Good afternoon DMS Families,

April has arrived and so has the 4th quarter. This can sometimes be a more difficult quarter for students both academically and behaviorally as the weather warms up and sports/evening activities increase. Checking the Focus Parent Portal or your students’ Canvas are good ways to see how your child is doing in each of their classes. Please reach out to our guidance department if you need help navigating each of these platforms. 

MAP testing will take place at the end of this month. Sixth and Seventh Grade students will take the ELA and Math MAP tests while the 8th Graders will take the ELA, Math and Science portions. For students in Algebra I, the End of Course exam will be taken in place of the Math MAP. All students will need a set of headphones for the MAP test. We will sell inexpensive pairs here ($1.25) for those who cannot secure a pair before testing. It will also be important for students to get a good night’s rest and eat breakfast on MAP testing days. Here is the calendar for MAP testing days. 

Map Testing Schedule- 24/25

Leader in Me continues to be a focus for DMS this year and we have implemented some new and fun student led additions. We have Friday virtual announcements videoed and edited by our Student Lighthouse group and shown in classrooms. Students are also leading our morning announcements almost every day of the week over the intercom. Students have taken the lead on bulletin boards and have attended faculty meetings to help us plan and prepare Leader in Me lessons and help out with our Action Teams. I am continuously amazed at the student leadership I am seeing at DuBray this year. 

Next year, we will be implementing an advisory period each week. Students will be assigned to a teacher, much like a homeroom teacher, and will have a 26-minute class period where the teacher will build strong connections with students, provide support, and deliver social-emotional learning (SEL) lessons using our Leader in Me curriculum. Some of the exciting topics they will explore include the 7 Healthy Habits, Thinking about Thinking, Growth Mindset, and Student-Led Learning. More details will be coming over the summer but DMS staff is excited to start this advisory period! 

Finally, East High School has asked that I send out this Welcome Store Link for EHS spirit wear. Whether you are headed to EHS in a few months or have a couple years until you become a Lion, the Welcome store is open until April 13 for EHS spirit purchases. 

East High Store

Thanks for your continued support of your DMS student(s) and have a great day! 

Sincerely,

Jennifer Griffith, DMS Building Principal