Dalton Public Schools is proud of our students who recently showcased their skills and determination through a bowling celebration! Students from Hammond Creek and Park Creek spent the day bowling together and celebrating their hard work. Your dedication, perseverance, and sportsmanship inspire us all!
Nominated by their principals, these dedicated educators and team members enjoyed a chance to connect, recharge, and be celebrated for their hard work and commitment. It was a meaningful way to honor their contributions and send them into the weekend feeling appreciated.
Crystal Torres
Layla Jarvis
John Allen
Jessica Barbosa
Dana Thomas
Patricia Vanegas
Cassie Richardson
John Patrick
Edith Nava
Cody Burgess
Julie Cody
Bekah Cook
Jennifer Scroggins
Mary Birjkovff
Christopher Smith
Raul Ramirez
Graciela Arevalo
Deborah Azua
Alana Sane
Whitney Lusk
#LeaveYourMark #DaltonPublicSchools
Good evening,
Due to the potential for severe weather and storms tomorrow morning, all Dalton Public Schools staff will begin their workday at 9:00 AM.
The safety and well-being of our staff is extremely important to us, and this adjustment is being made to allow everyone additional time to travel safely as weather conditions develop early in the morning.
Please note the following adjustments for Professional Learning sessions:
-Secondary staff who were originally scheduled to attend the 8:00 AM PL session with Joy Kelly will now attend the session at 9:00 AM at Dalton High School.
-Elementary staff scheduled to attend the afternoon PL session with Joy Kelly will still meet at 12:30 PM as planned.
As a reminder, tomorrow is a Virtual Learning Day for students
Thank you for your flexibility and for all you do to support Dalton Public Schools. Please take care and travel safely tomorrow morning.



During the meeting, he highlighted Dalton Public Schoolsā mission, vision, commitments, and strong culture of excellence, sharing how the district is working every day to create meaningful opportunities for students and make a lasting impact in our community. We are proud to share the story of Dalton Public Schools and the incredible work happening across our district. #DaltonPublicSchools #LearnLeadSucceed
Our Board of Education members continue to leave their mark on Dalton Public Schools through their steadfast commitment, thoughtful leadership, and dedication to our students, staff, and community. We extend our sincere appreciation to Board Chair Sam Sanders, Vice-Chair Jody McClurg, Treasurer Tulley Johnson, Manny Meza, Bill Mayo, and Superintendent Dr. Steven Craft.
Thank you for the vision and service you provide to ensure a bright future for Dalton Public Schools. Your leadership makes a lasting impact.

Students also participated in Cougar Quest, exploring the campus, meeting staff, and getting a preview of life at DJHS. The afternoon wrapped up with a celebration of DJHS's Wooo Culture, a chance for students to ask questions, and of course ā popsicles before heading back!
Dalton Junior High School loved having their future Cougars on campus and canāt wait to welcome them in the fall!
This event brought together students from across the region for a day filled with high energy, motivational speakers, and powerful conversations about pursuing higher education and following their dreams.
We are thankful for our community partner, theĀ Latin American Association, for bringing this impactful opportunity to Northwest Georgia, and toĀ Dalton State CollegeĀ for hosting the conference and supporting students as they explore their future educational paths.
Experiences like this help motivate the next generation of leaders and provide valuable tools and inspiration as they plan their educational journeys. We are proud of our students for representing Dalton Public Schools and taking steps toward their bright futures!Ā


First Student is hiring bus drivers for Dalton Public Schools.
Apply today at DriveWithFirst.com

Students selected for All-State complete two rounds of rigorous auditions that take months of preparation. Those who score high enough earn the opportunity to travel to Athens, Georgia, where they perform alongside some of the top student musicians in the state.
Congratulations to Christian Verdel and Ethan Gomez on this incredible accomplishment!š






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

Donāt forget to bring required documents, including immunization records, proof of address, and your childās birth certificate!
š Tuesday, March 24 | 7:30 AM ā 6 PM
š Wednesday, March 25 | 7:30 AM ā 4:30 PM
š 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.


