Welcome Back Discovery Eagles!

Discovery Families -

You will receive newsletters containing school information for the upcoming events/information. This is a great way to keep pace with all the exciting things happening at Discovery. All kinds of attachments will be linked to these newsletters, (i.e. Weekly Sneak Peeks will focus on events/activities/timely information for the upcoming week. In addition, we send email blasts out that tend to focus on a single topic, or contain pressing information we want to make you aware of quickly.)

With this in mind, please take a moment to look into MiStar via the Parent Portal and make sure your email address(es) and phone numbers are accurate and up-to-date and complete the "Back to School Check-In"

• The Parent Portal can be found by clicking here. (please save this to your favorites for future access).
• Click here for Mi-Star Parent Portal Instructions
  

1. Important Dates
2. Back to School Information Website
3. Back to School Check In
4. WEB
5. Explore Discovery Night
6. Cell Phone/Electronic Device Policy Changes
7. Free/Reduced Information
8. Water Bottles
9. Tissues Needed
10. Cross Country
11. Medication at School
12. First Week Schedule
13. Immunizations
14. Student Handbook
15. Welcome New Staff
16. Spirit Wear
17. Contact Information

• 8/22/24 WEB For all 6th Grade Students
• 8/28/24 Explore Discovery for all 6th Grade Students and all Students New to Discovery
• 9/3/24 First Day of School
• 9/4/24 Physicals Due to Main Office if running Cross Country/ Cross Country Begins
• 9/5/24 Picture Day
• 9/12/24 Curriculum Night
• 10/16/24 Girls Volleyball Tryouts
• 10/17/24 Picture Retake Day
• 10/17/24 Parent Teacher Conferences
• 10/24/24 Parent Teacher Conferences

Please familiarize yourself with the Discovery Website. Our Back to School page has supply lists, athletic information, free and reduced form links, medication form links and the answers to most questions. Click here to go to the Back To School Page.

BACK TO SCHOOL CHECK-IN OPENS AUGUST 14

• REQUIRED FOR ALL FAMILIES

• The Back to School Check-in process, which is a requirement for returning Kindergarten through 12th-grade P-CCS families to easily update medical, demographic, and contact information in MISTAR Parent Connection (formerly Parent Portal), will open on August 14. Your student’s 2024-25 school year emergency card will be created using this updated information.

• Once logged into MISTAR Parent Connection, you will look for the ‘Back to School Check-in’ link in the top right of the home screen and follow the prompts. This registration will be available starting on Wednesday, August 14, and will run until Monday, September 30. This process must be completed for all students.

6th Grade WEB will be Aug. 22nd. Watch your email for more information and details.

All incoming 6th graders and 7th and 8th graders new to Discovery are invited to bring their guardians and take a look around Discovery on Aug. 28th from 6-8PM. You can see a classroom, practice opening a locker and just look around to get to know your new school. Students will not yet have their schedule or locker assignment but they can get to know their grade wing.

Please read the attached letter, it includes the most up to date cell phone/electronic device information for the 24/25 school year.

Click Here for the Cell Phone Letter

Discovery Middle School’s Cell Phone/Electronics Policy

DMS recognizes the importance of communication and collaboration, and provides devices for students to be productive in the classroom. To keep the focus on academics and to reduce unnecessary distractions, the school will be enforcing the following:

• Cell phones and all electronic devices shall be TURNED OFF and away when students are in the building.

• Cell phones and all electronic devices shall be kept in a student’s locker – not in clothing pockets or in pencil cases.

• Cell phones and all electronic devices are not allowed to be used in locker rooms or restrooms at any time.

• Cell phones/electronic devices may be used in a classroom when directed by the teacher and for academic purposes only.

• If a student needs to make an emergency call during the day, they are to come up to the office.

Consequences and Family Communication:

Students using phones or electronic devices (Including earbuds, headphones, smart watches, etc.) without authorization:

• First time will be asked to surrender his/her device to the teacher and can pick up the device from the office at the end of the day.

• Second time will be asked to surrender his/her device to the teacher and can pick up the device from the office at the end of the day, and the student will serve a lunch detention the following day.

• Third time there will be a meeting with administration to create a personal electronics plan/contract and a guardian will be required to pick up the device. Student will receive a 1 day out of school suspension.

