Dakota Minute

Happy Friday everyone! I hope you have a wonderful weekend as we go into a short week next week. As a reminder, DMMS has school on Monday, November 25th and Tuesday, November 26th. We are in session both of these days. In addition, we also have our second night of conferences on Monday, November 25th. If you have not signed up and would still like to, you are more than welcome to HERE.

Also, as a reminder when picking up and dropping off your students, we ask that families please use Door 8 (cafeteria side). Our front parking lot (Door 1) is meant for our Special Education parents and bussing, AMV van's and MY Place van's. It makes it very difficult for our special transportation and families that have passes to enter and exit the parking lot. We also ask that families that are picking up and dropping off students be mindful of using the merge and inside lane. It is meant to merge and not stop and park. It causes a back up of traffic and safety concerns for students walking in the lanes.

As always, if you have questions or concerns, please do not hesiate to reach out.

Gratefully,

Principal Hyer

We wanted to inform you that there will be construction occurring on Howard Drive starting Monday, November 11th.We are working together with the City of North Mankato and the construction company to limit disruptions to our school traffic during pick up and drop off times. The construction will last approximately 3 weeks and will be happening all along Howard Drive.

If you have ordered school pictures and have not recieved them yet, please reach out to One Hour Quality Photo directly.

They can be reached at: (507) 345-7196 or info@spxphotos.com

We are in need of school supplies such as pencils, pens, notebooks and paper for students in need. If you have any extra that you are willing to donate, please connect with our School Social Worker, Rachel McNamara at rmcnam1@isd77.org or stop by the Main Office.

Our PBIS team is focused on POSITIVE BEHAVIOR INTERVENTION for all students.

It is a TIER 1 support. What does this mean?

We remind and teach ALL students what great behavior looks like in our spaces here at DMMS.

We share advisory lessons that teach things like respecting other people's physical boundaries or being appropriate and respectful in school spaces. Ask your student what they know about boundaries with others or what is important to remember about using the lunchroom or media center spaces.

Sometimes kids make mistakes and sometimes that means they need a little extra reteaching with an adult. This might be a classroom teacher or administrator or even our custodians in the lunchroom. Occasionally, students need a reteaching that is more formal. This is where our success coaches come in. Ms. Reeves, Ms. Boone and Mr. Hassan prompt students to stop, think about actions, relearn and make amends for behaviors that cross the line.

Our PRIDE slips are incentives to help ALL students remember to show PRIDE. Ask your student if they have gotten a PRIDE slip this week and what they'll use it for!

Construction will continue throughout the 2024-25 school year as work on the new pool progresses. Construction fences and concrete barriers (see attachment remain in place around the parent drop-off/pick-up area.

To help reduce congestion on Howard Drive and in the DMMS parking lot, we offer the following suggestions:

Student Pick-Up and Drop-Off Areas:

• School Lot: Please use both lanes and take turns merging near the pick-up/drop-off area.

• Crossview Church: Please enter the parking lot and find a parking space. DO NOT stop or park in the roundabout, as this may result in a ticket.

• Caswell North: Please find a place to park and wait for your student. Students may use the trail from campus to Caswell North.

Two hour early releases will take place on the following dates:

December 11th, 2024. January 8th, 2025. February 12th, 2025. March 12th, 2025. April 9th, 2025. May 14th, 2025.

There are no middle school practices on early release days. ALL DMMS student athletes should be picked up or use bus transportation home on these days.There is also no activity bus to Mankato West on Early release days. Student Athletes that participate at the high school level may have practices as normal but will have to provide their own transportation or contact their coach.

Thank you to all who have contributed to the One and Done fundraiser. We are still $15,000 shy of our goal and donations are still being accepted. All donations can be made via cash or check made out to DMMS PTA, or online: https://dmms.givebacks.com/store/items/1086212

A huge thank you to Olive Garden and Atomic Star for providing meals for DMMS teachers during conferences. Conference nights get long and we are happy to provide our staff with a fun meal! Thank you also to the many volunteers who have made the book fair a possibility this fall.

If you are interested in learning more about how you can get involved with DMMS PTA, reach out via email: ptadmms@gmail.com

Here is the assessment calendar for the 2024-2025 school year. Please let us know if you have any questions.

Please make sure to view the student calendar on our district website. This will have our early releases and no school days. In addition, the Google Calendar will have DMMS Specific information.

• November 25th- Fall Conferneces
• November 27th-29th- No School
• December 3rd- Choir Concert @ West
• December 11th- Early Out
• December 13th- Shining Scarlet Breakfast
• December 16th- Band and Orchestrs Concert
• December 23rd-January 1st- No School
• January 8th- Early Out
• January 20th- No School
• January 24th- All School Dance
• January 27th- No School