Safety Matters at DCS

Supervisor of School Safety, Dwight Satterfield

Decatur City Schools takes safety seriously! One way that we take care of schools is through the Safe Schools Decatur Tip Line; the Tip Line, (256) 227-8514, takes calls and text messages and is monitored at all times by our SRO officers. This has been an amazing tool in helping keep our schools safe. 

Dwight Satterfield, the Supervisor of School Safety, sends local and national reports weekly about the latest news in school safety from  to all principals in the DCS school system. His department works diligently to make sure all schools within the Decatur City system are safe and secure. Currently, new systems and procedures are being tested in different schools to improve safety including buzz-in procedures at Woodmeade and Brookhaven.

Parents should recognize that society is changing.  Threats and violent behavior in school offices will not be taken lightly. New procedures regarding transportation have been put into place recently including transportation.  If a parent wishes to talk to a bus driver, they should walk around to the driver's side and speak with the driver through the window.  Parents and care givers are no longer allowed to enter a bus.  

The DCS system creates a safe learning environment for all of our students and faculty. For more information on safety in the Decatur City schools, check out: http://www.dcs.edu/departments.cfm?subpage=109255

Oak Park Introduces a New Robotics Program

Oak Park Introduces a New Robotics Program

The days of using LEGOs for instruction of advanced robotics students may be

numbered in middle and high schools! Oak Park Middle School is leading the way

with a new advanced robotics effort for the 6

th-8th grade Talented and  Gifted (TAG) program. All of it was made possible through a recent collaboration

between Dr. Robin Gillespie of Oak Park and Dr. John D. Williams, a Decatur resident

and Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at UAHuntsville. Dr.

Williams volunteered time, money, and graduate students to develop and teach a

series of custom lesson plans that introduce microcontroller driven robots using a C

based programming language and student assembled electronic circuits. The

concepts applied at Oak Park are very similar to college level projects but do not

include high temperature soldering of electronic circuit boards. Instead, students

are learning to build circuits on breadboards that they can modify over time as their

robot becomes more and more complex.

Over an eight-week period, students explored general concepts in robotics such as

the physics of a DC motor and how solar energy can be harnessed to power

electronics. They were then introduced to an Arduino electronic controller package

that is used to program and control an ATMEGA328 microcontroller. The class of

21 was then tasked to write programs that control light emitting diodes (LEDs),

light dependent resistors (LDRs), DC motors, servos, and various sensor and

actuator mechanisms that can all be controlled by their Arduino electronics board.

In conjunction with the programming effort, students worked in teams of three to

build their own robots using kits designed and purchased for Oak Park. Each

student demonstrated a basic understanding of the assembly and programing of DC

motor driven robots with active sensing and control mechanisms.

This is just the beginning of the partnership between UAH and the Oak Park TAG

program. In the spring, Dr. Williams will return to continue the robotics effort and

the mentoring of a Destination Imagination team involved with exploration of

propulsion systems. He will also assist Dr. Gillespie, Ms. Winton, and Ms. Millwood

with the expansion of the annual Oak Park Raft Race into the eighth-grade honors

science classes.

Drs. Williams and Gillespie would like to thank Nucor and local vendors, including

Home Depot, Hobby Lobby, and Metal Fastener Supply Company, for their help in

making this project possible.

    



  

Miss Alabama

     Congratulations to former Decatur High School graduate, Anna Laura Bryan, Miss Hoover and now Miss Alabama 2012. She will represent our state throughout the year and compete in the 2013 Miss America Pageant in Las Vegas. The finals will be on ABC Saturday, January 12, 2013. The  pageant's mission is to help educate young women in Alabama by providing scholarships for their college education. The Miss Alabama Pageant, Inc. awarded approximately $105,000 in scholarships at the 2012 pageant to colleges and universities throughout Alabama.

