Return to Headlines

DRMS' Principal Message

Happy Sunday Dolphins!  This is Kristen Faircloth, proud Principal at Durant Road Middle School, with your April 25, 2021 Family Message.

 

April showers bring May flowers!  It is hard to believe we are approaching the month of May.  Let's hope the pollen is behind us and we can slowly move into the summer heat.  Please find some important information below for the upcoming week and beyond.  Let us know if you have any questions or concerns as we are here to serve you.  You can communicate with your grade level Assistant Principal, grade level Counselor, or call the Durant Road Middle School front office at 919.870.4098.

 

EOG/EOC Testing Updates:  As we approach the end of a most unusual school year, we would like to share information on the expectations for students to participate in the end-of-year state testing.  Unlike the Spring 2020, the Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) is expecting all students to take the following tests as is required by federal and state laws:

  • End-of-grade tests in Reading (grades 3-8), Mathematics (grades 3-8), and Science (grades 5 and 8)
  • End-of-course tests in NC Math 1, NC Math 3, English II, and Biology

Unfortunately, NCDPI does not have a process to allow students to take these tests at home.  Students can only take these tests at school.  To support safe settings and to give students access to the tests, NCDPI has allowed schools to extend the testing window beyond the typical two weeks stated in law, if need be, so that fewer students are in the building at the same time to take those test.  We are using the flexibility provided by NCDPI, as needed, along with appropriate health and safety protocols, to ensure that state testing can occur safely. 

We understand families who have chosen the Virtual Academy may have concerns about students coming to school just to take a test.  However, we also must ensure that every student has the opportunity to take the appropriate state test for the grade or courses in which they are enrolled.  Families participating in the Virtual Academy will be able to send their children to the school building on the day(s) set aside for testing.  Families participating in the Virtual Academy received a survey to complete regarding the end-of-grade testing.  More information about how the process will work will be coming soon.  We encourage Virtual Academy families to send their children to school for testing if they are comfortable doing so.

As we have all experienced in the past several months, by working together we can make the best decisions for each student.  If you have any questions, concerns or need additional information, please don't hesitate to let us know.  

 

Virtual Academy for the 2021-22 School Year:  Virtual Academy Registration Window Opens at 12:01 A.M.. April 22

The registration window for the WCPSS Virtual Academy opened Thursday, April 22 at 12:01 AM and will close Sunday, May 2 at 5 PM.

Information regarding the Virtual Academy, along with a link to the registration form and pre-K virtual option and registration information, can be found at the link above.

The site also includes information regarding the level of commitment, student and family responsibilities, course offerings and FAQs.

Anyone wishing to register outside this window will not be guaranteed a seat in the Virtual Academy, due to staffing and scheduling issues.

 

Quarter 4 Materials:  Thank you to all the families who picked up Quarter 4 materials.  Virtual Academy students who still need to pick up their Quarter 4 materials may do so between 8:30 AM and 2:30 PM at the front office.  

 

DRMS Spring Sports: SPRING sport families, this week's skill sessions will take place on April 26, 27, 28 and 29, right after school until 4:30 PM, and are for the DOLPHINS group. Only students assigned to the DOLPHINS group by Mrs. Mauder will be allowed to attend. Virtual academy families, health screenings are no longer required prior to entering the building, but please screen your student athlete prior to bringing them to school. All virtual academy students should be dropped off at the front of the school between 3:05 PM -3:20 PM and enter the school after the 3:05 PM bell. All families have received an email alerting them which group they are in and the dates they can attend. If you are unsure which group you are in or have any questions, please email Trina Mauder at tmauder@wcpss.net.
 
DRMS Winter Sports SIGN UP: It's time to sign up for WINTER sports skill sessions. Winter sports include boys basketball, girls basketball, and cheerleading. Winter sports skill sessions will take place May 3-21. In order to attend, all interested students must complete this interest form by Thursday, April 29, 2021. 
 
DRMS WINTER SPORTS PARENT MEETING: There will be a virtual winter sports parent meeting on Monday, April 26 at 6:00 PM to help families learn more about the necessary paperwork needed to participate, as well as learn what the skill sessions will look like, and safety measures taken. To attend the virtual meeting, please sign up here. If you have any questions about winter sports, please email Trina Mauder at tmauder@wcpss.net.
 
DRMS WINTER SPORT CONFIRMATION EMAILS: All families who have signed up for a winter sport will be receiving emails from Trina Mauder by Friday, April 30 alerting you of the days your student can attend. Families will also be alerted if the required paperwork is still not submitted. All paperwork must be turned in to Mrs. Mauder prior to your student athletic being able to participate.
 
8th graders interested in cheerleading at Millbrook High School 2021-2022: If you are interested in participating in cheerleading and are going to Millbrook High School next school year, please refer to this flyer for information about summer workouts. Summer workouts are a great way to learn new skills & routines, practice & perfect skills you already have, get to know the coaches, and get to know other Millbrook students. Please note that you are not eligible to attend June 14 or June 15 because you are still a middle school student at that time. You will be allowed to attend starting the evening of June 21. The cheerleading coaches at Millbrook have already been made aware of this from Mrs. Mauder.
 
End of Year Celebrations:  We are in the process of developing celebration plans for each of the grade levels.  We are working on a plan to celebrate all of our students.  As these plans come together, we will share them with our families.  
 
Symptom Screening:  Students should not be in school if they are diagnosed with COVID-19, exposed to someone with COVID-19, instructed to quarantine, or if they are sick or experiencing any of these symptoms:
  • 100.4 fever or higher
  • Sore throat
  • New cough
  • New shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Diarrhea or vomiting
  • New severe headache
 
Message from the PTA: Staff Appreciation Week is coming up next month and we're so excited to celebrate our amazing DRMS staff! Please click here to see how you can help make the week a success.  Thank you to those who attended our general meeting last week to approve budget adjustments and elect next year's officers. More details can be found on our website.  And congrats to Ms. Huber-Jones on this week's Staff Shout Out! You can view all our shout outs and submit new ones here.
 
Thank you for supporting DRMS,
Kristen Faircloth
Principal