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Denn John Middle School

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Welcome to Denn John Middle School, home of the mighty Dragons!
Our academic offerings are top-notch. We provide several honors and
high school credit courses, including Algebra I Honors, Geometry Honors,
Biology Honors, HOPE, and Spanish I and II. Our goal is to challenge and
prepare our students for the future, ensuring they leave Denn John Middle
with a solid foundation for high school and beyond.

Latest News

Stay up to date on the latest news from Denn John Middle School and the Osceola School District!

Dragon Chronicle # 14

November 8, 2026

Dragon Chronicle # 14

The Dragon Chronicle # 14 2026-2027 November 9, 2026 From the Dragon's Den House of Dragons, As we continue through the second quarter, we want to emphasize the importance of working together to su...

🐉🎀 DJMS DRAGONS: WEAR PINK! 🎀🐉

October 28, 2026

🐉🎀 DJMS DRAGONS: WEAR PINK! 🎀🐉

Denn John Middle School is celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness Month with a FREE DRESS-DOWN DAY on Wednesday, October 28, 2026! 💗💗 Here’s what you need to know:👚 Pink is encouraged but optional!👕 S...

Dragon Chronicle # 12

October 25, 2026

Dragon Chronicle # 12

The Dragon Chronicle # 12 2026-2027 October 26, 2026 From the Dragon's Den House of Dragons, Can you believe we are entering the last week of October? Time is flying! I strongly believe that Quarte...

Dragon Chronicle # 10

October 11, 2026

Dragon Chronicle # 10

The Dragon Chronicle # 10 2026-2027 October 12, 2026 From the Dragon's Den House of Dragons, Can you believe the first quarter is already behind us? That means 25% of the school year is complete! T...

Dragon Chronicle # 9

October 4, 2026

Dragon Chronicle # 9

The Dragon Chronicle # 9 2026-2027 October 5, 2026 From the Dragon's Den House of Dragons, For the first time in DJMS history, we conducted school-wide elections for our Class Presidents! What an e...

Dragon Chronicle # 8

September 25, 2026

Dragon Chronicle # 8

The Dragon Chronicle # 8 2026-2027 September 28, 2026 From the Dragon's Den House of Dragons, October is quickly approaching, and we know this is an important and busy time of year for our students...

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Upcoming Events

Accessibility View of Full-Page Calendar

View the full calendar to see all the exciting events we have happening in the next few weeks and months!

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Mr. Marc A. Hernandez

Principal’s Message

House of Dragons!

Congratulations, Dragon Family! We made it through the first quarter, and what an incredible journey it has been! As we begin Quarter 2, I want to take a moment to celebrate our progress, recognize our successes, and reflect on the work ahead. At Denn John Middle School, we believe in continuous growth, high expectations, and the power of working together. Let’s take a look at some of our Quarter 1 highlights!

Celebrating Our Progress

A Safer, More Positive School Environment

One of our most exciting accomplishments has been the reduction in student discipline referrals. During Quarter 1 of the 2026–2027 school year, DJMS recorded 107 referrals involving 59 students, compared with 237 referrals during the same period last year. That represents a 54.9% decrease in referrals!

Here is our Quarter 1 breakdown:

  • 6th Grade: 43 referrals involving 20 students

  • 7th Grade: 44 referrals involving 20 students

  • 8th Grade: 20 referrals involving 19 students

This progress reflects our continued commitment to positive behavior, student accountability, and our PBIS framework. We will continue working together to strengthen our school culture and ensure that every Dragon feels safe, supported, and ready to learn.

Academic Growth: Measuring Our Progress

Our FAST PM 1 results provide an important starting point for measuring academic growth this year. Here is how our students performed compared with the same assessment period last year:

Grade Level ELA PM 1 2025–26 ELA PM 1 2026–27 Math PM 1 2025–26 Math PM 1 2026–27
6th Grade 21% 31% 6% 11%
7th Grade 24% 28% 11% 8%
8th Grade 24% 33% 13% 13%

We are celebrating meaningful improvements in ELA across all three grade levels, along with a five-percentage-point increase in sixth-grade Math. We recognize that seventh-grade Math and eighth-grade Math remain areas of focus. Our teachers and instructional leaders will continue using assessment data to identify learning gaps, strengthen instruction, and provide targeted support.

Quarter 1 Assessment Highlights

Our Dragons have also demonstrated encouraging performance on district unit assessments:

  • 8th Grade Science: Continued to perform above the district average on every Quarter 1 assessment.

  • 8th Grade Civics: Performed above the district average on two of three SDOC unit assessments.

  • 8th Grade Pre-Algebra: Performed above the district average on all Quarter 1 assessments.

