January 4, 2023

Dear Desert Star Academy Families,

Happy New Year! I hope that this year brings peace, joy, and happiness to you and each of your family members. As we begin our second semester, please read the information below concerning scholar academics, class schedules, school policy changes on unexcused tardies and upcoming events. 

If you have not already registered with ParentVue we recommend you get your parent log in from the front office to view your scholar’s missing assignments, grades, tardies, attendance and emails to stay up to date.  As you review your scholar’s performance for the first half of the academic year, I ask that you speak with your scholar and to please ask the following questions:  

• Are you satisfied with your academic performance?  

• Did you complete all the work that was assigned to you, such as classwork and homework?  

• Have you availed yourself of the help offered by your teachers such as tutorial, opportunities to make up work, opportunities to retake tests?  

• Did you attend the after school tutorial and Friday School sessions?  

• If you are not satisfied, what do you plan to do differently this semester? 

It is very important we hold our scholars accountable for their academic performance and ask them the above tough questions. The faculty and staff want to see our scholars succeed, but it is very important for our scholars to realize that they too are a part of the puzzle of success. It is also important that our scholars take full advantage of the academic programs and extracurricular opportunities offered at DSAMS.  

We, at DSAMS, strive to provide the most effective learning environment for our scholars.  Utilizing best practice, we purposefully fit the class schedule to the needs of the individual scholar and the class as a whole.   We used the data from the Mid-year diagnostic, teacher recommendations, and established learning strategies to formulate a plan to support the academic agenda.Parent, Teacher, Scholar Conferences are on January 16, 2023 from: 8:30am -12: 30pm, 12:30pm -1: 30pm closed for lunch, and will reopen from 1:30pm-5:30pm.  For this conference the scholars will be preparing a Google slide-show presentation for their parents.  This presentation is not meant to replace the conference, instead it is a tool to assist in the communication process.  If you need or desire to meet before the 16^th of January, please call the office at 928-770-4523; ask for Mrs. Boroughf so that you can be placed on the schedule.

School Day Schedule Reminders  

Middle School hours are from 7:30am to 3:45pm.  Scholars should be on the basketball court by 7:25/7:30am to hear morning announcements, pledge of allegiance, moment of silence and school rally cry.  It is important scholars arrive promptly to school at 7:30am for academic reasons and to teach them the necessary life skills of arriving on time for school and beyond.  When your scholar arrives late to school they are missing out on important core class instruction.  Desert Star Academy is a school of excellence where scholars are to succeed academically and they cannot accomplish this when missing class instruction. 

Scholars who arrive late to school and/or class for unexcused tardies the progressive disciplinary action will be taken as follows:

1. After three tardies within the semester the scholar will attend one hour of after school detention  

2. After five tardies within the semester the scholar will attend two hours of after school detention

3. After seven unexcused tardies within the semester the scholar will be given one day of out of school suspension, behavioral contract and parent meeting.

4. After ten unexcused tardies within the semester the scholar and parent will receive a truancy letter. 

Upcoming Family Events & Important Dates

• Parent Teacher Conferences - January 16, 2023

• 9th Annual Car Show & Chili Cook - February 11, 2023  the middle school is currently seeking sponsors and pancake breakfast donations as this event is our largest fundraiser and community wide event.

• Spring Break March 13-17, 2023

• “Newsies” the Spring Musical Performance is April 28 & April 29, 2023

• Science Fair - May 10, 2023 stay tuned for more information from Mr Gadd

• Tentative Date for 8th Grade Promotion is May 17, 2023

• Last Day of School is May 18, 2023

We are ever mindful and ready for the enormous trust, responsibility, and honor that the parents of our scholars have placed in us.  The middle school staff and I look forward to moving your scholars academically and to be successful, today, tomorrow and beyond.

Sincerely,

Chris Barton

Chris Barton, M.A. Ed

Desert Star Academy Middle School Principal