Dear KCS Families,

Please be aware that a school schedule change has been made for Monday, April 8, 2024, due to the eclipse that will be taking place during the dismissal time for KCS middle and high school students.

Middle and High Schools will dismiss at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, April 8th. Middle and high school after-school activities will be paused until 4 p.m.

Elementary and Pre-K students will operate on a regular schedule on Monday, April 8th.

Given that the eclipse will be taking place during our normal afternoon dismissal time for middle and high school students, the safety of buses and student drivers on the road during the peak eclipse time is a concern and the reason for the early dismissal. Because the eclipse will be over by our normal elementary dismissal time, elementary and Pre-k students will operate on a normal schedule, taking programming and safety precautions.

A couple of weeks ago, our BioBuds journeyed to Cambridge, MA, to participate in the Biobuilder Final Assembly hosted on MIT's campus. During the event, students showcased their research on utilizing a chromoprotein as a reporter protein for detecting nitrates in water. Biobuds is a synthetic biology club that meets after school from 2:45 to 3:45 on Mondays and Tuesdays. If you wish to join, reach out to Mrs. Dunham for further details.

Exciting Announcement: Introducing Our Student Essentials Rack!

We are thrilled to share that we've launched a Student Essentials Rack, dedicated to supporting our students with essential items they might need. This initiative aims to provide students with easy access to necessities, ensuring everyone has what they need to feel comfortable and supported.

How Can You Help?

To keep our Essentials Rack well-stocked and accessible to all students, we are kindly requesting donations of the following items:

• Socks
• Unused Toiletry Items (toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, etc.)
• Clothing Items

Your support can make a significant difference in the lives of our students, providing them with the essentials that contribute to their well-being and success.

Want to Learn More or Donate?

For more information or to find out how you can contribute, please don't hesitate to reach out to Ms. Sloan-Leu at fsloanleu@k12k.com or Mr. Day at fday@k12k.com. We're more than happy to provide further details or answer any questions you may have.

Let's come together as a community to ensure our students have everything they need. Your generosity and support are greatly appreciated!

Are you a great student seeking part time work?

Streamworks has the COOLEST opportunity. Flexible hours, great working environment, great pay and valuable learning experience. You must be at least 14 years of age and have reliable transportation.

Contact Quintin Folkner, DBE graduate & previous R'Matey's team leader, for more information.

quintin@streamworkseducation.org

STREAMWORKS is an educational program that delivers enhanced opportunities for both students (grades K–12) and educators to participate in exciting mentor and project-based programs that focus on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills, inspire innovation and foster well-rounded life capabilities for the development of the 21st Century workforce.

Students MUST use their keycard to enter both doors at DBE.

• If students do not bring/use their card, they will be given, and charged for, a replacement card.

• If students have lost their card, please let Ms. Williams know ASAP so you card can be deactivated.

Students will need to go to Main Campus to purchase a new card for DBE. Replacement cards are $5. Cash & Checks are accepted. Make checks out to D-B EXCEL. All payments must be made at DB Activities Office.

We are thrilled to announce the return of our after-school clubs for this semester! These clubs offer a unique and enriching experience outside the regular academic curriculum, allowing students to explore their interests, develop new skills, and foster a sense of community. Joining an after-school club is more than just an extra activity; it's an opportunity for personal growth and social development. Students who engage in these clubs often find a sense of belonging, build lasting friendships, and enhance their teamwork and leadership skills. Additionally, participating in these clubs can be a great way to unwind and pursue passions that might not fit into the regular school day. From arts to science, extra academic support to technology, there's a club for every interest! We encourage every student to take part in these exciting opportunities, and we look forward to seeing the wonderful contributions they will bring to our school community. Let's make this semester vibrant and memorable with our after-school clubs!