  • 7th Grade Math: Performed above the district average on all Quarter 1 assessments.

  • 6th Grade Accelerated Math: Performed above the district average on two of three unit assessments.

These accomplishments demonstrate the dedication of our students and teachers. We will continue building on these strengths while providing targeted support in areas where additional growth is needed.

Activate the Blue Flame Through AVID

At DJMS, our Blue Flame represents the energy, determination, and commitment that drive our school forward. One way we activate that flame is through our strong commitment to AVID instructional practices.

Every day, students participate in instructional activities designed to strengthen engagement, collaboration, critical thinking, and academic ownership. These strategies include:

  • Structured Conversations: Students explain their thinking, listen to others, and build understanding through purposeful discussion.

  • Placemat Consensus: Students share ideas, consider different perspectives, and work toward a common understanding.

  • 3–4 Corners: Students demonstrate their thinking, make choices, and justify their responses.

  • Focused Note-Taking: Students organize, process, and reflect on important information to strengthen learning.

These practices help ensure that students are active participants in their education. As we move through Quarter 2, we will continue strengthening these instructional routines so every Dragon has opportunities to think deeply, collaborate meaningfully, and achieve academic success.

Important Reminders for Our Dragons

Attendance Matters!

Our Quarter 1 average attendance rate was 94%. Our next goal is to reach 96% by the end of Quarter 2! Every school day matters. Consistent attendance allows students to participate in instruction, receive support from their teachers, collaborate with classmates, and remain on track academically.

Dragon Families, please help us reach this goal by ensuring your child arrives at school regularly and on time. Together, we can make every instructional day count!

Bring Your Laptop and Charger Daily

Student laptops are the modern-day textbooks used in nearly every class. All students must bring their laptops and chargers to school each day, fully prepared to participate in instruction. If a laptop issue arises, our DJMS Math teachers submit the appropriate support tickets to help address the concern.

Dress Code Expectations

Students are expected to follow the DJMS dress code every school day, except on designated dress-down days. Thank you for helping us maintain a focused, professional, and school-appropriate learning environment.

Dragon Athletics: Volleyball Season Is Here!

It is volleyball season at DJMS, and we are excited to support both our boys’ and girls’ volleyball teams!

Tryouts begin Monday, October 19, at 4:30 PM.

Before participating, all athletes must ensure they have:

  • An active physical on file.

  • An Aktivate account to complete the required concussion test.

  • Payment of the annual $25 athletic administrative fee.

We encourage our Dragons to challenge themselves, demonstrate sportsmanship, and represent DJMS with pride. Good luck to all students trying out!

Quarter 2 Events: Mark Your Calendars!

There is plenty to look forward to during Quarter 2! Please save these important dates:

Date Event
Tuesday, October 20 Quarter 1 A/B Honor Roll Celebration
Friday, October 30 DJMS Halloween Dress Down — $5 participation cost
Tuesday, November 10 NJHS Induction Ceremony
Thursday, November 12 7th Grade PBIS Social
Friday, November 20 DJMS Turkey Trot
December FAST PM 2 Testing
Thursday, December 10 Winter Band Concert
Thursday, December 17 Student vs. Staff PBIS Volleyball Game

We look forward to celebrating student accomplishments, building school spirit, and creating meaningful experiences for our Dragons and their families!

A Final Message from the Principal

Dragon Families, as we begin Quarter 2, I want you to know how proud I am of our students, teachers, staff, and community. Every day, I see evidence of the hard work, perseverance, and determination that make Denn John Middle School a special place.

We know that our journey is not without challenges. Some goals will require additional effort, some students will need more support, and some instructional practices will need to be adjusted. That is the beauty of a new quarter: we have another opportunity to reflect, reset, grow, and get better together.

The Blue Flame is alive and growing at Denn John Middle School. Let’s continue to fuel it through our actions, our relationships, our instruction, and our unwavering belief in our Dragons.

With F.I.R.E. & Gratitute,

Marc A. Hernandez
Principal
Denn John Middle School

🐉 Dragons Breathe F.I.R.E.
Focused • Integrity • Respect • Engaged in Learning

#LearningIsRequired

What We Offer: Excellence. Success. Future Ready.

  • We Embrace CHOICE

    As a Choice District, we allow parents to select the school they want their children to attend, as long as that school has capacity and program availability.

  • Safety and Security

    Each one of our public schools has a full-time sworn law enforcement officer serving as a School Resource Officer on campus every day.

  • Outstanding Certified Educators and Staff

    Our students have highly-qualified, certified teachers who provide engaging, relevant, and rigorous instruction.

