Home of the Middle School Success Tips for Parents and Students

Middle School Success
Tips for Parents and Students

       Home of the
        Panthers

My child is a middle
   schooler…..

           What if my student needs
           help in his/her classes?

Book Bag Policy
    NEW FOR 2021 - 2022:
Students are no longer required
to use clear or mesh backpacks.
Students may use a regular backpack
to store their class materials.

Students will not be using lockers
this year.

Breakfast and Lunch Information
 The USDA has announced that ALL students-
  regardless of family income- will be able to have a
  free breakfast and lunch at their school during the
  2021 - 2022 school year!
 Thisis for the basic breakfast and lunch offered. For
  lunch, students may still purchase a la carte items.
 Although    the USDA has extended free breakfast, we
  encourage families to reapply for free-reduced lunch
  to assist the district in acquiring eligible funds to
  support our students. Applications can be accessed
  at: https://www.myschoolapps.com/

Cafeteria Procedures
 Students eat lunch according to their 5th period class.
 Each teacher/class is assigned a designated table &
 your child is allowed to sit at any spot along that table.
 When  students enter the cafeteria, they sit at their
 designated table until that table is called to line up for
 lunch. The order the tables line up for lunch is rotated
 daily.
 Studentsare also dismissed from lunch by table to
 discard their trash and head to class.
 Duringlunch any issues, restroom requests, etc. should
 be addressed to the administrator/staff member on
 duty {on cafeteria stage}.

PE Info
• PE lockers are not required. Students
  may rent a locker for $2 or leave their
  things in the locker room during class.

• PE lockers should be LOCKED when
  items are stored so that your child’s
  belongings are secure (ex. shoes).

• PE uniforms are sold during class for
  $20. If you do not purchase, students
  must wear a gray shirt and black
  shorts.

PE Info
• Send your child with shoes specifically
  for PE.
• If your child has PE, make sure they
  have deodorant & remind them to
  reapply it before changing into their
  regular clothes.
• Often students stress about PE &
  changing their clothes in front of
  others. Be positive about this.
  *Curtained stalls ARE available for
  use in the girls’ locker room.

Student Agenda Books
 The
    fee for agenda books is $4.oo. Students will use
 agendas to record information about assignments for
 each period.
 Agenda    books are distributed to students during the
 first few days of school in their Language Arts class.
 Cash or checks are accepted (correct change
 please). Checks are to be made out to Davidson
 Middle School.
 Agenda  books contain the following important
 information:
   School   Calendar
   Student   Handbook
   Discipline   Plan
   Dress   Code Policy

Student Expectations
 Atthe beginning of the school year, teachers and
 administrators will teach and review expectations with
 students.
 Studentswill attend a meeting with their grade level to
 review the following:
        Bell
            schedule, lunch procedures, tardies, &
        discipline procedures
        Dress
             code will be covered the first week of
        school.
        Information
                   about the discipline procedures &
        dress code can be found on the DMS website:
           www.Okaloosaschools.com/davidson

Tips for Academic Success
 Many parents give their child more academic freedom
 during middle school. Allow them to take that
 responsibility; however, they will need support and
 monitoring to stay on track.
 Checkyour child’s Agenda Book daily & download the
 CLASSLINK App : http://www.okaloosaschools.com
 Organization and studying are LEARNED Skills. Work
 with your child to establish a system for recording
 assignments, taking notes, keeping his/her backpack &
 binder organized, etc.

Tips for Academic Success
   Read and review the syllabus for each class. They
    contain important information about expectations,
    types of assignments, and grading.

   Many DMS teachers have set after-school days/times
    to help their students who are struggling. This is an
    excellent opportunity for your child to get help with
    an assignment or help before a test.
   Your child needs to know/memorize their Student
    Number & should also check their own grades
    weekly (through Classlink).
   Check Parent Portal to ensure that your child is
    turning assignments in ON TIME. IF the teacher
    accepts late work, it is often only for partial credit.
   Make sure your child is taking advantage if their
    teacher allows them to re-take assignments/quizzes.
    Example: Quiz corrections.

DMS Homework Help
                  Mondays and Wednesday
                    1:45-2:30 in Media Center
• Students may bring in whatever work they need help
  with, even if the work was not assigned as homework.
  They do not have to sign up.
• There are several teachers who work with the
  program and provide quality help to students. Many
  parents and students find afternoon Homework Help
  to be beneficial.
                       *Transportation not provided

Parent Survival Tips
Be prepared for changes in your
 student
Stayinformed about school
 happenings
Attendance     matters
Don’t   hesitate to reach out to help.
Partner with Davidson staff to resolve
 any issues.

Average changes for students
 On average between the
 ages of 10 to 14, how
 much do middle school
 students grow and gain?
  A.   10 – 20 inches and
       gain 40 – 50 pounds
  B.   5 -10 inches and
       gain 10 – 20 pounds
  C.   5 – 15 inches and
       gain 5 – 15 pounds

The correct answer is…
A. 10
    – 20 inches and gain 40 – 50
  pounds

And that’s just the physical changes. This
doesn’t even address the social and
emotional changes.

