Good afternoon, Dolphins!  This is Kristen Faircloth, proud principal at Durant Road Middle School, with your November 20, 2022 Family Message.

 

We had a busy yet exciting week at DRMS!  Thank you to all who were able to attend the Student Led Conferences on Tuesday, November 15.  It was wonderful to see the pride on the student's faces as they shared their progress with their parents.  On Thursday, November 17, we enjoyed our Fall Chorus Concert.  A huge shout out to Ms. Kaitlyn Moore and all of our chorus students for an amazing performance.  Winter Athletics tryouts began on Thursday as well.  Finally, our students enjoyed their first club on Friday, November 18th.  Our next club day is scheduled for Friday, December 9, 2022.  

 

During this time of year, we want to share how grateful we are to be a part of the DRMS community and for each one of you.  We wish you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.  We will not be sending a Family Message on Sunday, November 27, 2022 and will pick back up on Sunday, December 3rd.  Enjoy your time with family and friends.  

 

Please take a moment to read through the Family Message below, as well as the grade level newsletters, and do not hesitate to reach out if there is any way we can support you.  

 

Quarter 2:  We have several teacher workdays, early release days, and holidays in Q2.  Please place the following dates on your calendars:

• November 23-November 25 - Thanksgiving Holiday
• Monday, December 5 - Early Release Day @ 1:00 PM
• Wednesday, December 21 - Early Release Day @ 1:00 PM
• Thursday, December 22 - Begins Holiday and Track Out

 

DRMS Teacher of the Year and Instructional Assistant of the Year:  The votes are in and our Teacher of the Year and Instructional Assistant of the Year have been selected!  We are so proud to announce that Ms. Ashley Haines, 6th grade math teacher, is DRMS' 2022-2023 Teacher of the year!  A huge congratulations to our Instructional Assistant of the Year, Ms. Michelle Malik, a special educaiton IA!  Please help us congratulate both of these educators and thank them for all they do for our Dolphins.  

 

STEM Event in Raleigh:  Ms. Latham and Ms. Dunbar took a group of 8th grade students to a STEM event in Raleigh.  Check out the following link that was on the news!  Everyone had a great time! https://abc11.com/stem-event-raleigh-allscript-american-heart-association/12466413/

 

Makeup Pictures:  Makeup picture day has been scheduled for January 26, 2023. Purchases for pictures can be made online or by check. More information will be sent home and on our website in January.  If your student was not present for the first picture day, you will be able to take your photo on the 26th. If you would like to have your pictures retaken, please send your student with the originally purchased pictures on January 26^th for Strawbridge.  

 

Quarter 2 Interim's:  This year our Interim's will be digital.   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 the scheduled quarter interim date.

 

The quarter 2  interim date is Tuesday, November 29.  On this date, please access PowerSchool for your child and review each of their courses.  Be sure to look at the Q2 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 from November 29-30.  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 it 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 also a helpful link on how to access and understand PowerSchool:

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

 

Meal Benefits:  During the 2021-2022 school year, all students received free school meals supported by federal funding due to the pandemic; however, this funding ended on June 30, 2022. In order to receive free or reduced-price meals for this school year (2022-2023), families need to submit a meal benefits application. 

 

All families must complete an application for the 2022-2023 school year in order to receive benefits. Please allow 10 business days for processing.

 

For every student that turns in the free and reduced meals application and qualifies, the school also receives federal funds that benefit the students and teachers at the school.

 

We need you to complete a 2022-2023 meal benefits application so our school can be eligible for extra funding next year. If you have not completed a free or reduced-price meal application and think your child may be eligible, pick up an application at your child’s school or apply online. 

 

A student’s status from the 2021-2022 school year will roll over to this current year; however, it only carries them forward for the first 30 operational days or until a new application for the 2022-2023 school year has been processed.

 

Meal prices for the 2022-2023 school year are below:

• Breakfast - $1.75
• Lunch - $3.25

 

DRMS PTA Updates:  We are planning holiday gifts for faculty and staff at DRMS! Please consider donating if you can. Here are a few ways to contribute:

1. Make a monetary donation by clicking this link. All monetary donations go towards the purchase of gift cards.
2. Purchase an item from the Amazon Staff Wish list to be sent directly to DRMS. 
3. Send wish list items or monetary donation to school with your student(s) to be delivered to the PTA mailbox

 

Connect with us on Remind! Text @63e6ac2 to 81010 to receive PTA updates and volunteer opportunities. 

 

Review the latest PTA Bulletin here.

 

Thank you for your support! 

 

Thank you for supporting DRMS,

Kristen J Faircloth

Principal