- Core and Enrichment Classes:
The curriculum at Dunn Middle School provides students with a course of study
that is well-rounded and challenging. Class size averages 12 students. The course
of learning is rigorous. Cooperative learning, critical thinking, hands-on projects,
workshops, and long- and short-term projects are stressed in all classes.
- Communication: As a small day school, we pride ourselves on same day response to parent questions or comments. The health of our school depends upon the direct forwarding of questions or concerns to the appropriate staff person.
Inquiries may be sent by note or email to a teacher. Many questions may be answered by Linda Smith, the Director, or Lynne Castellanos, the Administrative Assistant.
- Friday Folders: Each Friday, a folder will be sent home which contains
communication from the school. Please take time to read the contents thoroughly and
return the folder (signed) on Monday. If you have any comments, please be sure to write them on the folder.
- Newsnote: Families will receive a newsletter each Friday.
In order to be well informed, each parent should read the newsletter each week.
This year we hope to send an email Newsnote as well as the paper copy.
Please make it a habit to read the Newsnote each weekend to be prepared for the upcoming week.
- DMS Web Page: The use of technology is a high priority at DMS. We have an
awesome web page maintained by Marc Kummel. Please visit it regularly or use it as
your home page: http://www.impulse.net/~dunn/.
- Parent Partners in Learning: DMS welcomes the involvement of parents both on
campus and at home. During the day, we welcome help on special projects, field trips,
and some classroom opportunities. Some sign-ups will be available on the first day of
school while others will be noted in the Newsnote.
Parents should offer reasonable assistance but not complete assignments for students.
It is expected that parents will help their children find time and a good place for
doing homework. Parents will be informed about the homework load and due dates
for long-term projects and can help their child plan accordingly.
- Lunch and Snack: Parents can assist in the health and welfare of
their children by assuring that their child has a healthy breakfast, snack,
and lunch each day. The school has a refrigerator and a microwave available for use.
We appreciate your cooperation in avoiding high sugar foods in your child's lunch containers.
We will have candy or sweets at school on occasion, but we prefer to minimize it.
We appreciate your help.
Did your child forget lunch? Peanut butter, bread, milk, and fruit will be kept on
hand for "emergencies".
We have an excellent recycling program at school for paper, cans, recyclable plastic,
and compostable waste.
- Fall Conferences: At the end of the 1st trimester, conferences are scheduled for each
Middle School family. The purpose is to provide time for students, parents, and teachers to
discuss the student's progress and achievements. Attendance by the student and at least one
parent is required. Conferences are optional in the Spring.
- Midterm Comments: At the mid-point of the 1st and 2nd trimesters, families are
sent written comments and approximate grades regarding student progress in each class.
Parent responses are welcome.
- Absences and Tardiness: Repeat or regular absences or tardies severely impede your
child's academic and social growth and place a difficult burden on classroom teachers
and your child's classmates.
| | 7:45 | | Students arrive on campus. There is no earlier supervision. |
| | 8:00 | | "Deck Meeting" with morning announcements. |
| | 8:15 | | Classes begin. |
| | 3:15 | | End of school day. All students must be picked up
promptly unless they are participating in a supervised activity. |
Students are considered "tardy" if they arrive after 8:00 A.M. or if they are late for any class.
Students with 3 tardy notes will be required to complete a work detail.
- Make-Up Work:
While we believe that a child who is sick should be allowed to recover without concern of
schoolwork, it is the responsibility of each student to make up any school work missed due
to absence. Work will be accepted one day late for every day of absence.
In general, parents should not call in for assignments...
this is a good time for students to learn this skill.
If the absence is anticipated, the student should notify each teacher ahead of time so that
an assignment packet can be prepared.
- The Note System:
- Green Notes: ("Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy Notes") Green is Good! If a
student does something that stands out for being particularly helpful, positive, or
extraordinary, he or she will receive a green note. Celebrate!
- Blue Notes: ("Bummer Notes") Not good. Receiving a blue note is
confirmation that a student violated a school rule, impacted the rights of other DMS
students or employees, or obstructed the learning process in some way.
A maximum of three notes is allowed per trimester. As a general rule,
a 4th blue note will result in suspension or dismissal.
