[Msparents] Friday 12/21 @ DMS

[Lori L. Marek]

Dear DMS Parents,

Middle school students will have a busy and entertaining day this Friday
to celebrate the successful completion of the first semester.  To begin
with, students will report to their 2nd period classes for official
attendance and any last-minute obligations to be cleared, messages to be
distributed, etcetera.  Around 8:45, students will be called to the
cafeteria for our annual talent show, which will begin at 9:00.  (Students
with obligations will not attend the festivities, but have study hall in a
classroom.)  In between talent show acts, we will be calling students up
to the stage to recognize them for their participation in UIL literary
events.  Winning students will also receive their medals at this time. 
When the talent show concludes, students will have a short break outside
and then return to the cafeteria for a school dance.  Around 11:15,
students will be served a sack lunch from the cafeteria and be given
additional break time outside.  Your child does not have to eat a sack
lunch.  He/she may bring a lunch from home or choose to wait and eat later
in the day after the early release.  When all students have been served
and had time to eat, we will call them back inside for a little more
dancing and our big first semester awards assembly.  We will be holding
prize drawings for perfect and near-perfect attendance as well as effort
and marked improvement on our fall benchmark tests.  After the awards, as
time permits, they may get in a few more dances, and then the bell with
ring at 1:00 p.m. for buses and parent pick-up.

Students do not need to bring their binders or any other supplies to
school on Friday--unless they know they owe work or corrections to a
teacher and will be spending time in that teacher's room to finish during
the talent show or dance.  Students may come out of uniform on Friday as
well, IF dressed in the "holiday spirit" (a holiday-themed T-shirt or
sweater, red/green/white/silver/gold clothing or accessories, etc...). 
Santa and elf hats, Christmas-colored caps, cowboy hats with red ribbons
tied around the brim, reindeer antlers, and other such  holiday-inspired
headgear are also allowed on Friday.  

Many students choose to bring gifts or cards of appreciation to their
teachers on Friday, and they will be allowed to deliver them in the
morning before the talent show.  In the past, some students have also
brought gifts for their friends.  I caution you about sending those
because they are often left behind accidentally (or even stolen) as
students are not in classrooms and don't want to hold onto their gifts
while dancing and having fun.  It's better to bring "friend-gifts" before
Friday, or even better--deliver them outside of the school day.

For those of you who regularly check your child's grades online, please be
aware that teachers will continue to work on grades and update them
through January 7, the day teachers return from the holiday for a work
day.  Final grades will be due that day, and report cards will be sent
home on Wednesday, January 9.  Students will return from the holiday on
Tuesday, January 8.  As a reminder, the grades from the 2nd nine weeks
(not the semester average) will be used to determine UIL eligibility as
well as stock show eligibility for the Medina County and San Antonio shows.

I hope your child has had a successful and productive first semester, and
will continue on the path to success this spring.  Please let me know if I
can assist you in any way.  I hope you enjoy your holiday, travel safely,
and are blessed with quality time spent with family and friends.  On
behalf of the entire DMS staff, I wish you and your family a Merry
Christmas and the happiest of new years!

Cordially,

Lori L. Marek
Principal

Devine Middle School
400 Cardinal
Devine, TX 78016

ph 830.851.0695
fax 830.663.6769

"It's not the years in your life that count.  It's the life in your
years."  - Abraham Lincoln