Dragon Community Newsletter #21
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Dear House of Dragons Community,
Happy MLK Jr. Day! As a friendly reminder, there will be no school on Monday, January 19, 2026, in observance of the holiday.
As we move forward this week, our teachers will continue to focus on strong student engagement activities in every classroom. Student engagement remains a critical component of our School Improvement Plan and is essential to the overall success of DJMS.
We also want to share several important updates:
Mathia Expectations
Students who did not meet the 30% Mathia syllabus completion requirement will be assigned lunch detention on January 20 and January 21. Unfortunately, this will be documented as a discipline referral.
Please note that the next Mathia completion wave is 50% by Friday, January 30, 2026. Progress will be closely monitored, and consequences will be issued after January 30 for students who do not meet this requirement. Math is a priority area for our school, and consistent Mathia participation is essential to closing achievement gaps.
Grade Recovery
Grade recovery begins this week. Students who earned a 59% or lower in a core academic class during Quarter 2 will have one elective temporarily replaced with a grade recovery course to provide additional academic support.
Student Safety & Behavior Expectations
DJMS will not tolerate physical altercations on campus. Last Friday, students participated in grade-level assemblies where expectations were clearly outlined. In many cases, fighting on campus may result in a recommendation for expulsion. Student safety remains our highest priority.
We sincerely thank you for your continued partnership, communication, and support. Together, we can ensure our students remain focused, safe, and successful.
At DJMS, #LearningIsRequired — and Dragons Breathe F.I.R.E.
With F.I.R.E. & Gratitude,
-Administration
- Marc A. Hernandez (Principal)
- Frankie Franceschi (Assistant Principal of Instruction)
- Rafael Booker (Assistant Principal of Discipline & Operations)
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Grade Recovery Begins- Q2
Students who did not perform well academically during quarter 2 will begin grade recovery this week.
6th Grade Orientation Night
Attention all parents with rising 6th grade students! We are excited to host you next year! Though you are current parent, come by on Thurs. Jan. 22 at 6 pm to learn more about DJMS.
Quarter 2 Honor Roll Ceremony
We are excited to host our Qtr 2 Honor Roll Ceremony this Thursday, Jan. 22 at 9:45 am. Because our crowd may be large, we highly recommend that parents check in early. DJMS doors will open at 8:30! The event begins at 9:45 am.
Yearbooks! For Sale!
DJMS will sale yearbooks for $30 until Feb. 28. After Feb. 28, the prices go to $35. See the flyer below for the URL purchase link. Only online transactions will be accepted.
8th Grade- Gradventure Info!
8th Grade Gradventure information is here! All 8th graders received a letter outlining the cost, requirements, and expectations. See highlights below:
- Students must be present (all day) day of event
- Inappropriate behavior on site will not be allowed
- Refunds will be provided after May 19 for those who do not meet the qualifications
- No discipline referrals from the start of quarter 4 until May 8
- No F's (all school year)
- No more than 3 unexcused absences from 01/12/26 - 05/08/26
- Academic Requirement: level 3 or higher on PM 2, No Ds, or overall GPA above 2.0
Osceola Magics Spirit Night- Feb. 2
We encourage all of DJMS community to purchase tickets and attend the Osceola Magics night on Monday, February 2! Note, a specific amount will be donated to DJMS contingent on the number of DJMS spectators that attend. See the flyer below! **This is an independent function that requires DJMS families to supervise students.
Acceleration Night! - Tues. Feb. 3 @ 5:30 pm
All family members that have DJMS students in Algebra I, Geometry, or Biology are high encouraged to attend this important event! Come learn more about how you can support your students at home!
PBIS Event: Student vs. Staff Bball Game
Friday, January 30 during 7th period. Standards of participation will apply. More information to come.
YMCA- After School
The SDOC will sponsor the YMCA after school care until the end of January. Beginning in February, parents will need to register and pay for after school services. See flyer below!
Laptop Chargers
Parents, it is with great pain to announce that laptop charger replacements fall under the responsibility of parents. Whether lost, stolen, or broken, chargers will need to be replaced by parents. As an effort to assist with cost, we found an approved charger at approximately 23.00 from amazon. See link below:
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Student safety remains our highest priority at DJMS, and we want to thank our students and families for helping us maintain a safe learning environment.
This week, an airsoft-style weapon was found on campus due to student reporting. Because a student spoke up, administration was able to respond immediately. We are grateful to share that all students and staff are safe, and the situation was handled promptly.
This moment reinforces an important message we continue to share with students:
“See Something, Say Something.”
More often than not, students have more information that can help prevent unsafe situations. We strongly encourage students to report anything that feels concerning, unusual, or unsafe—even if they are not completely sure.
Please know:
- Students will never receive disciplinary consequences for reporting information
- Reports can be made to any trusted adult
- Every report is taken seriously and investigated appropriately
- Speaking up helps protect classmates, staff, and the entire school community
We ask for your partnership in continuing these conversations at home. Remind students that reporting concerns is not tattling — it is protecting others.
Together, we can continue to create a safe, supportive, and responsible school environment where learning can thrive.
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Student safety continues to be our highest priority at DJMS. Unfortunately, we experienced several physical altercations on campus this week, and it is important that we address a critical concern we are seeing repeatedly.
During investigations, many students have shared that they were instructed by adults to “strike back” if hit first. While we understand the instinct to protect one’s child, it is important for families to understand that school law and district policy define self-defense very differently than personal belief.
Under the SDOC Student Code of Conduct, the definition of self-defense is limited to life-threatening situations only.
If a student engages in a physical altercation on campus — regardless of who strikes first — the incident is classified as a fight.
In most cases, fighting on campus may result in a recommendation for expulsion.
