From the desk of Karen de Marché
October 22, 2007
As we end this first week of school back from fall break, let me say that our students have moved easily and quickly back into the school routine. We held our first ever Academic Market Place on Friday and the response was overwhelming. The Market Place began as a humble idea to showcase the 8th grade language arts students' work in their publishing companies and mushroomed into a much bigger undertaking. Mr. Billy Millican's classes from the high school came and presented some interesting science activities and demonstrations. 3rd grade classes from Dade Elementary and Davis Elementary came to visit not only the Market Place in the gym, but also to tour the school. We will host a Market Place at the end of each nine weeks spotlighting different academic areas from the high school and inviting different groups from the elementary schools. A special thanks to Mrs. Jansen van Rensburg, Mr. Jelley and Mr. Randolph for all of their hard work.
October 22-26 is Red Ribbon Week. Deputy Jennifer Buchannan has planned several activities for our students during the week.
On Tuesday, October 23, there will be a 6th grade band concert in the gym. Ms. Odio will direct the band and explain to parents what goes on during a typical band class.
Thursday, October 25, is early release day. DMS will release at 1:00. Teachers will be scheduling conference times. Report cards can be picked up during the conference time on Thursday, otherwise, report cards will go home with students on Friday, October 26.
Our 1st nine weeks Principal's Award assembly will be held on Friday, October 26 at 8:30. The parents of those students being recognized will be contacted by teachers early in the week. The assembly will last approximately one hour.
6th grade parents are reminded that they need to get in permanent folder information before November 16th. Only those parents receiving notification need to take care of this matter.
Last year we conducted a very successful "Pennies for Projectors" campaign and were able to purchase two LCD projectors. Since part of the SPLOST money is earmarked for technology, each teacher will be receiving an LCD projector for his/her classroom in the next several months. This year we will conduct a "Copper for a Copier" campaign from October 22 to October 26 to purchase a copier for the media center. Often times students need to make a copy and the machine that is in the media center is several years old and is on its last leg. Students will donate pennies in large water jugs during breakfast and lunch. The jugs will be labeled by grade levels. The grade level with the most pennies at the end of the week will be declared the winner. Here's the challenge: students can donate silver coins or paper money and the amount of the silver and paper will be deducted from the total amount of the pennies. This makes for interesting strategy and suspense. So look under those sofa cushions and under the beds and send any loose change with your child this week so that we can replace the old copier in the media center with a brand new one!
A parent's workshop will be held Monday, October 29, at 7:00 in the DMS media center.
Please remember that DMS has an after school program that meets Monday through Thursday from 3:10-5:30. Tutoring and homework assistance is available for all students.
Karen de Marché
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