Digital Arts

Ms. Franci Sloan-Leu - fsloan-leu@k12k.com

English

Mr. Brogden - lbrogden@k12k.com

Ms. Lane - mjlane@k12k.com

History

Mr. Day - fday@k12k.com

Mr. Helms - chelms@k12k.com

Interventionist

Ms. Myers - amyers@k12k.com

Math

Ms. Gardner - egardner@k12k.com

Mr. Leonard - jleonard@k12k.com

Ms. Williams - kcs_kwilliams@k12k.com

Science

Ms. Adinolfi - aadinolfi@k12k.com

Ms. Dunham - adunham@k12k.com

Spanish (All Virtual)

Ms. Malone - jmalone@k12k.com

Mr. Markl - kmarkl@k12k.com

Special Education

Ms. Kimbro - kkimbro@k12k.com

Wellness (All Virtual)

Mr. Idlette - widlette@k12k.com

Secretary

Ms. Williams - awilliams@k12k.com

Assistant Principal

Dr. Roebke - nroebke@k12k.com

Principal

Ms. Hensley - shensley@k12k.com

The Digital Arts Department:

Mrs. Franci Sloan-Leu teaches Digital Arts 1-4, which are all part of our state-certified Communications Pathway. Our Digital Arts program of study combines technology with elements of art and design to expose students to various software and help students develop skills that can be applied in other classes and the workforce.

• Attendance is crucial to student success.

• Every student is asked to bring their sketchbooks to class daily.
  
• Students will use the Adobe Creative Suite and software to complete coursework/projects during class.
• Students are expected to apply and extend their personal best and utilize class time wisely to complete coursework.

The English Department:

The English Department consists of Mr. Luke Brogden, who teaches English 9, English 12, & Professional Communications, and Ms. Miriam Lane, who teaches English 10 and English 11. Each course will require the same level of commitment from you as a traditional classroom course. As a student, you are expected to complete the following:

• Read announcements each day.

• Keep an independent book with you at all times.

• Apply and extend your personal best in each lesson.

• Attempt all assigned work, including warm-ups, assignments, quizzes, tests, and cumulative projects.

• Bring your laptop fully charged to class each day.

The History Department:

The History Department consists of Mr. Daniel Day and Mr. Cody Helms. Mr. Day teaches Government, Economics, and Personal Finance. Mr. Helms teaches US History and World History. Modules or units are released to students every Monday and are due the following Sunday at midnight. Students are assessed accordingly on Fridays. Teachers leverage technology, traditional teaching methods, and a variety of discussion-based activities and projects to engage students and promote learning, retention, and real-world connections.

The Math Department:

The Math Department consists of Mrs. Erica Gardner, Mr. Josh Leonard, and Ms. Williams . Ms. Gardner teaches Algebra 1 and Freshman Success. Mr. Josh Leonard teaches Algebra 2 and Pre-Calculus. Ms. Williams teaches Geometry and SAILS. Our Math teachers value class time, relationships, critical thinking, and support. While our teachers provide sufficient time to practice skills in class, students are expected to complete some assignments independently. If students need additional support, Math Tutoring will be provided after school to ensure students receive the individualized support needed to master mathematical concepts.

The Reading Success Department:

Ms. Amy Myers leads the Reading Success class. This class consists of reading, writing, and participation. Our reading class is a safe space for students to explore different genres, cultures, and perspectives. As students embark on this journey, their imaginations will soar. As a student, you are expected to complete the following:

1. Read every day

2. Work in the application every day (bring Chromebook)

3. Participate in class

4. Do your absolute best

The Science Department:

The Science Department consists of Ms. Antonia Adnolfi and Mrs. Amanda Dunham. Mrs. Dunham teaches Biology and Intro to Engineering. Ms. Adinolfi teaches Chemistry I and STEM I - IV, which are part of the TN Advanced STEM Applications program of study and part of our certified project-based STEM pathway. Each course will require the same level of commitment from you as a traditional classroom course. Therefore, as a student, you are expected to complete the following:

• Read announcements each day.
• Keep up with your science/engineering notebook.
• Apply and extend your personal best in each lesson.
• Follow all lab safety rules and procedures.
• Attempt all assigned work, including warm-ups, assignments, quizzes, tests, and cumulative projects.

