Greetings Middle School Families!

It is that time when we start to gear up for our next school year! I am so excited about the opportunities that come with a fresh start to learning, and I can’t wait to welcome all of our students to the Middle School for the 2024-2025 school year. I anticipate your child is also getting excited to see friends, figure out what House they will be on, and meet their teachers.

Please take time to look through all of the information provided in this newsletter, as it will give you everything you need to know for your child to have a successful middle school experience.

Kate Wollersheim

Principal D.C. Everest Middle School

kwollersheim@dce.k12.wi.us

715-241-9700 ext. 2022

Schedule Pick-Up – Commons Area

Student classroom schedules, teachers, and locker assignments available.

Pay Fees (Registration $20, Yearbook $25, PE T-Shirt $5) - Main Office

Please order your 24-25 school yearbook at this time. This year, PE t-shirts will be made available. If you do not order a PE t-shirt, you are asked to provide a t-shirt for your student to wear during class.

Register for Boys and Girls Club – Commons Area

School Nutrition Services – Commons Area

Athletics – Commons Area

Representatives from our athletic department will be here to help you with your questions concerning registration and sports physicals.

Health Room/Medications – Health Room

Our school health room staff will be on site to take any medications that need to be left at school along with collecting forms and answering questions.

Parent/Student Technology HELP – Commons Area

A representative from our technology department will be here to help with your questions concerning setting-up Infinite Campus and Canvas.

If you can't make the open house, we are offering an alternative open house on Friday, August 30 from 8am - 2pm.

Schedule pick-up, pay fees, and self guided tours will be available during this time.

WELCOME TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL!

We are excited to announce a change to the start of the 2024-25 school year that will better serve our incoming 6th graders and their families — a full-day “Transition to Middle School Program” held on September 3 (the first day of school).

By hosting a full-day transition program on the first day of school, all 6th graders will have the opportunity to:

• Participate in orientation activities together while they explore the school, make new friends, and meet their teachers.
• Connect with peers and develop self-confidence by participating in numerous collaborative activities.
• Students will have the support of all 6th and 7th grade staff, as well as 7th grade student leaders while they experience what a day in the life of a DCE Middle School student looks like.

Robert Payne Photography will be here on Tuesday, September 3rd to take 6th grade student school photos. Order information can be found HERE.

Seventh grade students will begin their school year on Wednesday, September 4th, 2024. 7th grade students will not need to make this day up during the school year.

Robert Payne Photography will be here on Friday, September 6th to take 7th grade student school photos. Order information can be found HERE.

Basic Hours of Operation - School begins at 7:20 a.m.

School doors open at 7:00 a.m. All students arriving to campus prior to 7:00 a.m. must wait at the front door to be let in the building by a staff member at 7:00 a.m. Students must be seated and ready to begin the instructional day when announcements begin at 7:20 a.m. Students arriving to class after 7:20 a.m. are considered tardy and must sign in through the main office.

Students are dismissed at 2:32 p.m. each day. Students must be picked up by no later than 2:45 p.m. Boys and Girls Club membership is available after school until 6:30 p.m. Any student not picked up by 2:45 p.m. will be required to check-in to the Boys and Girls Club. Please pick up information and registration forms at our Open House or register HERE.

Attendance Matters

You can access the attendance hot line at 715-241-9700 ext. 1. For your convenience, this voicemail is available 24/7. Please include students full name, grade, and reason for being gone. You can also send an email to https://mid-attendance@dce.k12.wi.us.

Cell Phone and Personal Devices

Student use of electronic communication devices (including but not limited to cell phones, personal tablets, or other devices) on school premises are subject to restricted use during the school day. Students may use their personal device before the start of school and after school ONLY.

Messages to Students

Since students have restricted access their electronic devices during school hours, 7:20 a.m. - 2:32 p.m., messages to students will be delivered during lunch times. Only in cases of extreme emergency will a student be paged during class time. Messages called in after 1:30 p.m. are not guaranteed to reach your student before the end of the school day. Your understanding and cooperation regarding this policy is greatly appreciated.

Parent Drop-Off Table

If a student contacts a parent/guardian to have something brought to them, it is the

STUDENT’S responsibility to come to the office and check the drop-off table between classes. Students will not be called out of class unless it is for an iPad or eyeglasses pick up. The parent drop-off table is located in the main office.

