DFMS Everything You Need to Know
Middle School 101
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
Our School
We know that your student will love Diamond Fork Middle School. Our faculty chooses to work with this age group because they love them. The environment is a safe, caring, student-centered, fun, and academic place for students. Our motto is "ALL IN for Each Learner."
Parents receive a weekly Diamond Fork Digest with school information and a student progress report.
Our school website dfms.nebo.edu
Follow us on DFMS Facebook or
Follow us on Instagram- Official Diamond Fork Middle School Instagram https://www.instagram.com/diamond_fork_middle_school/?hl=en
Tell Me More . . .
Open House-Aug. 13th from 3:00pm to 6:00pm Parents and students are invited to come to our open house to meet the teachers, walk through the student's schedule, and try out lockers.
We will have mini info class in the library during the Open House . The class will start at 3:30, 4:30, and 5:30 and will be about 15 minutes long.
Each mini class will contain:
This is Diamond Fork Middle,
Social and Emotional Support Ideas,
Diamond Fork Social Media,
Canvas and Infinite Campus.
First Day of School is Aug. 14th from 8:05am to 2:45pm.
*No 6th grade day this year. We will walk all students through the day!
Free DFMS T-shirts for ALL
All students will receive a school shirt on the 2nd day of school. Students will wear their shirts to school on the 3rd day, Friday, 16th for our kick off the school year assembly.
Pods - All students will be be placed in a pod of core classes, math, science, and English. Each student in the same pod will have the same group of core teachers. Pods provide a transition from elementary school, a place of belonging. Pod rewards and activities are planned throughout the year. Pod teachers meet every Wednesday to discuss the needs of their students.
Rattler Time - Remediation and enrichment for pod classes happen during Rattler Time. Each core subject has Rattler Time once a month, for example math the first week of the month, English the second, etc. We will always post in the weekly parent letter which subject is having Rattler Time that week. Students who have missing work, have been absent, or who need to redo work will stay with their core teacher during Rattler Time to receive help in a small group. Students who do not need make-up or remediation can choose an enrichment activity- library makerspaces (robotics, virtual reality, coding, art activities, 3-D pens, and reading), outdoor games or gym, indoor game room, and computer games.
Team Time- (Advisory Period) - Students have small group Team Time once a week on Mondays. Students participate in team building activities, watch the DFMS News, and have social and emotional support lessons about our school values of courage, respect, compassion, curiosity, perseverance, and integrity. Parents are sent the lessons each week in the newsletter.
Supplies - There is no set supply list. We suggest students have a backpack, a notebook with paper and a way to organize for different classes, and a pen and pencil each day. Water bottles are also recommended. Only water is allowed in the classrooms. Teachers will let students know if there are any special items needed for their class.
Backpacks - Students may bring their backpacks to class or leave them in their locker. Toys or distractive items must be kept in backpacks during class.
Disclosure Documents- Disclosure documents for each class will be posted on our website by the first day of school. Students do not bring them back signed, but parents can contact the teacher with any questions.
Cell Phones- DFMS Cell Phone Policy - If a student brings a cell phone to school, phones will be required to be in the student's backpack during class time. This practice helps limit the distraction of cell phones. We ask parents not to text students during class. Parents may always call the front office and we will deliver an emergency message during class time to a student or call the student down to the office phone to speak to a parent. Students are also required to be engaged in enrichment activities during Rattler Time as opposed to playing on their phones. Students may check messages on phones during passing time or lunch. Students may have a bathroom pass when needed, but cell phones stay in the classroom during a bathroom break. We also will have digital safety and citizenship taught in our CCA classes and through Netsmartz with lessons going home to parents in the newsletter. If a student has their cell phone out in class, the teacher will take the cell phone to the front office where it remains for the rest of the day. On the third offense, a parent is required to come and pick up the cell phone.
Bell Schedule at dfms.nebo.edu under School Information
MM- We will start each day with a Mindfulness Minute teaching the students healthy social and emotional skills.
HH- We will end each day with a Happiness Hunt where students will reflect and express gratitude for something positive that day.
Lunch- We have two lunches. All 6th grade will have 1st lunch and all 7th grade will have 2nd lunch. Lunch will be $2.50 this year and breakfast is $1.50. To add lunch money to student account, parent go to iCampus and click meal service. Parents can go to the school website https://www.nebo.edu/child-nutrition to check eligibility and apply for free and reduced lunch as other benefits may be available. Also at the school nutrition site, parents can access the daily menu. If your child has a medical condition that requires special dietary needs, the link to the required form is also on the district nutrition website. Students may bring a lunch from home or eat school lunch. Students eat only in the school cafeteria. No food deliveries are accepted. A parent may bring in a lunch for their student only and leave it at the front office to be picked up before lunch. This helps our very busy office staff be able to do their jobs.
Lockers
Students are assigned lockers which they can use if they like. Locker use is not required. Combinations and locker numbers will appear on their class schedule which can be seen on iCampus.
Before School - We ask that students not arrive before 7:35am as there is no supervision until this time. Breakfast starts at 7:35. Students will have outside time (play equipment can be checked out at gym doors) on the field and blacktop until school starts at 8:05am. We have before school intramurals and activities. The schedule for these will be in the parent newsletter and on our website. On bad weather days gyms will be open for students to wait until school starts.
Bus - For the first week, administration will be outside to help students board the busses. Please have students write down their bus number. Parents contact Nebo Transportation for bus routes and pick up/drop off spots. https://www.nebo.edu/transportation
After School- Students may stay after school T-Th to work with a teacher until 3:10 or to participate in an after school activity. Students not working with a teacher and not involved in an after school activity must leave the building to go home right after school.
