DMS Community,

This week learners continued to settle into routines demonstrating community, empathy, and purpose. Classes started learning experiences and continued to build community that will be critical as the year progresses. A highlight of the week was in 6th grade social studies as students engaged in learning about 9/11 and created a mural of their own heroes. Learners highlighted first responders, the military, parents, grandparents, family, friends, teachers, and coaches.

Next week features our first parent ambassador meeting on Thursday, September 21 at 5:00PM. Superintendent Berg will join us to provide information on the upcoming levy and financial status of the school district. If you would like to join, please reach out to me at anelson@farmington.k12.mn.us so we can have adequate space for everyone.

I want to remind families of the grade level planners that details learning experiences for each week. I would encourage you to reference these and engage your child in conversation about what they are learning at school.

• Grade 6
• Grade 7
• Grade 8

Finally, DMS currently has one open paraprofessional position. The position is 15 hours a week and is a perfect fit for someone looking for a few hours each day. If interested, please apply here.

As always, we appreciate your partnership and have a great weekend!

Andy Nelson, Principal

Please join us for an information meeting to learn about the upcoming operating levy referendum.

• Wednesday, September 20, 2023 7 p.m. at Boeckman Middle Schools
• Thursday, October 12, 2023 7 p.m. at Farmington High School

Many community groups and Parent Teacher Partnership (PTP) organizations are also hosting information meetings.

Learn more at https://www.farmington.k12.mn.us/referendum

Farmington Schools continue to review current research and update safety plans each year. Throughout the school year, we will practice and engage students in conversations about how we would respond in different situations (i.e. Fire Drill, Tornado Drill, and Run-Hide-Fight). In the coming weeks during Tiger Connections at Dodge Middle School, we will engage our students in a common presentation and conversation about this enhanced approach to emergency preparedness. Students will have opportunities to ask questions, seek clarification, and become even more familiar with their surroundings around our school campus. We will also familiarize our students to what the lockdown tone sounds like and demonstrate our blue indicating a Run-Hide-Fight situation. To read more about this, please click here.

If you would like to opt your learner out of these conversations or drills in which we will demonstrate the lockdown tone sounds, please reach out to anelson@farmington.k12.mn.us

• Free for all families
• No qualifications required
• No contact information collected
• Families may participate in the program at any time throughout the school year
• Students will receive food bags each week, typically on Fridays

Every Meal enrollment form

LIKE is a film-based program that explores the impact of social media on our lives. Technology is a tool. It’s here to stay and social platforms are a place to connect, share and care. The goal for this film is to inspire people of all ages, especially kids, to self-regulate. It’s not about blame. It’s about looking in the mirror and allowing ourselves to create balance in our lives and to learn to be there for each other.

Parents, guardians, middle school and high school students, please join us on Monday September 18th at Farmington High School for an evening of events.

Community Resource Fair – 5:30-6:30pm (over 20 agencies joining us)

Panel Discussion – 6:35-7:15pm

LIKE Documentary – 7:15-8:15pm

ISD 192 has joined Minnesota’s Free School Meals Program. Starting this school year (23-24), all students can get one breakfast and one lunch free of charge each day at school. Although no application is required to receive this free meal benefit, filling out the Application for Educational Benefits is still important! Your child may qualify for other benefits such as reduced fees at school. Your application may also help the school qualify for education funds, discounts, and other meal programs. Applications can be found online, in the main office of the school and at the food service office located at 510 Walnut Street. Forms will be accepted beginning in July once the 2023-24 application is posted online and all completed forms should be returned to the food service office at the Walnut Street location.

If you send in an Educational Benefits Application and do not receive a notification letter within two weeks, please call us to ensure that we have processed your application at the number above. If you have questions about Educational Benefits or need assistance, please call 651-460-3823 and Food Service Staff will be happy to assist you.

VIEW AND ORDER PHOTOS HERE

Event Code: FE99323

Is your youth looking for an activity after school or in the evening? Intramural Co-Ed Flag Football or Soccer and IGNITE Golf Squad start the week of September 11, and Machine Sewing starts September 20! The activity bus is available for students to take right after school. Register your youth today through Community Education at: https://bit.ly/CE192MiddleSchoolYouth23.

In need of fee assistance to participate? Youth on free and reduced lunch or who have extenuating circumstances are eligible to apply for fee assistance. Apply here: http://bit.ly/192CEyouthfeeassistance.

The updated 2023--24 iPad Loan Agreement, which includes helpful information for iPads checked out for the summer and also the following school year, is available online. In addition, the RevTrak “iPad Loan Agreement” activities are live for each site allowing parents, guardians, and learners the ability to review and agree to the terms of the 2023-24 iPad Loan Agreement and either opt to ENROLL in, or WAIVE participation in the iPad Protection Plan. The enrollment fee for the optional iPad Protection Plan is $35 for the 2023-24 school year.

Please note that if you have not used RevTrak yet, you will need to create an account and also know your child’s student ID number to complete the registration process. If you used RevTrak for completing last year’s 2022-23 iPad Loan Agreement, the system has saved your parent and child account information. You will still need to know your learner’s Student ID number. The RevTrak e-Guides and Customer Account guide, along with the RevTrak Frequently Asked Questions provide helpful information for setting up and using the system.

Farmington Area Public Schools has partnered with TEACHERS ON CALL for the hiring of our substitute teachers and paraprofessionals.

If you would like to sign up to sub as a teacher or paraprofessional for the Farmington Schools you will have to apply through TOC. Please email or call TOC directly to sign up as we will no longer be filling these positions through Farmington Schools. TOC also offers many benefits including, weekly paychecks, ability to easily sub at multiple districts and many insurance benefit options.

To Apply: teachersoncall.com

For more information contact Teachers On Call (TOC): 800-713-4439

Farmington School District has some great opportunities for you!

Click the link to apply for positions or reach out to the main office if interested.

Please take some time to visit the DMS Website where you will find an abundance of helpful information to support your middle school student. Dodge Dish is an electronic publication that you will receive via email every week from our principal Mr. Nelson and the Dodge Dish is always available on the DMS website under “Social Media”. It is very helpful to take time to read through this publication to keep updated on upcoming events and happenings.

Download your free app for Campus Parent ​app (parents/guardians) or the Campus Student app (students) from your device's mobile app store for real-time access to grades, attendance, schedules, announcements and more!

If a student will be absent, a parent/guardian must call Dodge Middle School’s attendance line at 651-460-1505 before 10:00 am each day of the absence. If the school does not receive a call from the parent/guardian the day of the absence, an automated phone call will be placed letting you know your student has been marked absent from school. To request a pre-excused absence, a parent/guardian needs to complete the online “Request to Waive Unexcused Status of Absence” form. This link can also be accessed by visiting the Dodge Middle School webpage under “QUICK LINKS” and “Pre-Arranged Student Absence”.

RevTrak is an electronic enrollment program and online payment system used by Farmington Public Schools (ISD #192). Parents need to create an account with RevTrak to complete the iPad loan agreement for their student; completed iPad loan agreements are required for students to receive a school issued iPad. To create an online account with RevTrak and complete the iPad loan agreement please click HERE. If you need further assistance navigating RevTrak you can click Step by Step Directions to Completing the iPad Loan Agreement.