WELCOME BACK MARLIN FAMILIES

“Hello, Marlins!” Welcome new and returning families to our beautiful Destin learning community! I am thankful that you are a part of our team of parents, teachers, and students who work together to create a vibrant student-focused environment. I welcome your energy and positive vibes as we launch this educational journey. I look forward to working with you and your children!

Our knowledgeable and devoted staff have been hard at work planning and preparing for your child's needs and the strong curriculum expectations. I appreciate the collective staff effort over the summer from registering new students and providing campus tours, to creating new spaces, polishing floors and locker rooms, to moving furniture, and balancing the master schedule in a high-capacity school. It has absolutely been a true team endeavor, and this team works with such joy! We are in tip top shape and ready to roll!

As you know, communication is key for all of us so please remember to check our website and Facebook page regularly for current news and upcoming events. Our office team will send out text messages for links to our weekly newsletter and special announcements.

Because a strong partnership with you makes such a great difference, you can become involved by volunteering to tutor in Math or ELA, and by joining our PTSA! I also want you to feel free to communicate with your child's teacher as needed with any questions, concerns, or celebrations! Our educators are easily accessible by phone, email, or in-person, and strive to be timely in responses. We care deeply about our home to school connections and appreciate all you do to positively impact our mission to help students reach their highest potential.

I am honored to serve as the principal at Destin Middle School. It is great to be a part of a community that genuinely cares for each other. As the principal, I want every student to be excited about walking through our gates, doing his or her best, making friends, and having a strong sense of belonging. Academic excellence, along with social-emotional learning, are priorities that are fun to watch evolve from our students. Please know, your input is valuable, and if I can help you in any way throughout the year, please contact me or one of my team members!

Thank you for your positive partnership. Together, we are primed for a productive, meaningful, and memorable school year full of smiles and laughter. See you soon! Go Marlins!

Sincerely,

Belinda Small, Ed.D.

Your child's schedule can viewed through the Parent Portal*. If you are new to Destin Middle and need access to your Parent Portal, please register for this important account at

https://okaloosa.focusschoolsoftware.com/focus/auth/

Everything you need is only a few clicks away! If you need assistance, please contact us at Destin Middle School, 850. 833. 7655. Thank you very much for taking care of this as soon as possible!

*Please note that schedules continue to fluctuate. Seats and course schedules are extremely tight. At Orientation, if your child has a duplicate course or is missing a core subject course, you may fill out a Schedule Request Form for correction in Student Services.

Come meet your teacher,

visit the lunchroom to purchase DMS Uniform Spirit Wear,

and locate the table to sign up to join the best PTSA on the Gulf Coast!

Families, feel free to come and go anytime between 1:00-3:30. Families typically walk the campus and meet teachers in about 30 minutes.

For your convenience, we have a big window of allotted time to meet teacher(s).

So, no worries if you are unable to be on campus right at 1:00 it is okay! We will be open until 3:30.

Full parent conferences are reserved by appointment, just call Guidance if you would like to reserve a parent-teacher conference day and time.

ARRIVAL PROCEDURES:

Class starts 9:00 a.m., Thursday, August 10th.

Students need to be seated at 9:00 a.m. so please allow walking time to class.

Car riders need to be dropped off only in the front of the school.

Gate will be open and supervised from 8:00-8:55 a.m.

Please drop off in front by 8:55 to avoid being tardy to first period at 9:00. This will allow time to walk to class without being marked tardy.

If arriving before 8:45, report the Media Center or Cafeteria.

For most students, first period and homeroom are the same teacher.

DISMISSAL PROCEDURES:

School ends at 3:30 p.m.

Only bus riders report to gym to wait for bus to be called for dismissal.

All car riders report to front of the school.

Car riders have curb side pick up only.

No students may cross a parking lot or walk on sides of roadways.

If being picked up at the front of school "tree" area, students must wait at the curb for single car line pick up as opposed to crossing the parking lot.

Click below for the copy of our DMS School Supply List

https://5il.co/217gf

DMS Uniform Spirit Wear to be worn Monday-Thursday. On sale at Orientation in Cafeteria August 9th from 1:00-3:30.

Need the online link for our Uniform Spirit Wear? Click here https://destinmiddleschool.spiritsale.com/

All students must ride the bus or be picked up at 3:30 unless with a parent, teacher, or coach. If there is an evening event, students must leave school when it is over then come to the evening event. We love our Marlins, and look forward to all returning when fun events are scheduled! Thank you!

DMS DRESS CODE

UNIFORM DRESS – STUDENTS

DMS pride and spirit are displayed through student dress. Our dress code is an opportunity for students to show pride in the Marlin tradition. We discourage loss of instructional time resulting from inappropriate dress. Our staff and parents believe uniform student dress is important in promoting pride, unity, and well-being of all students.

Monday -Thursday: DMS Uniform T-shirts or polos, spirit shirts, school club, sport shirts and DMS hoodies.

No modification of DMS shirts: cutting, inappropriate writings, homemade shirts.

Friday: Free dress (in accordance with DMS and School District dress code policy.)

1. Basic Principle: Certain body parts must be covered for all students at all times.

Clothes must be worn in a way such that private body parts are fully covered with opaque fabric.

2. Students Must Wear, while following the basic principle of Number 1 above:

• A Shirt (with opaque fabric in the front, back, on the sides under the arms, and the midriff must be covered) AND

• Pants/jeans or equivalent (for example, skirt, sweatpants, leggings, a dress, or shorts) AND

• Shoes

3. Students May Wear, if these items do not violate Number 1 above:

• Religious headwear

• DMS Hoodie sweatshirts (DMS hoodie required/ hood must not be on head while indoors)

• Fitted pants and skinny jeans

• Leggings and yoga pants with a top that covers all private body parts

• Ripped jeans, as long as underwear and/or private body parts are not exposed

• Shirts with spaghetti straps/tank tops worn with another top

• Athletic attire

4. Students Cannot Wear:

• Violent language or images

• Images or language depicting drugs or alcohol, and/or images of a sexual nature (or any illegal item or activity)

• Hate speech, profanity, pornography

• Images or language that creates a hostile or intimidating environment based on any protected class or consistently marginalized groups

• Any clothing that reveals visible undergarments or outlines private body parts

• Swimsuit

• Accessories that could be dangerous or could be used as a weapon

• Any item that obscures the face or ears (except as a religious observance)

• Head coverings (i.e. ball caps, hats, bandanas)

• House shoes or bedroom slippers

• Pajamas

Jeans, full-length pants, Capri pants, knee length shorts and skirts are considered the best length choices to pair with tops. These choices are highly encouraged for wear during the normal school day because they reduce the risk of exposing undergarments while being mobile in active learning and social environments. Be alert that garment hemlines higher than mid-thigh greatly increases the risk for being dress coded. Parent cooperation that discourages the wearing of shorts having less than a 4” inseam during normal school operating hours is greatly appreciated. This common practice will help reduce the risk of possible uncomfortable exposure for all. Complying with these guidelines will help minimize dress code violations in the school setting.

The administration reserves the right to modify the Dress Code Guidelines to determine what might be disruptive and unsafe.