February/March Parent Newsletter

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Dear Falcon Families,

We are nearing the midpoint of the semester. Overall, our students are doing very well and we are very proud of them. Things really pick up after spring break as testing begins and finals quickly follow. Now is the time to sit down with your student and review grades and attendance. Students should be at or near the grade they want to earn at the end of the semester. If they are not, please set some short term goals to help them reach their desired grade.

As you have these discussions, please reach out to your child’s teachers if you have any questions or concerns. We are here to support your student and collaborate with you. Let’s work together for student success.

In partnership with you,

Jeannie Hidalgo

Proud Principal

Dacula High School

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. https://gwinnettcares.org/need-help/individual/housing/

Also, if you or a family that you know of is in need of a warming station, please visit https://www.gwinnettcounty.com/web/gwinnett/departments/communityservices/healthhumanservices/warmingstations for more information. The warming stations are for residents to receive temporary, overnight relief. Residents who visit the sites will be able to warm up, eat a meal, and get some rest. The warming stations will be available from 6:00 pm until 7:00 am at the locations listed on the website.

Please encourage your student to use tutor.com to access virtual tutors and virtual study skills coaching. If you want to know more about tutor.com, you can visit the following website. https://www.gcpsk12.org/students/tutorcom

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

https://www.gcpsk12.org/Page/26042

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

"Hey, falcons! There will be several MAJOR events at DHS over the next few weeks. Students may need to register for some of these events ahead of time.

1. Saturday, March 2 from 10am-12pm - GCPS Student Career Expo at Peachtree Ridge (Students Register here)
2. Monday, March 5 @ 5:30PM - FAFSA Completion Event (Seniors register here)
3. Tuesday, March 12 during 3rd-5th period - GGC Instant Decision Day (Seniors register here)
4. Tuesday, March 19 during 5th period - DHS College Fair

Let Mr. Cash know if you have any questions about these events!

Offer to spend time with a family member doing something that you know means a lot to them. For example, playing chess with grandpa or learning the new video game your student loves. Even though it may not be interesting to you, investing in other people's interests is a great way to have them feel appreciated and validated.

Hey, Falcons! If you're interested in careers that may not require any college education, you should register to attend the GCPS Career Expo. The expo will be on March 2 from 10am-12pm at Peachtree Ridge High School. Last year's expo featured many employers from trades and unions, and many will be present this year, as well. Register ASAP and let Mr. Cash know if you have any questions about the GCPS Career Expo.

Chorus LGPE will take place on March 4 and 5 at Lawrenceville United Methodist Church. See additional information below!

• Blue Mixed Chorus, 3/4 @ 9:00AM
• Treble Chorus, 3/4 @ 9:40AM
• Gold Mixed Chorus, 3/5 @ 3:30PM
• Gold Women's Chorus, 3/5 @ 4:30PM

Students whose Social Studies courses require a district interim will take it on this date.

Due to elementary and middle school early release, Dacula High School will have a later release time on Wednesday and Thursday March 6 and 7. No checkouts will occur after 1:40pm. Students will be dismissed when buses arrive.

Rising 9th-12th graders who are interested in cheering sideline (football and basketball) or competition cheerleading are encouraged to attend the Cheerleading Info Meeting on March 6 at 6:30pm in the Commons Area. Tryouts will be March 25 - 29. If you have any questions, reach out to Coach Poore at brandi.poore@gcpsk12.org.

Students whose Science courses require a district interim will take it on this date.

Orchestra LGPE will take place at Archer High School on March 7 and 8. See the information below!

• Concert Orchestra Performance, 3/7 @ 9AM
• Chamber Orchestra Performance, 3/7 @ 10:40AM
• Symphonic Orchestra Performance, 3/8 @ 9AM
• Philharmonic Orchestra Performance, 3/8 @ 10:40AM

Parents are welcome to attend!

Friday, March 8 is the last day to buy prom tickets on MyPaymentsPlus. No tickets will be available to purchase after March 8. All ticket sales are final. No refunds will be issued for tickets purchased.

Students whose Language Arts courses require a district interim will take it on this date.

Band LGPE will take place at Central Gwinnett High School on March 9. See the information below!

• Symphonic Band @ 10AM, Sight Reads @ 10:25 AM
• Concert Band @ 11AM, Sight Reads @ 11:25 AM

March 10 is the deadline to register for AP Exams for AP Government and AP Macroeconomics.

Students whose Math courses require a district interim will take it on this date.

