Happy Sunday Dolphins! This is Kristen Faircloth, proud Principal at Durant Road Middle School, with your March 28, 2021 Family Message.
We hope everyone stayed safe during the storms this weekend. I know we are all looking forward to sunny spring days and enjoying being outside. It is hard to believe we only have two more days of the 3rd Quarter. All DRMS students will engage in Remote Learning on Monday, March 29, 2021 and Tuesday, March 30, 2021. Please continue to encourage your child to complete and submit all work by the end of the day on Tuesday and finish the quarter strong. We wish your family a wonderful track out starting Wednesday, March 31, 2021 through April 13, 2021. DRMS Dolphins will return to learning on Wednesday, April 14, 2021.
Please take a moment to read the Family Message below as there is a lot of great information. Let us know if you have any immediate questions or concerns that need addressed. You can communicate with your grade level Assistant Principal or Counselor or call the Durant Road Middle School front office at 919.870.4098
Transition to Plan A: Monday, March 22, 2021, the Wake County Board of Education approved a plan that will allow students in grade 6-12 the choice of returning to Plan A instruction in April. In accordance with Senate Bill 220, all families who want to change their student's plan must communicate this decision by April 1, 2021. Plan A instruction will begin on Wednesday, April 14, 2021 for Durant Road Middle School.
Families with IEPs or 504 Plans received an email on Thursday, March 18, 2021 regarding whether they wish to be in Plan A or Virtual Academy. Case Managers of students with IEPs or 504 Plans are contacting families to discuss the two options. Families of students with IEPs or 504 plans must make their decision by April 1, 2021. Families with IEPs or 504 Plans, please complete
THIS SURVEY.
Families of students who do not have an IEP or 504 Plan and want to change their student's plan from Virtual Academy or Plan A should complete this
DRMS Enrollment Change Request Form or contact Kim Anderson at kanderson7@wcpss.net. All families must communicate their decision to move in or out of Virtual Academy by April 1, 2021.
Plan A is "Minimal Social Distancing," but still requires NC Department of Health and Human Services protocols:
- Social distancing protocols to the extent possible and as practicable
- Cloth face coverings
- Cleaning and hygiene protocols
- Protecting vulnerable populations
- Conducting regular screening and ongoing self-monitoring of symptoms
- Appropriate steps to address suspected, presumptive or confirmed cases of COVID-19
Parents and students should keep in mind that school will remain different in many ways than before the pandemic. We will do our best to provide the social experiences many students miss. However, the guidelines mentioned above require us to operate under restrictions not necessary before the pandemic. We hope to provide the safest possible learning environment for our Dolphins.
Bus Riders Requesting Transportation While Opting out of Virtual Academy: Eligible bus riders currently in Virtual Academy returning to in-person learning must apply for bus service. The student must meet all transportation eligibility requirements. Students must also submit the health attestation form. Bus assignments will not be provided until the attestation form is received. Parents should be guided to the transportation website to apply for service (
wcpss.net/busrider) and to submit the attestation form (
wcpss.net/busform).
Quarter 4 Student Materials Pickup: DRMS will be hosting a drive thru materials pickup on April 12, 2021 from 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM in the DRMS bus loop. Students will receive their Quarter 4 schedule, curriculum materials, school pictures, and STEAM Engine Fundraiser Prizes! We look forward to seeing all families at our Materials Pickup Event on Monday, April 12, 2021. Please bring back any ELA Novels or overdue library books during this event.
DRMS Athletics / Spring Sports: All families who have signed up for spring sports should have received an email with updated participation information for 4th Quarter from Trina Mauder on Friday, March 26, 2021. If you did not receive an email or if have any questions, please contact Trina at tmauder@wcpss.net.
Lunch & Learn Input: The Student Support Services wants your input as we continue to plan for our monthly Lunch & Learn sessions for parents & caregivers! Please take a moment to fill out this brief
survey.
Lunch & Learn: Our
DRMS Student Services Team is hosting monthly virtual meetings (Lunch & Learn) for parents and caregivers. Our team will discuss topics related to supporting social & emotional wellness during remote learning and will also be open to provide support in areas you may need. Our next session is on Tuesday, April 20th at 12:00 PM. The topic is “Recognizing Signs of Stress & Ways to Cope.” The format will be a Google Meet. Please sign up using the following link:
Lunch & Learn Parent/Caregiver Sign Up Form. A link for the google meet will be emailed to families who register. We hope you find this community engagement session informative!
Arts Access Workshop: Would any of your students be interested in attending an artmaking workshop? If so, have them join us virtually on April 8th as, local textile artist, Jennifer Markowitz, shares about the COVID-inspired art she’s made over the past year and shows students how to use art as an outlet as she has learned to do. Students will be sent basic supplies for this workshop. The registration information is below!
Title: Pandemic Artifacts and Artmaking
Date: April 8th
Time: 4 - 5 pm
Description: Are you interested in attending an art workshop? Join textile artist Jennifer Markowitz for a conversation about the COVID-inspired art she’s made over the last year - masks, maps, even hand-stitched stimulus checks. We’ll also share about the impact of the pandemic and how our environments and experiences shape art. Have at least one “artifact” (object) with you that makes you think of living through the pandemic. Basic art supplies will be provided. Registration slots are limited! Sign up TODAY! No previous art experience needed. This event is FREE & VIRTUAL.
DRMS PTA Message: Congratulations to Healthful Living Teacher and Coach Mr. Mauder on this week's Staff Shout Out! The DRMS staff has done a truly amazing job this year, especially among all the changes and uncertainties. You can view all our Shout Outs, or submit one of your own, by clicking
here.
The PTA is seeking board and committee members for the 2021-22 school year. If you are interested in being part of the PTA, please click here to indicate your areas of interest. Officers for next year will be elected at our April 21 meeting. Thank you as always for supporting DRMS!
Thank you for supporting DRMS,
Kristen Faircloth
Principal