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D-A Middle School Newsletter

February 20, 2025

D-A Middle School Newsletter February 20, 2025

6th Graders only register for Fall Cross Country, Winter Wrestling and Spring Track & Field.

February 20, 2025

đź‘‹ Dear Durand-Arkansaw MS families,

Things to know this week:

  1. Activities
  2. One Heart, One Team
  3. Science Museum Field Trip
  4. MS Forensics
  5. Target Time Focus
  6. Link to School Calendar
  7. Letter from Mrs. Sabelko

One Heart, One Team

Updated schedule due to no school Monday and Tuesday and video from Mrs. Deaver & Prescott:

February 17, 2025

MS Science Museum of Minnesota Field Trip

MS FORENSICS IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Forensics Tournaments Important Information:

  • Remember to tell your coach as soon as possible if you will not be able to make it to a meet

  • Optional: bring food for dinner or snacks (concessions will be offered as well, bring cash if you would like to purchase concessions)

  • Dress for success! You don’t have to be formal, but plan to wear clean clothes that are free of any distracting patterns, logos, etc. Wear something that you will feel confident and comfortable in

  • Have a plan to be picked up at the end of the night. (Consider also making a plan to contact home when we leave or are close to home so parents know exactly when to arrive!)

  • Forensics is not a spectator sport, parents and family will have a time to see you shine on family night towards the end of the season

  • Be sure to bring any materials you need with you on the day of the tournament! Scripts, visuals, notecards, etc.

  • HAVE FUN!


Tournament Date Reminders:

Monday, Feb. 24th

Family Night: Durand 5pm-6:30pm in Middle School Cafeteria

Thursday, Feb. 27th

Level II Tournament @ Assumption, pickup at Assumption around 6-6:30

This month's Target Time focus is F.A.I.L. Mrs. Sabelko shares more information in this week's letter, and you can follow TILL360 on YouTube.

Our first annual One Heart, One Team week is here and what a great week it is to celebrate collaboration as a school community bridging high school leadership to middle school activities and involving the community in ways to help support a staff member. There are many reminders each day how incredible our community is in supporting one another in times of need and celebrating one another in moments of success. On Wednesday, February 19, 2025, Brittnie McMahon owner and designer for Imagine Designz presented us with a $500 check for the Deaver family as proceeds from the clothing sale. We are including a video message in our newsletter to allow all of you to hear from Mrs. Deaver and meet baby Prescott, too.


This week I would like to celebrate:

  • The middle school forensics students for representing and helping at our home tournament on Saturday, February 15, 2025. The middle school forensics team took third in the small schools division!

  • The students on the executive leadership team participating in the strategic planning process: Camryn Ingli, Keegan Weisenbeck, Wyatt Sedlmayr, and Hailey Pichler.

  • Austin Mueller for seeing that there was a way he could help by shoveling a sidewalk for the varsity basketball game Friday night, making sure everyone could enter the school safely.


On February 14 and the morning of February 15 I had the opportunity to be part of 42 members of the strategic planning committee. This committee was composed of students, staff, and community members. The goal of the committee was to work through the current reality of our school system through data, hold discussions, and make several recommendations to the school board based on the work we completed to drive the next foreseeable future of the district. The work was intense and I can share incredibly rewarding to be part of a team whole together making recommendations from a point of view of true love for our students, staff, school, and communities.



Important Upcoming Events:

Thursday, February 20, 2025-Wear Panthers for Prescott Gear and “Purple Out” If you would like to donate to Panther Time jar this is the last day, totals will be counted at the end of the Panther Time. Whole middle school picture.


  • Tuesday, March 11, 2025 Quarter Three Incentive Trip-Science Museum of Minnesota & Omni Theater Experience
  • Friday, March 14, 2025 Student-Family-Teacher Conferences
  • Monday April 7, 2025-Presentation On Healthy Choices
  • State Testing Week April 14-18
  • Tuesday, May 27, 2025 6th & 7th Grade Strawberry Social Band & Choir Concert In the Park
  • Wednesday, May 28, 2025 8th Grade Promotion


  • Thursday, May 29, 2025 Students Last Day of School



Thank you for all you continually do to support our students and school!



Warm Regards,

Mrs. Sarah Sabelko
Durand-Arkansaw Middle School
Home of the Panthers!