Important Upcoming Dates
Tues, Dec 5 - FAST PM #2 - ELA
Thu, Dec 7 - FAST PM #2 - Math
Tue - Thu, Dec 12-14 - CFE's Block Schedule
Mon, Dec 18 - Band Concert @ 7 PM
Tue, Dec 19 - Basketball Parent Meeting @ 6 PM and String Concert @ 6:30 PM
Wed, Dec 20 - 8th Grade Field Trip to Fun Spot
Thu, Dec 21 - Chorus Concert @ 6:30 PM
Fri, Dec 22 - End of Second Marking Period
Dec 23 - Jan 8 - Winter Break - Students return on Tue, Jan 9
State and District Testing
Students will take FAST Progress Monitoring, part 2 on Tuesday and Thursday, December 5 and 7. ELA (Reading) is on Tuesday and Math on Thursday. Testing locations and testing group rosters will be posted on Canvas.
On Tuesday through Thursday, December 12 - 14, students will next take their CFEs (Common Final Assessments) in those courses that are not FAST tested (i.e. science, social studies, and electives). We will operate on block scheduling on these three days. Students will test with their CFE content teachers and the schedules will be posted on Canvas.
Students showing growth on either FAST assessment will be invited to our Level Up party after winter break. Growth is measured by improving at least one level if a student previously scored a Level 1 or Level 2, or by increasing at least one Scale Score point if a student previously scored a Level 3, 4, or 5.
If you have questions regarding testing, please contact our Testing Coordinator at kimberly.staley@ocps.net.
Sports Update
Basketball intramurals are in the morning before school on Monday, December 4. All students are welcome.
The Girls Volleyball team earned third place in our cluster and made it to the playoffs! The next game is Monday, December 4 at Lake Nona Middle School.
Boys Volleyball uniforms should be returned to Mr. Murray in C218.
We will hold a Basketball Parent Meeting on Tuesday, December 19 from 6 - 6:30. This meeting is not a requirement to try out. It is to provide information about Sports Physicals and Basketball tryouts.
If you have questions, please contact our Athletic Director at robert.murray@ocps.net.
Teach-In 2023
Thank you to all of our Teachers for a Day! On Thursday, November 16, we had a wide variety of speakers from engineers to financial planners to life coaches. Our students appreciated all of the time and effort our speakers put into their presentations. The lessons they learned were not only fun, but practical and engaging.
Free ELA & Math Tutoring
ELA and Math tutoring are provided every day before school (7:30 - 8:30) and every day except Wednesday after school (4:10 - 5:10). All students are welcome to attend as many tutoring sessions as they like and there is no registration or fee. Our tutoring team consists of 6th, 7th, and 8th grade teachers: Mr. Franqui, Mrs. Miller, Ms. Wise, Mrs. Khan, Mr. Murray, Mr. Stanford, Ms. Maples, and Ms. Serr. If you have any questions, please contact our tutoring coordinator at ann.holman@ocps.net.
PTSA Updates
There's still time to join the PTSA!
Discovery PTSA is open to Parents, Teachers, STUDENTS, Family Members, Community Members, and anyone who wants to be an advocate for students. You must purchase a new membership each school year. Sign up for DMS PTSA for $6 here: https://discoverymiddleptsa.memberhub.com/store
PTSA can be reached at DiscoveryMiddlePTSA@gmail.com.
A HUGE Thank you to our PTSA Sponsors for the 2023-2024 year!
Platinum Sponsors:
Eau Gallie Veterinary
Five Star Claims Adjusting
Marris Orthodontics
Taddeo Orthodontics
The Wilkins Way Home Team
Gold Sponsor:
The Orlando Law Group
Skyward
Skyward is the Student Information System used by OCPS. Parents can access Skyward to check grades, daily attendance, and test scores such as FSA. Parents must register for a Skyward account using a cell phone number or email (these numbers/email addresses must also match what our school has on file in the system). Each parent can register for their own account and setup is only required once. Instructions for registering can be found at parents.classlink.com/ocps.
Annual Online Parent Forms
The Skyward Family Access Portal has an Online Forms tab when accessed from a desktop or laptop. Online Forms that parents and guardians need to complete can be found in the Online Forms tab. Online Forms can also be located from the Wall in Skyward Family Access. Parents and guardians will be able to complete and submit the Parent Consent Form and Device Refusal Form from the Online Forms Tab or the Wall.
Parent Consent Form (PCF)—REQUIRED
• Important legislative changes make completion of this form online by parents/guardians imperative.
• The PCF provides parents/legal guardians with the right to make important decisions involving how their child can use available technology resources, how the district uses available media of their child, what personally identifiable information is released about their child, and whether students will participant in school clinic services, health screenings, and mental health services.
• This form MUST be completed by each parent/guardian to access clinic services, health
screenings, and other student services.
o A parent must elect to opt in to each individual service.
o For example, if the Skyward Parent Consent Form were not completed to supply consent for the school’s clinic services, and your child needs to visit the school clinic, then the school clinic will be unable to treat your child and the parent/guardian will be contacted, except in the case of an emergency. In the case of an emergency, the parent/guardian and appropriate emergency personnel will be contacted.
Parents/guardians must complete the PCF as soon as possible, but no later than ten days after the start of the school year and/or entry.
Device Refusal Form—OPTIONAL
• Should be used by any parent/guardian who does not want to accept a district laptop or tablet for their student.
• In this form, parents will certify that they refuse a district device and indicate whether they prefer to register for the BYOD option where students bring a personally owned device from home or if they prefer traditional curriculum.
• These two options have always existed for families.
Below is the screen showing the location of the online forms in Skyward.
Cell Phones/Wireless Earbuds
On Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 the school board approved the 2023-2024 Code of Student Conduct, which included changes to the district cell phone use policy for students (see page 30). The updates were made as a result of the feedback received from educators, parents, and the OCPS Discipline Task Force. The changes reflect the input and complies with new state legislation (HB 379), which took effect July 1. While statutes do not allow the use of a communication device during the instructional day, OCPS policy allows for students to possess a cell phone while on campus as long as it is silent and in a backpack or purse. Exceptions will be made for students with an IEP/504 or other reasons related to health or personal welfare which must be approved by school administration. In addition, the rule applies to watches, ear buds and other such devices.
At no time shall OCPS be responsible for theft, loss or damage to cell phones or other electronic devices brought onto its property.
Student Devices
All students at Discovery Middle are issued a laptop for use at school and home*. This year, students will receive brand new devices and will keep the same device for the duration of their enrollment at our school. Students are responsible for their device and must take care not to damage it. Should a non-warranty repair be needed, OCPS will use the following fee structure and the student/parent/guardian will be the responsible party:
1st Incident - $25
2nd Incident - $50
3rd (and forward incident) - *Depreciated value - see fees below
*Years from Purchase Replacement Cost:
Year 1 - $550
Year 2 - $400
Year 3 - $250
Year 4 - $100
Device checkout will occur during the first three days of school.
*Students have the option of choosing to bring their own device to school daily rather than receiving an OCPS device. If you choose this option, you must complete the Device Refusal Form on Skyward and make sure your student's device meets the appropriate specifications.
