FOX FEATURE WEEKLY UPDATE
January 22, 2021
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WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
Your feedback is important to us and drives a lot of the actions that we take for the betterment of all of our students. Please take a moment to complete our brief survey if you have something to share or something you may want to bring to our attention.
Please click here to complete the Silver Fox Feedback Form.
2020-2021 1st Semester Exam Schedule
*All Exams will be given during the regular class period.
FIVE/4 or 5 Day F2F: January 28 and 29; February 1 and 2
Weighting of Exams
ORGANIZATION OF THE FOX FEATURE
- School District Five COVID-19 Dashboard
- COVID-19 Safeguards
- Redistricting Updates
- Choice & Magnet Timelines
- Reminders
Calendar & Events
- Upcoming Dates
- 8th Grade IGP Conferences
- DFMS Make-Up Pictures
Instruction & Support
- Attendance (Excuse Form)
- Chromebook & Technology
- Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT)
- DFMS Library Webpage
Extracurricular Activities
- JROTC
- FCA
- FCA "Blanket Drive"
- Soccer (JV and Varsity)
- Track & Field
Additional Announcements
- Substitute Teaching Opportunity
- Health Cards
- Yearbook
- PTSA
SCHOOL & DISTRICT UPDATES AND REMINDERS
SCHOOL DISTRICT FIVE COVID-19 DASHBOARD
Lexington-Richland School District Five has launched a COVID-19 dashboard.
During a special-called meeting on Nov. 30, the Board approved a motion to have the district create a webpage “dashboard” for reporting active COVID-19 positive cases and quarantine cases in schools. The motion requires the district to “Reallocate resources that we currently have to create a weekly data dashboard / website to reflect numbers by school, to include active COVID-19 cases and quarantine numbers for students and staff, separately recording numbers for FIVE (virtual program) teachers and students.”
The dashboard, which will be updated each Friday, can be found on the district website homepage and at the following link: www.lexrich5.org/covid19dashboard. For more information on the district’s COVID-19 response, click the "20-21 COVID-19 Information" tab on our district website or visit www.lexrich5.org/20-21reentry.
COVID-19 SAFEGUARDS
Safety is a top priority. School District Five of Lexington & Richland Counties has worked in collaboration with health officials to establish health protocols for the 2020-21 school year, in response to COVID-19. Students and staff will be asked to complete daily self-screenings before reporting to school/district campuses. District schools will follow DHEC guidance regarding the management of suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases.
Click the following link to see the district’s self-screening checklist:
Click the following link to see the district’s COVID-19 Exposure Flowchart:
For DHEC guidelines regarding the management of suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases, click the following link:
View our COVID-19 Communications Guide:
View DHEC's School COVID-19 Report:
https://scdhec.gov/covid-19-cases-associated-staff-students
For more information on health and safety protocols, click the "20-21 COVID-19 Information" tab on our district website or visit www.lexrich5.org/20-21reentry.
REDISTRICTING Update
School District Five of Lexington & Richland Counties has released two new redistricting scenarios to the public.
The two new scenarios are available for public viewing at www.lexrich5.org/redistrictingmap. Public input on the scenarios will be collected through an email address dedicated to redistricting at redistricting@lexrich5.org.
CHOICE & MAGNET TIMELINES
IRMO-Lexington-Richland School District Five is now accepting applications for its Choice & Magnet programs.
The window for submitting a Choice & Magnet application opened on Monday, Jan. 11 at 9 a.m. and closes on Sunday, Jan. 24, at 5 p.m. The preferred process is using the online application https://d5choiceapp.com/login, which is now available on the district's website and all school websites. Hard copy applications will also be available upon request at each School District Five school and the district office. Applications must be received at the district office (Attn: Amanda Neel, 1020 Dutch Fork Road, Irmo) by Sunday, Jan. 24 at 5 p.m.
REMINDERS
Students are not allowed to wear hats or hoodies while in the building. Students will be asked to remove them while in the building failure to do so will result in a dress code MBI.
All students cellphones should be placed in bookbags when released from the gym or cafeteria in the mornings and should not be in use again until the bell rings for dismal at 3:30 PM
All students must wear a mask covering their mouth and nose, and practice social distancing while at school.
Visitors will not be allowed to enter the school at this time.
It is recommended that students bring their own water bottle which can be filled at water bottle stations as needed. Parents that bring lunch to students need to have food in a lunch box for students.
Upon arrival students needing to eat breakfast will report to the cafeteria. All other students will report to the gym.
IDs must be worn around the neck for all students when on school campus. Students will be charged $1 for every day that they need a temporary ID. If an ID is missing, a replacement is $5 and a lanyard is $1.
Students can arrive at school between 8:00 am and 8:25 am. Adequate supervision is not available until this time for all students.
All students need to be dropped off in the car rider line in the morning up until 8:25 am
School ends at 3:30 pm. Please make sure your student knows their bus number in the afternoon or how they will be getting home each day.
Parking to pick up students in the car rider line is prohibited.
CALENDAR & EVENTS
UPCOMING DATES
- C-Team Basketball DFMS Girls vs. Fulmer @ Fulmer 5:30 PM
- C-Team Basketball DFMS Boys vs. Fulmer @ DFMS 5:30 PM
1/26/2021
- PSAT for 8th Grade
1/27/2021
- Distance Learning Wednesday
1/28/2021
- ELA and Science Exams
1/29/2021
- Social Studies Exam
- Make-up Day for All Other Exams
IGP'S FOR 8TH GRADE STUDENTS
Parents & Guardians of DFMS 8th grade students:
Do not forget to sign up to participate in the Individual Graduation Plan with your 8th grade student. An IGP is a plan of study that emphasizes academic and career development from eighth grade through graduation from high school. These sessions are an opportunity for you and your child to meet with a staff member from the Office of School Counseling to begin the foundational plan for high school.
