And, In addition to honoring Baham, we would like to congratulate all of our Teachers of the Year across Dublin City Schools:

• Amber Kilgore - Dublin Middle School
• Leigh Anne Lawrence - Hillcrest Elementary School

• Kim Fernandez - The Irish Gifted Academy
• Jeff Puckett - Moore Street School
• Hannah Lyle - Susie Dasher Elementary School

Hillcrest Elementary School’s dedication to literacy has been recognized by the Georgia Department of Education, earning the prestigious Literacy Leader award for its exceptional progress in improving student reading levels. This award celebrates Hillcrest’s achievements in 3rd Grade Gateway Growth and 4th Grade Growth, marking it as a leader in advancing literacy skills crucial to students' lifelong educational success.

The Georgia Department of Education’s Literacy Leader recognition acknowledges schools that demonstrate either high achievement or significant growth in reading proficiency, based on the 2023-2024 Georgia Milestones assessments.

Literacy Leader awards emphasize the importance of reading proficiency, especially in critical transition grades like third and sixth, where reading abilities strongly impact students’ future academic performance.

Hillcrest Elementary School was awarded based on the following criteria:

• 3rd Grade Gateway Growth: Hillcrest Elementary showed substantial improvement in the percentage of 3rd-grade students reading at or above grade level, meeting or exceeding growth targets set by the Georgia Milestones Reading Status indicators.
• 4th Grade Growth: Hillcrest Elementary further distinguished itself by meeting rigorous growth standards in 4th-grade reading proficiency, qualifying for additional recognition.

A total of 324 schools statewide were honored as Literacy Leaders this year. Hillcrest Elementary stands out among them, demonstrating its commitment to equipping students with the reading skills essential for academic success and personal growth.

State School Superintendent Richard Woods praised this year’s Literacy Leaders, saying, “I am so proud to announce this year’s Literacy Leader schools. These schools are moving the needle on literacy in our state – and, as a result, changing the lives of the students they serve. The ability to read opens the doors to lifelong learning – that’s why we remain laser-focused on literacy at the Georgia Department of Education and as a state. I am honored to recognize these schools, educators, students, families, and communities for their outstanding work.”

Superintendent Woods will be visiting Literacy Leader schools across Georgia this fall to personally recognize their achievements. And, we're looking forward to introducing him to our outstanding scholars!

• Kindergarten - 12th Graders: Cybersecurity Poster Contest - Due November 1, 2024

• 12th Graders: Elks National Foundation Most Valuable Student Scholarship - Due November 12, 2024

• 12th Graders: Apply to More Than 60 Georgia Colleges & Universities for Free - The Entire Month of November

• 12th Graders: Submit your college applications through the following platforms: https://www.gafutures.org/?action=signin or https://www.commonapp.org/

• Additional Scholarship Opportunities Can Be Found Here!

• Friday, November 1st: Dublin High School Football AWAY vs. Dodge County at 7:30 PM

• Saturday, November 2nd: Dublin High School's Competition Cheerleaders AWAY @ Bleckley County

• Saturday, November 2nd: Dublin High School Hosting SAT

• Monday, November 4th: Last Day of Susie Dasher Elementary’s Coca-Cola Fundraiser

• Monday, November 4th: Dublin Middle School’s Fall Into STEM Family Night from 5:00 - 6:00 PM in the DMS Cafeteria

• Tuesday, November 5th: Election Day

• Tuesday, November 5th: Dublin Middle School AWAY @ Dodge County at 3:30 PM

• Thursday, November 7th: Dublin Middle School's Career Day

• Thursday, November 7th: Dublin Middle School Soccer HOME vs. Swainsboro at 4:30 PM

• Thursday, November 7th: Dublin Middle School Soccer HOME vs. Swainsboro at 4:30 PM

• Friday, November 8th: Dublin High School’s Underclassmen Picture Make-Up Day

• Friday, November 8th: Dublin High School Football 1st Round of Playoffs

• Monday, November 11th: Dublin High School JROTC's Veteran's Day Heroes Honor Run from 8:00 AM - NOON at the DHS Track

• Monday, November 11th: Susie Dasher Elementary School’s Veterans Day program at 9:00 AM

• Monday, November 11th: Irish Gifted Academy’s Veterans Day Program at 9:30 AM

• Monday, November 11th: Hillcrest Elementary School’s Veterans Day Program at 11:00 AM in the HES Gymnasium

