COLT CONNECTION

Dear Colt Families,

I just wanted to take a moment to say how thrilled I am with how this school year has started. It’s been one of the best we’ve seen in a long time, and I couldn’t be happier with the way things are going.

The positive energy around Deer Valley Middle School has been incredible, and I know a big part of that comes from your support at home. Thank you for everything you do to help your children—and us—start the year off on the right foot.

As we begin the school year, there are many important policies that everyone needs to be aware of. Please read them below. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.

Here’s to a fantastic year ahead!

Best regards,

Ray Utter

Principal, Deer Valley Middle School

Deer Valley Middle School would like to thank the North Phoenix Business Network for their generous donation of school supplies! Members of the NPBN dropped off multiple boxes of school supplies donated by businesses across North Phoenix over the summer. These much-needed supplies will be distributed to Title I schools across the Deer Valley Unified School District for students and classrooms that need them.

As always, Ann E's Closet & Pantry is available for DVMS & DVUSD parents and families. We provide free gently used clothing for children and adults, food items, backpacks, toys, and games for children. If you would like to visit Ann E's Closet & Pantry, appointments can be arranged by calling the front office or emailing store management.

Attention all DVMS athletes, Baseball and Softball tryouts have started. Tryouts will be held this week after school and end at 5:00 pm. In order to try out students must complete the clearance process fully. Baseball will be coached by Mr. Hadley and Mr. James while softball will be coached by Ms. Allen and Ms. Rodrigo. If you have questions please contact one of the coaches and they can answer them for you. Don't miss your chance to be a part of our 24/25 athletics program!

Picture Day is Wednesday, August 21st. Flyers have been sent home with students. For more information, please click on the link below.

LINK

Kona Ice will be on campus each Monday throughout the school year. Students are allowed to purchase Kona Ice during their lunch periods. Prices start at $4.00. A portion of the proceeds goes back to our campus to help fund our PBIS Reward store for students.

• Each time a student is late to class, they will receive a lunch detention. Parents/guardians will be notified via email.

• When a student enters a classroom late, their teacher will fill out a lunch detention slip and the student will sign it.

• For students who struggle to be on time:

• May be required to attend an additional class to learn time management skills.

• May be escorted to and from each class all day by a monitor as determined by an administrator.

• Parents/guardians may be invited to follow them around campus all day.

• If you are dropping off your student after 8:15 am, please sign them in at the front office or they will be considered tardy and could receive consequences.

In your student's schedule, you may see a class listed as Differentiated Student Support (DSS). Previously, this class was known as Transition or Colt University. Most of our students have DSS as their 3rd-hour class this year, unless they are scheduled for Read 180 or Math 180. The purpose of the DSS class is to provide extra time during the school day for academic enrichment or support. This year, our focus is on improving students' proficiency in math. The majority of students will be using a student-friendly program called Zearn to complete math lessons. The lessons completed in Zearn will reinforce and complement their learning in their regular math classes. We will be monitoring students' math scores throughout the school year to ensure the success of this program.

Students must spend as much time as possible focused on learning while in the classroom and cell phones and earbuds are a major distraction. To avoid this, we do not allow students to use their cell phones or have earbuds in their ear(s) when in the classroom. If a student has their cell phone or earbuds out in the classroom, the teacher will give them one warning to put them away. If the student has either out again in the same class period, teachers have been instructed to have the student place their phone and or earbuds in a small lock box in the classroom. The phone and or earbuds will remain there until the end of class when they will be given back to the student. The reason for the lock box is to ensure the items' safety and to prevent them from being lost or stolen when temporarily not in the possession of the student.

We also understand that cell phones and earbuds are just part of life now and that cell phones in particular are a vital line of communication between parents, guardians, and their student. Students are allowed to use their cell phones and or earbuds during passing times, at lunch, or before & after school. Please try to avoid texting or calling your student when they are in class. This puts the student in a difficult situation because they do not want to upset their parent or guardian nor have their cell phone taken away. We often see this scenario play out and it can lead to conflict.

We feel this is a fair policy that allows students the freedom to use their devices while on campus but also protects instructional time, protects devices, and avoids distractions. We truly do not wish to confiscate students' phones or earbuds. Please talk with your student about the proper use of these items while at school. If you have any questions about our cell phone policy, please reach out to us.

