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DeKalb Middle School

10/23/26 Family Friday Five

Posted Date: 10/23/26 (12:22 PM)
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A graphic design featuring the text "WE ARE DEKALB Middle School" with "24-25" at the top, set against a black background.

Family Friday Five

DMS Principal's Weekly Newsletter

October 23, 2026

🎃📚🎉 Upcoming Events at DMS! 🎉📚🎃

Barons, families, we have some fun things coming up! Mark your calendars! 🗓️

Thursday, October 29 - CHECKPOINT 1 - English Language Arts - iLearn (more information coming on Wednesday)

👻 Spook & Stroll 📅 Friday, October 30 - ⏰ 1:45 - 3:20 p.m.
Our students will stroll through stations around the building and collect candy along the way. 🍬 Costumes are encouraged, but please no masks or inappropriate costumes.Donations of candy are welcome. 

📅 Now through Friday, October 30 ----> 📚 Yearbook LAST CHANCE! Last year’s yearbooks are available in the front office, but they go back to the printer on Friday, October 30. Call 260-920-1013 or email Andrea Haskins (ahaskins@dekalbcentral.net) to purchase yours before they’re gone!

🕵️ Mission: Middle School (Family Night + Book Fair)
 📅 Tuesday, November 3 | ⏰ 6:00–8:00 PM
Your next family mission awaits! This open-house-style evening is full of:
 🎯 Giant family games
 🏀 Basketball challenges 
 🎨 An interactive art project
 💛 A chance to spread kindness
 🎮 eSports
 📚 The Scholastic Book Fair
 🤫 Top-secret teacher stats (what could possibly go wrong?)
 🍕 Family pizza for just $5. Register HERE in advance to reserve yours! 
 🍿 Concessions
 🏆 Come early and catch the basketball game!
Registration also lets you sponsor a dinner for another family, donate to help offset costs, or sign up to help with set-up (5 PM) or clean-up (8 PM).

📖 Book Fair Extras: Can’t make it Tuesday? Shop online November 2–13, and DMS receives 25% of sales. Purchases over $35 ship free! Want to send money without your kiddo spending it all on cookies? 🍪 Set up an eWallet through Scholastic. The money stays in your account to spend at the Book Fair or online.

✨ The Baron Ball: A Winter Night to Remember ✨
 📅 Friday, December 4 | ⏰ 6:00–8:00 PM
 🎟️ $15 per person | 🍽️ Dinner & Dance | 👗🤵 Formal Event
The Baron Ball is an 8th grade only dance. Get ready to dress up and enjoy a winter evening with your classmates! 💃🕺 Does your student need help with formal wear or the cost of a ticket? They can request assistance on the Guidance Google Classroom. We want every 8th grader to be able to join the fun! 💙
We can’t wait to see you! 💙❤️

An orange Halloween flyer for Dekalb Middle Schools announcing a Spook & Stroll event on October 30.
A spy-themed poster for Mission Middle School Scholastic Book Fair, on Tuesday, November 3, 6-8 PM.
A white event flyer decorated with gold snowflakes advertises 'The Baron Ball' for 8th graders on Friday, December 4.

🧪 Spark Curiosity: DMS Science Fair 🧬

Is your student curious about how things work, passionate about a specific topic, or looking for a fun challenge? We are excited to announce this year’s DMS Science Fair!

To set our Barons up for success, we are launching the Science Fair Club! 

Meeting regularly in Mrs. Henderson’s science classroom during Q2 Friday club time, this club gives students a dedicated space to brainstorm ideas, conduct experiments, and complete official paperwork with hands-on teacher support—taking the stress out of doing it all at home. 

Whether your student already has a project idea or doesn't even know where to start, all students are welcome! Participation in the club is NOT required to complete science fair, just a bonus option!

  • How to Sign Up: Complete our quick student interest form here: https://forms.gle/WZnuz73P1nFLEAJr9
  • Club Meetings: SST Club Time in Room C115 (club is not required to participate in science fair)
  • Requirements: Registration Form is due on November 2nd - found with your student's science teacher or in the main office. Science Fair Presentations are during school the morning of Wednesday, February 3rd.
  • Questions? Contact Mrs. Henderson at LHenderson@dekalbcentral.net or Leah Henderson on Parent Square.

A glowing red number three marquee sign against a dark background.

🚫😤 No Complaining November: Join Us, Barons Families! 💛

Good news, DMS families: November is almost here, and we’re taking on a challenge together!

What is No Complaining November?
Research shows that most people complain about once a minute in a typical conversation. Complaining is tempting because it feels good in the moment. But just like a pound of purple Skittles for breakfast 🍬, it isn’t great for us. Complaining affects our bodies, our relationships, and even the way our brains work.

This month, we’re challenging our whole school community to replace complaining with gratitude. When we feel the urge to complain, we pause and either find something to be thankful for or turn the complaint into a plan to solve the problem. Venting tells someone what’s wrong. Communicating helps fix it.

As Maya Angelou said, “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.”

What’s coming at school?
  • ✅ Our staff will sign No Complaining posters and hang them outside their classrooms to show they’re taking the challenge too. (We may mess up. That’s part of modeling it!)
  • ✅ During Morning Meeting and SST, students will be invited to choose to take the challenge.
  • ✅ Together, we’re building a culture of solving problems instead of just talking about them.
Join us at home! 🏠
We’d love for your family to take the challenge with us. Here are some easy ways to start:
  1. Print a poster and hang it on the fridge or by the door (link below).
  2. Sign it as a family to show everyone’s in.
  3. Try the swap. When a complaint slips out, follow it with one thing you’re thankful for, or one idea to fix the problem.
  4. Share a gratitude at dinner. Everyone names one good thing from their day.
  5. Be patient with each other. Nobody’s perfect, and that’s the point. Habits take time, and it helps to build them together.
Grab your posters! 📌
Keep an ear out! Your student will soon be hearing about the challenge at school, and they’ll love teaching you the rules.

Let’s do this together, Barons. We are DeKalb. 🔴⚫
Mrs. Wisehart
A large, three-dimensional red number four outlined with glowing white lightbulbs against a black background.

Red Ribbon Week - Dress Up Days!

The week of 10/26 - 10/30 is Red Ribbon Week.

Monday: Dress to Unimpress
Tuesday: Hat Day - $1 for Junior Achievement
Wednesday: Student/Teacher Swap
Thursday: Rhyme Without Reason
Friday: Costume Day
A red and black flyer for Red Ribbon Week, October 26-30, detailing daily dress-up themes from Monday to Friday.

Athletics

🏈 Great Finish, Barons! 🏀
Our 8th grade football team wrapped up their season with a 46–14 conference tournament win over Riverview! 👏 We’re so proud of these young men. Once a Baron, always a Baron! ❤️🖤

Now let’s pack the gym for our 6th grade boys basketball team! Join us Thursday, Oct. 29 at 5:30 as they take on Lakewood Park at DeKalb. Come cheer on the Barons! 🏀
A promotional flyer for upcoming basketball events featuring a basketball on a court.
A sports graphic summarizing the DeKalb Middle School Barons' 46-14 football win over Riverview in the conference tournament.
White vertical text on a black background reads "questions to ask your student".

Questions to ask your student...

  1. How do you plan to dress up for Red Ribbon Week?
  2. What was your favorite part of Morning Meeting this week?
  3. What costume are you going to wear on October 30 at DMS?
  4. What is something interesting you learned in class this week?
  5. Have you thought about a project idea or joining the Science Fair Club this year? 

Mrs. Wisehart

Principal, DMS