The Downing Dispatch: Summer Update

Monday, Aug. 17th:

• Secure Drill at 10:00 am
• Deadline for secondary students password reset - 10pm this evening (students were given time and directions for doing this in class on Thursday, 8/13).

Tuesday, Aug. 18th:

• Evacuation Drill: 8:15 - 8:30
• Orchestra Parent Meeting in Cafeteria: Beginner Orchestra @ 6:00, Philharmonic, Chamber, & Symphonic at 7:00
• Band Parent Meetings in Band Hall: Beginner Band Members @ 6:00, Concert & Symphonic at 7:00

Wednesday, Aug. 19th:

• Shelter in Place Drill: 1:00 - 1:15

Thursday, Aug. 20th:

• Lockdown Drill: Beginning of 2nd period.

Friday, Aug. 21st:

• Newcomers Celebration in Cafeteria

If you wish to view yesterday's presentation please click on the graphic below. If you still have questions, please reach out to your child's assistant principal.

Schedules will post in Skyward Qmlative on Wednesday, August 5th in the afternoon. If you would like to request a change in your child’s schedule, please complete the Downing MS Schedule Change Request 26-27 google form. The deadline to submit a schedule change request is today at 4pm.

Many classes and electives are full at this time, and we may not be able to make the requested change. We will work through the change requests as quickly as we can. We will also contact you as quickly as we can regarding the status of your request. Your child should follow the schedule as it is displayed in Skyward Qmlative until or if it changes.

All Downing 8th-grade students will have the opportunity to take the College Board PSAT in October.

The College Board requires that parents request accommodations for the PSAT. This is not a requirement, but if your student receives accommodations through 504 or Special Education, you can request that they receive their testing accommodations on the PSAT.

If you would like to request accommodations for this upcoming PSAT, please complete the PARENT CONSENT FORM then attached the completed form to an email and send to Mrs. Ford at fordcs@lisd.net.

The College Board's deadline to submit accommodation requests for this year's PSAT tesing is August 24th.

Please make sure that your 7th grade students have updated vaccinations before the 1st day of school. Read below for more information and where to send the updated vaccination record.

This year, all LISD middle schools have switched time slots with the high schools meaning school will start earlier in the and also finish earlier. Please see below for opening times and dismissal times.

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.

Please review the above table to determine which lunch your child will go to. All sixth grade students will eat their lunches during A-lunch. 7th and 8th grade students will go to lunch based on who their 5th period teacher is. If your child's 5th period teacher is listed under B-lunch, then they will go to the cafeteria after 4th period, eat lunch and then go to 5th period. Students in C-lunch will go to 5th period first then lunch after 5th period is over.

Please remember to complete the annual Skyward Qmlativ online forms and pay the annual iPad insurance fee. These two items are due on August 28th. Any students who have unpaid iPad fees or who do not have completed online forms will have their school-issued iPad collected starting on September 8th. Reminders will be sent to families to ensure that beginning of year items are completed and that iPads remain with the student(s).

Please see below for grade level supply lists. If you purchased a wrap-pack at the end of last year, they will be delivered to the campus and students will receive their wrap-packs during the 1st week of school through one of their core classes.

August 24: 7th Grade Volleyball vs. Griffin @ Downing: D1 - 5:30, D2 - 6:30, D3 - 7:30

August 25: Fall Open House and PTA General Meeting

August 27: 8th Grade Volleyball vs. Griffin @ Griffin MS: D1 - 5:30, D2 - 6:30

August 28: School Picture Day

August 30: Deadline to complete Skyward Online forms.

August 31: 7th Grade Volleyball vs. Lamar MS @ Downing: D1 - 5:30, D2 - 6:30, D3 - 7:30

August 31: 7th Grade Football Scrimmage @ MHS

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!