DTSE Trailblazer Report

August has come and gone so quickly! Can't believe the first month of school is almost over. DTSE has had a great start to the 2023/2024 school year and I am so excited to be the principal of such a great school.

As always, please be on the lookout for our weekly productivity updates sent to parents via parent square, and encourage your child to do the work to stay on target and continue to meet their goals!

We have a few important dates coming up detailed below. Please take a few minutes to look over the newsletter for details and other information regarding resources and opportunities in Decatur.

Upcoming Events:

Back to School Night

Thursday, September 7th

6:30pm to 7:30pm

Senior Opportunities Day - Sept 20th during the school day

Financial Aid Night for Class of 23 - Sept 26th @ 6pm (DCHS)

The Senior Guidebook info?

• Can be found under Modules in the Class of 24
• Can be found as an Post in Parent Square

Decatur Township Families,

If you have not done so, please register your child for school and provide a proof of residency.

Please go to https://www.decaturproud.org and click on "Returning Student Registration." You will need your Skyward Family Access login information. If you need assistance with this information, please contact DTSE's school office.

Child Nutrition Update

Update: Make sure you filled out the Meal Benefit Application through Linq Connect to apply for Free & Reduced price meals. If you previously completed an application through Skyward, you will need to complete a new application for this school year.
https://linqconnect.com/public/meal-application/new?identifier=WPME5A

8:10AM: Door 2 unlocks for Breakfast

8:40AM: 1st Period Begins

3:45PM: Dismissal

Block Scheduling:

DTSE will be running a block schedule this year that mirrors DCHS. Students will have a 25 minute CCR period to start each day, then they will have 4 classes that will alternate each day.

CTE Courses at DCHS:

Most of our students are attending 1 class period at DCHS every other day in order to help them meet graduation requirements for work based learning skills. It is vital students are following protocols and guidelines for moving between buildings. Failure to appear for the class at DCHS or return to DTSE after may result in removal from the course.

Dress Code Notifications:

Blankets are not permitted at school. Please make sure your child has warm clothes to wear as the weather continues to cool down.

Clothing advertising or displaying images related to alcohol, drugs, or tobacco should not be worn to school. Students who come to school wearing these items will be required to cover them up or change clothes.

Boys pants need to be pulled up and girls are not allowed to wear "crop tops".

If you need assistance with clothing, please feel free to reach out to DTSE staff, and we will work to find and provide support for our families!

Decatur Township School Police Department, (DTSPD), in collaboration with the Drug Free Coalition, is excited to offer a new diversion program for students found to be in possession of tobacco products, e-cigarettes, and or vaping devices. DTSPD has also partnered with our local courts in an effort to minimize the use of these products and devices on our campuses. Our students, if found with the aforementioned items, would be in violation of Indiana Code 35-46-1-10.5, Minor in Possession of a Tobacco Product or an Electronic Cigarette or 7.1-5-12-8 Smoking in a Prohibited Area. Each of these would be met with an Indiana citation, also known as a “Uniform Traffic Ticket,” (UTT). When submitted to the courts, the cost of the ticket for this violation is $170.50. This is an actual ticket and will affect your license or the ability to obtain one if left unpaid.

Our objective however, is not to create financial hardship, but to have an opportunity to educate students and families on the dangers of vaping and tobacco products. Twice per month, DTSPD officers will present a 1-hour class for students who have opted to accept the terms of the diversion program. The cost of the class for a student attending alone is $75.00. If a student attends the class with a parent or guardian, the class is discounted at a cost of $25.00. Upon the completion of the class, the UTT, or citation, will not be referred to the courts, and there will be no record of the violation. A student may only participate in the program once per school year, and only twice throughout their entire school career.

Parking Pass Applications and Money due by August 31

Students are required to apply for and display a parking pass when driving a vehicle to school. Vehicles that are parked on campus are subject to removal by being towed at the owners expense. Parking applications and money are due August 31. As students begin driving during the school year students will have one week to apply for their permit and display it. This allows us to monitor who is parking on campus

Why did the teacher go to the beach?

To test the water.

