DMS Family Update
January 10, 2023
2023 began with some great energy and excitement. Students came off of a holiday break that was immediately preceded by a fantastic Pep Rally where we recognized student academic achievement, character and participation in winter athletics teams here at DMS. Members of the Unified Arts team along with the DMS Student Council planned a fun competition with great events for each of our Pep Rally experiences (one for 5th / 6th grade and one for 7th / 8th grade). As the midpoint in the school year approaches, recognizing individual strengths and talents is very important; while grades are important, student awareness of their strengths and abilities is more so. Setting goals and targets for improvement that can build upon strengths, interests and experiences will be helpful in the long-term for our students.
To that end, consider the following and complete the goal setting activity with your child. THEY are in charge of their own success. We, the caregivers and educators, are here to support them in their goals and aspirations. Here are some tips for how to set a course for success and help your child take ACTION for achieving their goals.
The attachment linked here has some information to help guide you in the 5 STEPS outlined below. Take advantage of those, make a copy to your Drive, have your child complete it, and refer to it every day.
FOR THE STUDENTS USING THE FORM:
STEP 1: outline your TOP 6 life goals as you see them right now. List your mentors who can help you along the way
STEP 2: For each goal, create a SIX-MONTH PLAN of the simple steps that you can take to achieve that goal or take to make gains towards achieving.
STEP 3: Use your student planner (agenda) or Google Calendar to layout time to spend each of those TOP 6 each week.
STEP 4: Hold yourself accountable for those actions.
STEP 5: Review monthly and adjust your actions as needed.
The activity above will help them start to develop their PERSONAL MISSION STATEMENT, defining their WHY. While they are the goal setter, the athlete, the academic, the musician, the doctor, the entrepreneur, the artist, remind them that WE ARE THEIR CHAMPIONS AND BIGGEST FANS!
Please see below for information on the Paper, SchoolBrains Community Portal Information, Dudley PTO, DMS Athletics, Counselors' Corner, Dudley-Charlton Education Foundation, Dudley Little League Trivia Night, Information from Mrs. White (School Nurse) , Town of Dudley Website, and The Weeks At a Glance.
Best,
Chris Starczewski ~ Principal
Paper - on-demand tutoring services for all students
We have some incredible news to share! We are thrilled to announce that DCRSD has partnered with Paper to provide ALL Grades 5 to 12 students with free, 1-on-1 tutoring and writing support.
Learn more about this fantastic resource and register for a live webinar here!
You can explore this incredible resource with your students right now! Students have access to Paper via their CLEVER log-in using their DCRSD Google account. Clever can be accessed by visiting dcrsd.org, clicking on the Students tab, and selecting Clever.
When students login and start a session, they are instantly connected with subject-matter experts that guide your students through problems step-by-step, without giving away the answers. This way, students can walk away from sessions feeling confident that they understand the material and have the tools to succeed on their future assignments and exams.
Here are a few ways Paper can support you and your students this school year:
Unlimited 24/7/365 tutoring support — sessions can run for as long as students need!
Revisions for any typed writing assignments!
Tutoring and writing support in 4 different languages — English, Spanish, French and Mandarin.
Learn more about Paper by visiting the Parent/Guardian Guide to Implementing Paper
Interested in speaking to a member of the Paper team? You can reach them at parents@paper.co.
- School Calendar
- Student Documents (including report cards, schedules, etc)
- Current Class Grades (clicking on the class will bring you to a gradebook showing assignment status)
- Missing assignments
- Student Attendance
- Transportation Information
PENNY WARS BEGIN FRIDAY, January 17!!
A PENNY WAR has been declared and DMS has been challenged by the elementary schools, that's right, SCHOOLS! Let's pull together and show the PTO just how much we appreciate their support and acknowledge the great supports they provide to our faculty, staff and students!!
From Potluck luncheons for teachers during long days, to off-setting costs for transportations, to purchasing physical education equipment, to sponsoring grade-level events / activities, the Dudley PTO is always here for us!
The Rules of the Penny War:
Collect pennies and paper dollars in any amount in our school's bucket. All pennies and paper bills will be totaled to our school's credit. Silver coins are welcome for donation but will be added to the SABOTAGE BUCKET which will count against the elementary school totals.
Incentives:
- The losing principal(s) will have to wear an inflatable costume all day on February 17.
- On Friday, Februar 3rd, students can bring $1 to tape the Mr. Star to the wall during lunches. Multiple tape pieces may be purchased. Our school goal is $100 for that day - if achieved, a lucky tape purchaser will be selected to pie Mr. Star in the face live on Youtube!
Help the Dudley PTO pay it forward by donating, even if just a little!
Get ready to cheer on our Winter Athletes at DMS in the sports of Basketball (B/G), Cheerleading. Don't forget that some 8th graders will be participating in Wrestling at SHRHS.
- Social Media Tips for Caregivers
- Character Education and Development
- Student of the Month
- Bay Path Information
- SHRHS Grade 9 Planning
- Big Brother Big Sister Program - opportunity to have your child paired up!
