The Downing Dispatch: Summer Update

Monday, Sept. 21st:

• 7th Grade Volleyball at Shadow Ridge MS: D1-5:30, D2-6:30, D3-7:30
• 7th Grade Football vs. Lamar at Marcus HS: D1-5:30, D2-7:00

Tuesday, Sept. 22nd:

• 8th Grade Football vs. Lamar at Marcus HS: D1-5:30, D2- 7:00

• PTA Binder Hospital - See Below

• DMS Theater - Spring Musical Reveal: 4:00pm in Cafeteria

• 30-Day Grace Period for Free & Reduced Lunch Ends - See Below for More Information

• 8th Grade Volleyball vs. Shadow Ridge at Downing: D1-5:30, D2-6:30
• Beginner Choir Demonstration Concert in Cafeteria: 6:30

Saturday, Sept. 26th

• LISD All-Region Choir Camp at Shadow Ridge MS: 9:00 - 12:00

Both 7th and 8th grade boys football seasons are well underway with all teams having a very strong start!

• 7th Grade Division I and II teams had great season openers soundly defeating Forestwood Middle school and bringing home 2-wins!
• 8th Grade Teams also earned 2-wins in their season opener against Creek Valley Middle School. In their second game of the season both teams played hard but came up short, losing to Forestwood.
• Last week was a bye week for Downing, but they return to action this week and playing Lamar Middle School.

Girls athletics have also started off this year's volleyball schedule with several strong showings.!

• 7th Grade Girls Volleyball is currently 3-1 with all three divisions winning their first 3 matches. The girls battled hard against Briarhill last week but came up short! This week they face Shadow Ridge.
• 8th Grade Girls Volleyball had both divisions start the season winning the their first 3 matches against Griffin, Lamar, and Hedrick. Last week they battled two competitive Briarhill teams and were handed their 1st loss of the season. Both Division I and II teams played extremely well in the mid-season tournament this past weekend. Both teams came home with second place trophies! WAY TO GO GIRLS!!!!

Last week, our 6th grade students had an opportunity to take a break from school work and have some well deserved fun during the PTA's 6th Grade Social. Students celebrated the new school year with pizza, sno-cones from Bahama Bucks, play games and of course Dance to the music mixed by our own SRO - DJ Buck! A big thank you to our wonderful PTA for organizing this event and the 6th grade parent volunteers for decorating the cafeteria and assisting with the cleanup!

Just a friendly reminder about morning drop-off. We must keep the bus loop free of vehicles during morning arrival, between 7:40 - 8:05. Buses begin arriving shortly after the building opens and need to have a clear area to drop off students safely and quickly so they may leave and start their next route for the high schools. We also want to keep the bus loop as distraction free as possible, so drivers do not have to worry about vehicles passing on the left side or students getting out of cars on the left-side and crossing in front of the bus.

If you are dropping off an athlete after 7:40, you will need to drop them off at the south-side of the building with the other students. Thank you for your help in keeping our students safe.

As the first quarter comes to a close, the Downing PTA would like to extend an invitation to all students to join us for "Binder Hospital". What is Binder Hospital you ask? Great question! Binder Hospital is an informal meeting where a student will meet with a volunteer parent to help them get organized. Oftentimes, as the weeks go by, students need help with cleaning out their backpacks, putting materials from each subject back into separate folders or under the correct tabs in a binder, making decisions on what can be thrown out, etc. At Binder Hospital, we have an array of helpful supplies that we offer to students in an effort to STAY organized; things like multi-color folders, pencil cases, extra pens/pencils, 3-hole punches and more. Binder Hospital is a time where students can declutter, destress, and be encouraged and supported by a caring, Downing parent. If you would like to sign your student up for a time slot, please complete the following form: Binder Hospital Signup. We will have more opportunities throughout the year for your child(ren) to get help in organizing their school work and backpacks.

Next week we will be collecting food for the annual Stuff the Pantry Food Drive. This will also be our first big house competition of the year we will also have daily incentives and rewards for students to bring in food! More details to follow later in the week!

All teachers are required to provide tutoring at least 2 times a week. Please refer to the schedule below to determine when your child can see a specific teacher. If you have specific questions about tutoring times please contact your child's teachers. This schedule will be updated regularly.

The new bell schedule is below. Remember that the arrival and dismissal times for all LISD middle schools have changed this year. Doors will open at 7:40 am and students will be dismissed at 3:40 pm. Instructional time will be from 8:15 am to 3:40 pm.

Why Should I Join the PTA?

PTA membership and dues support your child by funding essential educational and curriculum needs; advocating on behalf of children and educators at the local, state and national levels, and building an inclusive school community for all families.

Join PTA for your child because increasing our membership, even by one, makes it possible to provide important educational resources, speak up on important issues and create a stronger school community. Click on the graphic at the right to join!

September 28:

• Stuff the Pantry - Day #1
• 7th Grade Volleyball at Downing
• 7th Grade Football at Marcus HS

• Stuff the Pantry - Day #2
• 8th Grade Football at Marcus HS

• Stuff the Pantry - Day #3
• Kindness Club Meeting in Library at 7:45

• Stuff the Pantry - Day #4
• 8th Grade TECC Tours
• 8th Grade Volleyball at Lakeview MS

• Stuff the Pantry - Day #5
• 8th Grade Band Night at Marcus

• 7th Grade LLELA Field Trip - Day 1
• 7th Grade Football at MHS

• 7th Grade LLELA Field Trip - Day 2
• Choir Cluster Concert Rehearsal at Lewisville First Baptist Church
• 8th Grade Football at MHS
• Choir Cluster Concert at Lewisville First Baptist Church

• Fall Picture Retakes
• Orchestra Fall Concert in Gym

• End of the 1st Nine Weeks Grading Period
• 8th Grade Volleyball at Downing

• Staff Professional Learning and Workday - No School for Students

• Fall Break - No School for Students and Staff

To view more a more comprehensive calendar of events please click here for the Downing Calendar.

Visit LISD.net/Calendar for additional information on district-wide events. To download the 2024-2025 Academic Calendar, click HERE.

Please consider sharing your appreciation with a District Recognize Someone Card during the upcoming year! You can even have your students participate!

Want to share how a Downing or LISD staff member has gone above and beyond! Click here for the district Recognize Someone form. These submissions are printed and then shared at staff meetings to celebrate each other!