Good Evening DHMS Families!

We are less than a week away from the start of school!! Our teachers came back this week and have been busy preparing for the 24-25 school year!

As reminder, HAC opens tomorrow (8.22.24). HAC will allow you to see your classes for the year. Please contact the HAC Support email - parentportal@upperdarbysd.org if you are in need of support related to Home Access Center.

Please note that if you got an email from SchoolPass regarding signing up for carline, it was sent in error. We apologize for the inconvenience!

When you are viewing your schedule, please be sure to look for your Citizenship teacher because your child will be meeting them 1st period on Monday!

We are looking forward to seeing all of the kids on Monday, 8.26.24!

• UDSD Family Handbook
• HAC Parent Handbook
• 24-25 UDSD Year at a Glance Calendar
• 24-25 Summary of Calendar
• DHMS Bell Schedules
• DHMS Family and Student Handbook
• UDSD Middle School Code of Character
• UDSD Online Learning Manual
• Upper Darby School District Website
  
• HAC Access Link
• DHMS FAQ and Contact Information
• HAC Support email - parentportal@upperdarbysd.org (Please use the email above if you are in need of support related to Home Access Center)
  

The first day of school is Monday August 26, 2023 and it is a HALF day of school. Dismissal is at 11:50 AM. Students will report to the areas listed below not before 8:20 AM. Doors open at 8:25 AM and school begins at 8:30 AM. Please be on time day one and throughout the year! Every minute counts!

Synchronous students will log into their classes using the following code: DHMS+TeacherLastName+Period#

Ex. If Mrs. Palladino is my 2nd period teacher: DHMSPalladino2

*Bell schedules for the first week of school are linked below. Please be mindful that the 1st week of school is an 11:50 AM dismissal and class times will be different.

GRADE LEVEL ENTRANCE LOCATIONS

6th Grade: Behind the building by the entrance to the stadium (follow the bus loop around)

7th Grade: Cafeteria Courtyard (facing State Road)

8th Grade: Main Entrance Steps

*Look for your first period teacher holding a sign indicating their HR / PERIOD 1 ROOM NUMBER

• No cars will be allowed to enter the bus loop from 7:45 AM-9:00 AM.
• The bus loop will close at 2:45 PM and will re-open at 4:00 PM.
• All vehicle drop off and pick up will occur in the back teacher parking lot.
• Walkers need to be off campus as soon as possible.

• Once a student is out of the building they can not re-enter the building. If a student is a busser and leaves the building, they are not permitted to re-enter the building.
• Early Dismissals will not be honored past 2:50 PM. Please plan accordingly.

*Transportation Information will be available on HOME ACCESS CENTER (HAC) on 8/22/24.

As you know from our weekly messages this summer, there has been a change to Policy 237, Electronic Communication Devices. As we stated throughout the summer, we are asking all elementary and middle school students to prepare for these changes by practicing restraint as it pertains to cell phone use.

Last week, we asked you to not use your cell phones for five hours and this week, we are asking you to practice that restraint for six hours. We appreciate your time and effort with this change.

As presented and shared in the Spring of 2023, the UDSD Middle Schools have made changes to student rostering and the building schedule. Please review the presentation in its entirety linked HERE

A brief summary of the changes is listed below:

• Each grade will consist of two heterogeneous Learning Communities per grade (named Purple and Gold)

• An A/B day schedule has been established for electives, excluding full year electives, which means that students will rotate their electives every day.

• DHMS will have an early dismissal every Thursday at 1:30 PM for teacher/staff planning time.

• Time is included for professional development as outlined on the district calendar

• Students will complete asynchronous work on non-professional development Thursday afternoons and will be required to answer an attendance question in their first period course. This attendance question will be collected through the use of a Google Form, which will be found on the Period 1 Schoology page. Parents will be communicated with if the attendance question is not completed for that day.

• Detailed information about assigned asynchronous requirements will be provided from the grade level learning community teachers.

• A complete outline for the year and when asynchronous work will be assigned can be found on our school website and linked here.

Student photos will be taken at the start of the school year. These photos will be used to create Student Identification Cards (Student ID’s). Student ID’s are so IMPORTANT! They will be used to enter the school building daily and if your student is a bus rider, they will need to swipe their ID to get on the bus in both the morning and the afternoon. Student ID’s are also necessary for participation in after school activities.

