Hello Dolphins!  This is Kristen Faircloth, proud principal at Durant Road Middle School, with your April 17, 2022 Family Message. 

 

We hope everyone has had a wonderful track-out filled with fun and relaxation.  We all appreciate the time to reconnect with our families and recharge our batteries.  For those that are celebrating, happy Passover and Easter.  

 

As we transition back to school, we are settling in for the final 11 weeks of the 2021-22 school year.  These weeks will be busy and will fly by.  Please make sure to keep an eye on your child's grades, communication from teachers, and information from grade levels regarding end-of-year celebrations. 

 

Please take a minute to read through the Family Message below and don't hesitate to reach out with any needs you may have.   We are excited to dive into Q4 and finish the year strong.  

 

Important Dates:  Please make note of some important dates below.

• Monday, April 18 - First Day Back for Students
• Monday, April 18 - Quarter 4 Begins
• Friday, April 22 - Report Cards Sent Home
• Monday, May 2 - Teacher Workday / No School for Students
• Monday, May 30 - Memorial Day / Holiday for Staff & Students

 

Student Schedules:  All students will receive a printed Q4 schedule in their Core 1 class on Monday, April 18th.  Students can also log into PowerSchool to review their Q4 schedule.  

 

Student Agendas:  Students should bring their agendas to school daily. Agendas will be used to write the day's learning targets, homework, and reminders for upcoming tests/quizzes. They are also a good way of communicating with the teacher. Hall passes, required to leave class, are in the student agenda.

 

Appropriate Use of Technology:  We want to ensure that all of our students are engaged in the learning process. One barrier to that is the use of technology (cell phones, chromebooks, etc.) at inappropriate times (during instruction, etc.). As a reset, all teachers will inform students of when their classroom is a red, yellow or green zone.

• Red Zone means no technology should be used.  Red Zones include restrooms, hallways during transition time between classes, etc.
• Yellow Zone means students should be using technology the way the teacher planned (i.e. students on Dreambox).
• Green Zone means students may use their devices. 

 

Backpack Clean Out:  Let's do some spring cleaning!  To ensure that students have only the necessary materials for their classes this quarter, teachers will work with each of their classes to clean out backpacks. Teachers will hold their students’ necessary materials in their classrooms on Monday, April 18th. Any materials that students bring home should remain at home. 

 

Annual Student Engagement Survey:  Students in grades 5-13 will be asked to complete the annual WCPSS Student Engagement Survey. Your child will be given an opportunity to complete this survey during the school day on Wednesday, April 20th. The survey includes questions about teacher-student relationships, relevance of school work, future aspirations and goals, and civic engagement.

 

Family Survey/Panorama Survey:  Wake County Public Schools is administering a District Wide Family Survey from Monday, April 4 through Friday, May 6. This survey provides families with the opportunity to provide valuable information and a high-quality data source for planning and School Improvement.

The survey has been translated into various languages; Spanish, Arabic, French, Korean, Vietnamese, and Chinese in an effort to provide accessibility to families in Wake County Public Schools. The survey administration language can be chosen by families before taking the survey.

The link to access the survey is: surveys.panoramaed.com/wakecounty/family

 

Rising 7th Grade Immunizations:  NC State Law mandates that all rising 7th-grade students have their TDAP and Meningococcal (MCV) vaccines.  Please return immunization records showing TDAP and Meningococcal (MCV) vaccines by or before July 29th, 2022.  Immunization records may be emailed to kbograd@wcpss.net.  We appreciate your attention to this mandate.  

 

DRMS PTA News:  The DRMS PTA is currently recruiting for the 2022-23 school year. As a small group of dedicated volunteers, we are always looking for people interested in supporting Durant Road Middle school students, staff, and the community. 

 

Please fill out the following form to let us know if you are interested in one of these board positions or committees.

 

Thank you for supporting DRMS,

Kristen J Faircloth

Principal