Dean Morgan Junior High - Principal: Walt Wilcox

Know what to expect in middle school

People experience greater success when they know what to expect. In middle school, expect to find the following:

1. New teachers and classmates. For many students, going to middle school means going to a different, and often, larger school. This is the case for Dean Morgan. For all students, middle school means at least nine new teachers each semester, hundreds of new classmates, and many new friends.

2. Lots of new things to adjust to such as hallway lockers, physical education (pe) lockers, multiple lunch periods and changing classes up to five (5) times a day. These are just a few of the new things that middle school students have to adjust to.

3. Extracurricular activities and athletic programs. Dean Morgan offers a variety of activities and activities for our students. We have over 30 clubs and activities offered in grades 6-9. Students can participate in sports such as: cheerleading, football, cross-country, volleyball, swimming, alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, wrestling, basketball and track/field. Ninth graders can participate in these sports as well as golf and tennis.

4. More independence and more responsibility are expected in middle school. Middle school students are expected to be mature and responsible enough to handle the additional freedoms they’re given.

5. Greater academic pressure. The courses are more difficult, there is more homework than in grade school, and the students are expected to do more work on their own.

6. More social events. There are more opportunities for social activities in middle school. Some students also discover that there’s also more social pressure.

7. Many changes. During middle school, students grow and change a great deal, both physically and socially.

8. A busier schedule. Middle school students have more activities, more homework, and more responsibilities. Therefore, Dean Morgan middles school students need to be more organized.

Teach Responsibility For Learning & Behavior

A child who understands and accepts responsibility will do better in school. And the very best place for your child to learn to take responsibility is right at home. Teach your child to:

• Set goals. At the beginning of the week, help your child identify one goal, write it on a piece of paper and post it in a prominent spot. Talk about how to accomplish the goal. Help your child break it down into smaller steps. At the end of the week, did your child achieve the goal? Talk together about why or why not.

• Be organized for school. Together, decide where your child can keep everything for school—books and supplies, completed homework assignments, special projects, permission slips. Your child’s final responsibility each evening is to put everything for school the following
day in that place.

Allow your child to experience the consequences when assignments are not completed, chores are not done or commitments are not honored. Praise your child for demonstrating responsibility.

Promote Respect At Home & At School

Some children act disrespectfully because they think it’s cool. It’s what they see at school and on TV. Others act rudely because they haven’t yet learned good social skills. This is how you can help:

• Be a model of respect. Speak politely and ask for your child’s opinions. Listen attentively before you draw conclusions or make decisions. Admit when you’re wrong and your child is right.

• Expect respect. Talk to your child about the behavior you expect. Teach the Golden Rule. Expect everyone to be treated kindly.

• Make sure your child knows basic social skills—shaking hands when being introduced, saying please, thank you and other kind words, taking turns, and listening to others without interrupting.

Polite behaviors will help your child pay attention to what the teacher says—and learn more. With consistent rules of respect to follow, your child will do better in school and throughout life.

Attention Parents and Students
Important Information ...

2008-2009 DM Calendar

September 1. . . . . . . . . . .        Labor day - no school - office closed

NWEA Fall testing window Sept 2-19       ----------------------------     NWEA Fall testing window Sept 2-19

September 2. . . . . . . . . . . .      Back-to-School-Night   6:30-8:30 p.m.
                                9^th Gymnastics @ NCHS
September 3. . . . . . . . . . . .      7th DM football @ Centennial after school
                                                8th DM football @ DM playing Centennial after school
September 4. . . . . . . . . . . .      PTA luncheon meeting 11:30-12:45 pm library
                                                7/8th combo DM1 football @ DM1 playing Centennial after school
                                                9th DM VBall 4pm @ CY
                                                9th DM Football @ Sheridan 4:30pm
September 5. . . . . . . . . . . .      7/8th combo DM2 football @ Frontier after school
September 6. . . . . . . . . . . .      8th DM VBall @ Riverton Tourney
                                                9th DM VBall 10am & 12:30pm @ DM w/Gillette
                                                8th DM football @ Riverton

September 8. . . . . . . . . . .        Health and Wellness Committee 7a.m. Room 104
                                                7/8th DM1 football @ Centennial after school
September 9. . . . . . . . . . .        7th DM football @ DM playing Centennial after school
                                                9th DM VBall 4pm @ DM w/Buffalo
September 10. . . . . . . . . . . .     PTA Sponsored Ice Cream Social at each lunch period
September 11. . . . . . . . . . . .     9th DM VBall 4pm @ Cent
                                                7/8th DM2 football @ DM2 playing Frontier after school
                                                9th DM Football @ Centennial 4:00pm
September 13. . . . . . . . . . . .     9th DM VBall 10am & 12pm @ DM w/Sheridan & Laramie

September 15. . . . . . . . . . .       School Improvement Meeting 3-4:00 p.m. DM Library
                                                7th DM football @ CY after school
                                                7/8th DM1 football @ DM1 playing CY after school
September 16. . . . . . . . . . .       9th DM JV only VBall 4pm @ DM w/Riverton
                                                7/8th DM2 football @ Centennial after school
September 17. . . . . . . . . . . .     Exclusion day @ 8:00 a.m. For lack of immunization
                                Comet Block Meeting 7:15-8:50 a.m. Room 219A
                                                DM Discovery/Problem Solving Team meets today
                                Progress Reports/Eligibility check
September 18. . . . . . . . . . .       Safety and CMT meeting 7:15-7:50 a.m. Lounge
                                                8th DM football @ CY after school
                                                7/8th DM2 football @ DM2 playing CY after school
September 19. . . . . . . . . . .       Hat day @ DM
                                                7th DM football @ Centennial after school
September 20 . . . . . . . . . .        9th DM VBall 8am @ Gillette Tourney
                                                9th DM Football @ Twin Spruce playing Rapid City Central 10am

