FOX FEATURE WEEKLY UPDATE
APRIL 5, 2019
UPCOMING EVENTS
MONDAY 04/08/2019
- PTSA GENERAL MEETING MEDIA CENTER
- COLUMBIA FIREFLIES DFMS GAME NIGHT
TUESDAY 04/09/2019
WEDNESDAY 04/10/2019
- LATE START
THURSDAY 04/04/2019
- STUDENT PROFESSIONAL DAY
FRIDAY 04/05/2019
- NO TARDY PARTY DURING DENS
TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT
DIGITAL FAMILIES COMMUNITY EVENT: NAVIGATING THE DIGITAL AGE
TUESDAY APRIL 23, 2019
5:15 PM TO 8:00 PM
DFMS CAFETERIA
FOR CURRENT AND RISING MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS AND PARENTS
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT COURSES FOR 2019-2020
Dutch Fork Middle School provides our student's opportunities to pursue Honors level classes and helps ensure our students get a quality education that will assist them as they transition to high school. Some of these Honors level courses allow the student to earn high school credit. In middle school, core academic classes that carry high school credit include Algebra 1 Honors, Geometry Honors, and English 1 Honors. Middle school elective classes that are credit-bearing include Spanish 1 (8th grade only) and Fundamentals of Computing 1 (for 0.5 credit). These classes are taught to the standards of a high school course because the student will receive credit which will be applied to high school graduation requirements. These classes align with the standards of high school difficulty, as well as both high school attendance and grading policies.
Beginning in the 2018-2019 school year, middle school students taking high school credit classes will be held to the following expectations:
A “WF” or a “WP” (Withdrawal due to Failing or Withdrawal due to Passing) will be assigned to any student who decides to drop a high school credit-bearing class after the 10th day of school for a year-long class or after the 5th day of school for a semester-long class.
These classes will affect your student’s Grade Point Average (GPA). If a student makes a grade that is failing or has a final grade that is lower than he/she desires, the student has the ability to retake this class. However, students MUST retake the class at the same level AND both attempts/grades of taking the class will be recorded on the student’s transcript. The benefit of retaking a class is that the higher of the two grades will be averaged into a student’s GPA.
Students must obtain the required “seat time” to receive high school credit. Students must attend at least 170 of 180 days for one unit of credit and 85 days of 90 days for ½ unit of credit. Although absences may be lawful and not relative to truancy charges, all absences out of school are counting days when considering the awarding of credit. Any student who is absent more than 10 days in a year-long course and 5 days in a semester-long course shall not be eligible to receive credit in class.
Your student’s success is important to us. Please let us know if you have any additional questions by contacting the school counseling department at 803-476-4805.
AFTERNOON DISMISSAL PRODECURES
3:30 PM - At the first dismissal the following students are released:
- car riders
- 1st round of buses...this is announced daily
- home walkers
3:37 PM - At the second dismissal the following students are released:
- 2nd round of buses...this is announced daily
- high school walkers (walk behind the tennis courts and enter the high school from the back)
Please note, the high school does not dismiss until 3:40 PM. Any middle school students on their campus prior to 3:40 PM could be considered trespassing. We purposely hold our high school walkers until the 3:37 PM dismissal to assist the high school in their dismissal process.
All coaches have been informed of our dismissal timing. Please let us know if you have any concerns and we can discuss them with the high school athletics department.
SCHOOL DISTRICT FIVE BOARD FORGIVES TWO MAKE-UP DAYS FOR STUDENTS
The Lexington-Richland School District Five Board of Trustees has voted to forgive two of the five school days students missed due to inclement weather this school year.
Students missed four school days (Tuesday, Sept. 11, through Friday, Sept. 14) by order of the governor due to Hurricane Florence and another school day on Thursday, Oct. 11, due to Hurricane Michael.
By law (Section 59-1-425 of the South Carolina Code of Laws), districts are required to make up three days before school boards can vote to waive up to three additional days. Earlier this academic year, the Lexington-Richland School District Five School Board approved three make-up days lost due to inclement weather. Students still must attend school on days already designated as make-up days:
- Monday, October 8. Students attended school on this day, which was previously scheduled as a Staff Development/Teacher Work Day. This will be an A Day for middle and high school students.
- Friday, March 29. Students will attend school on this day, which was previously scheduled as a Teacher/Student Holiday. This will be an A Day for middle and high school students.
- Monday, April 22. Students will attend school on this day, which was previously scheduled as a Staff Development/Teacher Work Day. This will be a B Day for middle and high students.
Employees of School District Five are responsible for ensuring that they work the total number of days per their contract and are making up days lost to inclement weather, per guidelines provided by the district administration. The school board voted March 18 to forgive the remaining two days students missed due to inclement weather.
For more information on make-up days, contact your supervisor or school administration.
DUTCH FORK CHEERLEADING
If you have any further questions please feel free to email us at silverfoxcheerleading@gmail.com
BOYS BASKETBALL CAMP
SPRING BOOK FAIR
NEW REGISTRATION PAGE IS NOW OPEN!!!