Please note that lessons during the first week of school will focus soley on relationship building, setting expectations, PBIS, mental health awareness, goal setting and building tours. Your student is being honest if they come home and say “we did not do Math yet”. We firmly believe that in order for students to learn and grow, they need to feel safe and loved. It is our goal during the first weeks of the school year for teachers and staff to get to know your student and vice versa! Students will walk through a lesson on the UDSD Middle School Code of Character, as well as possible consequences for violations to the UDSD Middle School Code of Character. Please note, a possible consequence for violations of the UDSD Middle School Code of Character could be an informal hearing with the Director of Secondary Education.

For the 24-25 school year, the building will not allow deliveries from outside locations such as Uber Eats or GrubHub. If a student receives a delivery, it will remain in the Main Office until dismissal and students will be asked to retrieve the delivery on their own.

I am attaching the UDSD Middle School School Supply List. Since our district is one to one with chromebook use, many of our teachers rely on online resources, limiting a "school supply list". However, it's always helpful for students to have extra pencils throughout the year! Also, as a reminder, when school starts in August the temperatures can be very high! We have plenty of water stations throughout the building, but it is super HELPFUL for each student to have a WATER BOTTLE to refill throughout the day!

As part of the Upper Darby School District’s Emergency Preparedness Plan and the Emergency Communications Plan, CrisisGo allows parents to receive emergency school safety alerts from the school district and individual school buildings. District parents can download the CrisisGo app onto their mobile device and to create a free account. Parents will then need to subscribe to the school(s) of choice and to the District group.

Click on the link to learn how to subscribe: UDSD Parents - CrisisGo Subscription Flyer.

We encourage secondary school students to receive up-to-date communication about emergency notifications as well. Students can click on the link to learn how to subscribe: UDSD Students - CrisisGo Subscription Flyer

Please review with your children the safety terminology we will be using in our emergency communications: Lock-In, Lock-Out, Lockdown, Evacuation FAQ for Families. We will review these terms and the emergency preparedness plan with students throughout the school year.

Please note that the District will continue to communicate emergency lockdown alerts and updates through CrisisGo, ParentLink emails and social media (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram).

There are several ways to stay informed about what is happening at Drexel Hill Middle School and throughout the District.

• Weekly “Wednesday” Electronic Folder (ParentLink) from the Principal

• Weekly information, updates, resources will be shared via email. It is necessary to provide an accurate email address to stay informed. If there are any changes to your email, please update your information in Home Access Center (HAC) or by contacting the Drexel Hill Middle School Main Office if you need assistance. If your information is not up-to-date, you will miss out on important “happenings” and information. Please be sure to review, edit, and update this information at https://www.upperdarbysd.org/HAC

• School Website and Calendar

• Weekly updates, teachers’ webpages, principal’s webpage, and monthly school newsletters can be accessed from the school website.

• Drexel Hill Middle School Calendar

• DISTRICT MASTER CALENDAR

• Home Access Center

• The Upper Darby School District will be using email as its primary means of communication with parents. Parents must ensure that the district has an accurate email address for your family in eSchool, our student information system. Parents can update or add email addresses by logging into the Home Access Center. The Home Access Center will also allow you to access your child’s grades, attendance, and other important information. The link to the Home Access Center can be found on the Upper Darby School District website at www.upperdarbysd.org. If you do not have an email address or access to email, please contact the office.

The following immunizations are required for all students in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the 2024-2025 school year.

We have been sending out communications over the course of the summer reminding families of immunization requirements and alerting families who are not in compliance with updated immunization documentation. Your child's school must have written confirmation from your physician for each immunization. State law mandates that students not up to date on their immunizations are at risk of being excluded from school.

Grades K through 12:

• DPT (Diphtheria/Pertussis/Tetanus): Four (4) required, with one after age 4
• Polio: Four (4) required, with one on or after age 4 and at least 6 months after previous dose. If the third dose is given on or after age 4 and at least 6 months after the last dose, the fourth dose is not required.
• MMR (Measles/ Mumps/ Rubella): Two (2) required, with the first dose on or after age 1
• Hepatitis B: Three (3) required, must be properly spaced
• Varicella (chicken pox): Two (2) immunizations required, the first must be after age 1. Or a history of the disease.

