News from the Nest

Dacula Middle School

137 Dacula Road, Dacula, GA 30019 / 770.963.1110

Click Here for the Dacula Middle School Website

September 3, 2021

Car Rider Information Update for 9/3/2021

Presently, our car rider line presents a big safety concern for our community and those traveling along Dacula Road.

Our bell rings for car rider dismissal at 3:50 pm. Parents may arrive on campus for car rider pick-up no earlier than 3:40 pm. This includes not parking in a parking space awaiting the start of car riders. Beginning Tuesday, September 7, any cars that arrive prior to 3:40 pm will be re-routed from the car rider line.

As an alternative, we ask that you park at Dacula Park until the start of our car rider line. If you choose to have your child become a walker and meet you at Dacula Park for the sake of expediency, you’ll be pleased to know that our walkers are dismissed at 3:50 pm as well.

When trying to access the car rider lane, cars should not park on Dacula Road in the Northbound lane (towards Dacula High) or the Southbound left turning lane (towards the bridge). Due to traffic safety concerns, we have been advised that this will become an offense worthy of a citation from law enforcement. Cars should join the car rider line along Auburn Road.

We are working diligently to see that we have a safe dismissal for our students while also maintaining safe roads you, the community, and our emergency vehicles. Thank you for your cooperation. We appreciate your attention to this matter.

Please click here for our car rider procedures located on our website.

Reminders

Thank you to everyone for an awesome Virtual Curriculum Night!

Resources can be found on our website in the Top 3 section for those that may not have been able to attend or would like them for future reference.

Enjoy your 3-day Weekend! We will see students back in the building on Tuesday, 9/7th.

Mark Your Calendars

Just a reminder...our first GCPS Asynchronous Learning Day will be held on Tuesday, September 14th.

All students will be completing their assignments from home and will receive information from their teachers before they leave school on Monday, 9/13th regarding assignments for each class.

Teachers will hold a 30 minute check in session for any student(s) needing help and/or wanting to touch base on 9/14th.

Additional information and details will be posted on each teacher's eClass course page.

8th Grade Families

Dear 8th Grade Parents,

On Tuesday, September 21, 2021, your child will be participating in the 2021 administration of the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) which measures students’ verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal reasoning abilities. The results of this test will help assess how well your child is performing and assist with plans to meet your child’s academic needs.

The three batteries of the test: Verbal Battery, Quantitative Battery, and Nonverbal Battery will be given in one day. Each battery consists of three subtests, and students have ten minutes to complete each of the subtests for a total of 90-minutes to complete the assessment.

Thank you for making sure your child is present and on time for test day. Our staff wants to provide your child with the best opportunity to be successful. Although no studying or preparation is necessary for this test, the following recommendations should help your child do his/her best each day:

• Get plenty of rest

• Eat a healthy breakfast

• Be at school on time

• Be prepared (glasses if needed)

Thank you very much for encouraging and supporting your student during testing. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Charisse Deramus.

Accountability & Assessment Website

Car Rider Procedures

Student safety and security is definitely a priority at Dacula Middle School. While we encourage riding the bus as an option, we realize that it may be necessary for your child to be a car rider.

In an effort to minimize the car rider line backing up onto Dacula Road and to maintain safety, the car rider line will weave through the front parking lot. Cars may not enter by turning left from Dacula Road. Our car rider line should only be accessed by turning right into our parking lot off of Dacula Road. Parents may need to access to the car rider line via Auburn Road.

Parents are expected to drop off and pick up students along the designated loading zone. Staff will direct vehicle movement and the unloading or loading of students. Students should not exit vehicles in other areas of the parking lot. All vehicles are expected to turn right when exiting the campus during official arrival and dismissal times.

Morning Drop-Off Procedure:

• As a courtesy, students arriving to Dacula Middle School between 8:00 am and 8:35 am will report to the cafeteria for a silent study hall. These students should be dropped off in the bus lanes in the rear of the building on Auburn Road.

• All students should be dropped off prior to 9:15 am which is when 1st period begins.

• Students should never exit a vehicle on Dacula Road or Auburn Road.

• All vehicles are expected to turn right when exiting the campus during official arrival times.

Afternoon Pick-Up Procedure:

• Please make sure that your child knows his/her car rider number. If you are in need of a car rider tag, please email your child’s homeroom teacher.

• Parents may arrive on campus for car rider pick-up no earlier than 3:40 pm. This includes not parking in a parking space awaiting the start of car riders.

• All vehicles should have the car rider number clearly displayed.

• Staff will assist with the traffic flow. Please make sure you follow the directions of the staff to ensure a safe and quick car rider line.

• The car rider bell rings at 3:50 pm and students will load into cars based on their car rider number.

• All vehicles are expected to turn right when exiting the campus during official dismissal times.

Reminders

Connections Schedule Changes

We are not able to accommodate requests for Connections schedule changes at this time.

Thank you for your understanding!

Additional Information Regarding Masks in GCPS:

In late July, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), updated its guidance for schools, recommending that children, teachers, and others in K-12 schools across the nation wear masks this school year, regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status. This recommendation is in line with those of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Based on this guidance and for the safety of our students, staff, and visitors, Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) requires the wearing of masks or cloth face coverings in our schools and facilities and on school buses, regardless of vaccination status.

The CDC indicates correct and consistent mask use is a critical step everyone can take to prevent getting and spreading COVID-19. Masks work best when everyone wears them, but not all masks provide the same protection.

With that in mind, Gwinnett County Public Schools requires masks to:

Fully cover the nose and mouth and secure under the chin.
Fit securely against both sides of the face.
Masks that have an exhalation valve or vent and masks made from mesh fabrics are not recommended by the CDC as they allow virus particles to escape and spread. As a result, these types of masks do not meet GCPS’ mask requirement.

Gwinnett County Public Schools is using the most recent CDC guidance and information about transmission and case rates within our community as part of its decision-making process regarding mitigation efforts. The district will continue to monitor current conditions and updates to guidance, using this information to make changes to its mask requirement and other mitigation strategies during the 2021–22 school year as needed.

This year all GCPS students will have access to breakfast and lunch at no charge.

While meals will be provided at no charge for all students this school year, it still pays to complete the Free and Reduced-price Meal Application. Families whose students would be eligible for meal support in a typical year should complete the application by October 21, 2021.

One meal application affects a lot for your family…

Confirmed eligibility establishes a number of benefits for individual students such as discounted or no fees for college-admissions exams and AP tests, discounted or free college applications, scholarship opportunities, and no- and low-cost access to technology and internet plans.

And for your child’s school…

The percentages of qualifying students at a school are used as a measure to secure additional federal funding (Title I) to support students and their education, promote family engagement, and provide technology and internet access. Title I funds pay for additional teachers, Parent Centers, additional learning opportunities for students, extra resources, and more.

GCPS offers an online application and a printed application (available at schools). A new application must be completed each year. Due to the number of applications received, families can expect a faster turnaround time for the online application, which is available in English and Spanish.