Dolphin Weekly
Sunday, August 9, 2026
Message from the Principal
Dear Dowell Families,It has been so exciting to welcome your children to Dowell! We have loved seeing their smiling faces and watching them settle into their new routines.During the first week of school, parents and guardians were welcome to walk their children to class to help them learn their way. Friday was the final day for families to walk students to their classrooms. Beginning this week, please have your child ride the bus or drop them off through morning carpool. Staff members will be stationed throughout the building to greet students and help them find their classrooms if needed.A Few Important Reminders- Please make sure your child’s dismissal method is always current in ParentVUE. Teachers are required to follow the dismissal information listed in ParentVUE and cannot make changes based on notes, emails, phone calls, or messages sent through another method.
- If you need help accessing or updating ParentVUE, please visit the front office. Our clerks will be happy to assist you.
- All visitors must show a photo ID before entering the building. Please ring the bell by pressing the button on the brick wall beside the front-right door. When a staff member responds, state the reason for your visit and hold your ID where it can be clearly seen.
Open House – Thursday, August 20We are looking forward to welcoming a great crowd for Open House!- 5:00 p.m. – Title I Parent Input Meeting
- 6:00 p.m. – Classroom Open House
During Open House, you will visit your child’s homeroom classroom, hear about classroom routines and expectations, and learn about the standards your child will be taught during the first quarter.Thank you for helping us begin the school year safely and successfully. We are excited about the wonderful year ahead and the IMPACT our students will make at Dowell!Sincerely,Dr. CainSave the Date!
Monday, August 17- Digital Learning Day (students do not attend school)
Thursday, August 20- Title I Parent Input meeting, 5:00
- Open House, 6:00-7:30
August 24- September 6th- PTA Cookie Dough Fundraiser
Monday, August 24- Buster the Bus visit Kindergarten
Friday, August 28- PTA Members: Donuts with Grown Ups, 7:30 AM
Friday, 9/4- Terrific Kids
Monday, 9/7- Labor Day - No School
Monday & Tuesday, 9/14 & 9/15- Grandparents Lunches
Celebrate Your Childs Birthday in Lights
Celebrate your child's Birthday with an announcement on the Marquee! 🎉 Please see attached form to celebrate your child's Birthday in lights on our marquee. Submit payment on MyPaymentsPlus or to the school. Applications must be submitted at least 1 week in advance.Follow us on social media.
https://www.instagram.com/dowellelementary
Register for Fun Clubs now
On our FunClubs School Page, you can sign up for multiple enrichment classes, for more than one child at a time, all in one place with one profile and one payment method. You can also view important enrichment dates and after school procedures. Sign Up for After School Enrichment Clubs at https://www.funclubs.com/schools/dowell-elementaryPTA Membership and Events
Membership is now open! Join the PTA, it helps with so many school activities and it is only $10. Our first event is August’s DONUTS W/ GROWNUPS! Details will be sent to members. This is a PTA only event and you must be a PTA member to attend. This is the only PTA members only event. There will be a raffle all PTA membership will be automatically added to the raffle.Here’s the online link: https://jointotem.com/ga/marietta/dowell-es-ptaOther PTA events are movie night, bookfair, holiday shop, photos with Santa, teacher appreciation, and our SPRING CARNIVAL. If you are interested in volunteering, please reach out to dowellpta@gmail.com. We accept all types of volunteers, one hour to one event to board members. All our welcome and it is a great way to stay connected to the school and activities. All super volunteers can sign up here https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0F4DAFA82B0-64319528-2026#/Spirit Night August 13th
Come out and meet Dowell families while enjoying a cool treat!Facebook
the Dowell PTA has a new Facebook Page, please come follow themhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61592529274480Girls on the Run
Instant Notifications • Staff and Parents5 people appreciate this post- C
- Cobb Schools News
- • 3 days ago • Friday, Aug 7 at 5:30 PM • .Cobb Schools News
... Read Moreabout One School Week Down, the Rest of the Year to Go: Check Out This Week's Best Moments!
WEEKLY UPDATEAUGUST 7, 2026Article of the Week 
Student Success! Cobb Students Outpace State, Lead Metro on Georgia MilestonesResults from the 2025-2026 Georgia Milestones Assessments show Cobb students continued the district's tradition of academic excellence, outperforming the statewide average in every subject and posting the highest combined scores in the Atlanta metro...
Continue User Preferred Notifications • Staff and Parents144 people appreciate this post - SO
- Sarah Ohara
- • 3 days ago • Friday, Aug 7 at 4:46 PM • .Dowell Elementary School
Calendar Updates
August 10th- Fire Drill, 8:35
August 11th- Count Day
August 12th- CCC’s during planning period (as needed)
August 13th- Count Day
- PL during planning/ArtsNOW Visual Arts in Mrs. Neill's room
- PTA Meeting 7:30am
August 14th- PL during planning/Wonders Writing PL in Mrs. Brackett's room
August 17th- Digital Learning Day (see details below)
August 19th- CCC’s during planning period
- Staff Meeting CANCELED *plan for Open House*
Augst 20th- Title I Parent Input meeting, 5 - 6
- Open House, 6 - 7:30 **Please park are Macland Church of Christ**
August 21st- Student Safety Video after morning news
- Code Red Drill, 10:10
- Cobb County Association of Education Visit
August 24th- Buster the Bus 10:30 am
- PTA Cookie Dough Fundraiser Kick off
August 25th- Fire Drill, 12:50
August 26th- CCC’s during planning period
August 27th- PL during planning period/TKES Training
August 28th- Donuts with Grown Ups for PTA Members
August 31st- BLT Meeting 2:45
September 2nd- CCC’s during planning period
- Team Meetings, 2:45
September 3rd- PL during planning period/ESOL strategies & support
- Educators First Visit
September 4th- Terrific Kids
A note from Dr. Cain
Thank you to everyone for making the first week of school successful! This truly is a hard-working staff with the biggest hearts for kids! ❤️Next week:- Enjoy your Duty-Free Lunch; however, please teach, review, & remind students about cafeteria behavior and manners expectations.
