Rattler Welcome
2023 / 2024 School Year
Hello Rattler Families,
Welcome back to all our 8th grade students! It is always so cool to see you come back as the leaders of the school, and to see how much you have grown. It is also exciting to welcome in a new group of seventh graders each year. Seventh grade is the beginning of secondary education, so let me be the first to introduce you to your cohort--The “Class of 2030.” For the next six years our incoming seventh graders will be the “30’s,” and our eighth grade class will be the ”29’s.”
We work together with Desert Ridge High School and plan many curricular, athletic, and performing arts activities together. We want the transition from our junior high to DRHS to be as comfortable as possible for our students.
Our exiting eighth grade class, “the 28’s,” who are now beginning at DRHS in the fall were very successful at DRJHS. They continued to grow academically the entire year, and they were a great group of students. Our 8th grade teachers all spoke highly of the character of this cohort of 8th graders.
Our performing arts department has the most incredible directors who produced numerous awards that were not only tops in the district, but also recognized by the state.
Orchestra Awards - Director Dan Folland
- ABODA Fall Strings Festival - Rating of “Excellent”
- Forum Music Festivals in California rating of “GOLD”
- 8th grade Forum Music Festivals in California rating of “GOLD”
- 8th grade ACDA Jr High Festival “SUPERIOR” - Perfect Score
- 7th grade ACDA Jr High Festival “Excellent”
- Jazz Band Excellent with Recognition Qualified for State at AREA Jazz Festival
- Jazz Band - Excellent Rating Mountainside Jazz Festival
- Outstanding Soloists - Linden Bryce and Ellie Feldman
- State JAZZ FESTIVAL - Excellent Rating
- 8th grade Band Superior With Distinction Rating GPS Band Festival
- 7th grade Band Superior Rating GPS Band Festival
Our yearbook class has produced a top 10 nationally ranked yearbook the past three years. This past yearbook class was recognized as a National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) Pacemaker Finalist, NSPA All-American 4 Areas of Distinction, Arizona Interscholastic Press Association (AIPA) 9 Areas of Distinction, and a Varsity Yearbooks Portfolio Publication - Top 1%. We are one of the top 8 performing junior high schools in the nation when it comes to the yearbook elective, with high performances in photojournalism, photography, and distinctions in writing.
Our athletic teams brought home three championships last year (Boys 8th Soccer - 8th Girls Volleyball - 8th Baseball) and many runner-up finishes. We had our 1st Female State Champion in Wrestling - Annabelle Kaufmann. We also won the “Superintendent’s Cup” 4th quarter for sportsmanship.
Rattlers Reign is our motto and its purpose is to make sure our students and staff understand that we have the best teachers, coaches and students and together we can accomplish anything. We also want individual students to know that with their DRJHS experience they are just as eligible and prepared for scholarships and opportunities as any of their peers who would attend ANY other school.
Student schedules are going to appear to your child on July 9th, but please share with your child that we are still assigning classes and our enrollment is still growing. Final schedules will not be ready until days before school starts. There is no need to reach out to a counselor about changes now because there are so many changes that will occur before the first day of school. It is a rough draft that we cannot hide due to the Infinite Campus program we operate from needing to be accessible to families and district staff. We apologize in advance for having to be patient a little longer.
July 16th Rattler Day, July 17th New Student Orientation / “Amazing Race”, and July 22nd “Walk the Campus” night are all school events where students will be able to look at a much more accurate schedule.
The first day of school, Tuesday, July 23rd all students will get a new BLUE schedule that they will use to get into all classes as a visual check for teachers to make sure all students are where they are supposed to be. We will have lines before school on July 23rd in the gym (7th grade) and the cafeteria (8th grade) for students to get their official BLUE schedule.
“Student Dress Code” is always a concern and conflict between students and their parents and the school. We understand that. The same clothes fit differently on different bodies. We ask that underwear and bras are covered, messages and images are appropriate, and the length of shirts, shorts and skirts are long enough to cover a respectable amount of skin. Dress Code
Students Agendas are required for each day and each class. The school will provide the first one for free, but students will need to pay $5 for a replacement if necessary. Students will receive their agendas as close to the first day of school as possible. Included in the agenda is the student pass page. Students will need to have a pass from a teacher to be out of class at any time.
