Cash

Congratulations to Ms. Cash who graduated December 15th from WSSU, Summa Cum Laude. She is a member of the Phi Eta Sigma National Honor society and recently made history at WSSU by being 1 of 14 graduates inducted into the Alpha Kappa Mu National Honor Society; they just returned back to campus after 20 years. Ms. Cash, the 2023 WSFCS Classified Employee of the Year, transitioned to a Certified Teacher position at DLES after winter break.

Ms. Cash earned her master's degree through the WS/FCS Transition 2 Teach program at WSSU, graduating summa cum laude. Read the WSFCS story at https://ow.ly/GVxO50Qjn3z

Throw Back to the Winter Holiday Season: "The Grumps of Ring-a-Ding Town"

For this year's Winter Musical, first and second graders performed "The Grumps of Ring-a-Ding Town" by John Jacobson & John Higgins and helped get everyone in the spirit for the winter holidays and break.

"The bells of ol' Ring-A-Ding Town have stopped ringing because the townspeople have completely lost their holiday spirit. With all of the pressures of the season, they have become so grumpy that even the bells refuse to ring. When a severe winter storm pounds the village with ice, wind and snow, the grumpy citizens are reminded how much they need each other and how rewarding it can be to share and care for one another in the true spirit of the season. When peace, love and joy returns, the bells of Ring-A-Ding Town begin to ring again."

Students sang and danced while 5th grade Dance TAG students narrated the scene changes. Directors Mr. Mullikin, the music/orchestra teacher and Miss Allison, the dance teacher, led the students in keeping the audience laughing and smiling. The stage was adorned with snowflakes created by student artists and art teacher, Ms. Sledge, while Mr. Sigler and Mr. Mitchell managed sound and music. 

Introductory Video

 Have you seen our latest introductory video?

We are Tiger Nation.... a Visual and Performing Arts A+ Magnet School.

International Exhibit

Our Magnet Coordinator, Mrs. Gordon, recently had two of her original photographs, "The Star" and "Classic,"  accepted into the The Arts & Humanities Jury of The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International Gallery of Fine Art, available for viewing at https://gallery.dkg.org/.

The new DKG Fine Arts Gallery was unveiled in mid-November. The current exhibit includes 203 works accepted out of 211 entries from 131 artists. 

DKG is a professional honor society for women educators with more than 55,000 members. Established in 17 member countries around the world, the Society defines its mission as promoting professional and personal growth of women educators and excellence in education.

Read the full article at: https://www.thestokesnews.com/townnews/photography/local-artist-and-photographer-exhibiting-in-international-gallery/article_c20651f8-8801-11ee-a25e-83498c94727c.html

Retirement

Congratulations to Mr. Jimme Holmes Sr., our lead custodian, on his upcoming retirement. As staff and students wrap up school days in December and head home for Winter Break, Mr. Holmes will head home for retirement.

Mr. Holmes is such an important and dedicated member of the Diggs-Latham family. He has worked tirelessly for Diggs Elementary and Diggs-Latham Elementary for a total of 18 years now. Prior to working for the school system, Mr. Holmes worked in security and as a Special Police Officer in Washington D.C. He also has experience as a Maintenance Engineer.

Mr. Holmes was born in North Carolina but left shortly after High School to live in Washington D.C. Mr. Holmes attended Mebane Elementary School and Anderson High School. He played football and basketball, even playing as first string. His team won the championship in football as well. He also attended Lincoln Tech and the University of Washington D.C. for college. Mr. Holmes is a Vietnam Veteran and served two and a half years in the Army.

Mr. Holmes has 11 children, 22 grandchildren, and 8 great grandchildren. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family as well as landscaping, cleaning the church, taking walks with his dog, and playing pool. He also enjoys cleaning his cars, especially his red Corvette. Mr. Holmes enjoys shopping, sometimes for clothes for himself, especially sweaters, and for gifts for his young, godson. Mr. Holmes is known for taking things apart and putting them back together and repairing appliances such as refrigerators and air conditioners. Mr. Holmes enjoys listening to music while working on many of his hobbies. He likes all genres of music, especially Jazz, Rock, and Gospel. He was never a singer, but his mother was the choir director at church when Mr. Holmes was a child.

Mr. Holmes is a diehard fan of the Washington Commanders Football Team!

Mr. Holmes shared that he has enjoyed working in the school system. He has enjoyed being around the students, watching them grow up, meeting new people, and learning from the teachers.

The Faculty and Staff surprised Mr. Holmes with a retirement celebration luncheon. He said, “I thought it was a game at first. I was really surprised. I had no idea, and I even had to shed a few tears.”

In his retirement, Mr. Holmes plans to continue his hobbies and especially travel to DC, Atlanta, Baltimore, and other parts of Maryland to visit family.

Friends and colleagues know Mr. Holmes to be a very caring person who enjoys spending time with people. Mr. Holmes will be dearly missed. We thank him for his hard work and dedication and wish him all the happiness and best wishes in his retirement.