01/27/2025 Begin Silver Week: Students Report to 6th Period at 08:15 am.

*National Mentoring Month*

**School Board Appreciation Month**

*******02/05/2024 Middle school late start ( 1 hour delay for school and buses)*******

DRILLS: In accordance with state and district policy, we participate in a variety of required drills throughout the year. In February, we will participate in a Lockdown Drill. During this drill, an announcement will be made alerting students that this is a “drill.” District Safety officers in conjunction with our SRO and possibly local law enforcement agencies will assist in the drill and provide the administration with feedback.

*Wear jackets or coats in cold weather, please do not bring blankets.

*Make sure your outfit meets the Dress Code.

*Do not walk to Dutch Fork High School unless you are catching a ride with a sibling or parent or if you have a practice or meeting.

*Please remember to pull all the way forward in the car rider line when dropping off or picking up.

(Pulling forward allows more cars to unload or load.)

*IDs should be worn at all times on campus. Please ensure that your child is wearing their ID prior to arriving at DFMS each morning.

*Cell phones and wireless communication devices are to be off and away during the school day. If you need to get a message to your child before 3:30 pm, please call the front office at

803-476-4800.

Will you update the yearbook section of the parent newsletter? Thanks!

Time is running out! Capture the memories of this year and order yours today!

Scan the QR code or click here to buy:

https://yearbookforever.com/school-store/204rGbiyx28m7UtJ3HYojVoC

Attention 8th Grade Parents/Guardians: The SC Education and Economic Development Act (EEDA) states that all 8th-grade students are required to initiate an Individual Graduation Plan (IGP).

An IGP is a school document that the student, parent/guardian, and school counselors create as a foundation to help students align their skills, interest, and abilities to a career path. This plan helps foster academic and career development from 8th grade until graduation from high school and gives students the opportunity to identify career values and career clusters as a foundation on which to develop throughout their life. IGP meetings will be coming up in December and January. An email has been sent with your student's assigned date and time for this meeting. We appreciate your effort to attend this highly important meeting.

• STEM Day is a program held in collaboration with non-profit and faith-based organizations to bring middle school students to Clemson's campus each semester. Participants engage in hands-on STEM activities with Clemson faculty and students. The goal of the day is to introduce the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), to students in the area. Activities include hands-on engineering and science demonstrations, lunch with college mentors, and a presentation on the STEM industry. This event will be held at Clemson university located at Freeman Hall starting at 8:30am for check in on February 1st .

• Website

Students will have the opportunity to shadow professionals in careers of interest to introduce them to the world of work. Students are highly encouraged to participate.

** Students are responsible for finding their own placement & must be approved by the Office of School Counseling ** Please contact us with any questions at 803-476-4802.

The application forms are due to the Counseling Office no later than Wednesday, January 22nd at 3:30 pm. Students MUST be approved by the Career Specialist to participate.

Mental Health Resources available to all parents:

Lexington-Richland School District Five has partnered with the Cook Center to provide caregivers free mental health resources through live webinars with a licensed therapist. Events are virtual, interactive and designed to help caregivers support their child(ren). Registration, attendance, and interactions are anonymous from other viewers.

Webinar topics range throughout the month from the effects of screen time, tools to support your child’s mental health, school avoidance, substance abuse, confidence, boundaries and more. Please take a look at the offerings for the month of January! Here is a link to the same information: The Cook Center.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vZTbumA9DGrGoNaqwy9Ib5psIJs-7YdX/view?usp=sharing

A completed "Meal Modification Form" from your healthcare provider is required in order for nutrition services to omit or provide a substitute for any food allergies. Please return completed forms to your school nurse

Aiko Selage

School Nurse

Phone: 803-476-4809

Fax: 803-476-4820

Please submit any excuse you may have for your Child's Absences.

A student meets the definition of Truant when the student has 3 consecutive unexcused absences or a total of 5 unexcused absences.

Failure to submit excuses for these days, will result in an Attendance Intervention Plan (AIP) meeting.

The Parents/Guardians as well as the student will have a meeting with Attendance and School Administration to devise a plan to avoid any further absences.

Thank you for your assistance in keeping attendance up to date.

klilie@lexrich5.org

803-476-4804

Hey Dutch Fork Family! I am so excited to announce that we are going to SPAIN for Spring Break 2026! If you were not able to attend the interest meeting, but would like more information about this trip, please reach out. I would love to give your student this once in a lifetime opportunity to see the world! Mrs. Alyssa Hooper ahooper@lexrich5.org

From the District Website under Transportation Safety Rules:

"School projects, items sold for fundraisers and other unsafe items such as live animals, glass objects, baseball or softball bats, lacrosse sticks, skateboards, sharp objects or similar items can not be allowed on the bus and must be transported to and from school by means other than the school bus. This includes baseballs, basketballs, footballs, soccer balls, volleyballs and tennis rackets unless they are kept in the student's backpack or in a separate bag. Parents must arrange to pick-up or deliver oversized or unsafe items in personal vehicles or items should be kept at school whenever possible. Please speak with your student's coach to make arrangements to keep items at the school or for items to be provided during practices or training sessions."

We have a new and fun site to get all your information about our PTO here :

https://dfms.ptboard.com

Free lunch account/payment

Physical Form

Volunteer Application

Student Quick Pay

Student Handbook

Feedback Link

Website: http://lexrich5.org/dfms
Location: 1528 Old Tamah Road, Irmo, SC, USA
Phone: (803) 476-4800
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dutch-Fork-Middle-School-549147891811317/
Twitter: @DutchForkMS