Upcoming Dates:

September 14th: 8:30 AM PTA Meeting in Del Mar Library

September 29th:  Picture Day! 

October 16th: NO SCHOOL/Staff Development Day

November 9th: End of First Trimester

November 10th: NO SCHOOL/Veteran's Day 

November 20th-24th: NO SCHOOL/Thanksgiving Break
 

Principal's Message
 

Families,
 
It was wonderful seeing many of you last week at our Back-to-School Night. I enjoyed how many happy faces I saw on campus, connecting with our teaching staff. Making connections with you all is an important part of the school-to-home support system needed to make a successful educational experience for our students. 

 

Our school year is off to a great start. Now is the time when the school work starts to get a bit more ramped up for students. It is recommended that you help your students stay on top of what they need to accomplish at home. A few things of note:

 

Each Monday in Advisory, students look at their Alma “to-do list,” take a picture of it and send it to their Advisory teacher. Students should have a plan for the week each Monday. As a parent, you may want to ask your child what their plan is when they arrive home that night.

 

All parents now have access in Alma to view their students “to-do list” as well. This is a way you can help ensure your student is on track.While Alma has assignments, Google Classroom often has more details on the assignment and specific feedback. I recommend you go over Google Classroom with your student once a week. 

 

I hope your experience has been positive as we open the school year. If you have any questions throughout the year, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. 

 

Thanks,

Chad Stuart (he/him)
Principal
 

Sam Drazin from Changing Perspectives
 

This school year, we are partnering with Sam Drazin from Changing Perspectives for our work on “inclusion” at Del Mar. With his coaching, we are working towards making our school a place where each and every student feels like they belong - a place where each student feels physically and emotionally safe. HERE is a short video that our students saw this week of Mr. Drazin introducing himself to our school community. 

We will be sharing more about our inclusion work with our parents and guardians, as we go through the journey. This will include a parent information session with Mr. Drazin. 
                   
 

Drug/Alcohol Information from MCOE
 

From the Marin County Office of Education (MCOE):
Dear Parents/Caregivers, 
 
As we begin a new school year, we want to remind you of an important community partner and resource for your family.
 
Marin Healthy Youth Partnerships focuses on reducing underage drinking and drug use so your students can have the best outcomes both in and outside of school. 
 
11th graders in Marin County report using alcohol and drugs at a rate 2x higher than the state average. This is an issue that takes an entire community to change. We ask that you do your part by checking out their prevention programs and consider participating in one or more.
  
Marin Healthy Youth Partnerships Prevention Programs

 

Raising the Bar - keep youth events substance free. This program has been adopted by nearly all schools in Marin County. The purpose is to encourage healthy modeling at youth oriented events by not consuming alcohol or other substances. You can support this program by keeping youth events like birthday parties, Halloween celebrations, prom parties and youth sporting celebrations free of alcohol or other drugs.  

 

Let’s Talk is a booklet mailed to all 9th grade families and Let’s Start Talking is mailed to all 6th grade families. The booklets are toolkits full of research and data on how best to navigate middle and high school when your student is faced with decisions around substance use and other topics. It is available online to everyone in English and Spanish at letstalkmarin.org . There are also four community discussions during the school year.

 

Be the Influence encourages parents to communicate with one another when hosting youth at their home or when their child goes to a friend’s house. BTI parents agree to abide by local Social Host Ordinance laws which prohibit underage drinking and drug use at parties and other events in the home. Join other parents in the BTI Facebook Group. 

 

Numb or Nourish helps parents with coping and modeling healthy choices by providing science and tools for the entire family. 
 
Marin Healthy Youth Partnerships is dedicated to protecting our young people. All programs can be accessed at  www.mhyp.org and feel free to contact at info@mhyp.org. 

 
 

Transportation
 

eBike Safety

eBike safety has been a topic of conversation in our community. We have received many reports about teens riding eBikes that are not legal for them to ride or are riding dangerously. It is imperative that we partner together to educate our community and our students about the laws regarding eBikes and how to ride them safely.

Safe Routes to School has created THIS flier for parents to learn the laws for eBikes and also some safety tips. In addition, the California Highway Patrol has eBike training offerings that can be viewed using THIS link. HERE is a summation of information that is provided in the program - we highly recommend you take a look at it.                

 

BUDDY UP is a contest to get students to walk (park and walk), bike, carpool or ride the bus together.  Now through October 31st, sign up your group of two or more students to travel to or from school. Habits are more likely to stick when students encourage each other. There’s safety in numbers and groups are more easily seen by drivers. Best of all, friendships and fun memories are formed!  There will be $50 awards for 5 winning groups (county-wide). Contest sponsored by Safe Routes to Schools.  Tell us your success story here!
 

Lost and Found
 

There is lots of lost stuff already! Please have your child check out the Lost and Found which is under our lunch overhang. Also, please have your child LABEL EVERYTHING!
 
