The Viking Voyage
What's happening at DMS in April
The journey includes:
- Captain's Corner
- Mission/Vision
- Counselors Corner
- See Something/Say Something
- Grade Level News
- The ZONE
- PALS
- PTO
- Viking Dads
- Viking Sports
- Dress Code
- Captains Corner
- School Links
- STAAR Testing Dates
- Counselors Corner
- PTO newsletter
And then it was April!!!! As we enter April, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the incredible journey we've had this school year and address the important tasks that lie ahead.
With less than 40 days of school remaining, there's still much work to be done, particularly as we prepare for the upcoming STAAR test. Below, you'll find the schedule for the test, and I encourage you to challenge your students to do their very best. Our amazing teachers have dedicated themselves to preparing our students, and now it's time for our students to showcase their learning and abilities.
While the STAAR test is an important milestone, it's not the only focus for our students. They must also finish the final grading period strong. Our teachers have put in tremendous effort to provide quality instruction, offering extra time for completing assignments and tutorials to support student learning.
I want to emphasize that our students are ultimately responsible for their grades. Parents, please check Skyward regularly to stay updated on your child's academic progress. If you have any concerns or questions, I urge you to reach out to your child's teacher promptly.
As we approach the end of the school year, I am filled with gratitude for the dedication and hard work of our entire school community. It has truly been an amazing year, and I have every confidence that together, we will finish strong.
Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership in your child's education. Let's continue to work together to make these remaining days of the school year count.
Here are some updates:
DMS Mission Statement
At Dulles, student will take ownership of their learning and relationships. Using our diversity as a strength, students will effectively communicate, and problem solve through engagement with meaningful learning experiences.
DMS Vision Statement
Dulles Middle School embraces a diverse community of learners and promotes a positive partnership among its students and staff through meaningful experiences to become caring individuals and responsible citizens.
I am writing to address a matter of utmost importance regarding the safety of our students during drop-off and pick-up times.
It has come to our attention that some parents are not adhering to the designated drop-off and pick-up zones. Instances of students being dropped off in the parking lot, on Dulles Ave, and in the back of the school have been reported. I must stress that these actions are strictly prohibited due to safety concerns.
The established drop-off line is designed to move efficiently, ensuring a smooth and secure process for everyone involved. Disregarding these guidelines poses a significant safety risk to our children. We cannot emphasize enough the importance of following the specified procedures to protect the well-being of our students.
I understand that everyone has responsibilities and has to get to work. Still, the slight delay is a negligible inconvenience when compared to the potential harm that could happen to a child due to non-compliance with these safety measures.
To maintain a secure and organized environment for our students, we kindly request your full cooperation in following the rules and guidelines for drop-off and pick-up. Your adherence to these protocols is crucial in ensuring the safety of all children attending our school.
Student IDs
The district is embarking on a plan to issue new identification badges to all students in FBISD. These badges will improve student experiences in our cafeterias and libraries, and most importantly, help our campuses remain safe from any intruders or unauthorized visitors.
You are receiving this letter because your child attends one of six campuses where the badges will be issued to students in a pilot program. The pilot program campuses are Dulles Middle School, and Lantern Lane, Malala, Mission Bend/Glen, Rosa Parks, and Scanlan Oaks elementary schools.
Students at these schools will begin receiving their badges over the next two weeks.
Please mark you calendars for the 2024 STAAR testing dates for Dulles MS.
Tuesday April 16th will be 6th & 7th grade STAAR Reading
Wednesday April 17th will be 8th grade STAAR Reading
Thursday April 18th will be 8th grade STAAR Social Studies
Tuesday April 23rd will be 8th grade STAAR Science
Wednesday April 24th will be 8th grade STAAR Math & Algebra EOC
Thursday April 25th will be 6th and 7th grade STAAR Math
MAY 10th, 2024: The students took a vote and decided on Main Event for the 8th Grade Exit Party! Below is the flyer for the event. It will be May 10th during the school day! The cost is $20.00 and includes all activities, as well as lunch. The deadline to pay is April 15th. Please let Ms. McDowell or Dr. Clay know if you have any questions. The QR code on the flyer will lead you to the link to pay!
