Bobcat Bulletin

Hello Bobcats!

Happy Sunday! I hope that everyone is wrapping up the weekend relaxing and enjoying the company of your loved ones!

A HUGE shout-out to our Fabulous PTO and all of the Parent Volunteers who made Field Day 2025 a big success! Hopefully, your students slept well on Wednesday evening... we did our best to wear them out. 😜

We’ve made it to the final week of the school year, and what an incredible journey it has been! Our Bobcats have thrived both academically and in their extracurricular pursuits, and it has truly been an honor to lead and walk alongside them every step of the way.

We are especially proud of our 8th graders and wish them continued success as they head into high school. To celebrate their accomplishments, we invite families to join us for our 8th Grade Clap-Out Ceremony this Thursday at 12:45 PM. The MHS drum line will be here to lead our students through the hallways and out the front cafeteria doors (Doors 30 & 31) in a festive farewell parade. Parents are welcome to line the front walkway to cheer them on as we send them off in true Bobcat style.

Each and every one of our students has shown heart, growth, and resilience this year. Their futures are big, bold, and bright—and we know they will continue to make us proud. May they always remember to Dream More, Learn More, Serve More, Become More.

Have an AMAZING summer, Bobcat families! We look forward to welcoming back our incoming 6th, 7th, and 8th graders in the fall!

Lots of great information to share! Make it a great week, and Go Bobcats! 🐾💙

~Mrs. Ricks

Monday, May 19th: 🎂 Jenny Brown's Birthday 🎂; StuCo Field Trip; mxINCedu Pitch Day; Cleburne Golf Tournament; Virtual PTO Meeting @ 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday, May 20th: High School Course Semester Exams; DMS Fine Arts Showcase; 6th Grade Laptop Collection

Wednesday, May 21st: High School Course Semester Exams; 7th Grade Laptop Collection

Thursday, May 22nd: Last Day of School Early Release @ 1:00 p.m. with 8th Grade Clap Out @ 12:45; 8th Grade Laptop Collection

Friday, May 23rd: Teacher Workday

Looking ahead: Summer!!!

Summer Birthdays:

5/29: 🎂 Christi Corbin's Birthday 🎂

5/30: 🎂 Jeremy Gantt's Birthday 🎂

6/11: 🎂 Jill Schaben's Birthday 🎂

6/20: 🎂 LaJoy Grant's Birthday 🎂 & 🎂 Lisa Staton's Birthday 🎂

7/1: 🎂 Dana Christy's Birthday 🎂

7/5: 🎂 Peggy Striebel's Birthday 🎂

7/10: 🎂 Kay Lynn Ward's Birthday 🎂

7/14: 🎂 Kerry Woollen's Birthday 🎂

7/17: 🎂 Madelyn St. Cyr's Birthday 🎂

7/21: 🎂 Robyn Crocker's Birthday 🎂

7/30: 🎂 Angelyn Seppeler's Birthday 🎂

Students will NOT get to keep their MISD issued Chromebooks over the summer. We will be collecting the devices through ELAR classes this week. Please ensure that your student turns in both his/her laptop and charger on the designated day. If your student will be out this week, he/she must turn in the device to the Technology Hub ASAP.

Our incredible Destination Imagination team, Very Cutesy, Very DI-mure, has had an outstanding season and is headed to Global Finals this week! We are beyond proud of the ladies' hard work, creativity, and perseverance throughout the year. Their dedication to innovation and teamwork has truly paid off, and we can’t wait to see them shine on the global stage. Best of luck, DI Team—your Bobcat Family is cheering you on!

The girls shared, "We’re excited to meet competitors from around the world, and we are grateful to MISD for supporting D.I. It’s been a joy to work with each other this year. Tackling the improv challenge has helped us increase our collaborative spirit and respect for one another, and has made us quicker on our feet. We hope to bring another trophy home to DMS!”

To help support our DI teams and ensure continued success in the face of upcoming budget cuts, our amazing DI Booster has designed an adorable fundraiser T-shirt! Proceeds will help keep this valuable program thriving for seasons to come.

🛍️ Support our DI Teams by purchasing a shirt using this link!
Sales end MAY 25th—don’t miss out!

Dear PTO Board and Amazing Parent Volunteers,

On behalf of the entire Dieterich Middle School staff and student body, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you for making this year’s Field Day an incredible success!

From the exciting games and awesome inflatables to the crowd-favorite food trucks, every detail was a hit—and it was all possible because of your time, energy, and dedication. Your willingness to step in, organize, and serve is what makes our school community so special. We truly could not do it without you.

Thank you for showing up, cheering on our students, and helping us close out the year with such a fun and memorable celebration. Your support means the world to us, and we are so grateful for all you do to lift up our campus and create lasting experiences for our Bobcats.

With deepest appreciation,
Cassandra Ricks
Principal, Dieterich Middle School

Hello current 7th Grade Bobcat Parents! This is Heather Adams with the PTO sharing some important information, hoping to clear up any confusion about Project Graduation 2030!

First Off, What is Project Graduation and why should I care about it now, when my kid is in 7th grade?!

