Dear Parents/Guardians and Students of Dana Middle School:
Welcome to a new school year at Dana Middle School. The administration, teachers, and staff are looking forward to working with you as we continue to educate the whole child. At Dana, we challenge each of our students to reach their full potential with our quality instructional program. We hope to continue the positive relationship we have established with our parents and the community.
If you have any questions, please visit https://dana.sandiegounified.org/ or contact the school at 858-988-2900. For our students’ safety, always check in at the main office anytime you visit Dana Middle School. Dana Middle School is closed from July 15th through July 26th, 2024. We will reopen on July 29th when the administrators and support staff report back to campus.
Prior to the first day of school, we will have an optional student orientation on Friday, August 9th.
6th-grade orientation is 8:30-10:00
5th-grade orientation is 11:00-12:30
The first day of school is Monday, August 12, 2024. You can find the district school year calendar at https://www.sandiegounified.org/academics/academic_calendars. Our school hours are 8:00-2:45 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Thursday is our early release day, and we release students at 12:35. Supervision is available on the blacktop starting at 7:30 and students are to gather there when they are dropped off or walk to school. Breakfast is available from the school cafeteria from 7:30-7:50. At 7:55, the first bell rings, and students are allowed to enter the building to report to their first-period class.
Back to School Packets
Your student will be bringing home a Back to School Packet the first week of school with important information inside. Please review the documents in the packet and complete the required online and paper forms. Return completed forms to your English teacher by August 21st.
If your address has changed, please provide proof of residency or be an approved Choice student when returning the packet. Proof of residency includes one of the following: SDG&E Service Verification letter or SDG&E Bill, City of San Diego Water Bill, Lease Agreement showing parent/guardian name and residential address, OR Verification of Address form.
Other important dates as we start the year include:
- First Coffee with Principal: Thursday, August 15th from 8:15-9:30 in room 103
- Site Governance Team (SGT): Tuesday, August 27th from 3:00-4:00 in room 103
- Back to School Night: Wednesday, September 4th from 4:30-6:30
- Friends of Dana and Correia (FODAC- parent foundation): Tuesday, September 10th at 6pm in the Dana Middle School Library
- School Picture Day: Wednesday, September 18th
- School Site Council (SSC): Tuesday, September 24th from 3:00-4:00 in room 103
- Non-instructional day: Friday, October 4th
- Parent/Teacher Conferences: October 9, 10 and 11
- Please note that these are early release days at 12:35
School Site Council and Site Governance Team
The purpose of the SGT is to serve as an advisory committee to make suggestions that use financial, physical, and human resources to positively impact and improve the education experiences for all Dana students. The purpose of the SSC is to develop, recommend, approve, and monitor the Single Plan for Student Achievement, SPSA. If you are interested in nominating yourself for either of our important committees, you can access the nomination forms below:
School Site Council (SSC)
Site Governance Team (SGT)
Sign up for our weekly newsletter
The Dana Administrative Team creates a weekly newsletter that is sent to families on Fridays. All parents are automatically signed up to receive this information. It is sent to the parent email address recorded in PowerSchool. Please verify that your email address in PowerSchool is entered correctly. Parents can access PowerSchool by following this link: https://powerschool.sandi.net/public/.
PowerSchool Parent Portal accounts transfer from one school to another as your child matriculates. In an effort to be environmentally friendly, we rarely send home paper flyers. This letter will be one of the last forms of paper-based communication you will receive from school.
IMPORTANT: families with a Parent Portal account from another school do NOT need to create a new account. Parents who do NOT have an existing Parent Portal account can create one by following the “Create an Account” directions found on this job-aid: https://tinyurl.com/pcjobaid. You will need the following information when creating an account: Student Name, Access ID, and Access Password. This information will be electronically distributed to parents in August. Please contact Pedro Calleros, our Site Technician, at [email protected] if you have questions regarding the PowerSchool Parent Portal.
Dana Staff Supports
Dana has two counselors on staff to assist students and parents. Sabrina Cox, the 6th grade counselor, can be reached at [email protected]. Yvette Toma, the 5th grade counselor, can be reached at [email protected]. Both counselors can also be reached by calling 858-988-2900, x7. Mr. Simon, the school’s Associate Principal can be reached at [email protected].
Our main office is open every day from 7:00 to 3:00. If your child must be absent from school, please call 858-988-2900 and press “option 2” before 8:00 a.m. to report the absence. Calls received after 8:15 a.m. may result in an automated absence call to your phone. If you would like to communicate with a staff member, please check our website for email addresses. Email is the most efficient method of communication.
Expectations
At Dana Middle School, we ask students and staff to work every day to “show up as their best selves.” We believe in challenging our students in order to create a foundation for academic success. We believe failure is an opportunity for growth and we expect our students to learn from their mistakes. We know that parents are the key to student success. Please contact your student’s teachers if you want information about your student’s progress. You can find their names, photos, and contact information on our staff website at: https://sites.google.com/sandi.net/dana-staff/home Your student will receive a class syllabus outlining specific course expectations during the first few weeks of school.
Traffic/Parking
We anticipate that in the first few days of school, there will be a higher volume of traffic than usual. Please plan your commute by allowing sufficient time to drop off your student(s). Please adhere to the signage and personnel directing traffic. Plan and identify a location near the campus to pick your student up after school. We do not recommend attempting to park your car immediately in front of the school during dismissal because the location is heavily congested. Select an area in the immediate vicinity or wait 5-10 minutes for the traffic to clear.
Walking/Biking/Skating to School
Students who walk or bike to school must cross streets only at marked crosswalks and practice good safety habits. Bike racks are located to the west of our auditorium. Skateboard racks are located on the playground. Students are encouraged to secure their bikes and skateboards with a bike lock. Students who ride their bikes or skateboards must wear a helmet. Please discuss with your child the potential hazards associated with traveling to school from a traffic perspective.
Suggested Supply List
Incoming students and families are excited about getting ready for the first day of school. In compliance with the California Department of Education, Dana Middle cannot share a school supply list. Our parent association posts a suggested student supply list on their own website. Please visit www.danamiddle.com and select Friends of Dana and Correia Middle Schools from the For Parents menu.
View Your Child’s Academic Performance via Powerschool
You can look at your child’s assignments and test grades online. Dana families use PowerSchool to stay informed about their child’s progress in Math, Language Arts, Social Studies, and Science. This tool is only useful if you use it. See above for directions for logging into PowerSchool.
We are looking forward to another exciting and productive year. You are always welcome to visit and volunteer in as many ways as you can. Your child is transitioning from elementary to middle school; this does not mean they no longer need you. Remember, your involvement in your child’s education is a key factor in their success. I look forward to seeing your students on August 12th.
In community,
John Bosselman Brendan Simon
Principal Associate Principal
[email protected] [email protected]