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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