Delta Sierra - May 10, 2026

Welcome to Delta Sierra Middle School - "Home of the Seahawks"

The 2025-2026, school years in now underway full steam ahead. Please know that this weekly newsletter will contain official information about our school along with our school website and any pertinent email or connect phone message that gets sent to you regarding the activation of or emergency and safety protocols. You may also contact the office to obtain additional information.

2025-2026 School Mission & Vision

The Delta Sierra community believes all students can persevere and be successful through explicit modeling of respectful behaviors and expectations, work cooperatively and support one another.

Focus Area: Co-Teaching Instructional Model to Improve Student Achievement

2025-2026 School Goals

Our school goals that are contained in our School Plan for Student Achievement have been reduced from 7 in the 24-25 school year to a manageable 4 goals in our 25-26 school year. They are:

Goal 1: Academic Improvement

Goal 2: Behavior and Social Emotional

Goal 3: Parent Involvement

Goal 4: Additional Target Support (Two or More Races)

I am trying to build up our Student Activities Funds Account so that I can have my staff plan more activities for your children here at Delta Sierra Middle School. The challenge that I am trying to solve is overcoming the lack of funds in our Student Activities account. There is only $3.90 per student left in Student Activities Fund Account. My goal is to increase the Student Activities Account. To address this, I have planned and developed our first ever Masterclass that features the 2025 Smooth Jazz Artist of the Year, Dr. Adam Hawley who will be performing with some of our students along with his wife, recording vocalist Kat Hawley. Our students in our Modern Band class have been working with Dr. Hawley on musical selections and have recorded 2 demos. Now, with the preparation being complete, some of our students will perform with Adam Hawley and his band during our first ever Masterclass Indoor Music Festival Fundraiser event. The flyers below are being sent out to jazz enthusiast, like me, and to those who just want to support our students. Call our office if you have questions and would like more information. (Feel free to share this information with your family, friends, and neighbors).

Support Staff to Help Your Student:

To quickly assist you and your student, I have structured my vice principals and school counselors to be your first and second lines of communication about everything you will want to know related to your student whether that be a student discipline issue, bullying, student conflict, complaint, student grades, how to set up a parent meeting with teachers, rumor control, bad posts about your student that appeared on social media, or just to find out how your student is doing academically.

8th Grade Support Staff are:

Vice Principal, Mr. Carleton Wade

School Counselor, Ms. Michelle Mazza

7th Grade Support Staff are:

Vice Principal, Ms. Maria Mack

School Counselor, Mr. Victor Mendoza Acevedo

When an issue comes up, you are encouraged to contact the above support staff rather than myself. This is because many of my duties take me off campus or have me in classrooms that limit my time in my office. However, I usually can return calls and emails 24 hours later. My staff can respond usually the same day, so please reach out to them.

Effective July 29, 2025, All school activities are intended for our students’ enjoyment, but they are a privilege, which may be revoked if the following conditions are not met. Students who do not meet these minimum requirements are encouraged to improve their grades by participating in the after school tutoring program. To participate in any of the school-wide activities, your student must qualify in the following ways:

School-Wide Participation Requirements - Students must earn and maintain a cumulative 1.5 GPA (which is a D+) or improve one grade level on the iReady Diagnostic when a student does not have a cumulative D+ grade point average. For example, students will take their first iReady Diagnostic in August 2025, and their results will serve as their base score. Thereafter, the second time students take their iReady Diagnostic in December 2025, they will need to improve at least 1 grade level in reading or math. Then, the last time students take their iReady Diagnostic in May 2026, students will need to improve at least 1 more grade level in either reading or math. Additionally,

• Students who engage in any student altercations during the school day, before and after school which includes running to view and/or video any type of altercations during the school day will lose privileges.
• If there are any students suspended from school during the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th quarter of the 2025-2026, school year, students will have to adhere to the districts social probation policy.
• Students who are suspended from school may exchange 10 electronic Minga tickets to reduce two weeks of social probation. (subject to change)

The School Accountability Report Card (SARC) provides parents and the community with important information about each public school. Lodi Unified School District’s SARCs are available on the District’s webpage at https://www.lodiusd.net/about/sarcs. If you have questions regarding Lodi Unified’s SARCs or would like to receive a printed copy of a particular school, please contact Accounting at (209) 331-7141. For further information on School Accountability Report Cards, please visit the California Department of Education's web site at https://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/ac/sa/.

Resumen del Reporte de Rendición de Cuentas Escolar (SARC) provee a los padres y a la comunidad con información importante sobre cada escuela pública. Los informes SARC del Distrito Escolar Unificado de Lodi están disponibles en https://www.lodiusd.net/about/sarcs página web del Distrito. Si usted tiene preguntas con respecto a los SARC de Lodi Unified o le gustaría recibir una copia impresa de una escuela en particular, por favor póngase en contacto con el departamento de Contabilidad al numero 209-331-7141. Para más información sobre School Accountability Report Cards (SARC), por favor visite el sitio Web del Departamento de Educación de California en https://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/ac/sa/.

