8/21/26 Family Friday Five

Every school day is an opportunity for students to learn, grow, and succeed. The Indiana Department of Education recommends an attendance rate of 94% or higher, and research shows that absences beyond the ninth day can negatively impact student performance.

We want to make sure families understand the importance of attendance—and WE LOVE HAVING YOUR STUDENTS AT SCHOOL!

Being here means learning, connecting with friends, building relationships, and being part of our school community.

We know absences happen, but whenever possible, we want your Baron here because every day—and every Baron—matters!

Tuesday, August 25 @ 4 p.m. - DC/NY Meeting for Parents - Even if you can't attend, please RSVP here to get more information.

Friday, Aug. 28 @ 6-8 p.m. Back to School Dance

SAVE THE DATE: Tuesday, November 3 will be our DMS Scholastic Book Fair and Mission Middle School (Amazing Race for Families)

8th Grade Formal: This year's winter dance is a special dance for our 8th graders called The Baron Ball. There will be a special meal. It will take place on December 5 and the cost is $15.

For students who may not have formal wear or may be in need of assistance to attend, Guidance will be offering individual appointments in October for students to request any items they might need for the dance! We want everyone to come!

Look for more information in October.

Each week, we’ll share the latest athletic schedules and updates in our newsletter to help families stay informed and support our Baron athletes.

Please note that all information is provided to us by our coaches, so updates will be included as they are received. If you don’t see information about a game or event, it may be because we have not yet received the details from the coaching staff.

If you have questions about schedules, events, or athletics in general, please reach out to Athletic Director Brett Eltzroth or Athletic Secretary Erika Jordan. We appreciate your patience and partnership as we work to keep everyone informed!

If you are interested in supporting DMS in any way, please feel free to utilize the DMS Amazon Wish List.

This list includes:

Care Closet/Food Pantry Needs

Teacher Requests

School Needs

Guidance Requests

If you look in the notes of each item, it describes what the item is for. Thanks for supporting us!

Until August 28, you can support filling our Teacher's Lounge with snacks!

On Thursday, September 10th, DeKalb County Central United School District will host a community-wide cybersecurity event at DeKalb Middle School (DMS) beginning at 6:00 p.m.

With the recent passage and implementation of SEA 78 (Wireless Communications Law), the timing of this event is especially fitting. 

We all see the impact digital devices have on our students each day. The goal of this event is to bring parents, families, educators, and community stakeholders together to increase awareness and provide practical information to help keep our children safe in an increasingly digital world. 

We are proud to partner with several outstanding local organizations to make this event possible, including:

Together, these organizations have helped us bring nationally recognized cybersecurity expert Detective Richard Wistocki to our community.

Detective Wistocki brings extensive experience and knowledge regarding online safety, digital threats, and protecting children in today's connected world. 

Please see the attached flyer and

Detective Wistocki's website for additional information.

Having an expert of this caliber right here in our local community is a unique opportunity. If you are available, I strongly encourage you to attend and invite other parents, family members, and community members to join us.

Together, we can help ensure our students are equipped to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly.