Important Upcoming Dates: |
May 5th -May 9th: Teacher Appreciation Week |
May 23rd: 7th Grade Field Trip to Academy of Sciences |
May 26th: Memorial Day (NO SCHOOL) | June 6th: Del Mar Talent Show ~ Students should check email for sign up link! |
Week of June 9th: Special schedules and field trips-details forthcoming |
June 13th: 8th Grade Graduation- 2 PM-see info below! |
Families, Thank you to all the families who joined us for Open House on April 17th! It was wonderful to see so many smiling faces as you toured our classrooms—we hope you enjoyed your time on campus.
This week, our 8th graders kicked off the annual CAASPP assessments with the science test. Next week, all students will take the English Language Arts assessment, followed by math during the week of May 12th.
Please take a moment to talk with your child about the importance of doing their best on these assessments. A good night’s sleep and a healthy breakfast can make a big difference! For more information about the CAASPP assessments, please refer to THIS email
previously sent by Assistant Principal Michael Song. Warmly,
Chad Stuart
Principal | 6th/7th Grade Electives Sign-ups - Due May 6th
|
Elective signups for next year are open for current 6th and 7th grade students. 7th grade students will be receiving a presentation on all of our elective options during Advisory today and 6th graders will see the presentation tomorrow. For more information on Electives, please refer to THIS email which was sent out earlier today. |
Mid-Trimester Progress Alerts | Mid-trimester alerts were made available for viewing as of last Friday. In lieu of progress alerts, our teaching staff has updated their gradebooks and provided specific feedback with regards to each student's habits of learning. If needed, please review this short video on how to access and review your student's progress in ALMA - it also includes some tips for parents on tracking student progress in ALMA. Should you need help accessing ALMA, please visit this site: https://help.reedschools.org/ | National Teacher Appreciation Week is Next Week! | From Del Mar's Leadership Classes to Del Mar Students:
Next week is Staff Appreciation Week! Here is the schedule and suggestions as to what students can do and bring to celebrate Del Mar's staff! Monday: Start making cards in Advisory
Tuesday: Bring flowers and/or plants
Wednesday: Sweet treats! You can bring homemade or store bought.
Thursday: Finish cards to staff by this day, and also you can bring in your own personal card from home as well as gift cards too.
Friday: Staff lunch from Leadership! |
Last week our 6th graders were lucky enough to take a field trip to the Exploratorium. Hands-on exhibits let students explore ideas related to sound, motion, light, electricity, magnetism, psychology, optics, airflow, and more. It’s always fun to learn outside of the walls of the classroom! | Field trips are about more than academic learning. They provide a unique opportunity for social learning. The 6th grade trip to Tunnel Top Park allowed them to practice cooperation, negotiation, problem-solving, construction, rule-making, and just plain old fun outside! |
We had a good showing at the area track meet last Friday at Tamalpais High School. Those who qualified will move on to the county meet this coming Friday. Thank you to our Physical Education Department, Mrs. Johnson, Mr. Shern and Mr. Silva for their hard work to make this even happen for students. |
Here is updated information from the county on the new law adopted on eBike use. The Town of Tiburon recently passed similar regulations. Del Mar will begin enforcing these new rules at the beginning of the 2025-26 school year. Please plan your child's transportation accordingly.
From the Marin County Office of Education:
We want to make you aware of a new law passed by the Marin County Board of Supervisors that will take effect this July: kids under 16 will no longer be allowed to ride throttle-powered (Class 2) e-bikes in Marin.
They will still be allowed to ride pedal-assist (Class 1) e-bikes. We anticipate that all of Marin’s Cities and Towns will pass the same law over the next few months – meaning it would be in effect countywide.
This change will affect many middle and high school students, as many currently ride Class 2 e-bikes to school and around town. Starting this summer, those under 16 will need to switch to regular bikes or Class 1 e-bikes.
The new law was prompted by a sharp rise in 911 calls involving school-age kids on e-bikes. Marin data shows that 10-15 year olds on e-bikes have a 5x higher accident rate than any other age group
, compared to a 1.5x increase for that age group on conventional bikes. Several e-bike-involved accidents for school-aged kids in Marin were very serious; resulting in traumatic brain injuries, internal bleeding, damage to vital organs and other serious injuries that resemble injuries from high-speed motorcycle accidents.
In addition to the new laws that will provide important clarity to teens and parents about what type of e-bike kids need to be on, the County is launching a Youth E-Bike Safety Public Education Campaign focused on Marin teens later this spring to help teens and parents understand the rules and how to ride safely.
If you have questions or would like to learn more, visit the County’s webpage on Youth E-Bike Safety.
|
Walk and Roll Day Coming Up! |
Del Mar Walk and Roll - May 7th
PTA will have a table with snacks and prizes on the morning of May 7th for those who walk or roll to school. Safe Routes to School Marin has donated two high stakes prizes of $50 gift cards to Sports Basement for lucky students who commute to school on bike or foot.
| Staff Spotlight- Mr. Armstrong | By Leadership students: Tala, Jack and Anna
This week’s Staff Spotlight is Del Mar’s very own eighth-grade U.S. history teacher, Mr. Armstrong! Growing up in Wisconsin, Mr. Armstrong was deeply influenced by his father, a paratrooper in the U.S. Army. Throughout his childhood, Mr. Armstrong had the unique opportunity to attend numerous Army drills and displays, which sparked his early interest in military life. Inspired by his father, he dreamed of becoming a pilot in the Air Force. However, Mr. Armstrong’s desire to join the military wasn’t just about following in his father’s footsteps, it was fueled by his admiration for the discipline and structure that the military instills. After graduating from high school, Mr. Armstrong attended Northland College in Wisconsin, where he played college basketball. During his athletic career, he was coached by strict, disciplined coaches whose values left a lasting impression on him and his styles of teaching.
Although becoming a helicopter pilot was his dream, Mr. Armstrong’s father encouraged him to explore a different path. Ultimately, Mr. Armstrong chose to teach American history, driven by a passion for uncovering and sharing the parts of history he didn’t learn growing up. Mr. Armstrong acknowledged that many crucial historical narratives were excluded from the curriculum he learned during his own school years. After college, Mr. Armstrong began his teaching career in Texas, where he taught U.S. history at the high school level for nine years while also coaching boys basketball and girls track. Despite his success, he felt his potential as an educator wasn’t being fully challenged. As a result, he made the bold decision to move to South Korea to teach U.S. history abroad. This choice was partly inspired by his father’s service in South Korea during the Korean War and the stories he had shared about the country. After two years of teaching overseas, Mr. Armstrong returned to the United States in 2008, settling in his wife’s hometown in the Bay Area. Mr. Armstrong had trouble finding a job as an educator due to an economic recession, but just a week before the school year began, he was offered a role at Del Mar as a U.S. history teacher. Without hesitation, he accepted this position and hasn’t looked back since.
Mr. Armstrong is known as one of the most influential, powerful, and effective teachers at Del Mar, impacting the lives of his students in profound ways. He has been a member of the Del Mar community for seventeen years. It is truly an honor to be a part of Mr. Armstrong’s eighth-grade class, as he strives every day to keep his students engaged and to help them feel valued. Mr. Armstrong’s genuine love for teaching and learning makes his class the perfect environment for success. His passion for designing enables him to create engaging and informative lessons that encourage his students to collaborate and think critically using the knowledge they gain in class. One of the things Mr. Armstrong is most proud of is his ability to contribute to and impact the lives of his students. He is proud of the fact that many of his former students, regardless of their age, frequently return to Del Mar to say hello and thank him. Beyond his incredible teaching abilities, Mr. Armstrong allows his students to struggle at times to help them build confidence and self-worth. He strives to keep his teaching relevant and inspiring to all his students. He shared that the hardest part of his job is helping students realize their own importance. He often tells them, “People in the future are waiting for you and need your talents.”
