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❗Family Communication December1, 2024

All parent communications can be found on our website. Check our DMS website out!

As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, I want to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to each of you. This year has been filled with growth, learning, and moments of joy, and it is all thanks to the dedication and hard work of all of you.

I am deeply grateful for your commitment to our students. Your hard work, care, and passion for education are what make this school community so special.

As we take this time to reflect and give thanks, I hope each of you is able to enjoy the weekend surrounded by family and friends. May your Thanksgiving be filled with joy, laughter, and cherished moments.

Wishing you all a restful and wonderful Thanksgiving break!

Warm regards,

Becca

• Wednesday 12/4 - Early Release - 11:30 - See Schedule Here & Content Meetings

• Thursday, December 5th, Doherty Middle School, Literacy Review Middle School Walkthroughs 12/5. ANet will be here for literacy review walkthroughs on 12/5 from 8:30-9:30 AM . They will only see a sample size of classrooms. Your room may be visited if you teach ELA or Reading.

Grading:

Grades are due in ASPEN by end of day on Thursday, December 5th. We will do our best to have grades published by Friday, December 6th.

Reminder that flex, ITT, and academic connections classes are NOT graded and are not given an effort and conduct grade.

Enter a grade for Effort and Conduct.

3- Good

2- Room for Improvement

1- Unsatisfactory

• Wednesday 12/11 - Faculty Meeting - Media Center - 3:00

• Draft Agenda: RULER Faculty Charter and thinking about student Charter
• Friday 12/20 - Holiday Recess begins at 2:50
• Thursday 1/2 - School Reopens
• Friday 12/13- Influence 100 fellow visit

Third Quarter IA Rotation start: 1/23/25

Third term start: 3/13/25

Fourth quarter IA Rotation start: 4/3/25

We are bringing back the DMS Values Challenge this year with the help of our student Values Ambassadors. Each month we will focus on a value for the building, with December’s value being kindness. Please see the following document for more details on how we will implement this challenge this year. This is a work in progress and Jillian is very open to ideas and assistance if any staff members would like to be part of this new initiative or if they want to help support our Values Ambassador meetings. The next student meetings will take place on December 5th during 7th and 8th grade lunch and the whole group will meet on December 13th. Please see the document for information for the year: DMS Values Challenge 24-25

Friday, December 13 Doherty Staff can not park in the the lost behind the school. Doherty employees can park in the lot adjacent to the cafe, in the Youth Center reserved spots, and on Bartlet Street where parking is permitted. The the map for visual details.

Doherty Employees can park in sections of parking numbered:

25 yellow left of youth center

69 Navy Doherty

15 Gray on Bartlet Street

No Doherty Employees can park in:

21 Navy or

18 Green

Meals on Wheels Red

Communication with our families is essential to the success and wellness of our students. To assist our families and help them connect with the appropriate staff who is best suited to answer questions, we have updated our “Who We Are” page on our website. The information will guide families to resources on how to reach staff with concerns and how to stay connected to news and events across the district.

😊Get your slides HERE- Check the our DMS Schoology Group: Resources: RULER: Morning Slides

Purpose of Morning Check In:

• Create a unified low-stakes rollout for all three APS Middle Schools
• Begin a student focus on the emotion matters mindset and discussion
• Build student relationships and community

Reminder to staff to use the Copy Center

WE ENCOURAGE STAFF TO USE THE COPY CENTER FOR ANY LARGE COPY NEEDS.

Email completed order forms along with the relevant pdf/packet to the copy center copycenter@andoverma.us

and cc to Brenda brenda.leyne@andoverma.us Please see Brenda with questions.

Andover has been selected as district for a Influence 100 fellows visit.

Friday December 13, 2024 Influence 100 fellows on visiting Doherty 10:45-11:30

In 2019, only 4% of Massachusetts school superintendents were people of color, while 40% of the students served by public school districts were people of color. In the fall of 2019 DESE launched Influence 100 to increase the racial and ethnic diversity of superintendents in Massachusetts, create more culturally responsive districts and leaders across the Commonwealth, and promote better outcomes for students. Since the program's inception, the number of superintendents of color has steadily increased to over 8% in 2024. You can find program highlights here

In partnership with PAC, holiday gift cards (Target, Market Basket, Shaw’s etc.) are being collected to distribute to families needing support this holiday season. If you would like to contribute, gift cards can be brought to the main office. Please let Colleen LeBeau know if you have any questions. Thank you!

TAC Meeting Dates as follows. Wednesdays @ 3pm in the Library.

12/18/24

1/22/25 (changed date from 1/8)

2/5/25

3/26/25 (changed date from 3/5)

4/2/25

5/14/25

5/28/25

📅Personal Day requests: Please check with the book in the main office. Brenda can assist you.

Reminders:

• When inputting a ½ day absence (AM or PM) into Frontline - be sure to change the pulldown under “substitute required” to NO regardless of your position. We do not use outside subs for ½ day absences - we will find appropriate coverage with current staff. Thank you!!

• Please submit attendance through Aspen by 8:30. If you’re unable to get into Aspen, please send an attendance sheet to the front office.

• Media Center:

• If you’d like to reserve the library please email Brenda or Karen to confirm the space is available.

• Chorus will be using the Media Center again this year during periods 7 & 8 on Tuesdays & Fridays.

💻 The loaner computers are now being distributed by the front office. We ask that if students need a computer for the day, they wait till 8:40 to come down to get one, please don’t send them down before then. These computers need to be returned at the end of the day. We appreciate your patience with this new process.

🪴Instruct students to empty the recycle bin on Fridays.

Before you leave for the day:

🪟Close all windows before leaving your classroom at the end of the day.

Stack chairs if possible

💡Turn off lamps in your classroom before leaving for the day.

To reserve the media center during school or after school please reach out to Brenda or Karen in the main office.