Proud to be your GNP!
Dear parents, students, and school community:
On behalf of the faculty and staff of Dutchman Creek Middle School, WELCOME to the 2024-25 school year! At The Creek, we have sharpened our skills as educators through several professional development activities since last school year. We are committed to providing quality opportunities for EVERY student to experience success in the many aspects of middle school life, including the academics, athletics, the arts and through various leadership and civic opportunities in a safe, welcoming, and engaging learning environment. However, we cannot do this alone. Your support is CRITICAL to our efforts, so I thank you in advance!
As your principal, I am committed to partnering with every student and family to make the 2024-25 school year the best in school history! I embrace that responsibility wholeheartedly and earnestly. You can count on me to send you a comprehensive newsletter every Sunday at 6:30 pm that showcases the awesomeness at The Creek. And I will call with a short word of encouragement to the community along with any important news to note.
Again, welcome to the new school year, and let's have an amazing opening week at The Creek! GO GATORS!
Yours in service,
Principal Clayton B. Moton
Let's take a moment to recognize and celebrate our Gator Nation students, staff, and community members!
Not pictured: Emily Gergely, Unique Pathways 1 teacher and Dr. Cindy Godfrey, Science Teacher!
We are grateful for our partners at Lakeside Baptist Church and "It's Worth It." catering for providing lunch for the staff to kickoff the school year!
The student-athletes at Dutchman Creek proved to be winners in the classroom and in competition, earning the District Cup as the top middle school in the combined areas of Academics, Citizenship, and Athletics achievement! This is truly a community award, as students, parents, staff, and coaches all worked together to earn this prestigious recognition!
Will you be dropping off or picking up your student(s)?
View the video tutorial to help make your commute easier and to help make our process safe and efficient!
DRESS CODE (Rock Hill School District Policy JICA)
Dutchman Creek Middle School Dress Code
District board policy states that the board reserves the right to bar students from school whose personal appearance is disruptive to the educational process and orderly operation of the school. Discretion to formulate reasonable dress codes is left to the administration. To carry out this policy, Dutchman Creek Middle School has adopted the following rules regarding dress to be complied with anytime students are in the school building:
Students may wear a solid colored polo shirt, button-down shirt, sweatshirt, or hooded sweatshirt. Polo shirts and button-down shirts must have a collar and sleeves. V-neck collared shirts are prohibited. Any manufacturer’s logo must be small and non-repeating. All other manufacturer’s brands/slogans or other non-school logos on tops are prohibited. Shirts with buttons must begin at the neck and only(two factory buttons from the collar may be unbuttoned. A solid shirt must be worn underneath all outerwear tops with the exception of DCMS t-shirts.
Official DCMS “Gator Gear” tops, defined as apparel endorsed by the school, including hooded sweatshirts, sweatshirts, and t-shirts may be worn daily. This does not include PE uniform shirts.
Heavy or bulky outerwear (coats and jackets) are not to be worn in class or throughout the building.
All pants, skirts, shorts, capris, and skorts must be tan, khaki, black, gray, brown or navy blue in color. Wind pants, leggings, jeggings, yoga pants, jeans, and sweatpants are prohibited. All shorts and skirts should be worn no shorter than four inches from the top of the knee. This will be measured from the top of the slit if on a skirt.
All pants and shorts must rest at the waist and back pockets must be at hip level. “Sagging” is prohibited. Additionally, shirts and jackets should not be worn tied around the waist.
All students must wear shoes. All shoes, including sandals, must have a back or strap that secures the heel of the foot. Shoes must be tied or buckled as they are designed. Students will not be allowed to wear shower shoes, bedroom shoes, slides, or flip-flops at any time at school.
Clothing should be worn as the manufacturer intended and in a manner that does not cause a distraction or disruption to the normal operation of class or school. Clothing should be worn with appropriate undergarments that are not visible. All clothing must be appropriately sized. Form-fitting, provocative (thin straps, tube tops, low necklines, strapless, too tight, too short, muscle shirts, revealing clothing, tank tops, see-through clothing) and ripped/cut/torn clothing should not be worn at any time at school. No skin should be visible between the pants and shirt at any time. Offensive/suggestive writing, pictures, and patches on clothing/jewelry are also prohibited. This includes advertising for alcohol/tobacco products or promotion of violence.
Head coverings including, but not limited to, bandanas, hats, etc. should not be worn in the school without administrative approval. Offenders risk having these articles confiscated. Sunglasses, earmuffs or hoods on coats, sweatshirts or shirts may not cover the head in buildings or classrooms.
All long jewelry (that extends beyond the collar) must be tucked in, regardless of the style. Jewelry with spikes is not permitted. This includes chokers, wristbands, dog leashes, chains, etc. Items that could be used as a weapon may not be worn or brought to school.
