DSMS News
February 8, 2023
Upcoming Dates
- 2/20 - 2/24: No School - February Break
Principal's Update
If you were lucky enough to be able to attend, I'm sure you'll agree that last Sunday's Chocolate Cafe musical celebration was indeed a sweet treat! There was a seemingly limitless supply of decadent baked goods filling half the cafeteria, row after row of raffle items raising money for the performing arts in DS, and of course, incredible performances by instrumental and vocal groups from both elementary schools, the middle school, and the high school. Many thanks to DS Friends of the Performing Arts and all the DS performing arts teachers who helped make this annual event such a wonderful experience for the community! If you didn't get the chance to attend, be sure to add it to your calendar next year...
I'm excited to share that the middle school used this afternoon's early release time to launch the process of revising our school schedule. This is a process that began last year, but was put on hold due to the change in leadership. As part of our 2022-2023 School Improvement Plan, we will be working to include a "WIN" block ("What I Need"), which is an integral component of our efforts to ensure that all students receive the support they need to fulfill their potential. In addition, we hope to find ways to resolve some conflicts that are built into our current schedule so that students can access needed support services without having to sacrifice options such as participation in band or chorus, or taking a world language. Finally, this is also a wonderful opportunity for us to bring our schedule in closer alignment with our goals and values as a district and school, and with the unique needs of our 11-14 year old students. We will be reaching out to students and families in the near future to seek their input on our schedule and how it can be improved - stay tuned!
Finally, if you haven't taken a moment to complete our December Parent/Caregiver Survey, please do so by Friday, 2/10 3:00 PM. As the new principal of DSMS, I established an "Entry Plan" that would enable me to better understand the strengths of our school and community, as well as identify areas for growth and improvement. While I've held several Parent Focus Groups and had numerous 1:1 conversations with parents and caregivers, the questions in this survey provide another way for you to share your thoughts! There are also a handful of quick "schedule-related" questions at the end. We'll be following those up with a more extensive survey specifically about our schedule in the near future.
DSMS Library Hours
A friendly reminder about DSMS Library hours . . . the Library is open till 4:00pm on Mondays and Wednesdays. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, the Library closes at 3:10pm. DSMS families and caregivers, please keep these details in mind when arranging the time, location of tutoring sessions with High School students. Thanks so much!
Counselor's Corner
In honor of National School Counselors Week, we want to take a moment to share our appreciation for the students and families we have the honor of working with at DSMS! We are so grateful to be a part of this community, and to have the opportunity to work with such amazing and inspiring kids!
Organization Station: Monday’s - Thursday’s 3:10-4:00 pm in room 204. Small group executive functioning support including binder/locker organization, homework prioritization, google classroom management, and study skills.
8th Grade: Starting this week, Ms. Sobin will be co-teaching a lesson with high school counselors about the transition to high school. These lessons will take place in your child’s Social Studies class. Students will refresh their brain about how to use the Naviance portal, will hear about the course selection process and will begin entering elective choices. If you have any questions about the high school transition, please do not hesitate to reach out to Joelle Sobin.
Have a fantastic weekend!
Ms. Sobin & Ms. Moore
MCAS Administration Dates
English Language Arts:
- 4/3 & 4/4: 7th & 8th Grade
- 4/11 & 4/12: 6th Grade
Mathematics:
- 5/10 & 5/11: 7th & 8th Grade
- 5/15 & 5/16: 6th Math
- 5/17: STE 8th Grade (this assessment is only administered to our 8th graders)
Performing Arts
This past month, the DS SongFest was well received - showing the spectrum of the vocal program from Elementary through High School. The final piece involved all choirs at DS in a performance that surrounded the audience with sound. And this past sunday February 5th was the Chocolate Cafe, featuring performances by a wide range of drama, instrumental, and vocal ensembles, giving a whirlwind tour of the performing arts.
Rehearsals have begun for the Middle School One Act Dramas. These one acts are directed by high school student volunteers, and give students an opportunity to explore a wide variety of stories and characters.
The General Music and Art programs have completed their Term 2 projects and performances. These showcase work from all students in our community, ensuring that every 8th grade student leaves DS with the experience of performing in an ensemble, displaying artwork of their own, and going through the full process of being an artist and musician.
In March, the High School production of the Music Man will feature our annual art display K-12, showcasing visual artwork from throughout the district.
Lastly, our parent support group FoPA has published their first FoPA newsletter for the performing arts, a quarterly update on the exciting things happening in the Dover Sherborn music and drama programs. You can read the newsletter at the link below.
Lost and Found
Enter a Google Doodle to Google
Google’s Doodle theme for 2023 is, “I am grateful for...” Submissions are due by Tuesday, March 7, 2023. Winners receive a $30,000 college scholarship, a $50,000 technology package for school, Google Hardware, fun Google Swag and your Google design will be displayed on Google’s home page for 24 hours.
POSITIVE & Challenge Success: Save the Date!
POSITIVE and Challenge Success are proud to host an evening with Dr. Lisa Damour, Ph.D.