We recognize that some parents may disagree with this definition; however, this expectation is clearly outlined in district policy and must be enforced consistently to maintain school safety. What we urgently need is your partnership.
We strongly encourage families to help students understand the importance of:
- De-escalation strategies
- Walking away from conflict
- Reporting concerns immediately to an adult
- Seeking help before emotions escalate
In many situations, when conflicts are reported early, DJMS is able to intervene, mediate, and support students before issues become physical. Once a fight occurs, however, our ability to intervene preventatively is no longer possible, and serious consequences must follow.
We want every student safe, learning, and thriving — but that requires consistent messaging between school and home. Please talk with your child about making safe choices, reporting concerns early, and understanding that violence at school is never an acceptable solution.
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Basketball
DJMS vs. KMS (Away)- Tues. Jan. 27 @ 6 pm
DJMS vs. Westside (Home)- Thurs. Feb. 5 @ 6 pm
DJMS vs. Celebration (Away)- Mon. Feb. 9 @ 6 pm
DJMS vs. KMS (Home)- Wed. Feb. 11 @ 6 pm
DJMS vs. Westside (Away)- Mon. Feb. 16 @ 6 pm
DJMS vs. Celebration (Home)- Tues. Feb. 17 @ 6 pm
Boys Coach: Daniel Kim
Girls Coach: Kara Bailey
Boys Team:
- Blake, Izaiah
- Hinz, Christopher
- Hernandez, Ezra
- Melendez, David
- McCrimon-Briggs, Malaki
- Lopez Santiago, Jayson
- Harrell, Demarcus
- Hernandez Barrera, Diego
- Griffin, Samuel
- Rivera, Joshua
- Escalona Pérez, Omar
- Jimenez, Raymond
- Alvarez, Joshua
Girls Team
- Garcia, Kyara (8th)
- Diaz, Elina (8th)
- Vasquez, Xaniyah (7th)
- Senese, Saniyah (7th)
- Rivera, Laylani (7th)
- Placide, Herna (7th)
- Haltiwanger, Desiree (6th)
Cheerleading
- Practice- Mondays & Wednesdays Only
- 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Coach Sonia Mckenzie
(A current physical must be on file)- All SDOC Sports
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We would like to inform you that WIDA testing will begin for our ESOL students in the coming days.
What is WIDA?
WIDA (World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment) is the statewide English language proficiency assessment used for students who receive English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) services. This assessment measures a student’s progress in:
- Listening
- Speaking
- Reading
- Writing
WIDA helps schools understand how well students are developing their English language skills and guides instructional support to ensure academic success across all subject areas.
Why is WIDA important?
WIDA results help determine:
- A student’s current English language proficiency level
- Continued eligibility for ESOL services
- Instructional planning to best support student learning
To ensure testing is completed efficiently and on schedule, it is extremely important that students attend school every day during the testing window. Make-up testing is limited and extended absences may delay completion.
We kindly ask families to:
- Ensure students arrive to school on time
- Avoid scheduling appointments during the school day if possible
- Encourage students to do their very best
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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.:
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Focused – Staying on task and giving your best effort.
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Integrity – Doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.
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Respect – Treating yourself, others, and property with care.
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Engaged in Learning – Actively participating in lessons and school activities.
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.
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At DJMS, we strongly believe that student success is built through strong relationships between school and home. As we continue through the spring semester, we kindly encourage parents and guardians to establish early communication and positive relationships with your child’s teachers.
Recently, we have received several parent concerns that, after review, were the result of misunderstandings regarding classroom policies, procedures, or expectations. Open communication with teachers early on can often clarify concerns quickly and prevent unnecessary frustration.
Please remember:
DJMS and our families are a team. Our shared goal is to support students academically, socially, and emotionally — and we always intend to act in the best interest of every child.
Research consistently shows that students whose parents are actively involved in their education demonstrate stronger academic performance, improved behavior, and higher levels of motivation. When families and teachers work together, students thrive.
We encourage parents to:
- Introduce yourself to your child’s teachers
- Review classroom expectations together
- Reach out with questions or concerns early
- Partner with us in supporting student accountability
Thank you for your continued trust, collaboration, and commitment to your child’s success. Together, we can ensure a strong, positive, and productive learning experience for every Dragon.
At DJMS, #LearningIsRequired — and teamwork makes the difference.
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No School- Dr. MLK Jr. Day
Monday, January 19, 2026
Grade Recovery Begins
Tuesday, Jan. 20
SAC
January 20, 2026 @ 5pm - Media Center
January Dress Downs Begin
Tuesdays ONLY for eligible students (will receive dress down card) Tues. Jan. 6
Q2 Honor Roll Ceremony
Thursday, Jan. 22 @ 9:45 am (Invite only)
PBIS Event- Staff vs. Student Bball Game
Friday, Jan. 30- Standards of Participation apply
Yearbooks For Sale!
$30.00 until 02/28
$35.00 after 02/28
**Online purchase only- See Flyer Above
Osceola Magics- Spirit Night
Monday, February 2, 2026
Acceleration Night
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
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Parent Volunteers @ School
Teacher assistants, hallway monitors, restroom monitors, lunches, & front desk assistance
As a friendly reminder, all volunteers must be Oasis Approved. Please see the information below to begin the registration process! It's quick and easy!
Parent Boosters- Build Programs @ School
Band, Orchestra, & Sports!
School Donations
Should you wish to donate (any item) to DJMS, contact Mr. Hernandez to seek more information about the process.
Parents & Community- if any of these items are of interest, simply contact Mr. Hernandez directly at Marc.Hernandez@osceolaschools.net or 689.261.3280 (District Cellphone)
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