  • Rigorous Curriculum & Student Support

    We offer a rigorous curriculum and systems of support, complete with college preparatory and career and technical education paths to meet the needs of every student.

  • Acceleration Opportunities Abound

    Students have the opportunity to take high school credit courses in middle school and to earn college/postsecondary credit at no cost to parents while still in high school.

  • State-of-the-Art-Career Training Programs

    We offer courses that allow students to explore career interests, master workplace competencies, gain employable skills, and earn industry certifications and licensing upon graduation.

Testimonials

Student

“I love Denn John Middle because it’s really encouraging and inspiring, and they [teachers] push me to do my best. Whenever I’m struggling or need help, they provide all the things I need, like tutoring.’

Student

“I started cheering last year, and I never thought I was going to be into it, but they really made me feel like I was good at it, and they helped me become even better at it. I would say that cheer has helped me become more confident because if I could do well in cheer, then I could do well in the classroom.”

Teacher

“My main focus here as a teacher at Denn John is to make sure my students are valued, loved, and cared for, and make sure they know that before academics take place. Because for academics to take place, they first have to feel that value and feel validity in their feelings, and know that they’re loved. We believe in the whole child, not just the academic standpoint, so we’re really going to strive to make sure your child not only is successful not in the classroom, but also as they carry it outside the walls of our school.”

Student

“I love Denn John Middle School because teachers are really friendly, and the school really cares about its students.”

Parent

“I have four sons, my oldest is in 11th grade, I have a ninth grader, eighth grader, and sixth grader. They all have come to Denn John under Choice. My oldest was in an IEP all throughout elementary. When it was time for him to come to middle school, the staff at his elementary school were the ones who suggested we think this is going to be a better fit for him, so I took that advice, and the moment that we got here, they all have excelled. My oldest left Denn John going into high school saying mom I don’t need to be on an IEP anymore.” “Denn John is more than just academically learning. The staff is very involved with the students. So, it's one of those things where I send my kids to school knowing that they're getting a quality education at the same time they're being cared for. So being that we are a very family-oriented household, I like to know that my kids are safe where they're going when they're not in my presence and I know that they’re safe and learning while they’re here.”

Parent

“My son loves to be pushed academically, and he is doing very well. He’s currently enrolled in classes that will eventually earn him high school credits. At Denn John, he feels so comfortable and he's able to talk to any other teachers if there's any academic or any type of personal issue. He's always been, be able to communicate with that. And that is so important to me because I cannot be with him 100% of the time. There is no other place that I would rather have my son go to than Denn John.”

Student

“I love Denn John Middle because it’s really encouraging and inspiring, and they [teachers] push me to do my best. Whenever I’m struggling or need help, they provide all the things I need, like tutoring.’

Student

“I started cheering last year, and I never thought I was going to be into it, but they really made me feel like I was good at it, and they helped me become even better at it. I would say that cheer has helped me become more confident because if I could do well in cheer, then I could do well in the classroom.”

Teacher

“My main focus here as a teacher at Denn John is to make sure my students are valued, loved, and cared for, and make sure they know that before academics take place. Because for academics to take place, they first have to feel that value and feel validity in their feelings, and know that they’re loved. We believe in the whole child, not just the academic standpoint, so we’re really going to strive to make sure your child not only is successful not in the classroom, but also as they carry it outside the walls of our school.”

Student

“I love Denn John Middle School because teachers are really friendly, and the school really cares about its students.”

Parent

“I have four sons, my oldest is in 11th grade, I have a ninth grader, eighth grader, and sixth grader. They all have come to Denn John under Choice. My oldest was in an IEP all throughout elementary. When it was time for him to come to middle school, the staff at his elementary school were the ones who suggested we think this is going to be a better fit for him, so I took that advice, and the moment that we got here, they all have excelled. My oldest left Denn John going into high school saying mom I don’t need to be on an IEP anymore.” “Denn John is more than just academically learning. The staff is very involved with the students. So, it's one of those things where I send my kids to school knowing that they're getting a quality education at the same time they're being cared for. So being that we are a very family-oriented household, I like to know that my kids are safe where they're going when they're not in my presence and I know that they’re safe and learning while they’re here.”

Parent

“My son loves to be pushed academically, and he is doing very well. He’s currently enrolled in classes that will eventually earn him high school credits. At Denn John, he feels so comfortable and he's able to talk to any other teachers if there's any academic or any type of personal issue. He's always been, be able to communicate with that. And that is so important to me because I cannot be with him 100% of the time. There is no other place that I would rather have my son go to than Denn John.”

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Denn John Middle School (@djmsdragons) • Instagram photos and videos