September 22. . . . . . . . . .         6th grade Enrichment Day        Team A
                                                8th DM football @ DM playing CY after school
                                                7/8th DM1 football @ CY after school
September 23. . . . . . . . . . . .     6th grade Enrichment Day        Team B
                                NCSD Pay day
                                                7th DM football @ DM playing CY after school
September 25. . . . . . . . . . . .     Technology meeting   3:00-4:00 p.m. Library
                                                8th DM A/B football @ Douglas after school
                                                9th DM Football @ NCHS playing Riverton 4:00pm
                                                9th DM VBall 4pm @ DM w/CY
September 26. . . . . . . . . . . .     DM Literacy Team meets today

September 29. . . . . . . . . . . .     7/8th DM1 football @ Frontier after school
                                                7/8th DM2 football @ CY after school
September 30. . . . . . . . . . . .     8th DM1 football @ Frontier after school

Open gym starts on Tuesday Sept. 2 before the school day (7:25-7:50am).

The gym is open to all students at Dean Morgan Junior High School before school starts in the morning. Basketballs and Volleyballs will be put out for student use. Your best behavior is expected. Poor behavior, poor sportsmanship or harassment of any kind will result in removal from open gym privileges. Also, any horseplay or rough housing will result in your removal and you will lose your open gym privileges. All school rules apply to open gym.

The open gym is a great place to burn off some energy, get some exercise and work on your skills before school starts in the morning. Please do not bring drinks in the gym. We have cold drinking fountains available. If you have any questions regarding open gym before school in the morning ask Mr. Wragge, Mr. Murphy, or the campus supervisors.

Improvement Plan information Math Dean Morgan continues its dedication to creating improvements in the math assessment scores. Morgan recently adopted NCSD approved mathematics materials for all students in grades 6-9. Math teachers are being trained to successfully implement these programs. Our adoption of MathThematics and the College Prep Mathematics programs are research-based to increase student achievement. These programs are problem-centered, application based, and use technology where appropriate. Students who complete MathThematics and CPM will have the knowledge, ability, and confidence to explore mathematics at the middle school level and learn skills that prepare them for high school and beyond. The training throughout the school year has enabled our teachers to transition from traditional teaching methods to practices that facilitate active learning in the math classrooms. Our adoption of MathThematics and the College Prep Mathematics programs are designed to integrate communication into mathematics by providing opportunities for students to use reading, writing and speaking as tools for learning mathematics. Our future actions will include more training for all math teachers throughout the next school year with a full-time math coach who collaborates with all teachers to improve math instruction and also assists in monitoring student progress. We have also implemented a learning math tutoring model (before, during and after school) to work with all students, Credit Recovery program for 9th graders, Accelerated pathways for advanced learners and a Jump Start Summer School Program to focus on math skills.	Improvement Plan information Reading Dean Morgan has seen great improvements in reading over the past several years. We are proud of the importance we place on all aspects of literacy. Evidence of this is in the DM Strategic Literacy Plan that supports student achievement in reading for all levels of learners. A Literacy Team, which has representation from every department in the building, oversees the implementation of the plan. Teachers receive continuing staff development in instructional strategies to help students with content learning in all classes. They also believe that the teaching of reading and writing is everyoneÕs responsibility. They act as literacy role models and are working to create literacy-rich environments in their classrooms. Students are matched with books at their reading levels. They participate in Sustained Silent Reading daily. Programs are available to support improved literacy for all. The 6th and 7th grade students are also required to enroll in reading courses at Morgan. The Morgan Readers, an after school club, is currently using Comet TV to promote reading. The entire school community participates in ÒMorgan Reads a MillionÓ in the quest to read one million pages. The school also utilizes a full-time reading coach who collaborates with all teachers and assists in monitoring student progress. In addition to this, staff members participate in professional development several times a month to strengthen their instructional skills around reading instruction. We have also implemented a literacy tutoring model, Credit Recovery program for 9th graders, Accelerated pathways for advanced learners, reading remedial assistance courses and a Jump Start Summer School Program to focus on math skills
Improvement Plan information Language arts (writing and language use) Dean Morgan continues to create improvements in language and writing. We strongly support the belief that writing and reading are connected. We are proud of the importance we place on the 6 + 1 traits of Writing and the Step Up to Writing Programs. Every course at Morgan emphasizes the importance of the writing process to become better writers. Students are immersed in the research and reference processes that will prepare them for success in high school. Grammar and spelling are important at every grade level. The school also utilizes a full-time assessment/technology coach who collaborates with all teachers in addressing areas for improvement. We have also implemented a literacy tutoring model, Credit Recovery program for 9th graders, Accelerated pathways for advanced learners, language remedial assistance courses and a Jump Start Summer School Program to focus on writing skills.
...	Challenge Classes at DMJH! Please contact Principal Walt Wilcox for enrollment information. Dean Morgan's Academic Challenge Program is heading into its thirteenth year of offering quality educational opportunities for 7th and 8th grade students. The program has attracted students throughout Natrona County because of its unique approach towards addressing the needs of academically talented/advanced student. We offer advanced tracks for accelerated learners in math, language arts, science and social studies/history. The students who enroll in the Academic Challenge Program are prepared for a successful transition into programs and classes at NCHS and Kelly Walsh such as: The Academy Program, International Baccalaureate Diploma Program, Honors courses, Advanced courses and Advanced Placement (AP) courses. The Academic Challenge Program is geared for highly motivated, academically talented students who are willing to challenge themselves to achieve excellence above and beyond the traditional classroom setting. The program is designed for students who place high expectations upon themselves.