 

Del Mar Athletics
 

We still need coaches to make our teams happen! 

Below are the immediate roles that need to be filled:
6th Grade Volleyball Coach (stipend included, flexible schedule) 
7th Grade Volleyball Coach (stipend included, flexible schedule) 

7TH/8TH FLAG FOOTBALL (stipend included, flexible schedule)

 

If you’re interested in these positions, please contact our Athletic Director, Jason Silva at jsilva@reedschools.org. 

You can find additional information about our sports on our website, Del Mar Athletics. 

 

Fall Sports
Cross Country (co-ed): **PRACTICE STARTED MONDAY, BUT IF YOUR CHILD WOULD LIKE TO JOIN STILL, PLEASE CONTACT DWADE@REEDSCHOOLS.ORG

 

Volleyball (girls): INTERESTED STUDENTS HEAD TO THE GYM TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) AT LUNCH!

 

Flag Football: New this year - a coach is needed in order to form a team and join the newly formed Marin league!
 
 

Universal Breakfast/Lunch Program..Plus

Water Bottle Reminder!
 

Breakfast and Lunch: Our breakfast and lunch program are in full swing! Please go to THIS LINK to see allergen lists, and see our September menu below.

 

Water: Please send your student to school with a filled, LABELED water bottle every day! It can get very hot at Del Mar, and the students seem to prefer water bottles to water fountains. We have a bottle filling station near our locker rooms.

 

No GrubHub, DoorDash, Uber Eats etc.: Please do NOT have delivery services come to Del Mar. 
 

PTA NEWS
 

Del Mar PTA Meeting Tomorrow!
We’d love to see you at our first PTA meeting of the school year, tomorrow September 14th at 8:30am in the Del Mar Library. We’ll recap the many events the PTA has helped with so far this fall, as well as upcoming events and opportunities if you choose to get more involved. Principal Stuart will also be there to report on all the happenings at Del Mar and we’ll also have an update from the RUSD Foundation. Hope to see you tomorrow!
 

Through TOMORROW (9/14) ONLY--Del Mar Spiritwear is Available for purchase! Don't Miss Your Chance to

Start the Year with Del Mar Gear! 
 

Please go to  THIS LINK shop for all kinds of fun Del Mar logo-wear!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Club News
 

Clubs at Del Mar

 

Students were asked to sign up for school clubs, which start this week and next. Here is a list of the current clubs:

 

Anime/Art Club: Hosted by Mr. Snyder (Room 15 on Thursdays)

 

Craft Club: Hosted by the Ranch Staff (Amphitheater Stage on Wednesdays)


D&D Club (Dungeons & Dragons): Hosted by Ms. Baker (Room 22 on Tuesdays) - Del Mar Dragons, join our Dungeons & Dragon campaign! Maybe you are a Dungeon Master, or maybe you have never played before - we welcome all players of any skill level. D&D is a heroic fantasy game that is a combination of board game and storytelling. D&D is not only fun, but can help with skills of storytelling, math, and strategy. Bring your lunch at the start of the lunch period to play the Game.


Del Mar Book Club: Hosted by Mr. Sonneville (Library on Tuesdays)


Design Lab Club: Hosted by Mr. MacDonald (Room 25 on Fridays) - Please be sure to have your iPads with you, eat lunch first, and head to Room 25 (The Design Lab)


Garden Club: Hosted by Mrs. O'Brien (Del Mar Garden: Next to Room 3 on Thursdays) - Please bring your lunch and meet Ms. O’Brien in the Del Mar Garden!


GSA (Gender Sexuality Alliance): Hosted by Dr. Kover (Room 12 on Mondays)


SKILLzz Club (8th Grade ONLY): Hosted by Ms. Kristy (PE Classroom on Thursdays) - Snacks, guest speakers and life skills from careers to credit cards, health, budgeting, food, entrepreneurship, economics and travel…and how to make it all happen.

 

Sports Club: Hosted by Mr. Silva  & Señor Harrington (GYM on Wednesdays)

 

TEA Club (Teaching Equity and Acceptance): Hosted by Dr. Kover (Room 9 on Fridays) - Join us every Friday, for a serving a social justice with a side of Oreo cookies.  We discuss how people are different - things like gender, religion, and race - and how we can make sure everyone is treated fairly in society and here at school. 
 

Visitor Protocol
 
As per district policy, all visitors on campus must submit their ID through our SchoolPass system. Please have your ID ready when you first come to Del Mar. After going through SchoolPass the first time you will be given a PIN number that makes the system quicker to use thereafter.
 
 

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 and Handbook
 

Soon we will start our weekly Student Bulletin, where students (and parents) can keep up with student news, sports updates, Advisory Challenges, Club News, etc. The Bulletin is generally read on the loudspeaker on Monday afternoons, and emailed to parents and students.

 

Our student handbook is linked HERE.
 

Del Mar Athletics- See Our Website

 
 

Bell Schedule

Our 2023-24 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. 2. 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