ID badges are a requirement as part of the GPS Dress Code. ID's must be visible upon entering campus and while on campus during school hours. ID’s are required for all students to get on a bus, walk through the gates at school, for lunch, library, and all classes entry and exiting for areas like the restroom. We are taking photos on the second day of school and students will immediately get their new ID. Until then, please have your child wear their last year's ID card, even if from another school.
We have security guards and a Mesa Police Officer - Student Resource Officer (SRO) on campus to help students and to keep us all safe. Our security team is friendly and they get to know the students. Many times security will be walking with students to assure they arrive safely at their next destination.
We do allow students to have cell phones. All public areas allow cell phones, so our goal is to teach the students proper social manners and restrictions for using them. They are allowed on campus when used to communicate positively. Students are never allowed to take videos or photos of others without permission from that student. Phones are restricted from restrooms and locker rooms, and those areas are identified with a warning sign. Students will have full use of their phones before and after school, for four minutes between all classes and for 30 minutes at lunch.
All electronic devices (cell phones, laptops, headphones, etc. not being used for educational purposes) must be UNSEEN and UNHEARD during instruction time (Bell to Bell = No Cell) unless directed by the teacher. If seen or heard during the class period, the device will be turned over to the teacher/staff member/substitute and given back to the student at the conclusion of that class period. If given to an administrator, it may be picked up by the student(1st offense) or the parent (2nd and 3rd offense) at the end of the school day in the front office.
Students will have one minute after the tardy bell to silence their devices and put them away in a classroom pouch or in their backpack and be ready for instruction. Any student who struggles with that simple direction will lose their privileges and we will discuss with the families the restrictions moving forward.
Tardies are issued by teachers to students who are late to class. Students have 4 minutes between classes to use as they wish, but they need to arrive inside their next classroom before the tardy bell rings.
Each tardy is a detention at the student’s next lunch period. They will serve their detention during the last 15-minutes of lunch at a designated location. If the student does not report for detention and does not have an excused reason, they will be assigned 3 days of 30-minute detentions at a designated location.
DRJHS has one of the most diverse student populations in our district. We intend to have students involved with campus committees to give students a voice as leaders, and as agents of change. We know that profanity and disrespect shown by students will continue to become less when students learn about each other and have empathy for others.
We know student drop off and pick up can be crazy and unpredictable the first few days. We ask that all students who walk to school or get dropped off down the street from our school stay on the NORTH side of Madero. We have a staff member who assists students with crossing the street safely. We will spend time trying to train all cars, bikes, and walking students how to follow procedures that will increase the efficiency of drop off and pick up without compromising safety.
Lastly, on July 9th at 7 AM, the Parent Portal of Infinite Campus will allow families to complete their “Annual Update.” This is so important because it allows our district and your child’s school to communicate information and emergencies with you in the most efficient manner possible.
Thank you for taking the time to read this message. You will begin to get updates and information about upcoming events regularly from here on out.
Sincerely,
Mr. Mike Davis
1st semester Life Skills (cooking):
- pen/pencil
- A sharpie
- colored pencils
- notebook
- Hair ties (students with long hair will need a hair tie during cooking labs)
- Life Skills wishlist - Requested donations
2nd semester Life Skills (sewing):
- Fabric for sewing projects
- felt
- seam ripper
- straight pins
- pencil box for sewing materials
- embroidery needles
- embroidery thread
- Life Skills wishlist - Requested donations
Annual Update
The ‘Annual Update’ allows you to tell us of any updates to your contact information, address changes, and updates to emergency contacts.
In order to ensure we can communicate with you regarding your student, or in case of emergency, it is essential that we have your up to date contact details. Below are instructions on how to complete the ‘Annual Update’ online using the Infinite Campus Parent Portal.
Step 1 - Login to Infinite Campus Parent Portal
Step 2 - Click on Update My Information on the left side of your screen. You may need to scroll down.