Dear parents, students, and school community:
I trust that everyone is safe and well after a very tough weekend of devastating weather in our area. Many of us experienced long bouts without the comforts of power and transportation. Perhaps some of us have extended family members in other areas across South Carolina and neighboring states that have been affected by the storm. Let us continue to lean on each other in tough times as good neighbors and friends by offering our well-wishes and support to the recovery efforts. School is closed for tomorrow, which includes all activities after school. For extra clarity, tomorrow is a CLOSURE, not an eLearning Day. Any rescheduling of events will be announced later.
Over the next few weeks, we will continue to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at The Creek. Monday's volleyball game vs Rawlinson Road will be rescheduled and announced later. The volleyball team will defend their home court vs Sullivan on Wednesday. Also on Wednesday, our 7th grade football team is at home vs York while our 8th grade football team travels to take down Sullivan. The Book-A-Thon has been extended until Monday. We are VERY close to reaching our goal of 150,000 minutes read and $2000 raised! Also, this Friday will be a dress down day for any student that went the entire month of September without earning a disciplinary referral. This represents over 93% of our students! Keep up the great work, Gators!
Continue to engage us if you have any questions, concerns, or needs! Let's have a #RockSolid 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!
National Hispanic Heritage Month begin on September 15 and ends on October 15, Join us as we celebrate our national and local contributors of Hispanic decent to the American fabric!
The Chicken King restaurant donated a great pregame meal to our Gator student-athletes!
Ms. van Eck is one of our 6th grade math teachers here at the Creek! Since arriving at Dutchman Creek, she has stood out as a leader working extremely hard to capture the essence of our mission to grow students as leaders. She has been instrumental in collaborating with her peers in the math department and her 6th grade team. In addition to helping organize math and science nights, and literacy family nights, she works to hold students to the highest levels of expectations while challenging them with content and engaging them in conversations about their data to support their growth and learning. Ms. van Eck is passionate about helping all students learn and it shows daily in her rapport with teachers, administrators, and students as an educator and coach. We are thankful to have her constant display of what it means to be a Gator!
Mrs. Armstrong is our talented digital photography teacher, and is a constant example of what it means to truly put students first. She has worked extremely hard to serve now, as Co-athletics director, and championship winning basketball coach here at Dutchman Creek. In addition to serving in these roles, she also sponsors FCA. In her classroom, Mrs. Armstrong introduces students to the world of photography and seeing things in their everyday lives through that lens. She challenges students to learn new concepts and skills in computers and exposes them to how class content connects to the real world. She has a true command of the classroom and is able to connect with students in a way that shows she truly cares about their well-being and academic success. We are thankful to have Mrs. Armstrong as a positive example of being a Gator!
Ms. Bradley is our amazing Technology Support Specialist. Since her arrival at the Creek she has worked tirelessly to support the technology needs of students to support their daily learning. Prior to the start of the school year, Ms. Bradley worked to deploy laptops to each homeroom teacher- totaling a delivery of 870 laptops- to ease the transition for both teachers and students. Daily, and multiple times a day, she has developed an effective system to address tech tickets to resolve students' issues, or escalate needs so students do not experience delays or a lapse in the ability to complete assignments. Outside of supporting students, Ms. Bradley does not hesitate to communicate information regarding technology updates and collaborates with administrators on upcoming needs such as MAP testing, or technology needs for events. She is always an email or radio call away. We are very thankful to have Ms. Bradley as such an efficient and effective member of the DCMS team!
Mr. Robinson serves as an awesome and supportive 7th grade social studies teacher here at Dutchman Creek. On any given morning, he can be seen, rain, sleet, shine, or snow greeting families and ensuring that students make it safely out of their cars and into the school building to start their day. Mr. Robinson provides a structured learning environment for students. He is a history buff and values the importance of students learning about geography and historical events. He is a student advocate and believes in building positive relationships with students, and because of this, he’s often seen outside of the classroom and in the stands cheering on students getting their first taste of middle school sports. Quiet but funny, Mr. Robinson is always willing to support school initiatives and his peers. Anytime there is an ask, the reply is, “yes”. We are thankful to have Mr. Robinson to support what it means to be a Gator.
Ms. Birchfield has effortlessly stepped into some pretty big shoes and roles to fill as our bookkeeper this past January. Since that time she has supported every area and aspect of Dutchman Creek making it clear that the work of teachers and administrators to grow students and academic achievement matters. She is extremely thoughtful, hardworking, and a strong collaborator to further understand how she can best support. It is not uncommon to see Ms. Birchfield working beyond her scheduled hours and staying late to attend school events as a contributing member at the Creek! In addition to her work, she has been essential in helping us to develop some community partnerships with local churches and businesses to extend beyond our school's scope. She has been a key part of the ideas and growing demand for Gator T-shirts. We appreciate Ms. Birchfield showing what it means to be a Gator!
Mrs. Williams-Wilson has been a wonderful addition to Dutchman Creek as part of 8th grade and the math department. It is clear that Mrs. Williams-Wilson wants to do whatever it takes to help students develop the necessary foundational skills to be successful in 8th grade math and beyond. She works extremely hard to utilize data to determine the strengths and opportunities of her students. Mrs. Williams-Wilson has a welcoming environment where she welcomes teachers and administrators in and day to day she collaborates with her peers, co-teachers, and department. She works hard to develop engaging lessons to build the confidence of her students and believes in celebrating their success. Last year, Mrs. Williams-Wilson played a huge part in helping to plan and organize the 8h grade formal for students. This year, she will serve as the leader for the LiM data team, and we are excited to see those ideas develop. We are thankful for Mrs. Williams-Wilson and her display of what it means to be a Gator!!
