Hello Team PS duPont,

I hope everyone had a good weekend and was able to spend some time with family and friends.

Please see below for some friendly reminders.

Sixth – Eighth Grade Open House Program is scheduled for Wednesday, September 25 from 5:30 – 7:30 PM (schedule attached).

At Open House, you will have an opportunity to see the facilities, meet with teachers, counselors, and administrators. Due to limited time for each class, this event is not suited to individual conferences. There will be an opportunity for parent/teacher conferences during the month of October, and of course, you can always contact your child’s teacher with questions and concerns.

Upon your arrival, you should report directly to the Auditorium for a welcome address from the Administrative Team. Following a few opening remarks, you’ll be dismissed to your first period class.

*Please ask your child for their Period one classroom number and location. We will also have a copy of this information on hand in the lobby if needed.

We look forward to seeing all of our parents at the Open House!

Picture Day is scheduled for Tuesday, October 1
Students will have their pictures taken at P.S. duPont Middle School on Tuesday, October 1. Students are scheduled to visit the Gymnasium during Math classes. More information will be forthcoming regarding how to purchase pictures. Be sure to dress to impress on Tuesday, October 1.

Brandywine School District Awards
We are excited to announce the launch of our new monthly recognition program, celebrating exceptional staff members across our district who significantly impact our educational environment and community. Starting this month, we will honor three outstanding individuals in BSD with the following awards:

• Beyond the Call Award: This award recognizes employees who consistently go above and beyond their usual duties to enhance our educational environment and community.
• Service to Others Award: This award honors staff members who demonstrate exceptional dedication in their service to the school community, including their support of students, colleagues, and school initiatives.
• Dedication to Excellence Award: This award is given to those who exhibit an exceptional commitment to excellence, significantly contributing to the success of our district.

We believe in the power of recognition and appreciation and are proud to highlight our staff's hard work and dedication.

We invite all staff, students, families, and community members to participate in this exciting new initiative by submitting nominations for staff members they believe deserve recognition. This is an excellent opportunity to acknowledge our staff's outstanding efforts and celebrate their achievements as a community. Please visit www.brandywineschools.org/BSDAwards for more information.

This week at a glance

• Monday, 9/23 – 6 Day (Periods 6-4)
• Tuesday, 9/24 – 5 Day (Periods 5-3)
• Wednesday, 9/25 – 4 Day (Periods 4-2)
  Open House Program 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
• Thursday, 9/26 – 3 Day (Periods 3-1)
• Friday, 9/27 – 2 Day (Periods 2-7)

Wondering what to expect at Open House? This is an evening where you will meet in the auditorium for a quick welcome by our Admin Team, then you will go to each of your child's classes! You will have 5 minutes to transition between classes, and 10 minutes within each class. This is a fast moving evening, please be on time so you don't miss out!

You will also have a chance to order spirit wear, order your child a chocolate bar with a special message from you for $2!

We can't wait to meet all of our Panther families!!

This week, we would like to recognize one of our outstanding educators, Ms. Alyssa Lucadamo. Ms. Lucadamo is one of our impactful ELA teachers at P.S. duPont Middle School.

A lifelong book lover, Ms. Lucadamo entered the field of education so she could share her passion for reading with students. Ms. Lucadamo graduated from Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania and spent 8 years teaching in Dover's Capital School District before moving to Wilmington. She also earned Master's degrees from Wilmington University in Instruction: Teaching and Learning and Gifted and Talented. This is her sixth year in the Brandywine School District teaching 7th and 8th grade students who receive Gifted Services. In addition to teaching, she also advises P.S. duPont's chapter of the National Junior Honor Society.

When she's not reading, grading, or organizing service projects, Ms. Lucadamo enjoys hiking, cooking, and solving crossword puzzles.

By seventh grade, students are ready to take on the abstract nature of the interactions of atoms and molecules far too small to see. To pique 7th grade students’ curiosity and anchor the learning for the unit in the visible and concrete, students start with an experience of observing and analyzing a bath bomb as it fizzes and eventually disappears in the water. Their observations and questions about what is going on drive learning that digs into a series of related phenomena as students iterate and improve their models depicting what happens during chemical reactions for middle school science. By the end of the unit, students have a firm grasp on how to model simple molecules, know what to look for to determine if chemical reactions have occurred, and apply their knowledge to chemical reactions to show how mass is conserved when atoms are rearranged.

P.S. duPont Middle School students, it’s that time of the year again! Odyssey of the Mind will be forming teams this fall and we want you! Ms. Dee will be working with Ms. Honisch to coordinate a Parent Interest Meeting. Parent volunteers and teachers are needed to help make the program a success. Please stay tuned for additional information, will be sent through a Regroup message and posted in our bi-weekly Panther Pride newsletter.

P.S. duPont! Let’s celebrate our diversity. We are looking for students, staff and families to join us for our 1st Annual Cultural Fair on Thursday, November 7th at 6pm. How can you participate? We want you to prepare a favorite cultural food to share, showcase a cultural dance, song, instrument, dress in traditional cultural attire, create a trifold displaying images that express your family, traditions and/or culture and or any other way you can celebrate your culture. This event will help us to embrace and celebrate the rich diversity that represents cultures and countries from all parts of the world that makes our school so special.

For more information and to sign up, see Ms. Malcolm in room 331, Ms. Corbin in room 339 or Mrs. McKenna. You can also scan the QR codes on the Cultural Night flyers posted around the school or click the link below. If you are interested in helping to organize this event, please reach out to Ms. Malcolm.

P.S. duPont Cultural Night Participation Form - November 7, 2024

This school year, P.S. duPont Middle School students will have the opportunity to earn invitations to 4 events that have been planned during the 2024-25 school year.

1st Marking Period

• Roller Skating @Christiana Skating Center
• 60 or above in all classes, 5 or less referrals, no suspensions
  
  

2nd Marking Period

• Movies @ Penn Cinema
• 65 or above in all classes, 5 or less referrals, no suspensions
  
  

3rd Marking Period

• Main Event @ Christiana Mall
• 70 or above in all classes, 4 or less referrals, no suspensions
  
  

4th Marking Period

• Dorney Park
• 70 or above in all classes, 4 or less referrals, no suspensions

Grades and behavior will be used to determine eligibility for each event. Students should be checking HAC weekly to stay on grades and monitor their behavioral choices in school. More information will be shared as we get closer to the first event! Encourage your son/daughter to check their grades weekly, follow the Code of Conduct, and be at their best!

Students at P.S. duPont are required to complete the Student Device Loan Agreement. Attached, you will find the form in English and Spanish. Please take a moment to print, complete the form, and have your son/daughter return the document to his/her Period 1 teacher.

The 2024-2025 school year DIAA sports form MUST be completed and turned into the Nurse BEFORE students may try out for any athletics. Please make sure your child's form is turned in next week, as try outs begin on Monday September 16th for Boys soccer, girls field hockey and girls volleyball. We also have cross country and flag football clubs- information will be coming soon on them.

This is the link to the current form.

• September 25 - Open House Program

• October 1 - Student Picture Day

• October 3 - No School (Rosh Hashanah)

• October 4- Family Fun Night! 6:30-8:00PM