DSMS News
January 25, 2023
Upcoming Dates
- Sunday, February 5th, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM Chocolate Cafe (see below!)
- Wednesday, February 8th, 12:10 PM Early Release for Staff Professional Learning
Principal's Update
In the interim, they have shared a number of documents that you may find helpful. You can access these files by clicking here.
The session was fairly extensive, and covered too many topics and suggestions than I could reasonably share here, but I'd like to share a few that I thought might be most useful for most middle school parents:
- Make all social media profiles private
- Avoid using identifying information
- Turn off geolocation
- Make passwords long and strong
- Use an avatar as their profile photo
- Instruct children to never share personal information or photos of themselves to anyone without your permission
- "Don't post anything that you wouldn't want the world to see..."
- "Remember: people online may not be who they say they are!"
Again, I'll share the registration info for future sessions as soon as I receive it.
Last Call! A quick Parent/Caregiver Survey
We'd love to get your feedback about how we are doing to meet the needs of your middle schooler! Please take a moment to fill out this brief "DSMS Parent/Caregiver Survey". The survey will remain open through Friday, January 20tth. Thank you!
MCAS Survey
The Department is inviting students, parents, education professionals, and community members to participate in a survey that will provide feedback on the MCAS program and help inform improvements. The Department is seeking stakeholders’ input in several areas, including communications and support, data and reporting, and release of test questions. The survey will close at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 27. Please contact mcas@doe.mass.edu with any questions.
MCAS Administration Dates
English Language Arts:
- 4/3 & 4/4: 7th & 8th Grade
- 4/11 & 4/12: 6th Grade
Mathematics:
- 5/10 & 5/11: 7th & 8th Grade
- 5/15 & 5/16: 6th Math
- 5/17: STE 8th Grade (this assessment is only administered to our 8th graders)
SPAN DS
Here is an important message from SPAN DS:
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Have you seen the latest report “Highlights from the MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey” for Dover Sherborn 2021? If you really want to know what is going on with our young people, you should give it a read. For example:
- 55% of students drank alcohol in their lifetime, and 34% drank in the past 30 days.
- 22% of youth report binge drinking in the past 30 days.*
- Lifetime and current alcohol use are higher among females than males. For example, 37% of females and 31% of males report current drinking.
- Reports of binge drinking do not differ by sex.
- Alcohol use increases substantially by grade: Current drinking increases from 10% in 9th grade to 60% in 12th grade, and binge drinking increases from 4% to 44%.
These are our kids! SPAN DS is committed to helping parents by promoting awareness and implement resources that will help reduce substance abuse in the D-S community. We are planning a series of parent coffees and a awareness campaign this Spring. If you would like to join this effort, please reach out to Max Olmstead, 9th grade parent from Dover (maxolm@me.com) and/or Kate Potter, 9th grade parent from Sherborn (kejpotter@gmail.com).
We wanted to let you know that SPAN DS (Substance Prevention and Awareness Network, Dover Sherborn) is being revived. Since 2002, SPAN DS has been working to promote awareness and implement resources that will help reduce substance abuse in the DS community. We are organizing speakers, parent coffees to build networks fo relationships with police, guidance counselors, and other community leaders, and you will be seeing public service campaigns in the not too distant future. After a couple of years of dormancy, members of the community, parents, educators and law enforcement have gathered to begin this important work again. Should you be interested in joining the team, please contact either Max Olmstead in Dover (maxolm@me.com) or Kate Potter in Sherborn (kejpotter@gmail.com).
CHOCOLATE, CHOCOLATE, CHOCOLATE!
Please join us as we transform Lindquist Commons and Mudge Auditorium into a Chocolate Cafe and Music Celebration featuring performances by the middle and high school vocal ensembles, jazz bands, string ensemble, Pine Hill and Chickering jazz bands, and performances by the casts of SpongeBob and The Music Man.
Sunday, February 5th
2:00-4:00 pm
Mudge Auditorium & Cafeteria
$15 pp/$35 family cap
This event is hosted by FoPA, the DS Friends of the Performing Arts. The Chocolate Cafe is the main fundraiser for the Dover-Sherborn music and drama programs.
Counselor's Corner
All Grades: After School Help Offered!
Organization Station: Monday’s - Thursday’s 3:10-4:00pm in room 204. Small group executive functioning support including binder/locker organization, homework prioritization, google classroom management, and study skills.
Homework Club: Monday’s & Wednesday’s in the Library. Please see the “After School Activities” section of the Newsletter for more information.
- Joelle and Keenan
PARENTING FOR INCLUSIVITY: Raising Kind, Smart and Just Children
PARENTING FOR INCLUSIVITY: Raising Kind, Smart and Just Children
A Monthly (Virtual) Gathering for Parents
Join fellow parents who understand that academic excellence and being prepared to prosper in an increasingly diverse, interconnected, and global community require knowledge and know-how regarding the social issues that confront even our youngest learners on a daily basis.
Carlos (Dr. Hoyt, our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion consultant) looks forward to fostering a safe, warm, and positive atmosphere in which highly interactive, candid, and constructive dialogue can occur. Our topics will relate to the Social Identity Prism. How were we socialized regarding each of the social identity strands? What do we want to learn about them? How should we talk about them with our kids?