Report Cards

In an effort to be more environmentally friendly and reduce expenses, several years ago we began distributing progress reports and parent updates primarily through electronic means. Final report cards can be viewed when you login to Infinite Campus. On Canvas, you can monitor daily work, due dates, and grades.

Technology Monitoring through Gaggle

The district has a content monitoring service called Gaggle. Gaggle Safety Management combines technology with expert Safety Representatives, who review content 24/7 to assure students are safe. Gaggle identifies inappropriate words and images in Google Apps and Office 365 for education, student issued district servers, accounts, and devices. Trained professionals then apply consistent, school- or district-approved policies for positive intervention, alerting school officials if there is an imminent threat to a student. Administration is made aware and handles each incident case-by-case.

Houses are our school’s way of providing smaller learning communities for students. We have six houses (6D, 6C, 6E, 7D, 7C, 7E) at D.C. Everest Middle School. Each house is comprised of six teachers: Math, Science, Social Studies, English, Language Arts, and a Learning Strategist. These teams work together with the same group of 130-140 students. This team of teachers has the opportunity to meet regularly to support the learning of their particular “House” of students. They have the chance to connect with students in a different way while being able to provide increased knowledge about the specific needs of individual students. Each House has their own designated “What I Need” (WIN) time near the end of the day. This time is dedicated to providing academic and enrichment opportunities.

The D.C. Everest School District will be supplying basic school supplies for students enrolled for the 2024-2025 school year.

The only items that need to be provided by families are listed below.

Items Provided By Families:

· PE T-Shirt (available for purchase at the open house or during the school year. You can provide your own t-shirt).

· Backpack – no wheels

· Pencil bag or box to hold and organize writing utensils

· Tennis Shoes

· Trapper Keeper – optional*

*For the safety of our school, students are not allowed to bring their backpacks to class. Students benefit with using a “trapper keeper” to help organize and transport their classroom supplies from one classroom to another.

Students will receive their school supplies the first week of school.

Middle School Meal Prices for 2024-2025

Breakfast $1.50 Lunch $2.15

MEAL PAYMENTS

Students can bring a cash or check payment to school and deposit in the secure school nutrition payment box located by the DCEMS theatre. Please include the student’s name and ID number with the deposit. Payments can also be made online for a small fee on the MySchoolBucks site. Parents can check account balances, view recent purchases, and set up low balance alerts for free on the MySchoolBucks site.

FREE OR REDUCED MEALS

A copy of the Free or Reduced-Priced Meal Applications are sent home to each household over the summer. Paper applications can be picked up in the commons area during the open house or on the school nutrition website.

MENUS

Can be found on the Nutrislice link.

August 27th OPEN HOUSE 3:00pm-6:00pm

August 30 Alternative Open House - schedule pick-up and self guided tours 8:00am-2:00pm.

September 3 6th grade FIRST DAY, 6th grade student photos Robert Payne Photography

September 4 7th grade FIRST DAY

September 6 7th grade student photos Robert Payne Photography

September 10 - 24 Student Council Fundraiser

September 30 Independent Learning Day

October 22 Parent/Teacher Conferences 3:15pm-7:00pm

October 24 & 25 NO SCHOOL

November 1 Fall Fun Night 6th grade 2:30pm-5:00pm; 7th grade 2:30pm-5:30pm

November 4 NO SCHOOL - students

November 6 Parent/Teacher Conferences 3:15pm-7:00pm

November 27 - 29 NO SCHOOL

December 2 Choir Concert 6th grade 7:00pm

December 3 Choir Concert 7th grade 7:00pm

December 5 Band Concert Beginning 6:00pm

December 10 Band Concert Intermediate 6:00pm

December 12 Beginning and Intermediate String Concert 6:30pm

December 10 Intermediate Band Concert (7th grade) 6:00pm

December 23-January 1 NO SCHOOL

January 2 Back to school

January 17 last day of semester 1

Keep up to date with MS events by accessing the MS Activity Calendar. School schedules, new club dates and times along with special event information is updated weekly.

Semester 1 concerts will be held in the MS Theatre

December 2 Choir - 6th grade 7:00pm

December 3 Choir - 7th grade 7:00pm

December 5 Band - Beginning 6:00pm

December 10 Band - Intermediate 6:00pm

December 12 Strings - Beginning and Intermediate 6:30pm

Middle School doors open to students at 7:00 am.

There is no supervision for students before this time.

