Upcoming Dates:

May 10th, 11th, 17th: Standardized (Smarter Balanced Assessment) Testing

May 12th: 7th Graders to Academy of Sciences

May 29th: NO SCHOOL/Memorial Day

June 6th: Grade level field trips

June 9th: Last Day of School EARY DISMISSAL: 12:15/8th Grade Graduation: 2 PM

August 24th: Mark your calendar-FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!

 

Principal's Message

 

Families,

 

Thank you to all the families who attended our Open House last week. It was terrific seeing so many friendly faces on campus and watching you all learn about what is occurring inside the walls of our school.  Thank you to our PTA for providing dinner for our staff that night. Also thank you for supporting the Foundation for Reed Schools - the programs the Foundation supports (art, music, design lab, etc.) were on full display during Open House!

 

On another topic, I want to emphasize the importance of regular attendance at school. Attending school regularly is a vital part of your child's education and can significantly impact their academic success. Research has shown that students who attend school regularly have better grades, higher test scores, and are more likely to be successful in high school. Consistent attendance helps your child develop good habits that will serve them well in the future. It teaches them to be responsible, punctual, and reliable, which are qualities that are highly valued in the workplace. 

 

On a similar topic, we are noticing an uptick in absences before a vacation or a 3-day weekend. For instance, we had 20% of our student body absent the day before our recent spring break. Please know that having a great number of students absent on the same day creates a situation that is very difficult on our classroom teachers to provide support for all those absent when they return. While I understand the desire to extend a vacation or travel day, I ask that  while you are planning, you please take into account the impact it has on the school when a significant number of students are absent at the same time. 

 

We are in the final stretch of the school year. This is also the time of the year when students often get a bit of academic fatigue. We will be educating them until school is over, so please encourage your student to do what they can to stay on task until the finish line! We are looking forward to ending the year strong. We have great students and a great staff. We got this!!!

 

Best Wishes,

 

Chad Stuart (he/him)

Principal

 

Mid-Trimester Alerts

 

Our teachers are finishing up mid-trimester alerts. They will be viewable to all students and parents at the end of the day this Friday. If you have questions regarding our assessments and grading in ALMA, please visit THIS link.

 

Our teachers do their best to provide feedback for students and parents. Alma is the main way they communicate progress. We encourage you to not only view the mid-trimester reports, but also to monitor ALMA throughout the school year. 

 

On another note, some parents have asked how to know what assignments their students have to do that week of school. Each student should have their week mapped out in their “student to do tasks” in ALMA and/or in their student planner. While parents don’t have access to the “to do tasks” in ALMA, you can always ask your student to show you their list in ALMA and in their planner. We believe that your student should be able to prove to you that they have this all organized and know where to find it. 

 

YEARBOOKS ON SALE NOW!!

 

Del Mar's yearbook is put together by Del Mar's own Yearbook Class. It is a hardback book filled with color pictures and memories of the past year. Yearbooks are available for sale now for the first time. If you think you purchased a yearbook earlier this year, you have not! Yearbooks will be handed out in school the last week before summer break. The cost of a yearbook is $40.00. You can come to the office to pay in cash or by check (checks made out to "Del Mar Student Council") or go to this link to make your purchase online.

 

8th Grade News--Year-End Events and Graduation!

 

8th Grade Graduation News:

Save the date: June 9th at 2 PM for our Del Mar Graduation Ceremony. Information can be found

here and more details will be forthcoming! Last chance to send in slideshow photos (info sent separately to 8th grade families!)

 

From The Library

 

As we get closer to the end of the school year, now is a good time to check your home for any Del Mar library books. Students will need to return all books by the end of the school year. Students can log into their Alexandria account to see if any books are late.

 

2023-24 Bus Passes On Sale Monday

 

From Yellow Bus Challenge Team:

We are pleased to announce that annual bus passes for next year will be on sale at www.buschallenge.org on Monday, May 1, at 9:00 a.m. A few notes before you make your purchase:

  • The bus program is designed to provide neighborhood-to-school service. You can view maps of next year’s routes and individual stops by visiting this link and clicking on your selected school (routes, stops, and timings will remain the same as this year).

  • Passes will be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis. We hope to accommodate as many riders as possible, but we anticipate that routes will sell out. Please make your purchase as soon as possible.

  • Only annual passes will be available. Your pass is only valid on your assigned route. Passes are not transferable (to other people or other routes).

  • The cost of passes for the 2023/24 school year will be $345 each way/$690 round trip. This represents approximately 35% of the actual cost of the pass (the remainder is subsidized by local and state contributions). 

  • Please review information about routes and timing to select the correct route and stop.

  • Passes purchased before July 15 will be received in time for the start of school. Buying a pass signifies that you have read, reviewed with your student, and agree to abide by the information shared in the FAQs and bus rules.

We are happy to answer any questions you have at info@buschallenge.org. Thank you, and we look forward to seeing many of your students on board!

Yellow Bus Challenge Team

 
 
 

Appreciation Week!

 

It is Appreciation Week next week. The PTA, Leadership Classes and District Office have some nice treats in store for ALL Del Mar staff next week!