- Orange Notes: ("Orange ya' gonna do your work?")
Homework is an essential part of the Middle School process. Students are held responsible
for having all homework, daily assignments, and long-term projects completed on time.
Students are expected to make up all work missed due to absence or family trips.
If homework expectations are not met, students will receive an "orange note."
If three homework assignments are missed, a conference with the school's Director
will be required for the student and parents.
- Pink Notes: ("Ptardy notes") Students who are tardy for
any class or for Deck Meeting will receive a pink note to be signed by a parent.
Students who are late will also be given 15 minutes of additional chores to
complete at lunch or prior to the next school day. Three pink notes will
result in an added work crew assignment. Additional tardy notes will result
in a mandatory conference involving the student, parent(s), and school director.
- Afternoon Pick-Up: School ends at 3:15. Students should be picked up at this
time unless they are involved in a scheduled after-school activity. Once students
leave campus, they are not to return (e.g., students may not go to the store for food
and then return to hang out).
- Phoning Home: In emergencies or on rare occasions, students may phone home.
Students will not be given permission to phone home for missing assignments, supplies,
lunch, or social arrangements. These restrictions have been created to minimize
frustrations of all adults involved.
- Field Trips and School-Wide Events: Field trips and special events are a part of
school life. They should be considered "classes" conducted on or off-campus and are
central to the socialization and maturation of middle school students. We encourage parent
participation for activities such as Halloween, Talent Show, Piece of Cake bike ride,
DMS Track Meet, Spring Festival, Science Fair, Spring Overnight, Try-athlon, slide show,
and the eighth grade commencement ceremony.
- Dress: Dress at the Middle School should be
clean and appropriate for the day's activities. Students must bring footwear
that is appropriate for physical activity on a daily basis. Students may not
wear clothing that is distracting to other students. Pants should fit
properly and not "sag." T-shirts should not advertise alcohol, drugs,
inappropriate language, or violence. Bare midriff tops, halter tops,
strapless tops, see-through fabrics, and pajamas are not appropriate dress for school.
Students who violate these guidelines will be issued a warning and loaned
clothing such as sweatshirts or a belt.
- Cell Phones: While a student may have a cell phone in his/her backpack,
no cell phone should be used during school hours for any reason.
Emergency calls should be placed through the office only. No calls should be
made without permission from Lynne Castellanos or Linda Smith.
CD players, hand held games, and other possessions may be allowed on long
bus trips (out of Santa Barbara County) but are not allowed at any other
time on school property or trips. We look forward to the many creative ways
students may entertain themselves.
- Lost and Found: If a student has misplaced or lost an item
such as a book, sweatshirt, camping gear, or other personal belongings,
he/she should check the "Dork Box" located on the deck. The Dork Box is
emptied monthly so that students may make exciting discoveries.
- Student Families: Each student will be assigned to a family of students which
will be led by a DMS employee and a student leadership team member. Each family will include
6th, 7th, and 8th grade boys and girls. Families will meet together at deck meeting to take
attendance, record homework prepared for the day, check for gold folders, and other "housekeeping" tasks.
The goal of the family system is to have a small group to turn to for accountability
and for support. Students who are new can have family members who will make sure their
experience is positive. Likewise, students who are beginning to show signs of concern
can be helped or encouraged by other family members.
- Illness and Injury: If a child becomes sick or injured at school,
DMS staff members will do our best to make the student as comfortable as possible.
All teachers are Red Cross certified in CPR and first aid. Students in or
around the swimming pool or ocean will be monitored and assisted by a
Red Cross certified lifeguard.
If a child has prescription medication, the student's parent should give the
medication with written directions to Lynne Castellanos . If a child needs
medication such as Tylenol for a headache or fever, we will ask the parent to
take the child home. Sick children should not be at school. No staff member
has permission to provide pain relieving medication to children during school hours.
If a child is in need of over-the-counter medication while on a trip, the
school nurse will determine the need and dosage.
In case of an emergency, students will be taken to the nearest hospital.
Parents will be notified immediately. The school Director will transport and
stay with the child until a parent is available.
Any student who is well but not able to participate in physical activities
will be excused from P. E. and placed in a study hall.
