DKMS Newsletter

Happy Friday Panther families! We had another busy week here in the middle school.

Our 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students have completed their state testing. Our 5th grade students have their Social Studies and Science M-STEP tests remaining, which they will begin next Wednesday April 30th. Thank you to our students, parents, and staff for all of their help with our state testing!

As we start the month of May there are many different events happening in the middle school and across the district. Our middle school band, directed by Sara Knight, will have their Spring Performance next Thursday May 1, 2025 at 7:00 pm in the high school LGI. Please make sure you visit our district website, calendar, and newsletters to get information about upcoming events, times, and locations.

As a reminder 6th, 7th, and 8th Grade field trips will be at the end of May. Please make sure you are checking in with these grade level teachers about when forms and payment are due. If there are issues with that, they will try to work with you to solve them. It is also important to check in on your child's eligibility to go on these field trips. Behavior and grades are a big part in being eligible to go on these trips and it is important your child continues to meet these expectations for the remainder of the school year.

As always I want to thank our students, staff, families, and community for all of their help and support. The next 6 weeks are going to fly by. I know as a school, district, and community will come together and finish this year strong 💪! Have a great weekend!

It's a great day to be a PANTHER!!

Thank you,

Bobby Tillman

Principal

Delton Kellogg Middle School

6325 Delton Rd

Delton, MI 49046

(269) 623-1541

Wednesday, April 30th - Next KICKSTART Deposit Day 💰🏦

Thursday, May 1st - Middle School Band Concert 7:00 PM at High School LGI

Tuesday, May 6th - Vote on Bond Proposal ✅ 🏫

Friday, May 16th - 8th Grade Casino Royale Dance

Thursday, May 22- Middle School Career Day - starts at 8:00 a.m.

Monday, May 26th - No school- Memorial Day 🤍

Tuesday, June 3rd - Half day dismissal at 11:30 am

Wednesday, June 4th - End of Year Students' Awards Ceremony / Half day dismissal at 11:30 am

Thursday, June 5th - Last day of School - Half day dismissal at 11:30 am

Each week, we love recognizing students who go above and beyond in showing what it means to be Safe, Kind, Respectful, and Responsible (SK2R) here at Delton Kellogg Middle School.

Last weeks students were spotted making great choices—whether it was helping a friend, showing respect to their teachers, being responsible with their work, or just being a positive influence around school.

Keep up the amazing work, Panthers! You never know when someone’s watching and ready to give you a Paw for your SK2R behavior.

Mr. Phillip’s 7th grade science class is learning about density!

Students tested different objects to see if they would sink or float. First, they measured mass and volume to calculate the object’s density. Then, they put the objects in water to test their predictions.

If it’s more dense than water, it sinks. If it’s less dense, it floats!

It was a great hands-on science lesson.

Mr. Phillips’ class has also been learning about bird migration and how it connects to the world around us. Students discovered that many birds travel hundreds or even thousands of miles to reach Michigan each spring. To see some of this in action, Mr. Phillip's set up two seed feeders, suet feeders, and a hummingbird feeder outside their classroom. Check out the pictures below.

Mr. Gailey’s 7th grade art students are making animals escape their borders!

In this fun watercolor project, part of the animal stays inside a box, and part breaks out—making it look like it’s coming off the page. Students are using watercolor to blend colors and add cool effects.

Some students are also finishing up their sketch and colored pencil artwork, showing great detail and creativity in their drawings.

Their work is looking great- super job everyone!

After finishing their M-STEP testing the last couple of weeks, Mrs. Williams’ students got to trade pencils for aprons and cook up a storm in the classroom!

The last two Wednesday's have been filled with fun and learning as students practiced cooking life skills—measuring, mixing, following directions, and working together. As a special treat, they got to enjoy something delicious they made themselves, a perfect way to relax after a couple hard mornings of testing.

It was a great mix of learning and fun, and the classroom smelled amazing too!

Students spent some time outside making sidewalk chalk art with Mr. Cooper, the therapy dog!

They created fun drawings while enjoying the nice weather. Having Mr. Cooper there made it even more special—students love spending time with him, and their big smiles in the photos show just how much joy he brings.

It was a great way to relax, be creative, and share some love with a very good dog! 🐶💙

Q: Who makes up your family? Any pets or animals?
A: My family includes my wife Julia, my sons Ben and Alex, our dog Piper, and our cat Goselyn.

Q: Do you have any special family traditions?
A: We have a tradition of popcorn and ice cream every Sunday night.

Q: How long have you been a part of the school community?
A: I’ve been part of the school community for 3 years.

Q: Where did you grow up, and what’s a fun memory from your childhood?
A: I grew up in Dublin, Ireland. A fun childhood memory is waking up on Christmas morning to find a train set waiting for me.

Q: What’s your favorite thing about working at this school?
A: Mentoring students and constantly being impressed by Mrs. Williams and my other amazing colleagues.

Q: If you weren’t in education, what would you be doing?
A: I’d be a volunteer firefighter!

Q: If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?
A: I’d want to read minds—just to have more fun with life.

Q: What’s your favorite go-to comfort food or treat?
A: Cinnamon rolls—especially the ones my wife makes

Q: Do you have a favorite movie, TV show, or song that always lifts your spirits?
A: It’s a Wonderful Life .

Q: If you could travel anywhere, where would you go and why?
A: I’d love to visit Italy—I've heard the food is amazing!

Q: What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
A: I enjoy watching movies and working on my “honey-do” list.

What are SUN Bucks?

SUN Bucks is the new name for Summer EBT. Eligible families of school-age children will receive $120 per child for qualifying groceries.

Who Should Apply?

Families that are not automatically enrolled should apply for SUN Bucks directly.

Note: Families will be automatically enrolled in SUN Bucks if they are already enrolled in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), or FDPIR (Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations) benefits or meet the requirements for free or reduced-price school meals. In other words, keep an eye out for $120 per child at the beginning of summer!

Where to Find the Application

This application is available online!

Deadlines: Apply by April 15, 2025, to be eligible for the first issuance of benefits in May. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until August 31, 2025.

PIE is excited to announce that their fundraising website is now live! Each grade level has its own unique code , making it easy for students to participate.

Personalized Fundraising – Within each grade level, students can set up their own individual fundraiser to track their progress. This also allows whoever sets up the fundraiser to receive email updates on the total amount raised.

Maximizing Donations – Donors have the option to cover the 3% processing fee, ensuring that 100% of their donation goes directly to the student’s fundraiser. If they choose not to cover the fee, it will be deducted from the donation amount.

Every contribution helps make our field trips possible and creates unforgettable experiences for our students. Thank you for your support!

The athletic department has implemented some new tools and strategies to streamline communication and transparency throughout the department. These new programs should help streamline communication, event ticket purchases and potentially some registrations in the near future.

* 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

* You can also stay up to date with our new athletics social media accounts:

Facebook: Delton Kellogg Athletics

Instagram: DKpanthers

Twitter (X): DKpanthers

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