DMS Newsletter
September 10, 2021
Dates to Remember
- September 15-Midterms
- September 13-17: MAP Testing
- September 17-Consitution Day
- October 20-Title I and SubSAC meeting (we need you!)
Ms. Newton's Notes
Hello DMS Families!
Thank you so much for your patience as we work our hardest to provide the safest school environment full of high academic achievement. We care about our students, our families, and our staff.
Here are a few notes from me:
- Title I and SubSAC: SubSAC is our school advisory committee/council that helps provide feedback on how we can improve Deaf Middle School and also monitors progress on our schoolwide goals. The meeting will be virtual so you can join from your own home. They will be an hour our less. We will also discuss our Title I needs. Please email me to let me know if you would like to be part of the team. We would love to have many parents. newtonk@fsdbk12.org
- MAP Testing: Students will take Measures of Academic Progress this coming week for Reading, Language, Science and Math. Students will test September 13th-16th with a make up day on the 17th. This test allows us to measure student progress over the year and allows us to design our instruction based on specific student needs. Results will be shared with you in the coming weeks.
- Ushers Screening: Recently, we sent out a packet to you regarding the State mandated Usher Syndrome Screenings for all Deaf 6th graders only. This is a friendly reminder to please fill out the forms- “Family History and Visual & Motor behavior questionnaires” that were distributed to you. If you need another set of copies, please email me at my address below. If you already had completed the forms, kindly disregard this letter. Thank you. Baroncellij@fsdbk12.org
- Robotics Club: 7th and 8th graders are invited to join Robotics club. It will meet on Mondays after school from 3:40-5:00. If you student is a dorm student, please communicate with the dorms that you would like your student to attend. If your student is a day student, be sure to let Jerry Nelson know if your child is NOT riding the bus and will stay for the meeting.
- Water Bottles: Please send your student to school with a water bottle daily.
Karen Newton
Assistant Principal
A Note from the Principal: Angela Saunders
School wide SAC meeting
At FSDB, we are always looking for ways that we can improve our services to students. We have school improvement plans in each area to guide our growth. The School Improvement Planning (SIP) process involves looking at our surveys and academic data to find areas that we can continually improve upon. The plan is drafted and feedback from stakeholders is gathered before it is submitted to the state. Throughout the year, the school-based teams meet to review updates on the plan. The district-based team also meets in order to review progress regularly.
Last Friday, we had our first district School Advisory Counsel (SAC) meeting. We were thankful to have parent, student, and staff participation to provide any feedback as we went through each of the school improvement plans. I personally enjoyed seeing the presentations by each of the Assistant Principals as they discussed their programs and areas of growth. A few things really stood out that I would love to share about the schools.
Each of the schools emphasized goal setting and student ownership of their data, whether through conferencing or student data notebooks. Having students understand their strengths and needs and set goals increases their motivation and achievement. Each of the schools discussed character education and how Positive Behavior Supports and character education play an important part in student achievement. How that looks in each school is individualized to their population and needs. Attendance was another area that was brought up, since we know that learning opportunities have been impacted by Covid-19 over the last two years, we want to make sure our students have access to their work when they are unable to be present. Finally, parent collaboration and engagement was mentioned as an important goal. We want two-way communication with our families so that we know how to best support you and your children. Your feedback is important to us and an important part of the planning process. If you would like to know more about the school improvement plans or want to be a part of the school- based SAC teams, please make sure to reach out to your Assistant Principal for more information.
Keep yourselves safe and healthy!
Angela Saunders
Lazy 8 Breathing
Here are the steps:
- Trace the Lazy 8 with your finger starting at the star and taking a deep breath in
- . As you cross over to the other side of the Lazy 8, slowly let your breath out.
- Continue breathing around the Lazy 8 until you have a calm body and mind
Schedules
Please check out our team websites to find schedules, pictures, and livestreaming. We are so excited to have so many middle school atheletes.
STEM Challenge
Gregg Hall has gotten off to a great start. Our 7th and 8th grade girls have been wonderful helping our 6th graders and new students get settled in. Many of our girls tried out for volleyball, swim team, and cheerleading. They’ve been working hard to balance practice and games with their academic and dorm responsibilities. Our Middle School volleyball team even won their very first match!
While the girls take their responsibilities very seriously, they also enjoyed their free time. The staff have introduced some different craft skills, like embroidery and loom knitting.
We have some very talented artists in the dorm, and staff are introducing them to different art mediums. Our girls also enjoy putting the basketball court to good use in the evenings.
The staff have many more things planned for the coming months. Each month we get together to celebrate birthdays. Community service, homework time and curriculum activities also help to round out our schedule. We stay busy here in the dorm, but our girls are learning and having fun.
McLane Hall staff and students enjoyed a Labor Day party outside. Staff grilled hotdogs for the boys and they also had sloppy joes that were provided by the cafeteria. The weather turned out well and the boys ran, played, and socialized outside.
McLane Hall staff taught curriculum about personal hygiene and showed videos with ASL interpreting to help students understand the importance of cleanliness and personal hygiene. The boys were involved with discussion and told their opinions about why it is important to stay clean and healthy.
We had a Switch party night. The boys played games on the Switch and showed great Cooperation, Respect and Responsibility. They took turns playing and helped and rooted for other students when it wasn’t their turn. They cohesively worked together to share and have a good time.
Stay safe and Healthy!!
Your Gregg Hall and McLane Hall Family
Opt In for Skylert Notification Alerts
FSDB encourages parents/legal guardians of enrolled students to regularly log onto the Skyward Family/Student Access portal to keep their contact information up-to-date.
Skylert (School Messenger) is the system that FSDB uses to send out automated phone calls, text messages and email notifications families for general purposes and in case of emergencies.
Opting in for automated Skylert text notifications makes it possible for FSDB to quickly inform families about situations that may impact their child/family (e.g., weather, safety and bus alerts) as well as other school-related information. To opt-in, text "Y" to 67587.
Contact Us
DMS Office
PH: 904-827-2530
VP: 904-201-4600
Health Care Center
PH: 904-827-2410
VP: 904-201-3910
Transportation
PH: 800-992-8747
Gregg Hall (Girls Dorm)
PH: 904-827-2628
VP: 904-201-4506
McLane Hall (Boys Dorm)
PH: 904-827-2624
VP: 904-201-4562
Parent Services
PH: 904-827-2212
VP: 904-201-4527
Campus Police
PH: 904-827-2315
Email: newtonk@fsdbk12.org
Website: www.fsdbk12.org/deaf-middle-school
Location: 207 San Marco Avenue, St. Augustine, FL, USA