Cougar Connection
October 28, 2022
From Principal Dr. Barnette
October 28, 2022
Dear Diegueño Families,
How to get academic support - We are pleased to announce that our FREE Homework Help and Tutoring program is expanding soon!! Beginning the week of November 7, Homework Help Hour will be available Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 2:45 until 3:45. During this time, your student can get help with assignments or simply have a quiet space to get their work done. We are also going to be adding targeted online tutoring during those “meltdown” evening hours. More information on this will be coming soon! Keep in mind that students can also get help from any teacher during our 4-days-per-week Cougar Academic Time (CAT). Teachers will often request that a student come to their room during this time to make up missed work, but students can also ask to see a teacher for individual support. CAT takes place on every block schedule day between 11:55 AM and 12:25 PM.
Principal’s Coffee - I hope you’ll join me for our monthly Bagels with Dr. Barnette on Wednesday, November 2 at 8:45 AM.
Let me know what you want to learn about, discuss, or celebrate.
Tardies are decreasing - It goes without saying that we can’t teach your students if they aren’t in class. We are redoubling our efforts to get kids to class on time and we’re already seeing improvement. Thankfully, kids are rarely late to classes within the school day, but the first period of the day is still a challenge. For now, we are enforcing the existing tardy policy that requires students to be in their classroom before the bell rings. Students who are on campus, but not in their classroom, are redirected to the attendance office to get a tardy pass. I promise you that the attendance line moves very quickly. When a student accrues three tardies, they will be assigned a lunch detention. We understand that sending kids back to the attendance office delays students even more from starting class, but the philosophy is that consistent enforcement will lead to fewer tardies. We’ve also heard from teachers that pausing their instruction after class has begun to correct their attendance record penalizes the entire class. I’m grateful to have Ms. Whiddon filling in during Assistant Principal Kramer’s maternity leave. Ms. Whiddon and I will continue to assess the effectiveness of our policies and procedures and we welcome your ideas!
Bike permits - Beginning Tuesday, November 1, students will have to have a DÑO bike permit on their bike in order to park on campus. We’ve been working with families on this since late September. The requirements include submitting an application (with a guardian's signature) and completing a bike safety class. We offer an online class that can be completed in less than 45 minutes. See our bike safety webpage or contact Mallory.Reeves@SDUHSD.net for more information.
Bike safety - Our students are doing better when it comes to wearing their helmets properly and riding safely in our parking lots. Even with the improvements, we worry about these kids. Just this week several of our students had fairly serious bike accidents off campus. We are thankful for our partnership with the San Diego Sheriff’s Department. Deputy Drake is making the rounds at all district campuses to remind kids about how to stay safe. Just this week, he issued bike helmet citations to several of our students. We’re all in this together!!
Wishing you a safe and fun Halloween weekend!
Kindly,
Dr. Barnette
Looking ahead, we need a handful of parents to help with a very fun Color Battle event on Thursday, November 3. You can sign up here.
October/November Events
October
Monday, October 31 - Friday, November, 4 - ASB Fundraiser - Apex COLOR BATTLE.
Monday, October, 31 - 1, 3, 5 Block Period
Monday, October 31 - Halloween Dress-Up Day. Here are the guidelines to follow regarding costumes.
November
Tuesday, November, 1 - 2, 4, 6 Block Period
Wednesday, November 2 - 1, 3, 5, Block Period
Wednesday, November 2 - Bagels w/Dr. Barnette
Thursday, November 3 - Single Period
School Information...
If your student has lost their sweatshirt, water bottle, or anything else, please have them come check the lost & found basket or back counter outside the back of the office!
See the pictures below!
Please consider donating sports equipment for students to use during their lunchtime break. The current state of our equipment is very sparse and very sad. Be assured that your donation will be used greatly and enjoyed by hundreds of students every day. Your generosity is appreciated! Thank you so much!!!!!!! Here is the Amazon link.
2023 DNO Yearbooks are on Sale NOW!
Buy your yearbook soon! They are now $55 until JANUARY 27th. Prices go up to $60 on Jan. 28. This could make a great holiday gift!
CLICK HERE to Order!
8th Grade Parents - Yearbook Recognition Ads are now on sale until Feb. 1, 2023
For $35 you can give your amazing student a shout-out in this year's yearbook.
CLICK HERE to start creating your recognition ad!
Business Ads are on sale now until Feb. 1, 2023
Starting at $50 you can create a beautiful color business ad in our yearbook. It's a great way to be seen by your community and support your student's school!
CLICK HERE to start creating your business ad!
Yearbook Name Change Request - Due Nov. 20th
All student names will be printed in the yearbook as they are listed on Aeries. If your student has a different name preference that they would like printed in the yearbook, please fill out THIS GOOGLE FORM no later than Nov. 20th. Thanks!
For our 8th Grade Families...
Click here for all dates for SDUHSD High School Campus Tours!
- More info about La Costa Canyon
- More info about SDA
For our families with students who have an IEP...
Did you know each site in our District has a Special Education Parent Liaison to assist with supporting the Special Education community at each of our schools? Have a question or need a resource? Diegueno's Parent Liaison, Christa Collins, is here to help the District help you. She can be reached at christacollins77@me.com.
Attendance Corner
- Call or email 24-48 in advance for an “Off-Campus” pass, if picking up students early for appointments. Students will need to pick up a pass before school on the day of their appointment.
- For the safety of our students, a Parent or Guardian will need to sign out a student through attendance in the administration building. Students cannot walk or ride their bikes/e-bikes home.
- To minimize class disruption please be aware drop-off items such as Chromebooks, PE clothes, homework, lunches, etc., will not be delivered to class. In the morning announcements, students are told to ONLY come to check the Forgotten Items Cart during the break, CAT and lunch. The office is NOT responsible for items not picked up by students.
- Please do not bring outside food to students. ALL students are able to get free lunch at our Cougar Cafe.
Thank you for your cooperation
HEALTH NOTE
Health Note: Cold and flu season is here!
Help keep your child and family healthy with these few tips:
*Get a flu vaccine each year
*cough into your elbow, not your hand
*wash your hands with warm soapy water often OR use hand sanitizer if no water/soap is available
* wipe doorknobs and surfaces with household disinfectant as the flu virus can live on surfaces for 24 hours
* STAY HOME if you have a temperature over 100 degrees. You must be fever free for 24 hours without the aid of fever-reducing medication before returning to school.
A few words from our Diegueño PTSA
PTSA Membership
Thank you Cougar Community to all of those who've donated to PTSA and signed up to be members. Strong membership participation allows us to have more of a voice at the state level. If you would like to donate and become a PTSA member please go to www.dieguenoptsa.org/donate. You are welcome to donate all year, however, we would love to see more funds at the beginning of the year so we can plan and do as much for the students as soon as possible.
We would love to hear your thoughts on how we can utilize this money to help all students. Please look out for upcoming events. Everyone's voice is welcome. We are thrilled to have such a generous and active school community.
Sincerely, PTSA
Diegueño Middle School
2022-23 SDUHSD Instructional Calendar
Boys & Girls Club Big Ei8ht Sports
Chromebook Insurance - School Device Coverage
Website: dg.sduhsd.net
Location: 2150 Village Park Way, Encinitas, CA, USA
Phone: (760) 944-1892
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Diegueno-Middle-School-150457255051782