• Bring your laptop fully charged to class each day.

The Spanish Department:

Mrs. Julie Malone and Mr. Kris Markl teach Spanish 1 and 2 virtually using our online program, Odysseyware. Students will learn basic Spanish vocabulary, verbs, and conjugation, along with Spanish culture. Students will make connections to learning how a foreign language can be integrated into their daily lives. As a student in Virtual Spanish, you will need to do the following:

• Students must log into Odysseyware daily to check for assignments that have been posted and to check emails from Mrs. Malone or Mr. Markl.
• Students will need headphones to utilize the listening components of the course.
• Students will need to look for due dates on assignments to keep up with the pacing of the course.
• Communication between students and Mrs. Malone will be via Odysseyware messaging.
• Students can work ahead if they choose but must stay on track with assigned due dates.

The Wellness Department:

Mr. Wesley Idlette teaches Wellness 1 & Wellness 2 virtually. Mr. Idlette is a wellness teacher at Johnson Elementary in Kingsport City Schools.

• Read announcements each day.

• Apply and extend your personal best in each lesson.

• Attempt all assigned work, including warm-ups, assignments, quizzes, tests, and cumulative projects.

• Bring your laptop fully charged to class each day.

Attendance will disqualify you from participating in school events. Any student who accrues more than 9 UNEXCUSED absences and/or out-of-school suspension days for ANY CLASS will not be able to participate in prom or graduation ceremonies.

If you know you are going to be absent, please send an email to dbeattendance@k12k.com. This email account was created for DB EXCEL guardians to send doctor's excuses and/or guardian notes regarding early dismissals and absences.

We're thrilled to announce the release of a special feature video, created in collaboration with the Tennessee STEM Innovation Network (TSIN). This semester, we had the privilege of welcoming the TSIN team and a professional production crew to DBE. They spent several hours capturing the incredible work of our teachers and students. This video is a testament to their dedication and innovation in STEM education, showcasing the talents and efforts of the DBE community. Enjoy an inspiring glimpse into our classrooms and the outstanding accomplishments of our students and teachers! #WeAreDBE

Please click the following link for breakfast & lunch menus.

Kingsport City Schools is no longer using TITAN Family Portal for school menus or meal payments.

We’re excited to inform you that our meal (and/or school fees) payments portal, TITAN Family Portal, has been upgraded to LINQ Connect. There’s no need to change your username and password, all of your information has already been transferred to LINQ Connect.

Here are some exciting upgrades to expect:
• A simple, fresh look to allow for better accessibility
• An interactive dashboard to view all family members in one profile
• A resource center to access help guides
• Streamlined menus require you to click less to do more

Visit your app store and find “LINQ Connect” available in the Google Play Store and the Apple Store to enjoy these features. Just log in with your existing username and password. If you use a browser, visit LINQConnect.com to log in.

If you don’t use our online meal (and/or school fees) payments portal, LINQ Connect allows you to set up one-time or recurring payments for your student’s meal. You can also view previous transactions, set spending limits, transfer funds between students, set low balance notifications, and more. It’s an easy way to manage meal payments without the hassle of sending cash.

• LINQ Connect - FAQ

• Students may be dropped of at DBE beginning at 7:15am. Students arriving after 7:45am will be counted tardy.

• Please follow the traffic pattern. When you enter the DBE parking lot, please take an immediate right and circle the lot in that direction.

• Car riders will be dismissed after the bus leaves (Approximately 2:35pm)
• Students may be picked up in the DBE parking lot or on Roller Street. Students are not allowed to be picked up in other parking lots.

• We have our own parking lot and the entrance and exit is on Roller St.

• Student-drivers must have a visible parking pass in their designated vehicle. All passes must hang from the rear-view mirror at all times. Vehicles without a visible pass will be towed. To sign-up for parking pass, please click on the following link and complete the form: DBE Parking Pass

• If the DBE parking lot is full, there is an overflow public parking lot across the street from the Food City loading dock (On Roller St.)

