FOX FEATURE WEEKLY UPDATE
OCTOBER 4, 2019
DATES TO REMEMBER!!!
- WEATHER MAKE-UP DAY
- STUDENT COUNCIL FIELD-TRIP
10/08/2019
- C-TEAM VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT vs PINE RIDGE @ DFMS
10/09/2019
- LATE START DAY
- PTSA FUNDRAISER MONEY DUE
10/10/2019
- C-TEAM FOOTBALL vs NEWBERRY MIDDLE @ NEWBERRY HS
10/11/2019
SCHOOL DISTRICT FIVE ANNOUNCES MAKE-UP DAY FOR HURRICANE DORIAN
Students in School District Five will now have to attend school on Monday, Oct. 7, which was previously scheduled as a Teacher Work Day/Parent Conference Day. This will be an A Day for high school students.
The decision to close schools on Sept. 5 was made out of an abundance of caution for the safety of students, parents, and staff due to strong winds and other expected impacts of Hurricane Dorian.
By state law, all school days missed because of snow, extreme weather conditions, or other disruptions requiring schools to close must be made up. The law also requires school districts to designate annually at least three days within their school calendars to be used as make-up days. Those dates approved in the 2019-2020 calendar for School District Five are as follows: Oct. 7, Oct. 25, Oct. 28, Feb. 17, March 13, March 16 and April 10.
Another state law and School Policy IC allows school boards to waive up to three additional days by a majority vote after the district has made up three days or the appropriate number of missed hours.
In bringing a recommendation for Oct. 7 to the School Board, district leaders received input from parent leaders, principals, teacher leaders, and staff. The Board unanimously approved the Oct. 7 make-up day during its meeting on Sept. 23.
ID POLICY FOR 2019-2020
IDENTIFICATION BADGES (IDs) With the rise of safety concerns on school campuses, the use of student, staff, and teacher ID badges make it easy to identify and authorize anyone on school grounds. These badges are also used to check materials out from the library, print documents, and pay for food. All High, Middle, and Intermediate students must wear a current picture ID badge when on District Five property. ID cards are printed on both sides with the same information. ID badges must be clearly visible and worn in front above the waist and below the neck on a breakaway lanyard. In a pocket, or under a jacket is NOT clearly visible. The ID badge may not be marked on or altered in any way, except to be punched by a staff member; if it is damaged, a new ID will need to be purchased. A defaced ID is any badge on which the picture, name, ID #, year, barcode or grade level has been changed, altered, or obstructed. For students, the first card is free. However, replacing lost, stolen or damaged cards cost $5.00. The lanyard is $1.00. The replacement fee covers the cost of the materials used in reprinting and replacement lanyards. Students are to surrender their ID badge at the end of the school year, when requested or when they transfer to a different school.
Badge Policy:
● ID’s must be worn at all times.
● ID’s must be visible and worn outside of clothing.
● ID’s must be worn on a breakaway strap.
● ID’s are the property of DFMS and must not be defaced (or badge will be confiscated and the student must purchase new ID).
● Students must not wear an ID badge belonging to another student. ID will be confiscated.
● All students will be issued two free TEMPORARY IDs PER SEMESTER. After that, they will be charged $1 for every temporary issued (not to exceed $6.00).
● Replacement IDs may not be charged. Students must pay for replacement IDs at the time of purchase.
● Failure to properly wear an ID will result in disciplinary action.
● Beginning after Labor Day, any student not wearing an ID after 1st period will receive lunch detention.
● Repeated violations will be treated as persistent disobedience, and students will be assigned school consequences.
2019-2020 TARDY POLICY
Tardiness to class interrupts learning time for the entire class. Students should organize their materials and use their time wisely before school, during lunch, and after school to keep trips to lockers and other stops to a minimum. At the end of each period, all students should move quietly to their next class and be ready for instruction as guided by the teacher.