"Project Graduation" includes Middle School graduation (8th grade, or May 2026) AND High School Graduation (12th grade, or May 2030)!

That's right, our kids are about to graduate MIDDLE SCHOOL next year!! This next school year's (25/26) fundraising efforts with not only make their 8th grade graduation events unforgettable celebrations, it will also kickstart the celebrations for their SENIOR YEAR! (29/30)

Being new to Texas, I struggled to grasp this concept, but once you do- it makes total sense! As to not complete with current seniors trying to raise money at Midlothian High School, the lowerclassmen (9th, 10th, and 11th graders) are NOT eligible to fundraise for their own senior year until the current senior class has graduated. Therefore, whatever we raise in 8th grade is all we get until they're seniors- so the more we do now, the less strain it will be on us starting senior year!

The first step of getting started is to elect a board for the Class of 2030- it's just a one year commitment to help organize fundraisers and events happening in 8th grade. If you're interested in being on the board, please fill out the interest form (attached below) and let us know! Below is a list of open positions and tentative student and fundraising events.

PTO meets every month (every other month is virtual or in-person), so if project graduation meets right after the PTO meeting, it would be a monthly meeting. If you haven't joined the 2030 Project Graduation on the SPORTSYOU app, please do! LOTS of valuable 8th grade info will be posted there! Code: ZSN4-ETZ6.

Please feel free to respond via email with any questions you may have and follow Dieterich Bobcats PTO on Facebook!

Thanks for your time!

24/25 PTO Secretary,

Heather Adams

Feedback is a blessing! Please provide us with your feedback so that we can make any needed adjustments for the 2025-2026 school year. Your voice matters, and we appreciate your partnership!

Student safety is our top priority! PLEASE SLOW DOWN IN THE FRONT PARKING LOT!!! WE HAVE HAD QUITE A FEW NEAR MISSES LATELY, SO PLEASE DO YOUR PART IN ENSURING OUR STUDENTS' SAFETY!!!

Please review the campus traffic map below regarding parent pick-up and drop-off. The "Buses Only" box indicates the bus lane...parents are NOT allowed to drop-off or pick-up in the rear of the school or front parking lot (SPED buses only). The blue line indicates the parent drop-off/pick-up traffic pattern. There are two lanes for drop-off/pick-up. If you are in the right lane (building side), your student will need to exit/enter the vehicle on the right side of the vehicle. If you are in the left lane (parking lot side), your student will need to exit/enter the vehicle on the left side of the vehicle. When in line, please pull forward as close to the front crosswalk as possible instead of stopping and waiting for your student to find you... this keeps the traffic moving smoothly. Please encourage your child to always use the crosswalks when crossing the street or parking lot. There is a new crosswalk near the Somercrest neighborhood. If your student needs to cross the street to get home, please bring this new crosswalk to his/her attention. Please do NOT encourage your child to meet you where any of the X's are marked on the map, and please do not stop on the street to pick up your student. Additionally, please avoid making u-turns while in our school zone. We appreciate your support in ensuring our Bobcats are safe and the traffic flow is followed appropriately.

Will your student ride the bus in 2025-26?

Please complete a bus rider contract and submit by July 11, 2025. All students must have a current Bus Rider Contract on file for each year. If you did not submit a contract during your 2025-26 Returning Student Registration, please click the link below for the contract, fill it out, and return to the Transportation Department. Email all contracts to bus_contracts@midlothianisd.org or deliver to 601 E. Avenue E, Midlothian, TX 76065.

MISD Athletic Summer Camps - Registration is Open!

Staff Discount – Summer Camp

MISD Athletics is excited to offer a special $25 discount for MISD employees on summer camp registration! To use the discount, simply enter the code MISDSUMMER25 at checkout.

🔹 This discount is only for MISD employees and their children.
🔹 It does not apply to non-custodial grandchildren, nieces/nephews, or friends’ children.
🔹 Be ready to show your MISD ID badge at camp check-in.

Thank you for helping us keep this benefit exclusive to our amazing staff!

All Texas school districts are required by law to distribute information to parents and guardians about the safe storage of firearms. House Bill 3, Section 19 added Section 37.222 to the Texas Education Code, which requires the Texas School Safety Center, in collaboration with the Texas Department of Public Safety, to provide information and resources to school districts for the purpose of disseminating the information to parents. The Texas DPS launched a Keep ‘Em Safe Texas website that provides safety resources, materials, and tips for practicing safe gun storage to prevent accidents and keep children safe. Remember, a gun should be stored unloaded in a safe or locked container, with ammunition stored elsewhere. You can learn more and find additional resources from the Texas Department of Public Safety at https://safegunstoragetexas.com.

MISD prioritizes the safety and security of our staff and students. We ask our MISD visitors to help us in the effort to keep kids as safe as possible. MISD appreciates your patience as we follow these procedures. To learn more about campus security and visitor guidelines, visit https://bit.ly/3QqqQzl.

Website: https://dms.midlothianisd.org/
Location: Dieterich Middle School, 2881 Ledgestone Lane, Midlothian, TX 76065
Phone: (469) 856 - 5800

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dieterichMS/
Instagram: @dms.bobcats
X: @Principal_Ricks