- ...and more
The VENMO Challenge is on for DMS versus CMS
!!!!!!SAVE THE DATE!!!!!!
Our “Heroes Among Us” Award & Recognition Dinner will be held on April 1st, 2023 at the Southbridge Hotel and Conference Center. We will be recognizing and awarding 10 recipients in the DCRSD community and we will be reaching out to you for your assistance with this! This event will have an awards ceremony, dinner, dancing, and silent auction! We cannot wait!!!! More info to come as well!
Wishing you all a great rest of the week!
Best,
Sabrina L. Webb
Dudley Little League Trivia Night - click image to register
Nurse's Corner
Greetings from Nurse White's office!
Please feel free to reach out to me if there is anything I can do to help support your child from a nursing standpoint, or if there is information that you feel would be helpful for me to know about your child. As we continue through the winter months, here are a few reminders:
Illness:
My goal as a school nurse is to support your child's educational journey and meet their healthcare needs while in school. I will always do my best to keep children in school when I am able to. There are times when children will need to be sent home. All students who have a fever above 100.0 or are actively vomiting at school will need to go home and be out for the following day as well. School policy is that children have to be fever free without medication and free of any gastrointestinal symptoms (vomiting or diarrhea) for 24 hours.
We have seen an increase in children coming in over the past 2 weeks with sore throats, dry coughs, and stomachaches. I encourage children to use warm salt water gargles and honey at home for sore throats as it works wonders, as well as stay hydrated. I encourage students when they come to see me to let their caregivers know if their symptoms persist when they get home. Many children will have their hall pass in their agenda so you will be able to see if they came down for a nurse visit on any given day.
Physicals:
Kindly send me your child's physical when they receive it so I can update our records. If I have a current physical on file for your child then there is no need to submit another one to Final Forms for children who will be playing sports.
Screenings:
Grade 5 vision and Grade 7 vision, hearing, and BMI screenings will be taking place in December. If you do not want your child to participate in the screening please send a written letter to the school by December 1st with documentation of a screening within the past 13 months.
Thank you so much for entrusting the care of your children with us! Watching these children blossom into the wonderful young adults they are becoming is truly the best part of this job!
Kind regards,
Nurse White
Weeks At A Glance
After School Snack Shack is open Tuesday / Thursday after school for snack purchases.
Tuesday, January 10, 2023 ~ Day 5 Schedule
DCEF VENMO CHALLENGE CONTINUES!
2:30 Jazz Band, Color Guard, Study Center (Library), Snack Shack
3:45 Boys / Girls Hoops vs. Oak Middle School
Wednesday, January 11, 2023 ~ Day 6 Schedule
DCEF VENMO CHALLENGE CONTINUES!
2:30 Cheerleading
7:00 DMS Music Parents Meeting (Band Room)
Thursday, January 12, 2023 ~ Day 1 Schedule
DCEF VENMO CHALLENGE CONTINUES!
2:30 Cheerleading, Study Center (Library), Intramurals, Snack Shack, Show Choir
3:15 Boys Basketball at Hudson
Friday, January 13, 2023 ~ Day 2 EARLY-RELEASE SCHEDULE
DCEF VENMO CHALLENGE CONTINUES!
Grade 8 Applicants to Bay Path - Interviews with Admissions Counselors will be held throughout the morning.
11:20 DISMISSAL for students ~ Staff Professional Development remainder of the day
Boys and Girls Club - CLOSED for professional development
Saturday, January 14, 2023
DCEF VENMO CHALLENGE CONTINUES! (concludes on 1/15/23)
Project 351 Ambassador Natalie Smith attend the Project 351 Day of Service in Boston
Monday, January 16, 2023 ~ NO SCHOOL ~ MLK Day
2:30 Cooking, Intramurals (sign up and permission slip required)
Tuesday, January 17, 2023 ~ Day 3 Schedule
PTO PENNY WAR BEGINS!!
2:30 Cheerleading, Study Center (Library), Snack Shack
Boys and Girls Club - CLOSED for professional development
5:00 Webster-Dudley Boys and Girls Club Annual Meeting (B&G Club)
Wednesday, January 18, 2023 ~ Day 4 Schedule
PTO PENNY WAR CONTINUES!!
2:30 Cheerleading
Thursday, January 19, 2023 ~ Day 5 Schedule
PTO PENNY WAR CONTINUES!!
2:30 Intramurals, Study Center (Library), Snack Shack, Cheerleading, Show Choir
3:30 Girls / Boys Hoops at Melican Middle School
Friday, January 20, 2023 ~ Day 6 Schedule
PTO PENNY WAR CONTINUES!!
2:30 Cheerleading
National Junior Honor Society Induction Ceremony - Monday, January 27, 2023 at 6:00pm
Be on the lookout for information about the Winter Ball being planned for January!!
Dudley Middle School
Email: cstarczewski@dcrsd.org
Location: 70 Dudley Oxford Road, Dudley, MA, USA
Phone: 508-943-2224
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DMSTITANS
Twitter: @DMS_LeadLearner