Maverick Weekly
Principal's Update for the December 14-18, 2020 Week
David Crockett Middle School
Administration
Dr. Tonya Curtis, PrincipalBrad Hitchcock, Associate Principal & Grade 6 Principal
Lynn Glasper, Assistant Principal & Grade 7 Principal
Elizabeth Brewer, Assistant Principal & Grade 8 Principal
Counselors
Jessica Williams Pierre, Grade 6 Counselor
Anitra Moore, Grade 7 Counselor
Clayton Daniels, Lead Counselor & Grade 8 Counselor
Campus Assessment Coordinator
Robert Manning
Nurse
Catherine Borland
Website: fortbendisd.com/dcms
Location: 19001 Beechnut Street, Richmond, TX, USA
Phone: 281-634-6380
Twitter: @CMSMavericks
No Blankets are allowed on campus. Please have scholars to wear jackets/coats to keep warm!
Dear Maverick Family,
Last week had it's challenges. The building was hit pretty hard with the knowledge of two confirmed positive COVID cases on Thursday. Multiple individuals had to quarantine as a result for precautious measures. Please note that does not mean those individuals will have a positive test as well. A mandatory quarantine period is a measure taken when an individual has been exposed to a confirmed case. With that being said, please know that the faculty and staff at DCMS, takes it very serious to minimize the risk of all individuals that report to DCMS. We acknowledge that minimizing the risk by following all protocols does not eliminate the risk. Each day we place ourselves and families at risk when we report to the building, so following protocol is not negotiable for any of else.
I am reminded of a story shared with me by a close friend that teaches 4 year olds. The lesson was on prepositions (i.e. on, above) and given the season right now, the teacher chose to use a picture with a kid sitting on Santa's lap. She asked the class, what do you see in hopes to get a response of a little boy sitting "on" Santa's lap. That was not the response she received. The response a 4 year old shared was, "I see Corona Virus. You are not supposed to sit on anyone's lap and they do not have on their masks". The response was not what she was expecting but it was a correct response in a pandemic. That story tells me that there is partnership between the home and school. That is what DCMS will continue to need from each of you daily. We are in this together. Please reiterate the importance of wearing a mask, washing hands frequently, completely the Wellness Screener daily and with integrity, and remaining at home when there are symptoms that are a red flag or if someone in the home has a confirmed positive test.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas (sing along). We want to finish strong. This is the last week of the fall semester and last week of school in 2020. I don't know about anyone else but I am super ready to usher 2020 out of here. Please continue to partner with us and make sure your scholar is engaged daily. Finals start this week on Tuesday (schedule is below).
Sincerely,
Dr. Curtis
DCMS Happenings This Week and News You Can Use
This Week's Schedule
Monday: B Day
Tuesday: A Day
Wednesday: B Day
Thursday: A Day
Friday: B Day
Join the Staff in Bringing in Some Holiday Cheer with Theme Days
Monday
Deck the Halls & Don't Mask your Holiday Spirit
Task: Wear holiday spirited clothes and wear a holiday spirited mask
Tuesday
Christmas Character Day
Task: Dress in your favorite holiday character
Wednesday
Tacky Christmas Day
Task: Wear that ugly sweater with pride
Thursday
Give a Big Cheer for the New Year
Task: Dress in your favorite sports team attire
Friday
Dashing through the Snow
Task: Wear reindeer attire or winter warm ups for your final day on campus in 2020
Fall Final Exams
Students enrolled in Spanish, Gateway to Technology, Principles of Applied Engineering, and Algebra will take a final exam based on the schedule below. The final exam this semester will only cover content from Term 2.
Tuesday, December 15th: Period 1 & 3
Wednesday, December 16th: Period 6
Thursday, December 17th: Period 2 & 4
Friday, December 18th: Period 5 & 7
December 17-18th are early dismissal days. Online students will conclude school at 12:15PM and face-to-face students will conclude school at 1:20PM Face-to-face students will continue to eat a hot lunch provided by Child Nutrition on the early dismissal days.