Consequences for Tardies
1st, 2nd, 3rd Tardy – No consequence
4th, 5th Tardy – Lunch Detention
6th, 7th Tardy – Lunch & Den Detention
8th, 9th Tardy - After School Detention
10th- Discipline Referral
*Tardies are cumulative for all classes and begin fresh each semester. *Students that are more than 10 minutes late to class without a pass will be considered “cutting class.”
DISTRICT DRESS CODE
The dress code for Dutch Fork Middle school is determined largely by school district policy. The school may modify the dress code as long as the changes stay within the district guidelines.
Clothing deemed distracting, revealing, or overly suggestive shall not be permitted.
Dress or accessories that are considered unsafe, dangerous, a health hazard, or disruptive to the learning environment shall not be permitted. Clothing may not display vulgar symbols or language and may not contain alcohol, tobacco, or drug symbols.
Sleeveless shirts should be at least ID badge width across the shoulder with no visible undergarments. Bare midriffs, spaghetti straps, halter/tank tops, see-through shirts/tops/blouses, and biker shorts are not permitted.
Inappropriate tops are not to be worn beneath an overcoat that the student plans to remove.
Pants must be worn at the natural waistline.
Sleepwear or slippers may not be worn.
Hats, head stockings, kerchiefs, bandanas, or bonnets are not allowed at school.
Shorts or skirts must be at least “fingertip length”. This means that all skirts and shorts must be as long as the longest finger-tip when hands are placed at the student’s side along the entire hemline.
Jeans with holes may not have holes that are higher than the student’s longest finger when hands are placed at the student’s side or higher than mid-thigh.
The school will not be responsible for confiscated, unauthorized material brought to school.
2019-2020 DISTRICT 5 ATTENDANCE GUIDELINES
WELCOME BACK STUDENTS AND PARENTS!!!
WE NEED YOUR HELP AT RECESS
CLEAR BAG REQUIREMENT
Dear Fox Families,
We hope everyone has had a wonderful start to the school year. We wanted to take an opportunity to send a reminder that any student 8th grade or younger must be accompanied by a parent/guardian and everyone, including students, will be held to the clear bag requirement. Students will be prohibited from bringing in backpacks, athletic bags, Chromebooks and other supplies into the game.
More information about the Clear Bag requirement and other measures School District Five is taking to promote a safe environment can be found by following this link.
FINE ARTS DEPARTMENT
FCA
FCA is now collecting items for Operation Christmas Child. This is our annual service project and we are very excited about the opportunity we have to touch the lives of others in such a meaningful way. Attached is a link for you to view items to be collected. If you can help, please send your items to school with your student to be dropped off to Mrs. Feldner or Mrs. Roberts. We will be collecting through the month of October. Thank you in advance for your support. https://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/what-goes-in-my-shoebox-suggestions/
DUTCH FORK MIDDLE SCHOOL WRESTLING
GIRLS BASKETBALL TRYOUTS
Attention All Girls!
Basketball Tryout will be held November 4th, 5th and 6th at Dutch Fork Middle School from 3:55 - 5:25. Please make sure you have all the information filled out on planeths.com (online), as well as, you must upload an updated physical and birth certificate to planeths.com.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Is your son interested in Basketball???? If so, we need your help to make sure he can attend our workouts and/or tryouts. BEFORE any player can participate in team activities, they MUST have a completed physical online with www.planeths.com and it MUST show APPROVED. Any student that shows up to workouts or tryouts without an APPROVED status on www.planeths.com will be turned away. PLEASE don’t let that be your son.
Step 1: Create an Planeths.com account for the parent/guardian AND athlete.
Step 2: Upload a copy/picture of the athlete’s birth certificate (applies to returning athletes as well)
Step 3: Upload a copy/picture of the athlete’s sports physical (Physical must be dated AFTER April 1st, 2019)
Step 4: All forms must be digitally signed by both the parent/guardian AND the athlete.
FALL WORKOUTS Fall workouts will be held on the following dates: October 15th, October 17th and October 22nd. All workouts will be in the Middle School gym from 3:50 – 5:30. PLEASE have your rides here at 5:30. All workouts are open to any NON-FALL sport athlete and are completely VOLUNTARY. All information will also be posted on our basketball website, https://sites.google.com/lexrich5.org/boys-basketball/home and on our NEW App.
