Hello, this is Kristen Faircloth, principal at Durant Road Middle School with your November 17, 2019 weekly message.

 

Student Leaders:  Congratulations to all of our Dolphins who tried out and made the DRMS girls and boys basketball teams this past week!  We also want to congratulate the 10 Dolphins who had the honor of playing in the Wake County Honors Band for 2019 this past week!  These students attended a clinic after school on Thursday as well as during the day on Friday.  The Wake County Honors Band was directed by one of our very own, Mr. Jeff Kleiber, assistant principal.

 

IA & TOY:  The DRMS non-certified and certified staff had the opportunity to nominate and vote on our Instructional Assistant of the Year and Teacher of the Year.  With so many outstanding educators at DRMS, this is not an easy task.  DRMS congratulates Mr. Randy Ferguson as the Instructional Assistant of the Year and Ms. Sunny Collins as the Teacher of the Year!  We are so proud of you both!

 

Transportation Change:  To improve service, the transportation department are relocating the following stops to run 13, bus #1559.  Effective Monday, November 18, 2019, the following changes will be in place for the morning and afternoon:

Filbin Creek Drive & Keowee Way - 7:41

Haines Creek Lane & Cahaba Way - 7:43

Big Sandy Drive & Duck Creek Drive - 7:44

Neuse Wood Drive & San Marco - PM only

Neuse Wood Drive & Tierra Del Sol Way - 7:48

Please remember there is a ten minute window of time before and after the time listed the school bus may arrive due to unforeseen circumstances.  

 

Student Led Conferences:  DRMS will be hosting Student Led Conferences on Thursday, November 21, 2019 from 3:30 PM - 6:30 PM.  Student Led Conferences allow students and parents/guardians to reflect upon and discuss individual student's progress and make a plan on how to continue their success or improve in some areas where they may need additional support.  Teachers will be available to answer any questions students and/or parents/guardians have as it pertains to the learner's class grades.  If you would like for your student to remain on campus until your conference time, please be sure to indicate this when you are signing up.  Students who remain on campus will be supervised in study hall until their parents/guardians arrive for their designated conference time.  Families may purchase dinner at the food trucks that will be on campus from 4:00 PM - 6:30 PM.  

  If you plan on attending Student Led Conferences please, sign up by clicking on this link. 

 

BAC Meeting:  All are invited to attend the WCPSS District 3 Board Advisory Council (BAC) on Monday, November 18, 2019 starting at 6:00 PM at Pleasant Union Elementary School (1900 Pleasant Union Church Road).  Our School Board Member, Roxie Cash, will provide updates from the Board of Education.  There will also be a presentation on the draft 2 of the new student assignment plan with speakers Glenn Carrozza, Director of Student Assignment and Wade Martin, Assistant Superintendent of School Choice, Planning and Assignment.  

 

PTA Board Meeting:  You are invited to the PTA Board Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, November 19, 2019 in the Learning Commons at 6:30 PM.

 

Moe's Spirit Night:  Spirit Night at Moe's is next week!  Please join us between 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM Wednesday, November 20, 2019 at Moe's in Falls Pointe shopping center (corner of Durant and Falls of Nuese).  A portion of all sales to DRMS families will come back to our school.  Take a night off from cooking and enjoy dinner out with family and friends while supporting Durant Road Middle!

 

Box Tops:  The homeroom that wins the PTA Box Tops contest will receive a donut party for the entire class!  Box Tops are transitioning to digital versions so please clip and send in your remaining traditional box tops by November 22, 2019.

 

PTA Coat Drive:  The PTA Winter Wonderland Coat Drive runs until Thanksgiving break.  The DRMS PTA is accepting new or gently used coats scarves, gloves and other winter items to help local children and families stay warm this winter.  A donation bin is located near the front office.  Thank you for helping make this a school wide success.  

 

Power Play Program:  The Carolina Hurricanes have teamed up with Wake County for their Power Play program.  This program encourages Middle School students to lead a physically active lifestyle outside of school.  The Carolina Hurricanes are challenging students to log their physical activity hours, with a goal of reaching 60 minutes a day.  Students will log in their active minutes in the Power Play app in their Wake ID portal.  The Power Play program runs until November 22, 2019.  The Carolina Hurricanes will reward any student who achieves a minimum  of 1200 logged active minutes with 2 free Hurricanes tickets!  The Carolina Hurricanes will also reward the school with the highest percentage of students reaching the 1200 active minutes with a Carolina Hurricanes Field Day at their school in the spring!  Let's get up and get moving Dolphins!  

 

After School Activities:  We are so excited about the great things happening at Durant Road Middle School this year!  As we continue to reflect and grow on ways to make all experiences at Durant Road Middle School safe, efficient and enjoyable, the guidelines regarding after-school/evening activities and student attendance are being adjusted.  Please note, these new guidelines will go into effect on Monday, November 18, 2019. After this date, students must be eligible in order to attend any after-school/evening activities. For the purpose of these new guidelines, these activities may include (but not limited to):  dances, athletic events and musical performances.  

 

Any student who receives an In School Suspension (ISS) or Out of School Suspension (OSS) placement will become ineligible to attend after-school/evening activities from the date of the placement through the start of the next quarter.  At the beginning of each quarter, students are eligible to attend these activities again, as long as they do not receive an ISS or OSS placement during that time. With the start of each quarter, students may earn a “clean slate” to be eligible with attending after-school/evening activities.

 

These eligibility guidelines refer directly to spectators.  Performers and athletes are under the supervision and guidelines of their coaches/sponsors for these events.

 

Thank you for supporting DRMS,

Kristen Faircloth

Principal