The Dodge Dish
November 6, 2026
TRANSLATION OF NEWSLETTER
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Si aad u turjunto warsidahan fadlan ku dhufo badhanka "Turjumi" ee kore ama dhinaca midig ee boggan.
MESSAGE FROM PRINCIPAL NELSON
DMS Community,
It is hard to believe that we are in the final few weeks of trimester one. One important item we like to remind parents on is around our grading practices at DMS. Here are some key details:
Learning Levels in the Classroom
- Two grading marks per class: Learners will receive a letter grade as well as a level of demonstration for the Personal Skills That Support Learning.
- Letter Grades: Each course will report a trimester letter grade that reflects the learner’s level of understanding of the course content. Letter grades will be calculated based on the following two categories:
What This Means for Learners
- More opportunities to learn and grow
- Multiple ways to demonstrate understanding
- Clear feedback on academics and personal skills
Communication Is Key!
- Grades will be updated in the gradebook at weeks 3, 6, and 9 of each trimester and posted at the end of each trimester.
- We are committed to providing clear and consistent communication with families throughout the school year.
We encourage families to check learning levels at this time as the end of the Trimester approaches. Please feel free to reach out to your child's teacher with any questions you may have.
Andy Nelson, Principal
YEARBOOKS
📸 Yearbooks Are on Sale!
Capture the memories of this school year with a Levi P. Dodge Middle School yearbook! Yearbooks are available for $45 through November 20th. Don’t miss out on the chance to look back on all the fun, friendships, and special moments from this school year!
Ready to order? Purchase your yearbook here: https://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A09800732
Be sure to order by November 20th to take advantage of this price!
FALL SPORTS PHOTOS
📸 Share Your DMS Fall Sports Photos!
Have you captured any great moments of our DMS students participating in fall sports? We’d love to see them!
Families are invited to share photos they’ve taken of our students at games, meets, and other fall sports events. Your photos may even be featured in the DMS yearbook!
Share your photos here: https://photos.jostens.com/2RQ74K
Thank you for helping us capture and celebrate our DMS students and their activities!
SCHOOL PICTURES
Surprise Fall Savings - The JostensPIX® team has a special offer for your families!
20% OFF school picture orders
Code: SMILE2026
Ends November 23
SHOE DRIVE
Business Professionals of America is a high school club and we are partnering with Funds2Org, to collect shoes for a fundraiser. Funds 2 Org will pay BPA a small rate for each pound of shoes and bring them to shop owners around the globe to provide jobs and income for families in poverty.
By contributing to the Shoe Drive you can clean out your closets of old used shoes and teach your learners about charity and recycling. The drive benefits BPA by paying for its club fees, it benefits the environment by giving shoes a second life, and benefits communities by bringing a source of income to those in need!
EVERY MEAL
Sign up to receive a free bag of food every weekend (click the apple above to learn more about Every Meal). By the end of September bags will be placed in student’s lockers on the last day of the student
week. There are no qualification requirements and your family's privacy is protected. We place the bag in your student’s backpack during class time, to maintain privacy. If your student does not have a backpack, we are happy to provide one.
Bags are intended to provide enough food for 1 child, please complete the form for EACH child you have at Dodge. Please fill out the form for the current school year, even If you were receiving a bag last year.
If you have any questions or would like to arrange a different way to pick up the food bags, please contact Jen Hogan at (651) 460-1598 or jhogan@farmington.k12.mn.us .
Sign up link (in English, Spanish, Arabic, Somali, Hmong, and Karen)
FRIENDLY PRESENCE
We are looking for family and community volunteers to be present in our youths' lives at Dodge Middle School through Friendly Presence. We are excited to offer this volunteer opportunity and welcome the larger Farmington community into DMS. We are hoping many of you take this opportunity to be involved in our learners’ experience. For more information click here and to indicate interest please complete this google form.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Farmington School District has some great opportunities for you!
Click the link to apply for positions or reach out to the main office if interested.
DMS WEBSITE AND DODGE DISH
Please take some time to visit the DMS Website where you will find an abundance of helpful information to support your middle school student. Dodge Dish is an electronic publication that you will receive via email every week from our principal Mr. Nelson and the Dodge Dish is always available on the DMS website under “News and Events”. It is very helpful to take time to read through this publication to keep updated on upcoming events and happenings.
INFINITE CAMPUS ACCESS
ATTENDANCE LINE
IMPORTANT LINKS AND CONTACT INFORMATION
Useful Phone Numbers
Attendance: 651-460-1505
School: 651-460-1500
Nurse: 651-460-1506
Food Service: 651-463-5025
Bus Company: 651-463-8689
School Fax: 651-460-1510
School Athletics: 651-252-2514
School Closing Line: 651-985-1100
Community Education: 651-460-3200