Tuesday, March 21st | 7:00 | Mudge Auditorium
The discussion will center around issues Dr. Damour sees with teens nationwide, as well as specific topics recommended by the DSMS Guidance department.
Recognized as a thought leader by the American Psychological Association, Dr. Lisa Damour co-hosts the Ask Lisa podcast, writes about teenagers for the New York Times, appears as a regular contributor to CBS News, and works in collaboration with UNICEF. Dr. Damour is also the author of two New York Times best selling books, Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood and Under Pressure: Confronting the Epidemic of Stress and Anxiety in Girls. and serves on the Advisory Board for Parents magazine. Dr. Damour also maintains a private practice and consults and speaks internationally.
Dr. Lisa Damour's new book The Emotional Lives of Teenagers is out February 21st!
With so many of today’s teens contending with academic pressure, social media stress, worries about the future, and concerns about their own mental health, it’s easy for them—and their parents—to feel anxious and overwhelmed. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Learn strategies to support your teens and how to approach common challenges that come with adolescence--and how to stay connected through it all. A book that gives parents concrete, practical information to steady teens through the bumpy yet transformational journey into adulthood.
SPAN DS
We wanted to let you know that SPAN DS (Substance Prevention and Awareness Network, Dover Sherborn) is being revived. Since 2002, SPAN DS has been working to promote awareness and implement resources that will help reduce substance abuse in the DS community. We are organizing speakers, parent coffees to build networks for relationships with police, guidance counselors, and other community leaders, and you will be seeing public service campaigns in the not too distant future. After a couple of years of dormancy, members of the community, parents, educators and law enforcement have gathered to begin this important work again. Should you be interested in joining the team, please contact either Max Olmstead in Dover (maxolm@me.com) or Kate Potter in Sherborn (kejpotter@gmail.com).
Join DSMS on Social Media!
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/doversherbornms
Twitter - https://twitter.com/doversherbornms
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/doversherbornms/
COVID Protocol
- There is no formal testing program at this time though we will offer take-home tests to faculty and families who wish to receive them on a bi-weekly basis. The Department of Public Health does not recommend individuals to test unless they experience Covid-like symptoms. They do not recommend contact tracing, universal mask requirements (though masking is supported and recommended for any individuals who are 'high-risk'), or test-to-stay testing.
- Symptoms of Covid 19: fever of 100 degrees or higher, shortness of breath, loss of taste or smell, muscle/body aches, cough (not due to other known cause), sore throat (in combination with other symptoms), nausea/vomiting (in combination with other symptoms), headache (in combination with other symptoms), fatigue (in combination with other symptoms), nasal congestion/runny nose (in combination with other symptoms)
- If your child is experiencing these symptoms and tests positive for Covid-19, they must isolate for 5 days and, as long as the symptoms are resolving without the use of fever-reducing medicine for 24 hours, can return to school with a mask through Day 10 (if they test negative on Day 5 or later, they do not need to mask). Please notify the school nurse of any positive Covid-19 cases.
- There is no testing requirement to return to school on Day 6 – if you choose to test your child after Day 5 and they test positive, they may still be at school as long as they follow the masking requirement.
- If your child is experiencing symptoms but tests negative for Covid-19 and symptoms are resolving, they may return to school as long as they feel well enough to do so. Ideally wearing a mask until symptoms have resolved would be best practice.
- In cases in which children display COVID-like symptoms while at school, nurses will reach out to parents or guardians and may ask that the child be picked up from school. Nurses will not be conducting testing at school of symptomatic students. In cases in which a family may not have access to at-home testing, please discuss being provided an at-home test with the nurse.
- Per DPH, quarantine is no longer required for those exposed, regardless of vaccination status. The child can continue to participate in activities as long as they remain asymptomatic. It's recommended if possible to test on Day 6 of exposure and also to mask for 10 days from exposure. There are no reporting requirements in this scenario, just a guide.
STANDING INFORMATION
- SCHOOL SECURITY AND VISITOR SIGN IN: In order to make Dover-Sherborn Middle School as safe and secure as possible, we have tightened up on visitor access to the building. This is a shift for our community. Please understand that it is not our intention to be less welcoming, but rather to be accountable to knowing who is in the building at all times and to reduce the possibility of threat to our school safety. ALL VISITORS MUST ENTER THROUGH THE FRONT DOORS. Upon entering the first set of main doors, you will notice an intercom system located on your right, along with a table that details the procedures for dismissals and dropping off items.
- NO SWITCHING OF BUSES: Students will not be able to ride any bus other than their assigned bus under any circumstances this year.
- ATTENDANCE: If your child is going to be absent, please report that by calling 508-785-8149, and follow the appropriate prompts.
- DISMISSAL PROCEDURE: If you need to dismiss your child early, please enter the building through the first set of doors at the main entrance and press the buzzer located on your right. You will be asked to sign your child out on the dismissal clipboard and then your child will be sent out to your vehicle.
- COVID HOME TEST OPT-IN FORM
- CHROMEBOOK CHARGING: Please make sure chromebooks are charged nightly at home. We are noticing an increase in uncharged chromebooks especially after a weekend.