DRESS CODE FOR DRESS DOWN DAYS
Ripped/tattered/torn jeans are allowed but ONLY with something worn under the pants so that skin is not visible. Rips must not be excessive.
Leggings, jeggings, and yoga pants are only allowed under a shirt, dress, or skirt that is no shorter than four inches from the top of the knee.
T-shirts must be worn underneath sleeveless shirts.
Camisole tops or spaghetti straps are prohibited if worn without a light jacket or sweater.
Appropriate footwear still applies. All shoes, including sandals, must have a back or strap that secures the heel of the foot. Shoes must be tied or buckled as they are designed. Students will not be allowed to wear shower shoes, bedroom shoes, slides, or flip-flops at any time at school.
If necessary, the administrative staff will meet to approve any attire not covered by the dress code. The principal reserves the right to repeal or amend any changes to the policy as necessary and will communicate all changes to students, parents/guardians, and staff in writing prior to implementing any changes. The principal also reserves the right to waive any of these rules for special days, events, and occasions as predetermined and adequately communicated to students, parents/guardians, and staff.
Students that are found in violation of the Standard Code of Dress may be subject to disciplinary action at the discretion of the grade level administrator and building principal. Disciplinary action may range from a warning, confiscation of unapproved items to be returned at the end of the school day to after-school detention for simple and/or occasional violations to suspension for students who continually and willfully violate the policy. Students who come to school inappropriately dressed or out of compliance may be held out of class until the violation is reasonably corrected. Absences from class because of dress code violations will be ruled unlawful.
The entire DCMS Student Handbook can be found at => DCMS Student Handbook 2024-25.
If you have specific questions, reach out to your child's grade level administrator:
Ms. Lyons alyons@rhmail.org (6th grade),
Mrs. Mays amays@rhmail.org (7th grade), and
Ms. Miller srmiller@rhmail.org (8th grade).
Beginning in the 2023-24 school year and continuing through the 2024-25 school year, student laptops for middle school students will remain at schools rather than be sent home. The purpose is to maximize classroom usage and instruction; reduce the cost of breakage, loss, and repair; and to reduce unauthorized site visitation and cyber bullying. Students will pick up their laptop daily during homeroom and turn in their laptop to be charged at the end of the day in homeroom. Should a student need to complete an online assignment, additional time will be provided during Enrichment and during additional designated times provided by teachers. Laptop computers may be checked out by parents to go home, in coordination with the school administration, for no more than five consecutive days at a time for select reasons that include, but are not limited to, extended projects, prolonged illness, and predetermined remote learning. In the case of an announced E-Learning Day, laptops will be sent home with students. If an eLearning day is called without advance notice, students will have five days to complete and turn in assignments to teachers. Visit our website
Classlink Launchpad applications such as Canvas, Google Apps, Microsoft Office, and other programs will still be accessible to students on personal home electronic and mobile devices. In addition, students will be provided with textbooks, consumable workbooks, and other resources that can be utilized at home for learning.
RHS middle schools are dedicated to providing the best learning experiences possible. We are here for your students should they need additional support. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s school administrative team if you have any questions.
When you buy OFFICIAL products from our website, the proceeds will go back to kids! Other shops online do not invest back to us! Visit our website (www.rock-hill.k12.sc.us/DCMS) or directly at DCMS Gator Gear Online!
A portion of the sales will benefit DCMS Student Council to support their service learning projects!
Volleyball: Claudia Koterba ckoterba@rhmail.org (7th grade head coach), Kristen Dowtin kdowtin@rhmail.org (8th grade head coach)
Football: Jamee Sexton jlsexton@rhmail.org (7th grade head coach), Ricky Blackman rab1518edu@gmail.com (8th grade head coach)
Cheer: Courtney Blake (ckblake@rhmail.org) and Tiffany Smith (tiffanys@rhmail.org)
Got questions about DCMS Athletics? Contact co-Athletic Directors Coach Tawander Armstrong tarmstrong@rhmail.org or Coach Ron Tyson rtyson@rhmail.org!
Mon, Aug 5: Volleyball tryouts (3:30-5 pm)
Tues, Aug 6: Volleyball tryouts (3:30-5 pm)
Wed, Aug 7: Volleyball tryouts (3:30-5 pm)
Thurs, Aug 8: First Day of School for Students
Thurs, Aug 8: Football begins (3:30-5:30 pm)
Thurs, Aug 8: StuCo Spirit Night at Mario's Pizza (4-8 pm)
Thurs, Aug 15: Open House (6-7:30 pm) with Food Trucks!
Tues, Aug 27: Kona Ice on sale during lunches
Tues, Aug 27: MAP testing window opens
Fri, Aug 30: Early Release Day for students (11:45 am dismissal)
Images from the summer!