Important Upcoming Dates
Tue, Aug 29 - FAST ELA Assessment #1
Wed, Aug 30 - Soccer at Corner Lake (Away)
Mon, Sep 4 - Labor Day - No School
Wed, Sep 6 - School Picture Day
Wed, Sep 6 - Soccer at Wedgefield (Away)
Thu, Sep 7 - Interest Meeting - 8th Grade Trip - 6:00 pm
Fri, Sep 8 - Skate Night - Astro Skate - 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Thu, Sep 21 - Open House
Notes from the Flight Deck
Things are in full swing at Discovery! We completed our first FAST Math Assessment last week and students will be taking the FAST ELA Assessment on Tuesday. Our first soccer game will be on Wednesday (weather permitting) and we are looking forward to a great season.
Parents play a pivotal role in schools, even in middle school, and we invite you to join our PTSA or SAC. Both will have their first meetings of the year this upcoming Thursday. SAC will meet at 4:30 pm and PTSA will meet at 5:15 pm. Meetings will take place in the media center.
Should you ever have questions, please reach out and I will be happy to help.
Jeff Aldridge
jeffrey.aldridge@ocps.net
Picture Day
Picture Day will be on Wednesday, September 6 during Social Studies classes.
Pre-order your student's pictures on mylifetouch.com with your child's Student ID or Picture Day ID: EVTMF6SN4
8th Grade Trip - Informational and Interest Meeting
We are exploring the possibility of an optional 8th grade end of year trip to Philadelphia and New York City. This trip would be voluntary and would take place May 18 - 21, and it would allow students to visit areas discussed during 8th Grade US History class. It would not take the place of Gradventure as our school is attending Gradventure on May 10. We will host an informational and interest meeting on Thursday, September 7 beginning at 6:00 pm in the media center. We would need at least 45 people (students/chaperones) to make the trip the most cost effective. Anticipated pricing would be approximately $1245 per person and would include all admission fees to exhibits and museums, roundtrip flights, hotel stay for 3 nights (quad occupancy), all meals, charter bus in Philadelphia/NYC, and tour guide. School funds would not be available to cover any portion of the trip.
Bikers and Walkers
We have received reports from concerned neighbors about students not being safe during arrival and dismissal when walking or biking from neighborhoods. Specific information shared with us was that some students are biking against oncoming traffic in the middle of Lake Underhill Road. This is a serious safety matter and we ask that you speak with your students about remaining on the sidewalks and cross only at crosswalks.
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. While the Code of Student Conduct identifies discipline associated with a violation, there will be a grace period at the beginning of the school year to allow time for students and staff to adjust to the changes in the policy. If you have any questions, please contact the school.
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.
