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DRMS' Principal Message

Happy Sunday Dolphins!  This is Kristen Faircloth, proud principal at Durant Road Middle School, with your August 8, 2021 Family Message.

 

We had an AMAZING first week of school!  Our Dolphins worked hard, became acclimated to the school and their new schedules, and started to build strong relationships with their teachers and peers.  We are off to a great start to the 2021-22 school year and have no doubt this will be the best year yet.  Please take some time to read through the Family Message below and don't hesitate to reach out with any needs as we are here to support you.

 

Administration Updates:  During the Tuesday, August 3rd Board of Education meeting, Ms. Edwards, 7th grade assistant principal, was approved for a transfer to Beaverdam Elementary School.  Ms. Edwards started her new position on Friday, August 6, 2021.  We wish Ms. Edwards the best as she moves into this new chapter.  

 

We are excited to introduce Mr. Ralph Chew as the new 7th grade assistant principal at Durant Road Middle School.  Mr. Chew is a Maryland native who earned his bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Methodist University in Fayetteville, NC.  He also earned two master's degrees, a master's degree in Education with a focus on Teaching and Learning from Liberty University and a master's degree in School Administration from Fayetteville State University.

 

Mr. Chew joined the WCPSS as an assistant principal at Wake Forest Middle School in 2017.  Mr. Chew's first day with the students and staff at DRMS will be Monday, August 23, 2021.  We are looking forward to Mr. Chew joining our DRMS team.  

 

2020-21 Yearbooks:  The 2020-21 yearbooks have been delivered to DRMS.  Many parents picked up last year's yearbook during the Academies.  Students who are still attending DRMS have received their yearbook they ordered.  If your student is in the Virtual Academy and/or moved on to high school, you can pick up your child's yearbook between 8:30 AM and 2:30 PM Monday through Friday by ringing the front doorbell and providing your student's name.  

 

Student Device Program:  WCPSS is launching a new student device program for the 2021-22 school year.  All WCPSS students will be issued a Lenovo 300e Chromebook.  Some students received a Lenovo 300e Chromebook last year and will continue to use it.  We distributed 300+ Chromebooks this past week to students who did not already have a WCPSS device.  We will begin working with students who have other models to exchange their device this week.  Please know the WCPSS device is fully supported by the district while personal devices are not.  

 

Athletics Are Back!

Fall sport tryouts begin on August 30th for any eligible 7th and 8th grade student. Virtual academy students and in-person students are able to tryout if they are academically eligible and have turned in their pre-participation athletic packet. This year, the pre-participation packet must be submitted digitally through DragonFly. DragonFly is our new online athletic registration platform. All families will need to create an account and register their child/children to submit their athletic paperwork prior to tryouts. If families have any questions about DragonFly, please contact our athletic trainer, Trina Mauder, at tmauder@wcpss.net
 
To find out more information about athletics, please visit our athletics website, Facebook page, Twitter, or Instagram.
 
 
Support the Athletic Booster Club:
  • PodSquad Form: PodSquad membership allows students to attend all HOME games for free! They also get a t-shirt! T-shirts will be distributed in September. Cost to join is $25, and this money goes straight to the Athletic Boosters to help fund all of our athletic teams. When PodSquad students attend games, they will need to go to the ticket gate and give their name to the ticket taker. Ticket takers will have PodSquad members on a list and will grant them free entry. If families have any questions, please contact the Athletics Booster Club at dolphinathleticboosters@gmail.com 
  • Athletic Booster Club Membership Form: This membership gives season or yearlong passes to families to attend all HOME games. Costs vary based on the membership they wish to purchase. Money received from these season passes goes straight to the Athletic Boosters to help fund all of our athletic teams. Once a season pass is purchased, families will be added to the Booster Club list, and at the ticket gate they will need to give their name to the ticket takers who will then grant them entry. If families have any questions, please contact the Athletics Booster Club at dolphinathleticboosters@gmail.com 
**At this time, we are not limited in the number of spectators who can attend athletic events**
**At this time, masks will have to be worn for indoor sports and indoor spectators**
**At this time, masks for outdoor sports and outdoor spectators are optional**
**Mask requirements & spectator numbers are subject to change at any time and will be communicated​​**

 

School Safety:  COVID-19 safety guidelines are still in place for the 2021-22 school year.  All students and staff will wear a mask that always covers the mouth and nose except when eating and drinking.  Students will be provided opportunities to wash their hands frequently.  Students should stay home if sick and let the school know if they have been exposed to someone with COVID-19.  

 

Immunizations:  NC State Law mandates that all rising 7th graders have their TDAP and Meningococcal vaccines.  Please return immunization records showing TDAP and Meningococcal vaccines by or before August 2, 2021.  Immunization records may be emailed to kanderson7@wcpss.net.  

 

Thank you for supporting DRMS,

Kristen J Faircloth

Principal