Discovery Digest
January 2020
DMS Faculty Newsletter
Happy New Year!
If there is anything you would like for me to add to this newsletter, please let me know! jmmerritt@madisoncity.k12.al.us
HAPPY January BIRTHDAYS!
January 5 - Adrienne King - Math
January 6 - Minouche Perry - French
January 9 - Seth Tarrer - Latin
January 12 - Leigh Shergy - ELA
January 23 - Lauren Forti - Speech Pathologist
January 29 - Jacqueline Willis - Math
January 29 - Amber Martin - Collaborative Teacher
Whose birthday did we forget?? Let us know and we will add you!
jmmerritt@madisoncity.k12.al.us
If we didn't know it was your birthday, and it is -- HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Reminders!
- Set the tone for your semester this week.
- Sign your IEPs and 504 plans! Set a reminder on your phone to sign during your planning.
- Have a system for documenting RTI!
- Set aside time to put grades in the grade book each week. Email parents when you see those notorious "NTNers" and negative behavior patterns.
- TARDIES - You'll only have to give one or two and it will set the tone for the rest.
- Less "class-passes:" Try NOT to send emails like "please excuse my whole class" when you can help it. If one or two kids can stay back and replace computers you can write two passes instead of a "class pass." Class passes make it tough for attendance and tardies. Sometimes it's necessary, but keep it to a minimum.
SAVE THE DATES for February:
- Student led, faculty supervised and sponsored event where current and future DMS Panthers walk through the school halls to see all the classes, sports, clubs and electives offered at DMS. We encourage everyone to figure out how to "Get Connected" at DMS. Each group/department will have a trifold board with information about their subject. There will be an assigned location for each table/station. We want each "booth" to be student led/facilitated where possible. More information will come soon.
- 5th graders (rising 6th) will travel to DMS and see all DMS has to offer before they register for classes.
- Parents will come to DMS to learn about what DMS has to offer the students and get questions answered by faculty and admin in specific sessions. More info to come.
HEY, YOU - Don't forget this!!
Learning Walks
1/15
2/12
3/11
4/15
PLEASE REMEMBER TO ADD IN YOUR PLANNING NEXT TO YOUR NAME:
Link to doc:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1VnTqBc0v44WOhao3yjGJ9EzBYzQYfE6In_RX-kzA-WE/edit?usp=sharing
For Your Calendar:
1/29
2/26
3/25
4/29
5/13
Faculty Meetings (after school):
1/22
2/5
3/4
3/18
4/8
5/6
Be Diligent!
Good luck!!
DMS Social Committee
This faculty newsletter is brought to you by the DMS Social Committee in an effort to keep us all connected - we are family, after all.
Judy Bagwell (Head)
Leigh Shergy
Emily Stephenson
Megan Wilson
Kristen Barofsky
Jenney Merritt
Leslie Hughes
Matt Brewer
Minouche Perry
Morgan Gentry
Kelle Moody
Kelsey Cooper
Rosalind Bailey
Come see any one of us if you have questions about anything or suggestions for faculty social events! We look forward to hearing from you!
Discovery Middle School
Website: discoverymiddleschoolpta.weebly.com
Location: 1304 Hughes Road, Madison, AL, USA
Phone: 256-837-3735
Facebook: facebook.com/DiscoveryMiddlePTA
Twitter: @DMSpanthers1