The safety of our students is an absolute top priority. Drop-off at the beginning of the day (and pick-up at the end) are key moments when safety is a priority. Your awareness of, and cooperation with, these procedures are essential to us making these transition times a safe and smooth experience for all involved.

· Morning drop-off is between 7:00 a.m. – 7:15 a.m.

· The right lane is for drop-off; the left lane is for exiting.

· Drop-off happens only at the areas with the green curb and sidewalk.

UPDATE FOR THE 24-25 SCHOOL YEAR

In an effort to increase the efficiency of our drop-off line, parking in the drop-off zone, driveway and/or road leading to the middle school will not be permitted. We ask that students exit their vehicles promptly and that cars keep moving to avoid back-ups and subsequent time delays.

For the 2024-2025 school year, when you are picking up or dropping students at school, DCEMS is asking to please pull as far forward as you can in the GREEN zone designated by the green curb. This helps make room for more cars to pull in, let their student(s) out, and move out swiftly and away from the building using the left lane. Please do not stop to drop-off right in front of the main entrance.

Make sure to pull as far ahead as you can, following the green curb.

Get Involved & After-school Enrichment!

In partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of Wausau Area, DCEMS is proud to provide a FREE membership to all our middle school students. We encourage our students to get involved and build positive relationships with peers through extracurriculars – the BGC is the perfect place to do this!

The Boys and Girls Club has a site located right at the middle school and is open every school day from 2:30pm – 6:30 pm.

Even if you don’t plan to for your student to regularly attend the BGC, sometimes our families encounter unexpected events (whether it’s that we’re running late, an important meeting pops up, or your student wants to join a club that meets after school but will miss the bus ride home!?) For these reasons, and many more, please fill out the membership form (link HERE) so we are all set to start the 24-25 school year!

Registration materials will also be available during our open house in the cafeteria. Please contact members@bgclub.com if you have any questions.

UPDATE SCHOOL POLICY

Our school policy will require any student who has not been picked up by 2:45pm to check-in to the club for safety and supervisory reasons. If you’re student does not ride the bus home and is at school past 2:45pm, or is at school late due to club participation, parents/guardians will need to plan to pick-up from the BGC inside the commons.

Middle School Athletics Information

JULY 15TH

R-School OPENS!

All athletic forms need to be uploaded into the system.

Athletic registration is available online.

You must register in rSchool every year, only once a year.

Athletic Forms

Printable Athletic Handbook and Forms can be found HERE.

Athletic Schedules

It’s easy to stay connected with your favorite DCE sports and receive updates about changes in schedules/locations. Download the App using this link:

ACTIVITY SCHEDULER

Sign up for NOTIFY ME! for text or emails of changes to the schedules.

QUESTIONS? contact either

CORY HECKEL, MS/JH Athletic Director

715-359-0577X. 3402 email checkel@dce.k12.wi.us

JEN CLARK, MS/JR. Athletic Secretary

715-359-0577 X. 3048 email jclark@dce.k12.wi.us

Below is a sampling of clubs that have be offered in the past. Depending on interest, some of these clubs are not held every year. Ideas for new clubs are always welcome!

Dates and times are available on the Middle School Website Calendar .

The Daily Announcement page is another great resource. These announcements are read to students at the start of every day and again during their lunch times.

Club/Activity and Description

Anime Club

Anime Club is a place for you to talk Anime, watch Anime, and draw Anime!

Battle of the Books

Battle of the Books is a reading competition. You will be reading books and answering questions. Winning teams from DCEMS compete online or in person with other teams in Wisconsin.

Boys and Girls Club

After-school enrichment & fun activities sponsored by the Boys and Girls Club of Marathon Club. Membership is FREE for all DCEMS students.

Chess and Checkers Club

Test your skills in the world of chess and checkers with some of the best.

EL Homework Club

A homework club specifically designed for our EL students.

Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA)

FCA is a student-led club designed for kids who want to come together to have fun, share faith, and make new friends.

Fishing Club

Learn all about fishing, area lakes, lures, and take a fishing trip. You will have a chance to tell those fishing stories about the “ones that got away”!

Forensics

If you like public speaking or want to improve your communication skills this is the club for you!

Gaming Club

We play a wide variety of board and card games. Fun time with friends.

Garden Club

For all you “green thumbs”. If you enjoy digging in the dirt, our school garden could use your help.

Homework Club

Join friends in a great environment to get homework done and have help if you need.

