Dear House of Dragons Community,

Welcome to Semester 2 and Quarter 3! We were excited to welcome our students back and are proud to share that DJMS had a strong first week returning from break. While it was a great start, now is the time to refocus, reset expectations, and move forward with intention.

Quarter 3 is the most important learning season of the school year. This quarter sets the foundation for student success on state assessments and prepares students for the final stretch of the academic year. As we enter this critical period, we are asking for your continued partnership to help us reach our shared goals.

Student success is strongest when there is a clear and consistent connection between school and home. With your support, we can ensure students remain focused, engaged, and accountable throughout the semester. We kindly ask for your assistance with the following:

Quarter 3 is a season of focus, effort, and commitment. With your continued support, we are confident that our students will rise to the challenge and achieve success. Also, please read the important information below outlining the new dismissal procedures at DJMS.

Thank you for your partnership and trust in DJMS. We look forward to a strong and productive semester together.

With F.I.R.E. & Gratitude, 

-Administration

At this time, many students are not completing their Mathia assignments as scheduled, both during the school day and at home. Despite our teachers working tirelessly to provide students with structured time and support to complete Mathia at school, distractions during and after school continue to impact student progress.

Mathia is a critical part of our math curriculum. It is the online, adaptive practice component of Carnegie Learning that provides students with personalized math instruction based on their individual needs. Mathia allows students to:

Simply put, Mathia is how students strengthen their math skills outside of direct instruction. It is similar to practice for a sport—students cannot improve or perform well without consistent practice.

Currently, math is our weakest academic area as a school, and if we are serious about improving student achievement, we must give full force to closing our math gaps. This cannot happen without consistent Mathia completion.

While teachers are doing everything possible during the school day, success also depends on support at home. We ask families to:

Completing Mathia during the school day or at home is non-negotiable and essential for student success. Together, we can ensure our students receive the practice they need to grow and succeed in math.

We would like to take a moment to explain an important instructional support system used at DJMS called MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports) and how it connects to our weekly F.I.R.E. Wednesdays.

What is MTSS?

MTSS is a school-wide framework designed to ensure every student receives the support they need to succeed academically and behaviorally. Through MTSS, teachers regularly review student data to identify strengths and areas for growth. Based on this information, students receive targeted instruction and interventions at varying levels (or “tiers”) to help close learning gaps and accelerate progress.

At DJMS:

What is F.I.R.E. Wednesday?

To strengthen our MTSS approach, DJMS hosts a weekly intervention day called F.I.R.E. Wednesday

On Wednesdays:

This dedicated time allows teachers to personalize instruction and ensure students fully understand key concepts before moving forward.

F.I.R.E. Wednesdays are a powerful tool that help us close learning gaps, strengthen skills, and support every student’s success.

At Denn John Middle School, we believe that positive behaviors should be recognized and celebrated. That’s why we use the PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) framework to help students grow not only academically, but also socially and emotionally.

Our PBIS values are represented by F.I.R.E.:

Students are rewarded with Dragon Dollars when they show these values in action. Each month, students can use their Dragon Dollars to participate in exciting school events and activities. This not only motivates students but also reinforces the importance of good behavior and strong character.

Thank you, parents, for supporting us in encouraging students to live out our values each day! Together, we are building a school culture where #LearningIsRequired and Dragons thrive.