E HallPass

We have begun using E-Hallpass. This app is on the iPad so students need to make sure they have a fully charged iPad each day. Use of E-Hallpass allows us to monitor who is in our hallways and when, thus making our building more secure and functioning in an environment conducive to learning.

Where: Ms Buchanan's room 101

When: every Tuesday after school. Ends at 5pm

Where: Ms. Cochran's room (room 113 next to the cafeteria)

1. Gamers Guild provides students the opportunity to socialize, strategize, and have fun playing a variety of board, card, and video games.

When: After school on Friday's 3:50-5PM

Where: DTSE Room

Coordinator: Mr. Vetter room 202

Student Attendance at High School Events

We will continue our policy of requiring high school and middle school students to have their ID on them when they attend evening events. Students will present their ID upon entrance to each event. Students K-8 must be under the supervision of a responsible adult to attend high school events.

September 27th

DTSE

Community Room

Students may only use clear backpacks for the 2023-24 school year. All students were provided a backpack the first day of school in CCR.

What a great opportunity for DTSE and DCHS students to experience hands-on learning while preparing for life after high school.

Join Ms. Buchanan, DTSE School Social Worker, and DTSE students to create awareness and have a voice in regards to mental health.

When: Every Monday

Where: Room 101

Time: 4-5PM

Come to talk and support each other as well as share how you cope with challenges in your life! I will bring some snacks :)

24 Hour Suicide Hotline

• Dial 988 or text IN to 741741

LGBTQ+ National Hotline

• 888-843-4564
• email: help@LGBThotline.org

Mental Health Support & Referrals

• Mental Health America
• 800-969-6642
• http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/

Physical Abuse

• National Domestic Violence Hotline
• 800-799-7233
• http://www.thehotline.org/
  
• Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline
• 800-422-4453
• http://www.childhelp.org/ \

Substance Abuse Support

• National Drug & Alcohol Treatment Hotline
• 800-662-4357
• http://www.addictioncareoptions.com/
  

Eating Disorders

• National Eating Disorders Assoc. Helpline
• 800-931-2237
• http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/
  

Teen Health Questions

• 888-711-TEEN (confidential)

Boys Town National Hotline: struggling youth & families

800-448-300

http://www.boystown.org/hotline

HOURS OF OPERATION:

OFFICE:
Monday – Friday, 8 AM – 4:30 PM

FOOD PANTRY:
Gleaners Community Cupboard

• In-person shopping:
  • Tuesdays: 10 AM to 3 PM
  • Wednesdays: 10 AM to 3 PM
• Drive-thru distribution:
  • Thursdays: 2 PM to 7 PM
  • Saturdays: 9 AM to 12 PM

GOODWIN CENTER

Pantry is held every other Monday.

Hours for pantry:

Afternoon: 12pm – 2pm

Evenings: 4pm-6pm

Dry and fresh food items will be available for drive thru pick up for any families with children enrolled in MSD of Decatur Township Schools!

When: Select Thursdays 11:30AM – 12:50PM (dates listed below)
Where: Decatur Central High School, Door 10
How to apply: Complete the intake form below and submit! (required for each distribution date). The form must be completed by the Tuesday before the pick up date.

Food Pantry Intake Form

Pantry Pick-Up Dates:
August 17th
August 31st
September 7th
September 21st
October 6th (Note: this is a Friday)
November 2nd
November 9th
November 30th
December 14th

Search and connect to support. Financial assistance, food pantries, medical care, and other free or reduced-cost help starts here: https://www.findhelp.org

Please follow these instructions:
1. Download the Zonar MyView app from the App Store or Google Play.
2. Enter the School Access Code: 530049
3. Enter your child's unique student ID. (Found in Skyward; instructions below)
4. Create alert zones around drop-off and pick-up points. When your child's bus enters an alert zone, you will receive notification by email or text.

Your student's ID can be found in Skyward Family Access. It is called "Other ID" and begins with your child's graduation year:
1. Log in to Skyward Family Access.
2. Click the 3 dashes at the top right corner.
3. Select Student Information.
4. You will see "Other ID" listed in the information that appears.

The Zonar MyView Parent User Guide is attached to this message for more detailed instructions.

Thank you,
MSD Decatur Township Transportation