Middle School Newsletter

Although February was a short month, our winter months have seemed to go by very quickly! Students and staff at the Dassel-Cokato Middle School were very busy!

* Students continue to strive for academic excellence in preparation for their MCA's in April and May.

*DCMS students celebrated Minne-SNOW-ta week with dress up days!

*Sixth grade students had a great time on their environmental field trip at Baker Park!

*Seventh graders have been busy working on their grandparent essays!

*Fifth graders have started the DARE program!

*Students and staff celebrated good behavior and academics with a successful Activity Day.

April will continue to be a busy month. Thanks for continuing to support your child/children by checking in on their grades and assignments in CAMPUS. If you need assistance with that, please don’t hesitate to contact the middle school office. We look forward to seeing you at conferences on April 28th!

Once again, the DCMS staff and I feel privileged to be a part of this school family! A strong relationship between home and school can improve a child’s level of success! Thank you for your commitment to your child’s education. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.

Alisa Johnson

Middle School Principal

alisa.johnson@dc.k12.mn.us

320-286-4100 ext. 1604

March 2026

March 6: NO SCHOOL

March 13: No Elementary School

March 23-27: Spring Break- NO SCHOOL

April 2026

April 2: End of 3rd quarter

April 3: NO SCHOOL

April 6: First day of 4th quarter

To view the complete 2025-2026 school year calendar Click Below

At DCMS, students take two important assessments, Fastbridge and Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments; which are used to determine their math and reading proficiency levels. Locally, we use the results of both tests to diagnose students’ individual learning needs in order to provide appropriate targeted instruction. The Minnesota Department of Education uses the results of the MCA’s to assess our school’s instructional performance as compared to other schools in the state. If you are interested in seeing how we compare to state schools, you can check our school report card here: Report Card

We appreciate when you emphasize to your children the importance of investing their best efforts when taking these tests. The results also help us create lessons that meet the needs of our students that are matched with the Minnesota State Standards. If you would like more information about either of these two assessments, please do not hesitate to contact Carol Riemenschneider or Alisa Johnson.

The middle and high school complex parking lot is a very busy place from 7:45 – 8:00 AM and from 3:00 – 3:15 PM and we need your help! Please drop your child/children off at the curb rather than in the bypass lane as you wait at the crosswalk. If you need to enter the school, please locate in a parking spot rather than at the curbside. There are many students that ride with their older brothers and sisters that walk through that area too. Please keep an extra eye out for these students as well. We realize there are many cars in a small area but with a little extra time and patience everyone can be safe!

Also, please note that we have an Authorized Vehicle Only lane located in front of the Middle School Office door that extends past the Middle School Commons door. This area is designated for students that require extra help unloading and loading safely from vans, buses or special transportation. Please refrain from parking in this area, dropping off or picking up students, even for just a little bit.

Reminder that the speed limit through the parking lot is 10 MPH.

Your child's education is important to all of us at DCMS. The best way to provide your child education is for them to be in school. Attendance Matters! However, if your child is not feeling well, has an appointment or other reasons that they will not be in school, please notify us at DCMS one of the following ways:

1. Submit a absent request on the Parent Portal (Click"Enter Attendance in Campus/Parent Portal" above to learn how)
2. Call the DCMS office: 320-286-1600
3. Email the MS attendance at: ms-attendance@dc.k12.mn.us
4. Send a note with your child to turn in at the front office.

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The DC Middle School Office must be notified of any changes to your student’s schedule before 2:00pm. This refers to changes in riding the bus, walking home, being picked up, appointments, etc. Office staff needs adequate time to notify the teacher and student before the end of the day.

REMINDER: Due to the fact that most of our busses are filled to capacity, and due to safety reasons, we are unable to allow bus passes for students to go on buses other than the ones they are assigned.

Also, Please do NOT email your child’s teacher with schedule changes Please contact the office at:

320-286-4100 ext.1600

We have some very nice clothing which has been misplaced around the school. Our Lost and Found table which is located by the MS Commons is piling up! While we have mentioned to the students to check for lost items, they keep stacking up. Smaller items or items of value are kept in the MS Office. Please have your child check with the front office if they are missing phones, air pods, glasses, necklaces, rings, wallets etc.

Most Middle School students participated in Activity Day on February 6th 2026. Many students went off campus and enjoyed various activities with their friends. Many tried new experiences for the first time while others re-visited activities they have done before. Many students also stayed on campus and were able to take part in new/ different activities. Many took the opportunity to design or create their own masterpieces in the FACS room, tech room or the art room. The ice rink, swimming pool, and gym were also busy with active students. Overall, those students whose behaviors and grades allowed them to participate in this year's Activity Day, reported having a "Great time!"

1. Respectful of others and self,

2. Takes care of school and self,

3. Listens and follows directions,

4. Puts forth best effort,

5. Cooperative and helpful to classmates,

6. Punctual,

7. Participates regularly in class,

8. Daily assignments are complete

January 2026 Students of the Month

Back row 8th grade: Sienna Josephson, Nathan Carlson, Nolan Meisch, Lydia Oslund

Next row down 7th grade: Logan Nikula, Easton Grangroth, Caitlyn Limanen, Sophie Haataja

Next row down 6th grade: Ellie Benning, Clara Marx, Colton Hendrickson, Eli Kizer

Front row 5th grade: Josiah Dostal, Harry Salmen, Piper Kotila, Piper Koivisto

The STARS Program is a targeted service program designed to support students who are experiencing academic, social or emotional difficulties which interfere with their ability to be successful in the school setting.

When: Tuesday from 3:05-5:00pm.

Permission slips are in the office.

For additional information, please contact Miss Beth at ext. 1606.

We integrate technology skills into the district's PreK-12 curriculum and instruction so that students are able to use a computer by the time they are out of elementary school and are technologically literate by the time they leave the middle school. At the high school, we expand on this learning and ensure that students are able to apply appropriate technology as needed to meet educational, career, and personal goals upon graduation.

We equip and train all staff with the technological tools and skills required to improve and enhance the quality of their work. We are fully Google integrated and have wireless access in every room. We continue to add devices and opportunities every year and now support over 3000 devices district-wide.

Using Infinite Campus, advisory committees, as well as our website and social media presence, we provide the district communities with a vehicle for communication and parental involvement. Internally we have teams of teachers, administrators, and IT staff that get together and improve upon the technology offering and expand on our use of emerging technology. On top of this, we have a technology steering committee that oversees the vision and direction of technology district-wide.

Every classroom is equipped with either a PC computer and an interactive display or a Chromebook that includes a PC computer. Every child has access to a computer via classroom sets, shared carts and at the MS and HS, full one-to-one (one computer to each child). Students are introduced to digital media and programming at an early age and we expand on that learning every year up to graduation.

• All students grades K-12 have computers available for use in the classroom.
• Grade 5 students have their own computer assigned to them and keep their device here at school.
• Grades 6-8 each have their own computer assigned and are offered the opportunity to take them home.

The Dassel-Cokato Middle School program is designed to meet the special needs of middle level students. The program strives to be transitional in nature, providing students with a “bridge” between the self-contained classroom of elementary school and the departmentalized curriculum of high school

Email: communications@dc.k12.mn.us
Location: 4852 Reardon Ave SW, Cokato, MN 55321, USA
Phone: (320) 286-4100