DSMS News
November 30, 2022
Principal's Update
The morning was full of fun, silly activities, delicious snacks (provided by POSITIVE - thank you!), and a chance for students to take a moment to write a note of thanks to somebody that they were grateful for. Activities included:
- Turkey Towers - a fun engineering challenge in which students competed in small groups to build the tallest "turkey tower" out of straws and marshmallows that could hold a small turkey toy at the top
- Turkey Trot - a 1-mile race around the campus (with some students choosing to run, and others choosing to cheer them on)
- Turkey Toss - aka a huge cornhole tournament on the football field
- Thank-you Note Writing to somebody that they were grateful for, and the decorating of "Gratitude Feathers" for our three Turkeys, sharing people and things they were grateful for.
- and a Closing Ceremonies Assembly with performances by our jazz band and chorus, where "winners" were awarded silly prizes, and where each team was also able to acknowledge some "Top Turkeys" - students who have demonstrated exceptional kindness, enthusiasm, or helpfulness to their peers.
It was an absolute blast! Every student and staff member I spoke with said that it was an amazing day, and it allowed them not only to have fun but to build relationships and get to know each other better.
I would like to extend a huge thank-you and my sincere gratitude to POSITIVE (for the snacks and adult support!), Assistant Principal Tracy Sockalosky for spearheading the organizing, and all our staff members who facilitated the activities and celebrated along with their students. It was a huge team effort and wouldn't have been possible without everyone's contributions! I, for one, left the festivities with renewed gratitude to be a part of such a wonderful school community, and I floated on the residual joy for days afterward.
Parent Focus Groups - an Invitation
- What do you value most about the middle school? What do your kids value most?
- What might make your child feel more of a sense of belonging to our school community?
- What are your hopes and dreams for your child’s experience at DSMS?
There will be three sessions conducted on Wednesday, December 7th:
- 9 - 10 AM (in person at the MS)
- 2 - 3 PM (in person at the MS)
- 7 - 8 PM (via Zoom)
If you would like to participate, please RSVP as soon as possible so that we can know how many people to expect. If you RSVP for the evening Zoom session, we will share a Zoom link with participants prior to the session.
Please RSVP here: https://forms.gle/Q5qTNQcHYN7d79u38
Monday's Full Day Professional Learning
Upcoming Dates
- 12/5 Sun Team Field Trip to Harvard Museum
- 12/6 Moon Team Field Trip to Harvard Museum
- 12/8 - 12/10 The SpongeBob Musical!
Sign up or re-enroll for the 2022-23 DSMS/HS Directory Spot!
Subscribe to Dover-Sherborn's Digital Directory and you'll get: Price: $15 per year The Directory is also a fundraising opportunity for DSMS POSITIVE PTO. We hope that families are willing to make a donation of any size to POSITIVE to help fund our grants for curriculum enrichment, supplemental classroom materials and teacher appreciation luncheons (among other things) throughout the year. Thank you for your support! When your subscription payment is received, you will receive an email from Directory Spot within 48 hours with instructions on how to download and access the app. Please check your spam folder. You can also review access instructions here. For any questions, please email dsmspositive@gmail.com To pay by check, send payment and your email address to: Diane Hanson 165 Washington St. Sherborn, MA 01770
An Undersea Spectacle Comes To DSMS!
A legendary roster of superstar songwriters including John Legend, David Bowie, Cyndi Lauper, Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Joe Perry. A happy-go-lucky and ever-optimistic yellow sea sponge. A threatening, humongous undersea volcano. Turn them all loose on the stage at Dover-Sherborn Mudge Auditorium and what do you get? Over 100 DS Middle School students making a splash on the stage performing The SpongeBob Musical.
The critically acclaimed, award-winning musical was declared “BRILLIANT!” by The New York Times earning 12 Tony Award nominations, the most nominated musical of the 2017-2018 theatre season. Named Best Musical by the Drama Desk Awards and Outer Critics Circle, The SpongeBob Musical explodes on the stage in a “neon-sparkly party for the eyes and ears” (Daily Beast).
The colorful, energetic spectacle chronicles the adventures of the cheerful sponge and faithful Krusty Krab enjoying life under the sea with sea buddies Patrick Star and Sandy Cheeks. When they discover that Mt. Humongous, a nearby volcano, is threatening to erupt and destroy their Bikini Bottom community, they join forces to save the day. Experiencing a few roadblocks along the way, do the three friends save the day? Does Bikini Bottom get buried in the volcanic eruption? Does an unexpected hero rise to the occasion? You will have to come to DS Mudge Auditorium to see for yourself!