After School Tutoring is here and if you would like to have your student participate and get the extra help for them, please fill out the forms and return to our office as soon as possible.

The Board of Education for the Lodi Unified School District has issued several policies to help students remain safe and learn. I want to share these with you so that you will be able to continue supporting your student so that they follow policies of the Lodi Unified School District as they relate to school expectations.

We are now entering our grading period for Quarter 1. What this means is that teachers will post students grades in the Aeries Student Information System and parents will be able to log in (or use your student's login) to see what grades your student earned so far in the school year. As a result, you might be inclined to want to visit your students classroom or even meet with your students' teacher(s). If so, I am including our procedures for making these requests:

Parent Requests to Visit Classroom

• Call the office and let my office receptionist know.
• The office staff will notify the teacher of the request for a classroom visit and the teacher gets a 24-hour notice to receive a parent in the classroom.
• Parents are welcome to visit the classroom to observe their student's interaction with the curriculum, teacher and peers. However, parents are not allowed to visit a teacher's classroom to observe the teacher's teaching, discuss their student's grades, or even to meet with a teacher.

Parent Requests to Meet with a Teacher

• Call the office and as to speak with the school counselor, Ms. Mazza for 8th grade (including the CARE Program) and Mr. Mendoza Acevedo for 7th grade. Or you may email the school counselor to make this request.
• The school counselor will coordinate the meeting date, time and location
• If your student is in the Special Education Program, you will have to contact the teacher who is the case manager and they will coordinate scheduling the meeting.

"Restroom Use" - (repeated announcement)- Effective Tuesday, July 29, 2025

You might get a question of two from a student about the restroom procedure. It is important to emphasize the number of minutes students get each day to use the restroom.

The school day is from 8:00 a.m. to 2:20 p.m. which equals to 6 hours and 20 minutes a day. Of the 6 hours and 20 minutes, students are provided 1-Hour of time to use the restroom facilities including getting water to drink each day during their passing period between classes and lunchtime. For example, students receive 5 minutes of passing time for 1st period then 4 minutes in between classes from 2nd through 6th period (20 minutes), and 35 minutes during lunch. Students will receive two additional passes (5 minutes each) per week for emergency purposes. Students are able to use the restroom and get water to drink on an unlimited basis while they are outside during their Physical Education class. This gives each student an extra 54 minutes while in P.E. to use the restroom and fill up their water bottle. Does your student need more than 55 minutes of restroom time each day? If so, please have their parent make an appointment with 8th-grade vice principal Ms. Mack or 7th-grade vice principal Mr. Wade and they can include our school nurse, who will write a health plan to accommodate your student’s needs.

The E-Hall pass provision only allows for 2 emergency uses (for each class with the exception of P.E.) to use the restroom each week and this includes if a student wants to get water. It is important for students to manage their time during passing period and lunchtime so that they do not miss their class time more than what is necessary. All restrooms are locked the first and last 10 minutes of each class.

Our first 5-weeks of the 2025-2026 school year are starting off well. I want to thank you parent/guardians for helping your student to take responsibility to wake up, get ready and arrive to school each day. Our attendance office reports that we have reached the following Average Daily Attendance - ADA in the following areas:

Overall Student Attendance -

This can be broken down by grade levels and programs such as -

7th Graders are at 92.%

8th Graders are at 92.%

CARE Program 8th Graders are at 95.% (Joint program with LUSD & San Joaquin County office of Education)

Our goal for our Average Daily Attendance - ADA is 95 % as a school. Therefore, we want to continue to have students attend school each and everyday and to increase by 3%.

Good job so far!

Our 4th meeting was on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at 2:30 p.m.

Your SSC Parent Representives for the 2025/2026 school year are:

Theresa Eichenbaum

Salanny Bazemore

Stacey Martinez

RESPONSIBILTIES/DUTIES OF THE SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL MEMBERS:

• Work as a team with other advisory group representatives to develop/recommend the School Development and Improvement plan (also known as Single Plan for Student Achievement) for our school consistent with Lodi Unified School District Governing Board's Strategic Plan for Student Achievement.
• Monitor implementation of the plan.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of the School Development and Improvement Plan (also known as Single Plan for Student Achievement)
• Annually review and revise the plan and proposed expenditures of categorical funds.
• Regularly attend scheduled SSC meetings throughout the year

To assist us in reaching these goals, our School Site Council - SSC has set a measurable standard of 5 percent growth for each goal. Additional support is being provided by our the Educational Services Department at our District Office by contracting with the research firm WestEd to support all Title 1 schools in our district. Our school has been assigned school improvement consultant, Ms. Stephanie Davis. She has already made 1 of 8 in-person site visits to learn about our school, some of our initiatives, and focus areas that we are working on. Ms. Davis will also meet with teachers, support staff, cohorts of students and parents and she will support us in the CALL Survey that we all will be participating in as well as our Root Cause Analysis as we work of monitoring our current School Plan for Student Achievement - SPSA and prepare the 2026-2027 school year School Plan for Student Achievement - SPSA that will take place later in February/March. Additional updates to follow.

