The Panther Press
DMS Newsletter October 2018
Principal's Corner
Panther Families,
It is hard to believe that we will be finishing our first 9-week term this Friday! Fall break starts Monday, October 15th. Check your child’s grades in INow. Please encourage your child to complete any make-up work and missing assignments. Our grading period closes this Friday, October 5. Report cards will go home on October 11th.
I want to remind all parents to sign and return Impact Aid forms as soon as possible. We must have a form on file for every student. Impact Aid is money the federal government pays in lieu of taxes to schools that educate the children of federal workers. Simply working on federal property, like on Redstone Arsenal, will qualify the district for this money.
We have lots of amazing kids doing amazing things at Discovery. Our various extracurricular clubs and sports teams are giving it their all and representing Discovery proudly. Our volleyball team worked hard this season. The 8th grade team placed 2nd in the county tournament. Our 7th grade team went undefeated the entire season and won first place in the county tournament. We are proud of them! Our chess team continues to shine as competitive leaders. State winners were recognized recently during half-time at a Bob Jones football game. Our 8th grade football team will be playing its final regular season game facing their number one rival this Thursday night at Discovery. The winner of the game will play for the County Championship. Come on out and support our Panthers!!
With Panther Pride,
Kim Stewart
Discovery Middle School: A place for innovation, excellence and discovery.
Upcoming Events
October 5: End of the first nine weeks.
October 11: Report Cards will be sent home with students.
October 15-19: Fall Break
Spirit Week Milkshake Contest
Monday, October 1 - Thursday, October 4
Come out and support DMS for Spirit week @ Chick-Fil-A. Mention DMS when you purchase a milkshake. The school with the most milkshakes purchased will win!
DMS Panther Football
10/4 Discovery vs Liberty (@DMS) at 5:00 p.m.
10/11 Regional Championship (TBA)
DMS Boy's Basketball
October 25, 26, 27: 8th Grade Boys Tip-Off Tournament @ Hampton Cove
DMS Girl's Basketball
October 25, 26, 27: 8th Grade Boys Tip-Off Tournament @ Hampton Cove
October 8 - 9: DMS Soccer Tryouts from 3:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Spirit Week at DMS
This year we are excited to invite our sixth, seventh and eighth grade students to participate in the festivities!
Spirit Week:
Monday, October 1- Outshine the Lions (Wear Neon or Sparkles)
Tuesday, October 2 - Twin Day (Dress Up as Twins)
Wednesday, October 3 - Generations Day (6th Graders Dress Up Like the 60's, 7th Graders Dress Up Like the 70's and 8th Graders Dress Up Like the 80's)
Thursday, October 4 - White Out the Lions (Wear All White)
Friday, October 5 - Fan Day (Wear Your Favorite Jersey)
* Please remember that the school dress code still applies during Spirit Week.
DMS Veteran's Day Program
Discovery Middle School will honor veterans in a school-wide “Tribute to Heroes” community assembly on Friday, November 9th. This annual veteran’s tribute at DMS is a day in which veterans are invited to a special school breakfast and then treated to a patriotic "Thank You" ceremony in the gym.
If you would like to invite a family member or friend who is a veteran to attend, please share the following link with them so that we may honor them at this special program. https://goo.gl/forms/NEuE3AxkTQefbYVq2
The program is hosted by students in the JS2S service club. All RSVP's for Breakfast are needed by October 19th. For any questions, please email dmsjs2s@gmail.com
Program Schedule:
Assembly 1 - 8:30 a.m. in the DMS Gym
Breakfast - 9:00 a.m. in the DMS Library
Assembly 2 - 9:45 a.m. in the DMS Gym
We hope to see you there!
Band Events
March On Madison - Come and see the DMS Band, Bob Jones Bands and other local marching bands perform their halftime productions in the Madison City Stadium on Tuesday, October 2nd. Tickets are $5 and the event begins at 6:00 p.m.
