The Panther Pride Newsletter
Hello Team P.S. duPont,
I hope everyone had a good weekend and was able to spend some time with family and friends.
Please see below for a few updates and reminders:
Fall Parent Conferences
- Thursday, October 22, 2026
- Friday, October 23, 2026
Please note that there is no school for students on October 22 and 23. We also want to remind parents that at the secondary level, we do not schedule conferences for every child.
The following timeline will be used for scheduling conferences: October 15 – October 21. Teachers will email a sign-up sheet for parents who wish to schedule a conference. Please look for this information beginning on Thursday, October 15. If you do not have internet access, please contact your child’s teacher to schedule a parent conference.
Panorama Survey 2026
As we enter another year of participating in the Panorama Survey, we continue to prioritize developing social-emotional learning skills as an important goal for our school district. We will ask students in Grades 6–12 to complete an online survey at school reflecting on their mindsets, learning approaches, and school experiences. The survey should take approximately 20–30 minutes.
The survey has two parts and asks students to reflect on the following areas:
- Part 1: Sense of Belonging, Expectations, and Classroom Learning Strategies
- Part 2: Mental Health, Diversity and Inclusion, and Cultural Awareness and Action
We are asking all students to participate. Their responses will provide valuable insight into their experiences and help us identify ways to improve as a district. Panorama safeguards student privacy and keeps individual responses confidential.
PS will follow the schedule below for administering the Panorama Survey this school year:
- 6th Grade: Tuesday, October 13 (Opt-out deadline October 5)
- 7th Grade: Wednesday, October 28 (Opt-out deadline October 19)
- 8th Grade: Thursday, November 12 (Opt-out deadline November 2)
If you do not want your child to participate, or if you have additional questions, please contact Mrs. Adrienne Stansbury at adrienne.stansbury@bsd.k12.de.us by the deadline and include your child’s name and grade level. Students who are absent during their scheduled survey window may participate during the makeup period. Families can preview the survey questions on our website: www.brandywineschools.org/panorama.
Student Tracking and Recording Devices
The Brandywine School District has adopted a new Student Tracking and Recording Devices Procedure to ensure the privacy and safety of all students and staff (Letter attached).
Picture Day – October 21
Don’t forget to “dress to impress” for picture day on Wednesday, October 21.
This Week at a Glance
Monday, 10/12 – 2 Day (Periods 2-7)
Tuesday, 10/13 – 1 Day (Periods 1-6) - Sixth Grade Panorama Survey (Period 2)
Wednesday, 10/14 – 7 Day (Periods 7-5)
Thursday, 10/15 – 6 Day (Periods 6-4)
Friday, 10/2 – 5 Day (Periods 5-3)
P.S. duPont Middle School is bringing school spirit, teamwork, and friendly competition together through a new Gaga Ball House Tournament. Mr. Johnson, 6th grade Health/PE teacher, and Mr. Elder, 7th grade Health/PE teacher, have organized the tournament around the school’s four Houses, giving students the opportunity to compete, earn points, and contribute to their House totals. As each round is completed, points are accumulated and added to the overall House standings, creating plenty of excitement and motivation among students.
The Gaga Ball Tournament is one of the many ways P.S. duPont is beginning to build and strengthen its new House System. The goal of the House System is to create a stronger sense of belonging, connection, teamwork, and school pride across grade levels. Activities like this provide students with opportunities to represent their House, support one another, and take part in positive schoolwide experiences. We are excited to continue growing the House System throughout the year and look forward to seeing the friendly competition continue!
P.S. duPont Middle School is excited to partner with Communities in Schools of Delaware, a program focused on surrounding students with a strong community of support so they can stay engaged in school and achieve success. Through a three-tiered support model, Communities in Schools helps strengthen school climate, provide small-group support, and offer individualized assistance when students need additional help. Supports may include academic assistance, help with basic needs, life-skills development, family engagement, relationship-building, and connections to community resources. The goal is simple: make sure students feel seen, supported, connected, and equipped to succeed both inside and outside the classroom.
Leading this work at P.S. duPont is Marquest A. Clark, Site Coordinator. Mr. Clark brings 23 years of professional experience with Walmart, including 22 years in leadership and management roles, and he is excited to bring that experience to our school community. A husband, father, and grandfather, Mr. Clark values family, faith, and community and is passionate about making a positive impact in the lives of students, families, and staff. He enjoys reading, listening to music, playing football, spades, and dominoes, and he looks forward to building strong relationships throughout P.S. duPont. As Mr. Clark shared, “I’m excited to be part of the P.S. duPont Middle School community and to make a positive impact in the lives of students, families, and staff!”
