Daybreak Middle Newsletter
August 8th, 2023
April 2024 Daybreak Middle School News
Principal Update
Hi Dragon families,
We hope that you all enjoyed a relaxing spring break! We only have 10 weeks of school left this year and it will go by very quickly. The district has applied for a snow day waiver from OSPI and we are waiting to hear about approval. As soon as we know what the last day of school will be, we will share that out with families.
Thank you to all those who were able to attend our Spring Band Concert and supported our fundraiser. Through your generosity we were able to raise $601.14 to support our band program. They will be using the funds as they travel to 2 parades this spring.
We continue to appreciate all your donations to the Dragon Store. One of the items for sale that we've added and students are enjoying is "Principal for the Day". Lila Carlson was one of the students who suggested it and the first to purchase it last month. This is the photo of the day she joined our admin team. At our April Dragon Store, we sold the Principal for a Day certificate to a student in each grade level. If you’d like to donate items feel free to drop them off at school at any time. Here’s a few ideas of items students enjoy : Izze sodas, small bags of snacks, individually wrapped candy or cookies, stickers, key chains, fidgets, etc. or you can use our Dragon Store Amazon Wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2SAEQG4B88QPW/ref=hz_ls_biz_exc.
Our Character Strong Social Emotional Learning curriculum character trait for April is courage. Our hope is to partner with families in building up positive character traits and modeling academic language for our students. You can support these efforts by talking with your student(s) at home about our character traits, completing the monthly character dare, and talking about academic appropriate language. We appreciate your partnership with this endeavor to build strong character for each and every student at DBM.
Go Dragons,
Lesli Collum (Principal)
Angela Sauser (Assistant Principal)
Meet our ASB Officers who lead our DBM Student Leadership Team
(Top row left to right): Jordan Osborne ASB Advisory, Yoshito Mae Finance Director
(Bottom row left to right): Leah Johnson Vice President, Violet Sappington President, Elijah Wilhelm Records Director
Counselor's Corner with Mrs. Olson
A Note Regarding Mental Health
It’s spring time once again and as good as the sunshine can be for our well-being, sometimes we need just a bit more. Our character theme for this month is Courage and in many ways I cannot think of a more courageous thing to do than to ask someone for help with our mental health. Keeping ourselves well can be a real challenge in the business of life, but there is help out there and we wanted to share some of those resources with you. A relatively recent update to one of our available crisis resources is “988”. You can call or text 988 at any time and someone will respond. Being part of a community is a primal human need and I am grateful to be a part of this one. May we be as well as we can together.
Dragons of the Month for March COOPERATION month
5th grade Students of the Month
Nicholas Fields, Grace Costea, Carston Hendricks, and Jonah Wooley are being recognized for their COOPERATION this month. Thanks for modeling good character to your peers!
6th grade Students of the Month
Jerrick Simon, Dante Xavier Vielman, Liubomyr Morochynski, and Yoshi Mae are being recognized for their COOPERATION this month. Thanks for being positive role models for your peers!
7th grade Students of the Month
Austin Maldonado, Luke Ebert, Troy Lee, and Harmony Fultz are being recognized for their superior COOPERATION. Thank you 7th graders for modeling positive characteristics for your peers.
8th Grade Students of the Month
Collin McGowan, Bentley McGrath, Sergio Aguilar, Magdalene Barrett, and Rylee Lange (not pictured) went above and beyond in showing their COOPERATION. Thank you 8th graders for being responsible leaders on our campus!
STATE TESTING - WIRED EARPHONES NEEDED
Smarter Balanced Assessment
We would appreciate your support in helping your student to get adequate rest and nutrition prior to and during the weeks of our testing. Students will also need WIRED earphones for testing. Although we do have some available at school, many students do not like the possibility or thought of sharing these with other students. Wired earphones can oftentimes be purchased at the dollar store.
Testing Dates
May 7 - ELA
May 9 - ELA
May 14 - Math
May 16 - Math
May 21 - Science (5 and 8th only)
If you have questions about state testing, please contact the school office.
All families are invited to our schoolwide BBQ on May 22
All families are invited to join us for our annual BBQ lunch on Wednesday, May 22. Please check in at the main office when you come onto campus. Here are the lunch times for each grade level:
6th grade: 10:47-11:04 AM
5th grade: 11:04-11:21 AM
7th grade: 11:37-11:54 AM
8th grade: 11:54-12:11
The cost per lunch is on the flier below.
Character Trait of the Month for April: Courage
This month we are focusing on courage. Students are learning that courage is choosing what is helpful, right, and kind - even when it's hard or scary.