Friday, March 15, is a Digital Learning Day (DLD) for all students. On scheduled DLDs, students access lessons in eCLASS but do not have virtual class time with their teachers. To ensure that students have a nutritious breakfast and lunch to fuel their learning, our bus drivers will be on the road and at every bus stop to deliver meals prepared by School Nutrition Program staff. Families should expect buses to run their routes from approximately 10:45 a.m. to noon, beginning at the first stops on the route. These delivered meals are provided at no cost to families, and are provided to anyone 18 years old and under.

This year’s prom will be in the Egyptian Ballroom at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta on Friday, March 15th 2024 from 8 - 11:00 PM. Students attending prom must sign the Prom Rules form, and must also provide additional paperwork for dates. For more information on Prom and how to access the rules forms, please visit the school website or use the Prom FAQ document linked here.

March 19th will be digital readiness day for the SAT. During 1st period, teachers will lead students through ensuring that their devices are ready for taking the SAT on March 26.

All students enrolled in 10th grade ELA will take the Gwinnett Writes on March 21. This will serve as the 10th LA Midterm grade.

Dacula High School's theatre department will be performing their spring musical "Once on this Island" March 21-23 in the DHS Theater. The performances will take place at 7PM each day!

All 11th graders will take the SAT during the school day March 26, 2024.

On Sunday, March 24, the Georgia Swarm Lacrosse team will be hosting a fundraiser for the DHS Athletic Department at their game! Enjoy watching the Saskatchewan Rush vs. the Georgia Swarm while helping out our athletics program, which will receive $10 of every $20 ticket sold. Buy your tickets today here!

We are so excited for Prom 2024 at the Fox Theatre! The facility is beautiful, and we are looking forward to a night of fun. Below you will find some important information about Prom. Prom is Friday, March 15th. Tickets may only be purchased thru MyPayments. Ticket sales end on Friday, March 8th. Absolutely no tickets may be purchased after Friday, March 8th. All ticket sales are final. No refunds will be issued for tickets purchased. Students attending prom must sign the Prom Rules form, and must also provide additional paperwork for dates. Some general information can be found below. For more information on Prom, including links for the rules forms, use the Prom FAQ document linked here.

TIME: Doors open promptly at 8:00 PM. Prom ends promptly at 11:00 PM. Rides must be arranged and ready to pick up students before 11:00 PM.

ATTIRE: Prom is a formal event. This means students could wear a tuxedo, dark suit, formal evening gown, cocktail dress, or dressy separates.

BAG POLICY: A small clutch is allowed. Please do not bring backpacks and oversized bags as these are not permitted. The Fox Theatre will enforce these policies as well. Remember, there will not be a coat check available at prom.

PARKING: Students driving to prom are responsible for paying for parking. Click here for parking options: Fox Theatre Parking

FOOD/DRINKS: There will be grab and go desserts available for students as well as beverages.

TICKET INTO PROM: In order to be admitted into Prom, all students and guests must bring a photo ID (license, school ID, etc). No physical ticket is needed.

FAVOR: Be sure to visit the photo booth for digital and printable favors!

We are looking forward to a night of dancing and fun! Make sure your student visits the photo booth, and takes many pictures to share for years to come.

1. If your plans include withdrawing your student to attend another school for second semester, the enrolling parent/guardian should stop by the Registrar's office with photo ID to complete a withdrawal form. The Chromebook and Charger that were loaned should be returned to Dacula High School on your student's last day of attendance. We wish you and your student all the best!
2. 11th grade students are required to have a dose of the meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4) administered on or after their 16th birthday. If you haven't already done so, please submit your student's updated Georgia 3231 Immunization form to the Registrar's office at tammi.boswell@gcpsk12.org or have your student drop off the form.

To order a yearbook for the 2023-2024 school year, visit YearbookOrderCenter.com and enter the school code 25024.

Check out the programs and events that the Dacula Branch of the Gwinnett County Public Library will be offering during the month of March!

All students enrolled in 10th grade ELA will take the Gwinnett Writes on March 21. This will serve as the 10th LA Midterm grade. Stay tuned for more information!

All 11th graders will take the SAT during the school day March 26, 2024. Stay tuned for more information!

