Middle school is an important stage of development. Our students are growing from children into young adults, and with that growth can come strong emotions, frustration, impulsivity, and difficulty managing conflict. Learning how to recognize, communicate, and control emotions appropriately is an important life skill that students must continue to develop.

Recently, we have experienced a few situations in which students have struggled to manage their emotions, resulting in aggressive or violent behavior. In some cases, the seriousness of these incidents has resulted in recommendations for expulsion. These situations are a reminder that emotional control is not simply a school expectation—it is a skill that can have significant consequences for a student's future.

❤️ How Can Families Help?

Please talk with your child about what to do when emotions begin to escalate:

🤝 Our Deans & Counselors Are Here to Help

Students do not have to navigate these challenges alone. Our deans and school counselors are available to help students work through conflicts, process difficult emotions, practice appropriate responses, and develop strategies for handling challenging situations.

Students and families can reach out to a dean or counselor before a situation becomes a crisis. Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Our goal is not simply to respond when something goes wrong. We want to teach our Dragons how to handle difficult moments successfully before those moments lead to decisions that can have lasting consequences.

6th Math: M1T3 (10/01-10/16)

6th Math: M1T2 (10/26-11/09)

6th Accel: M1T3 (09/30-10/15)

6th Accel: M2T1 (10/09-10/26)

7th Math: M2T2 (10/19-11/02)

7th Accel: M2T2 (10/15-10/29)

7th Accel: M2T3 (10/26-11/09)

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

8th Math: M2T1 (10/14-10/28)

Alg 1: Quarterly 1 (10/05-10/16)

Alg 1: (10/21-11/03)

6th: Atmosphere & Life (09/29-10/14)

7th: Evolution (09/30-10/15)

7th: Quarterly (10/05-10/09)

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

7th Adv: Photosynthesis (10/07-10/22)

7th Adv: Quarterly (10/05-10/23)

8th: Sun/Stars (10/07-10/22)

8th: Quarterly (10/05-10/23)

Bio: Quarterly (10/05-10/23)

6th: Civilization (10/21-11/03)

7th: Colonial America (10/02-10/16)

7th: Independence (10/14-10/27)

8th: Constitution (10/01-10/15)

8th: Amendments (10/20 - 11/03)

HS World: World Before 1750 (09/24-10/08)

HS World: West Africa/Mesoamerica (10/13-10/26)

6th ELA: Smart Animals (10/13-10/26)

7th ELA: Disappearing Words (10/05-10/19)

8th ELA: Anne Frank (10/15-10/28)

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 with you honestly—not simply as a principal, but as someone who deeply cares about the young people we serve.

DJMS needs your help.

Every day, our teachers, deans, counselors, and staff work tirelessly to teach academics, build relationships, reinforce expectations, support students, and help them become successful young adults. But there is one part of a child's development that school cannot do alone: building character and values.

Our students are growing into teenagers. They are learning how to manage emotions, handle disagreements, respond to frustration, communicate respectfully, and understand that their choices have consequences. These lessons must begin at home and be reinforced at school.

Please have the difficult conversations with your child.

Talk about respect, kindness, responsibility, honesty, self-control, empathy, and accountability. Talk about how to respond when angry, how to walk away from conflict, how to speak respectfully to adults and peers, and why treating others with dignity matters.

And please don't wait until something happens at school.

When your child makes a poor choice, hold them accountable. When they demonstrate disrespect, correct it. When they make a good decision, celebrate it. Help them understand that mistakes happen, but how we respond afterward matters.

At DJMS, we will continue to teach, model, recognize, support, and reinforce these expectations. Our deans and counselors will continue helping students navigate conflict, emotions, and difficult situations.

But we need you beside us.

Your voice matters. Your expectations matter. Your example matters.

When home and school send the same message, our students understand that respect, responsibility, and self-control aren't simply school rules—they are life expectations.

Home teaches the values.

School reinforces the values.

Together, we build the character.

Dragon Families, we need you, we value you, and we are grateful for you. Let's work together to raise not only successful students, but young people who know how to treat others, make responsible choices, and be proud of who they are becoming.