July 15-19

#DMSLevelUp

Red Raider Nation

Shout out to Mary Cooper! She has worked tirelessly all summer long to complete student schedules. They are complete, and we are the first school in the district to have them finished! Way to go Mary Cooper!

scan_jenniferspringer_2019-07-17-06-47-58.pdf

Decatur Middle School Staff Calendar

I will keep this calendar up-to-date of all of the events and activities specific to the teachers and staff of DMS. Please keep an eye on this calendar to stay informed.

Decatur City Schools Athletics Calendar

This calendar is kept up-to-day by Watt Parker, our district Atheltics Director. This calendar will keep you informed of all DCS Athletics events.

Reminders and Announcements:

School-wide Expectations Meeting

We had a very productive meeting to develop school-wide expectations. Thank you to those who were able to attend. During this meeting we accomplished the following: identified areas of the building in which we should implement a uniform set of expectations, developed these expectations, and located specific areas of the building to post these. The purpose of posting these expectations is to have a common set of structures in which we should hold students accountable.

The committee decided expectations should be developed and posted in the HALLWAYS, RESTROOMS, STAIRWELLS, CAFETERIA, and COURTYARD. I will share these as they are finalized.

Teacher Schedules

I will be sending these out in the next couple of days. Please note that these are subject to change. If so, I will let you know as soon as possible.

Summer Flex Days

If you did not complete your 2 summer flex days during A+ College Ready E3 Training you will need to complete 10 hours during the District PD Days on July 31 and Aug 1.

Student Schedules Pick Up Days

6th Grade - Wednesday, July 24, 9-3:30

7th Grade - Thursday, July 25, 9-9:30

8th Grade - Friday, July 26, 9-9:30

Students will recieve a schedule on colored paper. Thier final schedule will be on white paper, and handed out by their 1st period teacher on the first day of school.

Students will be able to walk the building to find their classrooms. This will reduce the amount of students needing to do this during orientation. They will not be allowed in the classroom.

All 6th grade students will be issued a locker. Students in grades 7 and 8 will be issued a locker upon request. Students will recieve thier locker combination on thier schedule pick up day, and will be allowed to practice opening their locker.

I will send a schoolcast out on Wednesday, July 17 to announce these dates to parents.

Student Orientation

Student Orientation will be Monday, August 5

7/8th Grade Session - 11:00 am

6th Grade Session 1 - 1:00 pm

6th Grade Session 2 - 5:30 pm

Teacher are expected to attend the orientations for their grade level. Sixth grade teachers are not expected to attend the 5:30 session, but are certianly welcome.

Back to School Events and Activities

Friday, August 2: Teacher Institute, AJHS Auditorium, 8:30am, refreshments begin at 7:30am

Friday, August 2: Beginning of the Year Faculty Meeting, DMS Cafeteria , 12:00pm (lunch will be on your own before the meeting) STIPD# DEC0002870

Monday, August 5: Student Orientation, Teacher Workday

Tuesday, August 6: Plan Together Achieve Together PD, DMS Cafeteria, 8-11:30am STIPD# DEC0002869

Tuesday, August 6: Teacher Workday, 11:30 -

Wednesday, August 7: First Student Day Back

Teachers, as I have been getting to know each of you one thing is evident -- DMS is a family. We have quite a few new teachers this year and I invite you to be their marigold. Please take a moment to read the article below on what it means to "be a marigold." Each new teacher will be assigned a mentor teacher (marigold) to nurture and support them as they become a lasting member of the DMS family.

Find Your Marigold.pdf

NEW

TEACHER

ACADEMY

The New Teacher Academy will be held July 29-30, 2019 at Leon Sheffield Magnet School from 8:30-3:30 each day. The New Teacher Breakfast will be held on July 31, 2019 at 7:30 a.m. at First Baptist Church. The new teachers will immediately leave the "New Teacher Breakfast" and go to Austin High School for the Summer Learning Institute on July 31, 2019. This is for all teachers new to DCS for the 2019-20 school year.

Teacher Non-negotiables

Teach the standard
Bell-to-bell instruction
Provide Tier II instruction
Own the data
Love all kids

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS TO GUIDE DECISION MAKING

Does the activity align to our mission?
Does the activity align to grade-level content standards?
How will this lead to higher student achievement?
Does the activity align to grade-level content standards?
Is the the best use of instructional time, or a good use of instructional time?

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