The Lair Lowdown

Welcome DPS community, staff and students to the 22-23 school year at DPS!

Without a local newspaper here in Deshler, and with the increasing costs of paper, printing and postage, we wanted to find an effective way to communicate with our community. We will be putting together a quarterly newsletter to be shared with our patrons, and have yet another form of communication. However, we would encourage all of you to download the Deshler Dragons app in the App Store (Apple users) or Google Play to stay up-to-date on a daily basis. The next newsletter will come mid-October (after quarter 1 is complete), as well as one in January and mid-March. To be signed up to receive this newsletter via email, simply fill out the form here: https://bit.ly/DPSNEWSLETTERSIGNUP.

DPS surveyed staff, students and parents over the course of the 22-23 school year, and we listened to your concerns. Our score increased in every area surveyed, so thank you for your input on what you would like to see changed! Below are the updates that were made or are in the process of being made thanks to YOUR feedback:

• Building Improvements: Items that were asked for including a more inviting entryway , locker rooms cleaned up, and hallway/classroom cleanup...we have done all of that! We have an entryway remodel, locker room updates (new showers & toiletries), storage available in locker rooms and a designated area for the refs, hallway cleanup with study areas with TVs on the wall, interactive TVs in every classroom, the addition of a conference room (& a place for testing or meetings to be held), an updated and carpeted ramp going to the elementary, carpeted tiled areas throughout the building, and we are continuing to work on updating/cleaning all of the areas within our building to create a more professional learning environment!
• Career Readiness & College Resources: College visits for all 7-12 students, Apply2College Day & FAFSA orientation (with individualized appts in 22-23!) are on the calendar, as well as mentorships for career readiness being set up in numerous fields, career interest surveys & programs matching students' interest areas (including more dual credit offerings) are scheduled, and we have added CNC and CNA classes!
  
• Orientation to DPS: We have a new course curriculum handbook, and we will have displays/sign ups held at our Open House with an activity flyer about extracurricular activities. You will notice that the office staff will now be greeting students/staff in the entryway every single day as well!
• Student Recognition: We will continue to have academic recognition at our home sporting events, MAPS celebrations, recognition for those in 3 or more extracurricular activities & those taking dual credit, honor roll and ACT recognition, as well as High Ability Learner (HAL) and Believers and Achievers nominees/winners being recognized. The first time for this in 22-23 will be at halftime of the Homecoming football game.
• Academic Support: With our After School Program (ASP) for K-12, an increase in 7-12 Home Room time, a new reading curriculum & intervention program, and the interactive delivery available through the new smart TVs, alongside our one-to-one technology, we are ready to help our students set academic/career goals in 22-23!
• Preparation for the Future: Beginning in 2022-23, there will be career readiness lessons each week, and we will continue with ACT prep with individualized teaching staff, ASVAB, Pre-ACT, career interest inventories, job tours, college campus visits by a student's career interest area for all 9-12 students, and all of our 7th & 8th grade students will be taking a 2-year and a 4-year college visit every year, as well as one in a career area.
• Quality Work: Home room time has been extended for 22-23 to meet with teachers, and we have groupings for career readiness skills within a career interest area.
• Meeting the Social Needs of our Students: We will continue to have a mental health therapist, guidance counselor, and youth outreach coordinator on site, as well as giving the SRSS and DESSA to intake student needs, continue with cyber citizenship training, visits from the Hope Crisis Center, TeamMates, and other speakers. Our common classroom expectations are being developed as well in 22-23.
• Students Feel Safe at School: Safety protocol drills are held, speakers on sex trafficking/digital citizenship/social media safety will continue, and we will continue to help kids learn how to take action when they do not feel safe. We will have all doors locked and cameras in all common areas.
• Students Feel Welcome at School: The entryway will now have a TV with announcements, office staff to greet students/visitors, and all classrooms now have interactive TVs and RiseVision software for daily announcements/information. Our open house has also been revised so that students will meet all staff members on this night.
• Speaking Positively About DPS: DPS will be implementing a LAIR problem solving model to help both parents/students understand how to work through problems: Locate, Analyze, Implement, and Reflect. Our MTSS team attended several days of training last summer and this summer to help develop this model, and we will be giving out magnets with the steps on it at the Open House. We are all on the same team, and hope that through working through these things together, students will report that their parents speak positively about DPS and the staff here.
• Parents Supporting Their Student at Home: The parent portal on PowerSchool means instant access to your student's grades/lunch balance/attendance and more! The Wednesday "missing" report is one more step to help our 7-12 students stay off the Ineligible Report which will continue to be ran on Fridays. We will continue to make daily social media posts supporting our students' successes. We have outstanding parent support, and it means a lot to both us as a staff AND to your student(s) to see all of us working together!
• Calendar of Activities: Daily posts on social media, announcements at school, bulletin for staff/students, and the list of "bookmarks" on where to find things has been created for both students and staff. We strongly encourage you to add the school calendar to your phone as well! Interactive TVs in the classroom will also have daily information.
• Staff Cares for DPS Students: Building strong relationships is a priority for our staff! We want to see YOUR student involved in our extracurricular activities to build relationships with sponsors/coaches/peers outside of the school day as well. Not sure how? Ask us - we would love to help you get involved and see our extracurricular activity involvement increase in numbers!

