Shout-outs:

• Welcoming Emily Herman, our new College Counselor
• To all of the parents who helped plan a fantastic Homecoming Coronation Friday Night, particularly Ms. Waters-Winston, Ms. Andrews, Ms. Taylor and Ms. Wright
• To Ms. Colbert, Ms. Munford, Ms. Brooks and Mr. Sessoms for coordinating student performances at the coronation
• To Ms. Ruffin for creating sashes, the scepter and other items for the royal court
• To Ms. Allen for coordinating the campaigning and election process for Homecoming
• To Mr. Konieczny for the level of investment and quality of conversation around the discussion questions in his Physics class
• To Ms. Simmons for the climate or productivity and engagement in her opening activities in Chemistry
• To Mr. Colbert, Mr. McCullough, Ms. Allen, Mr. Boonyapat and all of the parents who hosted students for the Columbian Exchange activities last week
• To Ms. Kaney and Ms. Davis for coordinating the PSAT logistics for last Wednesday and Thursday
• To Ms. Knight and Ms. Kaney for coordinating the first session of ACT prep on Saturday
• To Ms. Henderson and Mr. Parker for the increased engagement of CREW Teens participants and a great meeting on Saturday

Calendar:

• All Week – Homecoming Spirit Week
• Monday, October 19^th
  • B-Day
  • Celebrity/Character Day – Dress up as your favorite celebrity, character, athlete, or artist – Trust Card Required
  • 9:00-10:00 – Royal Court Breakfast – Cancelled
  • Flex Time – Homecoming Class Competition: Three-Point Shootout [Gym]
• Tuesday, October 20^th
  • A-Day
  • Together Tuesday – We will be decked from head to toe in orange to be United against bullying
  • Flex Time – Advisory
• Wednesday, October 21^st
  • B-Day
  • Breast Cancer Awareness – Wear pink to rally against breast cancer
  • 8:15-9:15 – SA Principal’s Coffee [Topic: Project-Based Learning – Room A301]
  • Flex Time – Homecoming Class Competition: Trivia [Theater]
• Thursday, October 22^nd
  • A-Day
  • Twin Day – Find your Best Friend and plan your outfit
  • 8:30-1:30 – Shakespeare Tavern Field Trip [All 11^th graders]
  • Flex Time – Homecoming Class Competition: Tug-of-War and Relays [Gym]
  • 6:00-7:00 – 9/10^th Grade Parent Night with Ms. Davis [Theater]
• Friday, October 23^rd
  • B-Day
  • Grade Level Color Wars –
    • 9^th grade will be decked out in White
    • 10^th grade with shroud themselves in Grey
    • 11^th grade is having a Black-out
  • Flex Time – Trust Card Free Friday
  • 12:55-1:50 – 3^rd Period
  • 1:55-2:45 – 4^th Period
  • 2:45-3:00 – Laptop return and advisory
  • 3:00-4:00 – Homecoming Pep Rally [Main Gym]
  • 5:30-6:30 – Staff vs. Student Basketball Game [Main Gym]
  • 6:30-8:30 – EagleNation Bonfire [Athletic Parking Lot]

Upcoming Events  

• Saturday, October 24^th
  • 9:00-10:30 – Parade
  • 11:00-2:00 – Fall Festival
  • 7:00-11:00 – Homecoming Dance
• October 28-29^th – AdvancED Accreditation External Review Visit
• Thursday, October 29^th, 6:00-7:00 – 11^th Grade Parent Night with Ms. Kaney
• Friday, October 30^th – No Place for Hate Movie Night [Outdoor Classroom]
• November 2-3^rd – East Lake Cup [East Lake Golf Club]
• Tuesday, November 3^rd, 6:00 – Chorus Fall Concert
• November 4-7^th – 11^th Grade College Trip [Washington, DC]
• Thursday, November 5^th – SOARING: DCS Community Arts Showcase
• November 6^th – Parent Conference Half Day
• Tuesday, November 10^th – Spanish Field Trip to Carlos Museum
• Thursday, November 12^th
  • 10^th Grade Medieval Times Field Trip
  • Drew’s Got Talent
• Tuesday, November 17^th – 10^th Grade College Trip [Clark Atlanta and Oglethorpe]
• Friday, November 20^th – JA/SA STEAM Day

