DeKalb Adopt a Teacher Observance Back for Fourth Year

July 27, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County Adopt a Teacher is back for its 4th year! Members of the community may sign up to adopt a teacher in any of the five public schools in the county. See links below.

This program helps teachers tremendously each year. What began as a way for one mom to help her child’s school during the pandemic became a labor of love between two friends. “I got the idea from a neighboring county and thought, ‘I can do that!’ In 2020, my daughter was entering Kindergarten and my dream of helping her new school had drastically changed. I viewed this idea as a way to give back to those that give much more than they get,” said Shelly Barnes, organizer.

Heather Young noticed the posts on Facebook and contacted her friend, Barnes, to help. “I thought having a sign-up list might take some of the load off Shelly. I loved the idea of helping teachers in our county. Even if we might not be able to directly help every teacher out by buying supplies, getting to help a friend with the sign-up process is definitely a start. Our teachers pour so much into our kids, why shouldn’t we try to help out in some way? This is at least a small gesture that helps show our teachers that we support them. I am thankful Shelly started doing this and that I am getting the chance to help her help our teachers.”

Barnes and Young met while they were both in high school during 4-H trips. They have children close in age and are continuing the service minded activities they learned through 4-H. Their children are “learning by doing” and seeing their parents involved in the community. “Funny how things come full circle,” said Barnes.

The friends are most thankful that the community has embraced this idea and look forward to it every year.

Teachers can sign up through a link sent by their school principal. The community can adopt a teacher using the links below.

DWS: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090444A8AE2FA6FD0-adopt12

SES: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090444A8AE2FA6FD0-adopt13

NES: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090444A8AE2FA6FD0-adopt11

DMS: https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/4090444a8ae2fa6fd0-adopt10

DCHS: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090444A8AE2FA6FD0-adopt14

July 27, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Representatives of the DeKalb County Health Commission including the DeKalb Prevention Coalition, DeKalb County Health Department, Coordinated School Health and others gathered Tuesday to mark the last week of July as Human Trafficking Awareness Week.

They did so by pouring red sand into cracks of sidewalks “to show how human trafficking survivors have fallen into the cracks of society.”

‘’Human trafficking is a hidden crime in our state and across the country because victims rarely come forward to receive help or services,’’ said Tennessee Health Commissioner Ralph Alvarado, MD, FACP.

‘’It’s up to all of us to bring an end to the exploitation of vulnerable individuals. The Red Sand Project reminds us how crucial it is for communities, both urban and rural, to engage in awareness and education activities that support survivors of human trafficking and strengthen our prevention efforts.”

The Red Sand Project is an interactive art exhibition where community members, individually or collectively, pour red sand into the cracks of sidewalks to show how the survivors of human trafficking fall through the cracks of society.

Communities across Tennessee will use Red Sand Project events also as opportunities to create art installations, pouring natural, non-toxic red sand into sidewalk cracks, and to host human trafficking educational events and provide information about resources.

Tennessee’s local health departments, tn.gov/health/health-program
areas/localdepartments, will have information about Red Sand Project events in their communities. The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development also will have Red Sand Project event information available at their Welcome Centers across the state, tnvacation.com/welcome-centers.

Contact the Tennessee Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-855-558-6484, if you know someone who needs help to escape trafficking. The National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373- 7888, or text 233722, can also provide information on local community resources.

For more information on human trafficking visit humantraffickinghotline.org.

July 26, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

The annual prayer for our school’s observance will be held Sunday, July 30 at the newer DeKalb Middle School gym starting at 2 p.m.

It’s the first time the event has been scheduled at a centralized location since 2019, prior to the COVID pandemic. For the last three years, the observance has taken place in smaller groups at each of the five individual schools.

Parents, church leaders, educators, and members of the community are invited to attend this special “BACK 2 SCHOOL -CALL 2 PRAYER” gathering.

Prayers will be offered by religious leaders for each school in DeKalb County, school sponsored activities, and the school board. Prayers of blessings, safety, and learning will be offered for the students and faculty for the school year.

The order of the meeting is as follows:

*Opening and Welcome- Iain Swisher Smithville AG

*Pledge of Allegiance – Student lead

*DeKalb West School- Christian Cudney – Refuge

*Smithville Elementary- Robin Philipps- Church of God

*DeKalb Christian Academy- Iain Swisher Smithville AG

*Northside Elementary- Chad Ramsey- First Baptist

*DMS- Chris Moore – Church of God

*High School- Josh Moon – Smithville AG

*Day Schools- Nathan Thomason- Outreach Baptist

*Athletic Teams and Transportation- Jordan Atnip – First Baptist

*Faculty- Isaac Gray – Smithville Cumberland Presbyterian

*School Board- Graden Kirksey – Refuge

*Close- Iain Swisher Smithville AG