On-going Parent Input Requested regarding School Plan for Student Achievement - SPSA for 2025-2026:

Our School Site Council has parent representatives that are invited to our meetings to hear about our Title 1 program and budget. Our School Site Council, approved funding for the ongoing implementation of our Co-Teaching Instructional Model. The model enables a selected number of classroom teachers to work during their prep period to co-teach with their colleagues in their colleagues' classroom. This is enabling students to get extra help during school hours in their core classes, such as English, math, social studies, and science. We want to keep our Co-Teaching Instructional Model going by using Title 1 funds (and other funds) to operate the program. It is our aim to see increases in student achievement for all of our student subgroups that include students with exceptional needs and our multi-lingual learners. Feel free to continue to share with us your ideas that will help our students reach and exceed academic standards.

I am including our Parent Involvement Policy for your review. If you would like to have your input considered, you may share it with us directly and/or with your parent rep who serves on the School Site Council.

ELAC meeting was on Friday, October 24, 2025 from 2:40 p.m. to 3:40 p.m. Room 9

The role of ELAC is to assist the SSC in relation to support for our students who are multi-lingual learners so that they receive additional resources in the school plan so that they can become proficient in English.

May 4-8 - Teacher/Staff apperciatoin week

May 6 - CPT (dismissal time 12:20 p.m.)

May 13 - Open House (5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.) Please join us & enjoy the food trucks!

May 25 - Holiday - No School

May 28 - 7th grader last day of school

May 29 - 8th grade promotion ceremony

A non -profit organization called Clothes for Kids has supplied our school with gently used and new clothes and shoes for students. If students are in need we can help.

Backpack give away - We have several backpacks to give to students. See Ms. Gloria in room 8.

Shoes - A National non-profit organization is donating new shoes for students in need.

Gloria Allen

Community Liaison, Delta Sierra

209-639-6813

Our Delta Sierra PBIS team this week is encouraging positive praise with your children. Reinforcing good behaviors increases the chances our students will repeat the words and actions we want to see and hear. This takes practice and is worth the time and effort to build a more positive relationship with our students and children.

We will be reviewing Education Code Section 48900.4 (see Code below) with students. Under this code, your child could potentially be suspended for continually disrupting the learning environment. Disruption is viewed as constantly talking, getting out of their seat, disrespecting the teacher and other students, and using inappropriate language in the classroom.

Vice Principals Ms. Mack, 7th-grade and Mr. Wade, 8th-grade VP's, will be visiting science classes to present to students the expectations under Section 48900.4. Since your student has been provided information on Section 48900.4, if their behavior violates this code, the student can be suspended. If the behavior persists, a meeting will be requested with the parent/guardian to discuss an academic and behavior plan.

The California Education Code Section 48900.4 (State Law) states that a student:

"Intentionally engaged in harassment, threats, or intimidation, directed against school district personnel or pupils, that is sufficiently severe or pervasive to have the actual and reasonably expected effect of materially disrupting class work, creating substantial disorder, and invading the rights of either school personnel or pupils by creating an intimidating or hostile educational environment."

Cell phones have become a way of life, a technological convenience that has impacted all our lives in one way or another. However, in the school environment, cell phones have become a distraction, interruption, and a method of illegal exchange of information. The ringing of the cell phone during class or text-messaging takes away the valuable time needed for instruction and most importantly, student learning. We do recognize cell phones can be a safety/security tool; however, they can be a detriment in the event of a building emergency and our protocol to manage such emergencies in a safe and effective manner. Parents are urged to use the school office’s phone to relay any urgent messages to their child. We will do our best to relay any urgent information to your child. Please refer to the first page of the student planner for additional information.

After-school tutoring refers to additional academic assistance or instruction that students receive outside of regular school hours. This type of support is often provided to help students who may be struggling with their coursework or to offer enrichment opportunities for those who want to further excel in their studies. Here are some key aspects to consider when it comes to after-school tutoring:

1. Purpose:

   • Remedial Support: Some students may need extra help to catch up with their peers in specific subjects.

     Enrichment: Tutoring can also be used to provide advanced or more challenging material to students who are excelling in their studies.

   
   

   Subjects Covered:

   • Tutors may focus on a specific subject, or a range of subjects based on student needs.

   
   

   
   

   Tutoring Formats:

• One-on-One: Individualized attention allows the tutor to tailor the instruction to the student's specific needs.

  Group Tutoring: Several students receive assistance together, promoting collaboration and peer learning.

For more information, please contact your school counselor's 7th grade Michelle Mazza and 8th grade Victor Mendoza.