Deshler Middle School
October 24, 2022
A Message from Our Assistant Principal
Over the past two weeks, the students have been working on completing their individualized IXL diagnostic snapshot. This snapshot helps our teachers and instructional team take a deeper, more specific look into your child’s skill level. While many students showed growth, there were some students who declined from the first snapshot which we took at the beginning of the year.
We are finding that the data from the IXL diagnostic snapshot correlates very closely to that of the ACAP data. This allows us to determine which students are having what we call a “consistent deficiency” vs students that are not maximizing their potential when testing on a device. While we realize this may not seem as prominent in your child’s academic journey at this moment, it does predict the stamina your child has toward higher stakes tests such as the ACT. While we all know that your child’s ability to score well on a test does not determine the success of your child, it does determine scholarship money and college acceptance.
This is where a partnership toward your child’s success is invaluable. We encourage you to converse with your child about their motivation and work ethic on these tests. We complete these diagnostic tests quarterly. Each test requires a dedicated 20-30 minutes of best effort. The score from the snapshot assists in determining instructional improvements the DMS team should make to provide the best education for our students.
If you are interested in where your child is scoring. I have listed step by step instructions to follow once your child has logged into their computer. Also, if you missed Open House, please email Mrs. D or Mrs. Thigpen to arrange distribution of your child’s ACAP scores. With parent approval, we’ll be happy to send these home with your child or leave them at the office for pickup.
IXL Diagnostic Instructions:
- Students must login through Clever and select IXL.
- Students will select the “assessment” tab at the top.
- If the message. “Snapshot completed” appears, click the “x” in the top right corner.
- Math Diagnostic and ELA Diagnostic will both appear. The bottom score is an adjusted score that measures where your child is achieving based on the assessment.
- The number shown (2 digit or 3 digit) will indicate the grade level to specific month in which they achieve.
- EXAMPLE: a score of 690 is the equivalent of a 6th grader in the 9th month. A 720 is the equivalent of a 7th grader in the 2nd month.
Anna Beth Thigpen
Assistant Principal
Deshler Middle School
UPCOMING DATES
Monday, October 24th - Friday, October 28th
Red Ribbon Week
Tuesday, October 25th
Deadline to bring food for the food drive
Thursday, October 27th
Tuscumbia City Schools Fall Festival - Downtown Tuscumbia
Friday, October 28th
Technology Day
Monday, November 7th - Friday, November 11th
Book Fair
Thursday, November 10th
Veteran's Day Lunch - more information to follow
Friday, November 11th
Veteran's Day - No School
SPORTS
Thursday, October 27th
DMS Cross Country - Sectionals at Cold Springs High School (9:55 a.m.)
Saturday, October 29th
7th Grade Boys Basketball - Tharptown Tournament
8th Grade Boys Basketball - Tharptown Tournament
DMS Girls Basketball - Tharptown Tournament
Tuesday, November 1st
DMS Girls Basketball - South Lawrence (Loretto) (Away - 6:00 p.m.)
8th Grade Boys Basketball - South Lawrence (Loretto) (Away - 7:00 p.m.)
Thursday, November 3rd
7th Grade Boys Basketball - Tharptown Tournament
8th Grade Boys Basketball - Tharptown Tournament
DMS Girls Basketball - Tharptown Tournament
Monday, November 7th
7th Grade Boys Basketball - Florence (Home - 4:00 p.m.)
DMS Girls Basketball - Florence (Home - 5:00 p.m.)
8th Grade Boys Basketball - Florence (Home - 6:00 p.m.)
Scoreboard
DMS Football vs Colbert Heights - W
Tuscumbia City Schools Fall Festival
Red Ribbon Week
Food Drive for Tigers Feeding Tigers
Technology Day - Friday, October 28th
No Costumes on Halloween
Writer of the Month
IXL Leaderboard
Teacher Spotlight
Lake Spurgeon - Paraprofessional
Hey! My name is Lake Spurgeon. This is my first year at Deshler Middle School. I currently am a Special Education Paraprofessional, while finishing my teaching degree at Athens State University. I also coach varsity football here, as well as middle school baseball. I live and from the Killen area with my two Golden Doodles. I am so glad and happy to be apart of Tuscumbia City Schools and especially Deshler Middle! Go Tigers!
Fun fact: I’m very superstitious
Ty White - Paraprofessional
Hello , Tiger Family! My name is Tybrius White. I am 25 and I am a Special Ed Paraprofessional. This is my first year as middle school football coach, but this will be my 4th year assisting with the basketball and track programs ! I currently live in Sheffield, and it feels amazing to be back at one of the greatest little middle schools in America.
Fun fact: I have a shoe and hoodie addiction!
Congratulations to the Deshler Marching Tigers!
Congrats to our Deshler Marching Tigers on straight ones - which is a SUPERIOR rating- at the competition at Piedmont AND Hayden! The band brought home 7 trophies for their outstanding performance in band, drum major, dance line, color guard, and percussion. Percussion received best in class AND best percussion of the whole contest at each competition!
Congratulations to Our Cross Country Team!
We Love Our Library!
Preparing for standardized testing is very challenging in the ELA world. When it comes to reading, the best way to prepare your child is to help them boost their reading stamina. By promoting silent, sustained reading time nightly, your child will improve his or her reading fluency, and if they find the right book…they won’t even notice it’s learning.
Questions I encourage you to ask your child:
- What book have you checked out from the library?
- What genre of books do you find interesting?
Our librarian, Mrs. Grimmitt, snapped some photos of Mr. Graham’s students engaged in reading their library books.
Thank you, PVO!
October Breakfast/Lunch Menu
Contact Us
Email: webmaster@tuscumbia.k12.al.us
Website: https://www.tuscumbia.k12.al.us/DMS
Location: 598 North High St, Tuscumbia, AL 35674
Phone: 256-389-2920
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeshlerMiddleSchool
Twitter: @deshlermiddle