Middle School Sports
Season 4: Track
Get ready to put on your running shoes for spring track! Co-Ed track runs from April 10-May 22, 2024. Registration for track will continue for another week through FamilyID. Please see the MS Athletics website for more information.
Students participating in sports must have a completed sports physical before practices begin (physical clearance is valid for 24 months). The completed sports physical form can be uploaded directly into Family ID. Sports physicals and the payment of any outstanding fees must be completed prior to the start of practices.
Go Dragons!!!
DBM all school BBQ is May 22nd
All families are welcome to join us for the annual BBQ on May 22nd. Please sign in at the main office when your arrive on campus. If you'd like to join your student our lunches are as follows:
6th grade: 10:47-11:04 AM
5th grade: 11:04-11:21 AM
7th grade: 11:37-11:54 AM
8th grade: 11:54-12:11 AM
Calendar of Events for April 2024
- One-hour late starts: Wednesday April 10, 17, 24
Guidelines for keeping children home from school
When should you keep your child home from school?
- Battle Ground Public Schools is following the standard guidelines for keeping children home from school. These are based on the infectious disease guidelines provided by Clark County Department of Health. The guidelines apply to both staff and students.
Thanks for helping to keep our schools healthy!
School Menus are back online
After experiencing some technical issues, Sodexo, the district’s nutrition services provider, has completed updates to their online menu system. You can now find them updated regularly on the district website. We appreciate the patience of our school communities during this process.
Daybreak Middle School Expectations
Snacks, gum, candy, and drinks in class are becoming an issue
Reminder of expectations for all students:
- No gum allowed on campus. Students who are arguing with staff about redirections to follow expectations will receive a defiance referral if they are chewing gum. Gum is being littered across campus which is an ongoing issue.
- No drinks outside the cafeteria except water. Students may bring a juice box or single soda in their lunch to consume in the cafeteria only. Students may not share food or drinks with others.
- Snacks are at teacher discretion. Students are not allowed to eat snacks in the halls or outside. Staff are seeing lots of students who choose not to eat lunch in the cafeteria but who want to snack all day which is a distraction from learning and creating messes in classrooms.
Energy Drinks and Caffeinated Drinks
Students are not allowed to have Energy drinks (Monsters, Rockstar's, etc.), Mountain Dew, or Coffee drinks on campus. If you get your student a Starbucks or Dutch Bros drink please have them consume them before they arrive on campus.
Cell Phones
Our staff are aware of the benefits of cell phones as a useful tool, as well as, the distraction they can be to learning and the easy access they present to cyberbullying. With that in mind, we are trying a new cell phone management system at DBM this year allowing for Green, Yellow, and Red cellphone zones. The attached flier explains the DBM Cell Phone Zones for families and students. Please talk with your student about managing their phone appropriately at school. Students should not be texting, videoing, or calling from their phones while at school. Students can come to the office to call parents if needed. If you need to contact your child please call the office at 360-885-6900 and we will relay a message to them for you. While we are all in the habit of sending a quick text, we ask that parents call the office instead of texting their student. Receiving a text in the middle of class distracts students from their learning.
Getting to & from campus
Students may arrive on campus as early as 7:45 AM when breakfast opens in the Cafeteria. Students who walk or ride a scooter or bike may enter and exit campus from the back gates on 21st Place or 22nd Ave, or from the front sidewalks off of 20th Ave in front of DBP or off of 239th St. Students must walk their bike or carry their scooter/wheelies/skates once they arrive on campus (including being in front of DBP). All scooters, skateboards, and bikes must be parked in the bike and scooter racks at DBM. Students may not leave their bikes or scooters at DBP. Parents who are dropping off or picking up students before or after school must use the Daybreak Primary parking lot. The Daybreak Middle parking lot is for staff parking and buses only. Daybreak is a combined closed campus during DBM and DBP school hours. Students must leave campus immediately after dismissal at 2:40 PM unless they are participating in a supervised activity like sports. DBM students may come back to campus at 3:40 PM to pick up their Primary siblings but can't wait on campus.
Late Start Wednesdays
Students may not arrive on campus until 8:45 AM on late start Wednesdays unless they attend the Right at School Program. On Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday we have campus supervision beginning at 7:45 AM and on late start Wednesdays our campus supervision begins at 8:45 AM.
Attendance
The first bell rings at 8:00 AM and the tardy bell rings at 8:10 AM. Any students arriving after 8:10 AM will need to check in at the office and get a pass to go to class. Wednesday late start days the first bell is at 9:00 AM and the tardy bells rings at 9:10 AM. It's vital that students are on time and ready to begin their school day by 8:10 AM each day.