Intramurals and After School Activities- Intramurals and other activities will be offered at different times throughout the term both before and after school. Parents will be notified of the week's activities through the weekly emailed parent newsletter, social media, and students will be notified through school announcements.
Vending Machines - We have vending machines with healthy, student friendly choices outside of the cafeteria. Students can use cash, Apple Pay, or a debit card to purchase snacks before or after school, at lunch, or if they are really speedy, in between classes. Food and drinks, except for water bottles, are not allowed during class.
PE Classes- Students will not dress out into different clothing for PE. Just as in elementary school, PE will be co-ed and changing clothes will not be required. However, students with a PE class will need to wear closed toe shoes (tennis shoes are best) and clothes appropriate for participation in physical activities. We are very excited to be including the 6th grade health core in 6th in our 6th grade classes as well.
All Kinds of Fun Middle School Things- DFMS will be a little like Harvard and a little like Disneyland! We will have Diamondback Days (term activity for students with A and B grades no more than three tardies, and no N's or U's in citizenship), Diamondback Cards (Cards given at the beginning of each term to students with no more than three tardies which allow for certain privileges like an early lunch pass, etc), We also offer Intramurals, After and Before School Activities, Plays of the Day, Students of the Month, Stand 4 Kind, HOPE Squad, Underwater Robotics, Battle of the Books, Math Olympiad, DF News, Character Ed, Student Leadership, and so much more!
Registration, Schedules, and Secondary School Fees
In secondary schools, students do have some required school fees- registration fee and fees depend on the classes the student signed up for during course selection.
Counselors are available from 9:00 to 3:15 M-F starting Aug. 1st. Call the school or come in to ask to speak to a counselor if you have schedule questions. Class changes will be rare as all classes and schedules have been balanced. If there is a class change, there will be a $5 charge for class changes after the first day of school.
Course selection happened last spring, but registration needs to be completed and fees paid on-line starting July 25th on myschoolfees.com. Parents will be emailed their student schedule once fees are paid. Before parents talk to a counselor about schedules, registration and fees need to have been completed. Parents will get an on-line link in an email for registration on July 25th or they may come into the school between 9am and 3pm after Aug. 1st for help.
Fee Waivers
We are happy to help with fee waivers. Forms for fee waivers are on our school website under parents dfms.nebo.edu The form will explain the qualifications for fee waivers. Parents need to come in and meet with an administrator M-F starting Aug. 1st between 8:00am and 3:00 pm or arrangements can be made for a different time by calling the school for an appointment. We are happy to come as early or stay as late as needed.
Bullying and Cyberbullying
Diamond Fork Middle School is a STAND 4 KIND School- Compassion is one of our school values. Students are to treat every student and teacher with respect. We can disagree with out being disagreeable.
Cyberbullying - A strict anti-cyberbullying policy is in place. Students may not text or post any unkind, embarrassing, threatening, or disparaging remarks about another student while at school or at any other time as bullying affects the school day no matter when it occurs.
This includes posting videos that would be unkind, embarrassing, or threatening to another student.
Grades, Citizenship, Attendance, Good Night Sleep, Tardies, Homework, Chromebooks, Canvas and Infinite Campus,
Grades- Students will receive letter grades this year. Our grading scale will be A, B, C, or F. Students are required to make up an F grade. Students may receive an NG grade if they have not attended school enough to receive a grade. Parents and students can always check grades on Infinite Campus. Parents are sent a weekly progress report by email each Monday along with a parent newsletter.
After School Cafe and Study Hall- Students who have an F grade may be required to be pulled from an elective class for tutoring and help. Students with multiple F grades will be required to stay after school to get tutoring and help.
Citizenship Grades - Students receive citizenship grades S (Satisfactory), N (Needs Improvement), or U (Unsatisfactory) based on the rubrics for our core values of Respect, Compassion, Courage, Curiosity, Integrity, and Perseverance. Parents and students can see these grades on Infinite Campus. Satisfactory citizenship is required for students to be eligible for rewards. Teachers have a plan for students to make up citizenship.
Attendance- Daily on-time attendance is crucial to student academic progress. Parents need to call or email (may reply to the parent email sent for attendance) to excuse a full day absence within two school days. Students must be checked out and in at the front office by a parent or approved contact by coming physically into the building for safety purposes if missing any part of the day.
Administration will meet with parents for excessive excused or unexcused absences to see how we can help to improve attendance.
A Good Night's Sleep - Sleep is so crucial to school performance and attendance. We will be teaching students healthy sleep habits and the importance of at least an hour of screen free time before bed as well as no screens in the bedroom during sleep.
Tardies- Being on time to class is part of our school value of respect. Tardiness disrupts the teacher and the class. Students have a four minute passing time in between classes. Fun music (different each day, students may request songs) plays at the start of a two minute warning. Students can use their Diamondback Cards for three free tardies each term. After that, students will need to serve lunch detention to make up tardies. Only 1st period, and only up to five 1st period tardies a term, can be parent excused by parent phone call, note, or email.
Homework - Students are expected to work hard during class time. Most school work is done in classes (Another reason why attendance is so crucial.) Students will make-up missing work in Rattler Time or study hall or after school. Daily reading at home M-Th and math practice will be the only homework required at home. Missing work or work missed due to absences will need to be done at home . Students may also stay after school until 3:10 T-F to work with a teacher.
Chromebooks- Every teacher has a Chromebook cart. Students have access to Chromebooks when needed in class. Because homework is limited to reading and math assignments, Chromebooks will only be checked out for home use on a limited basis.
Canvas- All teachers will use Canvas as the Learning Management System. Parents may access their student's Canvas pages and see all assignments. A parent tutorial will be on our website. Parents can check student grades, attendance, citizenship, etc. anytime on Infinite Campus.
Call the school if you need help with Infinite Campus or Canvas.
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