DMS/DHS October Family Newsletter
October 2023
It is hard to believe that October is here already! The first few weeks of school have been really great! Students have been adjusting well to their schedules, teachers, and our new policies and procedures. Our teachers have been working hard to provide high level learning and experiences for all students and it shows! You can ask your student(s), I try to spend as much time in the hallways and classrooms as my schedule allows. I get to see first hand the amazing things happening at Dodgeland, and I am so proud of our students and staff!
October brings Homecoming! Our Homecoming celebrations begin on Monday, October 2nd and last throughout the week. Please be sure to familiarize yourself with the schedule below. There are a ton of activities planned, and I am excited to see all the school spirit! The dance on Saturday is just for High School Students, but everyone is welcome to join us for our bonfire and street dance Friday night immediately following the football game. (Weather permitting)
Go Trojans!
Dom Gischia, Dodgeland MS/HS Principal
If your student is sick or hurt during the school day please make sure they report it to the HS/MS office/Health room. Many students are contacting parents directly during the day if they are sick or have an injury. We need all sicknesses and injuries to go through our health room and be reported to our school nurse. If your student contacts you during the day and asks you to pick them up, please verify with them they have been in the office or with the nurse.
Lamers Bus Service - Dodgeland Routes
Lamers Transportation - Joel Schaalma - Manager
Yvonne Bacon - Office Assistant
920-386-2200 ext. 11411 - Joel
920-386-2200 ext. 11412 - Yvonne
- Communication with Lamers Bus Company - Joel Schaalma or Yvonne Bacon - is very important so that routes remain on schedule throughout the school year.
- If your child will NOT be riding the bus for any reason, please call 920-386-2200 extension 11411 or 11412 and leave a detailed message before 6:30 am.
- Pick up or drop off to locations other than the child's home are permitted only for supervision or daycare purposes. These arrangements must be made in advance with the bus company manager or bus company office assistant.
- Parents must transport any friends going to someone's home or for a sleepover. The Lamers bus drivers will NOT transport other students not assigned to their route. Dodgeland administrators and office personnel will NOT be approving any bus requests - everything goes through Lamers.
Counseling Corner
Important Dates:
- October 10 - 2023 Army Recruiter @ Lunch
- October 18 - 2023 from 9-11 MPTC Application Drive FREE Wednesday
- October 19 - PSAT (must have pre-registered last month)
- October 31 - UW Stevens Point @ Lunch
- November 15 - Financial Aid Night in Library
As a parent, do you ever find yourself frustrated by how much your teen is spending on their phone/social media? Dr. Michele Borba, Educational Psychologist and author, shares from her research that 64 percent of teens say they do things online that they wouldn't want their parents to know about. This is an issue that we are well aware of at school and are trying to help students realize the impact of their phones, which is why we have been saying the new policy this year: “During the day, Put it away.”
Here are some videos to help understand how phones are affecting teens:
Cell phones are designed to be addictive: https://youtu.be/NUMa0QkPzns
Cell phones are changing our brains: https://youtu.be/MkdcnkGBQSw
Multitasking is a myth: https://youtu.be/hEPCTFuuqgY
Cell phone impact on school performance: https://youtu.be/F3jQbyiov-k
We know that teens do not like this idea, because they are used to their phone being connected to their body at all times; however, we know that it can be a huge distraction to learning. If you think about it, our phones and many of the apps we use are intentionally designed to try to addict us! Those little red notification bubbles are there to draw us in to see what’s new. When we watch a youtube video or netflix show, it automatically moves on to the next video if we don’t stop it. And snapchat? I’m sure you don’t even want to know how much time your child is spending on snapchat or what kinds of things are being posted/seen. It is shocking to become aware of what is happening on snapchat and other social media apps, but as parents we can set boundaries to help our children from becoming addicted to their phones and from making poor choices on social media.
At home, we encourage you to help ensure your child is off their device in the night by plugging it in outside of their bedroom and checking in to have conversations about what is being posted on their social media accounts. You can make the phone “less addicting” by turning off notifications or turn off autoplay functions. There are also apps you can have on your child’s phone to see how much time is being spent on different apps: Moments for apple phones or Quality Time for android phones. The time logged in different apps will provide information to have a conversation together about how much time is spent on snapchat, youtube, etc.
Thank you for all you do to support your child’s school success and well-being, as well as our school.
Senior Corner
It is hard to believe, but seniors are already planning and getting ready for graduation. This past month, seniors met with a representative from Jostens to learn about the process of ordering graduation invitations, announcements, and most importantly their cap & gown. Cap and Gown orders need to be placed as soon as possible. If you have not already ordered, you have until October 6 and then the price will be increasing. You can order online at: https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/customer/1117067/Dodgeland-High-School/. Remember that to get the best fit, you should add 2 inches to your height and enter a weight within 5 pounds of your actual weight. If you are borrowing a gown from a past graduate, make sure it fits well and is in good condition now, so that you don't have to pay for rush delivery later.
High School yearbook sale! Our Back to School special is when you order your book with personalization, you get four free icons! Books may be purchased via a form picked up outside RM 304 or through Jostens.com.
October 24 - FFA Fruit Sale Starts
October 11 - Parent/Teacher Conferences 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
October 16 - Parent/Teacher Conferences 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
October 23 - No School - Professional Development Day
April 15-19, 2024 - 8th Grade DC Trip
The Bucky Book Fundraiser is happening now through October 23rd. Cost of the book is $35. There are over 300 businesses in Madison area, Dells, as well as Watertown, Columbus and Beaver Dam. If you would like to purchase one let an 8th grade student know or contact Mr. Otte.
Pasta Cook-off
FBLA will be hosting a Pasta Cook-off on Wednesday, October 11, during Parent/Teacher Conferences. Everyone is invited to enjoy an all you can eat Pasta dinner from 4:00-7:00pm. Adults: $7; Students: $5; Under 5 is Free.
PICTURE RETAKES - OCTOBER 13!
Picture retake day is coming, Friday, October 13! You can still order on mylifetouch.com
with your Student ID or Picture Day ID: EVTT8MHVB
Don't Forget!
The Dodgeland School District has a required dress code for all students. It is not our intention to infringe on individuality, but rather to encourage students to “Dress for Success.” Your support as parents & guardians helps us to prevent disruption of the classroom atmosphere, and enhance classroom decorum in order to have a positive effect on the educational process and to maintain a safe school environment. Please help us enforce the required dress code.
Here are some key points of our dress code-
- Images, graphics, and language on clothing must be school appropriate. (No profanity, weapons, alcohol, or drug references)
- Clothing must provide appropriate coverage of the body. Garments that expose midriffs, cleavage, buttocks, and visible undergarments (waistbands and straps are allowed). Spaghetti tanks, halter tops, half-shirts, bare-midriff shirts, see-through or mesh garments will not be allowed.
- Pajamas, slippers, and blankets are prohibited except for school sponsored theme days.
- Brimmed hats, stocking hats, beanies, hoods, visors and sunglasses may not be worn during the school day.
Remember Dodgeland School has "The Purple Purpose Room"! The Purple Purpose room is a place where ANY student can go to get clothes, school supplies or toiletries, it is open before school and during lunch/advisory hours for middle and high school students, however, teachers can also access the room at any time to get needed items for a student.
401 South Western Avenue
Juneau, WI. 53039
P - 920/386-4404
F - 920/386-4498
Website: dodgeland.k12.wi.us