If your student is absent or tardy there are three options to excuse an absence: 1. Log into Skyward, look under attendance tab, and click on the absence request link. 2. Parents can call our absence line by calling 360-885-6942. 3. Parents may also email dbmoffice@battlegroundps.org to excuse an absence.
Pre-arranged absence forms may be picked up in the office if parents are scheduling an absence. We ask that families avoid vacations or lengthy absences during the school year whenever possible.
Harassment Intimidation and Bullying Policy
At Daybreak Middle we follow the BGPS district policy on Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying (Policy 3207). Students will be participating in a review of the following policy on the first few days of school:
The district is committed to a safe and civil educational environment for all students, employees, parents/legal guardians, volunteers and patrons, who are free from harassment, intimidation or bullying. “Harassment, intimidation or bullying” means any intentional written messages or image — including those that are electronically transmitted —verbal, or physical act, including but not limited to one shown to be motivated by (race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, mental or physical disability), or other distinguishing characteristics, when an act:
A. Physically harms a student or damages the student’s property.
B. Has the effect of substantially interfering with a student’s education.
C. Is so severe, persistent, or pervasive that it creates an intimidating or threatening educational environment; or
D. Has the effect of substantially disrupting the orderly operation of the school.
Nothing in this section requires the affected student to actually possess a characteristic that is a basis for the harassment, intimidation, or bullying.
“Other distinguishing characteristics” can include but are not limited to: physical appearance, clothing or other apparel, socioeconomic status and weight.
“Intentional acts” refers to the individual’s choice to engage in the act rather than the ultimate impact of the action(s).
Behaviors/Expressions
This policy recognizes that 'harassment,' 'intimidation,' and 'bullying' are separate but related behaviors. Each must be addressed appropriately. The accompanying procedure differentiates the three behaviors, however, this differentiation should not be considered part of the legal definition of these behaviors.
Harassment, intimidation or bullying can take many forms including, but not limited to, slurs, rumors, jokes, innuendos, demeaning comments, drawings, cartoons, pranks, gestures, physical attacks, threats, or other written, oral, physical or electronically transmitted messages or images.
This policy is not intended to prohibit expression of religious, philosophical, or political views, provided that the expression does not substantially disrupt the educational environment. Many behaviors that do not rise to the level of harassment, intimidation or bullying may still be prohibited by other district policies or building, classroom or program rules.
Prevention
The district will provide students with strategies aimed at preventing harassment, intimidation and bullying. In its efforts to train students, the district will seek partnerships with families, law enforcement and other community agencies.
Interventions
Interventions are designed to remediate the impact on the targeted student(s) and others impacted by the violation, to change the behavior of the perpetrator, and to restore a positive school climate.
The district will consider the frequency of incidents, developmental age of the student, and severity of the conduct in determining intervention strategies. Interventions will range from counseling, correcting behavior and discipline, to law enforcement referrals.
District Wide News Updates
Family preferred language designation needed
Beginning in fall 2024, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction will require school districts to report a family's preferred language for communication, in addition to the language that they speak at home. Whether your family's language is English or a language other than English, please make a selection in Skyward Family Access following these steps.
Hotspots and bus WiFi to end
This summer, Battle Ground Public Schools will stop receiving federal dollars that allowed us to provide additional support for students during the pandemic. As a result, we will not have the funds to continue lending out hotspots for home use or to maintain Wi-Fi on school buses. These resources will no longer be available starting on June 17. We regret this inconvenience. If you have a district-issued hotspot, please return it to CASEE C by June 17. Learn more.
2024-25 School Calendar
The 2024-25 academic calendar is now available for next school year. Here are some of the key dates:
First day of school: Tuesday, Aug. 27
Kindergarten Smart Start begins: Tuesday, Sept. 3
Thanksgiving break: Nov. 27-29
Winter break: Dec. 23, 2024, through Jan. 3, 2025
Spring break: Monday, March 31, through Friday, April 4
Last day of school: Tuesday, June 10 (assuming no added days for weather-related closures)
NOTE: Additional in-service dates may be added following approval from the state superintendent’s office. Russian and Spanish-language versions will be released soon.
New digital school menus
Sodexo, the district’s food services provider, is excited to announce that they are transitioning their menu system to Nutrislice. This switch will provide an enhanced user experience, better navigation, filters for dietary and allergen restrictions, language options and much more. Check out the Nutrislice menus.
Calling next year's kindergarteners!
Online enrollment is now available for 2024-25 kindergartners. That’s right, it’s time to enroll next year’s kindergartners! Any child who will be 5 years old by Aug. 31, 2024, is eligible to enter kindergarten in the fall. To enroll, parents will need proof of their child's birth date (such as a birth certificate) and a signed and completed Washington state certificate of immunization status form or a completed certificate of exemption form. Please note that the state of Washington requires that immunization records be medically verified.
