Weekly Update 9/27-10/1
Reminder that students will attend school Monday-Thursday this week. Friday Is the beginning of Track Out. We will see the students back In school on Monday 10/25. We wish all students and their families an enjoyable, safe, and restful track out!
Spirit Week
Our first spirit week will be the week of Sept 27-30th. Please click here for the details and what each day of spirit week is. We look forward to seeing all the spirit our 8th graders have.
Bathroom Procedures
Due to increased negative behaviors in hallway bathrooms, the 8th grade teachers will be tweaking our bathroom procedures. Students are still given the opportunity to use the restroom in each of their classes, but teachers will now escort students to the bathrooms and back to class. The increased hallway supervision will hopefully decrease the negative behaviors and vandalism we are seeing in our restrooms. We appreciate everyone's understanding as we do our best to keep DRMS a safe and enjoyable school for all to attend.
Late/Missing Work
All late/missing work for the 1st Quarter is due no later than Thursday September 30th. This is the last day of the 1st quarter and the last day of school before we track out. There are many students who are missing assignments which are impacting their final grades. Please be sure to discuss with the students the importance of getting their work turned in.
Yearbook
The 2021-2022 DRMS Yearbook is available for purchase now!
Pricing information:
Now-September 30: $35.00
October 1-November 15: $40.00
November 16-January 31- $45.00
February 1-March 31: $50.00
Order before September 30th to receive the lowest pricing available for the 2021-2022 Yearbook! Purchasing online is the way to go! You can purchase your student’s yearbook and accessories here: http://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A01095208 8th grade families, this is your student’s last year in middle school. Purchase a yearbook ad as a special send-off for your student!
Pricing and Purchase Information:
½ page: $65
¼ page: $45
⅛ page: $25
To Purchase: https://www.jostens.com/apps/jcom/router.mvc?affiliateId=1542971 Contact Ms. Robertson at sdrobertson@wcpss.net for any further questions!
Weekly Update 9/20-9/24
Day of Awesomeness
We are so excited to finish our Power Of Purpose fundraiser with our Day Of Awesomeness (DOA) on Friday, September 24th. To engage in the fun, grade levels will participate during electives. 8th graders will participate from 11:30-12:45. Thank you to all our 8th grade families who participated in our fundraiser, we greatly appreciate it.
Bathroom Procedures
Due to increased negative behaviors in hallway bathrooms, the 8th grade teachers will be tweaking our bathroom procedures. Students will still be given opportunities to use the restroom but there will be new procedures shared with students next week. We ask all families to discuss proper bathroom behaviors with their students as we have seen an increase in vandalism, property damage, graffiti, and other non DRMS behaviors occurring in the bathroom. Our custodial staff works extremely hard to keep our school as clean as possible and these incidents in the bathroom are adding work to their already busy days. We thank all our students for doing the right thing and using our hall bathrooms appropriately.
Late/Missing Work
All late/missing work for the 1st Quarter is due no later than Thursday September 30th. This is the last day of the 1st quarter and the last day of school before we track out. There are many students who are missing assignments which are impacting their final grade. Please be sure to discuss with students the importance of getting their work turned in.
Spirit Week
Our first spirit week will be the week of Sept 27-30th. Please click here for the details and what each day of spirit week is. We look forward to seeing all the spirit our 8th graders have.
Weekly Update 9/13-9/17
Computer Chargers
It is important that students bring their WCPSS Chromebook AND charger to school each day. Unfortunately, teachers were not given extra chargers for the students If your student has misplaced their charger, they can fill out a heat ticket by visiting this link and possibly receive a replacement.
Water Bottles
With our water fountains still closed as part of Covid protocols, we are asking that all students please bring in their own water bottle to school each day that they can refill at one of the bottle filling stations. There has been too much disruption, playing, and trash with the store-bought bottles of water the teachers have been providing. Students have time to fill water bottle periodically throughout the day if needed. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Make Up Work
Please be sure to discuss with your student their current academic progress. Students have been made aware of approaching deadlines as we wrap up the 1st quarter over the next 3 weeks. Please be sure to follow up with your student and make sure they are caught up or have a plan to be caught up in the next week or so.
Weekly Update 9/6-9/10
PowerSchools Parent Access
Progress Reports were available for viewing this week in PowerSchools. If you do not have access to PowerSchools, please consider getting it in order to keep up with your student's grades and progress. If you are interested in signing up for an account, please send an email to Mr. Dunton at mdunton@wcpss.net and he will be happy to pass along your information along to our data manager who can further assist you.
Parents/Guardians can access PowerSchool from the Durant Home Page (Parents-PowerSchool) or parents may also choose to download the App to their phone.
Reminder that there is no school on Monday as we observe the Labor Day holiday. Enjoy the three-day weekend and we look forward to seeing all our students on Tuesday!.
Weekly Update 8/30-9/3
1st Quarter Progress Reports
Progress Reports will be available for viewing through PowerSchools on Monday 8/30. Please click this link for directions on how to access progress reports.