CAREER CORNER SCHOOL COUNSELING OFFICE
- Impressions Last - 1st Impressions & Positive Customer Service
- Ready, Set, Goal-Setting! - Making SMART Goals and a Vision for Your Future
- Netiquette - How Social Media Affects Your Future (Yes, even in Middle School)
- Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees - Financial Literacy for Middle School Students Sponsored by The School Counseling Office
FCA
DAZZLERS DANCE TEAM
DUTCH FORK MIDDLE SCHOOL COUNSELING OFFICE
STUDENT COUNCIL DEPARTMENT
As members of the Student Council, we are increasing school spirit by hosting a No Tardy Party with a carnival theme for all students. We have many great ideas to make this occasion very exciting for the students but we are working with a limited budget. We would love to acknowledge those individuals of our school that exceed the expectation of Dutch Fork Middle School. We understand you are a crucial benefit to our community and we are hopeful, you would so graciously sponsor us in this idea. The result of this project is very important to us and we are hoping students will enjoy it, so we will greatly appreciate any amount or donation. We are currently accepting monetary gifts and donations like carnival snack items, water, popcorn, and ice pops. If you are available to donate your time, we would appreciate that as well. The No Tardy Party is scheduled for Friday, April 12 from 11:00 -1:30. Please make all donations payable to Dutch Fork Middle and submit them by April 5, 2019. Any questions please contact Sharisse Lee 803-476-4897
Thank you in advance for reading our request.
Sincerely,
Lilly Margaret O’Leary Student Council President on behalf of the Dutch Fork Middle Student Council Members
8TH GRADE FORMAL
LOST & FOUND
FRONT OFFICE SURVEY
YEARBOOK PRICES INCREASE!!!
CHORUS FIELD TRIP INFORMATION
DUTCH FORK BOYS LACROSSE
Come on out for STUDENT DISCOUNT DAY & special events at our last home games! And as always, full concessions available!
Saturday, April 6th
DF vs. Riverside Senior Day & STUDENT DISCOUNT DAY!
Senior Day & STUDENT DISCOUNT DAY! ***$2 student admission with school ID!*** DFHS stadium JV 12pm Varsity 1:30pm Special Recognition of the SENIOR players!
Wednesday, April 10th
DF vs. Spring Valley
Sponsor Recognition Night!
DFHS stadium
JV 5:30pm
Varsity 7 pm
Special recognition of our season sponsors at the half-time of the varsity game!
STAY TUNED for PLAYOFF Game details!
STEM DAY 2019
PTSA CORNER
Hello Silver Fox families!!!!
NOW SEARCHING:
BOARD MEMBERS FOR THE 2019-2020 school year! We are looking for a few great volunteers to carry on the service provided by PTSA at our school. There are many ways to help on the board, please message us at dfmiddleptsa@gmail.com if you have any questions or interest for the next school year. You can pick up a nomination form in the front office from Coach Smith.
General Meeting Notice:
Date: Monday, April 8th 2019
Time: 8:15
Place: Media Center
At this meeting, Mr. Gates from the CAT Center will be there to talk about new options at the Center.
SAVE THE DATE:
Tuesday, April 23, 2019, We are planning an insightful family event. Wake up your digital awareness and be in the times with your children. RSVP when you see the event in the newsletter or on Facebook. We have to limit our event to 250 ppl. Free dinner and door prizes included. If you are interested in volunteering or helping in any way with this event please message dfmiddleptsa@gmail.com.
TEACHER SPOTLIGHT:
The following is a nomination for Karl Hudson (8th grade SS teacher and team leader):
Mr. Hudson is a phenomenal leader and person. He not only cares about his students, but he also takes care of the teachers at DFMS. Mr. Hudson is the unofficial welcome committee that checks on all the staff members. He takes the time to listen with an open heart and give guidance about things that truly matter in life. We all need a little Mr. Hudson in our lives!
Thank you, Mr. Hudson, for always taking the time to make us feel special.
We are forever grateful!
*anonymous entry from Mr. Hudson's 8th-grade team.
Wow! Mr. Hudson, thank you for everything you do at our school and for our students
Please email us and tell us why you think a teacher is going above and beyond at our school. Every teacher nominated will have their morning duty or lunch duty for special area teachers taken care of for a day. The teachers truly appreciate knowing what they do matters and the break that comes with it. To nominate a teacher send an email to DFMIDDLEPTSA@gmail.com. Please add the teachers name, grade and why you are nominating them.
SPIRIT WEAR:
You can order spirit wear on our website all year at www.dutchforkspiritwear.com
BOX TOPS:
Don’t forget to download the Bonus Box Top App. Make sure you sign up to continue supporting our school through the school year and summer DFMS ID# 584789.
NOTE:
If you have any ideas or suggestions please send us an e-mail. Share your thoughts. We'd love to hear from you!
DUTCH FORK MIDDLE SCHOOL
Website: http://lexrich5.org/dfms
Location: 1528 Old Tamah Road, Irmo, SC, USA
Phone: (803) 476-4800
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dutch-Fork-Middle-School-549147891811317/