Get to know first year science teacher Ms. Tinch!
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Our students are working hard to incorporate the habits on a daily basis. This week students are focused on their circle of control and finding a transition person to help stay positive and proactive!
Learning Standards: Learners will be able to evaluate the importance of focusing on their Circle of Control and can utilize this skill to make a positive change in something that matters most to them. Learners will be able to describe the role of a Transition Person in helping to change negative behavior patterns, and how they can act as a Transition Person in service of themselves and others.
Whether it is volunteering to help with after school clubs and competition or cheering wildly in the stands as fans, the faculty and staff understand the importance of supporting our students and each other inside and outside of the classroom! We are unapologetically PROUD to be Dutchman Creek Gators! Gooooooo Gators!!!
Join us on October 16th as we wear Orange to send a visible message of building commUNITY through kindness, acceptance and inclusion to prevent bullying!
Its that time of year again!! Join Beta Club as we aim to support our community in need. October 1-18th we will collect new socks, hats and gloves in all sizes to be donated to the Salvation Army & the Men's Shelter here in Rock Hill just in time for the winter months. Donations can be dropped off in the boxes located outsid the auditorium in the atrium.
Friday, September 27, 8:05 a.m. in the cafeteria
Leading Ladies @the Creek is a unique opportunity for our young ladies to learn and model the qualities of a leader. The young ladies learn to lead in the classroom and life. Our first meeting started with a much-anticipated CANDY SALAD! If you are interested in partnering with us, please reach out to Dr. Bacote at tbacote@rhmail.org
We are in the 3-Week stretch of quarter 1 and students are ready to finish strong. As a school we reflected upon why it is important to BE Here, BE Kind, BE in Control, BE Respectful and to BE Prepared!. Teachers are working to support your students through classroom standards for both behavior and academics. Share with us, how you see your student practicing these things at home.
We thank you for your continued support. Click the Partner with Us hyperlink above to connect and provide feedback.
We hope the year is off to a great start for your student. If your student needs to Sharpen their organizational skills, give this Weekly Checklist a try. Maybe you have noticed that your student is striving to show strength in academics click this Task Tracker to document your notices at home. This will greatly improve conversations with teachers as we problem-solve together.
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!
We understand that as students grow, they face many challenges, including peer pressure. It’s natural to want to fit in and seek approval from friends, but it’s crucial to remember that making thoughtful decisions is a vital part of personal growth.
For Students: Peer pressure can come in many forms, whether it’s about trying new activities, making choices about substance use, or even how to treat others. Here are a few tips to help you navigate these situations:
Trust Yourself: Remember that your values and beliefs are important. Stand firm in what you know is right for you.
Communicate: Talk to friends about your feelings. True friends will respect your choices and support you.
Seek Guidance: Don’t hesitate to reach out to a trusted adult, teacher, or counselor if you’re feeling uncertain or pressured.
For Parents: Supporting your child through the challenges of peer pressure is essential. Here are some ways you can help:
Open Dialogue: Encourage honest conversations about friendships and experiences. Ask your child about their day and listen actively.
Teach Decision-Making Skills: Discuss different scenarios with your child and help them think through their options and possible outcomes.
Model Positive Behavior: Share your own experiences with peer pressure and how you navigated them. Your stories can be powerful lessons.
We believe that by working together, we can empower our students to make confident, informed choices that align with their values. Please feel free to reach out to the Counseling Department f you have any questions or need additional resources.
Thank you for your continued support!
Kaaaaaaaaa-BOOM!!!!
Got questions about DCMS Athletics? Contact co-Athletic Directors Coach Tawander Armstrong tarmstrong@rhmail.org or Coach Ron Tyson rtyson@rhmail.org!
Mon, Sept 30: Volleyball at Rawlinson Road
Wed, Oct 2: Volleyball home vs Sullivan
Wed, Oct 2: 7th Grade Football vs York
Wed, Oct 2: 8th Grade Football at Sullivan
Wed, Oct 2: 8th Grade PSAT Math Coaching Session
Thurs, Oct 3: 8th Grade PSAT Reading Coaching Session
Fri, Oct 4: Dress Down Day for students with no referrals in September
Tues, Oct 8: Kona Ice on sale during lunches
Fri, Oct 11: District Closed (NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS)
Mon, Oct 14: Teacher Professional Dev Day (NO SCHOOL)
Wed, Oct 16: PSAT administration for select students
Wed, Oct 16: Volleyball at Castle Heights
Wed, Oct 16: 7th Grade Football at Saluda Trail
Wed, Oct 16: 8th Grade Football at Oakridge
Thurs, Oct 17: 7th Grade Volleyball Cross Division Games (West hosts)
Sat, Oct 19: 8th Grade Volleyball Conference Tournament (hosted by Oakridge)
Wed, Oct 23: 7th Grade Football Bracket Week
Wed, Oct 23: 8th Grade Football home vs Castle Heights
Thurs, Oct 24: Kevin Atlas Assembly at NWHS
Wed, Oct 30: 7th Grade Football Championship Week
Wed, Oct 30: 8th Grade Football at Rawlinson Road
Images from Week 7