The Riflemen Review

A Message from Dr. Pluska

We are really getting into the routine of school. I have seen a lot of great instruction happening in the classrooms. Reminder on cell phones and any wearable devices: Per the Governor's Order, these devices must be off and away during the school day. Students should not have the capability to text and be online unless it is their Chromebook for instructional purposes. The first offense is loss of the item for the day (student picks up at the end of the day). For the second offense the parent has to come pick up the device from school. Please make sure you are communicating this with your student at home as well. We will have a lockdown drill this week.

We are so excited to announce try-outs for the Fall Play this week (Monday and Tuesday). There will not be transportation available after the try-outs.

Just a few reminders -

Arrival - Car riders and walkers will enter through the 7/8 athletic doors, these doors will be closed at 8:15am to allow teachers time to get ready for class. All students need to be here by 8:15am in order to get breakfast, head to their homerooms, and be ready for instruction to begin. Your student is tardy if they are here after 8:25am. After 8:15, if they are a car rider or walker, they need to report to the main entrance on the 5/6 side to get a pass for class.
Dismissal - Dismissal is at 3:20pm for students. We will not allow transportation changes after 2:30pm and parents should not pick up after 3pm to allow for a safe dismissal.
We still have a no cell phone policy in place per the governor of Virginia. If cell phones are on campus, they are to be off and away in a backpack. The first offense is the phone taken from the student for the day, the second offense is to have parents come pick up the phones. Therefore, we should not have headphones or earbuds since we have nothing to listen to. Please help us keep our instruction cell phone free so we can make sure students have all the information needed to be successful.
Dress code is still the same and is being enforced. Please review here. We are seeing a lot of students with bare midriffs and will be offering shirts for the day as needed.
Here is the 26-27 Parent Student Handbook for WPS.

Please make sure you get on your Parent Portal through PowerSchool to fill out your Annual Student Information Verification for Returning Students. Your student cannot receive a Chromebook until these forms are filled out.

Please feel free to call the office if you have any questions or concerns. I cannot wait to see everyone!

Lisa Pluska

Principal, Daniel Morgan Middle School

(540) 667-7171

pluskal@wps.k12.va.us

Academics

Students should have Chromebooks unless the forms have not been filled out or charges are outstanding. Assignments are given on Canvas on a regular basis. Please make sure your student is checking. We are working hard to make sure the students have what is needed to be successful on end of semester assessments.

Attendance

Tardies are counting. Take time to talk to your students about the importance of getting to class on time. We are turning the bells off this week, but the teachers will still be setting alarms and counting tardies. Students should be fine. One of our priorities this year is attendance. Keep in mind that chronic absenteeism is missing 10% of the school year whether it is excused or unexcused. Please send your students to school unless they are sick. When you miss a day, there is a lot of instruction that is missed and difficult to regain. We will have after school to help make up absences this year starting after Labor Day.

PBIS

We will be going to the pool on September 3rd. Students that have had ISR, OSR, or OSS between the dates of August 24 - September 3 will not be able to attend.

This is a way to celebrate when students are following the rules and showing PRIDE. Please view the matrix and see what we are teaching students as far as behaviors are concerned. We will be asking students what PRIDE stands for and if they know, there will be prizes. Let us know if you have any concerns.