Dalton Public Schools

Paws in Print: A DPS Parent Newsletter

A MONTHLY COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER - BACK TO SCHOOL EDITION!
“Dalton Public Schools Back to School announcement. First day of school is August 6. For more information, visit www.daltonpublicschools.com. The image has a red, white, and gray design with school-themed doodles such as a pencil, atom, notebook, magnifying glass, and paint palette.”

A Warm Welcome from Dr. Steven Craft


Dear Dalton Public Schools Families,

Welcome to the 2025–2026 school year! As we prepare to open our doors on Wednesday, August 6, I want to take a moment to share how truly excited we are to welcome you back.

A new school year brings with it fresh beginnings, new opportunities, and the promise of growth—for our students, our staff, and our entire DPS community. Whether you're joining us for the first time or returning for another chapter, we are honored to partner with you on this journey.

Our schools are ready, our teachers are eager, and our team is committed to making this year one of connection, learning, and success. We can’t wait to greet you at orientations, in classrooms, and throughout our campuses as we usher in an exciting new year—together.

With enthusiasm and gratitude,

Dr. Steven Craft
Superintendent
Dalton Public Schools

UPCOMING DPS EVENTS

  • July 21 - Board of Education Meeting

  • August 5 - School Open Houses/Orientations

  • August 6 - First Day of School

Back to School Information

“Graphic with bold red and white design announcing the first day of school as August 6, 2025. The text ‘FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL’ is centered in large red letters, with ‘AUGUST 6, 2025’ displayed below in a red banner. The background includes red directional arrows and dynamic red shapes along the corners and edges.”

First Day of School!


August 6th marks the first day of school for Dalton Public Schools, and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome our students, staff, and families back for another incredible year of learning and growth!

As we open our doors for the 2025–2026 school year, we look forward to creating new memories, building strong relationships, and continuing our commitment to excellence in education.

Let’s make this year our best one yet—welcome back!

“School Orientations graphic for Dalton Public Schools with red and white design. Text reads ‘School Orientations – Plan Ahead!’ and lists orientation schedules for Tuesday, August 5:  Elementary Schools: 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM  Hammond Creek: 6th Grade – 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM; 7th Grade – 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM  Dalton Junior High School: 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM  The Dalton Academy: 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM  Dalton High School: 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM  The Cyber Academy: 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM  Image features a smiling staff member in a red sweatshirt posing with the Dalton leopard mascot. Red arrows and geometric elements decorate the top and bottom corners.”

School Orientations


Dalton Public Schools is excited to welcome students and families back for another amazing school year! To help everyone get off to a strong start, all schools across the district will host orientation events on Tuesday, August 5, 2025.

These orientations are a great opportunity for students to meet teachers, tour their school buildings, receive important information, and get excited for the year ahead.

Below is the orientation schedule for each school:

Elementary Schools: Orientation for all elementary campuses: 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM

Hammond Creek Middle School:

  • 6th Grade ONLY: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM

  • 7th Grade ONLY: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Dalton Junior High School:10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Dalton High School: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

The Dalton Academy: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

The Cyber Academy: 4:30 PM – 7:30 PM

“Red and white graphic with bold text that reads ‘Supply Lists Available Now!’ A red banner highlights the phrase ‘Available Now!’ The image includes black line art of school supplies such as pencils, a ruler, scissors, and markers in a cup. Red directional arrows and geometric accents decorate the corners.”

School Supply Lists


It’s almost time to sharpen those pencils and pack those backpacks—school supply lists for the 2025–2026 school year are now available on our website!

  • Blue Ridge: English & Spanish

  • Brookwood: English & Spanish

  • City Park: English & Spanish

  • Park Creek: English & Spanish

  • Roan School: English & Spanish

  • Westwood: English & Spanish

  • Hammond Creek: English & Spanish

  • DJHS/TDA/DHS: Please note that Dalton Junior High, The Dalton Academy, and Dalton High School do not have a common supply list. Teachers will let students know what they need based on their specific class and team.

Visit our Back-to-School page to find everything you need: School Supply Lists

“Graphic with bold red and white design announcing the 2025–2026 Calendar. Text reads ‘2025–2026 Calendar – Plan Ahead!’ with a red banner underlining the call to action. An illustrated desk calendar showing days of the week is displayed in the bottom left corner. Red directional arrows and geometric accents appear in the corners.”

2025-26 Academic Calendar


Plan ahead with us! The 2025-2026 district calendar is now available. Check it out to stay informed about important dates for the upcoming school year.

View it here: https://www.daltonpublicschools.com/o/dps/page/academic-calendars

COMING SOON!

“Red and white graphic with school-themed doodles announcing a new communication tool. The text reads: ‘Coming Soon: Rooms – Our new two-way communication tool. Your new go-to for parent-teacher communication.’ Decorative icons include a globe, pencil, atom, magnifying glass, paper airplane, and paint palette, with red directional arrows and bold geometric accents.”