• Wednesday, November 13th: Hillcrest Elementary School’s Academic Parent Teacher Team Meeting at 5:00 PM in HES Classrooms

• Wednesday, November 13th: Susie Dasher Elementary School’s Academic Parent Teacher Team Meeting from 5:00 - 6:00 PM in the SDE Cafeteria

• Thursday, November 14th: Susie Dasher Elementary Pre-K thru 1st Grade Family Thanksgiving Luncheon

• Friday, November 15th: Hillcrest Elementary School’s Student Club Day

• Monday, November 18th: Hillcrest Elementary School’s Local School Governance Team Meeting at 5:00 PM

• Wednesday, November 20th: Susie Dasher Elementary’s Books & Coffee Session from 11:00 AM - 12:00 NOON in the SDE Media Center

• Thursday, November 21st: 1st Annual DHS Hair Show Royale in Auditorium

• Friday, November 22nd: Susie Dasher Elementary School’s Career Day

• Friday, November 22nd: Irish Gifted Academy Pre-K Class Presents “The Animals’ Thanksgiving” at 10:00 AM in the IGA Elementary Cafeteria

• Monday, November 25th - Friday, November 29th: Dublin City Schools’ Thanksgiving Break // No School for Students or Staff Members

• Tuesday, December 3rd: Hillcrest Elementary School’s Winter Wonderland Read-In from 5:30 - 6:30 PM

Dublin High School's JROTC is holding its first-ever Veteran's Day Heroes Honor Run on Monday, November 11th from 8:00 AM - NOON to raise funds for the Wounded Warrior Project. The event will be held at the DHS track.

The cadets will be divided up into teams of 4 or 5 cadets. The team of cadets will raise funds through a per lap sponsorship. There is a 25 lap maximum so if a cadet has a sponsorship of .10 cents per lap the team will raise $2.50.

We are excited about this opportunity and believe it will be a great benefit to DHS and the community. If you are interested in sponsoring a cadet or would like more information, please email Lt. Col. Bailey at greg.bailey@dcsirish.com.

Dublin Middle School & our Irish Gifted Academy Jr. Beta Club students are selling delicious Chicken Salad Chick for just $15 per pound to help cover their convention fees!

• Place your orders by Thursday, November 14th.
• Pickup is November 22nd—just in time for Thanksgiving break!

To order, contact any Jr. Beta Club member or email marci.mulkey@dcsirish.com.

Calling all Dublin-Laurens County residents! You're invited to participate in a Community-Wide Listening Session on Thursday, November 14th. Join us as we learn about the new Archway Partnership and share your valuable input on improving our community’s economic development and quality of life.

Session Times & Locations:

• Afternoon: 12:00 - 1:30 PM at the Chamber of Commerce McGrath Keen Conference Center, 1200 Bellevue Avenue
• Evening: 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM at East Dublin City Hall, 116 Savannah Avenue

Scan the QR code (or click here: https://ugeorgia.ca1.qualtrics.com/.../SV_8chjfXBwvcvLttQ...)to complete a quick survey in advance!

For more details, contact Angel Jackson at arh1016@uga.edu or call 706-612-3479.

Calling all students from Dublin City Schools! Get ready to shine at the Irish Day of Pageants!

Presented by our Dublin High School Cheerleaders, it’s happening on Saturday, January 25th in the DHS Auditorium.

Whether you're stepping into the spotlight for the Mister & Misses Crowning or showcasing your career aspirations, there’s a category for everyone, including:

• Pageant/Formal
• Career/Professional
• Most Photogenic
• People’s Choice

• 
  

Ready to join? Scan the QR code in the flyer or click here to register by Friday, November 15th. And, don’t miss out on this day of elegance, achievement, and Irish pride!

📢 Exciting news Dublin City Schools Seniors! During the month of November, you can apply to partner schools through the Georgia Student Finance Commission without paying any application fees! This is a fantastic opportunity to explore your future without the added cost. Don't miss out! 🎓✨ For more details, reach out to your school counselor or visit the GSFC website.

Curious about our Board of Education or Local School Governance Teams? CLICK HERE to find agendas, minutes and upcoming meeting dates.

Scripture: Nehemiah 6:9

Quote: “Living in a state of gratitude is the gateway to grace." -Arianna Huffington

I love you, and there's nothing you can do about it!

Email: amt@dcsirish.com
Website: dcsirish.com
Location: 207 Shamrock Drive
Phone: (478) 353-8000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dcsirish

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dublincityschoolsirish/