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.
- 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