Step it Up Fundraiser
On Monday Aug 30, our students will attend an assembly through their elective classes to kick off our Step it Up fundraiser. Additional information regarding this fundraiser can be accessed through the students Canvas classes and our team website.
Athletics
-Paperwork/Registration Information
If your child is interested in participating in our fall sports, please click on this link to learn more about getting your child’s physical completed and utilizing the Dragonfly app to register.
-After School Activity Bus
Due to the bus driver shortage taking place in the county, transportation has suspended the after-school activity bus. Parents, if your child is trying out for a sport, or makes a sport team, you will need to provide transportation home daily until the after-school activity bus is running again. Please make sure you are able to pick your child up in the bus parking lot no later than 5:30pm each day. We will notify families when this service is provided again for after-school activities.
Weekly Update 8/23-8/27
DreamBox:
Monday August 23 marks the kickoff of our DreamBox initiative for all DRMS students! DreamBox is a digital support for math instruction that tailors itself to your individual student’s learning needs. Weekly, students are asked to complete a minimum of 4 lessons in the DreamBox platform -- but the more the merrier! To support this work the staff at DRMS has developed a reward system for students who are regularly completing their weekly lessons. Students who have completed the four weekly lessons by Friday will be entered into a drawing for a prize.
Athletics:
Fall Sports Ticket To Play
If you are interested in a fall sport (football, volleyball, girls' soccer, & cheerleading) please complete this form no later than August 25. This form will let our athletic trainer, Mrs. Mauder, know that you are interested in trying out for a fall sport on August 30th and this will begin your ticket to play process. To receive your ticket to play, which will be in the form of a wristband, you must be academically eligible and have all your athletic paperwork submitted through DragonFly. Mrs. Mauder will verify your eligibility and athletic paperwork. If you pass both of those requirements, you will be given a wristband to wear on the first day of tryouts. This wristband is your ticket to play and will prove to the coach that you are cleared to be on the field/court/mat. No wristband = No tryout, no exceptions! This form and all paperwork must be submitted no later than August 25. Wristbands will be distributed to in person students the week of August 23. Virtual academy students will receive their wristbands on the first day of tryouts from their coach. If you have any questions about DragonFly or the ticket to play process, please email Mrs. Mauder at tmauder@wcpss.net. We are looking forward to seeing our Dolphins play again this year!
Attention Football Players: To help prepare for football tryouts on Monday, August 30th, there will be a helmet football fitting on Thursday, August 26. Students will stay after school and report to the PE hallway when they hear that they are dismissed on the after-school announcements. Please be prepared to pick up you student in the bus parking lot at 5:00pm that day.
After School Activity Bus: Due to the bus driver shortage taking place in the county, transportation has suspended the after-school activity bus. Parents, if your child is trying out for a sport, or makes a sport team, you will need to provide transportation home daily until the after-school activity bus is running again. Please make sure you are able to pick your child up in the bus parking lot no later than 5:30pm each day. We will notify families when this service is provided again for after-school activities.
Weekly Update 8/16-8/20
Student Devices
It is the expectation that any student who has received a WCPSS issued Chrome Book bring that and the charger to school each day. All classes are utilizing digital platforms to deliver lessons, so students do need their devices. If a student's device is not working properly, they lost the charger, or they lost the device, they can fill out a heat ticket by completing this form
Athletics
Fall Sports Ticket To Play
If you are interested in a fall sport (football, volleyball, girls' soccer, & cheerleading) please complete this form no later than August 25. This form will let our athletic trainer, Mrs. Mauder, know that you are interested in trying out for a fall sport on August 30th and this will begin your ticket to play process. To receive your ticket to play, which will be in the form of a wristband, you must be academically eligible and have all your athletic paperwork submitted through DragonFly. Mrs. Mauder will verify your eligibility and athletic paperwork. If you pass both of those requirements, you will be given a wristband to wear on the first day of tryouts. This wristband is your ticket to play and will prove to the coach that you are cleared to be on the field/court/mat. No wristband = No tryout, no exceptions! This form and all paperwork must be submitted no later than August 25. Wristbands will be distributed to in person students the week of August 23. Virtual academy students will receive their wristbands on the first day of tryouts from their coach. If you have any questions about DragonFly or the ticket to play process, please email Mrs. Mauder at tmauder@wcpss.net. We are looking forward to seeing our Dolphins play again this year!
