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Middle School > Gr. 6 Frequently Asked Questions > Gr. 6 FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
 












































When do we find out who my child has as their 6th grade teacher?
Parents are notified in early August as to who their child's teacher will be for the school year.  

A great deal of time, effort and thought goes into making the teacher assignments for this year.  Realizing that we have tried very hard to match student’s needs with teaching styles as well as develop classroom cohesiveness, we are asking that these teacher assignments be honored.  Our sixth grade teachers work very closely together and will make the year enjoyable, safe and a year of academic growth.

When is the 6th Grade Open House?
Parents of 6th graders will be notified in early August as to the 6th grade orientation/open house date.  

What is the Kindness Retreat?
The Kindness Retreat is presented by Youth Frontiers Inc. from Minneapolis. Youth Frontiers Inc. works with students in grades 4 through 12, providing retreats on important values such as respect, courage, integrity and kindness. The focus fro our 6th graders is KINDNESS.  Our guest speakers will mix group interactive games and small group discussions and topic-based talks on bullying and how to stand up for others. It is the goal of this retreat to help create a sense of empathy among students which in turn helps create an atmosphere of non-violence in our school.

The Kindness retreat is typically held the first week of school on that Friday.  Your child will come together with his or her classmates for a day long, 5 hours retreat held in the HS auditorium.
 

What are the building hours?
The school office is open to students/parents beginning at 7:00 AM each morning and closes at 4:00 PM each afternoon. Direct supervision of the hallways begins at 7:35 AM each day and ends at 3:15 PM each afternoon.

Do we have daily announcements available to parents?
Daily announcements are available to students, parents and community members on the high school and middle web pages. Look for “Middle School Daily Announcements” button on the main district page and Middle School webpage. Many DE parents have found the Middle School daily announcements very helpful.

What time does school begin and end?
The school day begins at 8:15am, the school day ends at 3:07pm.

What time will my child be eating lunch?
Sixth graders go to lunch at 12:13pm, eat lunch and then have a recess time until 12:55pm. Recess takes place in the gym or outside, weather permitting.

What if my student is absent from school?
If a student is unexpectedly absent from school, the parent or guardian is asked to call the high school office as soon as possible in the morning on the day of the absence. The phone number is 545-2631 or 866-847-9863 from Dover. If a phone call is received, a note is not necessary.

Where should I drop-off/pickup my child at school?
Please use the High School Main Entrance (East Side of HS, by the flags) at all times when dropping off students. This avoids interfering with the bus pickup and drop off on the west side, creating a safer environment. When you drop your children off, please instruct them to follow the designated rules and to join the others in the cafeteria or gymnasium.

Is my 6th grader required to bring a change of clothes for physical education?
Sixth graders are not required to change clothes for PE, if they do choose to change they are given time by the classroom teacher. All 6th through 10th grade students are required to participate in physical education unless a written doctor’s temporary excuse is on file with the instructor. Students unable to participate on a temporary basis will be given alternative written assignments in the area of physical education.
Please review the class syllabus regarding details about physical education grading. This information can also be found on the physical education teachers’ webpage on the high school web site.

What if my student is late to school?
Any student who has been absent for any part of the day is required to report to the principal's office upon returning to school to acquire an admit slip. The student will then show the slip to all teachers.

What if my child needs to leave early for an appointment?
If a student has been in school any part of the day but plans to be absent from school later, the school must be notified by the parent prior to the time the student leaves. The student must acquire a Permit to Leave the Building pass from the principal’s office before leaving the school building.

When are late starts and early dismissals?
Our current academic calendar is posted on the district’s web page, www.desch.org, click on “District”, then “academic calendar”.

Where can I find information about school supplies?
Supply lists are found on the front page of the school district website. After school starts, they can be found on the Middle School webpage area on the district web site.

Are there opportunities to volunteer at the Middle School?
Volunteers are eagerly welcomed in our school. Talk to your child’s teacher about specific needs but some of the ways you could be helpful would be to volunteer to:
P.T.O. Volunteers Room Parent
Read in Classrooms Help with Middle School Activity Nights
Help with Book Fairs Help at Track & Field Day in May
Art Room Project preparation Bulletin Boards

Please sign the volunteer notebook (in the main office) each time you come to school to volunteer. You may be asked to wear a visitor pass while in the building

How do I put money into my child’s lunch account?
Checks should be written out to D-E Food and Nutrition. Please write your student’s first and last name on the bottom of your check. You may write one check for multiple students as long as all students are in the same building. If you have students at both buildings, please submit a separate check for each building. Please place the check in an envelope marked LUNCH PAYMENT. After the first day of school, payments can be sent to school with your students.

Submit a prepayment of $200.00 or more per student account and each account will receive a $10.00 bonus. The bonus money will be added directly to your student’s lunch account and may be used to purchase meals or ala carte items. Don’t miss out!

Be sure to check out Option #3 of the payment options.
Parents love the convenience of the Automatic Prepayment Plan and it is free!

PayPams.com Online Payment Solution provides parents with a safe and convenient way to prepay for students’ school meals online. PayPams.com alleviates lost and forgotten lunch money, and the issues associated with students carrying cash to school. PayPams charges a $1.95 service fee for each per student transaction. For more information, log onto www.paypams.com.

INSUFFICIENT FUNDS POLICY
The Dover-Eyota School District has a no charging policy: students must have money in their account to receive a meal.
Secondary students (Grades 6-12) are given a verbal warning when their account is $5.00 or less.

What if my student’s account balance falls below zero? K-12 students will not be allowed to purchase a lunch or ala carte items, but will be offered a sandwich and a carton of milk.


If my child is struggling academically, do you have an after school program?
An after school program takes place in the Media Center Monday-Thursday from 3:15-4:15 PM each day. The program is utilized by students attending at their own discretion as well as students who are referred by a classroom teacher or parent. It offers an environment in which the student can complete work as well as get additional help with homework.