 

Monday- Poem day. Have your child write a poem or find a quote for their teachers! Also-the Leadership classes and Student Council are treating all staff to a morning doughnut.

Tuesday- Flower day. It would be awesome if your student can bring a flower from your garden! 

Wednesday- THE PTA is providing lunch to all staff!

Thursday- Sweet treat day! Feel free to help your child make a treat for a teacher! Plus the District Office is treating staff to a pancake breakfast.

Friday- Morning muffins and coffee courtesy of the PTA! Plus-it is Card Day! Please check with your student to see that they have completed appreciation cards that were handed out in Advisory class.

 

Thank you in advance for showing your appreciation for the staff at Del Mar! 

 
 
 

National Bike To School Day

 

National Bike To School Day on Wednesday, May 3rd! 

Students who bike, ride, scooter or skate to school can come to the welcome table near the bike racks and fill out raffle tickets to win one of two Tommy Breeze hats, or one of two Hydroflask water bottles. There will also be healthy JAMBARS for students who ride.

 
 
 

8th Grade Field Trip

 

On April 7th, our 8th grade class attended a field trip to Chabot Space and Science Center. We were excited to provide this hands-on educational experience for our students. Thank you to the teachers who organized the day and for the parents who helped volunteer. 

 

Breakfast/Lunch Program

 

Here is the May Breakfast and Lunch Menu:

 
 
 
SPRING EVENTS
FINAL DAYS OF TICKET SALES! 
Event details can be found on our website HERE. 
 

Want to get more involved at Del Mar next year?

We are looking for volunteers and have several roles available on the PTA board. If you are interested in learning more please contact Connie Maddox at delmarptasitechair@gmail.com.

Last Chance for Del Mar Spirit Wear for the 2022-2023 school year!

Be sure to place your order soon - the online store will be open May 1 through May 22.

 

From the District PTA:

PTA Executive Board Slate

The 2023 Nominating Committee has completed its work to develop a slate of nominees for the 2023-2025 PTA Executive Board. The slate will be presented to the PTA Membership for election into office during the District PTA meeting on May 17th. Congratulations to the following individuals for their nomination:

District President - Mickey Hubbell

District Secretary - Jessica Etchevers

Del Mar Treasurer - Elaine Moore

Bel Aire Site Chair - Tracey Paull

Bel Aire Treasurer - Garrett Harden

Big thanks to our wonderful Nominating Committee: Dana Berhoff, Rachel Berman, Jennifer Feldman, Rebecca Hermanski, Wendy Martin and Principal-Advisor John DiCosmo for all of their hard work in bringing this to fruition.

____________________________________________________________________________________

 

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

 

Marin Healthy Youth Partnership (MHYP) is offering an important event next week on Wednesday, May 3 at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom. Flyers are attached in both English and Spanish with links to RSVP.  The expert speaker is Dr. Emily Tejani who address Mental Health and Underage Substance Use.  We are especially excited that Dr. Tejani will joined by two Marin high student speakers who are interns with MHYP.

 

Please follow the RUSD PTA Instagram page @rusdpta. If you have any great photos you’d like to share; please email them to the RUSD PTA Secretary @ mickeybruce7@gmail.com

 

 

 

Please also follow Del Mar's own Instagram page @delmar.middleschool.dragons

 
 

Student Bulletin

 

Here is a LINK to the Student Bulletin, so you can keep up with student news, sports updates, Advisory Challenges, Club News, etc! The Bulletin is generally read aloud on Monday afternoons, and emailed to parents and students.

 

Del Mar Athletics

 

Please see our WEBSITE athletics page! Also-This Friday and next Friday are the regional and county track meets. If your student is headed to the track meets, please send back the permission slip and be sure to follow everything on the instruction sheet that was sent home with your child. Thank you!

 

Bell Schedule

Our 2022-23 regular bell schedule can be found HERE.

 

Attendance Instructions

 
Please keep sick children home and please call the office on the day of your child's absence by 8:00 a.m. (415-435-1468, ext. 4) or email delmar@reedschools.org. This will eliminate the need for a call from the office. We expect students to attend school unless there is an excused absence-for illness, injury, a medical/dental appointment or a religious holiday. All other absences are marked "unexcused." Unexcused absences do not excuse a student from classroom assignments.
Arriving Late? Leaving Early? Follow these instructions:
Students arriving late to school must sign in with the office and get a tardy slip before going to class. If you need to pick your child up in the middle of the day, please try to do so between classes, and be sure to remind your child to come to the office to meet you there, without needing a call from the office. If they must leave in the middle of a class, please send them with a note to give to that teacher so they can excuse themselves. We do not ever want to call into a classroom unless there is an emergency, so please plan accordingly! 
 

We Are Here For You!

 

To locate teacher emails, click HERE, to call the front office dial 415-435-1468 ext. 0. For the office managers contact Laurie Kristy at lkristy@reedschools.org or Lisa Grinnell lgrinnell@reedschools.org, If you or your child need tech help, go to: https://help.reedschools.org/

 

RUSD Mission & Vision: Each student will be challenged and inspired to reach their fullest intellectual, social-emotional and creative potential to positively impact the world.

 

Chad Stuart, Principal

 

Del Mar Middle School