• DBE students/parents can only park in the parking spots marked DBE in the DBE parking lot. DBE students/parents cannot park in the Chamber or medical parking lots or they will be towed.

• Replacement car tags will be $10.

At D-B EXCEL, we encourage parents to create a Canvas Parent Account to observe your child's courses, progress, and grades. Observers can link their Canvas account to their student's account, which allows parents to see assignment dues dates, announcements, and other course content. Observers can view the course content but cannot participate in the course.

*If you already have an account from the Canvas Parent App, log in to Canvas using those credentials.

To observe a student, you must obtain a pairing code from your student. Students can generate a pairing code by signing into Canvas then Click Account>Settings>Pair with Observer.

To set up your parent account:

1. Go to https://kingsport.instructure.com/login/canvas

2. Enter the following information:
   -Enter your name in the Your Name field.
   -Enter your email in the Your Email field.
   -Enter your password in the Password field.
   -Re-enter your password in the Re-enter Password field.
   -Enter a pairing code to link your account to your student in the Student Pairing Code field.
   -Agree to the terms of use by clicking the You agree to the terms of use checkbox.
   -Click the Start Participating button.

3. To observe a student, you must have a student pairing code. Students can access the pairing code through their settings

4. Agree to the terms of use by clicking the You agree to the terms of use checkbox.
5. Click the Start Participating button.

Some notes on the pairing code:

• For now, each pairing code will live for 24 hours. That means once the pairing code is generated, it will remain valid for 24 hours, then it expires.

• Each pairing code can only be used once. Once it’s used in account registration, the pairing code expires and the observer remains successfully paired. If you want to pair two observers to one student, each observer needs a unique pairing code.

Additional Supports Below:

1. Canvas Parent Overview - Canvas is the Learning Management System for Kingsport City Schools. Canvas serves as a secure platform for teachers, students, and parents that houses and connects all the digital tools used for teaching and learning. It allows for the creation and distribution of content and the tracking and reporting of learning. Parents can access information about their child’s courses using the Parent App or by creating an Observer Account.
2. Creating a Parent-Observer Account - This guide will allow you to create a Canvas User Account so you can become an "observer" in all of your student's courses. Becoming an observer will allow you to see things like current grades and missing assignments. Additionally, you can see assignments that have been posted and feedback that has been provided to your student.
3. Introduction to Canvas Course for Parents - This Canvas course has been created for parents and guardians of Kingsport City School students and provides general instructions for using Canvas as a parent/observer.

This year Food City is making $700,000 available to participating schools for classroom equipment and essential supplies. For every dollar spent at Food City* using your ValuCard, one point will be earned for your school. The more points earned, the larger share of the cash your school will receive. All you have to do is link your ValuCard to your school of choice and you'll automatically earn points every time you shop! Linking online is easy - click HERE and go to the Food City School Buck website.

Our School ID is 60396.

• Students will report to school on time and prepared for the school day.

• Students will bring fully charged laptops and a laptop charger every day.

• Students will follow their schedule and report to the appropriate area.

• Students will respect the DBE faculty, staff, visitors and other students at all times.

Need more information? Check out our website!

dbexcel.k12k.com

We love to hear from you! Please feel free to contact us on Facebook, Twitter, Email, or Call!

Email: shensley@k12k.com
Website: http://dbexcel.k12k.com/
Location: 400 Clinchfield Street, Kingsport, TN 37660, United States
Phone: 423.378.2185
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dbexcelkcs/
Twitter: @KCS_DBEXCEL

Happy Friday! We hope everyone has had a wonderful second week of the 23-24 school year. This newsletter is packed full of important information.

A special note to our senior students and their families: Don't miss our dedicated 'Senior Section', a feature we will consistently maintain to keep you informed about crucial dates, scholarship prospects, and noteworthy events. Cheers to a year of knowledge and growth!