The Riflemen Review

It is hard to believe, but the first day of school is finally here! Tuesday, August 11th, we joyfully welcome back all of our students. Mr. Cote, 7th grade administrator, Ms. Wheeling, 8th grade administrator, and myself are so excited to start the year as are all of your teachers. If you would be interested in being a parent representative for DMMS on the superintendent's advisory or for calendar committee, please email me at pluskal@wps.k12.va.us. We love to have our parents involved.

Just a few reminders -

• Arrival - Car riders and walkers will enter through the 7/8 athletic doors, these doors will be closed at 8:12am 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 8:12, 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.
• 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. Chromebooks will be handed out at school on August 12th. There will be a safety drill at school this week.

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

We will be starting instruction on day 1, so come ready to learn. Chromebooks will be distributed on August 12th.

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.

We will still be using PBIS this year. 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. Let us know if you have any concerns.

August 5 - Open House/Back to School Night 3pm - 6pm

August 10 - School Board Meeting at 6pm 598 N Kent St

August 11 - First Day of School

Sports Events

We are so excited to welcome our new staff!

Mr. Arthur is coming from Ghana and teaching Math 8 and Algebra I

Ms. Valencia is coming from Colombia and teaching Spanish for Fluent Speakers

Ms. Myers will be our new resource teacher

Ms. Langenstein is our new 7th grade counselor

Ms. Hargrove will be our new instructional assistant

New to their Position

Mr. Todd is going to be a resource teacher

Ms. Phillips is going to be a resource teacher

Mr. Cote is going to be our new 7th grade Assistant Principal

Ms. Wheeling is going to be our new 8th grade Assistant Principal

Please let us know if you are interested in joining!