Welcome!

CONGRATULATIONS to Lisa Boardman for being chosen as the Dodgen School Professional of the Year!

SPELLING BEE FINALIST
Congratulations to Colin McMillen! He will be representing Dodgen at the District Spelling Bee.

DODGEN PTSA MEMBER BENEFITS
Don't forget to bookmark your PTA member benefits page so that you always have access to our latest offerings and best deals. Please visit http://www.pta.org/member_benefit_providers.asp

SCHOOL STORE
The store is open every morning before school starts, 8:40am-9:10am. It is located near the cafeteria. Vocabulary books, PTSA calendars, spiritwear, magnets and a wide variety of school supplies may be purchased. Questions? Please contact Laura Borel at schoolstore@dodgenptsa.org

VOLUNTEERS
PTSA needs all of us Working Together to make this school year a success. If you would like to volunteer and did not get a chance to sign up yet, forms are available in the Dodgen front office or you may email Rani Quirk at volunteercoordinator@dodgenptsa.org

E-News

2012 SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT SURVEY
Dodgen Families, please access the following link to complete the School Improvement Survey for Dodgen: http://www.cobbk12.org/sisurvey
The survey will be available until Friday, February 10. Thank you.

DODGEN HAPPY HOUR AT TCBY
Every Monday-Friday 4-6pm at 4305 Roswell Rd.
Dodgen students, teachers, and staff enjoy a delicious treat and receive 20% off. No coupon needed. Just tell the cashier that your are from Dodgen. Thanks to our Partner in Education TCBY!

JUNIOR GREYHOUND LACROSSE
Spring 2012 Registration is Now Open
Jr. Greyhound Lacrosse will field boys’ and girls’ teams for player’s ages 7-14 years old. Home games are played at Hightower Trail Middle School. Please visit www.jrgreyhoundlax.com for information regarding the spring program. Lacrosse equipment is available for rent through the AJO4LAX Foundation to help those who would like to try the sport before purchasing equipment. Information on the lacrosse equipment rental program is at www.ajo4lax.com

MUST MINISTRIES FOOD DRIVE
Wednesday February 1
Must provides groceries and toiletries to more than 23,000 individuals each year. They are in desperate need of canned meats, jelly, breakfast food (cereal, pancake mix, powdered milk, grits, oatmeal, etc.), boxed meals, canned meals, rice, pasta, spaghetti sauce, disposable razors, deodorants and canned fruit. Please help us support Must Ministries by sending your student to school on Wed February 1st with a donation. Thank you for your support.

PEBBLEBROOKE HIGH SCHOOL PRESENTS HAIRSPRAY
January 26, 27, 28; February 2, 3, 4 @ 8:00pm
January 29 and February 5 @ 3:00pm
Cobb Civic Center - Jennie T. Anderson Theatre
The Jennie T. Anderson Theatre Encore Series presents The Cobb County Center for Excellence in the Performing Arts at Pebblebrook High School. Tickets ($15) available at the Anderson Theatre box office (770-528-8490) or online at www.ticketmaster.com

SUPPORT COBB SCHOOLS LICENSE PLATE
Cobb Schools Foundation will donate $10 for each plate sold by February 3 to your school!
1,000 license plates need to be sold before they can be manufactured.
Learn more at: www.cobbschoolsfoundation.org

Please pass the news on to your friends and family - supporters do not have to live in Cobb County to purchase. Help Cobb County be the first school district in Georgia to have its very own license plate and "Support Cobb Schools!"

LOST-&-FOUND CLAIM DAYS
Thursday and Friday, February 3 and 4 from 8:30–9:30am
Lost & Found Room
Parents, please plan to come in to the school to claim your students belongings. There will be someone there to help you locate items in the Lost & Found Room for the next three Thursdays and Fridays. Don’t miss out on claiming your student’s valuable items. As of March 1, unclaimed items will be donated to MUST Ministries.

STUDY 4 SUCCESS WORKSHOPS
Mondays at 7:30pm at Yael Swerdlow & Associates, 1240 Johnson Ferry Place, Marietta
Organization–Monday, January 23
Active Reading–Monday, January 30
Note Taking–Monday, February 6
Test Taking–Monday, February 13
Writing–Monday, February 27
In-depth workshops designed for parents presented by Yael Swerdlow, a well-known educational consultant. The workshops focus on 4 aspects of learning that are central to success in the classroom. These types of classes can cost hundreds of dollars, but the PTA has negotiated a special price. Attend one class or all. The cost is $30 per 1 ½ hour session. There is limited space available. Download Flyer. Brought to you by the PTA’s Family Engagement Committee at Timber Ridge Elementary. Contact Monica Tempel at monica@tempelfamily.net or 770-992-7475 to register.