• 4/22/24 - American Literature Section 1
• 4/23/24 - American Literature Section 2 & 3
• 4/29/24 - Biology Sections 1 & 2
• 4/30/24 - US History Sections 1 & 2
• 5/2/24 - Algebra 1 Sections 1 & 2

• May 6, 2024
• Morning- US Government & Politics
• Afternoon- Chemistry
• May 7, 2024
• Morning- Human Geography
• Afternoon- Statistics
• May 8, 2024
• Morning- English Literature and Composition
• Afternoon- Comparative Government & Politics and Computer Science A

• May 9, 2024
• Morning- Environmental Science
• Afternoon- Psychology
• May 10, 2024
• Morning- US History
• Afternoon- Macroeconomics
• May 13, 2024
• Morning- Calculus AB and Calculus BC
• Afternoon- Precalculus
• May 14, 2024
• Morning- English Language and Composition
• Afternoon (12pm)- Physics C: Mechanics
• Afternoon (2pm)- Physics C: Electrictity & Magnetism
• May 15, 2024
• Morning- French Language & Culture and World History: Modern
• Afternoon- Computer Science Principles
• May 16, 2024
• Morning- Spanish Language & Culture
• Afternoon- Biology
• May 17, 2024
• Morning- Physics 1: Algebra-Based

Special Education Administrator: Megan Callihan

Special Education Department Chair: Aubree’ Parent-Graupner

Please visit the DHS Special Education Website to complete the Parent Survey and for additional special education information: https://schools.gcpsk12.org/Domain/15603

The 2024 Annual Parent Involvement Survey for Georgia Families with Special Education Students is a part of Georgia's State Performance Plan. It aims to understand how well schools are engaging parents in their child's special education. The survey is important for gauging parent involvement and improving family-school partnerships, influencing local and state educational strategies. It's an online survey, available in English and Spanish from Jan 16 to May 31, 2024, and is anonymous and confidential. The survey includes questions about partnership with educators, understanding of rights, communication effectiveness, respect for cultural heritage, and support in education, with response options ranging from "Very Strongly Disagree" to "Very Strongly Agree". Parents are asked to distribute survey info through various school channels. For more details, please visit the provided link. Contact Dawn Albanese at dawn.albanese@gcpsk12.org or 678-301-7212 for any questions.

Please use this link to access the survey.

​GCPS will hold its 18th Annual Transition Fair for parents and students with special needs on March 16, 2024.

​This resource fair brings 75+ community organizations and state agencies together, in one place, for families to learn more about services such as supported employment, community living options, and specialized funding for individuals with special needs.

Transition Fair Flyer: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1N-kVwtQHLdSIJimAJ8Y36wd-yRikc5xB/view?usp=sharing

Date: March 16, 2024

Time: 9:00am-12:00pm

Where: Peachtree Ridge High School, 1555 Old Peachtree Rd. Suwanee, 30024

Families of students who will be freshmen at DHS next year, check out this Special Education presentation from our Rising 9th Grade Parent Night if you missed it!

Visit the Senior Page of the DHS Website for more information on each of these items!

• March 25 - Begin picking up Memory Boards in room 5.237 (Kesler) or in the front office

• April 15 - Deadline for sending in Senior Letters
• April 25 - 5:30-7:30 PM - Memory Board Hanging Night
• April 29 - 5:30 - 7:30 PM - Senior Dinner here at DHS
• May 2 - 6:30 AM - 7:30 AM - Senior Breakfast here at DHS
• May 3 - 6th and 7th Periods - Senior Picnic
• May 5- Baccalaureate
• May 26 - 8:30 AM - Graduation

Seniors- your graduation date is here! We are excited to celebrate you on Sunday, May 26 at 8:30am!

It's almost graduation season! The school will be selling graduation signs again this year. Please complete the order form found on the senior page on the DHS website, in the front office, and attached to the MyPayments Plus link when you pay online. Payment will be accepted through MyPayments Plus and Check only, no cash will be accepted. The sooner your order is received the quicker it will be processed. The deadline for orders is May 10, 2024.

Baccalaureate for DHS seniors will take place on May 5, 2024 at Dacula Methodist Church at 4PM. This event is put on by DHS community partners! If you are interested, email Giselle Frey at harbins2305@yahoo.com.

Each year, we ask parents to collect letters of congratulations from friends and family that we organize into gift bags and give to your students at Senior Breakfast. Letters can either be mailed in or dropped off in the front office. It is important to follow the guidelines for the project or the letter will not be filed.

