Dragon Newsflash

August 1, 2020

A Message from Principal Taylor

Druid Hills Middle School will begin the 2020-2021 school year on August 17 ^th through Virtual E-Learning. Our teachers and staff are eager to welcome you back for an exceptional year of learning. In order to improve our processes and practices, our teachers have been engaged in professional development over the summer. Additionally, teachers will engage in a 3-day Professional Development Institute next week and will continue that learning the following week during preplanning. We are committed to providing teachers with the tools and skills needed to deliver quality instruction that meets the needs of all of our students during virtual learning.

TECHNOLOGY UPDATE

DeKalb County School District will conduct a Device Wellness Check starting the week of August 3^rd, with students in grades 7^th and 8^th who have a district-issued device. Students will report the health of their device – it is either ready for learning or in need of repair. The goal is to connect with each student and device. Please be on the lookout for more information from DCSD Divison of Technology.

The distribution of Chromebook devices to students begins on August 12th. The specific days and procedures for Druid Hills Middle School will be shared as more information is received.

All parents and students must sign the Device Use Agreement form. This form should be signed digitally, and directions will be provided. However, paper copies will be available. In addition, translated copies will be available as well. Since the district did not collect the devices, all agreements from 2019 - 2020 school year are still valid. The electronic agreement form will be sent with the device distribution details.

Students/Parents may opt out of using a district Chromebook device.

For technology support, students may visit both the DeKalb County School District Webpage as well as Druid Hills Middle School’s Dragon Tech Toolkit which will be located on our website.

LEARNING SCHEDULE

"G6" = Grade 6, "G7" = Grade 7, "G8" = Grade 8

Teachers will deliver synchronous (Live) instruction during the designated time periods. Students are expected to actively participate in class by logging in to the virtual platform to engage in discussions and group assignments.

Teachers will also use asynchronous (Recorded) instruction at times. With this format teachers will post videos and other supplemental assignments.

Attendance for the day will be taken by the teacher and recorded in Infinite Campus.

Wednesday is not an off day for students. Teachers may provide asynchronous instruction and post assignments/assessments on this day.

Students will be able to view their class schedule in Infinite Campus on August 11 ^th .

6TH GRADE ORIENTATION

Calling All 6 ^th Graders --- Are You Fired Up for Virtual Learning!

We will be launching an information hub on August 10 ^th via Flip Grid with videos answering all of your biggest questions as you start your middle school years. After watching the Flip Grid informational videos and you still have questions, please join us for a live question & answer session on Tuesday, August 11 ^th at 5:30 pm . Links for both the videos and Q & A session will be sent on August 10 ^th .

OPEN HOUSE

We know students are excited to meet their teachers. And, parents we are sure you want to learn how to join and get involved with PTSA. We will host live virtual meet & greet sessions on Wednesday, August 12th with teachers and the PTSA Board. The following is the time schedule for the virtual Open House. Meeting login codes will be shared in a separate email.

STAY INFORMED

PARENT PORTAL – Infinite Campus

View your student’s schedule and stay up to date on grades, attendance, and assignments. Sign up for Parent Portal using this link https://www.dekalbschoolsga.org/infinite-campus/

DRAGON NEWS

Sign up to receive our weekly newsletter sponsored by PTSA that highlights all that’s happening at DHMS. http://www.druidhillsms.dekalb.k12.ga.us/parents.aspx

Druid Hills Middle School Website

Visit our school’s website to access our Dragon Tech Toolkit, find out what’s happening, read updates, and much more. http://www.druidhillsms.dekalb.k12.ga.us/

DHMS PTSA Website

Find out how to support the school both financially and by volunteering. Visit the PTSA website https://www.druidhillsmiddle.com/

CULTURAL RESPONSIVENESS

At Druid Hills Middle School, we celebrate our diversity, embrace our differences, and treat everyone with respect and kindness. Each one of our students regardless of their race, ethnicity, religion, social-economic status, gender/sexual identity or academic ability has the right to feel valued as a person when they enter our school.

With Dragon Pride

Parent Facebook Groups

Connect with other DHMS parents in these grade-level Facebook groups:

And, of course, make sure to LIKE our DHMS Facebook PTSA page

Easy Money for DHMS!

Publix has donated over $16,000 to DHMS through this program to date, so registering really helps! Go to Publix Partners HERE (create an account if you don't have one yet) and search for "Druid Hills Middle." Just give your phone number every time you check out at Publix!

Go to Kroger Community Rewards HERE and link your card by searching "Druid Hills Middle" and click Enroll. DHMS will now get a donation every time you shop at Kroger using your card or phone number!

When you shop through the AmazonSmile portal, Amazon donates a portion of your purchase total to DHMS. Go HERE and select "Druid Hills Middle School" from the drop-down menu under the search bar at the top of the page. Make sure to go to smile.amazon.com whenever you shop there.

Box Tops have gone virtual! Simply download the Box Tops App HERE and set DHMS as your school. Snap a pic of your receipt each time you shop and the app takes care of the rest. No more clipping!

USEFUL LINKS -- Stay Connected to DHMS!

Online cafeteria payments.

Check your balance, top off your account, check purchases.

Online portal for student information: assignments, attendance, grades, schedule.

Communication system for messages from the county, our school, and your classroom teachers.

LIKE the "Druid Hills Middle School PTSA" page on Facebook!

Add the DHMS PTSA Gcal to yours by clicking "+" on lower right of page.

DHMS School Bus Routes

Druid Hills Athletic Association. Support & funding for DHHS & DHMS.

Druid Hills High School. Wonder what our graduates are up to? Check it out!

We are the 3rd largest school district in GA! There are a lot of great things going on all over! Stay informed!

Druid Hills Middle School Website

The Dragon News is published weekly during the school year, usually on Tuesdays. To share school-related news or announcements, please EMAIL US. Any items sent by close of business Tuesday will be included in the following week's issue of the newsletter, unless you specify a different future publication date. The DHMS PTSA reserves the right to decide whether submissions are appropriate for inclusion in the school newsletter. We also reserve the right to edit all submissions for clarity and brevity.

Druid Hills Middle School

MAIN: 678-874-7602

ATTENDANCE: 678-874-7620

COUNSELING: 678-874-7632

dhmsnews@gmail.com