Announcements:

• Progress Reports – Mid-Semester Progress Reports will be distributed to students on Tuesday, October 20^th.  These grades mark the middle of the first semester.  None of these grades are final.  However, if you are concerned about a grade, please reach out to your student’s teacher.
• Oglethorpe University – Deliberation and Dialogue: Critical Issues in Global Public Health – Oglethorpe University has invited us to join them on October 22nd at 3:15 p.m. in their Conant Performing Arts Center for DELIBERATION AND DIALOGUE, a discussion on critical issues in global public health. Distinguished experts and decision-makers from the Center for Disease Control, the Carter Center, and the Task Force for Global Health, along with our moderator, a Senior Writer on Global Health for the Wall Street Journal, will be leading the conversation. Please join our faculty, staff, students and members of our Board of Trustees and listen in and ask a question.  Flyer available here.  Click here to RSVP.
• High School Innovation Weekend 2015: November 14-15 Hosted at The Center for Civic Innovation – “Metro Atlanta high school students learn the entrepreneurial mindset, design thinking, and innovation. Student teams explore real-world challenges in the presence of local entrepreneurs and mentors. The weekend culminates in a pitch competition and showcase. Build 21st century skills, discover new strengths and passions, and gain valuable connections for future success.”
  • Register Here
  • Learn More Here
• Reminder: Hands-on-Atlanta Volunteer Opportunity Calendar – Hands-on-Atlanta publishes a calendar of volunteer opportunities on their website.  This is one of the more comprehensive calendars that I have seen and provides great opportunities for students to get involved and earn community service hours.
• Reminder: Atlanta Intown Magazine’s 20 Under 20 – “Each January, we feature students from Intown’s public schools, private schools and colleges who have given back to their community in a significant way. Over the last seven years, we’ve featured students who have created their own nonprofits, have given up summer vacation to work domestically and abroad to help the less fortunate and one even helped build a library by collecting books.  The 8th annual 20 Under 20 will appear in our January 2016 issue and we are now seeking nominations of students ages 19 and younger who have committed themselves to service to the community. Nominations are welcome from teachers, counselors, administrators, parents, siblings, fellow students or community leaders. Here’s the information we need:
  • Nominator (name, relationship to nominee and contact information)
  • Nominee (Name, age, grade, school, parent or guardian names, contact information)
  • Characteristics and service: Please provide a paragraph describing why this nominee deserves recognition. Include service projects, goals, interests and areas of interest to help illustrate your point.

The deadline for nominations is Nov. 6. Please email your nominations to editor Collin Kelley at collin@atlantaintownpaper.com.”

• Reminder: Sophomore and Junior Dues –
  • Sophomore dues are $30, which will help supplement funding from the PTA for events like Midnight Madness, Homecoming, College and Career Week and the SGA Day of Play.  A flyer about the dues is available here.
  • A schedule of payment for Junior dues is now available and outlined in the flyer available here.

Links:

• Echo – https://echo.newtechnetwork.org/
  • Echo Access Request Form (Please submit these to Ms. Mills, the registrar, in the main office)
  • Echo Parent Guide

• Link to Sign up for Constant Contact Emails

• Remind (text message and email alerts) Enrollment Instructions:
  • Ninth Grade
  • Tenth Grade
  • Eleventh Grade
• E-mail Address to Reset Echo Passwords – tech.support@drewcharterschool.org
• MyGivingPoint – http://www.mygivingpoint.org/
  • All students should have accounts to this site in order to log community service hours.  Please direct questions about community services to Ms. Kaney [rachel.kaney@drewcharterschool.org].
• Hands-on-Atlanta Volunteer Opportunity Calendar
• Eagle Nation Booster Club – http://www.dreweaglenation.org/
  • Great information about our athletic teams, including their schedules and records.

A Quote to Think About – “Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.” – John Dewey