Dear DLMS Families,

It is hard to believe the first nine weeks of the 2025-2026 school year will be complete on Monday, October 27th! ! It has been an exciting start to the year, and we already have so much to celebrate regarding our students' hard work and growth. The staff at DLMS could not be prouder of the effort our  students have put in.

The second grading period officially begins next week, on Tuesday, October 28th. 

The end of the first trimester is Monday, November 17th. 

Update to Personalized Learning (PL)

As we enter this new grading period, we are excited to announce an update to the structure of our daily Personalized Learning (PL) period (period 5). This 30-minute block is designed for student enrichment or academic intervention.

To make this time even more impactful, we are implementing a more formalized structure, including a once-per-week 30-minute silent reading session. This dedicated time will be crucial in helping students focus on their independent reading novels, which are required for the independent reading project assigned by our ELA classes each grading period.

Students in Strings, Reading Intervention, or a Resource class will still attend those classes during PL. 

Looking Ahead

We look forward to having a great second grading period as we head toward the holiday season. Please note that both our 7th grade (November 25th)  and 8th grade students (November 13th) have field trips scheduled in November—additional details on these events will be shared shortly.

In November, the 8th grade students will have the opportunity to participate in the A.W. Beattie Roadshow, which will bring a sampling of several of the programs offered through the career center to DLMS.  The 7th grade students will participate in the experiential career fair on November 18th. 

Children's Grief Awareness Day is November 20th.

Thanksgiving break begins on Wednesday, November 26th with students returning to school on Tuesday, December 2nd. 

In the meantime, here are a few friendly reminders to help keep your student on track:

• Absence Notes: Please ensure you send in a note following any student absence.

• Checking Grades: Keep track of your student's academic progress by regularly checking their grades via Skyward.

• Stay Informed: Use Parent / Student  Square to stay up-to-date on all of the happenings, important announcements, and events around the school.

Let's make the second grading period a good one!

Sincerely,

Dr. Abate and Dr. LaMantia