Hello, this is Kristen Faircloth, principal at Durant Road Middle School with your weekly message. 

What an exciting week we had with many student celebrations!  Our students continue to make great academic progress and growth.  Congratulations to Addie L. for winning the DRMS Geography Bee for the third straight year!  Our girls and boys basketball teams continue to work hard and persevere on the road and at home.  Congratulations to our boys basketball team for being undefeated thus far.  Our cheerleaders competed at the Wake County Cheerleading Championship on Friday night at Apex Friendship High School.  The DRMS cheerleaders won first place in their division and were Grand Champions overall!  Finally, congratulations to our selected band students who participated and were featured in the All-District Band Concert on Saturday at Memorial Hall.  What a great time to be a Dolphin!.  

We are wishing track 3 Dolphins a wonderful track out as they tracked out on Friday, January 25, 2019.  We will welcome track 4 Dolphins back on Monday, January 28, 2019.  

A track interest meeting will take place on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 for track 4 and anyone who missed the first meeting.  The track interest meeting will take place in the health classroom during Smart Block.  

There will be a boys soccer interest meeting on Thursday, January 31, 2019 during lunch in Mr. Cisowski's room A12.  This meeting is for 7th and 8th grade boys who are interested in trying out for soccer.  Students should take their lunches to the meeting.  

Mr. Mauder will be holding a softball interest meeting for track 4 and anyone who missed the first meeting on Thursday, January 31, 2019 during Smart Block in the health classroom.  This meeting is for 7th and 8th grade girls who have an interest in trying out for the team in February.  

A huge thank you to everyone who donated as both of Ms. Amy Myers' Donors Choose grants were funded!  We learned this week that the "Motivated Reluctant Readers with Graphic Novels" grant was funded.  We are so excited to receive these resources and get them in the hands of our students.  Ms. Myers is collecting data to continue to improve the Learning Commons and would love parent feedback.  Please take time to complete the survey and let your voice be heard. parent survey

It is with great pride that WCPSS celebrates school counselors during National School Counseling week February 4 - 8.  Please help us celebrate Ms. Jenna Warren, sixth grade counselor, Ms. Ada Deen, seventh grade counselor, and Ms. Meredith VanRensburg, eighth grade counselor for their dedication and work focused on promoting student success and improving outcomes for all students.  We are lucky to have all three of these incredible educators.  

The WCPSS District 3 Board Advisory Council (BAC) will be holding a meeting on February 11, 2019 at Wakefield High School starting at 6:00 PM.  Glenn Carrozza, Director of Student Assignment and Tim Simmons, Chief of Communications will give a presentation on enrollment projections for Wake County schools.  Everyone is invited to attend.  

From January 5 - February 15, WAKE Up and Read will collect new and gently-used books for children ages birth - 12.  The goal is to collect 110,000 books - enough to share at 13 schools, as well as community centers and child care facilities across Wake County.  DRMS can make a difference in our community just by donating books!  Look for the book collection bin in the DRMS Learning Commons to donate.  

Spring Pictures will be taken on Wednesday, February 6th for tracks 2 & 4 and on Thursday, March 7th for tracks 1 & 3.  All students will be photographed during their PE classes.  No payment is necessary on picture day.  Proofs will be sent home 3 to 4 weeks after the designated picture dates.  Spring sports pictures are scheduled for Tuesday, February 26th after school.  The coaches will be sending home information regarding pre-orders for sports pictures.  

Our second annual SPLASH DASH Color run is just around the corner!  Our goal is to raise $20,000 to help fund technology upgrades throughout our school.  We hope to obtain new laptops, install new monitors to replace outdated projectors and support much needed school improvements.  The dates for the SPLASH DASH Color Runs are:  April 16th for tracks 1 & 3 and April 23rd for tracks 2 & 4.  Information has been sent home with your child.  Please find out ways you can help support this fundraiser and DRMS.  

Thank you for supporting DRMS,

Kristen J Faircloth

Principal