Highlander Headlines

Spirit Wear is available through the PTSA throughout the year by visiting the spirit

store. A variety of shirts, outwear and pants are available. All proceeds support PTSA-sponsored activity. Spirit wear is not required but is dress code approved for students to wear every school day.

Purchases are processed through the PTSA’s spirit wear vendor (JB Edwards) and are non-refundable. You may pick up purchases at JB Edward’s Clearwater store or have them shipped to you. Please check sizes carefully as there are both youth and adult sizes on the store.

The PTSA will generally have sample sizes available at school orientation and Meet the Teacher events for students to try on.

The store may be closed in May and part of the summer while the PTSA selects products for the next school year. Updates regarding the spirit wear store will be provided via school-wide email and on the PTSA Facebook Page.

Please contact the PTSA at president@ptsadhms.org with any questions or concerns regarding spirit wear

On average:

• STEAM students have earned 295 points, while CGS students have earned 354 points.
• Girls have earned 334 points, and boys have earned 322 points.

We held our first fire drill and active threat drill of the year the week of 8/17/26.

Both drills were successfully implemented.

As a reminder, we will be conducting various drills throughout the school year, including active threat, severe weather, and fire.

Please let us know if you have questions regarding drills.

Save the Date! Our next one is September 25th

Great American Teach-In 2026 will be held on Wednesday, November 18! We are so excited

to welcome interested parents and community members to speak about their careers or

talents during this event. If you would like to be a speaker, please fill out our Speaker

Interest Form at https://tinyurl.com/GATI2026. This is a popular event and speaker spaces

will be filled on a first come, first served basis so don’t delay – sign up today! We can’t wait

to see you there. Any questions contact Terri Shaw at shawte@pcsb.org.

Thank you!!

My name is Terri Shaw, and I am the Family and Community Liaison a.k.a. Volunteer Coordinator at DHMS. We will have many ways to volunteer this school year and to make sure you get the information, I need to hear from you! Even if you are already Level 2, if this is your first year at DHMS (or you don’t think you are on my email list) I will need to add DHMS to your volunteer profile for you to receive my emails! Please use the link below to submit your information or email me directly at shawte@pcsb.org. We look forward to welcoming you on campus this year!

If you already got one email from me this year with sign-up links, you can disregard this form!

Volunteer interest form – Fill out form

Focus:

• Check your student’s grades in Focus every week.

• Please have students check focus daily.

• Grades are always accessible at any time to view on Focus.

• Click the letter grade of the course to view details about assignments.

• Please review the link below for additional steps in assisting with Focus needs.

  • https://www.pcsb.org/newfocus

For Parents: Set Up Your SchoolCash Online Account

Please create your SchoolCash Online account by following these steps:

1. Visit https://www.pcsb.org/departments/finance/online-payment
2. Scroll toward the bottom of the SchoolCash Online information page and click the User Register button.
3. Follow the prompts to create your Parent SchoolCash Online account.
4. Be sure to add all your Pinellas County students to your account, even if they attend different schools within the district.

Why register?
SchoolCash Online allows parents and guardians to conveniently pay for school activities, fees, and other student-related expenses throughout the school year.

Monday, September 14th

• Future Cities / 8:30
• Rock Band / 8:15
• PM 1 Testing Small Groups / Media Center and Small Group Locations
• Debate Club / 4:15 -5:15
• Volleyball practice / 4:20-5:20
• Cross Country Meet @ Safety Harbor /5:00 (students dismissed at 3:30) - Make Up Meet from rain out

Tuesday, September 15th

• Odyssey of the Mind Meeting / 8:00
• Jazz Band before school / 8:15
• CGS Math PM 1 Testing

• Volleyball Practice / 4:20-5:20

Wednesday, September 16th

• Rock Band before school /8:15
• PM1 Testing Make Ups / Media Center and Small Group Locations
• Advanced Pipe Band rehearsal after school / 4:10-5:30
• Volleyball Game #1 @ Palm Harbor / Boys 4:45 & Girls 6:00
• Cross Country practice / 4:15-5:15
• Wizard of Oz Practice after school / 4:15-6:00

Thursday, September 17th

• TTRPG Club Media Center / 8:00-9:20

• Jazz Band / 8:15-9:15

• PM1 Testing Make Ups / Media Center and Small Group Locations

• PBIS POPCORN for Sale with PBIS Points

• Volleyball Practice / 4:20-5:20
• OPEN HOUSE 5:30-7:25

• Dr. Saccasyn Out Today
• PM 1 Testing Make Ups and Small Group Locations
• RECESS Today during lunches with Ms. Boyd (PBIS points)
• Band Practice / 4:10-5:00
• Cross Country Practice / 4:15 - 5:15

September

• 9/17 - Open House
• 9/25 - Fall Pictures

October

• 10/9 - End of Quarter 1
• 10/12 - No School for Students (Teacher Planning Day)
• 10/29 - Fall Concert

November

• 11/6 - Picture Re-Take Day
• 11/11 - No School for Students / Teacher Planning Day / Veterans Day / Grade Level Meetings
• 11/12 - DAP Discovery Night (CGS)
• 11/23 - 11/27 - Thanksgiving Break

December

• 12/1 - 12/18 - PM 2 Window (stay tuned for exact dates for DHMS)
• 12/5 - 10:00 - 2:00 Experience Pinellas Event
• 12/18 - End of Q 2
• 12/21 - 1/3 - Winter Holiday

January

• 1/4 - No School for Students / Teacher Planning
• 1/5 - Second Semester Begins
• 1/14 - Pipe Band Opening at National Conference
• 1/18 - No School / Dr. Martin Luther Kings Day

February

• 2 /15 - No School for Students / Teacher Planning

March

• 3/12 - End of Q 3
• 3/14 - Daylight Savings Begins
• 3/15 - 3/19 - Spring Break
• 3/26 - No School for Students / Trade Day

April

• 4/16 - 4/18 - Band and Dance Trip to Atlanta / Heritage Festival Competition
• 4/23 - No School for Students

May

• 5/27 - Last Day for Students / 2 Hour Early Release / End of Q 4
• 5/28 - Last Day for Teachers

Thank you, parents!

• The Pinellas County Schools utilizes the See Something Say Something system from Sandy Hook Promise as a tool to help keep our campuses and students safe.

• Students and families can submit tips anonymously about concerns so the school can intervene in a proactive way.

• Tips regarding school safety, student welfare etc. can be submitted and a school official or law enforcement will investigate it immediately to get someone the help and assistance they may need.

  • To report a tip to See Something Say Something, visit https://www.sandyhookpromise.org/say-something-tips/

  • FortifyFL is another reporting system available to report suspicious activity and allow Florida Students and the community to report safety concerns.

    • To access Fortify Florida visit https://www.getfortifyfl.com