DODGEN PTSA GENERAL PTSA MEETING
Tuesday, February 7 at 6:30pm in the Dodgen Theatre
Agenda: Election of the Nominating Committee, Bylaws Amendment and Budget Amendment. If you have any questions, please contact us at co-president@dodgenptsa.org

CHADD MEETINGS
February 7 from 6:30-8:00pm - Study Skills-Fresh Ideas! Presenter: Jennifer Hasser from Syllables Learning Center. East Cobb Government Services Center, 4400 Lower Roswell Road
February 23 from 7:00-8:30pm - Support Group. Moderator: Elaine Taylor-Klaus from Impace ADHD. Walton High School

DODGEN ENVIRONMENTAL CLUB MEETING DATES
8:15am in Room #749, Mrs Barkley's Science classroom.
Future Environmental Club Meeting Dates:
Wednesday, February 15
Wednesday, March 21
Wednesday, April 25

DISNEY INVITES DODGEN BAND TO PERFORM
Congratulations to our current 7th grade Band!
A recording of their spring concert was recently submitted as an audition tape and the group was invited to present a public performance on the Waterside Stage at Downtown Disney! The students will spend three days in parks on February 23, 24 and 25 as part of this public performance trip. Our Band students will be serving as musical ambassadors representing Dodgen Middle School, the city of Marietta, and Cobb County as they perform for thousands of visitors from around the world. This event will add to an already exciting 8th grade year for these band students.

DODGEN HEALTH FAIR & BLOOD DRIVE
Thursday, March, 1 from 4:30-7:30pm
We are currently recruiting for the Dodgen Health Fair. If you are a health-care or medical professional, law enforcement and fire personnel, health and fitness professional or are a representative of local, state or national health organizations, we encourage you to participate. Sharing your expertise will promote the health and wellness of our Dodgen community. If you are willing to participate, please click here and complete information.
The Fair will be composed of informational booths and interactive demonstrations for parents & teens ranging in topics from Asthma to Zumba.
Life South blood mobile will also be on site. A person is able to donate blood if he/she is 16 years or older, weighs 110 lbs. or more and is in good general health. For more general information, please visit the Health Fair website: https://sites.google.com/site/dodgenhealthfair/

WALTON DRAMA PRESENTS ANYTHING GOES
Thursday, March 1 at 7:00pm
Friday, March 2 at 7:00pm
Saturday, March 3 at 2:00pm & 7:00pm
Anything Goes is a musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter. The original book was a collaborative effort by Guy Bolton and P.G. Wodehouse, heavily revised by the team of Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. The story concerns madcap antics aboard an ocean liner bound from New York to London. Billy Crocker is a stowaway in love with heiress Hope Harcourt, who is engaged to Lord Evelyn Oakleigh. Nightclub singer Reno Sweeney and Public Enemy #13 Moonface Martin aid Billy in his quest to win Hope. The musical introduced such songs as "Anything Goes", "You're the Top", and "I Get a Kick Out of You." More info: http://www.waltondrama.com/

LET'S MOVE! ESSAY & POETRY CONTEST
Open to Middle School Students in Grades 6 - 8
Contest deadline Monday, March 19
Intent to participate must be submitted by Friday, February 17
As part of the Let's Move! Initiative, Georgia School Nutrition Association is launching an essay/poetry writing contest designed to engage students and motivate them towards a fit and healthy lifestyle. Participants will write an essay or poem about the importance of exercise and healthy eating. Winners will receive prizes and attend a Literary Consortium on the University of Georgia College Campus in Athens, Georgia. Thirty (30) students from four (4) middle schools in Georgia will be selected to attend. In addition to your school winning an exciting field trip to the historical University of Georgia campus, participants will positively influence other students to make good decisions about their health and well‐being through sharing their personal essays/poems. They will also enjoy dinner on campus at the beautiful Village Summit dining facility, where they will be joined by UGA student athletes who will speak to them about the importance of eating healthy and staying fit and how these healthy habits allow them to be great athletes and successful students.
Click for more information including the ENTRY FORM.

