137 Dacula Road, Dacula, GA 30019 / 770.963.1110
Dear Parents:
As spring semester is underway and spring break approaches, we want to share details regarding Honor Roll and Principal’s Honor Roll recognition for our end of year awards. Our Awards Nights are scheduled as follows:
· 6th/7th Grade Awards Date - May 11 at Hebron
· 8th Grade Awards Date - May 12 at Hebron
You will receive a progress report via ParentSquare noting your child’s performance through March 27th. This report will be emailed home on Friday, March 27. Any missing student work noted on the progress report should be submitted no later than Friday, April 3. Submitting late work after the Friday, April 3 deadline will not change a student's eligibility to be recognized for academic performance.
The grades on the April 17th progress report along with the grades on the first semester report card will determine if a student is recognized for academic performance this school year.
We encourage parents to monitor their child’s grades every week through the use of ParentSquare and the parent portal.
Recognition at the local school this year will include:
Honor Roll - All A’s & B’s for the year (including individual connections classes)
Principal’s Honor Roll - Straight A’s for the year (including individual connections classes)
Invitations/email for award recipients will be sent the week of May 4.
Our Career Fair is happening Wednesday, March 18th, and we are so excited to help our students start thinking about their futures!
To help them get into the right mindset, we are encouraging all students to Dress for Success. While they don't need a full three-piece suit, dressing up a bit more than usual helps them feel more confident and professional as they interact with our guest speakers.
What does "Dressing for Success" look like?
Top: A quarter zip, polo shirt, button-down, sweater, or professional blouse.
Bottom: Khakis, slacks, or a neat skirt/dress.
Shoes: Clean sneakers or dress shoes (avoid flip-flops if possible).
The Goal: Looking neat, tucked in, and ready to learn!
We want our students to feel proud of how they present themselves as they explore different career paths. Thank you for helping them prepare for this exciting day!
On Monday, 3/2nd, current 6th and 7th graders that have qualified for Carnegie Connections courses received a letter and ParentSquare message stating the class(es) they can express interest in.
These courses are based on Semester 1 grades and course requirements outlined in these letters:
Spanish or French (2-year commitment) are available for qualified 6th/Rising 7th graders. [2-year requirement]
Carnegie CTAE courses (Business, Marketing, and/or Engineering) are available for qualified 7th/Rising 8th graders. [1-year requirement]
The YEARLONG Connections courses listed below are open to all students. Information about how to express interest for these courses is the yearlong commitment involved for each class can be found on the DMS website:
Junior Leadership Corp. (JLC) is offered as a year-long course to both Rising 7th and Rising 8th graders.
Visual Arts Comp I (2D) and II (3D) is offered as a year-long course to Rising 8th graders only.
Additional information about additional course sign ups will be coming throughout the semester.
Please note - course placements are not finalized until August 2026 and are subject to availability. Expressing interest does not guarantee placement.
As we prepare for the upcoming observance of Ramadan, we want to ensure that our students and families feel supported, respected, and cared for during this important time. Dacula Middle School is committed to honoring students’ religious practices while maintaining a supportive and inclusive learning environment for all.
To assist students who will be observing Ramadan, the following accommodations and supports will be available:
Prayer During the School Day
Students who request space for prayer will be provided access to a designated location on campus. Families or students should contact their grade-level administrator to coordinate.
Alternate Lunch Location for Students Who Are Fasting
Students who are fasting may use a designated alternate location during the lunch period. Please contact your grade-level administrator to arrange this support.
Physical Education (PE) Accommodations
Students observing Ramadan may request alternate activities in PE. Students will not be penalized if they are unable to fully participate due to fasting.
Take-Home Meals During Ramadan
Gwinnett County Public Schools’ School Nutrition Program (Cafe Gwinnett) will offer take-home meals for students who are fasting from February 17, 2026, through March 19, 2026.
Students who wish to participate must meet the following criteria:
Meals will be provided based on Free, Reduced, or Paid eligibility and pricing.
Students must be enrolled as a GCPS student.
Students must be enrolled at the school where they receive meals.
Students must be in attendance on the day they receive meals.
Meals must be picked up at the end of the school day in a location coordinated by the local school.
Parent/Guardian must register weekly, no later than 4:00 PM each Thursday, for the following week.
Students who receive take-home meals cannot participate in the school breakfast or lunch program during the school day.
To register for take-home meals and learn more, please complete the following form:
https://forms.office.com/r/WQqPEHNeMv
Our goal is to partner with families to ensure students can fully observe Ramadan while continuing to feel supported and successful at school. If you have questions or would like to request accommodations, please contact your child’s grade-level administrator.
Thank you for allowing us to support and serve your family.
As part of Gwinnett County Public Schools’ (GCPS) continued commitment to student and staff safety, we have implemented the Evolv weapons detection system at Dacula Middle School. This system will be used during morning arrival at designated entry points. Evolv is a state-of-the-art, touchless screening technology designed to detect potential threats while allowing students and visitors to move quickly and safely into the building.
Here’s what you need to know:
Entry Points: Look for clearly marked entrances with Evolv systems.
There is no need to remove phones, keys, and wallets from your pockets, purses, or bags.
If an alert is triggered, a quick secondary screening may be required.
Arrive early to avoid delays.
The implementation of the Evolv weapons detection system is part of a broader, multi-layered safety strategy that includes:
Enhanced staff training in emergency response and threat detection.