Have your documents ready and enroll online now so that you and your child can attend kindergarten orientation in the spring.
Transitional Kindergarten
Battle Ground Public Schools also offers Transitional Kindergarten for children who will turn 4 years old by Aug. 31 and meet certain eligibility requirements. The program is offered at Captain Strong, Daybreak, Glenwood Heights, Tukes Valley, Maple Grove and Yacolt primary schools, with plans underway to expand at the Pleasant Valley campus. Visit our Transitional Kindergarten webpage to learn more about the program and fill out an online eligibility form by June 12. Families will be notified by June 30 of their eligibility status.
Enrollment is open for district's alternative learning experience programs
Battle Ground Public Schools’ specialized and alternative learning experience programs are accepting enrollment applications for the 2024-25 school year. The district offers specialized and alternative programs for students in kindergarten through high school. Learn more about these educational options.
What you need to know about vaping among youth
Inhaling and exhaling the aerosol produced by an electronic vapor device, also known as vaping, carries health risks. Vaping products can include nicotine, chemicals, marijuana or other drugs that can affect students’ learning, attention and self-control. While most youth nationwide are choosing not to vape, we are concerned whenever a student chooses to use these products. Read about how the district helps students make healthy choices, how parents and guardians can help teens and consequences when a student uses vaping products at school.
Employee Recognition Award
Do you know an amazing staff member? The new Employee Recognition Awards will highlight staff members who reflect the district’s strategic plan goals. Three nominees will be selected each month and recognized at a board meeting. Everyone is welcome to submit a nomination.
New payment option available
There’s a new way to add funds to a student’s meals account, pay class and sports fees, buy yearbooks and more! Using this one-stop shopping option, parents and guardians can pay for each of their children in one transaction. Follow the instructions labeled “1st Time Parents” to access one account for the entire family. Meal payments will be reflected in Skyward every hour between 7:05 a.m. and 1:05 p.m.
E-Funds also remains an option for adding funds to a student’s meal account.
Student online safety
Keeping students safe online is a priority in Battle Ground Public Schools. Recent events have reinforced the need to use caution when interacting online. These include national reports of online groups targeting children and teens. While we are not aware of BGPS students being targeted by these groups, it is important for staff, students and parents/guardians to work together to keep our young people safe.
How you can help students be safe
Please periodically review these tips with your child:
Students should keep their passwords confidential. They should not share passwords or allow others to use their Chromebook after they sign in.
Use school email addresses for only school-related communication and activities.
Be cautious when accepting friend requests; communicating with other people online; and sharing photos, videos, and identifying information on social media and other sites. Review privacy settings to limit who can see this information.
Monitor what your child is doing online and discuss risks associated with sharing personal content.
Use GoGuardian Parent to see how your child is using their device. Get information on GoGuardian Parent.
How BGPS keeps students safe
BGPS supports the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act and insists that websites the district uses adhere to this law.
The district provides active supervision and filtering of content on all devices in accordance with the Children’s Internet Protection Act.
The district restricts access to apps that have the potential for abuse or pose cybersecurity risks.
Student data privacy agreements protect student information in conjunction with the Washington Student Data Privacy Alliance.
Students learn about digital citizenship and appropriate online behavior, including interacting with other individuals on social networking websites and in chat rooms, and cyberbullying awareness and response.
Russian, Ukrainian and Spanish translation and interpretation services
Услуги по устному и письменному переводу на русский и украинский языки 360-885-5433
Servicios de Traducción e Interpretación en Español 360-885-5431
Report incidents anonymously with SafeSchools
Please report bullying, intimidation, harassment, threats and safety concerns using our anonymous reporting system. Reporters can remain anonymous. Emergencies should always be reported to 911. Learn more about emergency procedures and safety protocols.
Battle Ground Public Schools provides equal opportunity in programs and employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin/language, creed/religion, sex, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a service animal by a person with a disability, age, marital status, honorably discharged veteran or military status, HIV/Hepatitis C status. The district provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Contact the following regarding questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Tom Adams, Director of Student Services, adams.tom@battlegroundps.org, Title IX Compliance Officer, 360.885.5415; Michelle Reinhardt, Executive Director of Human Resources, reinhardt.michelle@battlegroundps.org, Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator/Section 504/ADA Coordinator, 360.885.5481; or a letter may be submitted to the designated coordinator at the Battle Ground Public Schools, PO Box 200, Battle Ground, WA 98604.