DMMS School Newsletter
May 2019
Mrs. Buckley’s Update
It is hard to believe that this is the final month of the school year! May is by far our busiest month, so I thought it would be helpful to include a daily calendar below for reference. We have several exciting events going on at school as we bring this school year to a close.
We are continuing to monitor our students’ academic achievement and, as always, if you have concerns please do not hesitate to contact the teacher, the school counselor, or an administrator. You may have received a summer school letter based on your child’s current grades. There are still several opportunities to bring grades up, including the SOL ten point boost for showing growth from the previous year or passing.
Students will take several SOL tests over the course of the month. Eighth graders will take four tests, while seventh graders will take two. Seventh graders that are taking the middle school science SOL, will take three. Please note the days that we have scheduled tests, and work with us to ensure students are rested, eat a good breakfast, and are in attendance on these days.
I would also like to highlight that on Thursday, May 16th, DMMS will host the 1st annual Project Based Learning (PBL) Night. Our students will have projects on display that they have completed during the 4th quarter. They will be available to discuss their project and answer questions with the public. Please join us if you are able.
If you are a parent or guardian of a current 8th grader, I encourage you to visit the John Handley High School webpage and view the 9th Grade Transition Document. Additionally, I encourage you to register your student for the Rising Stars Program. This is a program that JHHS offers at the end of July that focuses on team building, high school acclimation, activities and club orientation.
This has been an amazing school year, in which we have seen our students grow in so many ways. Thank you for all that you do in partnering with us to make this a collaborative educational experience for your child. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at buckleyj@wps.k12.va.us or 540-667-7171. I hope you have a fantastic summer with your child.
Dates to remember:
From Guidance
May is not only the last month of school but also the busiest. This time of year often brings stress, anxiety and anticipation with all that it involves. SOL’s, trying to make Honor roll, transitioning to the next grade level, and maintaining friendships through the summer are just a few of the areas weighing on the students. We ask that parents and families please assist us in encouraging the students to finish strong by remaining focused and doing their best until the end of the school year.
From Instructional Coaches
Summer is a great time for reading!
Students can set their own reading goals for the summer. Here are some examples of students who have done just that…
Reading Goal Video 1 Reading Goal Video 2 Reading Goal Video 3
From Technology
End of year reminders: Acceptable Use Policy forms for 7th graders(rising 8th graders) need to be returned to school ASAP. These were sent home with progress reports. Chromebooks will be collected from students on Friday May 24th. 7th grade will turn in their devices in the morning and 8th grade will turn their devices in during the afternoon. All devices must come back wiped off, free of stickers and include the carrying case and charging cord. A fee of $25.00 is charged for a missing case and $20.00 for a missing cord. All devices will be checked for damage as well. Any 8th grade student not turning in a device may not receive one at JHHS later in the summer.
FROM ATHLETICS
I can’t believe it is time to wrap up the school year already! We will finish up our track season with two big meets. The first is the 5th Annual Daniel Morgan Invitational on Saturday, May 11th beginning at 9:30 at John Handley High School. The second is the NVJL Championship which will be held at 5:00 on Tuesday, May 14th at Warren County High School.
For students interested in sports next year, the time to start getting physicals has arrived. Sports physicals must be completed on the VHSL form, available here or in the office. Please remember a sports physical is only good for one school year. All physicals for 2019-2020 must be dated May 1, 2019 or later.
May Events:
Tuesday, May 7th @ 5:00 - Track @ Home vs. Frederick County and James Wood
Saturday, May 11th @ 9:30 - Track - Daniel Morgan Invitational @ Handley
Tuesday, May 14th @ 5:00 - Track - NVJL Championships @ Warren Co. High School
Wednesday, May 15th - 3:30-4:30 - Track End-of-Season Celebration
From the Nurse
Thank goodness Spring is here!!! Now if someone could get word to Mother Nature, it would be greatly appreciated! And, to add insult to injury allergy season has set in! If your child is experiencing runny nose, itchy eyes,redness and swelling of the eyes, and sneezing, it may not be a cold. It might be allergies and you may want to try an OTC medication to alleviate these symptoms.
I have listed below some resources with helpful information regarding the flu and colds, and information on when to keep your child at home when they are not feeling well.
Resources Regarding Colds, Flu, and Hand Washing
Infuenza: The Disease- from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
How to tell the difference between a cold and flu
Health Matters: Flu- from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Why is hand washing so important?
Why do I need to wash my hands?
Also just a friendly reminder:If your child is vomiting the night before school and/or has a temperature of 100 or above they should remain home the next school day and not return to school until they are afebrile without the use of medication to control the fever.
Also, I will be sending letters or calling the parents of students that were listed in Power School that had Medical Alerts stating that he or she had asthma, a food allergy, or a seizure disorder, and the clinic does NOT have an inhaler and/or an Epi-pen or emergency medication. If it states in Power School that your child has a food allergy, asthma, or any other disorder that requires medical attention the clinic MUST have those medications on site. If not, it needs to be made clear whether the clinic needs an inhaler or Epi-pen, or any other emergency medication.
You may contact me at kuykendall@wps.k12.va.us , or call me at 540-667-7171, #72000.
We as nurses are constantly asking ourselves how we can make a difference. School Nurses make a difference everyday.
From ESOL
Greetings from the ESOL Department! The last day of school will be on May 31st. We will have shared the WIDA results with the students by then, and these reports will be mailed home by the end of the summer. Everything will be explained in detail, but if you have any questions remember you can always talk to us.
We will continue with the ESOL Club in May. Many students have been staying after school for homework help and/or to complete academic assignments. ESOL club meets on Mondays through Thursdays from 3:30pm to 4:30pm, and students can ride the after-school bus home at 4:30pm.
If you have any questions, you can contact Dr. Glatzel at (540) 667-7173, ext. 75233, or by email at glatzel@wps.k12.va.us
Thank you for all the support this year and have a wonderful summer!
From PTO
What’s Next - Spirit Nights
May 14th - CiCi’s pizza.
Teacher Appreciation Week - May 6th - 10th.
If you would like to help out or to donate, please send us an email. PTO Sponsors small daily treats for all our staff.
Fundraising
Please consider a direct donation with a check payable to the DM PTO. The DM Campus students and staff appreciates your support.
The main goal for PTO is to generate enough funding to support field trip funding for the DM campus.
We would love to hear from you. Please email us at dmpto@wps.k12.va.us to get involved or to just get your email contact added to the database.
If everyone volunteers just a little, a lot can be done. It is so important for your child’s educational experience to see parents and loved ones engaged, interested, and involved. We need YOU!
Check us out on Facebook & Twitter @DanielMorganPTO as we post upcoming school and community events
Daniel Morgan Middle School
48 S. Purcell St.
Winchester, VA 22601