This week's Bell Schedule
- No change
Tuesday (A Day)
- No change but finals start for Period 1 and Period 3 in both environments
Wednesday (B Day)
- No change but finals take place for Period 6 in both environments
Thursday (A Day)
Online Schedule
Period 2 9:00 - 10:30AM
Period 4 10:45 - 12:15PM
Face-to-Face Schedule
Period 2 8:50 - 10:20AM
Advisory 10:30 - 11:00AM
Period 4 11:10 - 1:20PM
Friday (B Day)
Online Schedule
Period 5 9:00 - 10:30AM
Period 7 10:45 - 12:15PM
Face-to-Face Schedule
Period 5 8:50 - 10:20AM
Advisory 10:30 - 11:00AM
Period 7 11:10 - 1:20PM
Term 1 Repair & Term 2 Grades
DCMS Spelling Bee Postponed
DCMS Spelling Bee has been postponed to give scholars more time to study. The Bee will be held on Friday, January 8th at 2:30PM. That day is a "B" Day so students will only miss Advisory.
After School F2F Activities
Basketball
Girls tryouts concluded on Wednesday, December 9th. Boys tryouts are still happening with the final day being Monday, December 14th. Practice schedules will be shared at a later time.
Parent if your scholar was in the middle of boys basketball tryouts and was required to quarantine, he will be given another opportunity to tryout in January. Please plan to bring your scholar on Thursday, January 7th at 7:00AM. The coaches have set aside that time to be fair to the scholars.
All students must complete the Wellness Screener in Rank One daily. All students will need a mask and their own water bottles.
Cheer
There will be video practice this week on Tuesday and Thursday from 5:00-6:30PM. The zoom link will be sent via email.
Fall School Pictures Pick Up
Mark your Calendar
Virtual Programming for Beginners Crash Course
The course is free to all who desire to join. There is a flyer attached that does share information about a GoFundMe page and the why. Please take a look at it if you believe your scholar will be interested in the course and make sure you have your scholar to sign up.
Monday, Dec 28, 2020, 08:00 AM
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Campus Procedures Section
Face-to-Face Students Early Pick Up
Grades & Report Card 1
So now I need your help parents. What is posted is what we believe to be accurate. If this is not the case, I am asking you to reach out to the following DCMS staff to troubleshoot the situation:
Grade 6 Last Name A-M Concerns
Ms. Denise Thomas [denise.thomas@fortbendisd.com]
Grade 6 Last Name N-Z Concerns
Ms. Flennette Stelly [flennette.stelly@fortbendisd.com or 281-634-6355]
Grade 7 Concerns
Mr. Robert Manning [robert.manning@fortbendisd.com or 281-634-7682 (number updated)]
Grade 8
Mr. Clayton Daniels [clayton.daniels@fortbendisd.com or 281-634-6459]
The staff members above, will work with teachers to resolve the situation from A to Z for term 1 grades.
Online Class Invites
You should expect to see the invite on the TEAMS calendar now, but if not have your scholar to check their district email. In the event, the scholar does not have the invite, the scholar/parent will need to reach out to the teacher or the grade level counselor to ensure they get it before class begins.
Still Need Bus Transportation?
Grade 6
Brickie Grant [Brickie.Grant@fortbendisd.com]
Grade 7 & Families with multiple kids of all grade levels
Jean Carter [Jean.Carter@fortbendisd.com]
Grade 8
Christine Cortez [Christine.Cortez@fortbendisd.com]
Car Rider Pick Up
The first flight of car rider scholars are released at 4:05PM and then the second wave is released 4:10PM. From there the scholars report to the gyms and are released. The line is slow around 4:30PM. Please make sure you pick up all scholars no later than 4:40PM. You administration team have little ones (ranging from elementary to high school) that are under the same COVID guidelines at other FBISD schools and we must get to them as well.
If you forget your tag, please just have the color and number and we can replace it if needed and still call the scholar out. It is much easier and efficient to call students by the assigned color and number than by their name.
How do I submit excuse notes for my scholar's absence?
Submit all notes or documentation to Attendancedcms@fortbendisd.com.
Sending it to this address will ensure Mrs. Connie Farley's email box does not get filled with notes that are designed to go this special email account.
Parent Conference Request Procedures
To meet with the following people/groups, please adhere to the steps below:
- To meet with teachers, please email the teacher directly to make the request or email the grade level counselor to help set the conference up.