Lusk teaches English Language Arts and ESOL at Dalton High School and has been part of Dalton Public Schools since 2015. Dalton Public Schools congratulates Whitney Lusk on being named Dalton High Schoolās 2024ā2025 Teacher of the Year and thanks her for the dedication she shows to students each day.
Read more: https://www.daltonpublicschools.com/article/2757684

The Board recognized the Middle School Varsity Basketball Team for earning BGMSAA Runner-up honors, and the Dalton High School Game Day Cheer Team for qualifying for the 2026 State Tournament. The Board also honored Dalton High School senior Angela Ramirez-Ramirez for being named a QuestBridge National College Match Scholar, and student-athletes from Dalton Junior High School and Hammond Creek Middle School who were selected for the Georgia Middle School All-Star Basketball Team.
In addition, the Board recognized Jeff Wells for his leadership in guiding all 10 Dalton Public Schools to earn the Ready Georgia Seal of Preparedness. Students from Dalton High School were also honored for their work featured in the Hunter Museum Teen Art Show, including Giselle Nunez, Aaron Augustine, and Sulema Morales, whose artwork earned recognition and awards.
The Board also celebrated Dr. Steven Craft for being named a 2025ā2026 Superintendent to Watch by the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA).
The Board congratulates all honorees for their dedication, talent, and commitment to excellence in Dalton Public Schools.



-Dr. Sarida Hoy has been named assistant principal at Dalton High School. With nearly 30 years of experience in educationāincluding time as a science teacher, department chair, and instructional coachāDr. Hoy brings a strong commitment to academic excellence and student success.
-Adam Martinez will serve as assistant principal at Hammond Creek Middle School. Martinez brings more than 20 years of experience in education, athletics, and student leadership, along with previous experience as an assistant principal and athletic director.
Superintendent Dr. Steven Craft shared that both leaders bring tremendous experience and dedication to supporting students, educators, and families across the district.
š Read more: https://www.daltonpublicschools.com/article/2757816

š Read it here: https://daltonpublicschoolsga.edurooms.com/engage/dalton-public-schools/newsletters/paws-in-print-march-edition

š¾ Little Cats Pop-Up Classes! š¾
Families with young learners are invited to join us for Little Cats Pop-Up Classes at the Beechland Resource Center this spring! These sessions are designed to support DPS families by providing an opportunity to experience the Little Cats Program ahead of the 2026-2027 school year.
These free pop-up classes are ideal for families who are interested in enrolling a child who will be turning 3 years old by September 1, 2026.
š
Dates:
⢠March 11
⢠April 22
ā° Time: 12:30ā2:30 p.m.
š Location: Beechland Resource Center
Address:704 Beechland Circle. Dalton, GA 30721
š Registration is encouraged! Please click the link below to register so our team can share updates and follow-up information with you.
https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=gFYg6YRaWUiHRBVlO6te8n1WeX2ijElOpoLli1Zc05pUOEZTSDZSVVZNV0w3SzlOMERYUDFQUFkyUC4u&origin=QRCode
We canāt wait to welcome our future Little Cats!


Our Board of Education members truly leave their mark on Dalton Public Schools through their dedication, vision, and commitment to our students, staff, families, and community. We are honored to recognize Board Chair Sam Sanders, Vice-Chair Jody McClurg, Treasurer Tulley Johnson, Manny Meza, Bill Mayo, and Superintendent Dr. Steven Craft for their continued leadership and service.
Thank you for the time, heart, and guidance you invest in ensuring our schools remain a place where everyone can learn, lead, and succeed. Your impact makes a lasting difference.
#DaltonPublicSchools #LearnLeadSucceed #LeaveYourMark

Our school social workers make a powerful difference every dayāconnecting 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. Hereās what they had to say š
"Valeria Trujillo has been a great addition to the Dalton Public Schools social worker team. In a very short amount of time, she has earned the trust and respect of the Dalton High School administration, staff, and students. She is conscientious and focused on removing barriers to education for students, and she goes above and beyond to ensure that families in need have access to important community and district resources. Always with a smile, Valeria is dedicated to serving not only the DHS community, but all of Dalton Public Schools. We are truly grateful for her hard work, commitment, and drive to be the very best she can be." - Dr. Robert Shaw, Associate Superintendent of Student Services

