DTSE Trailblazer Report

Hello DTSE families,

We hope your Winter Break was restful and rejuvenating! We're looking forward to getting back to work helping our students meet and exceed their goals in second semester. We have a few important dates coming up detailed below. Please take a few minutes to look over newsletter for details and other information regarding resources and opportunities in Decatur.

Upcoming Events:

January 10th: Student Data Cafes - Students will have individual conversations with district stokeholds over donuts and refreshments to discuss their data, progress, and goals.

January 16th: Martin Luther King Jr. Day - No School

February 2nd: ASVAB testing starting promptly at 9AM. Please make sure your child arrives to school on time. Student's arriving after testing has started will not be able to participate, and we are not able to schedule make up dates for this opportunity

ASVAB testing on February 2nd is a chance for students to meet a graduation requirement if they score a 31 or higher on the English and Math portions of the test. Below is a link to free resources students can use to help prepare for this opportunity:

https://asvabpracticetestonline.com/asvab-test-sections/

Sophomores - 10th graders are not required to take the ASVAB test, but we highly recommend they do as passing this test can help meet graduation requirements and potentially alter the courses they'll need to take in future school years. Sophomores will have an opportunity to sign up to take the test by completing a google form in their CCR class in the next few weeks.

Attend a Pacers game and support the Decatur Township Educational Foundation!

Follow this link to purchase tickets for a choice of four different games:

www.pacersgroups.com/bulls

A portion of ticket sales will be donated back to DTEF.

Ticket prices start at just $12!

Now is the time to complete the FAFSA, The Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Filling out the online form allows you to apply for both federal and state financial aid to help pay for 4 year colleges, 2 year colleges/community colleges, trade school & technical schools and some proprietary schools. The form is available online here and must be submitted no later than April 15, 2023.

Need help with this process? Contact our local partner INvestEd by visiting their website at https://www.investedindiana.org/ or calling 317-715-9007.

Hours of Operation:

8:10AM: Door 2 unlocks for Breakfast

8:40AM: 1st Period Begins

3:45PM: Dismissal

Block Scheduling:

DTSE will be running a block schedule this year that mirrors DCHS. Students will have a 25 minute CCR period to start each day, then they will have 4 classes that will alternate each day.

CTE Courses at DCHS:

Most of our students are attending 1 class period at DCHS every other day in order to help them meet graduation requirements for work based learning skills. It is vital students are following protocols and guidelines for moving between buildings. Failure to appear for the class at DCHS or return to DTSE after may result in removal from the course.

Testing:

ASVAB - February 2nd, 2023 starting at 9:00AM

Dress Code Notifications:

Blankets are not permitted at school. Please make sure your child has warm clothes to wear as the weather continues to cool down.

Clothing advertising or displaying images related to alcohol, drugs, or tobacco should not be worn to school. Students who come to school wearing these items will be required to cover them up or change clothes.

If you need assistance with clothing, please feel free to reach out to DTSE staff, and we will work to find and provide support for our families!

Decatur Township School Police Department, (DTSPD), in collaboration with the Drug Free Coalition, is excited to offer a new diversion program for students found to be in possession of tobacco products, e-cigarettes, and or vaping devices. DTSPD has also partnered with our local courts in an effort to minimize the use of these products and devices on our campuses. Our students, if found with the aforementioned items, would be in violation of Indiana Code 35-46-1-10.5, Minor in Possession of a Tobacco Product or an Electronic Cigarette or 7.1-5-12-8 Smoking in a Prohibited Area. Each of these would be met with an Indiana citation, also known as a “Uniform Traffic Ticket,” (UTT). When submitted to the courts, the cost of the ticket for this violation is $170.50. This is an actual ticket and will affect your license or the ability to obtain one if left unpaid.

Our objective however, is not to create financial hardship, but to have an opportunity to educate students and families on the dangers of vaping and tobacco products. Twice per month, DTSPD officers will present a 1-hour class for students who have opted to accept the terms of the diversion program. The cost of the class for a student attending alone is $75.00. If a student attends the class with a parent or guardian, the class is discounted at a cost of $25.00. Upon the completion of the class, the UTT, or citation, will not be referred to the courts, and there will be no record of the violation. A student may only participate in the program once per school year, and only twice throughout their entire school career.

DTSE will be offering academic tutoring on Monday's after school from 4-5PM. Students can stay after to get more individualized academic attention from a licensed teacher.

When: Monday's from 4-5PM

Location: DTSE Room 213

Gamers Guild provides students the opportunity to socialize, strategize, and have fun playing a variety of board, card, and video games.

When: After school on Friday's 3:50-5PM

Where: DTSE Room 206

Coordinator: Mr. Vetter

Art Club is for everyone!! No art skills required and all supplies are provided at no cost

When: every Tuesday after school. Ends at 5pm

Where: Ms. Cochran's room (room 113 next to the cafeteria)

Music Club is an extracurricular activity for the students of DTSE. Students will learn a variety of music and styles to provide an outlet for all students interested in music. Music Club will study different instruments, singing techniques, music competition and arranging, as well as performing.

Interested students should talk to Mrs. Farris about the opportunity

When: Thursdays from 4-5PM

Where: Room 211

Please visit our Child Nutrition Department Website (https://www.decaturproud.org/child-nutrition/p-ebt) for resources and general information about P-EBT cards.
MSD of Decatur Township and the Child Nutrition Department do not have access to P-EBT information or funds.
All calls and questions need to be directed to The Family and Social Services Administration.

24 Hour Suicide Hotline

• Dial 988 or text IN to 741741

LGBTQ+ National Hotline

• 888-843-4564
• email: help@LGBThotline.org

Mental Health Support & Referrals

• Mental Health America
• 800-969-6642
• http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/

Physical Abuse

• National Domestic Violence Hotline
• 800-799-7233
• http://www.thehotline.org/
  
• Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline
• 800-422-4453
• http://www.childhelp.org/ \

Substance Abuse Support

• National Drug & Alcohol Treatment Hotline
• 800-662-4357
• http://www.addictioncareoptions.com/
  

Eating Disorders

• National Eating Disorders Assoc. Helpline
• 800-931-2237
• http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/
  

Teen Health Questions

• 888-711-TEEN (confidential)

Boys Town National Hotline: struggling youth & families

800-448-300

http://www.boystown.org/hotline

HOURS OF OPERATION:

OFFICE:
Monday – Friday, 8 AM – 4:30 PM

FOOD PANTRY:
Gleaners Community Cupboard

• In-person shopping:
  • Tuesdays: 10 AM to 3 PM
  • Wednesdays: 10 AM to 3 PM
• Drive-thru distribution:
  • Thursdays: 2 PM to 7 PM
  • Saturdays: 9 AM to 12 PM

GOODWIN CENTER

Food Pantry – is available to help families in the Mars Hill / Decatur Township area.

Pantry is held every other Monday.

Hours for pantry:

Afternoon: 12pm – 2pm

Evenings: 4pm-6pm

DCHS Pantry is under Gleaners and has a drive through 2 times a month, through DCHS. Watch PARENTSQUARE for more information.

Search and connect to support. Financial assistance, food pantries, medical care, and other free or reduced-cost help starts here: https://www.findhelp.org