Come cheer on the DS Middle School under-the-sea friends in The SpongeBob Musical at Dover-Sherborn Mudge Auditorium! Show dates are Thursday, December 8th at 6:30pm, Friday, December 9th at 7:00pm, a Saturday matinee on December 10th at 1:00pm, and an evening performance at 7:00pm. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased www.ticketstage.com or at the door.
Upcoming Dover Historical Society Talk
The Dover Historical Society is presenting a talk by Dr. David Landon on “Pits, Posts, and Palisades” Friday, December 2nd at 7:00 pm at the Dover Legion George Preston Post, at 32 Dedham Street in Dover. This event is free and open to the public - especially those with an interest in archaeology! Refreshments will be served and parking is available.
402 years ago that the Mayflower sailed into Cape Cod Bay, changing the destiny of the region. Come and learn about this crucial period in New England history from the person who is attempting to disentangle myth from reality.
Dr. Landon will discuss the excavation’s discoveries highlighting the artifacts unearthed, construction methods used, and evidence for the palisade. The archaeological finds shed new light on the structure of the initial Plymouth settlement and the connections between the Wampanoag Tribe and English colonists.
COVID Test Kit Distribution
We are now distributing COVID test kits on a weekly basis. If you have opted in to this program, please have your child stop in the Main Office every Friday to collect their kit.
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COVID Protocol
- There is no formal testing program at this time though we will offer take-home tests to faculty and families who wish to receive them on a bi-weekly basis. The Department of Public Health does not recommend individuals to test unless they experience Covid-like symptoms. They do not recommend contact tracing, universal mask requirements (though masking is supported and recommended for any individuals who are 'high-risk'), or test-to-stay testing.
- Symptoms of Covid 19: fever of 100 degrees or higher, shortness of breath, loss of taste or smell, muscle/body aches, cough (not due to other known cause), sore throat (in combination with other symptoms), nausea/vomiting (in combination with other symptoms), headache (in combination with other symptoms), fatigue (in combination with other symptoms), nasal congestion/runny nose (in combination with other symptoms)
- If your child is experiencing these symptoms and tests positive for Covid-19, they must isolate for 5 days and, as long as the symptoms are resolving without the use of fever-reducing medicine for 24 hours, can return to school with a mask through Day 10 (if they test negative on Day 5 or later, they do not need to mask). Please notify the school nurse of any positive Covid-19 cases.
- There is no testing requirement to return to school on Day 6 – if you choose to test your child after Day 5 and they test positive, they may still be at school as long as they follow the masking requirement.
- If your child is experiencing symptoms but tests negative for Covid-19 and symptoms are resolving, they may return to school as long as they feel well enough to do so. Ideally wearing a mask until symptoms have resolved would be best practice.
- In cases in which children display COVID-like symptoms while at school, nurses will reach out to parents or guardians and may ask that the child be picked up from school. Nurses will not be conducting testing at school of symptomatic students. In cases in which a family may not have access to at-home testing, please discuss being provided an at-home test with the nurse.
- Per DPH, quarantine is no longer required for those exposed, regardless of vaccination status. The child can continue to participate in activities as long as they remain asymptomatic. It's recommended if possible to test on Day 6 of exposure and also to mask for 10 days from exposure. There are no reporting requirements in this scenario, just a guide.
STANDING INFORMATION
- SCHOOL SECURITY AND VISITOR SIGN IN: In order to make Dover-Sherborn Middle School as safe and secure as possible, we have tightened up on visitor access to the building. This is a shift for our community. Please understand that it is not our intention to be less welcoming, but rather to be accountable to knowing who is in the building at all times and to reduce the possibility of threat to our school safety. ALL VISITORS MUST ENTER THROUGH THE FRONT DOORS. Upon entering the first set of main doors, you will notice an intercom system located on your right, along with a table that details the procedures for dismissals and dropping off items.
- NO SWITCHING OF BUSES: Students will not be able to ride any bus other than their assigned bus under any circumstances this year.
- ATTENDANCE: If your child is going to be absent, please report that by calling 508-785-8149, and follow the appropriate prompts.
- DISMISSAL PROCEDURE: If you need to dismiss your child early, please enter the building through the first set of doors at the main entrance and press the buzzer located on your right. You will be asked to sign your child out on the dismissal clipboard and then your child will be sent out to your vehicle.
- COVID HOME TEST OPT-IN FORM
- CHROMEBOOK CHARGING: Please make sure chromebooks are charged nightly at home. We are noticing an increase in uncharged chromebooks especially after a weekend.