Dragon Community,

I hope everyone is safe from the recent storm. I also hope everyone's property and belongings are safe with no to little damage. I know the winds were strong in our community.

I am reaching out to seek your invaluable support in an important matter.

We have observed that some students are becoming entangled in unnecessary drama and conflicts, which can disrupt their learning and overall well-being. To address this, we need to work together to teach our children the importance of staying away from drama and embracing a growth mindset.

Why Avoiding Drama is Crucial:

• Focus on Learning: Drama can distract students from their academic goals and hinder their progress.
• Emotional Well-being: Engaging in conflicts can cause stress and anxiety, affecting students’ mental health.
• Positive Relationships: Avoiding drama helps in building respectful and supportive relationships with peers.
  
  

How Parents Can Help:

1. Model Positive Behavior: Children often emulate their parents. Demonstrate how to handle conflicts calmly and respectfully.
2. Encourage Open Communication: Create a safe space for your child to express their feelings and concerns without fear of judgment.
3. Teach Empathy: Help your child understand different perspectives and the impact of their actions on others.
4. Promote Problem-Solving Skills: Encourage your child to think critically and find constructive solutions to conflicts.
5. Reinforce the Growth Mindset: Emphasize that challenges are opportunities to learn and grow, rather than sources of conflict.
   
   

By working together, we can create a nurturing environment where our students can thrive academically and socially. Your support in reinforcing these values at home is crucial to our collective success. Remember, it takes a village to raise our Dragons.

Thank you for your continued partnership and dedication to our students’ success.

DJMS Administration

1. International Day- Wed. Oct 2

Next Wednesday is International Day! All students are permitted to wear school appropriate attire that represents their culture/heritage. Note, this includes the USA :-). Please encourage this event to all of your students. Flyer attached. This is free!

2. Hispanic Heritage Night- Wed. Oct. 2

We are excited to launch our Hispanic Heritage Night Event! This will take place on Wed. Oct. 2 from 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm. Exciting art galleries, speeches, and performances will occur. Not to mention food samples will be available! (Full meals are not provided) (This event is free). Flyer attached!

3. Picture Day- Sept. 30

Picture day is on Monday, Sept. 30. Note, all students will take their pictures during their Social Studies Period. Students are permitted to dress up but not down. (Button up shirts, dresses, skirts, dress shoes) Standard dress is school uniform.

4. Tutoring

Community, we are scheduled to begin before/after school tutoring in Math/ELA. Starting on Tuesday, Oct. 8, all tutoring begins Tuesdays & Thursdays. Tutoring is either from 8:00 am - 9:00 am OR 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm. Note, transportation is NOT provided. Room locations will be listed in next week's newsletter.

5. Dragon's Den

Parents, DJMS is ready to launch our Dragon's Den! Twice a week during lunch periods, students will have the opportunity to meet with their clubs (by grade level). We will begin Dragon's Den during the week of Oct. 7. If students are part of any student club or organization, then they can report to the media center for student club meetings. All meetings will occur in the Media Center.

1. Parent Portal Sign Up

The best way to know live data of your student's performance is through the parent portal! Here you can see grades, attendance, discipline referrals, teacher notes, and testing information in live time. For your reference, below you will find the attachment to sign up. I highly recommend this for all parents!

2. Bullying & Harassment

DJMS will be a zero-tolerance school for bullying and harassment. With a lot of negative influences hurting student emotions, we will not cultivate an environment where students do not feel safe. Therefore, if a confirmed student investigation shows to be substantiated, the consequence as outlined in the SDOC Code of Conduct will be fully executed. So please help us teach our students that kindness goes a long way. If there are students that your child does not want to associate with, simply ask them to turn the other way and make friends with those who support them in a positive manner. Also, bystanders are not cool. We want to teach our students that it is expected to report inappropriate behavior or misconduct that can hurt a student emotionally. Any school dean, teacher, counselor, or administrator can receive these concerns.

3. Check Student Cellphones

Community, there is an increase of student drama activity. Most of this due to social media posts or boyfriend/girlfriend issues. DJMS believes that school dating should not occur in middle school. However, this is not something we can enforce as this is a family value taught at home. To help us prevent unwanted behaviors and fights, please continue to check your student's cellphone (social media & texts). We want to enforce that learning is required and safe for all students.