Upgraded surveillance and security monitoring systems
Ongoing collaboration with local law agencies.
We appreciate your support as we work together to maintain a safe and welcoming school environment.
March 24, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM via Microsoft TEAMS
During this virtual evening families will receive essential resources and strategies to support their child for the upcoming Georgia Milestones Assessment, hear directly from the Office of Counseling, College, and Career on how to best support your child's academic journey, gain insights into various programs designed to maximize student performance, and provide input for the District Family and Community Engagement Plan.
We look forward to seeing you there and working together to unlock the future for our students!
Interpretation will be provided in Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese, and French.
Click here to RSVP or use this Direct Registration Link
For information, timeline, maps, and access to the GCPS feedback survey, please visit the
Friday, March 13th: Digital Learning Day
Monday, March 16th: Student Device Check - Bring Chromebook and Charger!
Wednesday, March 18th: 7th & 8th Grade Career Fair - Dress for Success!
Wednesday, March 25th: Title I Planning Meeting ~ Virtual
Monday, April 6th - Friday, April 10th: Spring Break - No School
Monday, April 20th - Thursday, April 30th: Georgia Milestones Testing
Wednesday, May 20th: Last Day of School
** S2 Final Exam Dates coming soon! **
8th Grade Day ~ Friday, May 15th
Dues for this event are $30 and can be paid on MyPaymentsPlus.
Get ready for an exciting summer! Registration for Maxwell High School of Technology's Middle School Summer Adventures opens its doors to current 5th-8th graders on Friday, March 6th, 2026!
Don't miss out, as spots are limited!
This action-packed program immerses students in hands-on exploration of various career paths through diverse workshops. From breaking down a car engine to baking delicious treats, there's something for everyone!
Key Details:
Dates: Tuesday, May 26th - Friday, May 29th, 2026
Time: 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Cost: $125 (non-refundable)
Registration: Secure your spot on www.mypaymentsplus.com starting March 6th! Search for "Maxwell Middle School Summer Adventures" and follow the instructions.
More Information:
Visit our website for further details and to read specific information about Summer Adventures.
Important Notes:
Multiple child discounts are unavailable.
Registration fees support Maxwell and are non-refundable.
We're thrilled to welcome your child to the Maxwell family for a summer of exploration and fun! Join us on this enriching journey!
Warmly,
Maxwell High School of Technology Summer Adventures Team
For your child's safety, car riders drop-off starts 8:55 am morning bell in the car rider lane. The car rider lane will close at 9:20 am, and students must be in class by 9:25 to avoid being marked tardy.
Early drop-off (8:00am-8:35am) must be done in the bus zone at the back of our building. Early students should not be dropped off at the front office or in the car rider lane. Students may be dropped off in the bus lane as early as 8:00 am for study hall in the cafeteria.
As a reminder, there is NO LEFT TURN allowed onto or from Dacula Road during drop off and pick up!
For your convenience, we post our bus calls on our website to keep you informed of when your student leaves the building by bus. You can access this information each afternoon by logging on to our website.
Click on the Parents/Students tab across the top and then click on Transportation Information. The Bus Call Information button will take you to the real-time slideshow.
Afternoon buses are posted to our website as they arrive at Dacula Middle with the bus call they are part of.
The time that students are called to load that set of buses is listed in the last column.
Buses leave our school approximately 5 - 7 minutes after the time listed in the green column.
** Please refresh your browser page every few minutes for real-time updates. **
Annual Parent Involvement Survey
Who: Families of students who are receiving special education services
What: Each state is required to conduct a parent survey to measure parent/family perceptions of the success of parent engagement between home and local schools.
When: Available through May 31,2026.
Where: Parents can complete the survey via the survey link below. Letters will be sent home with students on Monday, 2/23rd.
Please use the following link to access the survey.
Por favor utilice el siguiente enlace para acceder a la encuesta.
2026 GCPS Transition Fair
What: The GCPS Transition fair is the Department of Special Education and Psychological Services’ annual event connecting families of students with special needs to resources that will support their journeys toward adulthood. Featured community organizations specialise in supported employment, day programs and community living, recreation and leisure, vocational and career services for special needs, funding and community resources.
When Saturday, March 14
Time: 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Where: Peachtree Ridge High School
1555 Old Peachtree Road, Suwanee
For questions, please contact us at Transition.Fair@gcpsk12.org
Parents,
Schools will no longer receive hard copies of Parental Rights Booklets. You can also find a copy of your Parental Rights on the district’s website under Special Education and Psychological Services Parent Handbook.
If you would prefer a printed copy of your Parental Rights, please contact me, Charisse Deramus at charisse.deramus@gcpsk12.org, or your child's case manager.
We look forward to a great year of making an impact one student at a time!
Charisse Deramus
Special Education Assistant Principal
ParentSquare is GCPS's communication tool for families, schools, and teachers.
Be sure you have updated your settings to make sure you are receiving all GCPS and Dacula MS updates and messages:
For Gwinnett County Public Schools families, MyPaymentsPlus is the resource for student meal accounts, and accessing options to review and pay for school activities.
We communicate through our website, social media, ParentSquare, and News from the Nest newsletter.
Please be sure your email is correct on the Parent Portal to ensure you are staying connected.
** If you do not have a Parent Portal account, please contact our registrar's office. **
To find Gwinnett County Food Security Resources:
https://www.gwinnettcounty.com/departments/communityservices/foodsecurityresources