At Denn John Middle School, the safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority. Our Student Services Department—including our deans, counselors, and support team—is available to help students navigate conflict, report concerns, and receive the appropriate support.

Let me be very clear: DJMS is a zero-tolerance campus for bullying and harassment. We will not normalize, excuse, or ignore behavior that threatens a student's sense of safety, dignity, or ability to learn.

Florida law specifically prohibits bullying and harassment in public K–12 schools. Under Florida Statute 1006.147, bullying is defined as:

“Systematically and chronically inflicting physical hurt or psychological distress on one or more students” and may include teasing, social exclusion, threats, intimidation, stalking, physical violence, theft, sexual, religious, or racial harassment, public or private humiliation, or destruction of property. The statute also addresses cyberbullying. 

Florida law separately defines harassment as threatening, insulting, or dehumanizing gestures or written, verbal, or physical conduct that places someone in reasonable fear of harm, substantially interferes with educational performance or opportunities, or substantially disrupts the orderly operation of a school. 

Parents and students should also understand that repeated harassment can be evaluated as bullying when the conduct meets the legal and district criteria for bullying. Florida's education guidance identifies bullying as repeated, intentional conduct involving a power imbalance. 

If your child experiences or witnesses bullying, harassment, threats, intimidation, or other concerning behavior, report it immediately to a teacher, dean, counselor, or other trusted school adult. Please do not encourage students to handle these situations on their own or retaliate. Reporting allows the school to investigate the concern and determine the appropriate response.

Parents, your partnership is essential. Please encourage your child to Speak Up, Speak Out, and Say Something. If something happens, tell us. We cannot address what we do not know about.

Finally, I want our families to know that serious or repeated violations can result in significant disciplinary consequences, including a recommendation for expulsion when permitted under district policy and applicable law. Florida law authorizes principals to recommend expulsion for serious breaches of conduct, with the district's required procedures and due process applying. 

As Principal, I will use the authority available to me when necessary to protect our students and maintain a safe learning environment. That does not mean every conflict will result in the same consequence. Each situation will be investigated and addressed based on the facts, applicable district policies, and the circumstances involved.

Our expectation is simple:

Be kind. Be respectful. Be safe. Be a Dragon.

6th Reading: 31% Proficiency (25-26: 21%)

7th Reading: 29% Proficiency (25-26: 21%)

8th Reading: 33% Proficiency (25-26: 24%)

6th Math: 13% Proficiency (25-26: 6%)

7th Math: 9% Proficiency (25-26: 11%)

8th Math: 13% Proficiency (25-26: 13%)

6th Math: M1T2 (09/16-10/16)

6th Accel: M1T2 (09/16-10/01)

7th Math: M1T2 (09/02-09/17)

7th Math: M2T1 (09/21-10/06)

7th Accel: M1T2 (09/04-09/21)

7th Accel: M2T1 (09/18-10/05)

8th Math: M1T2 (09/11-09/28)

8th Math: M1T3 (09/28-10/13)

Alg 1: Pending

Biology: Cells (09/24-10/09)

8th Science: Astronomy (09/22-10/07)

7th Adv: Ecosystems (09/22-10/07)

7th Reg: Div of Life (09/30-10/15)

6th: Earth (09/29-10/14)

6th World Hist: Unit 2 (Early Hominins) (09/09-09/22)

7th US Hist: Unit 2 (Explore) (09/17-10/01)

8th Civics: Unit 2(Fdns of Govt) (09/01-09/15)

8th Civics: Unit 3 (US Const) (10/01-10/15)

HS World Hist: Unit 1 (Themes) (09/03-09/17)

HS World Hist: Unit 2 (Before 1750) (09/24-10/09)

6th ELA: Prince Francis (09/17-10/01)

7th ELA: Poetry Col (09/14-09/28)

8th ELA: Electric Boog (09/17-10/01)

At Denn John Middle School, we believe that a positive school culture is built through a strong partnership between our school and our families. When students receive consistent expectations and encouragement both at school and at home, they are more likely to develop the habits and character needed to be successful. That's why PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) is an essential part of the House of Dragons.

Middle school is a time when students are developing independence, building friendships, and learning how to make responsible decisions. During these important years, students thrive when the adults in their lives work together to provide clear expectations, consistent guidance, and positive encouragement. PBIS helps us teach, reinforce, and celebrate the behaviors that lead to success in the classroom, at home, and throughout our community.

Our PBIS framework is centered around our F.I.R.E. Expectations:

🔥 Focused

🔥 Integrity

🔥 Respect

🔥 Engaged in Learning

These are more than school expectations—they are the values we strive to instill in every Dragon. Whether students are in the classroom, walking through the hallways, riding the bus, participating in athletics, or at home with their families, we encourage them to demonstrate these behaviors every day.

💰 Dragon Dollars: Celebrating Positive Choices

One of the ways we recognize and encourage positive behavior at DJMS is through our Dragon Dollar program.

Dragon Dollars are awarded to students who demonstrate our F.I.R.E. expectations by making positive choices. This may include showing kindness to others, actively participating in class, arriving prepared, displaying integrity, persevering through challenges, or consistently demonstrating respect for others.

We encourage families to ask their child about the Dragon Dollars they earn and celebrate those accomplishments together. A simple conversation about why they received a Dragon Dollar reinforces the positive behaviors we want to continue seeing.

Together, we can help every Dragon develop the character, responsibility, and confidence needed to succeed. Thank you for partnering with us as we continue to build a positive school culture where Dragons Breathe F.I.R.E.

Focused • Integrity • Respect • Engaged in Learning

#LearningIsRequired

I want to speak honestly with you about something that is becoming increasingly important at DJMS: we need your help.

Our teachers and staff work every day to teach students academics, build relationships, reinforce expectations, and help students become successful young adults. But there is one part of a child's development that cannot belong to the school alone—character and values must begin at home.

Please take time to talk with your child about respect, kindness, responsibility, honesty, self-control, empathy, accountability, and treating others with dignity. Talk about how we respond when we are angry, how we handle disagreements, how we speak to adults and peers, and why our choices have consequences.

DJMS will absolutely reinforce these values every day. We will model them, teach them, recognize them, and hold students accountable when expectations are not met. But the strongest lessons about character are those that are consistently reinforced at home.

We would love to take the lead on everything our students need, but we also recognize that schools and families have different roles in raising and developing children. When the messages students receive at home and at school are aligned, the impact is far greater.

So, Dragon Families, please help us. Have the conversations. Set the expectations. Follow through with accountability. Celebrate good choices. Correct disrespect. Teach your child that how they treat others matters.

Then, when your child walks through our doors, we will continue that work together.

Home teaches the values. School reinforces the values. Together, we build the character.

Thank you for partnering with us. We need you, we value you, and we are grateful to have you as part of the House of Dragons. 🐉🔥

Strong families. Strong schools. Stronger Dragons.