Dalton Public Schools Announces Upcoming Launch of New Two-Way Communication Tool, “Rooms”

DALTON, Ga. — Dalton Public Schools is pleased to announce the upcoming launch of Rooms, a new two-way communication platform designed to streamline engagement between families and schools across the district. The new tool will officially launch in August and will be available through the Dalton Public Schools app.

“Rooms is a game-changer in how we connect with families,” said Kendra Pannell, Executive Director of Communications. “It provides a centralized space where parents and guardians can receive updates, communicate directly with teachers and administrators, and stay involved in their child’s education—all in one convenient location.”

Once Rooms launches, families will receive messages, important updates, and announcements directly from their child’s school. The platform offers several key benefits:

  • A single, unified place for all school-related communication

  • Text message notifications—even for users who have not downloaded the app

  • Easy, two-way messaging with teachers, administrators, counselors, and other staff

Update Your Contact Information

In preparation for the launch, Dalton Public Schools is asking families to ensure their contact information is current and accurate. Each parent or guardian who wishes to access Rooms must have a unique email address and phone number associated with their student’s record.

To verify or update contact details, families are encouraged to reach out to the district’s Enrollment Office via .706-876-4000 or email enrollment@dalton.k12.ga.us. District representatives will respond as promptly as possible to assist with the process.

“Strong family engagement is foundational to student success,” added Kendra Pannell. “Rooms is one more way we’re working to strengthen the partnership between school and home.”

For more information, visit www.daltonpublicschools.com or download the Dalton Public Schools app from the App Store or Google Play.

ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM COMMUNITY PARTNERS

“Flyer for the 2025 Back to School Bash hosted by the Latin American Association. The event offers free school supplies and haircuts for local students. Main text reads: ‘We’re gifting school supplies and haircuts to local students! If your child needs free school supplies and a free haircut, we will be offering them on this date.’ Event details: Dalton OC – July 19 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Mack Gaston Community Center Green Gym. Additional note says if families can't attend, supplies and a haircut coupon will be delivered to the child’s school. A QR code is included with a button that says ‘Register Your Child Here.’ Image shows smiling students with backpacks and school staff. Sponsors include Mohawk, The Campos Team, STR, AstroTurf, and Dalton Utilities OptiLink. Collaborators listed are Dalton Public Schools, Whitfield County Schools, Dalton Parks and Recreation, and more.”
“Flyer en español para el evento 2025 Back to School Bash, organizado por la Latin American Association. El evento ofrece útiles escolares y cortes de pelo gratuitos para los estudiantes de escuelas locales. Texto principal: ‘¡Estaremos obsequiando útiles escolares a los niños de las escuelas locales y ofreciendo cortes de pelo gratuitos!’ Detalles del evento: Dalton OC – 19 de Julio de 9 a.m. a 1 p.m. en el Mack Gaston Community Center Green Gym. Nota adicional indica que si una familia no puede asistir, se entregará la mochila con útiles escolares y un cupón para un corte de pelo gratuito a la escuela donde el niño estará inscrito. Incluye un código QR con un botón que dice ‘Inscriba a su hijo(a) aquí.’ Imagen muestra estudiantes sonrientes con mochilas y personal escolar. Patrocinadores incluyen Mohawk, The Campos Team, STR, AstroTurf y Dalton Utilities OptiLink. Colaboradores: Dalton Public Schools, Whitfield County Schools, Dalton Parks and Recreation, y otros.”

Our Community Partners Are Excited to Host the 2025 Back to School Bash!

The Latin American Association is hosting a fantastic event to support local students and families as they gear up for the new school year! From free school supplies to haircuts, this event is all about helping kids start strong and feel confident.

Join them on July 19 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Mack Gaston Community Center Green Gym!

NOW HIRING IN DALTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

"Dalton Public Schools is now hiring Activity Bus Drivers. The flyer features a red and black school bus with 'Dalton Public Schools' written along the side. Text describes the role: drive students and staff to games, field trips, and events, with afternoon, evening, and some weekend trips included. Contact information is provided: phone number 706.876.4035, address 300 W Waugh Street, and website https://dalton.schoolspring.com."

Dalton Public Schools is Hiring an Activity Bus Driver


Love the open road and school spirit? Become an Activity Bus Driver with Dalton Public Schools and drive the adventure! Help students get to games, field trips, and fun events—safely and on schedule. Apply today and be part of the journey! This is a Dalton Public Schools position—join the DPS team!

Apply today at: https://dalton.schoolspring.com/?jobid=5280435

Looking for other career opportunities?
Explore our other job openings here and join a team dedicated to student success!

The Dalton Public Schools logo featuring a symmetrical geometric design in black and red, resembling a stylized tree or abstract educational symbol. The design includes small red shapes within a black framework. Below the logo, the text 'Dalton Public Schools' is displayed in bold, black, serif font on a white background.

Stay Connected

We are thrilled to announce our new app for mobile phones!

Stay up-to-date with access to events, documents, news from administrators, student stories, and even emergency notifications. 

You can download the app for free on Google Play or Apple App Store.

Android App>>

Apple App>>