Decatur County Schools

📣 Parents & Caregivers! Join us for a Lunch & Learn!
We're hosting a special session on Behavior Strategies for Parents and Caregivers with guest speaker Mariah Avery of Bridge Behavior Consulting.

📅 December 10th at 12 PM
📍 DCBOE Central Office – 1417 Dothan Rd
✨ Lunch provided!

Please RSVP by December 5th to Julie Lawler at jlawler@dcboe.com
or (229) 240-2020.

We hope to see you there!

🎭 Auditions for Our Spring Musical Are Coming Up! 🎶
This year’s show will be a combined BHS & BMS production, and we can’t wait to get started!

📅 Auditions:
Monday, 12/8 • 3–6 PM
Students interested in auditioning must join the Drama Club Google Classroom (qamfeopp) to access all audition materials and to sign up for an audition slot.
• Cold read from a side
• Prepare to sing one verse and one chorus

✨ Callbacks:
Thursday, 12/11 • 3-5pm
Selected students will participate in large-group callbacks including script readings and choreography.

For more information, such as show dates, rehearsals, virtual auditions, etc - please visit the Google Classroom or email kapke@dcboe.com.

Let’s make some theatre magic! 💛🎭

For the final morning in St. Augustine, BMS QUEST students visited Potter’s Wax Museum to explore famous historical figures as well as pop culture legends.

✨🍔 Grillin’ for the Greatest ✨
We had such a great time celebrating our Bainbridge Middle School educators during this year’s Grillin’ for the Greatest event! 💜💛

A huge thank you to First National Bank for sponsoring the celebration and for showing up early to grill and serve a delicious meal. Your support means so much to our Bearcat community.

Our Bearcat educators pour their hearts into students every single day, and this event was a special way to say thank you for their dedication, passion, and commitment. We are so grateful for everything they do! 💛🐾💜

#GrillinForTheGreatest #ThankYouFirstNationalBank #BMS #TeacherAppreciation #CommunitySupport #TheBearcatWay

Decatur County Schools is proud to celebrate the incredible parents, guardians, and caregivers who support our Bearcats each and every day. 💜🐾
Your involvement at home and at school strengthens learning, builds confidence, and helps every student grow.

Thank you for your commitment to our students and for the partnership that helps define The Bearcat Way.
Together, we continue a Proud Tradition and build a Promising Future for all Bearcats. 💜✨

#NationalParentEngagementDay #DecaturCountySchools #TheBearcatWay #ProudTraditionPromisingFuture

BMS QUEST students' third day in St. Augustine started with a visit to the Alligator Farm Zoological Park where they experienced animal shows and learned about species conservation. Next, students visited Castillo de San Marcos where they learned about this oldest fort in America, followed by a scenic cruise of the area. Students finished the day with a delicious meal at Mikato's and a haunted history tour.

Ever wonder what the most challenging part of daily routines in space would be, or the most difficult part of astronaut training? Well, representatives from the Science classes at Bainbridge Middle School got to ask those questions and more when Zooming with Hall of Fame astronaut and Georgia Tech Professor of Practice, Dr. Sandra Magnus this week as part of the Georgia Tech Direct to Discovery Program . Bainbridge Middle School science students listened as Dr. Magnus spoke with students from across the state of Georgia, 15,000+ students from 300+ classrooms tuned in. It was an honor to have some of our Bainbridge Middle School students leading the conversation with their thought provoking questions. Questioning is one of the best ways to learn! We’re so proud of our Bearcats for digging deep, thinking big, and learning together— the Bearcat way. Keep reaching for the stars! ⭐️

#DirectToDiscovery #BearcatWay #STEM #Aerospace

Ever wonder what teamwork looks like in outer space, or how an astronaut copes with being isolated from their family while on a mission? Well the curious minds of Hutto Elementary got to ask those questions and more when Zooming with Hall of Fame astronaut and Georgia Tech Professor of Practice, Dr. Sandra Magnus this week as part of the Georgia Tech Direct to Discovery Program . Hutto Elementary science students learned about the life of an astronaut and how to prepare for a career in aerospace. What an honor to have some of our students leading the discussion asking deep questions for all the participants to learn together. Across the state of Georgia, 15,000+ students from 300+ classrooms tuned in. We’re so proud of our Bearcats for digging deep, thinking big, and learning together— the Bearcat way. Keep reaching for the stars! ⭐️

#DirectToDiscovery #BearcatWay #STEM #AerospaceLearning

We’re proud to spotlight the outstanding teachers who attended the Robotics SPIKE professional learning session at the Coca‑Cola Space & Science Center. Organized by Rontra Brown, STEM/STEAM Program Specialist for Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education at the Georgia Department of Education, and facilitated by the NASA education team from the Coca‑Cola Space & Science Center (an education extension of Columbus State University), this workshop gave middle and high school educators a hands‑on introduction to SPIKE Prime robotics.