PodSquad membership allows students to attend all HOME games for free! They also get a t-shirt! T-shirts will be distributed in September. Cost to join is $25, and this money goes straight to the Athletic Boosters to help fund all of our athletic teams. When PodSquad students attend games, they will need to go to the ticket gate and give their name to the ticket taker. Ticket takers will have PodSquad members on a list and will grant them free entry. If families have any questions, please contact the Athletics Booster Club at dolphinathleticboosters@gmail.com
This membership gives season or yearlong passes to families to attend all HOME games. Costs vary based on the membership they wish to purchase. Money received from these season passes goes straight to the Athletic Boosters to help fund all of our athletic teams. Once a season pass is purchased, families will be added to the Booster Club list, and at the ticket gate they will need to give their name to the ticket takers who will then grant them entry. If families have any questions, please contact the Athletics Booster Club at dolphinathleticboosters@gmail.com
This website has all the information families need to learn about athletics: coaches contact information, sport tryout & practice information, requirements for participation, tryout dates, schedules, maps to our opponents, etc.
DragonFly is our new online athletic registration platform. All families will need to create an account and register their child/children to submit their athletic paperwork prior to tryouts. If families have any questions about DragonFly, please contact our athletic trainer, Trina Mauder, at tmauder@wcpss.net
We wish all our students and families a safe and restful weekend. Enjoy some downtime and be ready for a new week starting on Monday, can't wait to see all of you back at school.
Weekly Update 8/9-8/13
Beginning of Year Family Survey
Athletics
PodSquad Form: PodSquad membership allows students to attend all HOME games for free! They also get a t-shirt! T-shirts will be distributed in September. Cost to join is $25, and this money goes straight to the Athletic Boosters to help fund all of our athletic teams. When PodSquad students attend games, they will need to go to the ticket gate and give their name to the ticket taker. Ticket takers will have PodSquad members on a list and will grant them free entry. If families have any questions, please contact the Athletics Booster Club at dolphinathleticboosters@gmail.com
Athletic Booster Club Membership Form: This membership gives season or yearlong passes to families to attend all HOME games. Costs vary based on the membership they wish to purchase. Money received from these season passes goes straight to the Athletic Boosters to help fund all of our athletic teams. Once a season pass is purchased, families will be added to the Booster Club list, and at the ticket gate they will need to give their name to the ticket takers who will then grant them entry. If families have any questions, please contact the Athletics Booster Club at dolphinathleticboosters@gmail.com
Athletics Website: This website has all the information families need to learn about athletics: coaches contact information, sport tryout & practice information, requirements for participation, tryout dates, schedules, maps to our opponents, etc.
DragonFly: DragonFly is our new online athletic registration platform. All families will need to create an account and register their child/children to submit their athletic paperwork prior to tryouts. If families have any questions about DragonFly, please contact our athletic trainer, Trina Mauder, at tmauder@wcpss.net
FAQ & Important information to know about athletics for 2021-2022:
7th and 8th graders are allowed to participate in athletics only if they have turned in their pre-participation packet (submitted through DragonFly) and they are academically eligible (criteria is on their pre-participation packet and the AD will be running eligibility reports to determine eligibility soon to assist students if they have questions about eligibility)
6th graders, per WCPSS, cannot participate in interscholastic play, but they can be managers. If a 6th grader is interested in becoming a manager, please have them email the coach of the sport they are interested in. Coaches' emails are on the athletics website
Tryout dates:
Fall sports (football, cheer, girls soccer, volleyball): August 30, 2021
Winter sports (girls & boys basketball, cheer): November 15, 2021
Spring sports (boys soccer, softball, girls & boys track & field): February 22, 2022
At this time, we are not limited in the number of spectators who can attend athletic events**
At this time, masks will have to be worn for indoor sports and indoor spectators**
At this time, masks for outdoor sports and outdoor spectators are optional**
**Mask requirements & spectator numbers are subject to change at any time and will be communicated**
Dismissal Procedure Reminders:
All carpool students are doing a great job assembling into the cafeteria and looking for their number to be called. Please continue to remind your child to remember their individual carpool number that was issued this school year. If you were not able to obtain a carpool tag call the front office to inquire about when you can pick up your carpool number. All students received an updated carpool number for this school year.
Powerschool Access for Students and Parents:
Powerschool is a great way to have two way communication with your child’s teachers and also teach students how to access their account to learn more about their grades and what they have and need to turn in. Please click on this link that directs you with how parents can sign-up for PowerSchool and items you will need to have and how to link other siblings to your parent portal. If you have any further questions please contact Kim Anderson Kanderson7@wcpss.net and she will help answer any questions.
Principal’s Weekly Newsletter:
Your SchoolMessenger account is a free and easy way to stay connected with events at your student’s school and WCPSS.
Review recent voice, text and email messages sent by the district and your student’s school.
View your contact information.
Manage your contact preferences.
Visit https://go.schoolmessenger.com to create an account. You must use the email address entered in PowerSchool for your student. View SchoolMessenger: Parent Account Setup for step-by-step instructions (English | Spanish).
Weekly Update 7/27-7/30
8th Grade Academy
We look forward to meeting many of our students and family members at our 8th Grade Academy on Wed 7/27 from 12-3.
Virtual Academy
For our 8th grade virtual students we will host our Virtual Academy on Thursday 7/29 from 2-3:30.