October is National Bullying Prevention Month, a time to remind our students that every person deserves to feel safe, respected, accepted, and included. More than 1 in 5 students report being bullied, reinforcing the importance of working together as a school community to prevent bullying and promote kindness. National Bullying Prevention Month. At P.S. duPont Middle School, bullying, harassment, intimidation, and intentionally making others feel uncomfortable or unwelcome are not acceptable. We encourage parents and guardians to speak with their children about how their words and actions affect others, the importance of reporting concerns to a trusted adult, and the positive ways disagreements can be resolved through communication, respect, empathy, and self-control. Learning how to solve problems appropriately and build healthy relationships with classmates, teachers, family members, and others in the community are skills that will benefit our students well beyond the classroom. Together, we can continue building a school community where kindness, acceptance, inclusion, and respect are expectations we all share.
Tryouts for Boys Soccer, Girls Volleyball, and Girls Field Hockey will take place immediately after school until 4:30 p.m. on Monday, September 14, and Wednesday, September 16.
Important: All DIAA forms must be submitted to the school nurse before students are permitted to participate in tryouts.
Please visit the P.S. duPont Sports Page for complete sports schedules. Be sure to check the site regularly, as schedules are subject to change.
GoGuardian Parent is a companion app designed to help parents and guardians stay informed about their child's online activity on school-issued devices. It provides insights into the websites their child visits, the apps they use, and the amount of time spent online during school hours. The app also allows parents to schedule internet access and block specific websites on managed devices outside of school hours, promoting healthy digital habits and responsible technology use. With GoGuardian Parent, families can work alongside schools to ensure a safe and focused online learning environment for students. See that attachment listed below to install the APP onto your phone, iPad, or laptop.
Our updated P.S. duPont Spirit Wear Store is now open! Students, families, staff, and supporters can choose from a variety of items, including T-shirts, hoodies, hats, and more. There are options for both kids and adults, making it easy for everyone to show their Panther Pride throughout the school year.
The store also includes gear representing our Houses, athletic teams, music programs, and general P.S. duPont spirit wear, and many items can even be customized with your name.
To receive FREE SHIPPING, orders must be placed by October 2 at 5:00 p.m. At checkout, be sure to select FREE PICKUP as the shipping option and enter your child’s First Period Teacher under “Additional Info.” Spirit Wear and Athletics Gear both qualify for free shipping, but they must be placed as separate orders.
Access the store online by scanning the QR code or simply click here!
Orders are expected to be delivered to students in late October after the sale closes.
Gear up. Be proud. Represent P.S. duPont!
Health Screenings
As required, we will screen:
- All students for scoliosis
- All seventh-grade students for vision and hearing
- All students who are new to BSD for vision and hearing
If a screening result is outside the normal range, the nurses will send a letter home with your child and mail a copy to your home address.
Sports Physicals (DIAA Forms)
Students must have a completed DIAA form on file with the nurse each school year before participating in sports tryouts. Paper copies are available in the nurse’s office, or you can download the 2026–2027 DIAA form here.
Emergency Cards
If you have not returned your student’s emergency card, please send it in as soon as possible. Students cannot receive medication from the nurse without an emergency card on file.
Medications
The only medications students may carry with them are prescribed epinephrine and albuterol. If your student needs either medication, please contact us. All other medications must be brought to school by an adult in the original container.
We are always here to support your student. Please reach out with any questions, concerns, or needs. We look forward to a healthy and happy school year!
Laura DeMare MSN, MBA, RN, NCSN
Lauren Foraker, MSN, MBA, RN, NCSN
PS duPont Middle School Nurses
Email: Laura.DeMare@bsd.k12.de.us and Lauren.Foraker@bsd.k12.de.us
Nurse Phone: (302) 762-7147
Fax: (302) 762-7196
Brandywine School District provides limited accident medical coverage for students participating in middle and high school interscholastic sports, including practices, games, and school-supervised travel. This coverage is secondary to a family’s primary health insurance and may help cover eligible out-of-pocket expenses.
Families should report any injury to school personnel within 7 days and submit insurance claims within the required timeframe. Claim forms are available through the school nurse. Click the attachment below for more information.
- Tuesday, October 13 - 6th Grade Panorama Survey - 9:05 a.m.
- Thursday, October 15 - Pizza With the Principal - 5:30 p.m. - Library
- Thursday, October 15 - PTA Meeting 6:30 p.m. - Library
- Friday, October 17 - House Meetings!