We are creating an environment where all of us will support and encourage each other.

GO DRAGONS!

Download the Deshler Dragons App

Find it in the App Store or Google Play!

Email: damon.mcdonald@deshlerdragons.org
Website: http://www.deshlerpublicschools.org
Location: 1402 3rd Street, Deshler, NE, USA
Phone: (402) 365-7272
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeshlerPublicSchools/
Twitter: @GoDragons

The school day will begin at 8:05 AM and conclude at 3:30 PM for ALL K-12 students this year! Along with this change, JH practices will be held at 7:30 AM and go through first period, meaning that JH students will be done at 3:30 PM daily & can ride school transportation - even if they are out for a sport!

The tardy bell will ring at 8:05 AM, meaning the doors will open at 7:30 AM (and breakfast will start this early as well). Those out for JH sports will have the opportunity to eat the "second chance" grab and go breakfast before 2nd period. 7-12 students should wait in the commons area prior to school beginning - not the gym (as practices will be going on).

The After School Program (ASP) will continue to run from 3:30 PM until 5 PM, Monday through Thursday. JH and HS students who are referred are expected to stay and complete missing/failing work or make up tests, etc., before going to sports practices or riding the bus home. Please notify us in advance if your child(ren) can't stay when asked, as the STUDENTS are responsible for communicating this information home. Elementary students are signed up in advance for ASP.

Speaking of tardies (and absences), this is something we will need to do a better job of enforcing this year. After 3 tardies, students will need to make up time with the teacher whose class they are tardy for after school is dismissed. Most class instruction is given at the start of class, missing this time means missing important academic information. Additionally, those who are absent over the 10-day maximum per semester will be referred to the attendance officer through the county attorney's office. Students are expected to make up work when they miss class (and this should be done in advance, if the students know they will be gone!).

Homecoming festivities are scheduled for the week of Labor Day with volleyball and cross country on Tuesday and Thursday of this week and the football game, coronation and dance on Friday, September 9th. Instead of a "kickoff" to Homecoming this year, we will be doing the pep rally on Friday, September 9th at 3:30 PM, and we encourage the public to attend! This is also the day of our Patriots Day Program, held at 9 AM in the high school gym. If the public is interested in participating in a parade on this day, let us know that as well, and we will get one organized!

Students in grades K-11 will begin their fall MAPS testing as early as Mon., Aug. 22nd. Students are challenged to meet/beat their scores from last winter/spring. Those who do will be recognized at the home games during Homecoming week, along with those taking dual credit classes and those who are High Ability Learners or are in 3 or more extracurricular activities.

Clothing orders are NOW available through Aug. 22nd. Online orders only being taken:

http://bit.ly/GODRAGONS

#BeTheLight

FCA is also selling shirts during this time, and that order form can be found at:

https://bit.ly/FCABETHELIGHT.

Payment for the FCA shirt should be dropped off at the school office.

Payment for these should be made out to DESHLER FCA.

The FAFSA opens on October 1st for seniors and is required to be considered for financial aid for college. It is free to apply, and we would encourage ALL of our seniors this year to complete the process. More details can be found below:

• FAFSA is a lengthy process & used yearly for college/scholarships!
• SAVE your password (used year after year) & apply early.
• Mon., 10/3 at 6:15 PM: LIVE FAFSA Completion Tutorial starting at 6:30 PM
• Wed., 10/5: Seniors will apply to college & seniors/parents are invited to watch the YouTube Video on How to Apply for Financial Aid in HS Library at 6:45 PM (Note you can watch from home – link not yet shared – or watch together in the library!).
• Mon., 10/17 & Tue., 10/18: Cody Fisher from EducationQuest will be taking appointments in 45-minute increments with seniors & their parents to complete the FAFSA. Here is a link to sign up for that: https://bit.ly/DPSFAFSASIGNUP.

Deshler Public Schools continue to stay on the cutting edge of curriculum implementation. The 2022-2023 school year features a new English Language Curriculum from McGraw Hill providing the proper scope and sequence for our K-12 program. It meets the demands of the Nebraska Department of Education and provides a program that will meet the needs of all of our students.

Wonders is the evidence-based K–5 English Language curriculum that empowers students to take an active role in learning and exploration. It features the best in class differentiation resources to support strong outcomes for all learners, and the meaningful, authentic literature invites students to explore and learn more about themselves and each other in the process.