TRYOUTS Tryouts will be held on November 4th, 5th, and 6th from 5:30 PM-7:00 PM. Athletes should report to the cafeteria at final school dismissal. Athletes are expected to attend all three (3) days in order to be considered for the team.
PSAT DEADLINE EXTENDED!!!
All 8th-grade students are eligible to take the PSAT. The PSAT/NMSQT assesses the same knowledge and skills as the SAT, providing a check-in on college readiness before students take the SAT ®. The test:
•Propels students toward college and career readiness
•Is cosponsored by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation
•Serves as an entry point to over $300 million in scholarship dollars
The PSAT test takes place at DFMS on the morning of Wednesday, October 16. Students can sign up in the media center during Den. The cost is $17, and forms are available from Den teachers, on the 8th grade Google Classroom, or from Mrs. Thacker. We have a limited number of tests available, so reserve your spot now!
TECHNOLOGY CORNER
Parents may review the entire District Mobile Device Guide by clicking the link provided. Over the next few weeks, I will be highlighting some key points in our weekly newsletter.
DISTRICT ISSUED MOBILE DEVICE DAMAGE OR LOSS
As with any piece of school property checked out to students, the students and their families are responsible for their assigned District Issued Mobile Device. Situations that result in a District Issued Mobile Device being damaged, destroyed, or stolen, will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.
Terms of the District Issued Mobile Device Agreement
Terms and conditions that apply to the usage of the District Issued Mobile Device are as follows:
The district will cover parts and repairs for system-related issues or malfunctions of the device.
The district will cover parts and repairs for ONE accidental damage, such as cracked screens, liquid damage, cosmetic damage, etc. each academic calendar year (August 1- July 31) .
The district will not cover intentional damage or damage due to negligence or loss.
The district will not cover theft without a police report that clearly shows forced entry into a secured location.
Check back next week for information regarding lost/stolen devices
PTSA CORNER
This is the last week for fundraiser sales. All money will be collected on October 9, 2019 please do not send money before this date teachers will not be collecting money. The den with the most sales will get an ice cream treat at lunch!!!
SPIRIT WEAR:
You can still order your Spirit Wear using this link www.dutchforkspiritwear.com. It will take you directly to our Dutch Fork Spirit Wear page where you can select some really cool new styles! They are offering free shipping until 10/07/19 on all orders!
TURNING GROCERIES INTO EDUCATION:
Remember to register Dutch Fork Middle School as your “Preferred School” with your Publix Rewards – it’s an easy way to earn money for our school! If you don’t already have a Publix account, sign up at Publix.com and choose Dutch Fork Middle School as your partner school in your account settings. Enter your phone number every time you check out and you will be earning money for our school! More at Publix.com/Partners https://corporate.publix.com/community/corporate-campaigns/publix-partners
BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION
The days of clipping Box Tops to send into the school are over!! The new Box Tops app scans your store receipt, finds participating products and instantly adds Box Tops to your school’s earning online. No clipping required!! Get the Box Top mobile app today by downloading it on Apple Store or get it on Google Play and start earning money for our school! Once you download the app it will walk you through a quick process of setting it up for Dutch Fork Middle School and you will be set to start scanning!! It’s that easy!! Until October 25, 2019, we can still accept the clipped box tops – please send with your student in an envelope marked Box Tops!
Thank you to all those who came out to support our school at our first Spirit Night at Groucho’s Deli and thank you for your continued support of our efforts to raise money for our school.
Remember to LIKE our Dutch Fork Middle School PTSA page – here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/Dutch-Fork-Middle-School-PTSA-815163968540842/
If you would like to volunteer with the PTSA, please email Ann Morris at annmorris0524@gmail.com.
DUTCH FORK MIDDLE SCHOOL
Website: http://lexrich5.org/dfms
Location: 1528 Old Tamah Road, Irmo, SC, USA
Phone: (803) 476-4800
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dutch-Fork-Middle-School-549147891811317/