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EDUCATION
THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21 - 27, 2019 • PAGE 8
COUNTYWIDE
A student plays a game of Hot Spot with an adult. Photo by Taylor
Robins.
Students and an adult play a board game Nov. 6. Photo by Taylor
Robins.
and parents during a Families Matter event. Photo by Taylor Robins.
District spotlights family participation and learning
BY TAYLOR ROBINS
Taylor@dekalbchamp.com
DeKalb County School
District (DCSD) hosted a
game night Nov. 6 that not
only served a recreational
purpose, but an academic and
parent participation purpose
as well.
DCSD’s Families Matter
Game Night is an annual
event, in its third year, in
which families can play
games and explore active
ways of learning math,
reading and critical thinking
strategies. The event takes
place at the Robert R.
Freeman Administrative
and Instructional Complex,
1701 Mountain Industrial
Boulevard in Stone
Mountain.
The event’s main focus
is the promotion of at-home
learning.
“Families Matter is
important because we want
to connect parents and family
members as the first teachers
of their children,” said DCSD
Family Engagement Manager
Marcia Coward. “While the
kids and parents are learning
through gaming tonight, it is
about the family connecting
with each other.”
During the event, families
are able to play board games,
video games, as well as
participate in science projects
and other volunteer-led
activities.
“I can align any of those
games with standards the
students are learning in the
classroom,” said Coward.
DCSD’s family
engagement department is
hoping to make the annual
event a bimonthly event.
According to Coward, the
feedback the district has
received from parents is
that they would like more
Families Matter events.
“This has been one of
those events that we have had
great success with because
parents come out and they
really learn because we are
still playing games in the four
content learning areas,” said
Coward. “We expect parents
to know the content in the
classroom. It is important to
teach parents other strategies
to help their children leam
at home. I live for parents
coming out and getting
involved in their children’s
education. The students
automatically do better.”
According to Coward,
both parents and students
have fun during the event.
“This event is something
that could change a future,”
said Angelia Matreveli,
DCSD parent. “I want to
show my children what is
good for their future, what
will help them and my
children are having fun.”
Most of the parents
who attended the event also
participate in the DCSD GED
program.
“When the parents are
in tune with what’s going on
in school, they can support
in the home more and won’t
have to totally depend on the
teacher in the classroom,”
said Coward.
The family engagement
department, along with
the GED program and the
Families Matter event,
also partner with outside
organizations such as the
board of health and United
Way for “wrap around”
services for DCSD families.
BY TAYLOR ROBINS
Taylor@dekalbchamp.com
DeKalb County School
District (DCSD) has
confirmed that another gun
has been found on school
grounds Nov. 14.
According to DCSD
officials, a Stone Mountain
High School administrator
reported that a student was
“possibly” in possession of
a gun.
The information was
reported to the school’s
police officer and the
officer initiated the DCSD’s
emergency protocol to
ensure the safety of students
and staff, according to
DCSD officials.
School officials located
and removed the gun
from the student “without
Student detained after another gun found
incident.” The student was 19. One week later, another gun and charged Sept. 25. A possession of a weapon Sept,
then detained. The identity of Columbia High School Cedar Grove High School 25.
the student or the reason for student was found with a student was also charged of
bringing the gun to school
was not released by DCSD
officials.
Within the first two
months of the 2019-2020
school year, DCSD had
five incidents of students
bringing guns to school.
A 14-year-old
Stephenson High School
student was arrested for
bringing a gun to school
in August; another student
reported the incident to
DCSD administration.
A Lithonia High School
student was arrested at
school Sept. 10 after pointing
a gun at another student.
Two Columbia High School
students were charged with
possession of a weapon Sept.
City of Chamblee Public Notice
A copy of the proposed 2020 Operating Budget for the City of Chamblee will be
available for review at City Hall, 5468 Peachtree Road, on Thursday, November 21,
2019.
A public hearing on the proposed budget will be held on Wednesday, December 4,
2019 at 6:00 p.m. and Thursday, December 5, 2019 at 12:00 p.m. in the Chamblee
Civic Center, 3540 Broad Street. Any persons wishing to be heard on the budget may
appear and be heard.
The City Council will vote on the budget on Tuesday, December 17, 2019. The meeting
will begin at 7:30 p.m. and will be held in the Civic Center.
Do you have 1 minute a month to help make Chamblee better? The City of Chamblee
wants to hear from you! From budgets to road paving, resident input is essential to the
decision-making process. FlashVote surveys are easy one-minute surveys sent once
every couple of months. Once each survey closes after 48 hours, FlashVote sends the
anonymized results to everyone who participated, and your government gets valuable
feedback.
1. Sign up at https://www.flashvote.com/chambleega
2. Fill out a survey
3. See the results