• Fourth+ will result in an out of school suspension. This discipline will be progressive. Student will be suspended for 2+ days.

*This form is not just for lunch, if you qualify it can also reduce or waive the athletic fee so please apply even if you are not sure you qualify.

Information about school lunch menus (Coming soon), pricing and the Free and Reduced Meals program can be found on the Food & Nutrition Services page. A new application for the Free and Reduced meal program is required to be completed and submitted each school year. For questions, please contact the Food Service Department at 734-416-7702.

All water bottles must seal. No water bottle can have a straw unless it can fully seal and not spill. Water spills in the classroom are a safety issue.

If you are able to donate any tissues we went through our supply last year. It was a bad cold/allergy year. You can send them with your child or have them shipped to Discovery.

Attn: Main Office

45083 Hanford Rd

Canton, MI 48187

Cross Country is open to all grades and will begin the first week of school. Your student must have a physical on file before they can practice. the physical form must be the MHSAA one here. It must be dated AFTER 4/15/24. Please note the physical is a front and back (2 page) and all signature lines must be complete, both parents and doctor. Your student can bring the physical form to the main office when they arrive once school starts.

All medication, both over the counter and prescription, must have a signed doctors form to administer. This includes cough drops, Tylenol, cold medicines, inhalers, EpiPen's and all other medication. You can find the forms here.

There are two different forms, Self Administer (student carries and administers) and the Medication Authorization (school holds and administers the medication). Make sure you print the form you want. Both forms must me signed by a doctor.

First Week of School Schedule

School starts at 8:15, this means students arriving at 8:15 are tardy. They should be seated in class at 8:15.

*Doors open at 7:45am for students.

***Students will receive their schedules in Homeroom on the first day of school.***

*Schedules may be available in MISTAR before the first day of school but they are subject to change before the first day.*

• Tuesday, September 3: (First Day of School!) Half-Day (8:15-11:30)

• Sixth grade students report to the Auditeria (Cafeteria)

• Seventh grade students report to the Gym

• Eighth grade homeroom lists will be posted near the 8th grade wing. 8th grade students should report to their assigned homeroom

• Students not listed should report to the Counseling Offices.

• Wednesday, September 4: Full Day of School (8:15- 3:09)

• Students should be prepared for lunch at school on Wednesday.

• Thursday, September 5: Full Day of School (8:15- 3:09)

  • Picture Day
    

• Friday, September 6: Full Day of School(8:15- 3:09)

Plymouth-Canton Community School District has a FIRST DAY EXCLUSION POLICY for any 7th grader that is not up to date or has a wavier.

Your 7th grade child must have an updated immunization record on file in the school office OR a signed immunization waiver from a parent on file in the school office BEFORE the start of school. Please note that immunization waivers are available ONLY through the Wayne County Health Department/ Immunization Department at 734-727-7078.

All immunizations must be up to date and on file in the school office prior to the first day of school in accordance with the Michigan state law.

Your child will not be able to start school if the one of those documents is not on file in the school office. Contact your child’s medical provider immediately to arrange for any needed immunizations. When the immunizations are given, bring in the updated immunization record to Mrs. Wakeley in the school office.

For More information on PCCS Immunization requirements, please click here.

Please take the time to read the student handbook. Especially the section on attendance. It can be found here:

https://www.pccsk12.com/about-p-ccs/departments/teaching-learning/k-12-student-handbook

Discovery has some great new additions to the staff for the 24/25 school year.

Randolph Hull - Assistant Principal

Harold Wimberly - Dean of Students

Joe Morris - Counselor

Amanda Parker - 6th Grade Special Education

Steffy McCourt - 8th Grade ELA

Maria-Fernanda Cusick -Spanish

Claudia Islas-Garcia - Cafeteria Manager

Discovery sells shirts in the Eagles Nest as well as the link below. Hours for the Eagles Nest will be set once the year starts.

Use this link to order your Discovery Spirit Wear!

https://shop.game-one.com/michigan/canton/discovery-eagle

Website: https://www.pccsk12.com/our-schools/middle-schools/discovery
Location: 45083 Hanford Road, Canton, MI, USA
Phone: 734-416-2880
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1624556037823159/