Educators learned how SPIKE Prime can spark creativity, problem‑solving, and collaboration while supporting STEM and 21st‑century skills across all learning areas all while . building. programming, and testing their skills through new robotics challenges designed to be classroom‑ready and adaptable across disciplines.

Representing Decatur County:
🤖Melissa Brock, Media Specialist & Instructional Technology (Bainbridge High School)
🤖Mary Jo Boutwell, STEM & WOZ ED Instructor and Instructional Technology Coach (Bainbridge Middle School)
🤖Amy Zock, Director of Instructional and Innovative Technology (Bainbridge High School)

Now our Decatur County educators will develop integrated lesson plans that incorporate SPIKE Prime robotics for grades 6–12, aligning projects to specific content standards so teachers across subject areas can use robotics to deepen learning. These will be shared with the Coca Cola Space and Science Center and other educators across Southwest Georgia to facilitate increased use of robotics in all content areas as an engaging way to prepare students for the future while developing essential problem solving skills.

Thank you to Rontra Brown, the Coca‑Cola Space & Science Center team, and all participating teachers for investing in high‑quality professional learning. We’re excited to see the innovative, standards‑aligned classroom experiences that follow

(Part 2) BMS QUEST students had a second full day in St. Augustine visiting the Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse, the Oldest House (Gonzalez-Alvarez House), and the Spanish Military Hospital. They then finished their evening with some bowling fun!

(Part 1) BMS QUEST students had a second full day in St. Augustine visiting the Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse, the Oldest House (Gonzalez-Alvarez House), and the Spanish Military Hospital. They then finished their evening with some bowling fun!

🦃🍂 Decatur County Schools Thanksgiving Holidays:
Schools will be closed Friday, Nov. 21 – Friday, Nov. 28.
(Teacher Professional Development Day – Nov. 21)

We hope everyone enjoys a safe and restful Thanksgiving break!

BMS QUEST students enjoyed their first day in the oldest city in the USA by exploring the Old Jail and learning about how inventions have advanced through the years at the Old Store. Students then visited the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park for blacksmith and cannon demonstrations and so much more!

"STEM learning in Decatur County is not a special event or an occasional project — it’s part of the weekly rhythm for every student. In grades K–5, students participate in two hours of Woz ED instruction each week, split between STEM and digital literacy courses. "

Read More Here:
https://wozed.com/newsletter/innovation-in-action-how-decatur-county-schools-are-leading-the-way-in-stem-education-in-georgia/

🐾 Bearcat Ambassadors Join Community Task Force 🐾

Last Friday, student representatives from Bainbridge High School’s Bearcat Ambassador Student Advisory Program and Principal Bryant joined community leaders at the Decatur County Schools Community Task Force meeting, hosted by Superintendent Dr. Boyd English, at the DCBOE.

These ambassadors, representing each grade level, shared valuable student insight as the group worked to strengthen communication and collaboration between Decatur County Schools and our community.

We’re proud of these Bearcats for stepping up, sharing their voices, and helping build a stronger connection between our schools and the people we serve.

Community Service in Action! 🐶 Under the guidance of Ms Heidi Chambers, Bainbridge High School’ Anchor Club helps out with the Humane Society Adoption Event at Rural King. Way to go Bearcats 💜💛 #thebearcatway #community #AnchorClub

DEADLINE TOMORROW - Friday, November 14.
Let’s finish strong, Bearcats! 💜💛
Let’s come together as a community to make a difference for local families this holiday season. 🛒 Every can counts!
Here’s what to donate:
✅ Nutritious Non-Perishables – Think canned tuna, beans, whole grains (brown rice, pasta), and low-sodium soups
✅ Pop-Top Lids – Easy-open cans for convenience
✅ Kid-Friendly Options – Peanut butter, granola bars, and other healthy, shelf-stable snacks
✅ Cooking Basics – Olive oil, spices, and seasonings
Let’s show what it means to live The Bearcat Way — caring, giving, and serving our community. 💜💛
#BearcatsCAN #EndHunger #TheBearcatWay #CommunityStrong

Tomorrow is World Diabetes Day! (11/14)
Decatur County Schools encourages everyone to wear blue to show support for students and staff living with diabetes. Let’s fill our schools with blue! 💙

DEADLINE TOMORROW - Friday, November 14.
Let’s finish strong, Bearcats! 💜💛
Let’s come together as a community to make a difference for local families this holiday season. 🛒 Every can counts!
Here’s what to donate:
✅ Nutritious Non-Perishables – Think canned tuna, beans, whole grains (brown rice, pasta), and low-sodium soups
✅ Pop-Top Lids – Easy-open cans for convenience
✅ Kid-Friendly Options – Peanut butter, granola bars, and other healthy, shelf-stable snacks
✅ Cooking Basics – Olive oil, spices, and seasonings
Let’s show what it means to live The Bearcat Way — caring, giving, and serving our community. 💜💛
#BearcatsCAN #EndHunger #TheBearcatWay #CommunityStrong