Notes From Mr. Snell's Office

I Am Thankful

As I sit here contemplating the topic for this month’s edition of the Dodgen Dateline the first thing that comes to mind is to take inventory of the things for which I am thankful.  It is, after all, that time of year.  First, I am thankful that my list includes items such as a wonderful family, adequate food and shelter, and employment at the best middle school in the United States.

Of course I could go on for many more pages.  I am blessed indeed.  How about instead, I share some things from my list that I am sure you would not have guessed? 

The baseball that has scrawled on it the words “I love you very much!,” comes to mind.  The words were written by my son when he was in Kindergarten.  He placed it in a bucket along with all of the other baseballs we used for fielding practice.  When I found it I immediately and permanently pulled it from the bucket.  It now rests in the ash tray of my vehicle so that I can look at it every day.  I don’t smoke, so the ash tray makes a perfect trophy stand.

And then there is a section of the ceiling upstairs at our home that is missing some plaster.  The small damaged area is about the size of two business cards.  It is located about twelve inches from the pull-down stairway that leads up to the attic.  You see, when my son grew tall enough he could not walk past the cord that hangs from the stairway without reaching up to give it a good swat.  This in turn caused the knot at the end of the cord to make contact with the ceiling, which caused minor damage to the plaster.  Okay, I know what most of you are thinking.  Why in the world didn’t you just tell him not to do this?  I wonder how the leading child psychologists would weigh in on the question; not that it would change my mind.  Truth is it did not occur to me that it would cause damage.  Swatting the cord was not an act that was done with intent to destroy property.  Bottom line, life is too short to stress about the little things.  Some of you reading this may argue that this is not a little thing.  We will just agree to disagree.

Oh well…  Now that my son has gone off to college I am especially thankful for those little things.  The baseball; maybe I can throw it with his kid one day.  The area of missing plaster; I think of him every time I walk past.

Dodgen To Host PAGE Academic Bowl

Dodgen Middle School will host the PAGE Academic Bowl competition for Cobb County this Saturday.  Fourteen middle schools from within Cobb County will travel to Dodgen to take part in this event.  Special thanks go to Virginia Stevens, Dodgen's team coach, and Joan Eaton, assistant coach, for their efforts.  Quite a few staff members have stepped up to assist on Saturday.  Also to be commended are the dozens of parent volunteers who will be on hand.  It should be an outstanding day!

Practice Drill This Week

In our efforts to keep you informed, I wanted you to be aware that Dodgen Middle School will be conducting emergency lockdown drills over the next week. These drills are part of our effort to ensure student safety in the event of an emergency.

           The “Code Red” drills will occur during the school day and will involve a predetermined emergency scenario. To best simulate the circumstances of a real emergency, the drills will not be announced beforehand. Classrooms will be locked down while administrators and school safety officials review and follow the same procedures that would be used in a real event. Other than remaining quiet in their classrooms, students will not participate in the drill, and at no time will students be in any danger.

With school incidents on the rise throughout the country, student safety is a prominent concern. These practice drills will help us ensure that we are prepared to handle any situation that may arise. In addition, they will show our school community that we take student safety seriously and that we have an effective plan in place to respond to an emergency.

Thank you for your support as we work to ensure that the safety of our students remains our highest priority.

REMEMBER 9/11

Each person reading this message is aware of the significance of this date in history.  I believe that it is extremely important for each of us to reflect on the events from six years ago.  An attack on America that ended so many lives, and changed so many others.  I would like to share with you the letter that I wrote six years ago.  This letter was included in the October 2001 edition of the Dodgen Dateline.  The letter:

Dear Parents,

At the beginning of this school year I wrote a message to you that spoke of all of us taking a journey together.  The message included such pleasant thoughts as children waving and cattle grazing.  You were encouraged to eat more ice cream, climb more mountaintops, and swim more rivers.  Unfortunately we live in a world where reality sometimes is not pretty and peaceful.  The national events of the recent past have thrown us all into a world of disbelief and horror.  It is certain that these events will forever change our lives, but it is up to us as individuals to determine exactly how we will be changed.  As a parent, I will be sure that my son knows how proud I am to live in America.  I will be sure to tell him at least twice each day, once in the morning and once at night, how much I love him.  I will try with great care to teach him that freedom is a right that comes at a heavy and sometimes painful price.  I will, with more determination than ever, teach him that faith is something that he has that no one can take from him and that his God will provide comfort for him if nothing or no one else can.  Our children need reassurance from us that they are secure, and that we will be there for them when the world around us is in chaos.  Call me a dreamer; call me an old man who has lost touch with reality, but I believe that everything will be all right.  The faith of community, guidance from parents, and support from the school, will provide the cushion of security for our students that will lift them above the cruel acts of a few today; and will enable them to effect the change needed for the future.  God Bless America!

Jim Snell, Principal

NEVER FORGET!

Teacher Web Logs

Teacher web links continue to be added to the school's web site.  Most are now available.  From the main web page click "faculty."  Click the teacher's name.  There is, or soon will be, a link to the teacher's web site under their picture.

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.

Bell Schedule 1st and 2nd Quarters

Bell schedule link:  Download bellsched_1st_2nd_qtr_200607.DOC 

Dress Code Update

As a courtesy to parents and students we want to review our current dress code policies as they appear on page 9 of the handbook located in your child's agenda. 

All clothing must be appropriate for school and not be a distraction to learning.  Skirts/shorts/dresses must come close to the knee, regardless if you are wearing tights, stockings, or leggings.  No hats, caps, or bandanas may be worn during the school day.  Mid-drift shirts, blouses, strapless garments, or tank tops are not appropriate for school.  In addition, as we have stated in class assemblies, ripped or torn clothing is not appropriate for school.  Please review the current dress code policies with your child.  Thank you for your support.

New Administrative Team Members

Dodgen's Assistant Administrator for the past two years, Tawanna Rusk, has been promoted to Assistant Principal to serve at Awtrey Middle School.  While we are sad to lose her, we are proud for her and know that she will continue to touch the lives of students. 

I am proud to announce that our very own "Coach" Wilkes will serve in the capacity of Assistant Administrator  this year.  Coach Wilkes will also continue to teach some classes in the PE department.  Joining Coach part-time will be Wanda Dukes.  Wanda is returning to service after having retired as principal at Smitha Middle School.  She also held the position of gifted services coordinator at the county level a few years ago.

Social Studies Standards

Follow this link to the curriculum standards for social studies:  http://picasso.cobbk12.org/cobbcurriculum/curriculum/ParSocStudiesINDEX.HTM