Outside of school, many people may not know that Mr. Armstrong is an introvert. He enjoys spending time alone reading, walking, and exploring new places. His hobbies include motorcycle camping and photography. Additionally, Mr. Armstrong mentioned that one thing that sets Del Mar apart from other schools is how well the student body is supported, not only with necessary materials but also on a mental level through the availability of counselors. All in all, Mr. Armstrong is the definition of charismatic. The energy and passion he brings to each class inspires his students to strive to be their best. If you ever see Mr. Armstrong around the halls, no matter what grade you are in, don’t hesitate to say hello!
| Yearbooks Are Now For Sale! |
Del Mar Yearbook students have been working all year on a beautiful, hard cover yearbook that will be ready soon! If you would like to pre-order this keepsake yearbook, please go to this link to pay $40.00. You can pre-purchase online only until May 30th. After that date you can still purchase a yearbook, but it needs to be by cash or check made out to "Del Mar Student Council," and that should be brought to the office. Please note: This is the first time yearbooks are offered this year, just in case you think you paid already. They were NOT offered for sale at the beginning of the year. LINK TO PRE-PURCHASE YEARBOOK | For 8th Grade Families-Graduation Information |
The Class of 2025 will be graduating in a few months! Attached HERE is an outline of upcoming graduation activities. This information has been emailed as well. | Two Parent Ed Opportunity Coming Up ~ May 7th | Have a Minute for a Survey About NEW Tiburon Parks? |
Students took a survey to provide ideas and feedback for the new Tiburon park which is being developed in the space between Blackie's Pasture and McKegney Green. Please take a minute to fill out THIS SURVEY and add your voice. Students had great suggestions like a snack shack, hang out areas, courts, etc. | Lunches for the Month of May | End of Year Del Mar PTA Celebration:
The last PTA meeting will be an end of year gathering to appreciate our amazing volunteers - details to be announced soon!
Seeking New PTA Spirit Wear Chair:
We're looking for someone to step into the role of Spirit Wear Chair for next year! As our fabulous Amy Dugdale “graduates” from Del Mar this year, we’d love to keep the momentum going to keep our community spirited and stylish.
If you’re organized, creative, and enjoy spreading school pride—or know someone who might be a great fit—please reach out to amy.dugdale@gmail.com or argavan@gmail.com.
Del Mar Middle School Kindness Project: We’re Building a Library in Kenya, Africa! We are thrilled to announce our school's Kindness Project partnership with the African Library Project
to establish a library at Wanjoya S.A. Primary School in Kenya, Africa! We need your help to collect
1,000 new or gently used books (Preschool-4th/5th grade level) by June 1st, including dictionaries, atlases, maps, and encyclopedias for this school, which currently does not have a library or any books. Our campaign also aims to raise approximately $600 to cover a portion of the international shipping costs
(a donor is covering the remainder.) You can donate through our GoFundMe campaign
athttps://gofund.me/7b49af9a and/or start collecting books for collection in May (details coming soon on the drop-off location!) If we exceed 1,200 books and our fundraising goal, we may be able to create a second library for another school in Africa! We are excited about the idea of our community coming together to enrich children's
lives through the power of reading. | It is time to purchase spiritwear! Use the QR code above, or THIS LINK! |
Follow us on Instagram! You can find us in three places:
@rusdpta
@delmar.middleschool.dragons
@reedschools |
Keep a lookout for the Student Bulletin, so you can keep up with student news, sports updates, Advisory Challenges, Club News, etc. The Bulletin is generally broadcast on Del Mar TV on Monday afternoons, and also emailed to parents and students. A link to the Student Bulletin is HERE. | Bell Schedule Our 2024-25 regular bell schedule can be found HERE. |
Attendance Instructions- Arriving Late? Leaving Early? | Leaving before end of day?
If your child must leave in the middle of any class, please send your child with a note to give to the teacher so they can excuse themselves in the middle of class. We do not ever want to call into a classroom unless there is an emergency, so please plan accordingly! If you need to pick your child up for any reason, 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. Any student leaving before the end of the day must be signed out by their parent or an authorized adult.
You'd like your child to sign out on their own? If you would like your child to excuse themselves and head out on their own, we must get that request in writing to delmar@reedschools.org and your child will need to sign out in the office
Student arriving late? Students arriving late to school must sign in with the office and get a tardy slip before going to class.
Full Day Absences:
Please call the office on the day of your child's absence by 8:00 a.m. (435-1468, ext. 1) 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 the classroom assignment. All assignments are available on the teacher websites. It is the student's responsibility to check the websites and make up for missed work once they are healthy.
| To call the front office dial 415-435-1468 ext. 2 or email the office managers, Laurie Kristy at lkristy@reedschools.org
or Lisa Grinnell at lgrinnell@reedschools.org, If you or your child need tech help, email: help@reedschools.org. Our WEBSITE is HERE. 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 |
|