Middle School Changes
Students may:
   Experience anxiety
     How   will I find my classes?
    Will I have friends?
 Struggle with confidence
 Crave independence and may start to resist or push
  against adult authority
 Struggle with emotional, neurological, and physical
  changes.
 Seek peer approval
 Start to focus on their interests and values (which may
  differ from parent/guardians)
 Struggle   with intense feelings and mood swings

How Parents Can Support their Student
 Allow
      them to be more responsible but oversee
 them as they develop good habits
  Folder    organization
  Backpack      organization
  Getting    ready for the school day
  Developing a system for taking care of
    homework/studying/checking grades
 Stay   informed of class activities and expectations
 Reinforce   school policies and procedures
 Approach     mistakes as learning opportunities
 Helpyour student appreciate him/her for who
 he/she is.

Keep Informed of School Happenings
• Schedule Pick-Up: Tuesday, August 3rd
   • 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
   • 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
• Open House : Thursday, August 5th
  • Returning students (12:00 p.m. to 2 p.m.)
  • 6th grade and any new student (5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.)
   First Day of School : Tuesday, August 10th {Doors open at
   6:45am}
• First Progress report : available online September 10th
   • Progress Reports and Report Cards will be digitally available
     online only.
• Last Day of 1st Quarter: Friday, October 8th
• Last Day of 1st Semester: Friday, December 17th

Keep Informed of School Happenings
                    Required Assessments
• iReady Progress Monitoring
   • Students will take Reading and Math
   • Used to help measure progress and growth
• State Assessments
    6th grade              7th grade            8th grade
ELA Writing – April   ELA Writing – April   ELA Writing – April
ELA Reading – May     ELA Reading – May     ELA Reading – May
Math - May            Math – May            Math – May
                      Civics EOC - May      Science - May
                                           Other Assessments
                                   • WIDA/Access – Assessment for
                                     English Language Learners
                                   • FSAA – Assessment for students on
                                     Access points

Keep Informed of School Happenings
Middle School Schedules
   Academic/Core Classes (4)
       Language Arts
       Math
       Science
      Social Studies
   Two electives
      Students may have Intensive Reading/Intensive Math
       to help students who struggle in these subjects and
       scored at least 1 grade level below on iReady.

 Students must have a 60D or higher for their Final Grade
 to pass a class. Any core class with a failing Final
 average will need to be retaken/recovered before being
 promoted to high school.

Attendance Policies
   If your child is absent, call the DMS front office on
    the first day of the absence AND send them with
    a written excuse the day they return. Absence
    excuses should be brought to the attendance
    secretary at the front window.
   If your child is/will be ABSENT 3 or more days :
    Makeup Work can be requested through
    GUIDANCE office.
   Extended illness or chronic health problem:
     Get documentation from your child’s doctor
      and contact/meet with your child’s counselor.

Attendance Policies
   EXCUSED absences: #1-#9 absences per semester
    may be excused with a parent note – makeup
    work must be completed within five days from your
    child’s return.
   After 9th absence (Excused or Unexcused) any
    absences in a semester REQUIRE a physician’s note
    in order to be EXCUSED and in order for your child
    to receive credit for missed work as per Okaloosa
    County School Board Policy.
   After the fifteenth (15th) absence per semester in
    any class period, no make-up work will receive
    grades. An attendance expectation agreement
    may be initiated, outlining the consequences of
    non-attendance.

School Communication
   Your student’s teachers should be your 1st point of
    contact.
     Make  sure you have all 6 teacher emails (from the
      beginning of the year) and keep that info handy.
      While a teacher can’t always talk to you over the
      phone during the day – they can often respond
      quickly to an email
     Sign up for any class reminders. These can be found
      on teacher handouts from the beginning of the year.
     Emailaddresses can be located on our school
      website.

School Communication
   Many questions or concerns can be handled
    through our Guidance secretary, Ms. Styron
     The  guidance office handles schedule questions,
       grade checks, makeup work for students absent
       3+ days, and scheduling conferences with you
       and all of your student’s teachers.
   For questions related to attendance or absences
    excuses, contact our Attendance secretary, Ms.
    Sexton.
   For questions about sports physicals, contact our Front
    office secretary/bookkeeper, Ms. Sheets.

School Communication
   A School Counselor can help with any of the following
    (and more):
      Grade Checks; Academic Counseling; Problems with
       Teachers; Assessment Questions;
      Organization help;
      Social problems / Issues with friends
      Developing health coping skills and replacement
       behaviors.
               Ms. Jenn Barrow     Ms. Sarah Glesenkamp
               Last Names: A - K     Last Names: L - Z
   Other support professionals at Davidson
     Military Family Life Counselor (MFLC)
     Social
           Worker
     Mental Health Counselor

School Communication
Concerns can be also addressed by:
  •School Administrators:
     • David Carnley – Assistant Principal
        • Discipline
        • Facilities
     • Laura King – Assistant Principal
        • Curriculum
        • Instruction/Guidance
     • Holly Tew – School Principal
  •Resource Officer: Deputy Joiner

Partner with Davidson staff
 Allow us to partner with you to help resolve any
  concerns:
    Parent-Teacher conferences make an excellent
     opportunity for both parents and teachers to share
     information & develop plans for academic and
     behavioral success.
 Communication is key
    Check Grades & sign up for notifications through
     Parent Portal
    SIGN UP for any/all communication for each child’s
     teacher: Remind, online book info, teacher email &
     websites
    School website & Facebook pages are filled with up-
     to-date info
    ALL Progress Reports & Report Cards available
     online