Deer Valley Middle School encourages students to take pride in their attire as it relates to the school setting. Students should dress in a manner that, in addition to the following guidelines, takes into consideration the educational environment, safety, health, and welfare of self and others.

During the school day:

• Clothing must cover the entire buttocks and not be see-through. Shirts and tops may not expose bare midriffs, bare shoulders, nor be deeply or narrowly cut in the front, back, or under the arms. Halter tops, spaghetti straps, and strapless tops are not acceptable. Clothing that exposes undergarments will not be tolerated for males or females.
• Shoes must be worn at all times. Closed shoes are to be worn for any type of physical activity, such as physical education, cheer practice, weight lifting, etc.
• Jewelry shall not be worn if it presents a safety hazard.
• No hats, bandannas, other head coverings, or sunglasses may be worn inside any campus building at any time, except for properly approved occupational safety headgear required for special classes or if authorized by a school administrator or authorized/prescribed by a medical professional. Hats and sunglasses may be worn outside.
• Obscene language or symbols, or symbols of drugs, sex, alcohol, or weapons on clothing are expressly prohibited. Clothing, accessories and/or jewelry may not state, imply, or depict hate speech/imagery targeting groups based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious affiliation, or any other protected classification.
• Students may wear clothing, accessories and jewelry that display religious messages or religious symbols in the same manner and to the same extent that other types of clothing, accessories and jewelry that display messages or symbols are permitted.
• Tattoos displaying defamatory writing, obscene language or symbols, or symbols of drugs, sex, alcohol, or weapons must be covered.
• Students may not wear clothing, accessories and/or jewelry that is worn with the intent to convey affiliation with a criminal street gang as defined in A.R.S. 13-105.

Exceptions for special activities or health considerations may be preapproved by the administrator.

Students who participate or volunteer in extracurricular activities, such as athletics, band, chorus, et cetera, are subject to the standards of dress as defined by the sponsors of such activities.

(Ref. DVUSD Policy JICA)

Deer Valley Middle School utilizes an electronic hall pass program called Securlypass for students to request passes anywhere on campus, including restrooms. We use this program so that our monitors and administrators know who is supposed to be out of class at any given time and who is not. This adds a level of security to our campus and also tracks the amount of time students are out of class.

When students need a pass to the restroom, they log in to Securlypass on their Chromebook, request a pass, notify their teacher, and the teacher approves the pass. The program limits students to 5 restroom passes a day. However, teachers can override this should a student need to use the restroom more than that; but only in an emergency. Due to students abusing their time in the restrooms during passing periods, we lock the student restrooms during passing periods but reopen them once class begins and they can get a pass from their teacher. Students can also use the restrooms at lunch.

Over the past few years, we have developed this process to ensure our students are in class learning, restrooms are more secure, and to reduce student tardiness. If you have any questions or concerns about our restroom pass process, please don't hesitate to contact our front office.

This is just to remind you that according to district policy, DVMS is not responsible for students' personal items brought to school. However, if a student loses one of their belongings or it is stolen, we will help the student as best we can.

The following items are not allowed on our campus due to distractions or health concerns:

• Perfumes or body sprays - we often have students and staff who are allergic to these items.
• Blankets - if a student is cold they may bring a sweatshirt or jacket to stay warm. We often see students bring blankets to school, share them with others, or fight over them. Please do not bring them to school.
• Stuffed animals - these usually cause distractions on campus and in the classroom.
• Balloons - as you can imagine, these cause distractions as well. We have students who are allergic to latex and this can cause health issues for them.

3) Students are allowed to bring their lunch if they choose not to eat the food provided by the cafeteria. Parents and guardians, please do not deliver lunch to your student or have it delivered by a food delivery company.

This is a reminder that student drop-off/pick-up lot is located to the south of our campus, just north of the BGHS student parking lot. Our gate opens to students at 7:55 am. Parents and guardians may walk their student(s) to the gate if they wish but they may not enter campus. Please do not drop off or pick up your student(s) in the bus lane or the staff parking lot in front of campus.

When dropping off or picking up your student we ask that you do so in a safe but quick manner to avoid traffic issues. There are open parking spaces available if you need to wait with your student for any reason. Please turn right as you leave the parking lot to avoid traffic congestion.

If you have any questions please call our front office at 623-445-3300.