DMS Weekly Update
Week of November 9th
SPIRIT WEEK! WE ARE THANKFUL!!!
Thankfulness Spirit Week
November 16th - 20th
Monday, November 16th – Thankful for Fall and Thanksgiving
**Wear your Fall colors**
6th grade – Yellow 7th grade – Tan/Brown 8th grade – Orange
(Grade levels are competing against each other for the most participation)
Tuesday, November 17th – Thankful for Family & Friends
**Twin or dress alike with others**
(Homeroom cohorts are competing against each other for the most participation)
Wednesday, November 18th – Thankful for our School & Community
**Show your DMS pride**
6th grade – Purple 7th grade – Gold 8th grade – White
(Grade levels are competing against each other for the most participation)
Thursday, November 19th – Thankful for a Bountiful Harvest
**Wear country attire – overalls, camo or plaid**
(Homeroom cohorts are competing against each other for the most participation)
Friday, November 20th – Thankful for Our Country & Our Freedoms
**Wear the colors of our nation**
6th grade – Red 7th grade – White 8th grade – Blue
(Grade levels are competing against each other for the most participation)
**Please adhere to dress code and spirit week dress guidelines**
Second Semester Declaration!
The first day of the second semester is January 20, 2021, and now it is time to prepare for it. We need a Second Semester Declaration of Intent from every student. It is due by Monday, November 23 at noon.
Click here to submit a Second Semester Declaration of Intent for each student.
During the summer, SDPC said each family would have the option of choosing between traditional (face-to-face & remote) instruction at a school or virtual instruction at Pickens County Virtual Academy (PCVA) for the second semester.
- The timeframe for making this choice started on Monday, 11/2 and ends on Monday, 11/23 at noon.
- Access to the Second Semester Declaration of Intent will not be available after the deadline on Monday, 11/23 at noon.
- The Second Semester Declaration of Intent is only for grades 5K-12. Virtual options are not available for pre-K.
- If you do not respond, your students will stay in the same placement as the first semester. However, we request to have a declaration for all students.
- If you submit and then change your mind, you can resubmit before the deadline. The most recent response will be used to determine placement.
PCVA MAP TESTING SCHEDULE
Greetings to all students and families in our Pickens County Virtual Academy! I hope everyone is doing well and staying safe during this time of year.
During this school year, our PCVA students will need to report to campus to take several state required assessments that must be proctored in a secure testing environment. The first of these assessments is the Measurement of Academic Progress or MAP assessment. This week Dacusville Middle School was notified that we would need to provide this test to our PCVA students prior to November 23rd. There are two subjects that will need to be taken: ELA and Math. These tests are taken on separate days in order for students to avoid testing fatigue.
We have scheduled afternoon testing sessions for our PCVA students so that PCVA students and Face2Face students are not on campus together and to allow for staff proctoring of this test. The test dates for the MAP assessment are:
Monday, November 16th-ELA
Wednesday, November 18th-Math
Thursday, November 19th-Make Up test sessions
Time- 3:00pm-4:30pm
Where- DMS Media Center
PCVA students are asked to report to the Media Center at 3:00pm. We will check-in students and make sure they get to their testing room. We will also have the school photographer on site to take make up pictures for our school yearbook. SDPC is encouraging students to complete MAP in 1 hour per test. Students are asked to bring their fully charged Chromebook, a bottle of water, and a book or magazine to read after completing their MAP assessment until time to be dismissed at 4:30pm.
Students who come on campus to take the MAP test will be in a classroom that will allow for 6ft of physical distance while taking MAP. Masks will be required while arriving to campus, moving about on campus, and when leaving campus. Masks are to be worn while on campus, unless a student can be 6 feet or more from other students. Students will be dismissed to the car line for pick up in a staggered pattern to allow for social distancing. All classrooms will have been sanitized using BioTab7, and students will be offered the use of hand sanitizer while on campus.
Safety is our first priority for students and for our staff. We want you and your child to feel safe while on campus for the MAP test. If you have any questions or concerns about taking the MAP test, please call the Main Office at 397-3500. Thank you for your assistance as we assess all students, including PCVA students, so that we can monitor their academic growth which allows us to provide assistance where needed.
Continuing to be Safe!
Please remember to review COVID-19 safety guidelines with your child. Masks are required to be worn by staff and students upon arrival to campus, during all transitions, in classrooms when up and moving around, in hallways, at dismissal, and in classrooms when proper social distancing of at least 6ft. isn't possible. All students who wish to wear their masks even when social distancing is possible, may certainly do so. Thank you for reviewing these guidelines with your child.
REPORT CARDS GO HOME MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9TH!!!!!!!
Make Up Pictures
School make-up pictures for PCVA students will be held this Monday, November 16th in the afternoon.
PCVA Students will have their picture taken for the yearbook at 3:00pm on Monday, November 16th, as they arrive for the MAP test.
Angel Ornaments For Sale!
Home-Made Wooden Angel Ornaments Are On Sale Now!!
$5.00/ea.
Many to Choose From!
Have your child pick one soon before they are all gone!
This is a DMS school Fundraiser.
Thank you for supporting DMS!
PCVA MAP Testing
We have scheduled afternoon testing sessions for our PCVA students. The test dates for the MAP assessment are:
Monday, November 16th-ELA
Wednesday, November 18th-Math
Thursday, November 19th-Make Up test sessions
Time- 3:00pm-4:30pm
Where- DMS Media Center
These test dates are for PCVA students only!