May 15th: 8th Grade Awards Ceremony: We will be having an awards ceremony for students who are nominated by their teachers. Be on the lookout for an invitation the second week of May if your student is nominated!
Dear Parents/Guardian:
Our mission is to provide quality education to equip all students for futures beyond what they can imagine. In helping us achieve this mission, DMS provides intervention for students who need additional support to meet grade level standards and/or targeted skills based on universal screening data, results from other classroom assessments and STAAR data.
To achieve this mission, our campus has developed an intervention opportunity for students who may have informational gaps and need additional instructional time to fill those gaps. Dulles MS will be offering Gap Saturdays over the course of the second semester to address those gaps in math and ELA. All students will participate in lessons that have been created to target the basic foundational skills needed to be successful in their grade level for both math and ELA.
If you would like to sign your student up for Gap Saturday, click on Gap Saturday Sign-up or email your child’s math or ELA teacher. Students can attend all or specific dates based on the families availability.
Semester Two Dates
January 27, 2024
February 10th and 24th, 2024
March 23, 2024
April 6th and 13th, 2024
Saturday Program:
9:00 – 11:00 Math / ELA Intervention
11:00 – 12:00 Pizza & Open Gym
Please Read Important Information
STAAR Testing: How you can support your students
Stay Positive and Manage Stress: Testing season is here, and it can be stressful. Remind your student that feeling nervous or anxious about the test is normal, but it's important to stay positive and confident. Encourage them to practice relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or visualization to help manage test anxiety. Emphasize that their worth is not determined by their performance on the test and that you are proud of their hard work and effort regardless of the outcome.
Stay tuned to our DMS Facebook and Instagram pages for more helpful tips for reducing test anxiety.
Character Trait of the Month: PERSEVERANCE
This month, students will learn about our character trait, perseverance. Perseverance means not giving up even when there are challenges or obstacles. We want our students at DMS to build resilience and learn how to face challenges. This month, Social Studies teachers will choose one student that has shown perseverance. Check our social media soon to see if your student won this month!
Want Updates on what’s going on at DMS?
Join our DMS Facebook for pictures, updates, and school news https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550952656159&mibextid=D4KYlr
Follow our www.Instagram.com/dms_vikings_
GRADING POLICY
In our ongoing commitment to supporting the academic success of our students, we have recently revised the late work policy at DMS. This update aims to provide students with ample opportunities to complete any late or missed assignments. The revised late work policy is outlined as follows:
DMS Late Grading Policy
Minor grades:
- All assignments will be graded as if submitted on time.
- 10 points will be deducted for each day after the due date.
- Any assignment not submitted will receive a zero.
Major grades:
- All assignments will be graded as if submitted on time.
- 10 points will be deducted for each day after the due date.
- A minimum grade of 50 will be entered into the gradebook for all completed assignments.
- At 5 days late, teachers will notify the student’s grade level administrator. Students will be placed in lunch time grade recovery to complete the missing assignments. Assignments will then be returned to the teacher for grading and feedback. A grade of 50 will be entered in the gradebook for the completed work.
- The new policy will start in January.
We believe that this adjustment will contribute to a more inclusive and supportive learning environment, allowing students the necessary flexibility to meet their academic responsibilities.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the updated policy, please feel free to reach out to Dr. Brown
Bullying and situations that make students feel uncomfortable can have a significant impact on their well-being, self-esteem, and overall academic experience. We want all students to feel safe, respected, and able to thrive in our school community. To achieve this, we need your support.
We kindly ask that you take the time to have an open and honest conversation with your child about the importance of reporting any instances of bullying or situations that they find uncomfortable. We believe that when students and parents work together to address these issues, we can make our school an even better place for learning.
If your child experiences or witnesses bullying, harassment, or any form of mistreatment, please encourage them to report it to a trusted adult, whether it's a teacher, school staff member, or you as their parent or guardian. Additionally, you can assure your child that reporting such incidents is not only brave but also contributes to a safer environment for everyone.
Want a special birthday shoutout on the Dulles Marquee? Scan the QR code below and make the day extra special! 🎉🎈
Thank you DADS!
