Directions to Daniell Middle School
Georgia School of Excellence
/ AdvanceEd
Accredited /
Member AMLE
Every child should receive, benefit, and
thrive from
a world class education that prepares them
for high school success.
Principal Vision
CRCT: Important Information
The CRCT is rapidly
approaching (April 23 – 29) and we need our
parents to help students be ready to exceed.
Our goal is that each student
exceed by doing their personal best!
It is our expectation
that students are in attendance every day,
focused, and prepared to do their best.
Don't forget that while a test is occurring
students cannot be pulled out of the testing
location. Below is some information you should be
aware.
What we need your help with at home:
1.
Make sure your student studies every
night.
2.
Make sure your student gets a good
night’s rest.
3.
Make sure your student eats a good
breakfast.
4.
Make sure your student is on time to
school.
Subjects that will be tested daily:
1.
April 23 – Reading
2.
April 24 – ELA
3.
April 25 – Math
4.
April 28 – Science
5.
April 29 – Social Studies
We have several
incentive programs that we offer to our
students to help encourage them to do their
personal best. This year we will be adding
one more incentive to all our students as
well. Our teachers and student leaders have
decided to implement a new and unique
incentive for students to “Exceed” standards
on the CRCT.
Students who
exceed standards in reading, language arts,
mathematics, science and/or social studies
will receive bracelets during the last three
days of school to acknowledge their hard
work. The bracelets will state, “I
Exceed!” and have 1-5 stars imprinted to
indicate the number of CRCT’s the student
exceeded in. The bracelets will also
be color coded to indicate the level of
performance:
|
Gold
|
5 Stars
|
Exceeded 5
CRCT
|
|
Silver
|
4 Stars
|
Exceeded 4
CRCT
|
|
Bronze
|
3 Stars
|
Exceeded 3
CRCT
|
|
Blue
|
2 Stars
|
Exceeded 2
CRCT
|
|
Red
|
1 Star
|
Exceeded 1
CRCT
|
Our hope is that
students will strive for and thrive in
excellence. With the preparation students
have received from their teachers, the
initiative they have taken to study on their
own, and the support you have given at home
by ensuring they study and use available
resources, all students have the opportunity
to truly exceed on this year’s CRCT!
Below is another
reminder of the available resources you have
to help your student prior to taking the
CRCT.
Online Resources
Available to Daniell Students
Online Textbooks
are accessible on the teacher’s blog. Obtain
username and passwords from the teacher.
USA TEST PREP
–
www.usatestprep.com Students can take
practice tests or play online games to help
them prepare for tests. Student results are
scored automatically and reported to the
teacher.
Georgia Online Assessment
–
www.georgiaoas.org
The OAS enables
students to access tests that consist of the
same kinds of questions that appear on the
state's CRCT in Reading, LA, Math, Science,
and Social Studies.
CRCT Test Preparation Websites -
http://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Assessment/Pages/CRCT-Study-Guides.aspx
Georgia
Department of Education website that allows
students to take practice tests to review
concepts that will be given on the CRCT.
Research Databases
–
http://www.mackinvia.com/ Research
databases through Cobb Digital Library’s
Mackinvia provide access to high-quality
information resources that are specifically
selected for their grade level.
Parents can
contact the
school media specialist for information
about usernames and passwords.
Sixth Grade Band Spring Concert Performance
On April 17,
2014, the 6 Grade Band presented their Spring Concert to a
overflowing audience. The band performed Ode to Joy,
Ryukyu-Bushi, Creepy Crawlies, and Ancient Hunters. Numerous
soloists and small ensembles were featured throughout the
concert. Mrs. Holbrook and Mr. Srikeow would like to
congratulate the students for a job well done. They would also
like to thank the approximately 20 parent volunteers and the
Sprayberry Tri M members who helped make this evening a success.
Seventh Grade Band Goes for a Night Out in
the City
On Friday, April 11, 2014, 99 seventh grade
band students and 13 adults traveled downtown for dinner at The
Varsity and to see an Atlanta Symphony Concert. At Symphony Hall
students saw a phenomenal concert and had an informative
question and answer session with three top symphony musicians,
Carl Nitchie, Stuart Stephenson, and David Coucheron.
Well done 7
Grade Band Students! We aim for this trip to become a tradition
for the 7 Grade Band. Thanks for a great night out on the town
in Atlanta!
Daniell Student Places 3rd in State PTA
Reflections Photography Competition
Tara Anastasoff
placed 3rd in the State for photography during this
year's 2013-14 PTA Reflections contest after winning at the
school and East Cobb County Council level. The theme this year
was "Believe, Dream, Inspire". Tara is the daughter of
Brandon and Eden Anastasoff.