- We only have one lunch room monitor, so you'll be needed to get your students seated, cleaned up, and dismissed.
EIP & ESOL Schedules/Start Dates- August 18th – 1st-5th
- August 24th - K
Morning Meetings- Daily/Non-negotiable
- 7:55-8:20
- Included in Lesson Plans
- What to do/teach during Morning Meetings? Safety Drills, Schoolwide Behavior/Initiatives, W.A.V.E. line, Terrific Kids, Make an IMPACT, Cafeteria Incentives, Voice levels (classroom, cafeteria, hallways, etc.) Voice levels - Dowell.docx, Quaver
4 Key Components to an effective Morning Meeting: (helpful resource: What Is Morning Meeting? | Responsive Classroom)- Greeting – Students and teachers greet each other by name in a friendly, inclusive way, helping everyone feel seen and valued.
- Sharing – Students share news, experiences, or ideas, and classmates practice active listening and asking questions.
- Group Activity – A short, fun, and often cooperative activity that builds teamwork, reinforces skills, or energizes the group.
- Morning Message – A written message from the teacher that previews the day’s learning, poses a question, or offers encouragement.
Master Schedule:- master schedule 8.7.26 REVISED.docx
- Concerns, please discuss with your grade level academic coach.
Active Shooter & Mandated Reporter videos:- Required for ALL employees
- Make-up session: Monday, 8:05, Front Office Conference Room
Are you following us on Social Media? (9+) InstagramFront Office News:
Amy Riggins:Amira begins this week. Please use the link below to access the schedule for specific dates.Sarah OHara:Please make sure you are entering your absences into Frontline unless you have a sub lined up, then I will enter it to ensure that the sub is assigned.I will be absent for a family matter the week of August 10th -14th so if you need an absence entered please give it Theresa.Please make sure to log in to ESS to update your Emergence Contact Information. Click on Personal Information, then Contact and add new. This is important to keep updated!On August 24th all staff will receive an email to invite you to go into ESS to review your job description. Please be only the lookout for that email.Please take a few moments to sign up for the PTA; our goal is to have 100% staff participation. Dowell ES PTAIf you hold the grade level afternoon car-rider students, please make sure you have your walkie turned on. Thank you so much!If you haven't already given the front office a list of who the ASP rotation for the year, please do so now.Specialist
Thank you to those that have given extra supplies to the Specialist classes! Thank you for thinking of us...We are SUPER appreciative! 🥳Just a few reminders:- Please do not allow your students to bring toys, candy, snacks, or gum to specials. 🍬
- Please be on time for drop off and pick up. The schedule has changed this year, and we only have 5 minutes between classes. Being on time will help with the balance and flow of drop off/pick up!🌞
Literacy Lab:For the 2nd rotation of specials, please have your students bring their laptops...1st-5th. Mrs. Michaels and Mrs. Pszczola will be collaborating together for a Digital Citizenship and Future Ready Framework lesson. Thank you!🙌(Mrs. Pszczola will get together with K teachers to plan a time with kindergarteners!)August 12th- August 21st (Day1- Day 7 for 1st thru 4th)August 11th –August 17h (Day 1- Day 6 for 5th grade)STEAM:I am working with a new graphic designer to create this year's Art’s Integrated shirt. This shirt can be worn on Mondays with Jeans. I hope to have the shirts available for purchase by Labor Day. STAY TUNED 😊Also, I am providing folders for each student this year. This will serve as their STEAM Journal, so there is no need to bring journals to STEAM. Thank you for all you do!Social Media:Doing something awesome in your classroom? Have a great team picture? Accidental twinning? Catch someone doing something kind? See awesomeness happening at recess, during a lesson, etc.?Please send Raina any pictures and she will post them! If you haven't given Dowell's FB or Instagram a follow yet...join the fun and follow us to keep up with how awesome Dowell is! Raina's number is 678-848-3142 📷Upcoming Birthdays
Gabriela Frausto 8/13Kristin Thompson 8/19Minerva Soriano 8/20Glenda White 8/20Yiandria Boswell 9/2Raina Michaels 9/3Malory Evans 9/7Instant Notifications • Staff - D
- Dowell Elementary School
- • 5 days ago • Wednesday, Aug 5 at 1:36 PM • .Dowell Elementary School
Fun Club Registration is now Open
Register now for one of our amazing FunClubs that the Dowell PTA Offers. Click the link to register and find out more information on each club. Registration ends on 8/18/26Fun Clubs
