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DeKalb Middle School

10/9/26 Family Friday Five

Posted Date: 10/09/26 (04:25 PM)
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Family Friday Five

DMS Principal's Weekly Newsletter

October 9, 2026

🍂 Fall Break Field Guide for Barons and Their Families 🍂

Fall break is a chance to slow down, unplug, and make memories. No big budget or plan needed. Here are some ideas for the whole family!

🍁 Get Outside
  • Leaf Scavenger Hunt: Find a red leaf, an acorn, a pinecone, something fuzzy, something smooth. Winner gets bragging rights.
  • Hike or Bike Ride: Try a new trail or park. Everyone shares one cool thing they noticed.
  • Bonfire or Flashlight Night: Roast marshmallows, tell stories, and stargaze.
  • Jump in a Leaf Pile: Yes, middle schoolers are allowed.

🎃 Get Creative
  • Pumpkin Palooza: Carve or paint a theme, like “Book Characters.” Roast the seeds!
  • Fall Bake-Off: Let your student lead on apple crisp or pumpkin muffins. Measuring is sneaky math practice.
  • Fall Photo Challenge: Take 10 photos of fall color, light, and texture. Make a family collage.

🏡 Family Time
  • Game Night Tournament: Keep a scoreboard all week. Winner picks dinner!
  • Cook Dinner Together: Your student plans the menu and cooks one meal.
  • Family Interview: Ask a grandparent or neighbor about life at your age.

💛 Give Back
  • Rake leaves for a neighbor.
  • Write a thank-you note to a teacher, coach, or friend.
  • Donate outgrown clothes and books.

🔴⚫ The Baron Challenge
Show your Portrait of a Baron skills! Collaborate on a family project, show Empathy with a kind act, and Persevere through a tricky recipe or puzzle. Snap a photo of your favorite moment to share when we return!

Most of all, rest and enjoy the people you love. Even one small tradition, like hot cocoa on a chilly morning, can become a favorite memory.

Go Barons! 
A flyer for "Scairport" aviation trunk or treat at Auburn DeKalb Executive Airport on Oct 24, 2026.
An orange Halloween flyer for 'Spook & Stroll' on October 30, featuring bats, spiders, stars, and a haunted house silhouette.

After fall break...

After fall break, we will be moving Student Success Time (SST) to first period. This change will allow us to start each day by connecting with students, addressing attendance and academic needs, and ensuring students are ready for a successful day of learning. 

Please be prepared for this schedule change when we return, and thank you for helping us make SST an intentional and meaningful start to each school day!
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Christmas Opportunity

The holidays should be a time of joy, not worry. If your family could use some extra support this season, the DeKalb County Christmas Bureau is here for you.

If you need a referral form please speak with your child's school counselor. Applications are open through October for DeKalb County families with children under 18. Please see the referral for location information.  Completed applications are due November 1.

Questions? Call SonShine Ministries at 260-925-9200, ext. 305 or 301.
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🔴⚫ Rock Your School Week Wrap-Up ⚫🔴

Dear DMS Families,

What a week! Last week’s Rock Your School Week was packed with spirit, movement, and kindness. Every SST class earned points for their grade level, and the competition was exciting right down to the final tally.

🏆 And the Winner Is...🥇 6th Grade! 🥇

Our 6th graders finished on top with 10,085 points. They take home the Rock Your School trophy 🏆 and an ice cream treat 🍦 for every 6th grader to celebrate. Congratulations!

Final Standings
  • 🥇 6th Grade: 10,085 points
  • 🥈 7th Grade: 9,822 points
  • 🥉 8th Grade: 4,167 points
Together, DMS earned 24,074 points this week. Seventh grade finished just 263 points behind the winners, so it was a nail-biter.

🎸 How the Week Rocked

🎩 Monday, Rock Your Hat. Students and staff showed off their favorite hats to kick things off with a smile.
🎨 Tuesday, Rock Your Colors. The Barons brought the color and the spirit. Students also wrote thank-you cards to show appreciation for our custodial team, who keep our building running.
⏰ Wednesday, Rock the Clock. Our 7th graders won this competition and earned a 1,000-point bonus for their grade. Great job, Barons!
🏃 Thursday, Rock the Mile. Each grade took its turn at the high school track with 15 minutes to run or walk. Every lap earned a point for the student’s SST class. Runners took lanes 1–4 and walkers took lanes 5–8, so everyone could take part at their own pace.
🖤 Friday, Blackout Bullying. Our biggest day of the week! DMS and DHS came together for a convocation with a clear message: our schools stand against bullying. The day included choir performances, staff-versus-student volleyball games, a human ring toss, and a scavenger hunt on the gym floor. Friday also brought in more points than any other day, which shows how much our Barons care about being kind.

More Than Points

Rock Your School Week was really about community. Our students showed the Collaboration, Empathy, and Perseverance from our Portrait of a Baron. They encouraged each other on the track, thanked the people who care for our school, and stood together for kindness.

Thank you to our SST teachers for tracking points and keeping the energy high, and to you, our families, for supporting your students all week.

Enjoy a well-deserved fall break. We can’t wait to see everyone back at school!

Go Barons! 
Mrs. Wisehart
Principal, DeKalb Middle School

🏅 DMS Athletics

Our Baron athletic department gives students a chance to compete, grow, and represent DMS with pride. 

Beyond the wins and losses, athletics teach teamwork, perseverance, and good sportsmanship, all part of our Portrait of a Baron. 

We’re proud of every student-athlete and grateful to the coaches, families, and fans who cheer them on. 

If you have any questions or concerns about our athletic programs, please contact Brett Eltzroth, Athletic Director, or Erika Jordan, Athletic Secretary. Go Barons! 🔴⚫
A promotional poster for a Fall Sports Awards Night featuring a knight mascot and the text 'BARONS'.
A flyer for Dekalb Middle School detailing upcoming events from October 12 to 16, featuring a football and volleyball.
A sports newsletter graphic for DMS Volleyball, detailing match recaps and player highlights for the 7th and 8th grade teams.
A sports newsletter for the DeKalb Middle School Barons Football team with scores and game summaries.
A black image features white vertical text on the left side that reads "questions to ask your student".

Questions to ask your student...

  1. What was your favorite competition day for Rock Your School Week?
     
  2. What was the Blackout Bullying Convocation like at DHS?
     
  3. What hands on activities did you do in your classrooms for Rock Your School Week? 

Mrs. Wisehart

Principal, DMS