Dalton Public Schools -

Park Creek School STEM Explorers had an amazing time visiting The Dalton Academy! 🔬✨ Students participated in a variety of engaging, hands-on STEM activities, many of which were created and led by Academy students. It was a fantastic day of collaboration, creativity, and learning in action. We love seeing our future innovators inspiring one another!

Reminder
📌 Friday, March 13: Early Release Day
📌 Monday, March 16: Virtual Learning Day – Students will complete assignments from home.
We look forward to seeing our students back in class on Tuesday, March 17!

School Social Work Week | March 1–7, 2026 ✨

Our school social workers make a powerful difference every day—connecting students and families to resources, providing compassionate support, and helping remove barriers to learning.

We asked our school leaders to share how their social workers support their school communities. Here’s what they had to say 👇

"At HCMS, Clemencia Ixcoy is truly a behind-the-scenes hero. She supports our students with compassion, connects families to vital resources, helps remove barriers to learning, and walks alongside students during some of their toughest moments. Whether she’s checking in, problem-solving, advocating, or simply listening, she makes a lasting difference in the lives of our students and school community every single day. We are so grateful for the care, dedication, and heart she brings to HCMS!" -Heather Lawson, Principal of Hammond Creek

School Social Work Week | March 1–7, 2026 ✨

Our school social workers make a powerful difference every day—connecting students and families to resources, providing compassionate support, and helping remove barriers to learning.

We asked our school leaders to share how their social workers support their school communities. Here’s what they had to say 👇

"Jackie Taylor has a profound positive impact on our students, staff, and school community through her commitment to doing what is best for our students. She builds strong, trusting relationships with families and community partners, helping create a true team around each student’s success. Jackie brings a calm, compassionate presence to difficult situations and is a steady support for both students and staff navigating challenges. We are so thankful to have Jackie at City Park!" -Kim Rhyne, Principal of City Park

Whole New World for Pumas! 🐾🎉

What an incredible Homecoming celebration at The Dalton Academy! From the high-energy pep session in the morning to an unforgettable afternoon parade, our students, staff, families, and community members showed up in full Puma pride.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s Homecoming such a special and memorable day for The Dalton Academy.

School Social Work Week | March 1–7, 2026 ✨

Our school social workers make a powerful difference every day—connecting students and families to resources, providing compassionate support, and helping remove barriers to learning.

We asked our school leaders to share how their social workers support their school communities. Here’s what they had to say 👇

"Anahi is a remarkable asset to Blue Ridge, and her impact is felt in every corner of our school. She consistently goes above and beyond to support our students, families, and staff, often stepping in before anyone even has to ask. What makes Anahi truly special is how deeply she cares for our students, and she is always seeking ways to ensure they receive the very best. Her presence brings warmth, stability, and encouragement. Whether she’s helping a child navigate a difficult moment, supporting a family in need, or uplifting a colleague, Anahi creates an environment where people feel seen, supported, and valued. She strengthens our school culture simply by being who she is. I am beyond grateful to have Anahi at Blue Ridge!" -Veronica Rodriguez, Principal of Blue Ridge

🎒 Pre-K Registration is This Month!
Mark your calendars for March 24 & 25 at the Mack Gaston Community Center.
This is an important step for families with children entering Pre-K next school year!

📅 Tuesday, March 24 | 7:30 AM – 6 PM
📅 Wednesday, March 25 | 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM
📍 Mack Gaston Community Center
Please bring:
Proof of Immunizations (GA Form 3231)
Eye, Ear, and Dental Certificate (GA Form 3300)
Social Security Card
Birth Certificate
Proof of Address
Medicaid or PeachCare Card (if applicable)
Child must be 4 years old by September 1, 2026.

Dalton Public Schools is proud to celebrate National School Social Work Week from March 1-7!

Our incredible team of school social workers dedicates their time, heart, and expertise to supporting our students and families. Their work makes a lasting impact, ensuring students have the resources and encouragement they need to thrive. Join us in recognizing and appreciating these amazing professionals!

Dalton Public Schools is proud to announce that Rosie Rivera has been named Brookwood School’s 2024-2025 Classified Staff Member of the Year.

Rivera was selected for this honor in recognition of her outstanding commitment to students, families, and staff during her time as Bookkeeper at Brookwood Elementary. Known for creating a welcoming and supportive environment in the front office, Rivera consistently went above and beyond to ensure students felt safe, valued, and cared for.

Read more: https://www.daltonpublicschools.com/article/2734200

Early Release Reminder | Friday, February 27

All Dalton Public Schools will dismiss early on Friday, February 27, in celebration of The Dalton Academy’s Homecoming.

