DKMS Newsletter

Happy Friday Panther families! It was another great week here in the middle school!

Next week we are having a Halloween themed Spirit Week. Our themed days will be:

Monday- Class Color Day (5th-Purple, 6th-Green, 7th-Orange, 8th-Black, Staff-Blue)

Tuesday- Zombie Prom Day

Wednesday- Frat Boy vs Coastal Grandpa Day

Thursday- Spooky Sports Day

Friday- Costume Day

We encourage our students to participate in our spirit days. Here are a few reminders:

1. Students are not allowed to wear masks on the bus or on campus.

2. Students are not allowed to bring costume weapons to school.

3. Students can wear hats if it's a part of their costume.

4. If students wear inflatable costumes on Friday, they will be asked to turn them off during instruction.

5. If a costume becomes a distraction in class, students will be asked to change.

Finally, I would like to give a huge shout out to our Fall Sports teams: Cross Country, Rocket Football, Middle School Football, Sideline Cheer, and Girls Volleyball. They did a phenomenal job representing our school and congratulations on all your successes this fall!

As always, I would like to thank our students, staff, families, and community for all of their hard work and support. I'm excited for our Halloween Spirit Week and all the creative costumes we will see! Have a great weekend!

It's a great day to be a Panther!

October 26 - October 30- Halloween Spirit Week Dress Up Days ( See the Flyer Below)

October 30- Delton Kellogg Trunk or Treat at the Elementary Building in the front drive

November 4 - Mobile Dentist and Kick Start Deposit Day

November 6 - Veterans Day Tribute - High School Gymnasium

November 10 - Half Day - Dismissal at 11:30am

November 14 - Craft Show at DKMS (Over 100 Booths)

November 25-27 - Thanksgiving Break

At Delton Kellogg Middle School, students are encouraged to show their Panther Pride by following our SK2R expectations and making good choices throughout the school day!

Students can earn Panther Paws when staff members catch them showing positive behavior, being respectful, helping others, and doing the right thing. Each Panther Paw earned gives students a chance to be entered into our Panther Paw drawings!

Congratulations to our latest Panther Paw Drawing winners! Keep up the great work, Panthers! We love seeing our students making good choices and setting a positive example for others!

This week at STARBASE, our 5th graders had some fun putting their science and engineering skills to work with two hands-on activities.

First up was the Eggbert Challenge, where students had to design and build a landing pod that could protect a raw egg from breaking during a crash. Using everyday materials like straws and rubber bands, students worked on creating designs that could absorb the impact and keep their eggs safe. Along the way, they learned about force, momentum, and how engineers design things to protect people and objects during a collision.

Students also worked with Happy Atoms, a hands-on chemistry activity that lets them build molecules using magnetic models of atoms. This gave students a chance to see how different atoms connect to form molecules and get a better understanding of some of the things they have been learning about in science class at DKMS. It’s always great to see students making those connections between what they learn in the classroom and what they get to experience at STARBASE.

On Thursday, October 22nd, students in Mrs. May’s science class put their engineering skills to work with a fun, hands-on challenge. Their goal was to design and build a prototype that would help keep an ice cube from melting for as long as possible.

Students worked on coming up with their own ideas, choosing materials, and building designs they thought would do the best job of keeping their ice cubes cold. They had to think about how different materials might help slow down melting and how they could use those materials in their designs.

On Friday, students got to put their creations to the test to see how well they worked. They were able to compare their results and see which designs did the best job of keeping the ice cubes from melting.

This was a great way for students to get creative, practice problem-solving, and learn a little more about how science and engineering work together.

Friday's Results!

This week in CTE Trades Class, students have been getting hands-on experience learning about electrical systems and how they work. Using an AC/DC Electrical Learning System, students have been exploring electrical circuits, switches, wiring, and how electricity flows through different components. This equipment gives students a chance to learn some of the same concepts used by electricians and other skilled trades professionals.

Students have also been putting their welding skills and creativity to work on some pretty neat projects. In the photos below, Jackson Warren is proudly working on making a dragonfly out of butter knives and spark plugs, turning everyday items into something unique.

One of the best parts of this class has been seeing how excited students are to make things, especially projects they can take home and give to their loved ones. It's great to see them enjoying what they're learning and taking pride in the things they create.

On Thursday, October 22nd, all three Delton Kellogg schools joined in the fun of the Great Apple Crunch! During lunchtime, students had the chance to enjoy some delicious, crunchy apples while taking part in this special event.

The Great Apple Crunch is celebrated each October as part of National Farm to School Month. Schools across Michigan and the Great Lakes region participate to encourage healthy eating, celebrate fresh, locally grown foods, and show support for Michigan farmers.

It was a fun way for our students to enjoy a healthy snack while being part of a much bigger celebration happening at schools across the state!

A big thank you to Tiffany Haines for organizing this event and making it happen at all three of our schools! We appreciate your efforts to bring fun and healthy opportunities to our students!

It's time for some spooky fun at Delton Kellogg Middle School! Our Student Council has picked out the dress-up themes for Halloween Spirit Week, October 26–30, and they've planned a whole week of spooky fun.

We'll kick things off on Monday with Class Color Day, so be sure to wear your grade's color! Tuesday is Zombie Prom Day, so get creative with your best spooky prom outfit. On Wednesday, it's Frat Boy vs. Coastal Grandpa Day, followed by Spooky Sports Day on Thursday, where you can put a Halloween twist on your favorite sports gear. We'll wrap up the week on Friday with Costume Day, so come dressed in your favorite Halloween costume.