1. All letters must be in INDIVIDUAL envelopes. Any envelope that you can slap a single, standard stamp on is a fine size. If you are collecting your own letters, please make sure to put each in its own envelope. Oversized letters or ones not in individual envelopes will not be filed.
2. Letters can be mailed to the school. Please address them as:

   Dacula High School

   Senior Letter Project

   123 Broad Street

   Dacula, Ga 30019

   **MAKE SURE TO PUT THE FULL STUDENT NAME in the lower left-hand corner so we know to whom the letter belongs, or we cannot file it.

3. Letters may also be collected by you, put in individual envelopes, and brought to the front office.
4. Do not include gift cards or checks in these letters. Please do not add glitter or confetti.

It is imperative that you begin collecting letters now. The post office does take time.

It's time for Graduation Announcements, class of 2024! See the message below from Herff Jones regarding ordering your graduation announcements.

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CONGRATULATIONS DACULA CLASS OF 2024! Before you know it, you will be walking across the stage at graduation! Make sure everyone knows how hard you have worked to achieve one of the best moments of your life and announce your graduation with class.

Not only will your announcements have your official school crest, but they will also be personalized with your name in the text just like collegiate announcements. We created packages to make ordering even easier, but you can always add more to them, so no one is left out! Orders will ship directly to your house and you will receive tracking information once the order ships out. See the images in the post for an idea of what your announcements will look like. Click here to order. We are so proud of you and honored to celebrate this milestone with you! Congratulations, Class of 2024 Graduate!

Scholastic Images will be at DHS during all lunches once a month to take cash and check orders for senior dues. The cost of cap and gown is included in senior dues. Senior dues are $160, but the price will increase on March 1. Dues may also be paid online on www.scholasticimagesinc.com. Senior dues are required to participate in all senior events, including the graduation ceremony.

Visit the DHS Senior Page on our school website for more information.

In February, we celebrated National School Counseling Week! We love and appreciate our counseling team at Dacula High School; they do so much to support academic achievement, career awareness, and personal and social growth for all of our students!

Congratulations to the following students for their acceptance and accolades in Gwinnett County's 2024 Shutter Sense and Nonsense Photography Show! These students submitted work to the show, which was judged by professors from SCAD, and won awards in their respective subject categories. This is a momentous honor and a great representation of Dacula HS. Come see their photos on display in the visual arts hallway!

Please, congratulate:

• Jaiden White
• Morgan Anderson
• Jorge Cruz Medel
• Daisy Lopez Sauceda
• Victorya Jarquin
• Fernando Oritz
• Avery Weaver

It is our pleasure to Congratulate these amazing Ceramic artists whose work was accepted into the Georgia High School Ceramic Arts Awards & Symposium. There were 200 submissions and not all the work was chosen. This is a huge honor for our students and the Dacula Art Department.

Please, congratulate:

• Jada Parker
• Lizbeth Arias Rodriguez
• Sidney Vasquez

Dacula High School student athlete Shirel Levy placed 8th in GHSA State for Swimming in the Breast Stroke event! Way to go, Shirel!

The lacrosse team went down to Florida over the February break weekend and played two games against Florida High Schools. One of the teams included a former student and teammate who moved to Florida after his sophomore year at Dacula High School. The trip included an outing to Top Golf, a game of paintball, a cook out by the pool and many moments for team bonding and fun. The team went 1-1 on the trip with a 16-4 win against Riverdale High School and an 8-6 loss against Palmetto Ridge High School.

We were blessed to celebrate 52 kids this month with our "On A Roll" cart. They love "shopping" the snacks and goodies. Going mobile this month allowed others to witness and often join in with applause. Seeing the kids hear the beautiful words written about themselves is as always, our most favorite part.

Here is just a small sample of some of those teachers words about our kids.

"Your energy this semester has been so refreshing and reassuring; a breath of fresh air. Your sweet smile brings positive energy through my door every day, KEEP IT GOING, we need more people like you! Thanks for trusting me and know that I'll always have your back. Never give up on yourself because you have BIG things coming to you!"

"Giordyn is quiet and keeps to herself but I can tell she is very smart, attentive, and likes learning what's being taught in a class. She engages in class discussions and always has something useful to offer. Thank you for being a great kid and you are noticed."

"David always brings amazing energy to the orchestra room! His spirit is infectious, and he is a great cello section leader. He holds himself to a high performance standard and encourages his classmates to do the same."

"Jurney is dedicated to excellence and academic achievement! She uses her class time effectively, emails with questions when she's not sure, and gets her assignments done early so she can get feedback on her work before it's turned in. She is a superstar!"

"Giann Carlo is such a hard worker and he never gives up!"