This year, IGP meetings will look different from previous years. We will “meet” by Google Meet or by phone. Students will be excused from class for their scheduled meeting, and we will meet with you virtually. We will be using Sign-Up Genius to schedule appointments. Please click on this link to choose a date/time to schedule the IGP conference: Sign Up Genius - IGP Schedule Sign-Up.
We appreciate your patience and flexibility as we work together to transition your student into high school as smoothly as possible.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at 803-476-4805 or ccreel@lexrich5.org and we will respond back when school resumes after winter break.
DFMS Make-Up Pictures Information
Picture packets for those DFMS students who took makeup pictures will be sent home with your student who attends F2F learning. FIVE students can pick up their picture packets at the front office of DFMS between 9 am -4 pm on Mon, Tue, Thur, and Fri or Wednesday's from 9 am - 2 pm
INSTRUCTION & SUPPORT
ATTENDANCE
Students participating in the hybrid model have onsite instructional days combined with virtual instructional days. Teachers have addressed attendance for students during the distance learning, instructional days. Remind your students to check their Google Classrooms for assignments and attendance on their distance learning days.
If there is a technology issue that results in your student missing the class, the parent must submit an email to the teacher of the class missed for the class to be excused. If a student is unable to attend for any medical reason, the excuse must be submitted by the parent to the teacher and to Attendance Clerk Joan Jedlicka at jjedlicka@lexrich5.org.
CHROMEBOOKS & TECHNOLOGY
CHROMEBOOK NOT WORKING?
**NEW** We now have a D5 Student Self Help Service Portal. This is a portal to assist the student in fixing their issue(s) without having to put in a trouble ticket.
- Hybrid (In Person) Students: Take Broken Chromebook to Media Center M/T/TH/F - 8am-3pm (closed Wednesdays)
- FIVE (All Virtual) students: Complete the DFMS Student Chromebook Repair Request Form
- A D5 Technician will contact you about making an appointment for a repair.
- DFMS Digital Integration Specialist (DIS): Mrs. Kelly Thacker - kthacker@lexrich5.org 803-476-4826
HOW-TOs AND TROUBLESHOOTING
- The Student Knowledge Base
https://www.lexrich5.org/Page/26528
- Student Technology Knowledge Base (How-Tos and Troubleshooting)
https://sites.google.com/lexrich5.org/studenttechnology/home
- Instructional Technology (Software and How-Tos)
https://sites.google.com/lexrich5.org/d5distancelearning/
- Our main Technology Webpage also has additional information about hotspots, wifi business partners and much, much more!
- Distance Learning Site
https://sites.google.com/lexrich5.org/d5distancelearning/home?authuser=0
PRELIMINARY SCHOLASTIC APTITUDE TEST (PSAT)
Eighth grade students who signed up for the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) will test on Tuesday, January 26, 2021. The PSAT is great practice for the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and will provide valuable feedback to your child on the types of skills that need improvement to prepare for the SAT and college. Scores from the PSAT will be used for the South Carolina Junior Scholars Identification and Development Program. Information regarding this program is on the back of this letter.
The deadline for registering to take the PSAT was January 19, 2021. The PSAT Student Guide is available in the front office for students who signed up to take the PSAT, and contains very important test-taking tips and a practice test to help your child prepare for the test. Google Classroom also contains practice information as well as testing locations, announcements, and reminders.
Prior to receiving the PSAT Student Guide, your child may visit www.collegeboard.org for testing tips and other preparation information. For online practice, visit https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt-psat-10/practice.
If you have any questions or concerns, I can be reached at 476-4826 or at kthacker@lexrich5.org.
PSAT Dates and Information to Remember
January 26, 2021 (Tuesday) PSAT Test given at DFMS, 8:30am -12:00pm
DFMS LIBRARY WEBPAGE
The DFMS Library webpage has been through a remodel! Visit our site to see what's new! Browse our new books, search Destiny through the new widget, and fill out the book recommendation form if you have any suggestions.
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
JROTC
Dutch Fork High JROTC is looking for students that would like to join a family of cadets on a journey to become better leaders and citizens in their community and nation. JROTC is much more than marching and military-related activities; our program will develop and prepare students for life after graduation! Joining our family does not come with any military service obligations and must be the voluntary choice of the student. Please take a few minutes to view the videos by clicking on the links below. We would also appreciate you following us on Instagram by clicking here.
FCA
FCA's "Blanket Drive"
Starting January 25th FCA will have a large box outside of the guidance office to collect new and gently used blankets. The blankets will be distributed on Feb 9th and 10th to homeless shelters in the Columbia area.
FCA appreciates any support you can provide for this project that will help others in our community who are in need.
JV AND VARSITY SOCCER TRYOUTS
TRACK AND FIELD INFORMATION
ADDITIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
LOOKING TO SUB?
PTSA CORNER
Attractions Dining and Value Guide fundraiser coming in February. Please be on the lookout for your student’s packet. There are some great savings in this year’s book.
Please visit our Spirit Wear Store on Member Hub for all spirit wear items such as masks, t-shirts, sweatshirts, and more.
DUTCH FORK MIDDLE SCHOOL
Website: http://lexrich5.org/dfms
Location: 1528 Old Tamah Road, Irmo, SC, USA
Phone: (803) 476-4800
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dutch-Fork-Middle-School-549147891811317/
Twitter: @DutchForkMS