DMS Delivers
January 5, 2024
Dear DMS Families,
We are happy to have everyone back at DMS, and hope that you all enjoyed your time over the Winter Break. This week's newsletter is packed with new information, including the Superintendent's DR Dispatch, as well as information/volunteer requests for our Strategic Planning Committee. In addition, we have included the January PTO newsletter, and information on ordering a DMS yearbook. Have a great week, and Happy New Year!
Upcoming Dates at DMS
- January 8th: Basketball at Somerset
- January 9th: School Committee Meeting at 6:30 p.m.
- January 10th: Professional Development- Early Release
- January 10th: PTO Meeting at 6:00 p.m.
- January 11th: Basketball at Dighton
- January 15th: Martin Luther King Day- No School
- January 23rd: DMS School Committee Spotlight
- January 26th: Term II Ends
- January 31st: Grade 8 NAEP Testing
Half Day Staff Professional Development- 1/10/24
As a reminder, next Wednesday, January 10th is a staff Professional Development Day. Students will be released from school at 11:45 a.m. In addition, there will be no school on Monday, January 15th in observance of Martin Luther King Day.
District Strategic Planning- Volunteers Needed
Please see the Superintendent's request for volunteers for the District's DRiving Toward 2030 Initiative:
If you recall, the District started the Strategic Planning process last year by developing the Portrait of a Graduate (POG). I am very pleased to share that the next phase of our Strategic Planning initiative is on schedule for a proposal to be made to School Committee in late May/early June. Both our Strategic Planning Committee and our DLT have christened this process “DRiving toward 2030.”
I want to salute all who have been collaborative in this process since the Portrait of a Graduate kicked off in the fall of 2022. Now, I am asking everyone else to consider participating.
We are now at the stage of assembling subcommittees to build out the five foundational elements of the “DRiving Toward 2030” plan.
Participating is optional; and in my opinion, it’s not a heavy lift. We are probably looking at a maximum of three evening meetings over a 4-month period.
If you are willing to serve on a subcommittee, please take 2-3 minutes prior to January 8 at Noon to complete this Google form. We will be creating subcommittees for each of the 5 focus areas (see below) and would like to know your top 3 subcommittee preferences.
Please be sure to mark your calendar for Wednesday, January 24 at 6pm for our next in-person DRiving Toward 2030 meeting.
DRiving Toward 2030 Subcommittees
Funding and Facilities (Resources) - Sustainable fiscal health, facilities, and resources
Safe & Healthy Learning Environment - Cultures that welcome learning and school environments where each scholar thrives
Curriculum, Instruction, & Learning Outcomes - High-quality curriculum and instruction that results in future-ready learning outcomes
Community Engagement - Enhanced school and community connections and family engagement
Expanded Learning Opportunities - Learning opportunities both in school and community
Order a DMS Yearbook!
If your child is interested in ordering a DMS yearbook, please use this this link.
Yearbook ID Code: 14471024
Or, under the Search for your yearbook ID code type in "Dighton Middle School"
Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS)
We are happy to announce that we have officially launched our PBIS Rewards opportunity. This was introduced to students and staff last week, and began on Monday. PBIS is an evidence- based framework that rewards students for their positive behaviors. DMS students will be able to earn "Lion Loot" for positive behaviors, and redeem their loot for a variety of incentives. In addition to our Feinstein Kindness Tree, this is another way that we will be working to build a positive school culture at DMS.
Through this positive behavior initiative, we are asking that DMS students R.O.A.R.:
- R-Rise to the Challenge: Perseverance
- O-Own Your Actions: Responsibility
- A-Always Work Together: Collaborate
- R-Respect Yourself and Others: Integrity
SEPAC Meeting- 1/17/24
We are Halfway Through Quarter 2 and Grade Notifications!
Term II ends on January 26th! Please be sure to check Aspen Parent Portal for your child's current progress. If you have any questions, you can reach out to the specific teacher. In addition, our Office of Student Services is also available to support students and families as we move further into the school year. Please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns.
As a reminder, and in case you missed the DR Dispatch a few weeks ago:
We are excited to announce that grade notifications are now available for Middle and High School students in the Aspen Family Portal. This notification tool allows families to receive real-time updates whenever a grade is posted for their child. Families have the ability to turn on, and customize, the notification threshold to receive alerts only when their child's grade falls below a certain level.
To sign up for grade notifications, please login to the Aspen Family Portal and follow these steps
.
DMS Choir Sign- up
Choir will be coming to DMS for Quarters 3 and 4. Many of you signed your child up last school year. However, if you did not, and your child is interested in joining choir, please complete this form. If you cannot remember if you submitted the form last year, please do so again. We will then make sure that your child is a part of Spring choir.
The DMS Kindness Tree Continues to Flourish!
Student Chromebook Repairs
In the event that a chromebook is damaged, lost or not working, please submit a Technology Helpdesk Ticket. Once the technicians have confirmation of the ticket, they will provide the student with a temporary device to be used while the damage is evaluated. If the damage is seemingly accidental damage, the chromebook will be repaired at no cost to the student. If you have any questions, please reach out to the DMS Main Office.