We hope everyone joins in on the fun and shows off their Halloween spirit. Whether you dress up for one day or all five, it's sure to be a fun week 👻!

We have some exciting news! Delton has been approved to start a Girls on the Run program for girls in 3rd–5th grade! Now we just need some awesome volunteer coaches to help make it happen!

Girls on the Run is a fun after-school program that helps girls build confidence, make friendships, stay active, and learn important life skills.

The program will run from March 15–May 18, with practices held twice a week for 90 minutes. Volunteer coaches will need to complete 8 hours of training (4 hours online and 4 hours in person).

Interested in helping? Check out the flyer below for more information and how to sign up! You don't have to be a runner to make a difference. Help us bring this exciting opportunity to our Delton girls!

For nearly 30 years, Tim Thomas has dedicated his time to coaching, volunteering, and supporting our Delton Kellogg students and community. Now it's our turn to show him some support!

Tim is preparing for a lung transplant, and a special fundraiser is being held to help cover the cost of medications he will need after surgery.

Raffle tickets are just $10 each, and one lucky winner will receive a whole freezer of pork! The drawing will take place on November 7th.

Nicki Ferris will be selling tickets at Friday night's football game. You can also contact her at 269-420-7544.

Let's come together as a Panther family and give back to someone who has given so much to our school and community!

Forms are available in the DKMS Office for families who would like to register to be placed on one of the Orangeville Community Outreach Christmas trees.

Please return completed forms no later than: OCTOBER 31, 2026.

We are excited to offer in-school dental care to help make it easier for students to receive important dental services without having to leave school for an appointment.

Through the Smile Programs Mobile Dental Program, a temporary dental clinic is brought directly into the school. Licensed dental professionals provide care in a familiar and comfortable setting, allowing students to receive services while missing as little class time as possible.

Best of all, there is no cost to the school or to families who qualify for the program.

What Services Are Available?

Students may receive a variety of preventive and restorative dental services, including:

• 🪥 Complete dental examination
• ✨ Dental cleaning
• Fluoride treatment
• Dental sealants
• Dental X-rays, when needed
• Fillings, when needed
• Pulpotomies (treatment for the nerve inside a baby tooth), when needed
• Simple extractions, when needed
• 🦷 Oral health education
• A report from the dentist
• 🎁 A free toothbrush

The goal of this program is to help students maintain good oral health and make dental care more accessible and convenient for families.

The Rotary Club is offering high school students an exciting opportunity to travel abroad during the summer of 2027! Through the Short-Term Exchange Program (STEP), students can experience life in another country by staying with a host family or attending a multicultural camp with students from around the world. It's a great chance to make new friends, explore different cultures, and create unforgettable memories!

For the past seven years, Spiritual Care Consultants has been available to support students at Delton Kellogg Middle School. Sometimes students just need someone to talk to, a place to share what they’re going through, or a little extra support. Take a look below to learn more about this resource and how students can get connected.

All Delton Kellogg Middle School students are eligible for free breakfast and lunch during the 2026–2027 school year through Michigan’s “Free Meals for All” legislation.

Students who bring a cold lunch and would like to purchase milk will need to have funds available in their school meal account. Parents can view balances and meal history and make online deposits.

Even though meals are free, all families are required to complete a new Educational Benefit Form (EBF) each school year. These forms help determine the district’s eligibility for important funding, grants, and other programs.

One application is required per family—not per student. Please scan the QR code below or visit deltonkellogg.familyportal.cloud to complete the form.

Thank you for helping support DKMS and our students!

DKMS is excited to continue to partner with Hand2Hand, a local non-profit program that helps make sure every student has plenty of nourishing food over the weekends and school breaks!

How Hand2Hand Helps

• Weekend Packs: Students receive a bag filled with simple, kid-friendly meals and snacks to enjoy when school isn't in session.

• 100% Confidential: Food bags are discreetly placed directly into participating students' backpacks or lockers on Friday afternoons before dismissal.

• Community Supported: Local volunteers and church partners pack and deliver the meals each week to support our school family.

How to Sign Up

Signing up is fast, easy, and completely private. Scan the QR code below with your phone camera or click the link button to register your student today.

Welcome back to school, DK families! Please review the key requirements below to ensure your child’s health needs and medications are safely managed at school.

*Sports Schedule Reminder:

* Eventlink.com is where information for athletic events and facility usage can be found. Tickets and season passes can be purchased through Eventlink, and you are able to customize your experience by choosing which sports you would like communications from.

* Finalforms.com is where physicals and other important documents should go. These documents can be uploaded by your phone by taking a picture of the document.

* The Athletic Department would prefer all pay to participate payments go through this virtual portal for all Middle School and High School athletes.

Pay to Participate Fees can be paid HERE

PDF of Sports Participation Fees

* Hudl.com is where fans can subscribe to watch live streams of home events that occur at the turf stadium or the High School main gymnasium.

Click here to visit the Delton Hudl Fan Account

Background checks for volunteers are essential to ensure the safety and well-being of students.This helps keep our school environment secure and positive for all students.Therefore in a continued effort to keep our schools as safe as possible, all volunteer parents and community members, as well as classroom visitors, must submit to criminal background checks.Field trip chaperones are also considered volunteers. Visitor and Volunteer Consent forms must be completed each year and should be turned into the middle school office. You can pick up a volunteer form in the office or click below to print one.

Email: tammy.whitmore@dkschools.org

Location: 6325 Delton Road, Delton, MI, USA

Phone: 269-623-1541

Email: julie.gorter@dkschools.org

Location: 6325 Delton Road, Delton, MI, USA

Phone: 269-623-1542