COBB ALCOHOL TASKFORCE VIDEO PSA COMPETITION FOR STUDENTS
Entry deadline is Friday, March 30
Contest rules and forms can be found on www.cobbat.org. Thanks to Cobb County Commission on Children and Youth for making funds available for cash prizes! There will be prizes for 1st, 2nd, 3rd place and viewers choice winners. This is a great way for youth organizations to raise funds while creatively sharing their voice and vision and helping us spread youth messages for preventing underage drinking. Winning videos will be posted online and air on local TV stations during April for National Alcohol Awareness month. Winners will be regognized at public event in April, date TBA. Please spread the word to get lots of youth to enter this contest! And check back to view and vote for your favorite entries during the week of April 1-13 - we will post a link so you can view and vote online then for your viewer's choice.

» More E-News

Dodgen Dateline

» JANUARY 2012 DODGEN DATELINE (.pdf)

Quick Links

» Dodgen Middle School Website
» 2011-2012 CCSD Calendar (.pdf)
» 6th Grade Supply List (.doc)
» 7th Grade Supply List (.doc)
» 8th Grade Supply List (.doc)
» Pinnacle Internet Viewer
   Student Attendance & Grades
» PTSA Membership Benefits
» Parent to Parent Program (.doc)
» School Council Nomination Form
(.doc)
» Spiritwear Order Form (.doc)

Panther Day Info

» Top 11 Things Every Student Should Know (.pdf)
» School Procedues You Should Know (.pdf)
» Helpful Links (.pdf)

Cobb County Board of Education Meetings

Cobb County Board of Education meetings will be streamed live online at www.cobbk12.org and will also be available on COBB edTV at Comcast channel 24 or Smyrna Charter channel 97.

Ongoing

DODGEN YEARBOOKS ARE NOW ON SALE!
Over the next few weeks, you will begin receiving information from Jostens on how to order a yearbook. This information will come to you via US mail in an envelope with a return address of Dodgen. If you received one but threw it away, no worries. There will be additional mailings over the next several weeks. PLEASE NOTE: Yearbooks were not sold on Panther Day or through PTSA. Questions? kari.viland@cobbk12.org

REGISTRATION FOR TRIP TO COSTA RICA
Leaving on June 25 for an 8 day excursion to the Eco Havens of Costa Rica.
The trip is now open to not only 7th and 8th grade students, but parents are also invited! For more information, please email Mrs. Becton at costarica2012@hotmail.com

EARLY DISMISSAL PROCEDURE
If your student is needing to check out early, to help minimize class disruption please:

1. Send a note with your student with their name, homeroom teacher, time to be dismissed, and reason for dismissal.
2. First thing in the morning, after student checks in at homeroom, have them bring the note to the Front Office to receive a dismissal pass for the assigned time. Student will show this pass to the teacher at beginning of class, or at written dismissal time.
3. In the event a note was forgotten, or an appointment was made for the same day, please call the Dodgen Front Office (770-578-2726) with the information and a dismissal pass will be issued at the earliest class break. This will allow the Front Office Volunteers to find your student in a timely manner.

BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION
We are off to a great start this year. Keep clipping those box tops! Just send them in with your child to school. The box is located in the hall by the front office. Right now you can get double box tops on all Ziploc products. Look for box tops in new spots such as Avery Office products, Boise brand copier and printing paper. Keep a look out at your office as well as your pantry and keep submitting those box tops. Last year America's schools earned $59 million through box tops for education. For a complete list of products, recipes and coupons you can visit www.boxtopsforeducation.com

PUBLIX SHOPPING CARDS AVAILABLE IN LOBBY
Just add them to your keychain, use them at any Publix store and the PTSA will earn credit.

CHORUS UPDATE
Please visit the new chorus website www.dodgenchorus.org to input student information and access all chorus news, forms and information.

DID YOU KNOW?
The Social Work Department also has a database with over 1000 community resources to help assist families, faculty and staff to search for various areas of support? Please feel free to check it out and see how wonderful and supportive our community is - we have so much right in our backyard! The website is www.cobbk12.org/familyresources

STUDENT ACCIDENT INSURANCE
Please visit www.k12specialmarkets.com to enroll. For information on plans available click Coverage Details. To enroll click Enroll Now. Contact information is available on the website to answer your questions.

EAST SIDE ELEMENTARY BRICKS
Would you like to own a piece of East Side history? While we’ve said goodbye to the old building and are enjoying the new school, the East Side Foundation has a way to help you remember your time in the original East Side school building - you can buy a brick! We salvaged bricks from the demolition and have affixed a gold plaque that has a beautiful sketch of the old school on it. For just $25.00, you can own a piece of East Side. There are a limited number of bricks left, so if you are interested, please send an e-mail to ESEBricks@gmail.com and include your name, phone number, e-mail address and number of bricks you’d like to purchase. Thanks for your support!