DSMS News
November 16, 2022
Principal's Update
Our theme at the middle school this year is, “Building a joyful, inclusive community of engaged learners, where everybody grows.” Part of being an inclusive community is ensuring that all students feel welcomed and accepted. As the recent equity audit illustrated, not all students feel fully included at school, particularly students who don’t fit the mold of a “typical” DS student. At the middle school, students who identify as LGBTQ+ have shared that they have experienced a great deal of unkind behavior from peers, often outside the ears of adults who could intervene.
Recently, some of our 6th graders had been discussing the mean behavior they’ve been experiencing relative to their identities, and decided to try to take a positive step to educate their peers and promote tolerance of differences. They researched and put together a series of slides that shared simple definitions of various sexual orientations (example: “A gay person is a man that is attracted to another man. Gay is also a term used widely for people who are attracted to the same gender”). LGBTQ+ is a common term that comes up in the media and their hope was to help students become more informed about what these terms mean. They shared the slides with me, and asked us if I could include them on our lobby display, which I did on Monday afternoon.
I’m sharing this information for two reasons. The first is that I’ve become aware that the slides were upsetting to some parents and community members. I’ve received feedback expressing concern that being exposed to the language around various sexual orientations was developmentally inappropriate. I can certainly appreciate that perspective, however the Massachusetts health frameworks calls for all 5th graders to be able to “define sexual orientation using the correct terminology (such as heterosexual, gay, and lesbian)”.
I’m also sharing this for another reason. I’d like to ask for your help in encouraging our students to be tolerant and kind to their peers, particularly those peers who don’t “fit the mold”. Our school community is a wondrous mix of all sorts of different humans, and some of those differences can make them the targets of unkind “joking” or comments. Some of our students dress differently; some are gay; some speak with accents; some have “unusual” names; some don’t identify with the gender they were assigned at birth; some are Black; some are from Boston; some have disabilities…and they are all amazing, valued members of our school. Some of our students find it funny to joke about things that make students different from their peers, and they don’t realize that their jokes can be very painful for the recipient to hear. I’d appreciate your help in setting the expectation that all our students are deserving of kindness and respect. With your partnership, we can ensure that the middle school is a place where all students can feel safe, welcome, and included.
Upcoming Dates
11/18: Bus Evacuation Drill (as students are arriving off buses in morning)
11/23: Early Release Day (12:10 pm dismissal)11/24: No School (Thanksgiving Day)
11/25: No School (Day after Thanksgiving)
11/28: No School (Teacher Professional Development Day)
November 16 Community Forum (DATE CHANGE!)
The community forum has been changed from November 3 to Wednesday, November 16 from 6:30-8:00 PM at the Connor's Center, 20 Glen Street, Dover.
This is an opportunity for community members to share ideas and identify next steps relative to the equity audit. The event will be facilitated by Dr. Carlos Hoyt (DS '78).
All are welcome. Please RSVP for planning purposes.
Sign up or re-enroll for the 2022-23 DSMS/HS Directory Spot!
Subscribe to Dover-Sherborn's Digital Directory and you'll get: Price: $15 per year The Directory is also a fundraising opportunity for DSMS POSITIVE PTO. We hope that families are willing to make a donation of any size to POSITIVE to help fund our grants for curriculum enrichment, supplemental classroom materials and teacher appreciation luncheons (among other things) throughout the year. Thank you for your support! When your subscription payment is received, you will receive an email from Directory Spot within 48 hours with instructions on how to download and access the app. Please check your spam folder. You can also review access instructions here. For any questions, please email dsmspositive@gmail.com To pay by check, send payment and your email address to: Diane Hanson 165 Washington St. Sherborn, MA 01770
Trouble Receiving School Emails?
Counselor's Corner
All Grades: After School Help Offered!
- Organization Station: Monday’s - Thursday’s 3:10-4:00pm in room 204. Small group executive functioning support including binder/locker organization, homework prioritization, google classroom management, and study skills.
- Homework Club: Monday’s - Wednesday’s in the Library. Please see the “After School Activities” section of the Newsletter for more information.
7th Grade
During the past 2 weeks, all 7th grade students enrolled in Health this semester participated in our SOS (Signs of Suicide) program. Students were shown a video which discussed the signs and symptoms of depression and how to get help for themselves or a friend/family member if needed. Please be sure to ask your child about it. If you have any questions about the SOS program, please contact Heidi Loando (Adjustment Counselor) in the Counseling Office.
8th Grade
Vocational School Information:
- Minuteman High School (Dover students)
Primary Contact: Anthony Chiariello, Director of Admissions
Email: AChiariello@minuteman.org
Open House: Sunday, November 20th: 10:00am - 1:00pm
Website - Tri-County High School (Sherborn students)
Primary Contact: Scott O’Brien, Director of Guidance
Email: obrien@tri-county.us
Open House: Saturday, November 5th: 10:00am- 2:00pm register here - Madison Park High School (Boston students)
Primary Contact: Dr. Sidney Brown, Head of School
Email: sbrown16@bostonpublicschools.org
Click here for more info
We hope you have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving break!
Joelle and Keenan
Arrival Time Reminder
Save the Date for Drama!
- The Dover Sherborn Middle School Musical – The SpongeBob Musical: Show dates are December 8, 9, 10th matinee, 10th evening
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.