Horse Club

A club where you can come together to talk all things horses!

Jazz Band

Open to 7th grade band students to come together and explore new notes, rhythms, and techniques.

Junior Optimist Club

Junior Optimist Club focuses on volunteering and giving back to the community.

Peyton's Promise

Work together to help fight hunger! This club helps create food drives and spread awareness.

Pop/Jazz Choir -

Open to current choir students who want to learn new notes, rhythms, and techniques.

Rainbow Alliance

This clubs provides a focus on understanding differences and supporting one another

Ski/Snowboard Club

This club can help you survive WINTER! Open to students in grade 6 and 7.

Student Council

The purpose of the student council is to give students an opportunity to develop leadership by organizing and carrying out school activities and service projects.

Variety Show

Can you sing a song? Do you dance the jig or walk on the balance beam? Come share your talent with the school and the community.

Yearbook

Help create our DCEMS Yearbook! You will focus on the construction of the yearbook by taking pictures, drawing layouts, cropping photos, writing, and typing copy.

*All school sponsored clubs are free to Middle School participants.

Students do not need to sign up to participate in school sponsored clubs and are encouraged to get involved!

Dates and times will be on the Middle School Website Calendar as clubs begin to meet.

Students in need of any medical care should report to the health room with permission of a staff member. The health assistant, with input from the student, will determine if a parent/guardian will be contacted or should pick the student up from school, depending on the illness of the student. Students who feel they need to go home due to an illness must allow the health assistant to make initial contact with the parent/guardian. A student should not make initial contact by personal phone to be picked up from school for medical reasons. This practice ensures quality medical care and accurate attendance of all our students. If the initial contact is not made through the health office and the student is picked up, it will be documented as excused per parent/guardian and will count towards their 10 days of allowed absences.

MEDICATION AT SCHOOL - The purpose of the medication procedure is to keep your student safe and provide him/her with the medication ordered. District staff will not give any medication - prescription and/or Over The Counter (OTC) - to any student unless the following criteria is met:

1. School Medication Consent Forms are available in the main office, health room, or online. A new medication consent form must be completed each school year or when the dose of the medication is changed and/or discontinued.

• Over The Counter (OTC) Medications
• Parent/Guardian signature is required for OTC medications.
• A physician’s signature is required if the dose needed of the OTC medication is more than the recommendations listed on the label, or if the medication is not FDA approved.
• Prescription Medications
• Parent/Guardian and physician signatures are required for all prescription medications.

2. Medication Bottles and Labeling

• Prescription Medications must be in the original labeled pharmacy bottle. The label must clearly state:
• Student’s full name
• Name of medication
• Time to give medication and dose needed
• Physician’s name
• Date medication was dispensed
• OTC Medications must be in the original container or single dose unit package. Write your student’s name on the container.
• Staff cannot give any medication sent in a plastic bag or envelope.

3. Handling and Storage of Medication at School

Medications are stored in the original labeled pharmacy container and in a locked cabinet.

• During the school year, parent/guardian is called to pick up all unused, discontinued, or outdated medications.
• At the end of the school year, parent/guardian must pick up all medication.
• Any unclaimed medication will be disposed of at the end of the school year.

4. Special Considerations

• Emergency Medications -
• Students are allowed to self-carry emergency medications with physician’s authorization. Emergency medications must be labeled as outlined above. Parent/guardian must complete the appropriate form even if your student self-carries the medication. All students who receive an emergency medication will be taken by ambulance to the nearest emergency room. Parent/Guardian will be notified.

5. General Safety Considerations

• Bring your student’s medication to the health office.
• Send only limited quantities of medication to school.
• No medication will be given to your student without your written consent.

IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS - The Wisconsin state immunization requirements for 2024-2025 school year are listed below. Students need the listed vaccinations by the first day of school.

Immunization Waivers

Parents/Guardians do have the option to decline any and/or all immunizations based on personal, religious, and/or health reasons. If you choose not to immunize your child, check the appropriate waiver (Step 4) and sign the form. Immunization waiver forms are available online.

Please contact your student’s doctor or local health department to determine if your student needs additional immunizations. Schedule appointments to receive the immunizations needed or sign a waiver indicating what vaccine(s) you do not want your student to receive. Report the dates of the immunizations to the school health assistant.

Please contact the Middle School Health Office at 715.241.9700 extension 2023 if you have further questions or concerns.

