The Dodge Dish

DMS Community,

This week, you received an email from your child's Tiger Connections teacher detailing conference information. We encourage all families to find a time that works to join us for a conference time. Conferences will be learner-led with your child's TC teacher and we will provide drop-in times to connect with other staff as needed. Learners will be completing a reflection and setting goals for the school year in Transitions class to share with families during this conference. The conference schedule and information can be found below:

Conference Schedule (English)

Calendario de Conferencias (Español)

Our fundraiser is off to a great start and our school community has raised an incredible $21,275 through online donations! A big thank you to the 340 learners who have already registered and collectively sent over 2,970 emails on behalf of our school. Your efforts are making a huge difference—thank you for your participation!

Not registered yet? No problem!

How to Register:

• Visit www.stepitupkids.com/Dodge55024
• Follow the simple steps to register your student and send out at least 10 emails
• Return your Golden Ticket by tomorrow to receive prizes and entry into the upcoming drawings!

As always, thank you for your support and partnership!

Andy Nelson, Principal

For translation of this newsletter please click on the "Translate" button above or on the right hand side of this page.

Para traducir este boletín, haga clic en el botón "Traducir" arriba o en el lado derecho de esta página.

Si aad u turjunto warsidahan fadlan ku dhufo badhanka "Turjumi" ee kore ama dhinaca midig ee boggan.

Để dịch bản tin này, vui lòng nhấp vào nút "Dịch" ở trên hoặc ở phía bên phải của trang này.

Congrats to these learners who have demonstrated community, empathy, and purpose over the last week. We are so proud of all of our learners for demonstrating these core values each day.

Ms. Krines is the Staff Tiger Stripe nominee this week. She was nominated for the caring and kindness she shows learners. Thanks for making DMS great! #DMSpride #weare192

If you want to check progress of your student’s learning, the best way to that this year is through the Grade Book Updates tab in Infinite Campus. All classes in both middle schools this year are reporting learning through competencies. These competencies will be updated five times throughout the year and will be based on evidence a learner has submitted – these can be found in the Grades tab in Campus and are currently set to NY or Not Yet. The Grade Book Updates tab will show the most recent assignments for all classes and will have a score or learning level connected to it. It may also have a flag if it is missing or a comment. Please see the graphic below for additional information.

As a district we have realigned $4+ million dollars to balance our budget. The board also made a decision to use assigned fund balance dollars to balance the $2.7 million deficit for the 2024-25 school year. However, the district still faces a budget deficit in 2025-26 of $4-5 million. In addition, the current operating levy that was passed in 2015 will expire after the 2025-26 school year. Expiration of this levy would result in a loss of approximately $5 million per year.

To address our financial challenges, the board voted unanimously to schedule an operating levy referendum election for November 5, 2024. The proposal on the ballot will ask voters to revoke the district’s existing operating levy of $696.15 per pupil and replace it with a new levy of $1,556.15 per pupil. The new levy will provide approximately $11 million ($5 million from the previous levy and $6 million from the new levy) per year for 10 years.

For more information on the 2024 Referendum follow this link.

Looking for something fun for your child(ren) to do? Babysitter Training, Art Academy, Combined Band, Flute Ensemble, and Co-Ed Intramural Basketball are all starting soon! Also check out our non-school day camps – Horse, Volleyball, Outdoor Survival, Comic Strip Design, and Basketball! Register your youth today through Community Education at: https://bit.ly/3YDI57k or call 651-460-3200.

In need of fee assistance to participate? Youth on free and reduced lunch or who have extenuating circumstances are eligible to apply for fee assistance. Apply here: https://bit.ly/CE192FeeAssistance.

The NWEA MAP tests are adaptive computer delivered assessments that are administered to more than 11 million students across the country, which provides a large National Norm sample for comparison. Farmington Schools chooses to administer tests in reading and math to students in grades 2 through 8. The adaptive nature of the tests means that the test adjusts to the student's responses. As a student answers correctly, the test gets more challenging. As they get items wrong, the test presents easier items. The purpose of the assessment is to identify the student's academic level in the specific content area, regardless of age, grade level or prior achievement.

To read more about the NWEA test, please visit the school website, linked here. There is a link to the Opt Out information for the NWEA tests on the left side of the webpage. Here is a direct link to the form. Please complete the form and return it to the main office.

Specific Dates:

• Week of Sept. 16 - NWEA Reading in LA classes
• Week of Sept. 30 - NWEA Reading in math classes

*If a learner misses a test, they will make it up upon return.

Get excited — your pictures are ready! View and order your school pictures at https://shop.jostenspix.com and use code FE63324. Picture retake day is Thursday, September 19th.

We are looking for family and community volunteers to be present in our youths' lives at Dodge Middle School through Friendly Presence. We are excited to offer this volunteer opportunity and welcome the larger Farmington community into DMS. We are hoping many of you take this opportunity to be involved in our learners’ experience. For more information click here and to indicate interest please complete this google form.

Farmington School District has some great opportunities for you!

Click the link to apply for positions or reach out to the main office if interested.

ISD 192 shares community flyers for local events and activities, especially those run by non-profit, youth-serving organizations within the district, on our website. The community postings and resources can be found here.

Please take some time to visit the DMS Website where you will find an abundance of helpful information to support your middle school student. Dodge Dish is an electronic publication that you will receive via email every week from our principal Mr. Nelson and the Dodge Dish is always available on the DMS website under “Social Media”. It is very helpful to take time to read through this publication to keep updated on upcoming events and happenings.

Download your free app for Campus Parent ​app (parents/guardians) or the Campus Student app (students) from your device's mobile app store for real-time access to grades, attendance, schedules, announcements and more!

If a student will be absent, a parent/guardian must call Dodge Middle School’s attendance line at 651-460-1505 or fill out this form before 10:00 am each day of the absence. If the school does not receive a call from the parent/guardian the day of the absence, an automated phone call will be placed letting you know your student has been marked absent from school.

To request a pre-excused absence, a parent/guardian needs to complete the online “Request to Waive Unexcused Status of Absence” form. This link can also be accessed by visiting the Dodge Middle School webpage under “QUICK LINKS” and “Pre-Arranged Student Absence”.

Email: anelson@farmington.k12.mn.us
Website: https://dms.farmington.k12.mn.us/
Location: Levi P Dodge Middle School, 208th Street West, Farmington, MN, USA
Phone: 651-460-1500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dodgetigers
Twitter: @dodgetigers