Vote for Miss Alabama 2012 Anna Laura Bryan

     The Miss America Organization is proud to announce your opportunity to vote for a finalist at the 2013 Miss America Competition, broadcast live from Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas on Saturday, January 12, 2013 on ABC. Watch this video to learn more about our very own Anna Laura Bryan.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwEoKqxcJt4

To cast your vote, click the link below.
http://www.facebook.com/MissAmericaOrganization#!/MissAmericaOrganization/app_128953167177144

Parade With A Purpose

     Decatur High School's Homecoming Parade wasn't just any ole parade. It was a "Parade With A Purpose!" This year the parade was in honor of Ethan LyBrand, who has been diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy. Our student marketing team had the honor of interviewing Ethan's parents, Josh and Jordan LyBrand. We put together a set of questions and these were their answers:
  
Q.   When was Ethan first diagnosed with MD and what started the process of testing to see what was wrong?

 A.   Ethan was first diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy on June 8, 2011.  We had done several tests to see why Ethan was not gaining weight, literally only gained one pound in a year.  We had an upper scope, CF, and allergy test which all came back normal.  Our previous doctor decided that he was just small (like his father) and it was nothing to worry about.  My mom and I took Ethan and Chloe to the park one day where we met up with one of his day care friends.  It was really at that point that I knew something wasn't right.  I was literally chasing him around making sure he was not going to fall when his friend, who is three months younger, was running and jumping over everything when Ethan couldn't even climb over the park barrier independently.  I immediately changed doctors when I heard that Dr. Khouri was accepting new patients again.  He immediately started running tests on Ethan.  His blood work came back and showed elevated liver enzymes.  He decided to send us to a gastroenterologist who ran some tests to see why the liver enzymes were elevated and explained to us that this could be coming from a liver problem or a muscle problem.  Two days later he called us back and said that Ethan had some form of Muscular Dystrophy and they knew this because of the very high CK levels and that further testing would tell which type he had.  We were sent to a neurologist at Children’s and this is when he was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.


Q.   What changes has this brought to your family?

A.   Thus far, the only change that this has brought to our family is the thought about what the future may hold for us.  Right now he is a perfectly happy and healthy three year old little boy.  He has been in physical therapy and occupational therapy since July 2011.  Literally the only change right now is the anticipation of what statistics show his life will be like.  Today we live life to the fullest and make sure we give him every opportunity to do the things he is able to do and try not to think about what he may not be able to do one day.


Q.   How has the community supported you through this?

A.   The community has been amazing through all of this.  We have held the Ethan LyBrand March to benefit the MDA for two years now and both years we have had overwhelming turnout and support and have cleared over $10,000 each year.  Josh and I are so thankful for the love and support of the community, friends, schools, and family, we would not be able to get through this without everyone.


Q.   How did Ethan feel about being the Grand Marshal in the "Parade With A Purpose?"

A.   Ethan was so excited about being the Grand Marshal of the parade.  Although he probably does not realize why he was the Grand Marshal he still thought it was the coolest thing ever to wear his tux and ride in the car!  We have not literally sat him down and tried to explain to him that he has Muscular Dystrophy.

Q.   What were your thoughts about being a huge part in the "Parade With A Purpose?"

A.   When Mrs. Stutts approached me in the hallway and told me a little bit about what they were thinking about doing, it literally took all I had not to just burst into tears.  It meant so much to us and is an amazing event in his life that we will never forget.  I am so happy for DHS to be supporting so many causes and especially making the homecoming parade a “Parade With A Purpose."  Our niece, Ava Campbell, who has leukemia, was also in the parade as the “Pop Tab Princess” because DHS is trying to raise one million pop tabs to donate to the Ronald McDonald house in her name.  I think it is amazing how the students rally together and support different causes and it teaches them really amazing things!


Q.   Do you have any idea how much money the students raised for this purpose?

A.   The students raised $1,000!!!!!!

Calhoun's Aviation Program

calhoun Community College’s aviation class is now offered through a grant at no charge to high school juniors & seniors.  This program focuses on airframe technology, powerplant technology and avionics. Recently our Decatur City Schools’ Student Marketing Team visited with Mr. Cook, an instructor for the class. The curriculum has ten classes that must be completed to earn an Airframe and Powerplant certification (A & P). Across the nation, the Department of Labor (2010) indicates that the projected employment for aircraft and avionics mechanics and service technicians will increase by 9,800 technicians by the year 2018.

A View From the Top

It was like riding a hot air balloon in a tornado. That’s how Dr. Ed Nichols describes his first few months as superintendent of Decatur City Schools. His day is full from the beginning of the day to the end, with very few moments to stop and sit.

Nichols is developing a strategic plan that will be set by the end of this year. The plan will be influenced by an analysis of the DCS facilities, resources, and finances.

But the work evaluating the status and needs of the school system began before he even had the job.

“Before being interviewed I was given the opportunity to evaluate our school district. I tried to take it from the standpoint as if I was interviewing for a school district other than Decatur. I thought, what would you do for a school district that you didn’t know. You would research the district, test scores, and programs. I looked at it from the outside looking in as if I had never been to this school district. I spent a lot of time researching my own school district.”

