Parent Info

Please utilize the entire loop when dropping students off for school. By doing this it helps eliminate the traffic from backing up on Panther Drive. For the safety and well-being of all of our students, all parents and high school drivers dropping off students before school are asked to use the student drop-off loop. We are asking that you please pull all the way forward in the loop (up to the band entrance) to allow room for other vehicles to pull in as well. Students should exit your vehicle when you are stopped in the blue curb area. Please have your student exit from the right side of the lane only, to avoid crossing over traffic. The students may enter the building at the Main Entrance, located by the blue overhang. The lane is wide enough to fit two vehicles, so you can exit in the left lane if necessary. However, for his/her safety, please do not allow your student to exit your vehicle while in the left lane. Please DO NOT cut through the parking lot to drop off your student as this endangers other students and staff. Thank you for helping to make our drop-off time safe and efficient.

The complete guidelines are provided in the district's student handbook.  DeWitt Public Schools works toward preparing students for their future and the professionalism required to become effective members of the workforce. One aspect of professionalism is appropriate attire for the high-quality learning environment the district strives to provide for all students. The following defines appropriate attire for students: 

Students are to use discretion in their dress and are not permitted to wear apparel that advertises, promotes, or depicts alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs, drug paraphernalia, violent behavior, or other inappropriate images.  Additionally, outerwear such as hats or headgear (with the exception for approved religious, cultural, or medical reasons) and non-prescription sunglasses shall not be worn once a student is in the school building. Appropriate footwear must be worn at all times.  Shirts/Tops must cover the midriff and chests while sitting and standing, with no plunging necklines or open sides. Shirts/Tops may not fully cover shorts and skirts. Shorts/Pants/Skirts/Dresses must cover buttocks. Clothing should cover undergarments completely.

Dress code violations are not considered disciplinary violations as long as the student is cooperative in solving the problem by taking advantage of one of the three approved options: 1) find something appropriate in your locker or from a friend, 2) call home for a change of clothes, 3) borrow a clean item available for this purpose from the office. A special thanks to parents in advance for helping to assure your student comes to school appropriately dressed. 

Various schools utilize various means to communicate homework assignments to students and their parents. At DeWitt Middle School, we provide planners for students to write all assignments and upcoming work in a consistent place. Students are also welcome to use their own planner (electronic or paper). Teachers write all upcoming assignments, projects, etc. on the whiteboards in their classrooms and many also post this information to their websites. Teachers spend time at the start of the year teaching students how to best use their planners. We encourage parents to view the planners regularly to stay up-to-date.

In addition, students are expected to access Infinite Campus through their own account to keep updated on their progress in each class. Please encourage your student to access this information through their own account, as their student account looks different than yours. They will also use this account to register for classes this winter. Additionally, we encourage all of our students to check teachers' websites often, especially if they are absent.

Furthermore, our school also offers students the opportunity to attend the Student Success Center. The Student Success Center is staffed by a middle school teacher and provides students with a quiet place where they can work on homework, receive help from the supervising teacher, and make-up pre-arranged tests and quizzes after school. The Student Success Center is available Monday through Thursday after school until 4:00 p.m. with the exception of early release days and and days where professional development takes place for staff after school.  Students will receive notice of these cancellation days in advance via announcements.   

If your child is going to be absent, please call our 24 hour attendance line, 668-3247, by 8:00 am each day. Students are excused only if we receive a phone call or a note from a parent. Also, please send a note with your child if he/she will be leaving for an appointment during the school day. Please have your child bring the note to the office first thing in the morning, and we will issue a pass to your child to meet you here in the office to sign them out. As a reminder, all students need to be in their 1st hour class by 7:40am or they will be marked as tardy. You can view our full truancy policy in our school handbook.

If events occur over the course of the day causing you to change plans for your child after school, please notify the office as early in the day as possible. We want to be of assistance to families whenever possible, but if we receive calls late in the day, we don’t always have time to get the messages to the appropriate students. If the office is notified by 12:30 of any changes, we can call students down between classes to get their messages. This allows us an opportunity to get them the message and also eliminates an interruption of class times. 

All medications (over the counter and prescription) are to be stored in the school office. A “Permission to Administer Medication” form must be filled out and signed by the parent. For prescription medications, a doctor's signature is required on the form. The only exception to this rule is inhalers; they can be carried by the student once the office has a signed form from the doctor.

Comcast has expanded their Internet Essentials program. Previously this program was only available to families of students who are eligible for free lunch, it now also includes students who qualify for reduced lunch. The program includes reduced Internet fees for the family's home ($9.95 per month for a 3 Mbs connection). It also includes the option to purchase a reduced cost computer for the home. The program is supported by the FCC and is available in our area. This can be a substantial savings for a family and can greatly increase student's access to learning resources in the home. Details and sign up process is available at:

http://www.internetessentials.com/ 

OK 2 SAY is a confidential way to report a tip about something that threatens your safety or the safety of others in the school. You can submit a tip in the following ways:

Call: 8-555-OK2SAY (855-565-2729)

Text: 652729

E-mail: OK2SAY@mi.gov

Website: www.michigan.gov/ok2say