Sells eNews

Good Evening,

We made it through our first full week of school! 🎉 The week was filled with fun, learning, and plenty of laughter. Our students did an outstanding job creating their family banners and earning points for their houses—what a fantastic way to kick off the year!

A big thank you to all our 7th and 8th grade parents who joined us for Open House. This year, for the first time, we held 6th Grade Orientation separately from Open House. With nearly 900 students and limited parking, we felt this was the best way to manage the crowds. I sincerely apologize for any confusion this change may have caused. Both events were a great success, and we plan to continue this format in the future.

Wishing everyone a wonderful three-day weekend! 🌟

With ROCK Pride,

Katy O'Neal

Principal

Kevin Masterson

Assistant Principal

Dale Jennings

Administrative Intern

September 1st - NO SCHOOL

October 9th - Flu Shot Clinic for students 9:00 - 11:00am in the library

On Tuesday, October 7, 2025, all 8th-grade students will be offered the free PSAT 8/9 assessment. The PSAT 8/9 is the first assessment in the College Board's SAT Suite offered by Dublin City Schools.

For more information about the PSAT 8/9, please click here.

If your child will be absent from school:

PREFERRED ABSENCE REPORTING METHOD: Please use the Absence Request tool in Infinite campus
Other reporting methods: email sms_attendance@dublinschools.net or call 614-718-8572 and leave a voicemail

Please do not call the main line for attendance before 9:00am.

Please utilize the Absence Request Tool in Infinite Campus or attendance email or voicemail

• Students MUST be in Rock period by 8:28am - Anytime after 8:28am is considered LATE and MUST sign in at the Main Office.
• LEAVING EARLY - Please use the Absence Request Tool or send a note from the parent/guardian. The note should to be given to Mrs. Stevenson (Attendance Secretary) first thing in the morning. She will give them a pass to leave class at the given time and your student will meet you in the Main Office at that time. You as the Parent/Guardian will need to come into the office to sign them out.
• ARRIVING LATE - If your student is arriving late to school due to an appointment, they will need to sign in at the Main Office with Mrs. Stevenson. Medical appointments will be excused with a note from the medical provider. Please use the Absence Request Tool to let us know ahead of time.

Help us Fund the FUN! Each year the PTO does things like feed teachers, host (free!) events for students, provide teacher grants, and so much more. BUT we can't do it without you! Your financial support (as well as signing up - and following through on your signup - to bring donations) allows us do to these things! Without you, none of the above can happen. If you can't make a donation, who do you know that might be able to? Do you know any businesses that might like to make a donation? We will definitely give them recognition! If you use Venmo, you can make a donation to @SellsMSPTO.

Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/sellsmspto for up-to-date information about everything that we have going on and how you can get involved!

Feeding Team Sells - The teachers and staff asked us to pass along their gratitude to those who made donations of food and who have supported the PTO. This helped us to provide lunch to them today!

Sells Swag - Are you looking to add to your Sells swag? This online store will be open until September 1 and items will be shipped directly to your house: http://www.tinyurl.com/2025SellsSW

Save the Dates!

• Tuesday, September 16 @ 7p - Help us kick off the year with our 1st PTO meeting! We will gather in the Sells Commons. Stay tuned for more details. We would love to have you join us!
• Thursday, October 2 - 3-5p - The PTO invites all students to its annual All School Tailgate. Join us out back right after school for pizza, some music, and hanging with friends. We'll provide a piece of pizza, chips, and a drink for you for free! Kona Ice will be available for purchase. Stay to cheer on the football team to a victory over Davis!

You can donate to the Sells PTO all year and it is easy to do! Donations support several

fun, FREE things planned for the students and teachers and they wouldn't be possible

without your support!

Just click link below or your child can drop off a check in the office in an envelope

marked PTO Donation.

https://john-sells-middle-school-pto.square.site/

Don’t forget to join the Sells Middle School PTO Facebook page!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1741183269442405

New Parent Library Portal

We're excited to announce the new Parent Library Portal, a convenient way for you to view your student's library book checkouts and their reading history. Find it through the Quick Links section on the district website, under Teaching & Learning. Please note that you will need to use the email address on file in Infinite Campus to log in. To access this new feature, please refer to the linked step-by-step guide, which provides detailed instructions on how to login and navigate the portal. We believe this addition will be a valuable resource for both parents and students, fostering a more collaborative approach to reading and library engagement.

High School Redistricting Update
The recording of Tuesday’s Public Information Session on high school redistricting is now available on YouTube. As we have shared, Dublin City Schools has hired Cropper GIS to lead this process. To keep feedback consistent, the district will not respond to individual emails, calls, or meetings. All Q&A from the webinar has been provided to Cropper, and any additional thoughts should be shared through the Feedback Form. For more information, visit www.dublinschools.net/redistricting-information

Columbus Metropolitan Library (Dublin) Programs Start Soon

The Dublin Library offers reading programs, study spaces, and academic support to support students after school. Learn about the programs, dates and times here.

• English Reading Conversation for Kids: Join us to practice English conversation skills through engaging activities, discussion, and reading. Kids must have their own library card. Kindergarten – 5th Grade. Tuesdays, 6–7 p.m. Please arrive promptly at 7; this is not a drop-in program. Limit 20 participants. Program Starts September 2.

• Reading Buddies: Students in kindergarten through grade 5 can participate in reading practice to help boost skills. Monday and Wednesday, 4–5 p.m.

• After-School Space: The library is your student’s after-school space to connect, learn and grow through fun and educational activities, including free academic support. There’s a lot going on! And it’s free!

Dublin Historical Society Presents Second Sunday Speaker Series

Save the dates below to have fun with the family and learn about some of Dublin’s very unique history.

• September 14: The Liberty Earthworks presented by Gary Argabright

• October 12: Ghost Encounters in Historic Dublin presented by Rebecca Schisler

• November 9: Lucy Depp Park & Underground Railroad presented by Michael Hamilton

Learn more here.

Labor Day Service Impacts
Labor Day is a time to honor the contributions of workers to our society! Please remember these changes to hours and services during the Labor Day holiday, Monday, Sept. 1.

• Dublin Community Recreation Center: Closed
• Dublin Community Pool North: Open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. | South: Closed
• Dublin City Offices: Closed
• Yard Waste: Tuesday, Sept. 2
• Recycling/Trash: Thursday, Sept. 4

Stranger Danger in the Digital Age
Dublin Police SRO Scott Brown joined the Dublin City Schools podcast series “Press Pause” to talk about online safety. He explains how grooming happens, what red flags to watch for, and how families can build safer digital habits. Listen in to Press Pause.

September 13th, 2025 Glacier Ridge Metro Park Join the Dublin Coffman Marching Band for a scenic run/walk/march through Glacier Ridge Metro Park. All proceeds benefit the DCMB students. Come and be a part of the fun while the band serenades you through a great 5K experience!

www.dublincoffmanband.org