DHS Highlights for Board of Education

This year has been an active one at Damascus High School.

The little moments have been memorable – an amazing Homecoming pep rally, unique Friday morning TV shows, countless awards to students. But and special events stand out in my mind as moments when learning came alive for the students of Damascus.

In March, television crews, print reporters, and photographers were lined up outside the front entrance to the high school at a ceremony honoring History teacher Mr. Dickie. Dickie was injured in a rock-climbing accident in September. Students responded by raising more than $6,000, and, in March, donating a refurbished, wheelchair-accessible van to him. The event was broadcast live to students via closed-circuit TV.

Later that month, the high school prepared for a visit by Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Jim Moseley. Moseley visited the school to mark National Agriculture Day. He toured the school’s greenhouse, spoke with DHS’s award-winning Horticulture teacher Mrs. Powell, and spoke to a group of students.

Less than a month ago, television cameras were set up in this room when C-SPAN broadcast live in the first of their month-long “Students & Leaders” programs. Over the past four weeks, the TV network has been visiting local schools, inviting leaders from a variety of fields to share their wisdom with students. Damascus was first though, with NPR correspondent Juan Williams. In contrast to other schools, our event was broadcast live on TV and radio. C-SPAN’s president was even on hand for the occasion.

These examples are just three times when learning came alive for students. It happened, too, when our Signature program invited a motivational speaker to address students; when a group of students traveled to Washington to watch a CNN program broadcast live; and when an array of cultures were on display at International Night and during various Heritage Weeks.