DMMS: In the Middle
September 30, 2020
WE NEED YOUR HELP! One and Done PTA Fundraiser
DMMS Fundraiser – One & Done is back by popular demand! Let other schools do the cookie dough, wrapping paper and coupon sales. At DMMS, parents make just ONE donation and they are DONE! 100% goes to the DMMS PTA to support students, staff and parents.
Please return the bottom of this letter along with your donation to DMMS PTA ASAP. You can mail the donation or have your student bring it to their Advisory teacher. To make a donation online go to: http://dmms.memberhub.store/shopping/categories/14111
Where does your ONE & DONE donation go? Here are just a few places…
Enrichment/Classroom Support – Each trail receives approx. $750.00 to utilize as needed
Track & Field Day in Spring
Playground Equipment (the kids LOVE those GaGa Pits)
Geography & Spelling Bee Supplies & Registration
Educare Donation
Emergency Transportation for students as needed
Misc Supplies & Grants
Many items arise during the year such as the mask lanyards students received last week
We also encourage parents to become members of the DMMS PTA. Twenty members are needed each year to keep our PTA status active. While you are on the MemberHub site, you can become a member of the DMMS PTA as well. The fee is $8.00. Mail in or bring sign up to the student's Advisory teacher with your ONE & DONE donation.
Thank you in advance for your support of the DMMS PTA, Staff & Students
Any questions please email ptadmms@gmail.com or message www.facebook.com/dmmspta
Student Name(s) ________________ ________________
Advisory Teacher(s) _______________ _________________
ONE & DONE Donation Amount enclosed $_____________
Join PTA: YES or NO (If yes, include $8.00 fee)Attendance
Moving within Safe Learning Options
Although we've been able to accommodate requests to move between learning models fairly easily and quickly up until now, this process will be changed due to maintaining student capacity of both our distance learning and in person classes. For health and safety reasons, we need to make sure that transitions are handle carefully.
If you would like to be considered for a transfer between the Safe Learning Plan and the Distance Learning Option or vice versa, please call the Dakota Meadows Middle School office at 507-387-5077 and talk to one of our secretaries. Mr. Sill or Ms. Strahan will review your request and if necessary contact you for more information.
We anticipate all changes between models to take place weekly on Mondays.
Depending on the capacity of both our distance learning and in person classes, approval to change learning plans may come as early as the following week, but could also take weeks to accomplish. Once your request has been approved, you will be notified of the change to begin the following Monday.
School Picture Information
Dates for school pictures are as follows:
- Tuesday, October 6th - all Scarlet students
- Friday, October 9th - all Pride students
- Friday, October 9th (4-7 p.m.) - all distance learning students
Distance learners are asked to come in through door one and photos will be taken in our Media Center.
Parent Help for Google Classroom
“Mom...Of course I have all my work turned in!” Does this sound familiar? When DMMS reaches out to families about student work completion in Google Classroom, one of the most commonly heard concerns is that parents and guardians are looking for a quick and easy way to know if their student really does have everything handed in. We are here to help with two quick and easy ways to check in on student work completion.
Make sure you are signed up as a Guardian in your students Google Classrooms. HERE you will find a quick video outlining what this means, and how to make sure you are getting the updated information you need.
Ask your student to show you their Classwork Tab!
If email updates don’t work for you, and you are looking for something a little more simple, a great question to ask your student is, “Why don’t you pull up your Google Classroom Classwork tab and show me what you’ve completed, and what you need to hand in?” Every Google Classroom has a tab for students that shows what is completed, what is due, and what is missing. Once you have the right question to ask, it can make checking in a whole lot easier!
Thank you again for teaming with us to support your student(s). We couldn’t do it without you!
Daily Chromebook Routine
Within the MAPS Hybrid Model it is more important than ever that students arrive at school with the materials they need throughout their school day. Our teachers have worked very hard to develop a curriculum that is engaging, aligned to the standards, and uses technology in new and exciting ways. If a student arrives without a Chromebook it is very difficult for them to participate; many of the classroom activities do not translate to paper and pencil assignments. Also, due to health and safety guidelines we do not have loner Chromebooks available for student use like we once did. If your student arrives without a Chromebook and charger, we will contact you to see if it would be at all possible for you to bring it to school. Thank you for partnering with us to ensure that your student has the best possible experience during the school day.
Securely Portal for Families to Monitor Student Devices
Here is more information about it.
Standards Based Grading Discussion with Middle School Principals
Please join Ms. Carmen Strahan and PWMS Principal, Monde Schwartz, on Oct 12, 2020 from 6:40-7:40 pm for a discussion around standards based grading at Mankato Area Public School's Family Academy. All sessions will be held online. To register: Go to isd77.org and click on Connect and then on Family Academy or call 507-387-5501.
If this session doesn't interest you, there are four other breakout sessions to choose from providing families tips, tools and strategies to stay engaged with your student's education. All sessions will be held online. To register: Go to isd77.org and click on Connect and then on Family Academy or call 507-387-5501.
School Hours
Our school day will begin at 8:35 a.m. and end at 3:20 p.m.
Designated doors will open at 8:10 a.m. for student entry.
Breakfast will be available from 8:10 - 8:25 a.m.
Starting at 8:10 a.m., supervision for students will be available and after school until 3:30 p.m.
After School Middle School Program
Free School Meals
State Veteran COVID 19 Relief Grant
The Blue Earth County Veterans Services Office asked us to let families know that the Minnesota State Department of Veterans Affairs is offering $3000 grants (per household) for Veteran families that have incurred a negative financial impact by implementing their schools hybrid/distance learning plan or choosing to homeschool their children due to the current pandemic. To learn about eligibility for these grants, click on the link to review the Grant Overview.
The point of contact for any interested applicants in Blue Earth County:
michael.mclaughlin@blueearthcountymn.gov
507-304-4245
Nicollet County:
507-934-7870