🕒 Dismissal Times:
• Elementary Schools – 12:15 PM
• Hammond Creek Middle & Dalton Junior High – 11:30 AM
• The Dalton Academy & Dalton High – 10:45 AM

🎉 Homecoming Parade – “A Whole New World for Pumas”
Parade staging begins at 2:30 PM at Trinity Methodist Church, with the parade stepping off at approximately 4:00 PM.

📍 Parade Route:
Mitchell St. → Ave C → Morningside Dr. → Veteran’s Ave. → Trinity Methodist Church

🚗 Spectator Parking:
Old VFW parking lot & street parking on Ave C (near the fields)

⚽ The celebration continues with boys’ soccer vs. Calhoun High School — JV at 5:00 PM, Varsity at 7:00 PM, followed by the Homecoming Court Coronation during halftime of the varsity match.

We encourage families and community members to plan accordingly and join us for an afternoon full of school spirit and Puma pride!

CTAE Month highlight 🎨🖥️ Graphic Communications students in Julia Castleberry’s Graphic Output Processes class are building essential design skills by learning the fundamentals of Photoshop and digital photo editing. Through hands-on projects, students are developing creativity, technical skills, and an understanding of visual communication used across many creative industries.
#CTAEMonth

Dalton Public Schools is proud to announce that Dalton High School student Hla Zar has been selected as a recipient of the Emory Classics Gateway Award, a highly competitive scholarship awarded by the Department of Classics at Emory University.

The Emory Classics Gateway Award provides full funding for tuition, room, and board for Emory University’s Pre-College Summer Program. As part of the award, Zar will enroll in the course “Archaeological Investigation: Pompeii and Herculaneum.” In addition to academic study, the program offers immersive experiences on Emory’s campus and throughout the greater Atlanta area.

Read more: https://www.daltonpublicschools.com/article/2728972

Dalton Public Schools Celebrates Black History Month: Spotlight on Tyree Goodlett

In honor of Black History Month, Dalton Public Schools is highlighting staff members who make a meaningful impact in their schools and communities. Tyree Goodlett, a teacher at Hammond Creek Middle School, is a dedicated educator and lifelong Dalton native who exemplifies leadership both in and beyond the classroom.

In January 2016, Goodlett made history as the first African-American ever elected to the Dalton City Council—an achievement that reflects his deep commitment to representation, service, and progress. For Goodlett, Black History Month highlights the power of visibility and inclusion in shaping futures.

“Being a person of color who is a male educator and the first person of color elected to the Dalton City Council is important because representation in both education and local government creates powerful change,” he shared. In the classroom, Goodlett understands the importance of serving as a visible example of leadership and possibility for students who may not often see themselves reflected in positions of authority.

His role in city leadership carries that impact even further. “Breaking barriers and making history sends a clear message to the community that progress, inclusion, and diverse voices matter,” Goodlett said. He hopes his journey shows young people—especially students of color—that their dreams are valid and that they, too, can grow into leaders who help shape their city’s future.

Serving as both an educator and a city council member allows Goodlett to bridge education and public service in meaningful ways. With firsthand insight into the needs of students, families, and schools, he continues to advocate for policies that support equity, opportunity, and community growth. “Being the first person of color elected to Dalton City Council is not just a personal achievement—it represents hope, progress, and a step toward a more inclusive and representative local government that truly reflects the people it serves.”

The Dalton Public Schools Board of Education has officially approved the 2026–27 and 2027–28 academic calendars! 🗓️

The 2026–27 calendar includes 180 instructional days, scheduled holidays, early release days, staff professional learning days, and three virtual learning days. The 2027–28 calendar has also been approved to support long-term planning, with additional details to be finalized at a later date.

The calendars follow a structure similar to previous years to provide consistency for our students, staff, and families.

View and download the calendars here: https://www.daltonpublicschools.com/o/dps/page/academic-calendars

Join us in celebrating Public Schools Week 2026 (#PSW26), Feb. 23–27! We’re proud to serve our community by empowering students through innovation, excellence, and opportunity — all in a safe environment where they can learn, lead, and succeed. #PublicSchoolProud

CTAE Month highlight 🧭 Career Exploration students at Hammond Creek Middle School, led by teacher Raul Ramirez, are discovering the wide range of career clusters and learning about the many job opportunities available to them. This course helps students build awareness of their interests and strengths while preparing them to make informed choices about future CTAE pathways.
#CTAEMonth

Dalton Public Schools is proud to announce that Dalton High School senior Kate Jones has been named a National Merit Commended Scholar in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program, recognizing her as one of the nation’s top academic performers.

National Merit Commended Scholars are students who achieved exceptionally high scores on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). This distinction places Jones among approximately 50,000 students nationwide who earned scores in the top range of all PSAT/NMSQT test-takers, representing outstanding academic potential.

Read more: https://www.daltonpublicschools.com/article/2723272