StudySync is the complete 6-12 English Language Arts curriculum designed to meet the rigorous academic needs of today’s classroom. It is designed to engage every student, because every student deserves the same opportunity and access in the classroom, regardless of his or her language, learning level or physical, social and emotional ability. In grades sixth through eighth, instruction is focused on strong skills and standards-based instruction. Every day, students interact with high-quality classic and contemporary literature that’s rigorous, culturally relevant, and presented in an engaging digital format. At grades nine through twelve, StudySync provides instructional choice, presenting thematic units, novel study units, teacher-created units, and chronological options while ensuring 100 percent of Nebraska’s standards are met.

We are excited for our staff and students to be active participants in their educational journey. Go Dragons!!!!

If your child(ren) is in need of transportation, please contact Gary Olson at (402) 746-4591, and a bus driver will be assigned to you. The earliest drop off time for students is 7:30 AM at the northwest (gym entry) doors. K-6 pick up is on the east side of the building while 7-12 pick up is at the gym entrance. All doors are locked during the school day, so you will need to buzz to get in via the main entry between 8 AM - 4 PM. The school day is from 8:05 AM - 3:30 PM this year.

New student registration day is on August 4th from 8 AM - 11:30 AM and 12:30 PM - 4:30 PM.

The Early Development Network serves children from birth to age three and their families. A child is eligible for Early Development Network services if he or she is not developing typically, or has been diagnosed with a health condition that will affect his or her development. Identifying such delays or disabilities usually involves both the family and a team of professionals. To find out more, contact Dr. Damon McDonald, Elementary Principal, at (402) 365-7272.

All kindergarten and seventh grade students, as well as all students coming in from out of state, will be required to have a physical. This is also a time when immunizations will need to be up-to-date for registration purposes. Sports physicals and parental consent forms are required for all students planning to participate in sports in grades 7-12, prior to the first practice on August 8th.

Technology is a wonderful thing and at the same time, tragic if used improperly. Some students (and even adults) have a problem separating themselves from their devices. We encourage you to have your child put their technology in a public area and to discuss the dangers and repercussions of not being safe or responsible online. Laptops are owned and maintained by the school district. Having a device is a privilege and can be taken away at any time. All damages need to be reported as soon as possible to Technology Director, Andy Brenn. Any tampering or unauthorized apps will not be permitted and will result in a loss of device privileges.

Cyberbullying is bullying with the use of technology. The forms of technology used for bullying could be any social networking app, emails, cell phones and more. Parents need to be aware of what your child receives or sends to keep this type of activity out of the technology world. School should be a safe place to learn, and we once again ask that all cell phones remain out of the hands of students during class time. Phone use is permitted for grades 9-12 during lunch and in passing periods, but should not be used in the classroom without permission from the educator for classroom-related content. Videotaping or pictures of others that are not used for promotional purposes during school activities or on school grounds is prohibited.

All students will have their school devices and accounts (i.e, school Google accounts) monitored by Bark 24/7 both on and off campus. Bark will trigger alerts to the district administrator if there is suspicious or harmful activity.

College and Career Prep. All students will have a one credit College and Career Readiness course embedded in their Home Room time with weekly assignments.

American College Test (ACT). This test is a college entrance exam (and the basis of many scholarships) that is given during Sep/Oct/Dec/Feb/Apr and in June and July. Online registration is available at https://my.act.org/.

Education Quest. The step-by-step website at educationquest.org will provide information needed to complete the paperwork required for financial assistance, and will be used at all jr. - sr. high grade levels this year.

Scholarship and College Applications. Seniors will have a spreadsheet shared with them of all scholarships known to the guidance office. They are encouraged to check this regularly and complete scholarships well before the deadline, as well as asking for letters of recommendation within the first few months of school, as many scholarships open as early as November. It is also important that seniors note the application deadlines for the college(s) of their choice in terms of admission, enlistments, in-house scholarships, honors and recognitions and more. Writing a personal statement early on that can be used for multiple scholarships and colleges is imperative! Please type all applications - in many cases, handwritten applications are not accepted!

Pursuant to the requirements of Title 1 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965 as amended by the Improving America's Schools Act (IASA) of 1994, the public is hereby notified that Deshler Public Schools, whose official address is 1402 Third Street, Deshler, NE, has been approved for funding under Title 1 IASA for the express purpose of serving students with special needs in the area of mathematics and reading/language arts to help insure that all children acquire the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in the 21st century. Dr. Damon McDonald, whose official title is Superintendent, has been authorized by the Board of Education to service as its representative for all matters concerning Title 1 ESEA for the 2022-23 school year. The public is further notified that a council composed of parents, teachers, and interested citizens may be established for the purpose of advising the school on matters relating to the Title 1 program. Under the regulations, the school must host an annual meeting open to all parents of eligible students. Persons interested in any aspect of the Title 1 ESEA program, including, but not limited to, the application and budgets and complaint procedures, or other information and data concerning Title 1 which is not subject to the Family Rights and Privacy Act are requested to contact the Office of the Superintendent, Deshler Public Schools, Deshler, Nebraska.