We’ll review empirical information, unpack complexities and challenges, and support each other in doing the best we can to support our kids as they grow into a world in which they have a right to be included and will benefit greatly from knowing how to interact with others inclusively.
DEI DOUBTS: Is It Safe to Say I Have Apprehensions?
DEI DOUBTS: Is It Safe to Say I Have Apprehensions?
An Open Honest Compassionate Constructive Discussion
Wednesday, January 31, 2023
6:30 - 8:00 PM
Location: Dover Church, 17 Springdale Avenue, Dover
RSVP Here (Child care available!)
Can the DS community be one in which folks who have questions, concerns, and maybe even disagreements about inclusive pedagogy can express themselves civilly and safely? Might it be possible to find/create common ground among people who seem to and might actually disagree about aspects of inclusivity work? The answer to both of these questions has to be YES, ABSOLUTELY!
Corn Hole Games
Lost and Found
Enter a Google Doodle to Google
Google’s Doodle theme for 2023 is, “I am grateful for...” Submissions are due by Tuesday, March 7, 2023. Winners receive a $30,000 college scholarship, a $50,000 technology package for school, Google Hardware, fun Google Swag and your Google design will be displayed on Google’s home page for 24 hours.
DS String Ensemble
The DS STRING ENSEMBLE is still looking for members!
This exciting after school chamber ensemble is for students who already study their string instrument privately (violin, viola, cello or string bass), have at least one year of private instruction under their belt, and are proficient note readers.
The String Ensemble meets weekly on Wednesdays after school, from 3:15pm-4:00pm. This group setting gives students a chance to play with others in a relaxed atmosphere, exploring a wide variety of musical genres. Andrea (Andy) Costello instructs students in sight reading, group leadership, intonation, rhythm and interpretation skills. The group performs for the school/parents at least once each semester.
This group is run through DS Continuing Education. The cost is $235 per semester, check made out to “DS Continuing Education”.
Start date: January 24
If interested in joining or if you have questions, please contact Andrea (Andy) directly at acostello84@comcast.net
Check out Andrea's website
https://costellomusicstudio.com/
Join DSMS on Social Media!
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/doversherbornms
Twitter - https://twitter.com/doversherbornms
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/doversherbornms/
COVID Protocol
- There is no formal testing program at this time though we will offer take-home tests to faculty and families who wish to receive them on a bi-weekly basis. The Department of Public Health does not recommend individuals to test unless they experience Covid-like symptoms. They do not recommend contact tracing, universal mask requirements (though masking is supported and recommended for any individuals who are 'high-risk'), or test-to-stay testing.
- Symptoms of Covid 19: fever of 100 degrees or higher, shortness of breath, loss of taste or smell, muscle/body aches, cough (not due to other known cause), sore throat (in combination with other symptoms), nausea/vomiting (in combination with other symptoms), headache (in combination with other symptoms), fatigue (in combination with other symptoms), nasal congestion/runny nose (in combination with other symptoms)
- If your child is experiencing these symptoms and tests positive for Covid-19, they must isolate for 5 days and, as long as the symptoms are resolving without the use of fever-reducing medicine for 24 hours, can return to school with a mask through Day 10 (if they test negative on Day 5 or later, they do not need to mask). Please notify the school nurse of any positive Covid-19 cases.
- There is no testing requirement to return to school on Day 6 – if you choose to test your child after Day 5 and they test positive, they may still be at school as long as they follow the masking requirement.
- If your child is experiencing symptoms but tests negative for Covid-19 and symptoms are resolving, they may return to school as long as they feel well enough to do so. Ideally wearing a mask until symptoms have resolved would be best practice.
- In cases in which children display COVID-like symptoms while at school, nurses will reach out to parents or guardians and may ask that the child be picked up from school. Nurses will not be conducting testing at school of symptomatic students. In cases in which a family may not have access to at-home testing, please discuss being provided an at-home test with the nurse.
- Per DPH, quarantine is no longer required for those exposed, regardless of vaccination status. The child can continue to participate in activities as long as they remain asymptomatic. It's recommended if possible to test on Day 6 of exposure and also to mask for 10 days from exposure. There are no reporting requirements in this scenario, just a guide.
STANDING INFORMATION
- SCHOOL SECURITY AND VISITOR SIGN IN: In order to make Dover-Sherborn Middle School as safe and secure as possible, we have tightened up on visitor access to the building. This is a shift for our community. Please understand that it is not our intention to be less welcoming, but rather to be accountable to knowing who is in the building at all times and to reduce the possibility of threat to our school safety. ALL VISITORS MUST ENTER THROUGH THE FRONT DOORS. Upon entering the first set of main doors, you will notice an intercom system located on your right, along with a table that details the procedures for dismissals and dropping off items.
- NO SWITCHING OF BUSES: Students will not be able to ride any bus other than their assigned bus under any circumstances this year.
- ATTENDANCE: If your child is going to be absent, please report that by calling 508-785-8149, and follow the appropriate prompts.
- DISMISSAL PROCEDURE: If you need to dismiss your child early, please enter the building through the first set of doors at the main entrance and press the buzzer located on your right. You will be asked to sign your child out on the dismissal clipboard and then your child will be sent out to your vehicle.
- COVID HOME TEST OPT-IN FORM
- CHROMEBOOK CHARGING: Please make sure chromebooks are charged nightly at home. We are noticing an increase in uncharged chromebooks especially after a weekend.