So, what did he learn from himself and Decatur City Schools through the process?

“I think through the process, I learned why I stayed here for 25 years. When I came here as a young man, I didn’t expect to stay here, but there is just something about Decatur and the community. You learn a lot about the people who support and care about you during a process like that. I realized, whether I got the job or not I was committed to being in Decatur in whatever role I was supposed to play. The thing I learned the most was that I didn’t have to be the superintendent, I had a good job, and just working here in Decatur was good enough for me.”

Dr. Nichols previously served as band director and later principal of Austin High School. For the past 9 years he was the assistant superintendent for Sam Houston.

Our new superintendent has big expectations for our school system. He takes pride in our schools, and encourages us to be competitive in what we do as students individually and for our schools.

DECATUR CITY SCHOOL'S AMY CLARK NAMED THE 2012 ALABAMA CONSERVATION EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR

Alabama Governor Robert Bentley and First Lady Dianne
celebrate with Amy Clark, from Austinville Elementary School,
Alabama's 2012 Conservation Educator of the Year.

       On August 3, 2012, Amy Clark was named the 2012 Conservation Educator of the Year by Alabama Governor Robert Bentley and the Alabama Wildlife Federation.  Clark, who holds a Bachelor's Degree from Lipscomb University and a Master's Degree from the University of North Alabama, has taught at Austinville Elementary School, part of the Decatur City School System, since 1979.

         Amy was one of 14 individuals who received Conservation Achievement Awards at a formal banquet held at the Marriott Hotel and Conference Center at Capitol Hill in Montgomery, Alabama.  Award categories included Conservation Educator, Youth Conservationist, Hunter Safety Instructor, Judicial Conservationist, Legislative Conservationist, Forest Conservationist, and others.  

        A number of dignitaries joined the Governor at the awards banquet, including N. Gunter Guy, Jr., Alabama's Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources, and Tim Gothard, Executive Director of the Alabama Wildlife Federation.

        In receiving the award, Clark said, "the outdoor classroom has truly been a journey for our school and our students.  I'm grateful for our outstanding sponsors and volunteers who have made the project possible and for our strong relationship with the Alabama Wildlife Federation."

        Amy's passion for conservation education stems from her time spent outdoors growing up in Fayetteville and Lincoln County, Tennessee.  Teaching at an urban elementary school in Decatur, Alabama, Amy found that most of her students lacked the opportunity to experience nature and the outdoors firsthand.  She became inspired to work with her principal, Beth Hales, and fellow teachers to turn a small courtyard area into an outdoor classroom where students could explore nature and observe wildlife in a natural habitat.

        In 2007, Amy organized community volunteers to build their first outdoor learning station - an aquatic habitat area where students study a wide variety of wildlife, including fish, frogs, and dragonflies.  She also established bird feeder stations, which led to an unexpected experience for the children to witness the food chain firsthand: a kestrel set up its home near the school so it could prey on birds that were visiting the feeders.  Amy brought in experts to talk with the students about "Birds of Alabama," including raptors such as the kestrel.  

        To increase her students' exposure to conservation, she also brought in a forester to teach the children about forest management practices. For the past three years, students have been able to take home tree seedlings donated by the Alabama Forestry Commission.

        Over the years, through Amy's diligence and fundraising prowess, she and her students have been able to add a variety of learning stations to their outdoor classroom.  They converted a concrete koi pond into a turtle habitat, constructed raised bed gardens to plant seeds and watch them grow, and installed a birdhouse with a remote camera which allows the students to watch bluebirds raise their brood each year.

        Through Amy’s leadership, Austinville Elementary School has turned an area that used to be the home of the "portable trailer classroom" into an oasis for wildlife where students not only get to observe nature, they get to experience it firsthand.

         For her untiring efforts for conservation education and for being the "cool" teacher every kid wants, Amy was awarded the 2012 Conservation Educator of the Year for the state of Alabama.

       "The journey we began in 2007 continues today," Clark said.  "From a classroom window, I can watch kindergarten students planting seeds and placing pots in the greenhouse.  Older students test water temperatures in the koi and turtle ponds and examine water samples under a microscope.  Art students sketch flora and fauna throughout the year.  The entire outdoor classroom is a place of learning and enjoyment for everyone who attends, works in, and visits our school.  I cannot help but smile.  Our students' love for nature and the environment is evident, and I truly believe our mission is well on its way."