Cobwebs and Cocoa - Come to the October PTA meeting on Thursday 10/25 and stay afterward for the Concert Band's Halloween concert performance! Have some hot cocoa and Halloween themed dessert and see the Concert Band in their Halloween costumes. You'll hear favorites like Ghostbusters, Scooby Doo and some fun Halloween rock. We will start at 6:00 p.m. in the DMS Cafeteria and the band performance will follow immediately after a very brief meeting. It's a free performance!
DMS HALLOWEEN DANCE! The Halloween party this year is Tuesday 10/30 from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. in the DMS Gym. We will have pre-sale tickets in the front office for $7 after Monday 10/8. Tickets will be $10 at the door. Students may wear a costume if they choose; we will have a costume contest, great concession stand, photo booth and more!
Poetry in Motion
Thais Arslanbekov
Shelby Burruss
Amelia Dobbs
Gwendoline Jory
Mackenzie Hardin
Emily Lee
Justin Pan
Hayden Petree
Parx White
This is a national contest open to public, private, and homeschool students in grades K -9 across the country. The poetry contest is held three times a year August, December, and April. Great job DMS writers!
Student Spotlight
We are so proud of these hard working young athletes!
DMS Advisory: The Positivity Project
When learning about the DMS Advisory program, many people ask What is Advisory? Advisory provides each student a teacher mentor along with the opportunity to bond with a small cohort of students over the school year.
What is the purpose of Advisory? The Advisory program aims to improve school climate by enhancing both student-to-student connectivity and student-to-teacher connectivity along with providing students a more personalized and supported educational experience.
Discovery and Liberty Middle Schools are focusing their Advisory theme this year on the mindset that "Other People Matter". The Positivity Project is based on the idea that positive relationships are the cornerstone of health, happiness, and resilience.
Advisory groups are comprised of a teacher and an assigned group of students. The key is for the teacher to create a positive relationship with the students and inspire students to build positive relationships among themselves. By utilizing the building blocks for healthy social interactions with others, students will have the tools to create a more positive and inclusive environment in our school.
The "Other People Matter" mindset is based on four basic tenets:
* Identifying and appreciating the good in others.
* Knowing that my words and actions effect others.
* Being present and giving others my attention.
* Cheering others' successes.
* Supporting others when they are struggling.
On Friday, September 14 we had our Advisory Kick-Off event where students were able to meet their Advisory group and begin to bond with one another. Students played team building games outside, ate freeze pops, and got to know their mentor teacher. What a great way to begin the school year on a positive note!
Library News
The DMS library IS the place to be!
Online Public Access 24/7...
Students have online public access to our digital media center. They can conduct searches, manage virtual book bags, reserve books, renew books, and write book reviews. Students can also access eBooks and digital audiobooks with the use of the FREE eHub Reader app by Perma-Bound. For more information and directions regarding these features…go to our DMS library page.
Additionally, the Librista app for Apple and Android devices is FREE and enables students to use OPAC, our Online Public Access Catalog, with mobile devices. Students can conduct searches, renew and/or reserve books, check due dates, and check to see if fines are owed. Stay up-to-date with this incredible, convenient service!
Book Fair…
Our Scholastic Holiday Book Fair is scheduled for November 13-16! We are SUPER excited to provide this opportunity for you to purchase holiday gifts and support our school library! Make plans now to attend this incredible event!
Book Club...
Do you enjoy reading and discussing great books? Join us every 2nd and 4th Tuesday morning in the media center from 7:30 to 7:50. We are currently reading about the enchanted world of Artime'. Get your copy of The Unwanteds and join us!
The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann
Exploring, Creating, and Having Fun with Maker Space
THANK YOU Volunteers! We are truly grateful for your dedication. Our media center is better because of YOU.
Have suggestions on how to improve our Media Center? Come and share your ideas!
Visit the DMS library to "check out" valuable resources available for you!
Discovery Middle School
Website: http://dms.madisoncity.k12.al.us/
Location: 1304 Hughes Road, Madison, AL, USA
Phone: 256-837-3735
Facebook: facebook.com/discoverymspanthers
Twitter: @DMSPanthers1