For the safety and privacy of all students and staff, we ask that all parents, guardians, and guests to check into the office and remain in the office during your time at DMS. Please refrain from walking into the commons, hallways, or waiting in the foyer. All guests must wait in the office until your student arrives or you have a school escort. Failure to comply to new safety procedures, may result in being removed from the building. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding while we strive to make our school a safe place for all.
Please monitor student cell phone usage at home
We are seeing an increase in cyberbullying. Many students are messaging/sharing disrespectful and harmful comments towards other students. The messages are sent after school hours, however, the effects from such messages are causing disruption in our school. Students are posting fights, awful language/accusations towards others, as well as inappropriate pictures. These messages are very damaging to the victim's mental health as well as reputation.
We ask that all parents monitor your student(s) cell phone daily. Students at the middle school level are not ready for unsupervised access to their phones. If your child is involved in this type of behavior, please discuss the severity of the issue. If your child is part of a snapchat group or group text and students are sharing unhealthy messages, please remove your child from the group.
Click on the link below to learn ways to teach your children how to stay safe while on social media or gaming as well as how to appropriately use social media.
Thank you for helping the DMS staff protect students and maintain a safe, learning environment.
Student Cell Phones at School
Recently, we have witnessed the misuse of student cell phones cause many of our students to have an increase in cyberbullying, inappropriate pictures, learning distractions, discipline issues, increased anxiety levels, and other concerns and issues that disrupt learning and peace of mind for many middle school students. This year, students are permitted to have a cell phone at school; however, phones, smart watches, wireless headphones, earbuds, etc. must be turned off and stored in student lockers, not on their person, during school hours. Your child’s safety and learning is important to us. With minimizing cell phone usage, students will be more engaged in learning during school hours. From time to time, students will receive cell phone opportunities and incentives during special class activities and lunch when staff approve. If students misuse the cell phone policy, a discipline referral will be submitted and the phone will be kept in the office until the end of the day. Any student who knowingly takes, reproduces, or publishes an inappropriate picture or video of another student, teacher, or administrator shall be subject to disciplinary action.
We, as a staff, understand the need to feel connected with your child. If you need to relay a message, please call the office or wait until the designated grade level lunch time to send a message. If necessary, students will be allowed to contact you using the school phone.
Student Drop off and Pick Up
Please follow safety signs during student drop off and pick up times. All students must be dropped off using the main front entrance during regular school hours. Parents should never enter the bus entrance and drop students off north or south of campus. This is a serious safety concern for faculty and bus students. There often can be traffic congestion in the front entrance so please plan accordingly. Make sure your student has all necessities gathered up and ready to quickly exit your vehicle to keep the traffic flowing. You may need to give yourself a couple of extra minutes or feel free to drop off your students in the Simmons Center Parking lot and allow your student to walk across the street. If your student is involved in extracurricular activities, you are welcome to park and pick up your student using the north bus entrance parking lot after practices or games.
Attendance and Tardy Policy
Your student’s attendance is important to us! A student is more likely to succeed academically, feel more confident, and connected when they are on time and attend class regularly.
Tardy Policy
There is a four minute period between classes. Students are tardy if they are not in their class lines when the tardy bell rings. If a student is detained by a teacher, counselor, administrator, or the nurse, the student must have a note from that faculty member to be considered excused (not tardy). Any student who has excessive tardies will be referred to the Assistant Principal for discipline. Students will be assigned after school detention for 4 tardies in a week. More than 10 minutes late to a class is considered an absence.
Additional information regarding our tardy policy, as well as other school policies, can be found by referencing the DMS School Discipline Matrix which is part of the DMS Student Handbook.
Clear Water Bottles
Students are welcome to carry clear water bottles throughout the day. Only clear water bottles/clear insulated tumblers filled with clear water will be allowed in the building. We have water filling stations throughout the building.
Lost and Found~ Lots of coats, hoodies, shirts, lunch boxes, and water bottles are in the lost and found. Please encourage your student to check it out if they are missing belongings.
If you have any questions or concerns, please call the DMS office at 580-470-8106 or email at principal at:
christy.glasscock@duncanps.org
amie.moore@duncanps.org
mike.ryan@duncanps.org