We want to thank our VIKES DADS for being positive role models on campus and for being strong males that support our students, teachers, and staff. If you are a father or a grandfather that would like to be a VIKES DAD, please contact our PTO or Dr Brown for more information.
reginald.brown@fortbendisd.com or sophiajames.1986@gmail.com
Students MAY NOT have food delivered to school from outside vendors. Food dropped off will be sent back to the restaurant. Please do not use this service to get lunch for your child. Parents may bring food and drop it off for their child. Please do this in a timely manner so that your child has time to eat their lunch and get to class on time.
ATTENTION PARENTS
Students may attend Viking sporting events ONLY if they are accompanied by a parent. If students come unaccompanied, they will not be allowed into the game.
Dulles Middle School
Email: reginald.brown@fortbendisd.com
Website: www.fortbendisd.com/dms
Location: 500 Dulles Avenue, Sugar Land, TX, USA
Phone: 281-634-5750
Facebook: facebook.com/dullesmiddle
Twitter: @DMS_Vikings
Dress Code
The District believes the Student Dress Code shall promote the attributes of the Profile of a Graduate. Therefore, students are expected to dress in a way that promotes respect for self and others, a safe learning environment, and honors the diversity of the learning community. Students and parent/guardians may determine the student’s personal dress and grooming standards, provided they comply with the general guidelines set forth in this Code and Board policy FNCA (Local). Generally, students shall be dressed and groomed in a manner that is clean and neat, does not cause distraction from learning, and that does not disrupt the learning environment. The District prohibits pictures, emblems, or writings on clothing that advertise or depict tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, drugs, or any other prohibited substance. Students must comply with the following dress and grooming standards, including in online learning platforms
Shirts, Blouses, Sweatshirts, Sweaters, Vests •
Shirts, blouses, sweatshirts, sweaters, vests that expose undergarments and/or midriff are prohibited; • Shirts, blouses, sweatshirts, sweaters, vests must not depict or reference alcohol, drugs, tobacco, weapons, nudity, gang affiliation, death, violence, vulgar or obscene language or images, and/or insults to race, religion, gender, or ethnicity, or other emblems or writing that may be expected to cause a material or substantial disruption of, or interference with, normal school operations.
Dresses, Jumpers, Skirts, Shorts, Skorts, Pants, and Jeans •
Dresses, jumpers, skirts, and skorts may be worn at a length that is slightly above mid-thigh; Shorts, jeans, and all pants shall be worn at the hip or higher and must cover undergarments; Shorts may be worn at a length that is approximately above mid-thigh;
Leggings, Stretch pants
Athletic wear, which may include yoga pants, stretch leggings and fitness tights, are permissible as long as they do not reveal undergarments, do not have sections of seethrough material, or are worn with a shirt that covers the posterior, or are not disruptive to the school environment. Shoes • Shoes shall be worn, and if designed to be tied shall be properly tied;
Unsafe footwear is not permitted (i.e., house shoes, slippers); and • Appropriate shoes must be worn during PE/athletics classes, as well as during lab activities in science, CTE, etc.
Hair • All hair, including facial hair, shall be neat, clean, and well groomed, and worn in a style that is not distractive; • Mustaches, beards, or goatees shall be neat, clean, and well groomed, and worn in a style that does not display derogatory remarks, symbols, or statements that disrupts the learning environment. Hair markings must not depict or reference alcohol, drugs, tobacco, weapons, nudity, gang affiliation, violence, vulgar or obscene language, or images that substantially disrupt or interfere with normal school operations. Drawings, icons, and/or other markings cut into the hair, including eyebrows, and not associated with required religious markings or hairstyles are not permitted.
Miscellaneous •
Proper undergarments shall be worn at all times; • Revealing clothing of any type may not be worn; • No clothing that has been ripped, torn, or cut in a way as to reveal undergarments, midriff, chest, or posterior; • Clothing including face coverings with profanity, obscene patches, references to alcohol, drugs, weapons or tobacco, or anything that may be construed as violent, vulgar or obscene Must have straps Length can be slightly above midthigh Entire area from armpit to armpit down to midthigh Clothing must cover areas from one armpit to the other armpit, down to the mid-thigh. Tops must have shoulder straps and be long enough to adequately cover the waistline and not expose the midriff.