Band Finishes Strong at Large Group
Performance Evaluations
in March, 214 7th
and 8th grade Daniell Band students took
part in the Georgia Music Educators Annual
Large Group Performance Evaluation. There
are 2 components to this evaluation. One is
a concert performance on stage where the
band performs 3 pieces of music they have
prepared for the panel. The second is
sight-reading. During sight-reading, the
ensemble is given a piece of music that the
students and conductor have never seen
before. They are then given 6 minutes to
prepare the piece for performance. The
ensemble and conductor are then graded on
their performance of this piece. Ensembles
are rated as Superior, Excellent, Good,
Fair, or Poor both on stage and in
sight-reading.
The 8th Grade Symphonic Band was rated
Excellent on stage and Superior in sight-reading. The
7th Grade Symphonic Band was rated Superior on stage and
Superior in sight-reading. In addition, the
7th and 8th Grade Concert Bands were rated Superior on stage and
Superior in sight-reading.
Mrs. Holbrook
and Mr. Srikeow congratulate all 7 and 8 Grade Band Students on
a job well done!
FDIC Money Smart Information at Lunch
N'Learn
The Daniell Middle School PTSA
hosted a Lunch 'N Learn on Friday, April 11
discussing the
Federal Deposit Insurance Company (FDIC)
Money Smart for Young Adults program.
Money Smart for Young Adults helps youth
ages 12-20 learn the basics of handling
their money and finances, including how to
create positive relationships with financial
institutions. Equipping young people
in their formative years with the basics of
financial education can give them the
knowledge, skills, and confidence they need
to manage their finances once they enter the
real world. The session was hosted by Deona
Payne, a 7th grade parent who works for the
FDIC.
Daniell Middle School Girls Immersed in STEM
Workshops at Kennesaw State University
Forty-five girls from Daniell Middle School
learned about future career possibilities in Science,
Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) during a set of
workshops conducted at the Kennesaw State University Center
March 24. As part of a statewide initiative, the Georgia
Department of Education offered middle school girls from around
the state an afternoon of hands-on workshops designed to
stimulate young women’s interest in the STEM fields.
Daniell students participated in activities
such as STEMilicous!, Lipstick or Science–Be a Chemical Engineer
for a Day!; Trash or Treasure; STEM in Hollywood–the math and
science behind Hollywood movies; and 3D printing. As a bonus and
an unexpected surprise, NASA Astronaut Dorothy
Metcalf-Lindenburger visited with the group and gave a riveting
account of her space travels. Her personable approach had the
girls (and adults) on the edge of their seats.
Daniell’s strong focus on these initiatives
is spearheaded by CTAE Engineering and Technology teacher Becky
Forbes and supported by principal David Nelson.
Daniell One of the Highest Performing Middle
Schools
The state released
results for the 2014 Eighth Grade Writing
Assessment, which show more Cobb students
writing at or above standards than their
peers. With a mean scale score of 217, 86
percent of Cobb eighth graders achieved the
Meets or Exceeds standards, compared to 80
percent statewide and 85 percent for metro
Atlanta school systems. Daniell Middle
School had 95 percent of the eighth graders
meet and exceed. This placed Daniell tieing
for the fourth highest performing middle
school in Cobb (Dickerson and Hightower
Trail 99, Dodgen 97, Mabry 96, Lost Mountain
and Daniell 95).
Click here more information about Daniell
and a complete report on all the CCSD middle
schools.
As one of four grade
level-specific writing tests administered
statewide, the Eighth Grade Writing
Assessment gauges middle school students'
writing performance, helping students,
teachers, and parents identify areas of
strength and weakness in written composition
before students enter high school. Student
essays are scored on a scale of 1 to 5,
assessing the qualities of effective
writing: ideas, organization, style, and
convention. The writing test taken during a
student’s 11th grade year (as part of the
Georgia High School Graduation Test) is an
important requirement for graduation.
Chorus
Takes Their Show on the Road
This February, the
Daniell Middle School Choral Department
embarked on the first ever singing of
the National Anthem at a National
Basketball Association Game where the
Atlanta Hawks hosted the Indian Pacers.
There were 45 proud 7th and 8th grade
chorus members who represented Daniell
well and sang the National Anthem in
stellar fashion.
In addition to
singing at an NBA game, 50 Daniell 6th
grade chorus members took their turn
singing the National Anthem at a
Kennesaw State University Women's
Basketball game. Events like these are
made possible by your continued support.
To aschieve this
recognition students and teachers completed
the five steps required to demonstrate the
school’s efforts in combatting bullying
behaviors and educating students on
diversity and acceptance.
The No Place for Hate
initiative provides educators and students
with the resources to ensure that anti-bias
and diversity education are an integral part
of the school curriculum.
No Place for Hate also
helps to create and sustain inclusive school
environments where all students feel valued
and have the opportunity to succeed by
promoting respect for individual difference
while challenging bigotry and prejudice.