PDCMS Panther Update
Message from Principal Dolan...
Back to School Night
It was truly wonderful to see so many enthusiastic parents, students, and families at our recent Back to School Night. Your energy and commitment to your child's education are exactly what makes our school community so special. The excitement in the air was contagious, and it was a joy to witness our Panther families come together in support of our students. As we embark on this new school year, remember that we are all part of a team dedicated to ensuring every student's success. Together, we can make a lasting impact.
Communication is key to this partnership, and I cannot stress enough the importance of reaching out to your child's teachers at the first sign of any challenges. Early intervention can make all the difference in helping students stay on track. Please also make it a habit to check the PDCMS Planner at least once a week. This tool is essential for keeping up with assignments and grades. We ask that you review it with your child and sign it every Monday night to stay informed and engaged in their academic progress.
Our theme this year, "Panther Champion: Leading with PRIDE," reflects our collective commitment to professionalism, respect, integrity, determination, and enthusiasm. By working together, we can help every student embody these values and achieve their fullest potential. Thank you for your continued support and for being an essential part of the PDCMS community. Let's make this year one of growth and success for all our Panther Champions!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Dolan
Principal, PDCMS
September Dates 📅
- September 2nd - Labor Day - No School
- September 4th - Panther Community Chat 6:00 pm-6:30 pm
- September 6th - PDCMS PTO Meeting 8:30 am-9:30 am
- September 13th - Coffee with the Counselors 9:00 am-10:00 am
- September 16th - Step it up Assembly
Parent Resources 🤗
Coffee with the Counselors
Join us for "Coffee with the Counselors" at PDCMS in person or via Zoom. Designed for parents to connect with our counselors to gain valuable tools and insights for navigating the challenges of parenting a middle schooler. This informal gathering is the perfect opportunity to discuss strategies for supporting your child’s academic, social, and emotional development, as well as preparing them for the transition to high school. Whether you have specific questions or just want to listen and learn, we encourage all parents to attend and make the most of this resourceful event. Let's work together to ensure your child is ready for the next step in their educational journey!
Below is a link to our Coffee with the Counselor's video library. Here you can catch up on our team presenting a variety of important topics for you and your students.
Passcode: 865136
You can add money to your student's account to purchase "A la carte" snack items at the cafeteria. Please take a look at the attached PDF for instructions as it is different from last year.
Lunch is free for all students!
See the menus below.
ASK YOUR CHILD ABOUT❓
Do I need to sign anything for your classes?
What is your favorite thing about your day?
Is your Chromebook charged?
Is your ID in your backpack?
Please remind your student to keep their IDs in their backpacks when they get home from school. If they can't find their ID, replacement IDs are available in the library for a $5.00 fee. By being proactive and taking care of this before school starts, they can avoid any dress code violations.
Panther Community Chat
Join Principal Dolan for our fourth Panther Community Chat on September 4th, 6:00 pm to 6:30 pm.
Please take 2 minutes to complete this survey and share your thoughts and experiences. The results will be shared in next week's update.
This survey, provided by the Principal of PDCMS, Deborah Dolan, aims to initiate dialogue around students' in-school cell phone use. We want to understand our parent/guardian community's opinion on cell phones' impact on student learning, engagement, and health.
We acknowledge the educational value of technology in supporting and enhancing educational outcomes. We also recognize that recent studies have shown that personal cell phones may be harmful if used inappropriately. By updating our cell phone policy, we aim to support student safety, learning, and engagement.
Dates of in-person and online Discussions are linked here.
Passcode: 836779
PDCMS PTO Info
Next PDCMS PTO Meeting is scheduled for September 6th at 8:30 am in the Staff Lounge.
Use QR code to sign up for the weekly PDCMS PTO Paw Print.
Bridges/Bridges Plus
Due to overwhelming interest, we unfortunately have to pause applications for the Bridges After School Program on Monday, August 26th, 2024. Applications will remain closed until further notice. All students currently enrolled are still welcome to stay after school until pickup ends at 4:15 PM. Bridges Plus pickup will still start at 5 PM. Thank you for your understanding.
Additionally, we would like to thank the parents and families that have reached out to us about changes in their schedule and have graciously offered their Bridges Plus spots to the waitlist. We plan to hold another lottery soon. Please keep an eye on your email if you have been placed on the waitlist. Thank you again.
KARE
KARE (Kindness, Attention, Respect, Excellent) offers in-school and after-school intervention and enrichment, providing social and emotional learning, individual mentoring, mindfulness training (Attention Masters), and a character education-based creative writing program (Wisdom Writers).
Questions? Program Director, Dr. Jacob Shefa (jacob.shefa@deserstands.us)
PDCMS Notes...
Possip
Due to the overwhelmingly valuable feedback we received from our educational partners last year, we decided to continue our partnership with Possip for 2024-2025. Possip sends regular short surveys to families, students, and staff members. The information that comes back helps us understand the trends, concerns, and needs from all members of our school community. Families will receive a Quick Check from Possip twice per month, and our students and staff will receive Quick Checks once per month. We will be sharing the feedback we receive at Mrs. Dolan's Panther Chats.