Hello Dolphins!  This is Kristen Faircloth, proud principal at Durant Road Middle School, with your August 29, 2021 Family Message.

 

It is hard to believe we have been back in school for almost half of the first quarter.  These past four weeks have been incredible!  A big thank you to all the students who came back in-person and virtually ready learn, engage in school life, and adhere to the processes and procedures like wearing a mask.  Thank you to all the parents and guardians are doing their part ensuring their children are prepared for the day with all needed items, having their photo ID ready when checking out students, and extending patients and grace with the expectations, health guidelines, and transportation.  Finally, a huge thank you to the staff at DRMS for always putting students first and giving 110% each day to ensure your children are receiving the best learning experience possible.  

 

Please take some time to read through the Family Message below.  We will continue to communicate with the most updated health guidelines.  For COVID-19 related questions, please review the WCPSS Covid-19 website for more details. Again, ALL students, staff, and visitors inside of DRMS need to wear a mask at all times. 

 

Step It Up Fundraiser:  We are excited to offer a way to give back to Durant Road Middle School!  On 8.30.21 we will be kicking off our fall fundraiser to help benefit our students and staff.  Our STEP IT UP fundraiser, more specifically, will help with funding classroom supplies and learning tools and future field trips, student activities, student recognition, and school assemblies.

 

It is going to be AWESOME; and we are excited to get started!

 

A few things to note:

• This fundraiser will be very easy for you.  It only requires about 10 minutes of your time.
• Your students can earn great prizes, just for their effort.  No money required!
• This is an online, donation-based fundraiser, and the donation requests can go to people you know anywhere in the world.  That means, no direct pressure on your shoulders.

 

Students will be bringing home more information next week after our Launch Party Assembly.  Please help your student register and complete the Golden Ticket assignment THAT VERY NIGHT!  All students who complete the Golden Ticket assignment will receive fun PRIZES and it does not require any money to register.  We will also be doing some fun drawings for an Amazon Gift Card and 4 Mini Party Fridges stuffed with CASH!

 

A few more emails will be sent throughout the two-week fundraising period.  Please contact the school if you have any questions.  Thank you in advance for you support for DRMS!

 

Interim Procedures for Parents/Students:  Our Interim process will be digital this year.  On our scheduled Interim dates, parents should view PowerSchool for their child’s current averages in each class.  Parents may request a printed version of their child’s interim to be sent home.  These requests must be emailed to the individual teacher by Monday, August 30.

 

The quarter 1  interim date is Monday, August 30th.  On this date, please access PowerSchool for your child and review each of their courses.  Be sure to look at the Q1 average as well as click on that average to see the specific assignments and grades for that class.  To give parents time to access PowerSchool, no changes will be made to PowerSchool August 30th -31st.  After then, teachers will continue to update and key in grades for the quarter.  If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to the individual teacher.

 

If there are any parents that still do not have Powerschool access, we strongly encourage you to set this up in order to be able to access your child’s grades.  

 

Here is the information on how to access powerschool.  There are two ways that parents can complete this process.

• Parents may either...
• Fill out the Powerschool Parent Portal Access - Notary form (2 pages) and have it notarized.  Parents can mail the form to Durant Road Middle School, 10401 Durant Road, Raleigh NC 27614.  We cannot accept faxed or emailed copies of this form. Parents must make sure the form is filled out entirely and notarized.  Forms will be processed as quickly as possible.
• Or, parents may fill out the Powerschool Parent Portal Access - PhotoID form (2 pages).  Parents must then scan the completed form and a CLEAR picture of the parent/guardian photo ID and email to kanderson7@wcpss.net.  Forms will be processed as quickly as possible.
• Once you complete the form and return it to DRMS, you will receive an email with directions from our Guidance Technician or Data Manager.  You must then complete the directions that are emailed to you in order to gain access to PowerSchool.

Here is a helpful link on how to access and understand PowerSchool:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1f4bI8j00dwCTGuvgQnxMYzBBztRqJPs39g3wvcWQ_74/edit?usp=sharing

 

Universal Screening:  Due to functioning in a pandemic since March 2020, it is important for us to gain an understanding of where our students are working instructionally.  WCPSS is providing all schools the ability to use a universal screener in both ELA and Math to gain a better understanding of our student's strengths and opportunities.  All students have had the opportunity to engage in a Reading (i-Ready) Universal Screener in the past few weeks.  Over the next few weeks, all students will take a Math (STAR) Universal Screener.  

 

Athletics:  Most Fall Sports tryout begin Monday, August 30th.  Students must have received a wristband to tryout.  This wristband is your ticket to play and will prove to the coach that you are cleared to be on the field/court/mat. No wristband = No tryout, no exceptions! Forms and paperwork were due August 25th. Virtual academy students will receive their wristbands on the first day of tryouts from their coach. If you have any questions about DragonFly or the ticket to play process, please email Mrs. Mauder at tmauder@wcpss.net. We are looking forward to seeing our Dolphins play again this year!

 

Cheerleading:  Due to unforeseen circumstances, cheerleading tryouts will not take place on Monday, August 30, 2021.  We will send correspondence regarding the tryout schedule for the remainder of the week on Monday.

 

After School Activity Bus: Due to the bus driver shortage taking place in the county, transportation has suspended the after-school activity bus. Parents, if your child is trying out for a sport, or makes a sport team, you will need to provide transportation home daily until the after-school activity bus is running again. Please make sure you are able to pick your child up in the bus parking lot no later than 5:30 PM each day. We will notify families when this service is provided again for after-school activities. 

 

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 as soon as possible.  Immunization records may be emailed to kanderson7@wcpss.net.  

 

Thank you for supporting DRMS,

Kristen J Faircloth

Principal