Students in need of any medical care should report to the health room with permission of a staff member. The health assistant, with input from the student, will determine if a parent/guardian will be contacted or should pick the student up from school, depending on the illness of the student. Students who feel they need to go home due to an illness must allow the health assistant to make initial contact with the parent.

A student should not make initial contact with a parent to be picked up from school for medical reasons.

This includes texting home. This practice ensures quality medical care for our students and accurate attendance of all our students.

Communication is key for students and families at DCEMS, and we have many ways to stay in touch. Our website is a great starting point with links to important calendars and contact information, as well as the Parent Portal, Canvas, and Facebook!

Use the Parent Portal to update your address, phone numbers, email addresses, emergency contact information, etc. This is the main route of communication for the MS and where we get our information for mailings and calls home for any reason. It is also where you will find final report cards at the semester, and end of the year.

Infinite Campus will help you find:

· Student Demographics

· Attendance Records

· Paying Fees

· Child’s Schedule

· Report Card Grades

· School-Wide Communication

To get started with Infinite Campus Parent Portal

click HERE.

“Like” us on Facebook and follow all of the fun things going on at DCEMS! FB is updated with pictures of fun class activities, dress-up days, fun nights, and more “social” aspects of middle school.

Receive Dental Care right at school!

• Oral Screening
• Dental Cleanings
• Fluoride Varnish
• Sealants

Services are provided during the school day and visits are held throughout the year.

ENROLL NOW FOR THIS FALL

Click this LINK to enroll!

Bridging Brighter Smiles, Inc. accepts Forward/Badger Care insurances ONLY.

Any questions please call Bridging Brighter Smiles at 262-896-9891 or visit www.bbsmiles.org.

More information about school safety can be found HERE.

Middle School Website

MS Staff Directory

MS Activity Calendar

Student Services and Community Resources

Health Services

A/B Calendar

Find MS Announcement Here

DCEMS BAND Kick Start 2024

August 13 - 16

We are excited to let you know about the fun band program for 7th Grade band students, offered this August. The purpose of this 4-day Band Experience is to provide an opportunity to refresh & reconnect. Students will be grouped in like-instrument classes and will learn new skills, some exciting pep band music and have some fun reconnecting with their friends in band.

Kick Start Band classes will be held for 4 days on August 13 - 16.

Please register for for your class using the button below!

The classes will be held in the Middle School Band Room on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at the same time each day. The session times are based on your instrument (if you cannot attend at the time assigned please contact us by email and we will work something out):

Flutes 11:00 - 12:00 pm

Saxophones 8:00 - 9:00 am OR 12:30 -1:30 pm
Clarinets 8:00 - 9:00 am OR 11:00 - 12:00 pm OR 12:30 - 1:30 pm

Trumpets 9:00 - 10:00 am OR 10:00 - 11:00 pm OR 1:30 - 2:30 pm

Trombones10:00 - 11:00 am
Baritones/Tuba 9:00 - 10:00 am
Percussion 1:30 - 2:30 pm

Supplies (reeds, valve oil, etc) will be available at the middle school during the Kick Start sessions.

If you let us know you would like to help with the Beginning Band Jump Start I will be contacting you! If you have any questions please contact us via email.

We are looking forward to seeing you in August.

Mrs. Lisa Phalen and Mr. Austin Kappel

DC Everest Band Middle School Teachers

lphalen@dce.k12.wi.us akappel@dce.k12.wi.us

DCEMS Band

Jump Start

2024
August 19, 20, 21 and 22

Dear Parents and Beginning Band Students,

Our band program for Beginning Band students starts in August. The purpose of this FREE 4-day Band Experience is to get students started on playing their instrument. We will learn how to put your instrument together correctly, how to care for and clean your instrument, how to hold the instrument and of course how to make the best sound!

Jump Start Band classes will be held for 4 days on August 19, 20, 21, and 22 at DCE Middle School.

Please register for for your class using the button below!

If you have not already made plans to acquire an instrument you can visit Heid Music on their web site at www.heidmusic.com or call 715-423-1000 (Stevens Point store) or Jerry’s Music at (800) 294-2133. We have attached some information about acquiring instruments to this email. If you have a financial concern please contact us.

If you have any questions please contact us via email. We are looking forward to seeing you August 19 - 22.

Lisa Phalen and Austin Kappel

lphalen@dce.k12.wi.us akappel@dce.k12.wi.us DCEMS Band Directors