- To meet with counselors, contact the counselor directly via phone or email.
- To meet with the nurse, contact the clinic directly via phone or email.
- To meet with your scholar’s grade level administrator, please contact the administrator directly via phone or email.
- To meet with the building principal, please contact Tequila Shelvin at 713-634-6382 to establish an appointment. You can also join the principal's Remind group by texting @7de66ka to 81010.
- The receptionist, Ms. Cortez, will help direct calls as well.
Can I still request a Lending Library Device (Laptop and/or Hotspot)?
Online Learning Model Request Procedures
- Complete the LLD forms in Family Access
- Email Lynn Glasper to set up a time to pick up the device or call Ms. Cortez, receptionist, 281-634-6380 to establish a pick up appointment
- When possible, curbside service will take place
Face-to-Face Learning Model Requests
- The device cannot be checked out to the family, but teachers now have at least five (5) LLDs in their classroom for student use each period.
- The procedure was adjusted to ensure all students have enough time to stay engaged with their work at the end of the day as well. Parents your feedback matters. Thank you for sharing the concern with me.
Change of Learning Model Request
Remember when selecting online, that you must have reliable internet service and trust that your scholar is going to work independent of your presence if you have to return to work.
With that being said, the process to change the learning model outside of the selection window is below.
Process to Select a Change outside of Selection Window
• Contact your scholar’s grade level counselor and share the reason for the desire to change. If you have multiple children, contact the counselor of the oldest scholar and make sure you let the counselor know that you have multiple children and that one call or email is for all the children.
• The counselor will confer with an administrator to determine if your concerns can be addressed without an instructional model change. If the answer is yes, then a solution will be shared. If not, then the campus will enable the Learning Model Change Request Form for you to officially complete. (It takes 24 hours to see this form once it is enabled by the principal in Skyward).
• Once the form is complete in Family Access, a determination will be made and a call or email will follow from either a counselor or an administrator.
Please allow for two to three (sometimes four) business days for this process to be complete AND make sure you get a positive confirmation and do not assume anything.
F.Y.I.
DCMS Main Phone Line Upgrade
Options
- Front Desk - (see notes below)
- Attendance
- Registrar
- Clinic
- Counselor Clerk
When you hear the greeting, if you do not make a selection, the call will route back to the beginning of the greeting. If a prompt is selected, the call is routed to the configured phone number. If no one answers within 8 rings, the call will route to the greeting again.
COVID Safety Measures
Day-to-Day Measures
- All students are asked to wear a mask to campus and throughout the day to school.
- During lunch, students are allowed to take the mask off only if they are eating or drinking something.
- Everyone is checked upon entry for the completion of the Wellness Screener. Red flags are addressed by the clinic immediately.
- When students enter the building, they report to the cafeteria to pick up breakfast or directly to period 1 on A day or period 5 on B day. Breakfast is eaten in the first class of the day.
- Teachers are now allowed to keep their doors open to allow more air to circulate. However, the classroom doors must stay locked and all exterior days must remain locked and checked regularly to be prepared of other potential dangers.
- When students are released from each class, teachers release them based on a staggered approach. The building is designed to one way traffic on most hallways (COVID flow of traffic) for added safety measures for social distancing. Arrows are posted throughout the building.
- When students report to lunch, they are assigned a seat. The seats are marked and have been measured for accuracy. Students that are seated in chairs and not the traditional cafeteria table, are reminded to remain in front of the marker to keep the proper social distancing.
- Sanitizing stations are throughout the building.
- All teachers have a set time to allow students to use the restroom to help us capture the in and out of everyone in the building. Only 3 students are allowed in the restroom at any given time to allow for the proper social distancing. Signage is posted.
- The hallways are marked with floor decals and red dots are along the walls to help students socially distance themselves from other students when passing in the hallways.
- Teachers have been given cleaning solution/wipes for each student to use at the end of class.
- Custodial staff sanitize regularly used areas of the building often to keep us safe (restrooms, handrails, door knobs, etc.)
- Additional PPE is in the building for those that may forget their mask.
We are also looking into using QR Codes to help us with this big task as well. As we do more, I will share out. If you have ideas, please don't hesitate to share as I know I have a lot of parents that work in the medical field.