In addition to immunizations listed above:

Grade 7 through 12:

• Tdap (Tetanus/Diphtheria/ Pertussis) - One dose required.
• MCV (Menactra – meningitis): one dose required.
• Grade 12: MCV (Menactra - meningitis) - Second dose required (if the first dose was given at age 16 or older, only one dose is required)

Students are expected to have all immunizations on the first day of school. In some cases, students will be provided a five day window to either secure the required immunizations or documentation from a physician with the expected date of immunization. Students are at risk of exclusion if this requirement is not met within the timeframe.

Please contact your health provider if you are unsure of whether or not your child has received the required vaccinations. We encourage you to complete this as soon as possible so you are not at risk from school exclusion. Additional information from PDE is available on the District’s website by clicking HERE. We will be asking you to let us know if your student has been Covid-19 vaccinated, has received the booster shot, and to provide us with the date of the vaccination and booster

We feel that it is important to remind our parents and students of the Safe2Say Something program. The Upper Darby School District takes the safety and security of our staff and students very seriously and recognizes that the uncertainties and pressures that students and families have faced the uncertainty of a pandemic has clearly demonstrated that the mental health of students as a priority. The Safe2Say Something system teaches youth and adults how to recognize warning signs and signals, especially within social media, of individuals who may be a threat to themselves or others and say something, using our anonymous reporting system. Safe2Say Something is also a way to anonymously report unsafe, potentially harmful, dangerous, violent or criminal activities in any school in Pennsylvania.

For anyone who is feeling unsure or unsafe, please remember that there is help and it is okay to ask for help.

Find below videos and the District’s webpage outlining the Safe2Say Something PA Program:

Safe2Say Something PA Program

UDSD Safe2Say Something Presentation 2021

https://pa02209738.schoolwires.net/Page/8021

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.

In Person Students: will receive their chromebook on the first day of school.

Synchronous/Asynchronous Students will be able to pick up their device the week before school starts.

The dates are as follows: Wednesday 8/21/24 and Thursday 8/22/24 from 8:30AM to 7PM.

AUGUST 2024

8/22/2024: HAC Opens

8/26/2024: First Day of School for all Students 11:50 AM Dismissal

8/26/2024-8/29/2024: 11:50 AM Dismissal

8/30/2024: Schools/Offices Closed

SEPTEMBER 2024

9/02/2024: Schools/Offices Closed

9/05/2024: Early Dismissal @ 1:30 - ASYNCHRONOUS WORK REQUIRED

9/11/2024: Hero's Assembly @ 9:00 AM

9/12/2024: Early Dismissal @ 1:30 PM - NO ASYNCHRONOUS WORK REQUIRED

9/12/2024: Fall Open House Night @ 5:00 PM-7:00 PM

9/16-9/17/2024: MAP Testing All School: 2 HOUR LATE START SCHEDULE

9/18/2024: MAP Testing Makeup

9/19/2024: Early Dismissal @ 1:30 PM - ASYNCHRONOUS WORK REQUIRED

9/26/2024: Early Dismissal @ 1:30 PM - ASYNCHRONOUS WORK REQUIRED

9/27/2024: Royal’s Spirit Day

The Upper Darby School District Board of Directors is committed to expanding options for parents and community members to receive updates and news related to monthly School Board regular meetings and committee meetings. As part of the school board communication plan, the Board sends monthly updates to the school community. The information included in these briefs is not intended to be complete and does not replace official Board minutes. Official meeting minutes, agendas, reports, and presentations are available at BoardDocs. Also, the Board meetings are live streamed to the District's Official UDSD Board & Board Committee Meetings YouTube Channel. We welcome you to follow the issues the School Board is considering and to attend meetings to stay informed. Check out the School Board Monthly Update for August: https://www.upperdarbysd.org/Page/9468.

Email: jpalladino@upperdarbysd.org
Website: https://www.upperdarbysd.org/dhms#calendar24980/20230727/month
Location: 3001 State Road, Drexel Hill, PA, USA
Phone: 610-8534580