Puma News
Week of August 11-15, 2025
Week of September 8-12, 2025
Hello Families,
We had a wonderful week following the Labor Day holiday! On Thursday, we were excited to welcome families to our Open House and Annual Title I Meeting. Thank you to everyone who joined us — your involvement makes a difference. If you were unable to attend, we encourage you to connect with your child’s teachers directly with any questions or concerns. We are here to support you!
During Open House, we also hosted our Senior Parent Meeting. Mrs. Carrillo led an informative session covering college applications, scholarships, and more. If you have questions about postsecondary planning, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Mrs. Carrillo or Mrs. Burke.
Finally, we kicked off our first Club Day on Friday! Students had the opportunity to choose a club that interests them, and we’re excited to see the creative projects and experiences that will grow out of these opportunities throughout the year.
Looking Ahead:
Sept 8--> Board of Education Meeting 6:30 PM
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Sept 9--> Volleyball vs Armuchee/Darlington @ Armuchee High School 5:00 PM
Sept 10--> DECA, FCCLA, Jr Civitan Field Trip
Sept 11--> Volleyball vs Fannin County/Trion @ Fannin County High School 6:00 PM
Thank you Blood Assurance!
Checking people in
JROTC students and Ms. Elrod.
David Linares
🌟 Student Spotlight: David Linares 🌟
We are proud to recognize David Linares, a junior at TDA, as our Student Spotlight of the Month!
Since his freshman year, David has been a true stand-out—serving as a dedicated member of Student Council and the National Honor Society. This summer, he went above and beyond by independently designing and creating motivational and culture-building signs for our school. His creativity, wit, and countless hours of work have helped transform our hallways into spaces that inspire and encourage every student.
What makes David even more remarkable is not just the time and effort he gives so generously, but the way he does it—with a smile on his face and a genuine commitment to making TDA a better place for everyone.
💙🐾 David, we couldn’t be more proud to call you a Puma!
Daniel De La Fuente
🌟 Staff Spotlight: Daniel De La Fuente 🌟
We’re thrilled to introduce Daniel De La Fuente, our new Barbering Instructor at The Dalton Academy! ✂️
Daniel will officially launch our Barbering Pathway with students this spring, bringing not only his expertise as a Master Barber at Studio 312 in Dalton, but also an impressive list of awards and accomplishments from barbering competitions across the country.
His passion for the craft and dedication to excellence will make a huge impact on our students as they begin their journey into cutting, styling, and building professional skills. 💈
Welcome to the Puma Family, Daniel—we’re excited for the future, and we know our students can’t wait to get started! 🐾
Principal, Jessica Ashlock
Email: jessica.ashlock@dalton.k12.ga.us
Website: www.tda.daltonpublicschools.com
Phone: 706-876-4700
Assistant Principal, Virginia Ruiz
Email: virginia.ruiz@dalton.k12.ga.us
Website: www.tda.daltonpublicschools.com
Phone: 706-876-4700
Website
Forensics
Ms. Elrod’s Forensics students are collaborating to crack a 'murder case,' using hands-on materials and interactive activities to uncover the culprit.
AP World History
Mrs. Alexander's students work through a simulation of trading in ancient civilizations through a project-based lesson!
Algebra 1
Mr. Westfield works with students as they utilize the "360 degree" white boards. These promote active engagement in our math classrooms.