4. Teach Growth Mindsets

Parents, way too often, we hear that if a student hits another student, then that student should strike back. Note, our discipline codes explicitly outline that students who engage in a fight will receive consequences. This is regardless of who starts or swings first. In addition, there is a misunderstanding of the definition of "defending yourself." At DJMS, we do not deem "defending yourself" as a fight related to student drama. We want a zero-tolerance campus to ensure fights or verbal altercations do not occur. Most students tell us that these behaviors are taught at home as values. We hope this is not true as our school vision does not reflect these values.

Do not hesitate to contact a dean or Mr. Booker (assistant principal over discipline) for any questions.

5. DJMS Discipline Matrix

For your reference, please review the updated DJMS discipline matrix that outlines our practices and procedures. The deans use this document to determine the appropriate consequences related to any infraction.

Cross Country:

Schedule attached! Mr. Gutierrez will select the specific Cross Country Meets that DJMS will attend.

Open Gym- Volleyball

Open gym volleyball will begin on Thursday, Sept. 26 immediately after school. Interested students will report to the gym. Please see Ms. McKenzie for questions related to Open Gym- Volleyball.

A physical must be on file.

PM 1 Data: To Date

ELA Completion Rate (6-8 Total): 98%

Math Completion Rate (6-8 Total): 96%

Math PM 1 Data (To Date)

Grades 6-8

Level 1: 75%

Level 2: 19%

Level 3: 4%

Level 4: 1%

Level 5: 0%

ELA PM 1 Data (To Date)

Grades 6-8

Level 1: 63%

Level 2: 23%

Level 3: 8%

Level 4: 5%

Level 5: 1%

Dragon Fam, our early indicators show that we have some work to do. Parents also responsible for shaping their student's education and interventions at home. Please be sure to frequently review student progress and grades.

Pep Rally- Thursday, Oct. 10

We will run a Wednesday Schedule on this Thursday (to allow instruction for all 8 periods). From 3:25 - 4:25 pm the Pep Rally will be held in the gym.

Gateway HS will be on campus. Please see the updated schedule below:

• 3:10 pm - 3:25 pm: Drumline march through DJMS Hallways w/ GWHS Cheerleaders
• 3:35 pm - 3:55 pm: Round 1 of Pep Rally (200 students)
• 4:00 pm - 4:25 pm- Round 2 of Pep Rally (200 students)

Attendance Criteria (To Date):

• No Tardies
• No Referrals
• No F's (current grades)

Homecoming Dance- Friday, Oct. 11

• PBIS Free Event
• We will run a modified schedule. Note, the dance will be approximately 2 hours. (more information to come)

Attendance Criteria (To Date):

• No Tardies
• No Referrals
• No F's (current grades)

Parents,

DJMS needs your help! We would love parent volunteers to assist with the following:

1. Dragon's Den Volunteers! Club meetings during lunches.

2. PTA Chapter? I would love to open one!

3. Athletics & Fine Arts Parent Boosters!

4. Mentors for Students

5. 50th Anniversary Committee! DJMS turns 50 this year! Committee Sign Up Link is Below:

https://forms.office.com/r/vGpWPVcaQN

Parents & Community- if any of these items are of interest, simply contact Mr. Hernandez directly at Marc.Hernandez@osceolaschools.net or 689.261.3280 (District Cellphone)

As a friendly reminder, all volunteers must be Oasis Approved. Please see the information below to begin the registration process! It's quick and easy!

Volunteer Application (schoolcheckin.net)

1. Hispanic Heritage Month

September 15 - October 15

• Evening Event- 10/02/24- 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
  
  

2. Homecoming Dance- October 11, 2024 (3:25 pm - 4:25 pm)

See above.

3. Dragon Pep Rally- October 10, 2024 (3:25 pm - 4:25 pm)

See above.

4. Algebra I/Geometry/Biology/Pre-AP World History/Spanish Courses:

Ensure daily assignments are completed as this is a high-level course. GPA counts now!

5. SAC Meeting Dates

Next meeting is this Thursday, Oct. 24 @ 4:30 pm (Leadership Conference Room)

6. Coffee w/ Principal Hernandez (Parents)

Thursday, Oct. 3 @ 9:45 am- To review school concerns, provide suggestions, or seek clarity

If you are planning on attending, please register by clicking the link below:

https://forms.office.com/r/HjpctUfU2g

7. Picture Day- Monday, September 30!

All students received the information regarding picture day! Students will take their school pictures during the social studies period.

8. International Day- Wed. Oct. 2

See attachment above