FRCS Middle School

August 1, 2025 

Dear Parents and Students of FRCS Middle School,

I would like to welcome you to the FRCS Middle School 2025-2026 academic year. I look forward to partnering with you in what promises to be a year full of academic success and personal growth for all involved. I spent the summer traveling through June, and teaching the summer program in July. Other than that I have been preparing for this school year, analyzing our curriculum to make sure all standards are covered in all grades, taught to the best of my ability, as your students deserve. I have also spent time revamping our Science curriculum and making some enhancements to our Math curriculum. 

Our class theme this year is: “From Strong Roots We Rise” I like this theme because it speaks to our foundations. We all have different foundations, which shape our unique perspectives and understanding of the world around us. You, as parents, are ultimately responsible for the foundations of your children. I am here to partner with you to give them a strong educational foundation. I love witnessing the strength of our students that graduate from the 8th grade here at FRCS. I relate the word foundation to a forest, which seems appropriate due to our school being in Forest Ranch. Some of us may be an oak tree and others a pine tree, but we are all working towards a healthy ecosystem. 

I am going to provide more outdoor education this year via field trips keeping the stewardship of nature in mind. 

Please take note of the middle school schedule enclosed. Your schedule will depend on your grade, and math teacher. Mrs. D.J. will be teaching 6th Earth Science, and 7/8th grade Physical Science, Math A and B, 6/7/8 English Language Arts, and 6/7/8 P.E. Mr. Randal will be teaching 7/8th grade History, and Math C with Mrs. D.J.

Students: please come prepared on the first day of school, August 19th, with the following supplies for History, Language Arts, Science and Math. Binders will be provided by the school to organize some of the following supplies in. DO NOT purchase your own binder. Students are welcome to use their binders from last year. I have ordered binders for all students and would like it to stay within that format. 

Cell phones are to be turned off and placed in back packs upon entering campus, and stay in backpacks or lockers until they leave campus, except for with permission from Mrs. D.J., or another staff member. Students are welcome to use the phones at school to contact parents, or may use their cell phones with permission. 

1. (5) pencils, a blue and/or black ink pen, a yellow highlighter, and a black sharpie.

 2. A zip up three ring pencil pouch. On the smaller side to fit in the binders that the school provides for you. The items listed in #1 can be put in this zipper 

3. A combination lock for your locker. Be prepared to give Mrs. D.J. a copy of your combination on a 3”X 5” card to file in the classroom in case you forget your combination. All supplies, phones and backpacks will be kept in lockers this year, so please purchase a combination lock to protect your items. 

4. Shoes and clothes appropriate for PE. You can keep a pair of P.E. shoes in your locker. 

5. A book for SSR (Self Selected Reading) on day two of school. We also have many to choose from in our classroom library. 

Middle School Wish List: 1. Auction/Raffle prizes (trinket items that 6 th grade students would enjoy bidding on once a month or receiving in our RIGOR raffles. These items will also be for purchase with the fake money the 7/8 th graders make from doing their campus jobs). 2. Sticky Notes! We/I use a ton of them. 3. Boxes of pencils.

 1. Kleenex 

2. Wipes for disinfecting desks. 

3. Large box of brown modeling clay. (2) 

4. Portable Vacuum for our Classroom: Small and easily portable (possibly from a thrift store).

Please plan on joining us for our Ice Cream Social Thursday, August 14 th . The FRCS Community Center meeting is at 5:30, and ice cream will be served after, usually around 6:15. Enjoy the rest of your summer. Best, Mrs. D.J. 

questions or concerns to me by email at mdj@forestranchcharter.org