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RAVEN REPORT
Weekly Parent & Community Newsletter (2/19/23)
DMS Vision
At DMS every student's best interests comes first, every single day!
DMS Mission
At Decker Middle School we will build a community of lifelong learners who have a sense of pride and integrity, in a safe, welcoming, creative, and inclusive environment in order to be college and career-ready in today’s society.
DMS Motto
On Time, On Task, and On a Mission!
#OTTM
Want to win a TV? Attend student-led Conferences this Wednesday, 2/22 at 6pm!
Decker Middle School will host student-led conferences this Wednesday at 6pm. It is extremely important that you attend. We have many important tests and dates coming up, and it is time for your scholar to share their action plan with you.
The purpose of this event is for scholars to have the experience of "owning" their own learning by sharing their strengths, growth areas, and goals. Scholars have prepared a script to review their goals with you.
We ask that all parents and guardians detail their commitment to helping their scholar achieve their goals in a specific way. Examples of these commitments include:
-"I commit to checking my scholars grades in Skyward each Monday, and talking with my child about their performance."
-"I commit to ensuring that my scholar attends after school tutoring."
-"I commit to ensuring that my scholar completes their missing work."
-"I commit to ensuring that my scholar completes their iReady Math/Reading lessons at home for 30 minutes each week."
Scholars have analyzed their Math and Reading STAAR scores for last school year, and the score that they need to "level up" for this school year.
Please click this RSVP form to let us know if you are able to join us. We WILL be raffling a TV and other door prizes. All parents who attend will receive a raffle ticket!
Signed Progress Report 4 Due, Grading Period Ends Friday, 2/24.
Intentional Act of Kindness Week Photos
Important Dates
February
2/20: School holiday
2/21: Signed Progress Report 4 Due
2/22: 8th grade Science and Social Studies STAAR Interim Assessment
2/22: Student-led conferences/Black History Month Showcase
2/24: End of 4th 6 Weeks Grading Period
2/24: Decker Pride Friday
2/28: ELA DBA 3 STAAR Interim Assessment
March
3/1: Math DBA 3 STAAR Interim Assessment
3/3: Spring Dance
3/10: Early release PL day
3/13-3/17: Spring Break
April
4/7: School holiday
4/10: School holiday
4/12: Early release PL day
4/14: End of grading period 5
4/18: 6-8 Reading/English 1 STAAR Exam
4/25: Science STAAR Exam
4/27: US History STAAR Exam
May
5/2: 6-8 Math/Algebra 1 STAAR Exam
5/26: School holiday
5/29: School holiday
June
6/7: Half day, end of grading period 6, last day of school
Save the Date: DMS hosting a dance on 3/3
-No more than once absence between now and 3/3
-No referrals
-No more than 3 tardies
-Progress Report 4 signed and returned on 2/21
-Best effort on all DBA 3 Tests (met teacher expectations)
-Passing all classes
-Participation in student-led conferences (in-person, or in the TBD virtual option)
Stay tuned for more information!
The School Store is Back! Raven Bucks Coming Soon!
Red Ribbon Week Debrief
In October, we completed Red Ribbon Week, the annual week where we highlight the importance of being drug free with our scholars. Parents and guardians, we need your help in ensuring this conversation is ongoing.
Nationwide, vaping amongst teens is on the rise, and unfortunately we have had our share of DMS scholars who have made poor decisions related to vaping. Please talk with your children about the dangers of vaping, and make sure they understand that under no circumstances is vaping tolerated at Decker Middle School.
If you interested in learning how you can support your scholar by learning about current drug trends, prevention information, and protective factors to help keep your scholar and family safe, Manor ISD offers monthly education classes as detailed here.
If you suspect that your teen is vaping, and is in need of additional support, please do not hesitate to contact our guidance counselors:
Aursha Waldon 6th grade/8th grade (aursha.waldon@manorisd.net)
Rachel Groth 7th grade/8th grade (rachel.groth@manorisd.net)
Skill for Life: Organization
Parents and guardians, please support us in teaching this important life skill by asking to see your scholars' Advisory Agenda each day. The calendar inside of this journal should give you a clear picture of what you scholar is doing in each class, each day. An example photo of what it should look like is pictured below!
Student IDs
Scholars who lose their ID or fail to bring it to school can purchase a temporary ID for $1 or a replacement ID for $5. Scholars who are unable to wear their ID will serve lunch detention until they do. Please see the DMS Playbook linked below for more information.
Family Handbook: Cell Phone Policy and Much, Much More
Cell Phones/Electronic Devices
For safety purposes, the district permits students to possess electronic devices. The use of cell phones or any device capable of capturing video and/or images is strictly prohibited in locker rooms or restroom areas while at school or at a school-related or school-sponsored event. If a cell phone or electronic device is used for the purpose of capturing video or images in prohibited areas and to include verbal and/or physical altercations, the phone or electronic device will no longer be allowed on campus. In the event that a scholar needs their phone for safety reasons before and after school, arrangements will be made to turn the phone in upon arrival each day to the front office before reporting to their first class.
If a student uses an electronic device without authorization during the school day, such as in class during instruction, the device will be confiscated. The parent may pick up the confiscated electronic device from the principal’s office for a fee of $15 after the first time. In limited circumstances and in accordance with law, authorized personnel may search a student’s personal electronic device. Any disciplinary action will be in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct. The district will not be responsible for damaged, lost or stolen electronic devices.
Students are not permitted to possess or use personal electronic devices such as personal laptops or tablets at school. Items will be collected and turned into the front office. In limited circumstances and in accordance with law, authorized personnel may search a student’s personal electronic device. Any disciplinary action will be in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct. The district will not be responsible for any damaged, lost or stolen electronic device.
Bus Information & Pick Up Deadline: 3:30
Please note:
If you need to make changes for how your scholar will get home please contact the office before 3:30. If you contact us after that we will not be able to pull your child off the bus. Please know that scholars can not ride a bus they are not assigned to, so we are not able to put them on a different bus.
Standard Mode of Dress
- Shirts must be short or long-sleeved polo-style collared shirts.
- 6th Graders will wear Gray and White
- 7th Graders will wear Maroon
- 8th Graders will wear Black
- Spirit shirts can be worn on Fridays
- Pants, jeans, shorts, skirts, and skorts must be worn on the scholar's natural waist at all times
- Sweatpants and Joggers are not allowed
- Hoodies are allowed in the respective grade level colors. However, we will not allow hoods to be worn inside the building. Hoodies may not have images or language depicting violence, drugs, alcohol, any illegal item or activity, or any other prohibited substance
- For safety reasons, athletic shoes featuring closed toes plus rubber soles with no cleats, elevation, or wheels, are suitable for Physical Education classes at all levels
- Student IDs must be worn on a lanyard around the neck and visible at all times
Tardies
Students identified as skipping or having excessive tardies will be placed in In -School Suspension (ISS) to reflect and create an "On Time, On Task, and On a Mission" action plan. We love all of our scholars and want them to be successful. We will begin to schedule Student Success Meetings for scholars with excessive tardies next week.